Chapter 246 As the chief assistant, you are embarrassed!
Seeing Liu Yu looking at her with confusion, Wang Qiong just smiled secretly in her heart, thinking that she was regretting that when His Majesty first ascended the throne to fight for power, because she was in foreign office, she did not seize the opportunity to invest money in His Majesty's royal affairs. Business, so that I missed the opportunity to make a fortune.
Now that His Majesty the Emperor proposed to form an Infrastructure Bureau, he would naturally not miss the opportunity to make a fortune with His Majesty.
Although, Wang Qiong actually only knew the word infrastructure, and even knew that it might mean building roads and bridges.
But he believed that His Majesty the Emperor would not let himself suffer if he asked officials like him to invest their ill-gotten gains in the Infrastructure Bureau. After all, the Emperor would not let himself suffer.
In order to make a fortune with His Majesty the Emperor, with His Majesty the Emperor and even with the country behind His Majesty the Emperor, Wang Qiong would naturally seize this opportunity immediately, so he directly exaggerated that he had received a bribe of three hundred thousand taels from King Ning. He finally understood that as long as he followed the emperor and invested more money, his family would get more benefits in the future.
The former chief minister Wang Hua, who just resigned and bought half a mountain in Kuaiji, Shaoxing to build a garden, are examples.
As for the fact that he took the initiative to confess that he had accepted so many bribes from Prince Ning, Wang Qiong believed that His Majesty the Emperor would not really punish him severely. After all, His Majesty himself had said that he, the emperor, had also accepted Prince Ning's benefits. The implication was that Even he himself did not intend to pursue too closely the matter of accepting bribes from King Ning before his rebellion.
Moreover, Wang Qiong also knew that if the emperor really wanted to pursue the case, it would be the same whether he admitted it or not. It might be better to take the initiative to admit it.
Zhu Houzhao pretended to be angry and put the tea cup heavily on the table, and pointed at Wang Qiong:
"Hmph! This Prince Ning is really rich. He bribed you Wang Qiong with so much money, but you, the second assistant, dare to accept it. I wish the people would force the Ministry of Punishment to skin you!"
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"I am guilty, but Your Majesty, I also wanted to paralyze King Ning at that time, making King Ning mistakenly think that I was not aware of his rebellion, and even did not dare to stop him from rebelling because I accepted his benefits! That's why I am so strong Have the courage to accept Prince Ning’s money!”
Wang Qiong knew that His Majesty the Emperor was deliberately beating him up. After all, His Majesty the Emperor would not openly say that he accepted bribes well.
Zhu Houzhao really just wanted to do something superficial. After talking about the disadvantages of accepting bribes, he said: "Of course, the fact that you can take the initiative to hand over this ill-gotten wealth is enough to show that you are not intending to collect money and ask for bribes. I believe you for the time being, but you can avoid the death penalty, but you cannot escape the living penalty. I will issue an order to the officials and fine you half a year’s salary!”
"As for the ill-gotten gains of more than 300,000 taels, I will decree to put them into the reserve funds of the Infrastructure Bureau, but I will not let you donate it in vain. It will be regarded as your shares and become a shareholder of the Infrastructure Bureau. In the future, the infrastructure After the bureau contracts the construction of the project, a part of the profit will be distributed to you. However, only half of the three hundred thousand taels can be divided into your own, and the other half will be handed over to the court to participate in the formation of the court's shares. "
When Zhu Houzhao said this, Wang Qiong naturally had no objection and could only express his gratitude. After all, if the emperor was willing to confiscate all his family property, he would not be able to resist.
But what makes Wang Qiong more suspicious now is why the imperial court also wants to take shares, and why the imperial court wants to directly take half of the ill-gotten gains he donated!
"Your Majesty, I don't understand. The imperial court is not a physical object. Different from families and individuals, the imperial court also owns shares, and half of the shares. In this case, where will the profits distributed to the imperial court go?"
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Wang Qiong asked.
Zhu Houzhao knew that Ming officials in this era did not understand the concepts of public ownership and private ownership of the economy, and naturally did not understand what state holdings were.
Therefore, Zhu Houzhao had no choice but to continue to patiently explain:
"The imperial court is the country, that is, the Ming Dynasty. It represents the interests of all the people of the entire Ming Dynasty. The imperial court's shareholding is the state's shareholding, which is the shares held by all the people of the Ming Dynasty. He not only has to occupy half of the shares, but also Get more than half of the shares, because the Infrastructure Bureau can only belong to the imperial court! He must benefit all the people of Ming Dynasty!”
"This is called the Central Commercial Bank (the Ming Dynasty version of a central enterprise). It is a commercial bank controlled by the central court. Private individuals can have partial equity in the central commercial bank, but this is only a return on the state's investment. It is also intended to stimulate private enthusiasm in operating the central commercial bank. , and the control of the Central Commercial Bank must be in the hands of the Central Court!
In this way, most of the benefits and income from the Infrastructure Bureau should belong to the state, so that the state can better control the world's infrastructure and the income derived from it, do you understand? ”
"Otherwise, if all the official roads, bridges, canals and ports and ferries in the world are controlled by the powerful and powerful, how can the common people of the world enjoy the benefits brought by the large-scale infrastructure construction of the imperial court? In addition, how can the imperial court Control you, the richest plutocrats! I’m afraid the court will be controlled by you!”
When Zhu Houzhao said this, Wang Qiong also understood what Zhu Houzhao meant. This is somewhat similar to the clan property in a large clan. The clan property accounts for the majority of the clan property in order to facilitate the weaker clan members in the clan to receive basic care, which is beneficial to the clan. Stability, for the country, is conducive to the stability of the entire Ming Dynasty.
Wang Qiong admitted that it was right to do so, and believed that His Majesty did so for the sake of the people of the world. However, it was naturally not the best for the royal family and powerful people like himself, because this would mean great consequences in the future. The trading houses will still be controlled by the court, and it will still be difficult for the powerful and gentry to compete with the court and make the most profits.
"Your Majesty is very concerned. This will prevent the powerful from getting too rich and the common people from getting too poor, but it will also affect the Infrastructure Bureau's ability to maximize profits," Wang Qiong said. "The Infrastructure Bureau is not only allowed to do business within the Ming Dynasty. For example, if I give the King of North Korea a statue of the most holy teacher (the statue of Confucius), I require the King of North Korea to build a ten-foot-high platform and enshrine it in a magnificent Confucius Temple. Moreover, cement concrete must be used, and the Ming Dynasty Infrastructure Bureau is required to undertake the project. North Korea When the royal family allocates project funds, it will first allocate two to three million taels of silver or something. If there is no money, I can ask the Ming Dynasty's banks to give him a loan. But if he can't pay back, the Infrastructure Bureau can have the right to develop his port lease. After a hundred years of collecting taxes and making profits, isn’t it possible to use the wealth from all over the world to benefit our Ming Dynasty? ”
"In addition, other surrounding vassals can do the same. In order to facilitate the silk trade, they ask all countries to build roads. In order to facilitate neighboring countries separated by water to trade with the Ming Dynasty, they ask all countries to build ports. These can be left to the Infrastructure Bureau!"
When Zhu Houzhao said this, both Wang Qiong and Liu Yu suddenly realized.
Wang Qiong knew that this was actually to build infrastructure for the foreign vassals, but in fact it was to seize the interests of the foreign vassals to benefit the Ming Dynasty. This was much better than direct war and plunder, so Wang Qiong hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I think this matter is very serious. Good, don’t start the war lightly but it will bring great benefits This is the best policy! I think we can also ask the Tuxie and Ordos tribes to build roads, and we can also ask Manlajia to build roads, and even let Jiaozhi build roads to connect to the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty can also build roads in the future. Take back Cochin cheaply!”
"In addition, I believe that the spread of Confucianism to the outside world is conducive to the stability of the Ming Dynasty. This matter should be done sooner rather than later. The cabinet should immediately request the Minister of Rites to send an envoy to Korea."
Wang Qiong said and looked at Liu Yu again: "I wonder what the chief assistant thinks?"
Even if Liu Yu, the chief minister of the cabinet, was not as quick to respond as Wang Qiong, he could understand the benefits of this after listening to Emperor Zhu Houzhao and Wang Qiong for so long. Therefore, he only bowed to Zhu Houzhao: "Your Majesty! I am guilty! I am guilty!" I have also received benefits from Prince Ning, amounting to about one hundred thousand taels. I am determined to hand over this ill-gotten wealth. I dare not deceive your majesty, nor do I dare to hide my secrets. Please punish me for my crime!"
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At this time, Wang Qiong couldn't help being shocked when he heard what Liu Yu said. He never expected that Liu Yu, an official who had always been relatively honest, would admit that he had also received benefits from King Ning and wanted to contribute to Infrastructure because of the huge temptation of wealth in front of him. bureau investment.
Seeing this, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but shook his head: "Liu Qing, you have changed!"
Liu Yu knew that His Majesty the Emperor meant that he, who had always been honest and self-protective, would actually see the benefits in front of him and proactively admit that he had received the benefits. But only he knew that if he invested with His Majesty the Emperor, the benefits would be great indeed. , and not only are they making money openly and openly, they will not even hurt the people, because the money they make is all from outsiders.
Liu Yu couldn't help but lowered his head: "I disappoint His Majesty. I really, really want to contribute to the infrastructure construction of the Ming Dynasty!"
Wang Qiong was very depressed, thinking that your chief minister did not want to contribute to the infrastructure construction of the Ming Dynasty. He obviously couldn't resist the temptation to make a fortune with his majesty, and he did not hesitate to give up his reputation for integrity.
Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but shook his head. He naturally understood Liu Yu's fundamental purpose of contributing to the Ming Dynasty's infrastructure construction. However, besides sighing in his heart, "Everything in the world is for profit, and the world is bustling for profit." When he refused the chief assistant's offer of one hundred thousand taels of silver, he just snorted: "As the chief assistant, you are so embarrassed!"
"Your Majesty, let me tell you. As Wang Qiong said, I accepted the bribe from King Ning just to paralyze King Ning!" Liu Yu could only continue to make up excuses.
"In this case, you will be fined a year's salary! I will take away your title of Crown Prince and Tutor! If you do such a shameful thing in the future, I will not forgive you lightly!"
Zhu Houzhao said and walked away. Liu Yu was the chief minister and the only official of the first rank in the court. He was fined for one year's salary and deprived of a casual official of the first rank, which could be regarded as saving a lot of money for the court.
But for Liu Yu, it was nothing. He quickly bowed his hands and said: "I thank your Majesty for not killing me!"
"Your Majesty! I am my minister." Seeing that the emperor was about to leave, the third assistant Kang Hai hurriedly chased after him.
Zhu Houzhao didn't bother to look back. He had finally seen through the true colors of these court officials. Because the previous group of officials had followed him to make a fortune, now these new officials really believed that they could make a lot of money by following him, and they didn't even have the reputation of being honest. , vying to admit that they had received the benefits from Prince Ning.
Zhu Houzhao had no choice but to reply: "Those who accepted Prince Ning's benefits should go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate and surrender themselves. I am too lazy to care about your shameless things. They are really ruining the atmosphere of our Ming Dynasty!"
After thinking about it for a long time, I feel that it is better not to refer to the West, but to use public ownership as the mainstay. This will make it easier for the protagonist to intervene in the economic crisis caused by the market economy in the future. Therefore, in this chapter, the protagonist asks the court to control the Infrastructure Bureau (actually an infrastructure company). Thank you, book friend Huachen rewards with 500 starting coins. Thank you book friends for the 294090690200 book coins reward
(End of chapter)