The Ming Dynasty started with caution

"Why can we save so much money?"

Several merchants kneeling on the side were trembling with fear. When they heard the voice of the man on the throne and saw dozens of officials staring at them, their legs could not stop shaking.

Huang Min, a merchant from Ningxiang Town, Yangzhou Prefecture, was asked by Wang Bushui to do something, saying that after the good thing was done, he could get the goods from Liangxiang first.

Who knew that he would go to the palace to meet the emperor.

At this time, he trembled and said, "The cost of transportation comes from hired labor, rented carriages, and guards hired from the brokerage. Some people also borrowed money from the brokerage, and calculated interest every day..."

The heart of the retired emperor Hongzhi jumped suddenly. He asked more about farming in the palace and less about business. He didn't know how merchants transported goods from Jiangnan to Beizhili.

But after listening to what this merchant said, his mind became much clearer.

He glanced at Zhu Houzhao and said indifferently: "Isn't this what Yan Qingjia told you? Knowing that there is no money in the treasury, you dare to speak frankly in the palace. Tell us the plan."

The gentlemen were extremely excited and looked at Yan Chengjin with great energy.

If the court could build such an official road, it would be very beneficial to them. The family's business could save a lot of money.

And once the official road is built, the north and the south will surely prosper.

Zhu Houzhao was very excited. Seeing that his father was speaking harshly, he hurriedly said to Xiao Jing: "Write down my achievements first."

The gentlemen were silent for a while, looking at Zhu Houzhao gloomily, looking impatient.

A sharp knife-like light shot out from the eyes of the retired emperor Hongzhi, but Zhu Houzhao was unmoved.

Xiao Jing hurriedly wrote down his achievements on the memorial and posted it under Zhu Houzhao's name.

Yan Chengjin knew that with this posting, Zhu Houzhao's name would be nailed to the pillar of honor in history.

"Let's talk about it, Mr. Yan."

Yan Chengjin bowed slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Issuing bonds to ordinary people."

The gentlemen exchanged puzzled glances, their faces full of confusion. How can ordinary people have money to buy bonds?

The retired emperor Hongzhi was full of suspicion and said solemnly: "Where can the money come from?"

"No need to pay money, the people help the court to build roads, and they are calculated at seven cents of silver a day. These wages are counted as bonds, and they can be divided into eight years to receive tax silver from the banknote customs.

After eight years, the tax revenue from the banknote customs will be added to the national tax.

In this way, the court can build a straight official road from north to south without spending a penny of silver." Yan Chengjin said.

There are two conditions here. One is that the court has enough credit in the hearts of the people.

The gentry made a lot of money by issuing national bonds to the gentry before, which has proved this point.

The common people have long wanted to buy it, but they have no chance.

The second is that the official road can receive tax silver. Once the official road is built, it can save a lot of costs for merchants.

He dared not make a rash assertion, but he was sure that there were not a few merchants.

At least, before the railway appeared, this was a merit that would benefit future generations.

Liu Jian could not help but shake his head and sigh. He had to admire Yan Chengjin, who understood the economy. The official road could be built without spending much money from the court. It was indeed a good policy. Even he could not help but applaud.

The retired emperor Hongzhi tried to breathe, his heart became hurried, and he looked at Wang Qiong: "How much silver can the treasury take out?"

"Wait a minute."

When the people in the hall were stunned, someone among the officials shouted, walked out and knelt on the ground, "I agree to build a new official road, but it is better to give this national debt to the gentry. The gentry have money to repair it."

"Yes, there are countless gentry in the north and south, and they can't come up with a mere 10 million taels?"

"Each person can raise 10,000 taels. Only 1,000 people are needed to raise the money. 20,000 taels will be fine!"

The censors of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue bowed and said.

Then, several ministers from the six ministries came out to second the proposal, and the civil servants in the Hanyuan could not help it.

In the blink of an eye, there were more than a dozen ministers standing in the center of the hall.

Based on the amount of money collected by the banknotes, conservatively calculated, it would take four years to recover the investment, and the remaining four years would be a steady profit from the court.

Moreover, buying the court's national debt is much less risky than doing business on your own.

The retired emperor Hongzhi perked up a little, turned his eyes, and glanced at Yan Chengjin.

Yan Chengjin looked thoughtful. He issued bonds to the people just to give them a channel to earn money and reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.

In the Ming Dynasty, whether the people could earn money was largely determined by the court's policies.

For example, if taxes and corvée were reduced, farming would have some surplus grain.

Now, if national debts were issued to the common people, at least hundreds of thousands of households with hundreds of taels and thousands of taels would be created.

"The national debt has been sold to the gentry before. I think that this time it should benefit the people. Even if the gentry want to buy it, only 100 taels will be issued."

The ministers narrowed their eyes. Yan Chengjin was really abominable.

While thinking, he quickly organized his words.

The palace was full of smart people. They soon figured out that these ministers wanted to get silver from the national debt.

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said happily: "As Lao Gao said, in my name, issue an imperial decree."

The ministers were disheartened. If they said more, they would be suspected of competing with the people for profit.

The retired emperor Hongzhi hesitated for a long time, sighed and said: "The cabinet will convey the will of the new emperor in plain language so that the people can understand it. Then issue a decree to the various prefectures in the north and south of Zhili, ordering the prefectures to recruit people and start construction as soon as possible."

Li Dongyang responded. Obviously, he was the one who wrote the imperial edict.

At the time of Shen today, the cabinet Hanlin, under the protection of the imperial guards, posted the imperial edict on the palace wall next to the Meridian Gate.

When the imperial edict was published, the people were shocked. Perhaps they could not believe such a good thing. They staggered a few steps and almost fell to the ground.

Then, the people who came to see the list had wet eyes and tears burst out.

As long as they worked hard, they could buy the government bonds of the court.

For a time, the court report spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.

The gentry looked pale and could not believe their eyes. The court sold the government bonds to ordinary people.

They were so angry that they tore up the court report on the spot, and quickly hired laborers to go to Shuntian Prefecture to sign up.

Coming out of the palace, Yan Chengjin stood at the Meridian Gate waiting for the sedan chair, and the officials next to him looked at Yan Chengjin with angry eyes.

Hearing the shouts from under the imperial edict not far away.

He knew that the people were relieved now.

"Where is Fang Lai?"

The eunuch who sent him out of the palace smiled and said flatteringly: "He sat in Li Gong's sedan chair."

In the past, Li Dongyang was busy with political affairs and it was inconvenient to visit Yan's house.

Now that he has the opportunity, he can enjoy the joy of family life on the way to and from the court.

Yan Chengjin immediately showed a thoughtful look. Today, he was competing with hundreds of officials in the court. Li Dongyang's sedan chair had no guards, so he would take it away in person to feel at ease.

As he said that, he urged the eunuch to bring Yan Fanglai.

A moment later, Yan Fanglai walked to the palace gate, with two children behind him.

The friendship between children is pure and flawless. Zhu Zaikun opened his eyes and said seriously: "Tomorrow, you must bring your sister with you. I will ask Gu Daban to prepare snacks. They are delicious."

"Ask my father about this."

As soon as the voice fell, the two children, Zhu Zaikun and Zhu Houcong, looked at Yan Chengjin with their big eyes.

Yan Chengjin's face sank, and his body trembled with anger. He ignored Zhu Zaikun and carried Yan Fanglai into the sedan chair.