"The star of the moon is drunk and intoxicating, hahahaha~~~"
The drunk Dongfang Shuo returned home with a smile on his face and handed the food box in his hand to Shaojun, "Take and enjoy the food given by the emperor."
Dongfang Shuo's wife hurriedly stepped forward to take the food box, handed it to the servant, and helped Dongfang Shuo undress and wash up.
After finishing all these tasks, the wife asked with a smile, "My husband is so happy, but there is something happy?"
"Um."
Dongfang Shuo sat on the cushion and propped up one leg and said with a smile, "Your husband and I have been reused by the emperor."
As soon as these words came out, the lady immediately beamed with joy, "My husband is astonishingly talented and learned. Now that the emperor has given him such an important position, he must show off his talents and ambitions. I wonder what duties the emperor has arranged for my husband?"
"The Emperor appointed me as the Minister of Rites."
"Etiquette, Minister of Rites?" Madam frowned and thought carefully, "Is there such a position above the court?"
The most important people above the court are naturally the three gongs and nine ministers, and then below are the subordinate officials of these three gongs and nine ministers.
After all, Dongfang Shuo's wife lived at the foot of the emperor, and her husband still had to serve as a minister, so she was naturally very concerned about matters in the court.
But after much thought, she couldn't figure out what the position of the Minister of Etiquette was.
"Your Majesty intends to reform the government affairs of the court and proposes to set up six departments with responsibilities." Dongfang Shuo explained kindly, "A certain person is the Minister of Rites, in charge of imperial examinations and education."
"this..."
The lady thought for a while and asked, "How much is the salary?"
In this era, the nine-level Zhongzheng system has not yet appeared. To measure whether a position is important, in addition to power and responsibilities, the most important thing is to look at the salary.
Under normal circumstances, the salary of two thousand dan is a dividing line. The county guards in various places only have two thousand dan, which is already a big official.
"Haha~~~"
Dongfang Shuo took the drink brought by the servant, drank a glass, and said calmly, "Tentatively, it's two thousand stones."
The lady breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "That's great."
Jumping directly from Lang Guan to two thousand stones, this is definitely a leap forward, and of course I will be happy.
"Your Majesty intends to reform government affairs. In the future, salaries will also be changed to direct payment of money, and all other items will be cancelled."
"The Emperor is a saint." The lady stood up with a smile and went to get the food box. "Thank you for your hard work, husband. I will go and heat the food and wine for you."
"Um."
Watching Shaojun go about his business, Dongfang Shuo stopped smiling and began to think seriously, 'If you are appreciated by the emperor, you should fight to the death to serve. The school affairs must be done well.'
Li Yunze really wanted to reform the government affairs of the court, because the court in the Qin and Han Dynasties was too loose, so he wanted to subdivide the court and compact it.
On this day, Li Yunze summoned Yan Yibi, who was out on inspection.
"His Majesty."
After bowing and taking a seat, Yan Yi immediately took out the record he had written on his inspection tour and handed it to Li Yunze, "I inspected Guanzhong, and also went out to Hangu Pass to inspect various parts of Guandong. The situation in various places is really worrying."
Li Yunze lowered his head and looked at Yan Yi's records, "What do you say?"
"Guanzhong is better. After all, it is at the foot of the emperor, so it is somewhat restrained. But after leaving Hangu Pass, mountains and mines are being dug, and construction workshops are everywhere. Firewood and salt cooking can be seen on the seaside, and merchants and motorcades are coming and going in an endless stream.
Ironware and salt are sold everywhere.
I have heard that some people are even bold enough to smuggle ironware and other items outside the Great Wall."
"Many prisoners from various places are sold to the mines, and some are even directly kidnapped."
In the early Han Dynasty, Huang Lao's technique was implemented, which was to govern by doing nothing.
This laissez-faire attitude quickly enlivened the vitality of the people. Not only did the population recover rapidly, but social vitality also increased significantly.
Merchants from all over the country have also encountered the best of times, but they do any business that can make money, especially in the two extremely profitable industries of salt and iron, which has reached the level of frenzy.
This kind of thing may seem like explosive economic development, but there are huge hidden dangers inside.
First of all, in terms of production, various violent conflicts have emerged in an endless stream in order to compete for minerals and salt fields.
Moreover, in this era of scarce productivity, the only way to increase production is to kill people, which has led to various means of arresting people.
Don't think that the common people will benefit if there is too much salt and iron. On the contrary, as the folk salt and iron becomes more and more prosperous, the unlucky people will still be the unlucky ones.
Not to mention being forced by various means to mine or boil salt, what is even more frightening is that merchants have the power to set prices and sell salt and iron to the people at high prices to extract wealth.
In the end, the people paid the price and were forced to buy high-priced salt and iron.
But it was the merchants and local officials who benefited.
As for the imperial court, they couldn't even get a single penny of tax revenue.
If things continue like this, people will soon have no money to buy daily necessities such as salt and iron, and will go bankrupt buying land.
When the number of bankrupt people reaches a certain level, it will be time for the princes, princes and generals to make a living.
Yan Yi was a little excited. "I saw with my own eyes local officials arresting people, sending them to mines for mining, and to salt fields for boiling salt. According to the people who were rescued, not to mention paying wages, they even gave them food." Can't do it. Usually a few months and half a year
It will take a long time and you will be exhausted.”
Li Yunze's eyes were slightly cold, but he said nothing.
He knows that capitalists will do anything to make profits.
It doesn't matter if you have the powerful to back you up and oppress the people.
Yan Yi recounted one by one what he saw during his inspections in various places.
Especially in those mines and salt fields, what you see and hear is simply like hell.
During the Rebellion of the Seven Kings, the reason why the Wu Kingdom was so powerful was that Wu King Liu Bi purchased prisoners and even common people from various places, and used them as coolies to mine and mint money, and to boil salt in salt fields, thus gaining the strength to fight against the city of Chang'an.
Nowadays, many vassal kings in various places do this.
When Yan Yi finally stopped talking, Li Yunze also closed Yan Yi's record book.
He turned around and told the chamberlain beside him, "Call the Marquis Changping."
"Here."
Wei Qing, who was chatting with his brothers and sisters at home, hurried to Weiyang Palace after receiving the imperial edict.
"Meet Your Majesty."
"Yeah." Li Yunze pointed to Yan Yi's side and motioned to Wei Qing to "sit down and talk."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Ministers in the Qin and Han Dynasties always sat in front of the emperor.
By the Tang and Song Dynasties, it evolved into talking while standing.
By the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties, people had to kneel down and call themselves slaves.
On the one hand, this is the continuous strengthening and centralization of imperial power, and on the other hand, the ‘enlightenment’ of Confucianism is naturally indispensable.
After all, no one can expect a person who takes the lead to lower his dignity and kneel down to have any integrity.
"I intend to go to the salt and iron official camp."
Li Yunze said to the two of them, "From now on, all mines and salt fields in the world will be owned by the imperial court. Anyone who mines and cooks salt privately will be punished as treason."
"Leave it to Yan Yi to arrange the relevant yamen." Li Yunze reached out and tapped Yan Yi, "I order you to serve as the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs and establish the Ministry of Household Affairs to take charge of all matters related to money, food and revenue in the world. The first thing you do is
We must run the Yantie official camp well."
Yan Yi, with a solemn expression, saluted respectfully, "Here."
"As for you."
Li Yunze looked at Wei Qing again, "I order you to be the Minister of the Ministry of War, responsible for setting up the Yamen of the Ministry of War and taking charge of all military matters in the world. You go and select a group of soldiers and horses, form a team and give it to Zhidu. Let him take it with you.
Go around every county in the world."
Wei Qing hurriedly asked, "May I ask Your Majesty, how strong are these troops and what is their purpose?"
"Five thousand people are enough." Li Yunze waved his hand, "Zhidu has gone to deal with the affairs of King Hengshan. When he comes back, I will personally arrange how he will do things. You first prepare the troops, horses, food, grass, and military supplies."
"Here~~~"
Zhi Du dealt with King Hengshan neatly and neatly.
Kill those who deserve to be killed, arrest those who deserve to be arrested, and confiscate the homes of those who deserve to be raided.
After finishing these things, Gongsun Hong stayed in Hengshan Kingdom and was busy with the matter of abolishing the country and changing the county. However, Zhidu escorted the important prisoners back to Chang'an City.
When I returned to Zhidu in Chang'an City, I hurried to Weiyang Palace without even having time to go home.
"The affairs of Hengshan Kingdom were done well." Li Yunze invited Zhidu to have dinner together. "The follow-up matters will be handed over to Zhang Tang. I have something here that I need you to do."
"Please give your Majesty's orders."
Li Yunze handed the inspection record sent by Yan Yi to Zhi Du, "Let's talk about it after reading it."
Zhidu took the record and looked through it carefully.
The tragic things above that made people angry could not move Zhidu's face at all.
As a veteran and cruel official, Zhi Du has already been hard-hearted.
By the time Zhi finished reading the records, the food and wine on the table in front of him were already cold.
Li Yunze asked the servant to get a new one, and then asked Zhi Du, "How is it?"
"These people should all deserve to die." Zhidu's response was very consistent with the image of a cruel official, who would kill, kill, kill, kill anyway.
"I have prepared a troop of troops for you. There are five thousand men and horses, all of whom are elites drawn from the Northern and Southern armies."
Li Yunze said, "Local county soldiers may not be reliable. Take these soldiers and horses to inspect various counties and counties in the world, especially those places where mines are mined and salt is boiled."
He reached out and tapped Yan Yi's inspection record, "Those who are guilty will be dealt with."
This is what Zhidu is best at, so naturally there is nothing wrong with it.
He saluted Li Yunze and said, "Here."
"Especially when various places are enfeoffed." Li Yunze followed up and told him, "These vassal kings are greedy for profit and treat the common people like stupid dogs. If there is any problem, go and investigate. If there is any problem, there is no need to worry about their identity. If you find any evidence, send it to Chang'an."
I will issue the national edict immediately
for you."
As soon as these words came out, Zhidu, who had been calm and calm before, finally showed a happy face and said, "Here."
For a cool official at the level of Zhidu, ordinary merchants, officials, local magnates, etc., can no longer excite him.
On the contrary, it was the feudal emperors who could make him feel the excitement.
"I plan to set up a new yamen, called the Punishment Department, to be in charge of the world's punishments. I intend to appoint you as the Minister of Punishment, to be in charge of all matters of the Punishment Department."
Here in Zhidu, I feel slightly embarrassed. "If I am in charge of punishment, then over there..."
"It doesn't matter." Li Yunze smiled and waved his hand, "He will be the imperial censor."
Zhidu suddenly realized that the construction of the new city had begun to take shape, and the current imperial censor, Fu Yan, was about to become the prime minister.