"Then there's the matter of settling the Ministry of Revenue properly. The old marquis is leaving for battle today, and I'm sure you've seen that the Ministry of Revenue has a ton of accounts that they can't quite settle."
"Yes, I noticed that." Song Gongwen said, "Especially the national treasury. I'm afraid it will be completely empty after this battle."
For a country to function, money is needed in almost every aspect.
War is the most expensive thing.
Although the Ministry of Revenue still has some silver now.
But the most important thing is the subsequent consumption. If hundreds of thousands of troops are mobilized, the amount of silver will be almost unlimited.
"Taifu, I suddenly remembered." Song Gongwen pondered for a moment and spoke again, "Some time ago, His Majesty appointed a minister to my service, named Sun Kejian, the Empress Dowager's cousin. I haven't met him yet. Does Taifu know him?"
There was suddenly one more person under my command, and I only found out about it after I came back.
If it were any other time, he wouldn't care at all.
Just do what you should do.
But that's the problem.
That person is the cousin of Empress Dowager Sun and a direct descendant of the Sun family. That makes the situation different and we must find out more about him.
"Aside from the old patriarch, I don't know much about the other members of the Sun family." Zhang Zhengming thought for a moment and said, "But I did hear that this person lost hundreds of thousands of taels of silver when he was managing the family business. I guess he's not up to the task..."
Although what the Ministry of Revenue has to do is.
It's a bit far-fetched to say that it has something to do with business.
But even his own family business could lose money, and that was even with the Sun family's protection.
To put it more seriously, he can be called a prodigal son.
Of course, there is another point.
Zhang Zhengming doesn't like businessmen.
Not only him, basically all scholars have this attitude.
Even Song Gongwen, who was standing next to him, felt helpless when he first heard the news.
But there's no way, that's the person His Majesty arranged...
"Alas, it seems that the work of the Ministry of Revenue is not easy to do." At this time, Song Gongwen sighed slightly.
If he was capable, he would be a capable assistant, but now, he is a subordinate, but he is also the Queen Mother's cousin...
"Okay, the imperial conference is about to begin, let's go." With that, Zhang Zhengming immediately stood up and walked out of the Wenhua Hall, while Song Gongwen followed behind him from a distance.
...
Not long after.
Inside the imperial study.
Wei Yunyi sat in the first seat, his eyes a little dazed.
Having just resolved the issue of the northern border two days ago, another imperial conference is about to be convened.
He was helpless about this and should have put them together earlier.
After all, the imperial court meeting is not like the morning court.
Just quit if you want.
I could only sit by and listen.
Sighing, Wei Yunyi looked at the five cabinet ministers in front of him, waved his hand and said, "Alright, everyone, let's get started."
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
Unlike last time, Song Gongwen was the first to step forward, smiling and saying, "Earlier, Your Majesty ordered me to go to Longyang Prefecture to conduct a pilot program for the land-based tax system. I lived up to Your Majesty's expectations and successfully implemented the reform."
"Now all the details are written down in the memorial. Your Majesty, would you like to read it yourself, or listen to it orally?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Yunyi frowned immediately.
Last month, it was because of you, father-in-law, that I was able to avoid ruining my luck.
I'm still full of anger, and now you want to tell me how I failed?
He immediately sat up straight and said directly, "No need to dictate. I trust you. As for the memorial, just put it aside. I will read it."
It was impossible to read it. He took a quick glance at it and found it was too thick. It must have tens of thousands of words.
I can only hand it over to my beloved Concubine Ying and let her handle it.
"ah?"
Neither see nor hear?
When Song Gongwen heard this, he was stunned.
For this, I prepared for a long time at home.
Now His Majesty doesn't even look at...
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Song Gongwen reluctantly put the memorial aside and said, "Your Majesty, now that the pilot program is complete, should we begin rolling it out nationwide? I am ready and can begin anytime."
Of course it has to be promoted nationwide, otherwise how can we anger the gentry?
Immediately, Wei Yunyi prepared to speak.
"His Majesty!"
But at this time, Zhang Zhengming came out and said, "It is absolutely impossible to implement this reform nationwide, because the conditions in each prefecture are different. Even if Longyang Prefecture succeeds now, the specific effects of the reform are still unknown."
"So I think we should observe for a few years first. It won't be too late to proceed when it is truly beneficial to the country and the people!"
Why you again? I haven't agreed yet!
Taifu, you are not opposing just for the sake of opposing, are you?
Wei Yunyi was helpless, his eyes full of weirdness.
Meanwhile, Song Gongwen, knowing it was his turn to speak, immediately said, "I think what the Grand Tutor said is wrong. Since the implementation of the land-based tax system in Longyang Prefecture, the effect has been remarkable. The people are very happy and excited. Even during the spring plowing this year, they were more active than ever before."
"Some people are organizing to reclaim wasteland, so I think it must be done as soon as possible!"
Yo?
Father-in-law, you have made great progress.
Even Zhang Zhengming dared to oppose it?
Wei Yunyi laughed. He didn't expect that Song Gongwen, who had always been timid before, would dare to directly oppose the Grand Tutor and the Prime Minister of the Cabinet in the imperial meeting. He had not expected this.
But soon, he noticed that Zhang Zhengming was about to speak again.
Immediately, Wei Yunyi, who didn't want to listen to the argument, stood up and said, "Okay, just as the father-in-law said, the reform will begin to be implemented throughout the country. At the same time, the father-in-law will still lead this matter."
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