From individuals to countries, everyone needs money. Without money, nothing can be done. It can be said that the return of the Three Treasures is a shot in the arm for everyone.
Zhu Di curled up the corner of his mouth and revealed a wicked smile. Seeing this gesture, the bosses of the Six Departments felt excited.
They know very well the current emperor's ability to spend money. He is a master who cannot save money, and they cannot allow him to waste money any longer.
Xia Yuanji, the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, several places in Shandong and Henan provinces are suffering from drought. For the sake of the people, I kindly ask the Emperor to set aside part of the money and food to deal with possible famines."
Zhu Di paused and asked, "Approximately how much is needed?"
"At least two million taels." Xia Yuanji knew that he had money, so he deliberately asked for more.
"Yes." Zhu Di nodded and agreed, deducting two million taels would not have much impact on his overall situation.
Moreover, these things brought back by Sanbao still need to be operated and digested by the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Seeing this, the other big guys followed closely behind.
Jian Yi, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, stood up and cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, in the past year, the salaries of officials in the Ming Dynasty have been half rice, half banknotes, or even more than rice. Officials with wealthy families are fine, but officials with average conditions are really...
It’s hard to get by.”
He was telling the truth. Officials from all over the country had strong opinions. Before, the national treasury was tight and there was nothing he could do about it. Now that he has money, he naturally doesn't want to bear the pressure anymore.
The officials did not dare to scold the emperor, but they secretly scolded him, the official minister. Jian Yi gritted his teeth and said, "I hope the emperor will restore the old system and distribute salaries in kind."
In fact, during the Hongwu Dynasty, part of the salary was issued in treasure banknotes, but the proportion was not large. Moreover, the purchasing power of treasure banknotes was strong at that time, and officials were not affected at all. However, as Zhu Dichao issued treasure banknotes, officials could not bear it.
Zhu Di's face heated up and he glared at Jian Yi bitterly, "About how much is needed."
"Two million and a half million taels."
Why don't you go and grab it... Zhu Di's face turned dark, and he resisted the urge to slap the table, "Tell me, why did you use so much?"
"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty, military officials, officials... all of them add up to nearly 40,000 people. After replacing the payment in kind, the monthly salary will require an additional expenditure of nearly 200,000 taels."
Afraid that the emperor would not believe it, Jian Yi gave an example, "The monthly salary of a seventh-grade official is seven shi, which is now 60% of banknotes and 40% of rice. If all is replaced by real money, a seventh-grade official will have to spend an additional four shi of rice per month;
Nowadays, the treasure banknotes are unequal in silver. Four stones of rice only cost 2 taels of silver. The higher you go, the more you will be reissued. Of course, the lower you go, the less you will be reissued. Plus a bunch of princes... that's really the number.
"
This does not include the vassal kings from various places. Of course, these royal family members do nothing, and Jian Yi does not want to count them.
Zhu Di's face was gloomy, but he couldn't get angry.
He understands that his series of policies have seriously violated the interests of most officials. If he still digs into official salaries when he has money, it may even be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
By then, not only the civil officials will be offended, but also the military generals.
Zhu Di breathed a sigh of relief, "Even if we need an extra 200,000 taels a month, why do we need 2.5 million?"
Jian Yi cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, the national treasury has always been unable to make ends meet. Although there are reforms and reforms, the results will not be immediate. It will take at least a year, or even longer, to recover."
Looking at the expectant eyes of the officials, Zhu Di nodded with an ugly face: "Yes."
At this time, the Minister of Industry stood up and said: "Your Majesty, although the floods in western Zhejiang have been controlled, there are still hidden dangers. Now that the flood season is coming, the old river embankments are in danger and can only be barely supported. I hope the emperor will allocate some money to rebuild the river embankments.
Nip problems in the bud.”
"How much does it cost?" Zhu Di gritted his teeth and said.
Seeing the displeasure written on the emperor's face, the Minister of Industry did not dare to ask for a high price, so he considered: "The national treasury is not rich, so we can temporarily build two fortresses. One and a half million taels will be enough."
In this era, infrastructure construction costs the most money, and what he wants is really not much.
But Zhu Di was still sad. In just a few moments, six million had gone. How could he not feel distressed?
There was nothing he wanted to do, but he hadn't done it yet.
But if there is a massive flood in western Zhejiang due to the failure to build river embankments, the losses will not be limited to this. "I agree."
"Your Majesty is wise!" the Minister of Industry said with joy.
"Your Majesty!" The Minister of Rites stood up, cupped his hands and said, "I also hope..."
"We'll talk about it after we think about it." Zhu Di's tone was cold, and he couldn't stand it anymore.
The Minister of Rites felt a chill in his heart and said sarcastically: "Your Majesty's Mingjian, now people from all over the world are coming to court, in order to embody our celestial dynasty..."
"Speak humanly!"
"I sincerely request your Majesty to repair the Banquet Department, the Host and Guest Department, the Ceremony Department, the Fine Dining Department... By the way, there is also the Imperial College, which also needs to be repaired."
When the Minister of Industry and Industry saw Lai Xinghuo, he immediately raised his hands and said: "I second the proposal!"
Li Qing saw these people competing for money one by one and said quickly, "Your Majesty, there is no need to build an embassy to receive envoys. Even if it is to be built, it should be built in the new capital."
"Well, what Li Aiqing said makes sense." Zhu Di finally heard an honest word, his face softened a little, and he glanced at the Minister of Rites, "Renovate the Host and Guest Department and the Imperial College."
The Minister of Rites nodded helplessly, secretly regretting that he had started too late, "Your Majesty, these are the needs..."
"Stop talking, let me tell you the number." Zhu Di stretched out three fingers, "Three thousand taels."
Minister of Rites: "..."
Others have millions, but I don’t have tens of thousands. Isn’t this bullying? The Minister of Rites felt extremely aggrieved, “Your Majesty, what can you do with three thousand taels?
Repairing a temple is not enough!"
"Then I'll give you some more." Zhu Di stretched out a finger and said, "Ten thousand taels."
"emperor……"
"sit down!"
"...I obey your decree."
Li Qing saw that the Minister of Punishment also wanted to take a dip in the muddy waters, so he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I have this memorial!"
"What? You want money too?" Zhu Di's eyes were blazing.
"No." Li Qing reminded, "Although the harvest this time is quite rich, the rare items before are no longer so rare. In other words, in the end, these overseas treasures may not be as much as the money earned last time. Except for
Of these six million taels, there probably isn’t much left;
Including the expenses of the weaving bureau, porcelain kiln... it is estimated that it is just enough, and it is not appropriate to spend more."
Hearing this, Zhu Di's face became even more ugly, and he broke the pot and said: "Spend it all, spend it all, don't keep a penny!"
Don’t worry about scarcity, but worry about inequality!
This is the situation now. When he had no money, Zhu Di couldn't do what he wanted to do. Now that he has money, he still can't do what he wants to do. Wasn't the money in vain?
Zhu Di is so angry!
"Pah——!" He slapped his chopsticks on the table and stood up with a cold face, "The prince is hosting the banquet, I'm full."
He is really angry. Not to mention increasing efforts to build a capital, he even has no money to build a treasure ship. How can he not be angry?
After that, Zhu Di ignored the officials and walked back with his wife in hand.
The ministers stood up to send him off respectfully, but the leaders of the six departments felt uneasy.
The Minister of Punishment had the ugliest look on his face, and said to himself: I haven't mentioned the appropriation yet, Your Majesty, don't leave!
But the emperor obviously couldn't afford it. He didn't dare to get into trouble and could only admit that he was unlucky.
…
The little fat boy waited for his father to leave the Fengtian Temple Square, raised his hand to pick up the lid of the tortoise, and ate the side of his skirt: "Eat, eat everything, eat well and drink well...!"
The ministers then sat down and started eating and drinking.
Sanbao whispered: "Your Highness, Your Majesty..."
"It's okay." The little chubby hand raised the wine glass, "Sambo, you have eased the Ming Dynasty's finances this time, I want to toast you."
"I don't dare, Sanbao respects the prince."
Sanbao finished his glass of wine and poured another glass, "Honor Yongqinghou."
Li Qing raised his glass with a smile and drank with him.
As the emperor and empress left the table, the officials felt less restrained and gradually relaxed.
The generals punched each other, the civil servants recited poems, and the atmosphere was lively.
Should I say it or not, when scholars become promiscuous, military generals are not good at all.
What, move it, it hurts... it makes your blood rush.
Unlike the general, who can only speak Japanese.
In this era, romance is a matter of elegance and is not something that cannot be brought to the fore.
Li Qing was quite amused by what he heard.
~
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Li Qing suggested: "Prince, think of a way, it would be better to save some money and give it to the emperor;
If he isn't happy, you can't be happy either, and no one can be happy."
Xiaopang smiled bitterly and nodded: "I'll do the math later and squeeze out some money for him."
Li Qing sighed: "It's really difficult for you to mediate in such a huge matter."
"Hey~ I'm used to it." Xiaopang said nonchalantly, "I feel a lot more relaxed when my father agrees to approve so much money. It's not difficult to squeeze out some money."
With that said, he continued to eat and drink, and said hello: "You're welcome, eat, eat, eat..."