The sixth day of the fifth lunar month in the second year of Tailong’s reign.
Dachaohui.
Liu Mingzhi waited in the back hall until all the civil and military officials had arrived, and then pretended to be late and walked out from the back hall.
“Your Majesty arrives, all officials salute.”
“I, your Majesty, may you all live long live.”
“Sit down without any courtesy!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
After the usual set of greetings, Liu Mingzhi walked towards the foot of the dragon platform as always, his eyes scanning the hands of the officials from time to time.
Looking at the officials, they all had nearly one memorial in their hands, and some even had two to five memorials in their hands.
Liu Mingzhi's heart twitched violently, and the corners of his eyes trembled involuntarily.
The folds that were delivered three days ago were barely finished around midnight last night. So many of them came in as soon as I came to court today. It’s hard to say whether there will be other folds in the future.
These bastards really don’t intend to give themselves a way out.
Liu Mingzhi quietly took out the Queen's plan from his sleeves and the documents about the establishment of the cabinet and the ten kings' palaces that he had approved only after he approved it. Liu Mingzhi sat down cross-legged on the spot.
The document in his hand patted lightly on his palm, and Liu Mingzhi glanced at the civil and military officials on both sides with a calm expression.
“My dear ministers, do you have any instructions?”
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have my own report."
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I also have my own report."
“Reporting to your majesty, I also have my original report.”
…”
Liu Mingzhi looked at the officials who were carrying the memorials one after another like a swarm of bees, and the corner of his mouth curled up helplessly.
“Hubu, please speak first!”
“Obey!”
Jiang Yuanming gently opened the memorial in his hand: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this summer's taxes have been calculated, and the total is more than 48.36 million taels, which is more than 10 million taels higher than last year.
However, the tax amount seems to be more than ten million taels higher than last year, but in fact it is beyond the means.
This amount of silver is not only the taxes paid by the people of various prefectures in our inner prefecture, but also includes the taxes paid by the Jin people of the 23 prefectures of Songzhou and Daizhou and the 28 Turkic people of Xinfu.
Therefore, compared with last year, the taels of silver spent this year to appease the Jin people and the new Turkic people, the national treasury is still in deficit by more than 11.7 million taels after the summer tax was charged.
Nowadays, the various expenditures of various state governments have reached the point where emergency funds have to be used.
Your Majesty, please come up with a charter as soon as possible, otherwise I will not be able to serve as the Minister of Household Affairs anymore."
Liu Mingzhi frowned slightly and pondered for a while: "Have you brought the tax accounting accounts from the Ministry of Household Affairs?"
“Replying to your majesty, I naturally brought it, please have your majesty take a look!”
Jiang Yuanming put together the memorial, took out a thick account book from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Mingzhi.
“You guys should take your seats first, I’ll do some accounting for the summer tax and then proceed.”
offices
Liu Mingzhi took the account book, dipped his finger in the corner of his mouth and silently flipped through the accounts in his hand. Under the surprised eyes of the officials, Liu Mingzhi muttered softly for a while before continuing to read the next accounts.
About half an hour later, Liu Mingzhi stretched out and closed the ledger with a snap. The officials immediately trembled instinctively.
Some drowsy officials nodded and dozed off, hurriedly wiping the saliva from the corners of their mouths, rubbing the corners of their eyes vaguely, and looked at Liu Mingzhi.
“Hubu!”
“I’m here!”
Liu Mingzhi chuckled and shook his head. He put the account on his knees and looked at Jiang Yuanming: "You old fox, your petty tricks are all on me."
The embarrassment in Lao Jiang's eyes flashed away, and he hurriedly raised his wat, nodded, and lowered his eyebrows, not daring to look at Liu Mingzhi: "I don't dare, why did your majesty say this?
The old minister ate Xiongxin Leopard and dare not play with his Majesty! "
“Let me ask you, the new Turkic people have little gold, silver, and food, and they pay taxes with livestock, cattle, sheep, and leather goods.
The people of Jin in Beifu have just stabilized and the autumn grain has not yet been harvested. They pay half of the taxes with a small amount of gold, silver and medicinal materials, and then use the autumn grain to pay the taxes delayed in the summer. Why didn't you explain it clearly in one sentence?
Aren’t the cattle and sheep worth money after they are sold? Aren’t the medicinal materials and mountain products worth money after being sold? The people of Jin were in special circumstances and could only pay half of the tax first, so it was understandable that they would delay replenishing it for one season.
The new Turkic people and the Jin people in Beifu have just recovered from more than ten years of war, and they need to be given some time to gradually stabilize.
Your Ministry of Accounts has only calculated the amount of cash. How can the national treasury not be in deficit?
I guess that the household offices in various state capitals are now dumping cattle, sheep, leather goods, medicinal materials, and mountain products from the two countries in short supply in exchange for gold and silver, right?
Yes or no?”
Jiang Yuanming nodded awkwardly: "Your Majesty is wise, Your Majesty is wise.
But Your Majesty also has to consider the difficulty of the old minister. It always takes a lot of time to exchange goods for gold and silver.
Now the national treasury really has no money except emergency silver taels.
In case of a major event such as a natural disaster and man -made disasters in which state government, it is not the first to be guilty of the sinusk of the old minister to come to the old minister!
Furthermore, two days ago, Mr. An Jianghe'an, the lord of Haining, came to the government office again to look for the old minister, saying that he was scheduled to set sail again on May 15th to trade with all nations.
At that time, there will be another huge expenditure of silver. Now, in order to raise money, the old minister is as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.
Lao Chen, there is really nothing we can do about this!"
Liu Mingzhi subconsciously looked at An Gouer: "Jianghai Ninghou, are you going to set sail again?"
An Gouer came out holding the imperial wat: "Replying to your majesty, that's right.
Now that the in-demand goods brought back from the West have been dumped, the Westerners who returned with the fleet have also sold all their own goods.
At present, the wind and sun are beautiful and the sea breeze is smooth. This is a God-given opportunity to set sail and trade with all countries.
I have discussed it with my colleagues and plan to go to Haijin Port in Haijin Town to set sail again on the 15th of this month.
I originally thought that I would report this matter to Your Majesty at the court meeting today, but I didn’t expect that Jiang Shangshu had already spoken out on my behalf.”
Jiang Yuanming nodded in agreement with An Gou'er's words and looked at Liu Mingzhi with a bitter expression. "Look, your majesty, I am not making this up."
Liu Mingzhi nodded silently: "Now that the goods have been sold, it is indeed time to visit the Western trading countries again."
“Your Majesty, brother, do you agree?”
“Of course I agree. Why don’t I agree with this good thing that benefits the country and the people?
By the way! What are those Westerners who sell their goods for silver doing now?"
An Gouer looked at He Zheng, the minister of Honglu Temple: "Your Majesty, let the King of Honglu Temple talk about this matter. Honglu Temple is responsible for entertaining businessmen and envoys who accept Westerners. He knows the current situation of Westerners better than I do.
action!"
“Sir Wang?”
Wang Hezheng hurriedly walked out: "Reporting to your majesty, Western merchants and Western envoys are buying my Dalong's silk, porcelain, tea and other goods in Shiliufang City, and are preparing to take them back to the Western mainland for sale.
After all, compared to their Western goods that are in short supply, our country is rich in treasures and has countless treasures. The goods they bring back from our country can often be sold three times or even several times in the country, making a lot of money.
Nowadays, Western merchants are in Shiliufang City, and they are transporting their purchased goods to the inns and inns arranged for them.
Everything is ready, and we will wait until the sea calms down to set sail, so that they can return home with the ship and bring these goods back."
Liu Mingzhi tapped his knees lightly with his fingers and nodded gently: "It is a good thing if gold and silver can flow into the people and make the people rich.
Are those Westerners still continuing to buy goods?”
“Still wandering around the city, I heard that Haininghou will set sail on the 15th of this month. These Westerners are more active than ever in purchasing my Dalong goods. They can’t bear to take a break all day long!”
Liu Mingzhi clasped his chin and thought for a while, then raised his eyes and glanced at Jiang Yuanming.
“Old Jiang, you are sitting on a treasure mountain without realizing it. The opportunity to enrich the national treasury is right under your nose, and you can’t even seize it?”
Lao Jiang was stunned for a while, then gradually came to his senses, and suddenly raised his hand and slapped his forehead heavily.
“Oh, I am so confused!
But Your Majesty, you must also understand the difficulties of the veteran. Now that the country has been unified not long ago, there are piles of papers from various ministries and offices, and the veteran has no time to go around.
Otherwise, why would we be so anxious here? Why would I complain to you?"