Chongzhen Chat Group

Emperor Chongzhen was very pleased that Xu Guangqi could understand his meaning well without having to explain or persuade too much. If you want to revive the Ming Dynasty and strive for global hegemony, you cannot do without good ministers. Only if there are more and more ministers like Wen Tiren, Xu Guangqi, and Lu Xiangsheng, can we do our work with twice the result with half the effort!

Thinking of this, he smiled and told Xu Guangqi: "Xu Qing, when adding scientific and technical knowledge to the official assessment, we need to have a clear rules and regulations, and announce them to the world, so that officials all over the world can follow the rules. A system has been formed in the Ministry of Personnel and implemented continuously. Therefore, you should summarize such rules and regulations and submit them to the cabinet for public discussion. Once there is sufficient consensus, it will be announced to the world!"

Having said this, he thought for a moment and added: "I will also remind the cabinet that no one will object to this matter, it will only be a supplementary gain!"

Emperor Chongzhen believed that there would be no problem in using his influence to allow the cabinet and the Supervisor of Ceremonies to do this. And when he said this, he also thought of one thing, that is, the Yizhan storytelling system will no longer be able to just tell some novels about heroes who are popular among the public. It will also have to add some fantasy fairy novels to develop this system. The imagination of ancient people, and some famous science fiction novels, will increase the people's acceptance of new things in the Ming Dynasty. In this way, I believe that scientific and technological knowledge will be more easily accepted by the people of Ming Dynasty.

In fact, Confucianism has occupied the minds of Chinese scholars for too long. To promote scientific and technological knowledge, we must challenge the important position of the Four Books and Five Classics in the minds of scholars and attack the monopoly of Confucianism. And this doesn't happen overnight. We must use our greatest ability to promote this matter.

At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen even thought that he could not just use new inventions as demonstrations. My apprentice in Yingtian Mansion should be building that hot air balloon soon. After the Chinese New Year, I will take care of myself so that people can reach heaven. This will definitely shock the people in Jiangnan Shilin.

As he was thinking, Xu Guangqi below was very happy after hearing what he said. Knowing that this method of promoting scientific and technological knowledge is a long-term solution, I couldn't help but secretly praise: Your Majesty, you are really far-sighted!

So, he bowed down and said sincerely: "Wei Chen accepts the decree!"

The matter was settled like this. After Xu Guangqi resigned, the sky had already darkened. The days in winter are so short, and it will get dark in the blink of an eye. Whatever else, we can wait until tomorrow to talk about other things. Anyway, there are still a few days before the New Year.

However, at this time, Emperor Chongzhen did not know that what happened today had spread throughout the capital as quickly as possible, causing a sensation in an instant.

Well-informed people were the first to spread the news: "Have you heard? The equity previously allocated to the six ministries was taken back by the emperor to the treasury?"

"What, how could this happen? This equity can be divided as much as you want, and you can take it as soon as you want. Will the shares I bought be taken back by the court?" Someone immediately became worried after hearing this.

"You are just worried. Don't you know? The reason why the Emperor took back the equity given to the Sixth Department is because the Emperor found out that all the equity dividends received by the Sixth Department went into the pockets of senior officials in the Ministry and were embezzled! You said this situation If something happened, can we continue to delegate the equity to the six yamen? And the six yamen didn't pay anything at the beginning. What's so strange about taking back the shares that were obtained in vain? You are different. You paid real money, and the equity belongs to Yours, these are two completely different things, what are you worried about?"

After hearing such an analysis, those people with equity were relieved, but they were also curious and asked about the gossip. When they learned that the most corrupt officials had been rectified by the emperor, and that all the officials, including the minister and minister, had been demoted to the bitter cold of Liaodong, they couldn't help but cheer loudly and cursed, "You deserve it!"

Some people were very sensitive after hearing the news and immediately guessed: "In the future, the emperor will use the money from stock dividends to reward officials, and also pay salaries to officials. This... this should Isn’t this the great gift the emperor said he would give us?”

What kind of gift is this? This topic has always been firmly at the center of people's conversation. Upon hearing such speculation, some people felt it was true, while others felt it was not. For a while, they quickly diverted their attention away from the matter of equity dividends.

"Yes, this is the gift that the emperor is talking about. Do you think that if officials have extra reward money, will they get less? For this money, will they have more ideas to improve themselves? Political achievements? In this way, will the people under their rule benefit? Right, nine times out of ten, this is what the emperor calls a great gift!"

"I think so, too. The simplest point is that all the staff will be converted into officials, and they will have the salary given by the court. This is a big gift, right? Gao is not happy, is it unexpected? Is it worthy of a big gift?"

"..."

The more people talk about this, the fewer people have different opinions, but there are still some.

"But the emperor said that he wanted to give a big gift to all the people of the Ming Dynasty. As you said, it would be a big gift to officials and staff at most, right? What about ordinary people? Like you and me?"

"Yes, I think so too. Shouldn't these indirect benefits be attributed to the gift given to us by the emperor? The whole family has been nagging for the past few days about receiving a gift from the emperor during the Chinese New Year. If they knew it was just like this, how could they still Not disappointed!”

"..."

But if this is not a great gift, the people of the capital cannot think of a greater gift than this. And this is indeed what happened a few days ago, and it echoes what the emperor said about giving everyone a New Year gift. Gradually, the people in the capital began to believe that this was the great gift that the emperor had mentioned. After reaching this conclusion, some people are disappointed, some are unwilling but helpless, and some still don't believe it. Only the officials, especially those at the bottom, are already happy.

The common people's guesses about the great gift mentioned by the emperor are basically unreliable. There was only one chief minister in the capital, Wen Tiren, who had some vague guesses about the great gift announced by the emperor.

Early the next morning, as the New Year was about to begin, he received the emperor's oral order announcing his audience. The first thought in his mind was that the emperor should give him that big gift!

Thinking like this, he was also a little curious in his heart. He didn't know how that thing could become a great gift to all the people?

With this idea in mind, Wen Tiren hurried to the Wenhua Hall to meet him.

After the ceremony, he looked at Emperor Chongzhen on the throne and waited patiently for the next words.

Sure enough, Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said to him: "The reason why I sent you here this time is about the salt administration. Wen Qing, can you tell me?"

When Wen Tiren heard this, he immediately became energetic. He had been looking forward to this day for a long time. All the information about the salt policy was already in his mind.

Just after Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking, he heard Wen Tiren playing: "Your Majesty, the salt tax in the former Song Dynasty generated more than 10 million taels of revenue every year. In the Ming Dynasty, during the Wanli period, the revenue was only one million taels. Now in these years, after rectification, the salt tax revenue is only more than two million taels at most. This is one of them!"

"Secondly, the number of common people in the former Song Dynasty was much lower than that of our dynasty. According to Weichen's verification of the data of the former Song Dynasty, it was even a population of 60 million. But in our Ming Dynasty, we already have almost double that number. This number is not accurate yet. Those hidden households cannot be included in the calculation. Therefore, it stands to reason that the amount of salt used by the people in our dynasty should be more than double that of the previous Song Dynasty!"

Emperor Chongzhen did not speak, but listened to Wen Tiren's talk: "Thirdly, the retail price of salt consumed by the people was about fifty cents per catty of salt in the previous Song Dynasty, while in the Ming Dynasty, the average price was about three cents per catty. There are as many as a hundred words. The retail prices are also very different. Of course, in the details, the prices may be slightly different. For example, the prices of salt produced in different places will be different, and the prices of salt sold in different seasons will also be different. But Generally speaking, it is the number that Wei Chen just played."

At this point, a trace of anger appeared on Wen Tiren's face, and he loudly said: "In this way, our country uses more salt; our country's retail price is higher, but in the end, our country's income from salt tax is far away. Lower than the previous Song Dynasty. Wei Chen has been focusing on this area in the past few years, and the salt tax revenue has been increased by about double. However, the current amount of salt tax is still far lower than that of the previous Song Dynasty. With all these drawbacks, Your Majesty Give me good advice!"

As he said, he really tried his best. However, he was still very dissatisfied with the amount of the salt tax. But no matter how hard we try, we often get twice the result with twice the result, and feel a little powerless. Previously, he had been looking forward to hearing Emperor Chongzhen say that he had a way to solve the salt administration problem once and for all.

Therefore, after Wen Tiren finished speaking, his eyes were bright and he stared at the emperor on the throne, expecting to find some good way to solve this matter.

Emperor Chongzhen actually already knew these things he reported. In addition to Wen Tiren's previous memorial on the salt policy, he also had the channel of factory guards, through which he could also get the information he needed. Moreover, this is not what he asked for. Jin Yiwei originally had such a function and would inquire about the price fluctuations of vegetables, rice, oil, salt, etc. outside.

After Emperor Chongzhen listened to Wen Tiren's report, he nodded with a slightly serious face and said: "I know that most of the salt tax was not collected into the national treasury, but was lost. This money went to local officials at all levels, and also to local officials at all levels. There are pockets of salt merchants and private salt dealers. If you want to modify the original salt policy, it will only treat foot pain and waist pain. They are only treating the symptoms, not the root cause!"

Wen Tiren listened with great concentration. What Emperor Chongzhen just said hit the point, and he couldn't help but nod slightly. Now he just wants to know how to cure the root cause?

Emperor Chongzhen naturally would not play tricks on his subordinates, and did not whet his appetite. He said seriously: "I believe that the fundamental solution is to completely throw away the salt policy that has been in use and implement a new salt policy! "

Upon hearing this, Wen Tiren couldn't help being surprised and asked quickly: "Your Majesty, you must be cautious about this matter, be careful!"

Salt policy is the foundation of the country, and the emperor wanted to put it aside completely. This movement was too big, so he quickly reminded it. But at the same time, he was also very curious. If the previous salt government system was completely abandoned, what new form would be used to replace it?

Seeing him like this, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but smile and said: "I have actually been cautious. Otherwise, this salt policy would not have been delayed until today!"

After joking for a while, he continued without waiting for Wen Tiren to speak: "In the past, the salt administration could not be easily touched. After all, more than half of the imperial court's financial revenue came from the salt tax. If something happened, The imperial court could not afford large fluctuations in salt taxes.”

Having said this, Emperor Chongzhen showed a smile again on his face and said: "However, the tax revenue of the imperial court has come out this year, and the proportion of salt tax in the national treasury revenue is far less than before. Even if there are large fluctuations, even if there are large fluctuations, Next year we won’t get a single point, and it won’t be too difficult for the court!”

Wen Tiren nodded slightly when he heard this, feeling very emotional in his heart.

Although speaking of it, the imperial court's financial income was only due to his efforts as the chief minister to implement the New Deal, and the tax revenue increased so much. But in fact, almost everyone knows that most of the new policies that make a lot of money come from the emperor. As the chief assistant, he is just executing.

Thanks to the wise emperor, the wealth and income have increased so much.

Emperor Chongzhen on the throne did not pay attention to what he was thinking, and continued to talk about the topic just now: "Another point, my imperial commander personally conquered Liaodong, destroyed the Jianlu, expanded the territory of the Ming Dynasty, and the entire north, to As far as the Ming Dynasty is concerned, there are no major wars anymore. The imperial court can free up a lot of energy and focus."

This remark also has another implication, that is, the emperor's prestige and the court's prestige have reached their peak over the years after this series of events. Moreover, this prestige was not obtained through the intimidation of the factory guards during the Tianqi Dynasty. It has a greater deterrent effect!

Hearing what the emperor said, Wen Tiren nodded repeatedly. From this point of view, the emperor was actually very cautious about the reform of the salt policy. He has been quietly arranging the plan, and is waiting for the moment when the general trend is achieved before he reveals his sword and salt politics!

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I have filtered it! Please show me how to replace this salt policy with new laws!"

After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen smiled slightly and said: "Actually, the new salt policy I have in mind is very simple to say the least. It is to abolish the part of the salt government that is controlled by the government, and there will no longer be divisions into regions, and there will be no business of breaking promises. Return to normal business..."

Upon hearing this, Wen Tiren couldn't help but be shocked. He never expected that the new salt policy mentioned by the emperor would be so nonsense. How could this be allowed!

He was so anxious that before the emperor finished speaking, Wen Tiren anxiously interrupted: "Your Majesty, you must not do it. Salt has been sold by officials since ancient times!"