Chapter 123: Are we too tolerant of local officials? (First update)
Hear the words.
Zhao Hao and others looked at each other.
Moving inn? Just to do business?
This.
They are not just young officials. They have served under Zhu Yuanzhang for many years and are well aware of Zhu Yuanzhang's temperament.
Nowadays, His Majesty has a deep prejudice against businessmen. His Majesty has been committed to achieving a peaceful and prosperous life for farmers and a happy world.
Never included merchants.
Nowadays, some people suggest that the inn should be opened for commercial use.
They couldn't help but feel drumming in their hearts.
Is His Majesty trying to test them, or is he really asking for these suggestions?
"I dare to ask Your Majesty, whose memorial this is? How dare you speak such arrogant words." Zhao Hao said.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhao Hao, with no emotion or anger on his face, and said calmly: "Don't care who said it, we just want to hear your thoughts first."
Minister of the Ministry of War Wen Xiangqing pondered for a moment and said: "I believe that it is completely undesirable to let go of the post station."
"The post station was established by the imperial court. The original purpose of its establishment was to convey the court's political affairs. How could such a confidential place be so easily Open to the outside world, especially businessmen? ”
"Once it is opened up, it will be difficult to distinguish between government and business, and it will easily lead to trouble."
"I think this is absolutely necessary."
Wen Xiangqing's attitude is very clear.
Inns are mainly used to convey military and state affairs.
Another function is to deliver official documents and receive officials.
If it were opened to merchants, it would definitely slow down the transmission speed of the post. If there was a war on the border, just because of the delay of a day or two, there would be countless casualties.
Moreover, merchants are chasing profits. Once the opening is opened, merchants will inevitably flock to the post station. There will definitely not be enough post staff. The court will be able to expand its recruitment by then. It will also be a big expense for the government expenditure, and it will also increase the cost. The burden of the people.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.
He did not express his opinion directly, but looked at the other people and said, "What about you? Tell us."
Mai Zhide smiled and said, "I am. I think this suggestion has some merit.”
"Oh, tell me where to go?" Zhu Yuanzhang said.
Mai Zhide bowed his hands respectfully and said: "His Majesty also said just now that now that the world is stable, many inns are idle. To a certain extent, there is indeed a lot of waste and waste of people and money, especially There has been no turmoil in the south for a long time, and there is frequent trade in the south. If the imperial court can open up the post station and provide certain convenience for the transportation of goods, it will indeed collect a lot of money and food for the imperial court."
"In this way. , the inn is at least in the south, and it may be possible to achieve the effect of not spending any money on the imperial court, but to have a surplus. "
"You mean, let us divide the inn into the north and the south? The north will still be the same as before. Let the imperial court support you, while leaving the south to the convenience of merchants?" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes darkened, and a cold look flashed in his eyes.
Mai Zhide felt a chill on his neck.
I secretly thought something was wrong.
He was quick to speak out of practical considerations and made a distinction between north and south, but he neglected to mention that Your Majesty hates people dividing the world into north and south.
Mai Zhide's face was tense and he said quickly: "I have no such intention."
"The world is one, and there will be no distinction between north and south."
"And the south Trade mostly passes through waterways and canals, and merchants are treacherous and there are many people hiding and evading taxes. If further liberalization is carried out, it will inevitably lead to the proliferation of merchants, which will make it difficult for the court to collect taxes, and it will also increase the collusion between officials and businessmen. "
"I think this idea is good, but I have not considered the reality at all."
"Your Majesty, please make it clear."
Maizhide defended tremblingly.
My back is already wet.
"More than that." Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, and then continued what Mai Zhide said: "In addition to the difficulty in collecting taxes, more importantly, there are local officials who are deducting money at every level, even if the post station is really making a lot of money. It’s full, I’m afraid the money in our hands is still only a handful.”
Zhu Yuanzhang said something lightly, and everyone suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
If the post station is opened, the interests involved will be too great.
Not all officials can resist the temptation, but what their Majesty hates most is corruption. Since the founding of the country, countless corrupt officials have been executed because of some money matters. , the entire clan was wiped out.
Some officials were even skinned and tortured.
But even so, the number of corrupt officials in the world is not small, especially in the household investigation department recently.
Nowadays, the affairs of the Ministry of Finance are already making people worried, and now His Majesty has mentioned embezzlement. How can they not panic?
Could it be that His Majesty has something to say?
Zhao Hao and others lowered their heads, not daring to look directly into Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.
They were really afraid of Zhu Yuanzhang.
Because Zhu Yuanzhang was really ruthless and had no scruples, killing heads all over the world and blood flowing like rivers.
Zhu Yuanzhang obviously did not want to let this go. He looked at the ministers below and continued to ask: "Yu Xu, please tell us."
Yu Xu's face turned pale and he said bravely: "Returning to Your Majesty, I think that letting go of the post station will have both advantages and disadvantages for the world. However, I am not familiar with economic matters and I really dare not make a judgment. Please make your own decision."
Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes.
He didn't like this kind of conciliatory talk.
But if Yu Heng was to deny this statement, there was really nothing he could do.
After all, Yu Heng did not hold a position in the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang also knew it. He continued to ask, but he couldn't ask anything anymore, and said: "Don't you want to know who mentioned it? Then let me tell you, it is this year's top scholar in the new subject, that one Xia Zhibai, who went to be a 'merchant official' by himself."
Xia Zhibai?
Zhao Hao and others were startled.
Immediately, he also showed a look of surprise.
It seems that only Xia Zhibai dares to do such a bold thing. And his main thing now is doing business.
Business talks about business.
It all makes sense.
It’s just that Xia Zhibai’s memorial frightened them so much. Zhao Hao’s eyes turned cold and he said in a deep voice: “Your Majesty, I think Xia Zhibai’s idea is too dangerous. If such a person continues to remain an official, people may misunderstand that the imperial court has relaxed its restrictions on merchants.”
"I suggest that Xia Zhibai be dismissed as a Jinshi."
"Since he is engaged in business, he should be a thorough businessman."
"How can businessmen be involved in state affairs?"
Yu Ji also hurriedly said at this time: "I also have something to say."
"The post station was built by the country and used to convey military and state affairs. If it is open to merchants, wouldn't it be abandoning the original and chasing the inferior? ”
"Moreover, the status of merchants is humble, and the post station was used by officials in the past. Wouldn't letting it go will cause confusion between officials and businessmen, and disorder of dignity?!"
"I think it is absolutely impossible."
" I also have something to say." Mai Zhide also spoke sadly at this moment.
If it were written by other people in the court, perhaps by the vassal king or some civil servants, they might be wary of it, but how could they take a mere Xia Zhibai seriously? In terms of status and official rank, they are much higher than Xia Zhibai.
Your Majesty hates businessmen.
How could he really go to Fangfan Inn? Furthermore, the government's operation of the post station will inevitably lead to rampant corruption.
This is something your Majesty will never allow.
So it is right to object.
For a while.
There was a sound of crusade in Fengtian Hall.
Listening to the voices of Zhao Hao and others' crusade, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes turned cold.
They are all a group of silverfish who adapt to the wind.
"You all object, but this Xia Zhibai told us something different, which not only involves money and food, but also involves the court's local governance." Zhu Yuanzhang did not wait for Zhao Hao and others. When the person stopped, he spoke directly, interrupting them to continue talking.
Zhao Hao and others fell silent instantly.
“The national tax we will collect next year is not much, but it is barely enough. We don’t like competing with the people for profit, and we don’t like businessmen. If it’s just to get more money and food, we won’t even consider it. There won’t be any time, but Xia Zhibai told us something that we didn’t pay attention to in the past.”
"Data!"
"Xia Zhibai gave us an example of selling salt."
"After these three months, the salt factory handled by Xia Zhibai has almost monopolized the market. Tianfu’s Salt Market.”
Zhao Hao and others nodded.
They know this.
But he didn't take it seriously, he just took advantage of the court's loopholes.
If it weren’t for the official body, how could it have been so smooth.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "He told us that by comparing the monthly sales volume of salt in Yingtian Mansion, we can get the current living conditions of Yingtian Mansion."
""If the people are rich, then If more salt is sold, and the people are poor, they will live less food and clothing. By comparing sales for a year, we can roughly judge how many people there are in Yingtian Mansion. If these judgments are compared with the data registered by the government, a two-way process can be carried out. verify. "
"Did the local government commit fraud? ”
One word fell.
Fengtian Hall was completely quiet.
The pupils of Zhao Hao and others shrank slightly, with a look of horror in their eyes.
Zhu Yuanzhang continued to speak, "Salt is only one aspect, and there is also the circulation of goods. By counting the number of goods entering and leaving the place, we can judge the governance of the local government. These data are closely related to the local area. The information was not in the hands of the imperial court in the past. "
"If the imperial court takes action in these aspects, it can open up eyes and ears for the imperial court in the local area."
Zhao Hao and others took a breath of cold air.
They didn't think anything was wrong at first, but when Zhu Yuanzhang explained everything, they felt their scalps numb.
If the imperial court really did this, the local officials would tremble in fear, and they would not dare to be so casual in doing accounts, let alone have the "empty seal" of the past, and Guo Huan This time it was greedy and deducting.
Just like this.
There will be too many problems with local officials.
Think of this.
They just felt darkness in front of them.
Zhao Hao and others turned pale and did not dare to say anything.
A long time.
Only then did Zhao Mao and other officials come to their senses. They all lowered their heads respectfully and said in a deep voice: "This matter is of great importance. I dare not discuss it arbitrarily. I ask your Majesty to make your own decision."
There was a cold look on the corner of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth.
The words Zhao Mao and others said before were just and righteous, but when they really thought about the court, they all fell silent.
This is the minister of Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "We are just a man, how can we know so much? How can we dare to make decisions easily? But after thinking about it, we seemed to be a little too lenient with local officials in the past, and we should give way to them. These local officials are tight, but we haven't figured out how to arrange it yet."
"Go down and help us think about it."
"I obey." Zhao Mao and other officials responded quickly.
(End of this chapter)