Chapter 150 Breaking with the mentor Ma Wensheng (two in one)
The imperial officials participating in the financial meeting did not know what Zhu Houzhao meant by the financial meeting, what exactly was to be held, and what matters were to be discussed.
Even Wang Hua, the cabinet minister and the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, did not know. Even Wang Hua, Jiao Fang and Xu Jing, who were in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs, were summoned by Zhu Houzhao in advance to prepare for the financial meeting.
On this day, all the imperial officials who participated in the financial meeting came to the platform outside the Qianqing Palace. The reason why they were not in the palace was because the palace was not bright enough. Since it was a financial meeting, it naturally involved looking at a lot of numbers. , some older ministers found it difficult to see these figures clearly without bright light.
"Today I am summoning all my dear friends. To put it simply, in one sentence, today is to settle accounts and distribute dividends to you. To be more specific, it is the day when money is distributed. Except for officials from the Ministry of Accounts, the Royal Taxation Bureau and the Royal Bank, those present are , are all shareholders of the Royal Bank. Now that the Royal Bank has made a profit, it will naturally give you some money!”
Zhu Houzhao spoke first in person, pointing to a stack of account books in the center and said:
"In the 18th year of Hongzhi's reign, I asked Xu Jing to invest money with you, and I told you how much you invested would account for the proportion. Now two years have passed, Royal Bank has made a profit, and now these account books are calculated by them overnight. , remember clearly how much each of you will share;
Later, the people from the Royal Bank will read it over. When you hear the name, come and get it. If you have any objections after reading it, you can directly question Xu Jing to prevent him from embezzling your money. ”
After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, Xu Jing smiled. Apart from the emperor, the investors in the Royal Bank were all important officials of the imperial court, so he did not dare to take advantage of them.
The other officials also smiled slightly, and seemed to think that Xu Jing did not have the courage. However, these officials felt more fresh at this time. They felt fresh because the emperor wanted to pay him money, because they took out the money at the beginning. In fact, he didn't expect the emperor to return the money to him.
This is the case for Ma Wensheng, the chief minister of the cabinet. The five thousand taels of silver he took out were actually the funeral money prepared by his family. After all, he was already quite old and an important minister of the court. The funeral of his future death must not be careless.
It was precisely because he took out the only five thousand taels of silver in the family that his son complained very much.
Now, after Ma Wensheng heard that Zhu Houzhao said that he would give money to officials like him, he felt very novel and strange like other officials. He thought that since ancient times, if the emperor had money, if he was a wise king, he would reduce the world's money and food, regulate rivers, and build officialdom. Then carry out large-scale construction projects, such as building gardens or worshiping the gods;
And how come His Majesty is different from the previous emperors. He does not return benefits to the people or enjoy himself, but wants to share the shares with his own officials. He does not look like an emperor but a businessman doing business.
However, officials such as Ma Wensheng are no strangers to the Royal Bank now, because since the establishment of the Royal Bank, the cabinet has received countless memorials from the imperial censors requesting the suspension of the Royal Bank. The reason is that they cannot compete with the people for profit and cannot open royal shops. It was the first of its kind and will be remembered throughout the ages.
However, because Emperor Zhu Houzhao ignored these memorials, the Royal Bank was still in operation and even became known to more and more people. Even if Zhu Houzhao did not mention it now, Ma Wensheng could still learn from his colleagues and family members. I know about Royal Bank and heard whether interest rates have gone up or down.
Moreover, Ma Wensheng also knows that the Royal Bank is getting bigger and bigger now, with branches all over the capital, and branches in important towns in Gyeonggi such as Tongzhou and Baoding. Moreover, because of its advanced business model and the high credit and royal background, Huge reserves squeezed out many banks and money shops.
Therefore, like other imperial officials, Ma Wensheng was also curious about how much profit the Royal Bank had made.
"I know you are all curious about how much profit the Royal Bank has made. It has been written on the account book that will be given to you later. You can ask someone to review it again. Now start reading out the names and dividing the accounts," Zhu Houzhao ordered.
So, Xu Jing came over with an eunuch. The eunuch first said: "Wang Hua family, seventy-two thousand and six taels of silver!"
In this era, many clans did not separate their families, and even regarded family separation as a sign of family decline. Therefore, what families were the shareholders of the Royal Bank? Wang Yangming originally invested his wife’s dowry and family savings, and became Zhu Houzhao except As the largest foreign shareholder, the Wang family naturally gets the largest share now.
The imperial officials present were stunned for a long time when they heard this sentence, and they were very shocked! Because seventy thousand taels of silver was not a small amount in this era, many important ministers in the court did not even have that much cash in their homes, so they all looked at Wang Hua.
Wang Hua was also surprised. He is still brooding about the fact that his son Wang Shouren gave more than 30,000 taels of silver to Xu Jing. Even Wang Yangming's father-in-law's family is brooding about it, which makes Wang Hua now They all felt sorry for their in-laws, after all, they had misappropriated all their daughter’s dowry!
Moreover, Wang Hua is often slandered by people now, saying that he bought the position of Minister of Household Affairs with more than 30,000 taels of silver. Even his Wang family said so, saying that he only used family money to seek an official position for himself but refused to do so. The behavior of taking care of other family members is very objectionable.
Now when he heard that his family had received 70,000 taels of silver, Wang Hua couldn't believe his ears, but when he got the certificate from someone from the Royal Bank, he was convinced that his family had indeed received 70,000 taels of silver through the Royal Bank. silver!
Although a gentleman is ashamed of his words, Wang Hua still smiles sternly, but he is still happy in his heart, thinking that he can also explain to his clan members that his unsatisfactory son did not use the money to buy an official position for himself, but really For the benefit of the family, with 70,000 taels of silver, at least the family's private school can be expanded, and the family members of several common people can also receive more subsidies.
"The Ma Wensheng family received seven taels of silver from twelve or four thousand!"
After thinking about the Eight Tigers and several other officials, he came to Ma Wensheng. Ma Wensheng did not expect that he could actually get more than 10,000 taels of silver. He even became a little worried, worrying whether he would be cheated by others if he got this money. Impeachment, impeaching yourself for corruption will damage your reputation of integrity.
However, at the same time, Ma Wensheng was also very happy in his heart. He did not expect that after being an upright official all his life, he would one day get a legal income of more than 10,000 taels of silver. This was more cost-effective than doing business. He thought that now he would You don’t have to worry about using thin wood to make a coffin after you die.
Because Emperor Zhu Houzhao was not in power at the time, there were not many officials who were willing to give money to Zhu Houzhao. Of course, those who wanted to pretend to be honest were not excluded, so there were not many imperial officials who received the dividends, and it did not take much time. It was finished quickly. However, Zhu Houzhao did not announce the disbandment of the dynasty.
At this financial meeting, he distributed money in order to distribute profits to those who were willing to contribute to his work, and at the same time to win over some officials to follow him and make a fortune and thus be loyal to him. However, this was not his ultimate goal. His ultimate goal was to cultivate a There is an expansionary class, so he has to use his status as emperor to advocate.
"Now that all the ministers have received the money, you don't have to worry about it. You are worried about someone impeaching you for your own gain. A gentleman loves money and gets it in a proper way. This is what I give you back. It is reasonable and legal, but everyone Your Majesty is the same as me, we don’t He is a businessman, and the ministers are officials of the imperial court, responsible for the country and the country of the Ming Dynasty! Therefore, even if the gold and silver are in the hands of the ministers, they should be used for the benefit of the people like me, not for the benefit of individuals and families! Self-interest.”
When Zhu Houzhao said this, the officials who were happy because they got a lot of money suddenly became unhappy. They thought that their happiness was in vain. The emperor said that it was given to him, but he still had to take it back after all, and the reason It is very legitimate and should be used to benefit the people.
Ma Wensheng, the chief minister of the cabinet, was naturally a little disappointed like other officials, but he felt that as the chief minister, he still had to set an example, so he stood up first: "What your majesty said is true. I am willing to donate this money to enter the country." Household Department.”
"I am willing...I am also willing!"
"I...I am willing!"
……
These officials did not refuse the imperial majesty photographed by Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but laugh: "What are you doing, gentlemen? I don't mean to ask you to donate money to the national treasury. What I mean is to plan for the future of the Ming Dynasty. I and all the gentlemen should make an agreement to keep it, and one about today." Keep the promise of how the proceeds will be used.”
When the imperial officials heard what Zhu Houzhao said, they all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it was a good thing that they didn't have to donate so much money. Otherwise, it would be a pity. Now they heard that Zhu Houzhao asked them to abide by the agreement, but they didn't feel anything. They guessed that maybe they just didn't want it. Arrogant and extravagant, or something like that.
So, a group of civil and military officials replied: "Your Majesty, please tell me!"
"Okay, you are all people who have been officials for a long time. You should know the importance of the amount of land and people occupied by the people to the court. Therefore, I ask you that the profits you receive in the future must not be used to purchase land in the pass or accept investments. Secondly, it cannot be used to buy Ming people as slaves, thirdly, the family cannot use it for business, and fourthly, it cannot be buried in the ground or hidden at home!" After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking! Then he looked at these officials, and these officials were a little confused. They thought that it was understandable not to use it to buy land and accept donations. It was to ensure the source of the court's taxes. It was understandable not to buy people as slaves, and it was understandable not to do business. It can be understood that it is just to avoid using power for profit, and it should be based on agriculture and business at the end, but why can't it be buried? Should it be spent?
At this time, Xu Jin, Minister of the Ministry of War, asked this question.
"That's right, I just let you spend it. If you are in poor health, buy a ginseng root to supplement your health. If you like painting, buy famous paintings. If you like antiques, buy antiques. If you need to garden, garden the garden, or put it in the Royal Bank and lend it out. Okay.”
Zhu Houzhao distributed silver to these officials who participated in the shares this time, just to let them spend the money to invigorate the economic life of the Ming Dynasty, and in this way, silver would gradually become the mainstream currency of the empire, laying the foundation for the future development of the sea. Prepare;
At the same time, Zhu Houzhao's implication was to encourage these people to expand externally. The land and population within the customs cannot be bought and sold, but those overseas and outside the customs are naturally allowed.
Zhu Houzhao did this to allow them to use their power and financial resources to promote the development and change of the empire's science and technology and economy, instead of existing underground or becoming larger landlords. As for not allowing them to do business directly, it was to avoid collusion between government and business, although it could not Completely prevent it, but at least on the surface, Zhu Houzhao does not support or even prohibit it.
Today's Ming officials, especially those at financial meetings, do not have business backgrounds, and they do not even value personal interests that much. The level of social corruption is not as serious as it was after Wanli. Therefore, Zhu Houzhao now requires that, None of these officials refused.
Therefore, all the officials present signed this covenant, and Zhu Houzhao immediately ordered that this covenant be engraved in Fengtian Hall and a monument be erected to remember it, and said: "Now whoever fails to abide by this covenant, I will directly Get back his due share, you understand!”
"I understand!" Ma Wensheng and other officials replied.
The imperial officials who attended the financial meeting one after another left with the vouchers in their hands. Many of them still couldn't believe that they had gained so much money all of a sudden, and that it was not received from below, but given by the emperor. , It’s not even a reward, it’s the profit you deserve.
In order to stop his family from complaining that he could not be an official, and also to see if he really had so much money, Ma Wensheng asked his family to take several carriages to withdraw his 10,000 taels of silver from the Royal Bank. , Ten thousand taels of silver is equivalent to a thousand pounds of silver, which is not a small pile, so Ma Wensheng still couldn't help but burst into tears after reading it:
"I really didn't expect, I didn't expect that I would be able to get so much money one day after being an upright official all my life!"
"Master, please accept the obeisance of the unfilial son. The unfilial son Fu'er has misunderstood the master. Master, you are just doing it in the right way. It is not because you are not a good official. Only then did Fu'er understand. No wonder you can be a very popular minister!"
Ma Wensheng's son Ma Fu knelt down and smiled.
"Get up, this is all the kindness of the Emperor! We have to thank the Emperor!"
Ma Wensheng said and entered the house, and Ma Fu also took the initiative to help Ma Wensheng. Ma Wensheng saw that his usually cold little son began to know how to be filial to him, and he smiled happily at this time.
However, Zhu Houzhao only benefited a small number of officials who were willing to help him as the emperor when Liu Jian and others were in power. Therefore, most officials did not get this benefit now, and even many officials did not get this benefit. They were also very jealous, especially when they saw some officials moving carts of money from the Royal Bank to their homes, and some honest officials whom they despised suddenly moved to big houses, they felt even more unbalanced.
What's more, Zhu Houzhao also asked these profitable officials to spend money in a high-profile way, so there were even more officials who were unbalanced or even dissatisfied. Although there were many officials who were unbalanced and only regretted that they had not used money to support His Majesty earlier, there were also many officials. He was so jealous that he wanted the court to shut down the Royal Bank, especially those officials who had opened banks at home or made profits from loan sharks.
On this day, Ma Wensheng's disciple Gong Shangwei, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, asked to see Ma Wensheng and said: "Teacher, if the emperor opens a royal bank now, it is equivalent to opening an imperial store to make profits from the people. The student really cannot ignore this. The teacher is the head of all officials. , so I came to ask my teacher, can the students make decisions for the people and advise your majesty to stop the imperial shop? ”
According to official rules, if a student wants to submit a memorial, he will ask his teacher for advice. This is not only to avoid offending the teacher by rashly submitting a memorial and to gain support from the teacher, but also to avoid causing Long Yan to become angry. Ask for mercy yourself.
"Yi Qing (Gong Shangwei's nickname is Yi Qing), the Royal Bank is not run by His Majesty alone. Many important officials at home and abroad are involved. It is inappropriate to speak rashly. You have just been promoted to a ministry official, so you should be cautious and don't do this. It is not allowed to act against the emperor and offend important officials at home and abroad, so as not to affect his future entry into the cabinet. "
Although Ma Wensheng admitted that opening the Royal Bank was equivalent to the emperor doing business and opening an imperial store, which was suspected of taking profits from the people, he now knew that the emperor was not opening the imperial store for his own personal enjoyment. In addition, based on his understanding of Zhu Houzhao, the royal family It was impossible for the bank to close down, so considering the career of his protégé Gong Shangwei, he decided to dissuade Gong Shangwei.
What's more, when he thought that if the Royal Bank was closed down, he would lose a lot of money, and he instinctively began to resist someone's attempt to close the Royal Bank.
Gong Shangwei didn't expect that he would lose so many benefits if he didn't invest money for the emperor. He was already very angry. Now that he saw Ma Wensheng refused to support him, he became even more angry. He thought that his mentor had now become a greedy man who was afraid of death. He waved his sleeves and said: "Then student, say goodbye! In the future, students will not dare to wait for the door of their mentor!"
In this era where teacher-student etiquette is very important, Gong Shangwei's saying this is tantamount to breaking up with Ma Wensheng!
Ma Wensheng was so angry that he pointed at Gong Shangwei and cursed: "You!" But he didn't know how to reprimand him, so he could only sigh.
Gong Shangwei came directly to see Jiao Fang.
Jiao Fang now has a lot of money, and has just bought a large courtyard built by a former minister in Beijing. She is happily talking to her children and grandchildren about how kind the emperor is now, when she sees Gong Shangwei, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, asking for an audience. Quite surprised:
"Isn't this Ma Wensheng's disciple? Why did he suddenly come to see me and ask him to wait in Juanyun Pavilion!"
When Gong Shangwei saw Jiao Fang's appearance, he hurriedly saluted: "I have met Mr. Cifu!"
"Tell me, why did you suddenly see me? Shoukui asked you to come to me?" Jiao Fang asked.
"This is not the order of Shou Kui, and the official has decided not to step into Ma Mansion again. From now on, the relationship between teachers and students is broken! I came here just to ask Mr. Cifu, if Mr. Cifu wants to go further." , Gong Shangwei said.
Jiao Fang was almost shocked when she heard these words, wondering why Gong Shangwei suddenly betrayed his master and came directly to find her, but on the surface, Jiao Fang still pretended to be calm and said: "If you have something to say, just tell me. ”
"Yes! Mr. Cifu should understand that the Royal Bank run by His Majesty is actually harmful to the people. The merchants and even the gentry in the capital are all very angry because of this. The ministers in the DPRK are even more angry because of it. Even your bank, Mr. Cifu, is also deeply affected. What?
Therefore, I boldly suggest that if the Second Assistant is willing to come forward and advise His Majesty to suspend the Royal Bank, the people of the world will definitely respect you. When the time comes, Your Majesty will unite with several colleagues to impeach the First Assistant of the dynasty for his inaction. Wouldn’t that be unfair? Can you be the first assistant? ”
Gong Shangwei said.
Thank you book friend for the painting...丿陈2600 starting coin reward. Many thanks to book friend Ye Yu-Qingkuang*200 starting coin reward. Many thanks to book friend Mourning Wu Huaxia for 200 starting coin reward. These two chapters cannot be separated and become one < br>
(End of chapter)