Domineering Daming

"Yes!" Su Mo'er replied with a suppressed smile, then looked at the young man and said, "Come with me."

"Hey, good." The young man didn't know why he wanted to go to Yingtian Mansion, but he was still overjoyed. Looking at Bumbutai's infatuated and firm face, he said, "Ma'am, wait for me, I will be back soon." ..."

Bumbutai showed a rare smile, and picked up the bird's nest in front of him.

The young man suddenly became even more distraught, and his eyes were all green.

"From now on, it should be clean..." Bumbutai ate a mouthful of bird's nest, touched his belly, and whispered to himself.

After taking a few mouthfuls, Bumbutai put the bird's nest aside, picked up the abacus and began to fight again.

Jinyin Village spent a lot of money, which was regarded as "borrowing" and had to be repaid. Although there were a lot of money received, it was far from enough to repay the debt. In addition, Zhu Xu had high hopes for Jinyin Village. Butai cannot disappoint Zhu Xu.

Chapter 774 not party but party

The cabinet now only has two assistants, the left and the right. Facing a huge country, even with the help of six ministers, it is still too busy to breathe.

Especially on Zhu Xu's journey southward, not only the place was boiling, but also a large area of ​​territory was taken back. The complexity inside was far beyond imagination. The "personnel" alone was enough for them to have a headache. The minister even made the situation in the capital turbulent and rolling endlessly.

Sun Chengzong is a "military general", and has been discussing with the Ministry of War the military deployment from Horqin, North Korea, Satsuma, Ryukyu, to Luzon, Old Port, and Annan.Although Zhu Xu had already arranged a big framework, they still had to deliberate and supplement the details.

Bi Ziyan can be regarded as the "chief assistant", and his government affairs are more and more complicated. From south to north, from inside to outside, it almost makes him grim.

That night, the two were still in the cabinet, discussing with lights on.

Bi Ziyan took a sip of herbal tea and said, "Horqin, North Korea, and Ryukyu have all been arranged. The emperor of Satsuma will not let him move. For the time being, there are two propaganda departments in the South China Sea. The official department has already made a list. I'm still thinking about it, Annan's side is also stepping up, and we should be able to mobilize manpower before the end of the month..."

Sun Chengzong listened and nodded, and said: "Well, the Ministry of War is also mobilizing troops from various places, and they should be able to settle in as soon as possible. The key now is the issue of money and food."

Bi Ziyan put down his teacup, pondered for a while, and said, "I have already discussed with the emperor about Huitong Commercial Bank and the top ten granaries, and they will be handed over to the cabinet one after another. However, we must be cautious in using them, and the money and food will not be enough for a while. The problem is that it can no longer be spent as smoothly as in the past, and we must find a way to reduce expenditure..."

Sun Chengzong didn't speak, but thoughtful.The annual military expenditure is more than tens of millions of silver, not including other food and other subsidies. The Armament Bureau is also a place that consumes countless money, plus disaster relief, various projects, etc. The expenditure in the last three years is more than the entire Tianqi years combined. out several times.

Bi Ziyan picked up a towel and wiped the sweat off his head, and said: "This year's disaster is even worse. The rain is concentrated in these few days. The whole country is in severe drought. It is predictable that the autumn grain will be reduced by another [-]%. Huitong Commercial Bank is still one of the top ten granaries, and its reserves are limited. If it continues for a few more years, the treasury will be really empty, and we have to think of other ways..."

The disaster is getting worse day by day. With the continuous accumulation, it is not only the reduction of the court tax, but also reflected in all aspects of Ming Dynasty. The business will weaken and the price will rise. In contrast, the expenditure will increase significantly. The tax revenue of the court is already decreasing. Even if the emperor Years of preparation and accumulation will not last for a few years.

"I'm afraid it's going to be a hard time..." Sun Chengzong's heart is also a little heavy. As time goes by, they feel more and more pressure. Just like the emperor said, the most difficult period of Ming Dynasty has come, and there must be hardship. prepared in my heart.

Even so, Sun Chengzong's tone is relatively relaxed. Now that the external threat is gone, the interior is also quite stable, and it's just a matter of life.

Bi Ziyan also nodded. Sometimes he admired the emperor very much. He had a long-term vision, which was beyond their reach. If the emperor hadn't prepared early, rushed on the horse, and even pushed forward the "New Deal" desperately, the current life would be dozens of difficult. More than double.

Both of them were silent for a while, and Bi Ziyan said again: "About the matter of supplementing ministers, you have also received a lot of recommendation notes, right?"

When Zhu Xu handed over this matter to the cabinet, it was equivalent to handing it over to the two of them. He did not deliberately conceal it, which naturally caused a shock in the capital and even the entire Ming Dynasty.

Sun Chengzong took a look at Bi Ziyan and said, "There are quite a few of them, all of them are Tianqi, old people from the Wanli period, and some are from the Kundang, Zhejiang Dang, Donglin, and even the former eunuchs of the Eunuch Party."

"The demons and monsters have come out..."

Bi Ziyan shook his head slightly. People who are keen to form cliques are naturally impossible to get into the cabinet. He said after a little pondering: "Me too, but there are still a few good ones, Li Sicheng, Liang Tingdong, Hu Yingtai..."

Sun Chengzong knew that Bi Ziyan was trying to test his attitude. Hearing the names of several people, he began to think.

Li Sicheng was the servant of the Ministry of Officials during the reign of Tianqi. He was well-known and had never formed a party. He was dismissed because of the impeachment of the Hakka family.

Liang Tingdong was the minister of the Ministry of War during the Tianqi period. He had been in Liaodong for many years and was a former subordinate of Sun Chengzong. He resigned because he could not compete with Wang Zaijin.

Hu Yingtai was the servant of the household department at the beginning of Chongzhen during the reign of Tianqi. He was about to become a minister at one time, but was cut off by Fu Changzong. He was frustrated and resigned in anger.However, there are rumors that he and King Xin's side concubine Tian are cousins. When King Xin was in charge of Wenzhao Pavilion, he served as the political envoy of Shandong and was one of the few local supporters of King Xin.

Sun Chengzong thought for a while, then turned his head to look at Bi Ziyan and said, "Tell me, does the emperor have other intentions?"

"Other intentions?" Bi Ziyan was slightly taken aback, looking at Sun Chengzong with some doubts.

Sun Chengzong approached and said in a low voice, "Those Shangshu."

Bi Ziyan suddenly came to his senses, sat up straight, and pondered.

The emperor has always acted unexpectedly, taking precautions, ordering them to select cabinet ministers, it is hard to say that there is no other purpose, but if there is, what does it mean?What does the emperor want to do?

Bi Ziyan was at a loss for a long time, looked at Sun Chengzong and said, "What do you think, Mr. Sun?"

Sun Chengzong shook his head and said: "No, but this time, the emperor's attention will be focused on internal affairs. Once the 'New Deal' is fully promoted, there will be some major changes. It is normal to make some preparations in advance."

After all, Bi Ziyan is a veteran official. At this time, he hopes to be stable, everything must be stable, and he doesn't want any big disturbances. Hearing Sun Chengzong's words, his heart feels heavy.

"Then, how about choosing five from outside, Fu Changzong, Zhou Yingqiu, and Shen Yongmao?" Bi Ziyan said.

These three people are the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Officials, and the Secretary of the Ministry of War. They have the most authority and senior qualifications, and they all belong to Zhu Xu.Xu Dahua, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, Shen Xun, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, and Zhang Wenda, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, are relatively inferior, and may not be in line with the emperor's wishes.

Sun Chengzong nodded and said: "Let's draw up a list first, then call six ministers to discuss, and then decide on the specific candidates."

"Okay." Bi Ziyan said.

They also feel that the pressure is too heavy recently. Even if there are six assistants, there are still government affairs that can't be handled, and they must increase their manpower.

Shen Yongmao, Minister of the Ministry of War, has returned to Beijing, and is now busy with the part related to the "Military Reform" in the "New Deal". The division of war zones, the deployment of generals, and the current situation have changed. Liaodong, Horqin, North Korea, Ryukyu, South China Sea, and Annan must be reconsidered, and there are also matters such as disarmament and downsizing due to the reduction in food and salaries.

The head of the Ministry of War stood in front of Shen Yongmao, holding a document and said: "My lord, the emperor and the cabinet have requested that the army can be streamlined, but the recruitment of recruits cannot be stopped. The rotation of recruits and veterans must be accelerated, that is, selection must be carried out in all regions. Some veterans will be retired, and the overall army should be maintained at more than 60..."

Shen Yongmao raised his head, he knew all this a long time ago, and said: "There are too many troops in the southwest, and the same is true in Yunnan, and then in Liaodong, first make a plan and submit it to the cabinet before the emperor returns to Beijing. , to discuss after the next year..."

"Yes." The master said.

Shen Yongmao was about to pick up the documents in hand, and suddenly said: "After the emperor mobilized the money and food last time, how much do we have?"

The head of the Ministry of War said: "Yesterday, I went to the Ministry of Households to ask. Annan immigration, southwest disaster relief, etc. need a lot of money and food, and the quotas of the six ministries have been greatly reduced. Before next year, our Ministry of War can use about 70 taels of silver. And fifty stones of rice."

Shen Yongmao frowned, and said silently for a while: "You go first, I will go to the Ministry of Industry later to see if I can borrow some first, the expansion of the new barracks cannot be stopped."

"Yes." The master said.

The imperial court's expenditure this year is much higher than in previous years, but its income is decreasing. Therefore, the days when the cabinet and the six ministries are stretched are earlier than in previous years.

The official department has just changed a new gate, which seems to be very new, giving people a sense of decay and new branches.

Holding a few documents, Lu Daqi hurried into Zhou Yingqiu's class, and said impatiently: "My lord, letters from all over the country urged us to replenish our staff as soon as possible, and to approve the appointment documents submitted by them."

Zhou Yingqiu raised his head and glanced at him, and said calmly, "It's the political participation from various places, the participation in the council?"

Lu Daqi stood not far from Zhou Yingqiu's table, and said, "More than that, the appointment of the governor of Fujian is stuck in the Governor's Council, and the cabinet has not moved. You need to make arrangements early..."

These officials were already working overtime, Zhou Yingqiu looked up at him with a calm expression, and said, "Is someone here to put pressure on again?"

Lu Daqi looked anxious and anxious in his heart, and said: "My lord, there is no need to exert pressure, our bureaucracy is not peaceful, I think we should think of a way early..."

Zhou Yingqiu put down his pen, his eyes thoughtful.