In the next few days, in addition to treating Xu Miaoyun as usual, Li Qing spent most of his time wandering around the Forbidden City.
During the New Year period, plus the heavy snowfall, most of the craftsmen took a holiday, so the palace was much deserted, making it more interesting to visit. After unremitting efforts, I finally visited the palace.
On New Year's Eve, the eunuch brought melon and fruit snacks. It was freezing and snowy outside, and the charcoal basin in the house was booming. Four people gathered around the charcoal basin, cracking melon seeds and chatting, with constant laughter.
Then, the sound of fireworks burst out, and the four of them came to the courtyard to enjoy the gorgeous fireworks blooming, which was full of New Year flavor.
This year has been more lively than at home.
On the first day of the new year, Li Qing took his daughter-in-law to pay New Year's greetings to Zhu Di and his wife, and gathered the emperor's wool.
Together, the four of them received nearly a hundred taels of gold beans, which was almost as much as the annual salary of Li Qing, the Minister of War.
In fact, Li Qing is very rich. Although he is a marquis, his salary is close to that of a prince. Coupled with his current salary as a second-rank minister of the Ministry of War, as well as the extra income over the years, normal expenses are enough for him to last for hundreds of years.
Even if you retire in the future, your life will not be bad.
Listening to music, playing chess, making snowmen...the happy and relaxing days always pass by quickly, and before you know it, the Lantern Festival has passed.
After eating glutinous rice balls, Li Qing's family followed the emperor's guard of honor and returned to the capital.
…
When we returned to Jinling, it was already the first lunar month.
Li Qing rested at home for the day and went to court to clock in as usual.
After Zhu Di came to the court, his attitude towards civil servants changed a bit, and he no longer had a bad face. He occasionally praised a few hard-working talents such as Jian Yi, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Xia Yuanji, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and affirmed the achievements of several people.
Political achievements.
This change eased the gap between monarch and ministers to a certain extent.
At the same time, Zhu Di also cut down many craftsmen, reduced court expenses, alleviated the people's corvee, and encouraged the development of farming.
A series of measures have greatly reduced the burden on the people.
Now that there is peace outside the customs and the canal is basically unblocked, Zhu Di begins to focus on economic development.
The will of the emperor, especially an emperor with real power like Zhu Di, is particularly important.
The reduction of corvee service and the policy of clearing land ownership allowed the people to take a breather, and they felt much better. Their lives were finally moving forward.
Zhu Di had a long-term vision when it came to major policies. With his actions and Xiaopang's mediation, they were implemented in an orderly manner. The Ming Dynasty was prosperous. Although the treasury is still empty at present, this decline can be reversed in two years.
The two of them work together and are invincible.
Seeing that the relationship between the king and his ministers had eased, Li Qing went to Xiaopang and told him his thoughts.
"The gentry and officials all pay taxes and food?" The little fat guy was dumbfounded. He was stunned for a while before he said, "Brother Qing, you didn't tell your father this, did you?"
Li Qing shook his head: "Didn't I tell you first?"
After a pause, "Looking at what you mean, it seems like you don't agree with this policy!"
"Of course I don't agree." Xiaopang rolled his eyes, "Brother Qing, this is really a bad idea."
Li Qing scratched his head, "Why?"
"The gentry officials do not cultivate land. Although most of them have a lot of cultivated land, the people who really cultivate the land are the common people, or tenants." Xiaopang said, "The wool comes from the sheep, and the gentry officials pay taxes and grain. In the end,
It still falls on the tenants. Although this policy can increase tax revenue, it is the people who suffer, and it does more harm than good."
Li Qing smacked his lips, he couldn't argue, "What about sharing a small family with a mother?"
"What do you mean?"
"That is to say, all taxes will be allocated into the land tax." Li Qing said, "People no longer need to collect taxes based on head count, but will collect taxes based on acres of cultivated land."
"This is good!" Xiaopang was very excited, and then frowned, "But... this will have a great impact on the officials and gentry. My father should be able to implement it, but... it is very likely that people in politics will be affected.
, people died...politics also died."
He sighed softly: "Brother Qing, you must know that officials and gentry include nobles and nobles!"
Li Qing nodded: "I know this, but you might as well give it a try. Even if the policy is indeed extinct in the future as you said, it will greatly enhance the country's strength during its implementation."
After a pause, "Actually, you underestimate yourself too much. Although the generals are not close to you, they are close to their grandson!"
"Zhanji..." Xiaopang nodded slowly, with a happy smile on his face, "Well, you can give it a try."
"However, we still need to neutralize it and reserve some privileges for them." Xiaopang has small eyes full of wisdom. "After all, they have been enjoying privileges for thousands of years. If they are all canceled rashly, there will be great resistance to the implementation of the policy.
"
Li Qing also agreed with this approach. The main reason was that Zhu Di had taken too much advantage of the rich gentry, so he had to show some mercy to others, otherwise, if things get really desperate, there would be another turmoil.
"How much?"
"Seventy percent!"
"If it's 70%... then let's set it at 90%." Li Qing said, "Give them some opportunities to bargain."
Xiaopang was startled for a moment, then nodded his head, "That's what Brother Qing said."
The two discussed the details and finally settled on a plan that both of them were satisfied with.
"Brother Qing, I can't mention this policy..." Xiaopang said sheepishly, "My character cannot be ruined."
"I understand." Li Qing nodded with a smile, "I will do whatever it takes to offend people."
If this strategy was proposed by Xiaopang, he would really be in trouble in the future, but Li Qing didn't care about it.
As the saying goes, if you have too many lice, you don't have to worry about it. If you have too many debts, you don't have to worry. He has offended many people, so this time is not the best.
This policy could only be implemented when Zhu Di was in power, because Zhu Zhanji couldn't hold it in his arms, and Zhu Zhanji was probably frustrated. If Zhu Di missed it, he might never have the chance to implement it.
…
After leaving the East Palace, Li Qing went directly to the Imperial Study Room.
Zhu Di is in charge of the government, but there are not many memorials on the imperial court, because most of them are at Xiaopang's place.
The fourth child only cares about big things and doesn't care about small and medium-sized things.
"Coming?"
"Coming."
"Is something wrong?"
"Something's wrong."
Zhu Di put down the memorial and said, "Speak!"
Li Qing nodded and elaborated on the plan finalized with Xiaopang.
"Your Majesty, if this national policy can be implemented, it will surely bring Ming Dynasty to a new height."
Zhu Di frowned, weighed the pros and cons, nodded and said: "It is indeed a good national policy, but..."
He smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Forget it, this policy will be abolished before the disadvantages appear."
After a pause, "Li Qing, what do you think those civil servants will write about me after I die?"
Li Qing thought for a while and said truthfully: "The emperor's achievements cannot be covered up. He may waste people and money, or he may lose the throne... Ahem, let's make a fuss about it!"
Then he comforted him and said, "Actually, Your Majesty, you don't have to worry about this. The prince and grandson are adults, and they don't dare to discredit you."
"They don't dare, but the gentry dare. Some rumors are believed by people as they spread, and they may even become...the truth in the end." Zhu Di scolded: "Mother, I have never been greedy for pleasure, and I will suffer a bunch of dogs after I die.
The arrangement of the day.”
Li Qing laughed dumbly, "Justice lies in the heart of the people."
"That's what I say, but... who doesn't want to have a good reputation?" Zhu Di hummed, "I eat the emperor's salary to share the king's worries, so you don't want to share the worries for me?"
Li Qing scratched his head, "What does the Emperor mean...?"
"In this way, tomorrow you will make an invitation, and then I will object, and you will make an invitation again. If you do this three or four times, I will reluctantly agree."
"...Your Majesty, doesn't your conscience hurt?" Li Qing's face was filled with black lines.
Zhu Di's face heated up and he hummed: "I will give you a salary, what's wrong with you attracting firepower for me?
Besides, didn’t you say you wanted me to ease the relationship with Wen Chen?”
"I……"
"Okay!" Zhu Di interrupted, "You don't want me to have another quarrel with Wen Chen, right?"
Li Qing was really convinced. After holding it in for a long time, he finally said: "Your Majesty, we need more money!"
"You...!" Now Zhu Di was annoyed, "You actually asked me for money?"
What's the matter? Your father and I both have to live with it... Li Qing rolled his eyes, "I can't do it in vain!"
"You're such a bastard...!" Zhu Di's nose was almost crooked with anger. He had never heard of the minister blatantly asking for money from the emperor, so he cursed: "Did I give you face?"
"Your Majesty, it is the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty who have been offended this time!" Li Qing said, "You must be more considerate."
Then, he assured: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will make an exception this time. I will use money to do things, and I will definitely make you look good."
It's okay not to say this, but when Zhu Di said it, he couldn't help but think of the past.
——The losses suffered at the hands of Li Qing in those years!
He couldn't help but get even more angry and said: "Li Qing, your uncle, I @#￥%*..."
"Your Majesty, look at you, it's been so many years, why can't you be more generous?" Li Qing said sarcastically, "I've forgotten it even if you don't mention it.
Besides, I have made an exception, what else do you want, Your Majesty?"
"You..." Zhu Di was so angry that he almost flipped the table, but there was nothing he could do about Li Qing. Not to mention Li Qing's merits and talents, just the fact that his wife was the chief minister made him unable to get angry.
Zhu Di scolded: "I am the king and you are the minister. The Emperor of Ming Dynasty bribed his ministers. How can future generations laugh out loud when they find out?"
Li Qing vaguely remembered that there seemed to be an emperor in the Ming Dynasty who bribed ministers, but he had forgotten who it was.
Of course, he couldn't say this, so he said: "How can this be called bribery? This is something the emperor rewards his ministers because of his compassion."
"Didn't the queen reward you with three concubines, the royal wives?"
Li Qing's face became hot and he coughed softly and said, "One code means one code. In fact, I am not greedy for money, but I want to see if the emperor has a heart for me. I will give you the reward at will. Five hundred taels of gold is not enough."
A thousand taels of gold is never too much..."
"Why don't you go and grab it?"
Zhu Di breathed out fragrance again for a while, but finally lost his temper, "Fifty taels of gold, do you want love?"
Then he added: "I'll settle the bill afterwards. Your kid has a criminal record, so I don't trust you."
Li Qing was a little unhappy, "Your Majesty, isn't this insulting my character?"
"Stop talking nonsense," Zhu Di scolded, "If you had some fucking character, everyone in the world would be a gentleman."