Chapter 774 Emperor Chongping: It doesn’t matter, Ziyu will take care of it! (Qiuyue
Daming Palace, Hanyuan Hall
Following Emperor Chongping's almost angry roar, expressions of emotion could be seen on the faces of the civil and military officials of the Han Dynasty throughout the entire hall.
Yang Guochang, the chief minister of the cabinet, looked solemn, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty."
Facing the gazes of the ministers below, Emperor Chongping said in a deep voice: "The eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou, Cheng, Ma, Huang, and Bao, previously colluded with the Eastern captives and smuggled goods into Liaodong. After being inspected by Yongning Bo, they owed the official credit every year.
Alas, from the first year of Chongping to the fifteenth year, Yunsi suffered losses of more than 20 million taels year after year."
As soon as these words came out, most of the ministers in the palace were slightly shocked.
In fact, the previous burning of the old account books by the Salt Transportation Department has already shown that the Salt Transportation Department is fishy. How could the officials in the court not know about this matter?
However, didn't Yong Ningbo go south to reorganize the army? This also conveniently cleared up the salt affairs. More than 20 million taels will be recovered, and the national treasury, which was empty again, will become rich again.
No, there are still four general salt merchants who colluded with the Donglu and lost their property. Once it is transferred into official funds, the national treasury... will not be able to contain it!
Some officials who are very thoughtful and sensitive to money figures have begun to think about it. Forty to fifty million taels, how should this be spent? Should the salaries of Beijing officials be increased?
Han Huang, the second assistant to the cabinet, was at the bottom, his brows furrowed, and his eyes filled with deep worry. Compared with the other ministers in the palace, they were secretly happy that they had gained another windfall.
Jia Ziyu didn't stop when he went to Jiangnan. Not only did he make great achievements in military affairs, he also extended his hand to salt affairs, and also obtained such a windfall for the emperor...
According to common sense, the farther away from the emperor, the holy family will gradually fade away. For example, Gao Zhongping, the governor of Sichuan, was also a favorite of Emperor Chongping back then, but after being away for a long time, it was obvious that the holy family began to decline.
Emperor Chongping pondered and said: "Uncle Yongning went to the south of the Yangtze River to inspect salt and reorganize the army. This was an errand that I had ordered Uncle Yongning to do before. Liu Shengzao, the transshipment envoy to the Huaihe River, had already confessed. The Salt Transportation Department had a huge deficit. At the same time, the four major salt affairs generals
In recent years, merchants have taken advantage of the imperial court to monopolize salt profits, but they have collaborated with enemy countries and colluded with the Eastern captives. Uncle Yongning has already petitioned them to put all their illegal gains over the years into the national treasury."
With 40 to 50 million taels of property, the national treasury and internal funds can be filled, and these are only four families. As for the remaining four families...it doesn't matter, Ziyu will take care of it!
Since, according to the memorial, the law of voting for salt is very popular, why should the collection of salt taxes be borrowed from the eight major merchants? Moreover, when inspecting the property of a salt merchant, Jia Heng classified the property of the Yangzhou salt merchant as illegal.
wealth!
When the officials below heard this, they secretly realized that it was true.
As time went by, especially when officials from the Six Ministries in Nanjing filed a memorial to impeach Jia Heng for killing local gentry in Yangzhou and seizing their personal property, this kind of memorial and criticism became known to the officials in Shenjing.
On this point, compared to the southern officials who have a strong business culture, Shenjing officials, whether from the Qi Party or the Zhejiang Party, have invariably maintained an eerie silence.
Not only was it difficult to establish the accusation against the four salt merchants because of the collusion with Donglu, but also because Jia Heng used Jinyi Mansion to recover the illegal gains of the Sanhe Gang and sent millions of taels of silver to the national treasury, thus making the accused
Official salary arrears for one year were halved and repaid.
In other words, in simple terms, interests are related.
The confiscation of all the property of the four salt merchants obviously made the officials below feel hot. In fact, except for some officials who had interests to convey, no one had much sympathy for the eight major merchants in Yangzhou.
Yang Guochang, the chief minister of the cabinet, also tacitly refrained from mentioning this matter and said in deep thought: "I believe that although it is important to recover the deficit of the Transportation Department, it is especially important to get rid of the long-standing abuses of the government, reform the rules and regulations, and open up tax sources with the new salt law.
"
Emperor Chongping said: "On this matter, Yongning Bo also signed a memorial jointly with Qi Kun, changing the method of selling salt in Huaihe River, abolishing the status of the general merchant, and ordinary families can buy salt by selling tickets, and small profits but quick turnover are achieved.
, the worry of the imperial court’s insufficient salt tax no longer exists.”
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the officials in the palace changed slightly, thinking about the pros and cons of the salt vote method.
In fact, the salt-voting method is not Jia Heng's original invention. The salt-voting method was briefly practiced for a period of time during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. However, the method was still relatively crude at that time, but there were knowledgeable officials present who were not ignorant.
Yao Yu, the Minister of Rites, hesitated for a moment, held an ivory wat tablet, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, will this method make the price of salt high for officials and difficult for officials to eat, and the people will not be able to eat salt?"
At this time, Cen Weishan, the Minister of Punishment, frowned and said, "Your Majesty, this method was mentioned by Uncle Yong Ning. It has not yet been implemented and has achieved considerable results. I would like to ask Your Majesty to think again."
Emperor Chongping glanced at the ministers below and said in a deep voice: "According to Yongning Bo's memorial, in order to strictly enforce taxation, the imperial court set up yamen offices in Lianghuai River, stacked beds and buildings, had many officials and redundant officials, and exploited them layer by layer.
The more expensive the tax is, the more the price of salt is pushed up. As a result, the people do not eat the high-priced salt, but seek it from the salt dealers, which in turn causes a backlog of salt imports and the proliferation of illegal salt. These salt dealers collude with the salt officials.
It has eroded the country's tax sources. Since the twelfth year of Chongping to the present, the salt tax paid to the Ministry of Household Affairs has been gradually decreasing every year. Last year, the salt tax even exceeded one million. This does not mention that the remaining silver over the years is used for the operations of salt merchants and is used on credit.
, misappropriation, and shortage of transportation warehouse, how shocking!"
This is an excerpt from Jia Heng's "Chen Qianwu Er San Shi Shu". Emperor Chongping obviously also had extraordinary memory. Although he recited an excerpt, the general idea was still vague.
Zhao Yi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, came out and said: "The holy lesson is clear, the salt tax collection package is paid to the general merchants. Those merchants are slippery by nature, deceive the superiors and conceal the inferiors, and earn the difference in price, which in turn makes the people slander and complain.
As for the imperial court, it is imperative to abolish the system of diverting merchants to the shore, and as for the method of collecting salt, it can be tried out."
Emperor Chongping said: "Yong Ningbo also said the same in his memorial."
"Your Majesty, Uncle Yong Ning also delivered a detailed charter, as well as military secrets related to the entire army. In addition, there are two memorials." At this time, Dai Quan stood down and said cautiously.
Just now, Emperor Chongping took Jia Heng's first memorial and read it in advance. Then he looked at the silver on it and felt inexplicably excited.
Emperor Chongping took the charter, began to read it, and nodded.
On the contrary, it made the Han ministers below feel a little hopeful and wanted to find out.
Emperor Chongping put down the summary book recording the regulations and ordered: "Dai Quan, show the salt affairs regulations to a few pavilion elders."
Because it is clear and clear, it is often published in the Dibao if necessary, and the new salt method should also be shown to all officials for the world to review its pros and cons.
Dai Quan bowed to answer the order, then took the memorial, returned below, and delivered the memorial to all the courtiers.
At this time, Fang Huan, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, pondered for a moment, and then came out and said: "Your Majesty, since I have no official status and no official wealth, should the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs and the Qi University Scholars jointly supervise the salt affairs?"
The Ministry of Civil Affairs is to some extent the headquarters of the Zhejiang Party, but in taking over the power of salt affairs from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there is no distinction between the Qi and Zhejiang parties.
Emperor Chongping was picking up a military memorial about the Jiangnan camp to read. He glanced at Fang Huan and said calmly: "I have sent Princess Jinyang, the minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to go south to take charge of some affairs. And what Yongning Bo's memorial said,
It is jointly controlled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Salt Patrol Censor, and it is all stated in the charter. Fang Qing will read it later."
As soon as these words came out, the courtiers in the palace who had not seen the charter were mostly surprised. Why is it the Ministry of Internal Affairs again?
Is the Ministry of Internal Affairs still intervening in the salt industry? How is this possible? How did Mr. Qi Ge do it in the south? How can we allow that kid to act so unscrupulously?
At this time, Pang Shilang, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, said loudly: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for the salt affairs. I think it is inappropriate for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take charge of the salt affairs. Salt profit is the source of the country's grain, and the Ministry of Household Affairs should be in charge of the affairs."
At this moment, all the ministers in the court heard what he said, and they all agreed with him.
"Mr. Qi Ge from the Ministry of Household Affairs thinks it can be tried out, and Lin Ruhai, the Salt Patrol Censor, mentioned this and said that salt affairs often breed corruption. In this way, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Households can supervise and restrict each other internally, and then use the Salt Patrol Censor to
External supervision of history, such internal and external checks and balances, can prevent and prevent corruption." Emperor Chongping put down the military affairs memorial in his hand and said coldly.
At this time, it became clear that it was necessary for Jia Heng to have Qi Kun sign the chorus, otherwise the opposition would be particularly strong.
Looking at the ministers below, Emperor Chongping's eyes moved slightly, and his mind was already thinking about the personnel of Jiangnan Camp.
After the Jiangnan camp reorganized its military affairs, the commanders of the five guards and the commanders were all vacant, and no generals could be dispatched to supplement them for a while.
Five conductors.
No one recommended Ziyu.
Emperor Chongping had this thought for a moment, but then he felt that the Jiangnan camp had just begun to be reorganized and lacked strong generals to lead the troops, so it would not be too late to wait.
In fact, so far, except for the candidates for the capital of Henan and the governor of Henan after the Battle of Henan, Jia Heng has never recommended anyone. As for the promotion of generals, they are all promoted by the Ministry of War.
Even if someone is willing to use Jia Heng to send people from the Jia clan to join the army, since most of them are low-level generals, it will be difficult to cultivate party members and install cronies.
At this time, the ministers below read the regulations, and most of them had looks of surprise on their faces.
Among them, the division of responsibilities between the Salt Transportation Department and the Salt Patrol Yamen, as well as the powers and responsibilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Household Affairs, as well as various discussion procedures, are all detailed in the regulations.
It's like an ingenious system design that isolates some potential risks. This kind of talent is worthy of the talents of Wang Zuo.
Han Huang frowned and felt a sense of crisis in his heart. This Yong Ningbo was not only a general, but his talents were not limited to military aircraft.
As for Emperor Chongping, he put down the memorial at this time and was immersed in the reverie that the national treasury and internal funds could collect 40 to 50 million taels of silver.
It seems that ordinary people have planted a super lottery and started to plan how to spend the money. Although the wealthy Nine-Five-year-old will not be like the emperor's golden hoe, but when the Han Dynasty uses silver everywhere, if these 40 to 50 million taels are invested,
Regarding national affairs, there is no doubt...a timely rain, no, this is a rain that lasts for three to five days.
To put it bluntly, with these four thousand and fifty taels, even if the bureaucracy of the Han Dynasty is idle, it can support the operation of the Han Dynasty for three years.
"It seems that sending Ziyu to Nan Province is really a party." Emperor Chongping felt excited and said to himself. Well, this emperor was pleased with his ability to recognize people.
At this time, Chongping looked at the silent ministers below and muttered: "All the ministers have also read the new regulations on salt affairs. I have just thought about it. The regulations have their own way, especially the three parties and internal and external supervision.
Don’t take the opportunity to express this, I think this can greatly curb corruption.”
As he said that, he looked at Yang Guochang, the chief minister of the cabinet, and asked in a deep voice: "Mr. Yang Ge, what do you think?"
When Yang Guochang was "named", his face could not help but he raised his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I think this method is not without its drawbacks. For example, unscrupulous female businessmen put up quotations, hoard goods, or invade Guangjia Huaiyan.
If the two rivers are irrigated, the price of salt may be high or low, which may shake the foundation of the salt tax. I would like to ask Your Majesty to think twice.”
In fact, it is a matter of market supply and demand control. What Yang Guochang said is actually reasonable. Therefore, as soon as Yang Guochang said this, many officials came out to echo it.
The general meaning is that this method also has disadvantages and is by no means a perfect method, but there is no strong opposition to it.
Because compared to the damn salt merchants, this new method of sharing the rain and dew, everyone can be a salt merchant, and profit from a share of the salt, is still welcomed by the officials in the palace.
"According to the charter, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Household Affairs send personnel to check the public sentiment in various provinces, and the Salt Patrol Censor will also work with local governments and counties to conduct arrests and pickets. How can there be a perfect method in the world? It's just a matter of time and place.
That's all." Emperor Chongping glanced at Yang Guochang and said coldly.
When Yang Guochang heard this, he caught the coldness in Emperor Chongping's eyes, and his heart couldn't help but trembled, and he backed away without daring to say anything more.
Han Huang, the second assistant to the cabinet, frowned and thought about the pros and cons of this method. Saving costs, increasing profits, and reducing floating expenses in circulation. This method can be regarded as an expedient measure to reset the Lianghuai salt business system.
"Let's try it out for a year and then see the results." Emperor Chongping glanced at the courtiers below and said in a deep voice: "The cabinet has drafted a decree to Yongning Bo, who has full power to supervise the trial implementation of the new salt affairs system of the Huaihe and Huaidu Transfer Departments.
If this method achieves great results, it will be implemented in Changlu, Liangzhe, Hedong and other salt departments."
When Yang Guochang and Han Huang heard this, they raised their hands.
Other officials also agreed and said nothing else.
After retiring from the court, as the courtiers left the palace in twos and threes, the court's changes to the salt system, or the new salt method proposed by Jia Heng, spread like wildfire and spread quickly throughout the entire Shenjing City.
And some officials with lively thoughts have begun to think about going to Huaihe with their principal.
Nan plans to buy salt stamps and transport salt to Huguang, Liangjiang, Henan and other places to earn money.
Emperor Chongping returned to the harem along the corridor with the retinue of the internal guards.
It is approaching the tenth month of the golden autumn, and the heat in Guanzhong is gradually receding. The cool autumn wind blows between the palaces and palaces. The wind chimes on the roof sway gently with the wind, making a thin and crisp sound.
Emperor Chongping was walking on the eaves of the red lacquered wood corridor under the majestic palace. The fragrant fragrance of osmanthus floated between the palaces. The fragrance was pleasant and made people relaxed and happy.
Emperor Chongping asked Dai Quan on the side, "Have the sweet-scented osmanthus bloomed in the imperial garden?"
"Your Majesty, it's open. This is a new variety from the Osmanthus Bureau. I heard it was cultivated by the Xia family. In the past two days, the Queen and the Imperial Concubine have been visiting the Imperial Garden." Dai Quan said with a chuckle,
Said in a low voice.
Emperor Chongping nodded and said, "Put it in the Imperial Garden."
The emperor was obviously in a good mood these days. After all, he had just received a large sum of money, and the most difficult item of state affairs had been settled.
As for the old accounts from the Longzhi period, we can only settle them slowly.
Emperor Chongping withdrew his gaze from the direction of Chonghua Palace and, surrounded by his inner guards, headed towards the Imperial Garden. In the past few days, Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong had been admiring flowers and playing the piano in the Imperial Garden.
But something was different today. Prince Liang came to the palace from the Imperial Academy to pay his respects to the empress. Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong discussed a marriage for Prince Liang.
As the prince grew older, it was time for marriage.
The King of Liang whispered: "Mother, the fifth sister is not married yet, what should I do in a hurry?"
The Empress of the Song Dynasty was dressed in a red dress, her hair was tied into a heart-shaped bun, and her gold hairpins and pearls shone brightly under the sunlight.
Under the smooth and clean jade forehead, the gorgeous jade face was as white as snow, with a gentle smile. She put down the teacup in her slender hand, raised her eyes to look at Liang Wang, and said softly: "Wei'er, your fifth sister is determined to do this."
Now that we’re down, you have to hurry up and settle down.”
With a hint of disdain in his eyes, Prince Liang muttered, "That Uncle Yongning? I thought there was no one left in the Han Dynasty, and Fifth Sister must marry him, a man with a family?"
Empress Song frowned, with a hint of annoyance in her eyes, and asked, "This is your father's opinion. If you let your father hear it, and strike your mark carefully, then the queen mother will not ask you for mercy."
"
This child is used to speaking freely. He really doesn't want to open a pot. Didn't she and his aunt know that Jia Ziyu had a family?
When King Liang heard this, he said "hmm" unhappily, but there was still some disapproval in his heart.
Empress Song looked at Concubine Duanrong who had stopped playing the piano at some point. Her heart moved slightly and she said to Prince Liang: "Ziyu is also a rare handsome man among the Han Dynasties. He went to Jiangnan this time and made great contributions. In the future,
I won’t wrong your fifth sister.”
Prince Liang already didn't want to hear what Empress Song said. His eyes flickered when he caught a glimpse of the sweet potato seedlings in the southwest corner of the courtyard. He changed the topic and said with a smile: "Mother, the sweet potatoes my father planted this year look like they are growing well.
A piece of green leaves, I wonder how much I can harvest this year?"
Concubine Duanrong put down the guzheng in her hand, and under her crescent-shaped eyebrows, her bright and beautiful eyes showed a thoughtful look, and she said softly: "I heard from Jia Ziyu that these sweet potatoes can yield dozens of dan, which is dozens of the current grain output.
Times."
Liang Wang smiled and said softly: "Auntie, isn't it often said that oranges grow in Huainan and become oranges, and oranges grow in north Huaibei become oranges? Considering that the unsuitable water and soil in the two places will affect the yield of the fields, it is not necessarily true."
Concubine Duanrong frowned her beautiful eyebrows, a hint of sullenness appeared on her cold and beautiful eyebrows, but did not speak. Apparently, she was a little displeased with Prince Liang's low emotional intelligence.
Even though they are biological sisters serving the same husband, Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong still have a layer of separation between their feelings for each other's children.
In fact, if Xianning was born to the Empress of the Song Dynasty, there would be many twists and turns in her marriage to Jia Heng. Precisely because she was not born to her, she would even be happy to see Princess Xianning and Jia Heng succeed, and would take the initiative to match them up, just in time for their family
My son has one more helper.
Similarly, Concubine Duanrong's perception of Prince Liang, who had been grumpy and arrogant since childhood, was more like how her sister gave birth to such a naughty child.
However, Concubine Duanrong never showed it, and her temperament was cold and harsh towards her daughter, so it did not cause any estrangement between Empress Song.
Empress Song glared at Prince Liang with her beautiful eyes and said softly: "Ziyu never does anything that is uncertain. Since he said that these sweet potatoes can have a high yield, he is 70-80% sure. You child is always worrying in vain."
"Mother, how can you be so sure about where he is? He doesn't know everything. How can there be anyone in this world who knows everything? I heard from the superintendent of the Zhongzhong Prison in Beijing that now Henan officials privately call him Uncle Fanshu.
." King Liang said in a low voice.
"Sweet potato uncle?" Upon hearing this, Empress Song suddenly looked surprised at the white and rosy hibiscus jade noodles.
After hearing the words, Imperial Concubine Duanrong also put down the tea cup. Under her eyebrows, her beautiful eyes, like a clear spring, stared at Prince Liang, waiting for his words.
Although I had previously criticized Jia Heng, an "old man" with a family, for provoking his own daughter, over time, he gradually recognized Jia Heng as his son-in-law.
The King of Liang said softly: "Didn't he ask the historian Zhongjing Hou to go to Henan as governor? He vigorously promoted sweet potato cultivation in Runing Prefecture, Kaifeng Prefecture, Nanyang Prefecture and other places, saying that it can be a high-yielding grain. The officials and the people were worried.
If they have any doubts, they all call him Sweet Potato Uncle in private."
Just like Maize Xiaofu, Jia Heng also got a coined title, mainly because Shi Ding mobilized officials and people to actively promote sweet potatoes in Henan.
The two graceful and graceful beauties, who stood high in their buns, had a thoughtful expression on their faces.
The King of Liang smiled and said: "Mother, is there anyone in this world who knows everything? I'm afraid that he doesn't know how to do it. Even if we don't talk about farmland and crops, let's talk about Yangzhou salt affairs. Ordinarily he has been away for such a long time.
The decision is still being delayed for a long time. There is nothing left but fighting and killing. He can't do these things. Now it's not my aunt who has taken the fifth sister down south to help him."
In this case, he may still have some abilities in organizing officials and leading troops in battles, but other things are just ordinary.
"A few days ago, I heard that your father had hired four salt merchants, and there has actually been progress in the salt affairs." Empress Song frowned, and as she spoke, she also realized that her son
You may be a little unconvinced with Jia Heng.
After all, it is the nature of a young man to be competitive and competitive.
Empress Song thought for a while, and under her eyebrows, her kind and maternal eyes contained a bit of doting, and said angrily: "You child, no matter how big or small, wait until Xianning comes over, you will still have to do it all the time."
Where is brother-in-law Huan Ziyu?"
Prince Liang curled his lips and said to himself that with such a character as the fifth sister, following such a person would have wronged her after all.
At this time, Concubine Duanrong sighed: "I don't know where Xianning, Chanyue and the others are, and whether they have arrived in Yangzhou."
At this moment, a female official hurried over and said: "Queen, Your Majesty, your Majesty is here."
When King Liang heard this, his heart skipped a beat and he felt a little frightened.
Isn't my father reviewing memorials in the study room of Daming Palace at this time? What are you doing in the Imperial Garden?
Empress Song looked at her son, who was about to rub oil on her soles and run away. She was a beauty in her thirties, her eyebrows were curved into crescent moons, and she smiled and said: "Looking at you, you are like a cat seeing a mouse. Waiting for your father to
The emperor is here to discuss your marriage."
King Liang had a sad face, but he did not dare to refuse.
While he was talking, the eunuch said: "Your Majesty has arrived."
After a while, Emperor Chongping came to the back garden with rosy cheeks and brisk steps, and looked at the Song sisters in the pavilion.
"I have met Your Majesty." Empress Song stood up Yingying, left the pavilion with Concubine Duanrong beside her, and saluted Emperor Chongping. The beauty was dressed in a red dress, her face under the heart-shaped bun was as bright as a peach blossom, and her voice was round and jade-like.
Soft and gentle.
King Liang also bravely came over and said softly: "My son has met my father."
"Zi Tong, Concubine Rong is free." Emperor Chongping said softly and stretched out his hands to support her. His face, which had been as cold as iron in the past, was now smiling for the first time. This really surprised Empress Song.
"Your Majesty, is there something happy happening in the front hall?" Queen Song asked with a smile.
Emperor Chongping nodded, glanced at Prince Liang, and asked: "Prince Liang today
Didn't you go to the Imperial College?" "Back to my father, the Imperial College will have a collective rest today." Prince Liang said with an anxious mood.
Emperor Chongping asked casually and did not continue to ask. Instead, he asked King Liang to grant him a general amnesty.
Emperor Chongping, with the support of Empress Song, sat on the embroidered pier and said: "Ziyu's errand in Yangzhou has made great progress. He has confiscated 40 to 50 million taels, and has recovered tens of millions from the salt transportation department of the imperial court.
"Two, Zitong, I'm afraid the big man won't have to be so difficult in the past three years."
Compared to how he must maintain his imperial demeanor in front of the ministers, swallowing the whole world with anger, and unpredictable power, in the harem, although the majesty is still the same, there is still some lightness in his tone.
Forty to fifty million taels, and there are still four salt merchants left with one hundred million taels? This is the revenue of the national treasury for five years. After the implementation of the New Deal, ZTE has all the money.