Tanhualang

Shen Jing followed the inner eunuch into the imperial study room, saluted Zhao Ming and Zhao Heng respectively, stood up, and then saluted to the ministers of the Ministry of Industry Miao Shenjian, Minister of the Ministry of Households Luo Ju, and several adults. Just now, he took two steps back cautiously and stood behind Miao Shenjian.

In the study room, there is a wide warm Kang by the window, on the Kang there is a desk for the east and west, a stack of books is neatly arranged on the table on the east side, Zhao Ming is sitting on the table; Zhao Heng is sitting on the west side, the table is full of memorials , Two of them are spread out, with Zhu Zhu on them.

The uncle and nephew were both dressed in plain clothes, and although they were sitting opposite each other, they were both frowning and expressionless.

The young emperor Zhao Ming was five years old at the time.

The last time Shen Jing saw Zhao Ming was at Zhao Heng's residence.At that time, he was playing chess with Zhao Ming, sitting opposite each other, he just felt that although the little prince didn't talk much, Yuxue was cute and thoughtful, and he could tell at a glance that he had been raised with care.

Behind the huge desk, Zhao Ming was dressed in plain clothes, with a silver crown on Xiaoyuan's head, and a serious face on his little face.

He is also five or six years old, and also has no father. Although Pan Xiaozhou is obedient and obedient, he can't help being coquettish and mischievous at his mother's knee every day. Although he is also forced to study, he still can't even recite the three-character scripture; A five-year-old little emperor, already sitting behind a desk, listening to several 60-year-old ministers discuss world affairs and control the power of life and death of thousands of people-but at the same time, he has become a thorn in the side of an unknown number of people.

Shen Jing couldn't tell for a moment, which of the two children was luckier.

As he was thinking about it, he heard Zhao Heng ask from above: "Shen Jing, did you draft this memorial?"

Hearing the sound, Shen Jing held her breath, took half a step, and said with cupped hands, "Yes."

"It mentions that by next spring, at least 70 taels of silver will be needed to complete the diversion of the Wusong River." Zhao Heng picked up the memorial and shook it, "You can calculate this number one by one now, let everyone listen together .”

Shen Jing hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Yes."

Then, he listed the construction costs from April to August one by one, and then listed the construction work and estimated costs from August to January next year based on the expenditures already spent.

After the calculation, no more, no less, it was exactly 75 silver.

After Shen Jing finished the calculation, Miao Shenjian said beside him, "Your Highness,"

After Zhao Heng listened carefully, he turned his head and raised his head to the Minister of the Household Department standing aside: "Is there any mistake in his calculation?"

Luo Ju hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands and replied, "Every stroke is very clear. It should be none."

"In that case." Zhao Heng held the memorial and shook it at Luo Ju, "Why did the Ministry of Households refute this memorial?"

Luo Ju heard this, and said unhurriedly: "Return to Your Highness. It's not because the accounts for water control were miscalculated. It's because the Ministry of Households really can't afford so much money."

After finishing speaking, Luo Ju also began to settle accounts: "Your Highness, please listen to me in detail. At the beginning of the year, a total of 320 million taels of silver was collected from various places. The treasury will be empty after all the military salaries from the four sides are allocated. In the middle of the year, there are 26 prefectures that transport 230 million taels of silver to the capital. Now that winter is coming, 80 of them need to be kept in the north, which is a customary annual rule. Another 50 Two, it has to be reserved for the payment of the food and salaries of the officials in Beijing and central China for the past six months. After these two major items are removed, there will only be 100 million taels left in the treasury. If the Jiangnan water control project costs 75 taels, only 25 taels will be left in the treasury by the end of the year. If there are droughts and floods this winter or next spring, what should we do then?"

This account is also very clear.While listening, Shen Jing saw that Zhao Heng's brows were getting tighter and tighter, and at the same time couldn't help her chest tightening.

After Zhao Heng heard it, he looked up at Luo Ju, and said in a deep voice, "Luo Shangshu, if you say so, since there is no money, it seems that the matter of water control in the south of the Yangtze River can only be put on hold?"

Luo Ju pondered for a moment, looked up at Miao Shenjian and Shen Jing and other officials from the Ministry of Industry, and smiled softly: "Not necessarily. It depends on whether there are any capable people in the Ministry of Industry under Mr. Miao."

Miao Shenjian replied, "Lord Luo, what do you mean?"

Luo Ju twitched his beard and laughed, "If you have money, you can repair the fortifications. Everyone can do it. If you don't have money, you can also repair the fortifications, and that's called ability."

When Miao Shenjian heard the words, his face immediately turned down: "Master Luo, what do you mean? According to what you said, it is the fault of the Ministry of Industry that the Ministry of Households cannot afford the money to build the fortifications? The prince also asks for a clear lesson. Master Luo, what are you talking about! This is really a person sitting at home, and the disaster comes from the sky! There is no money to build fortifications, how can my Ministry of Works conjure money out of thin air?"

Luo Ju smiled unhurriedly and said, "Master Miao, don't be angry. Your Ministry of Industry can't change money, so can my Ministry of Households change money out of thin air?"

He took a step forward and saluted Zhao Heng: "I'm not joking, Your Highness, please listen to me. This Jiangnan has been flooded for many years. Although Jiangnan is the Jiangnan of the world, it is also the Jiangnan of Jiangnan people. Jiangnan is rich, In addition to paying taxes to the national treasury every year, all state capitals have retained silver as a percentage. If each state government pays a little, and then collects some from the people, the more than two hundred thousand silver is barely enough."

He gave another example: "There is a case to prove it. The Yellow River flooded three years ago, and the construction of dams along the river cost a total of 40 people and 30 silver in six months. Only [-] silver was paid, and the other [-] was collected by the local state and county."

After speaking, Luo Ju looked back at Miao Shenjian, and said with a soft smile, "Master Miao, since the Ministry of Households can spend 30 yuan to do 40 yuan, can't the Ministry of Industry spend 50 yuan to do 70 yuan?"

Miao Shenjian's expression changed when he was squeezed out: "Lord Luo, what do you mean by this? Our Ministry of Industry has worked so hard, but you have become an incompetent person instead?"

Luo Ju smiled: "I dare not. However, if Mr. Miao thinks it can't be done well, you might as well hand over the matter of water control in the south of the Yangtze River to the Ministry of Household Affairs. I promise to only spend 50 yuan from the treasury, and the matter will be done properly. what do you think?"

"Lord Luo, do you think there is no one in our Ministry of Industry?" Miao Shenjian sneered, and turned to look at the two Yuanwailang standing behind him, "What do you two think about this matter?"

Unexpectedly, after the two Yuanwailang looked at each other, they both lowered their heads and did not dare to make a sound.

Miao Shenjian was so angry that his face turned blue, but he didn't dare to explode in front of Zhao Heng and Luo Ju, so he turned his head to look at Shen Jing: "Shen Jing, what do you think about this matter?"

Shen Jing raised her head and glanced at Miao Shenjian, then turned to look at Zhao Heng, hesitated for a moment, then cupped her hands at Miao Shenjian and said, "My lord, I think it is feasible to collect taxes from local state capitals to build fortifications."

"It's just that I have to ask for a grace from the Holy One." Shen Jing lowered his head, bowed to Zhao Ming, and continued, "After the Wusong River is diverted, the tax in the south of the Yangtze River will be reduced by [-]% within two years; the newly cultivated fields along the coast will be exempted from food for two years. Lesson. So this matter is doable."

Luo Ju frowned when he heard the words: "Master Shen, Jiangnan is the world's granary. Do you know how much Jiangnan's tax is [-]%? How dare you open your mouth to reduce or exempt [-]%!"

Shen Jing bowed to Luo, and said unhurriedly: "Lord Luo, please listen to me in detail. Just now, Lord Luo mentioned the flood of the Yellow River, and I happened to have read the records kept by the Imperial Academy. The flood of the Yellow River three years ago, the construction of fortifications It took six months to collect 25 yuan of silver from the state capitals of Shandong to spend on fortifications. Later, because of this, Shandong’s taxes were reduced by 68% for three consecutive years, and rents were exempted for three years on coastal fields. Today, Jiangnan fortifications will start in September. It is estimated that at least until April next year, at least eight months, the state government and the people will apportion 72 taels of silver. The population of Shandong is [-], and the population of Jiangnan is only [-]. Asking for two years of tax-free and rent-free for the people of Jiangnan, compared to Shandong The two years in the past are already one year less, not to mention only [-]%."

Luo Ju didn't expect Shen Jing to be able to recite all these numbers. He was speechless for a while, so he could only turn to Zhao Heng in embarrassment: "The treasury is so empty now, and Jiangnan is a big tax province...but Jiangnan's fortifications are important. What is going on? , let the Holy Majesty and His Highness decide."

After Zhao Heng listened, he pondered for a moment, then turned to Miao Shenjian: "Does Miao-sama agree?"

Miao Shenjian cupped his hands and saluted: "Let Your Highness decide."

"Since that's the case, Mr. Miao will personally preside over the official affairs in Jiangnan." Zhao Heng tapped the memorial on the table, "Before the end of the year, the Ministry of Households will allocate 50 silver. The rest of the expenses will be borne by the Ministry of Industry and the counties in Jiangnan Find a way to solve it. Before the rainy season next year, the Wusong River will be diverted fortifications, so there should be no future troubles."

"As for Zhuo Dajiang." Zhao Heng picked up another memorial from the table and flipped through it in his hand, "Because he is old, and now he is sick, let him go home and retire."

The flood control in the south of the Yangtze River was able to continue, but the allocation of the Ministry of Households was discounted, and one-third was abruptly cut off.

Shen Jing and two Yuanwai Lang followed Miao Shenjian back to the Ministry of Industry from the palace. Miao Shenjian didn't care about anything else, so he grabbed Shen Jing and asked, "Do you have a plan for this matter? This is not a small sum, 25 Ten thousand taels of silver! Where can we go to buy it! Alas, I should have known that I shouldn’t have messed with that surnamed Luo! I just got into a lot of trouble and came back!”

"Don't be impatient, my lord." Shen Jing replied, "I have something here, please take a look at it."

After speaking, he returned to the room, took a stack of papers, returned to Miao Shenjian's room, and handed the papers to Miao Shenjian respectfully: "I haven't finished sorting it out yet, my lord will take a look at it first."

Miao Shenjian took it over, looked at the ten lines at a glance, and looked up overjoyed: "This account is well calculated! This method is also good-as expected of Tan Hualang, Xiao Shen, it's hard for you to come up with such a good method!"

Shen Jing bowed and bowed, said unhurriedly: "My lord, I didn't come up with this idea."

"Who could it be if it's not you?" Miao Shenjian flipped the page, "Aren't these handwritings all yours?"

Shen Jing lowered his eyes halfway, and said in a low voice: "My lord, I just polished the words and sentences and copied them again. This memorial...was drafted by Master Zhuo on the hospital bed a few days ago."