Since remote control command had been abandoned, Zhu Youxiao was still surprised by the sudden counterattack when he received the news.
A big splash before the New Year, then a quiet New Year? Isn't that what these guys are planning?
Zhu Youxiao stroked his forehead gently and said, "Can't you let me have a peaceful year?"
Didn't we agree to wait for the Jiannu to come? Once the troops move, the consumption of food and supplies will be an unplanned expense!
"Mr. Li, the Ministry of Revenue has already arranged for annual rewards for the various military garrisons. That's great!" Zhu Youxiao looked at the Minister of Revenue, Li Qiyuan, with hope, and said kindly, "Well, the cost of the counterattack against the Eastern Tartars—"
Li Qiyuan bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue currently only has 150,000 taels of silver sent to Beijing from the Chongwen, Hushu, Jiujiang, Beixin, Huai'an, and Yangzhou customs offices."
Zhu Youxiao understood what he meant. Regardless of whether the 150,000 was enough, Lao Li didn't want to give it, and the Ministry of Revenue only had that little silver as a guarantee.
Li Qiyuan hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth to advise, "Your Majesty, I believe the reforms have begun to show results, but there are still some difficulties. It seems that the construction of the palace can be postponed."
Construction? I didn't do anything.
Apart from the work-for-relief program a few months ago, in which the Liao people who flocked to the capital cleaned up the ruins of the three main halls, paved them with blue bricks, and planted some flowers and plants?
Blinking his eyes, Zhu Youxiao understood, smiled bitterly, shook his head, and said, "Li Qing has misunderstood. That is not for construction, but for fire prevention in the imperial palace. Also, for winter heating, I don't use charcoal, which can save some money."
The palace is all made of wood and is built quite high, but there's not even a lightning rod. No wonder it's always struck by lightning and catches fire! Is this how the three main halls burned?
Zhu Youxiao had just discovered this problem. Fire, theft, and lightning strikes must not be put off. Doesn't it seem like there's thunder in winter?
As for heating in winter, Zhu Youxiao also ordered people to convert each palace into a kang or fire wall, and burn coal stoves directly without the need for braziers or charcoal.
In the imperial palace, the winter charcoal supply was limited, with the number of charcoal supplied decreasing in descending order, such as the Empress Dowager, Empress, Imperial Noble Consort, etc. However, even so, the amount of charcoal used was still quite astonishing.
Not only is it very wasteful, but using a brazier for heating can also easily lead to carbon monoxide poisoning!
What Li Qiyuan saw when he entered the palace was that the craftsmen sent by the Ministry of Works were digging holes, burying iron plates, and installing lightning rods according to the drawings drawn by the emperor!
Li Qiyuan was confused and thought that to prevent fire, you have to buy a big vat and pile up sand. How can you prevent fire with thick iron wire?
Zhu Youxiao did not want to explain and said, "I have read the revenue report of the banknote customs. Although there has been an increase, the increase is not large. Only commercial taxes have the greatest potential."
As he spoke, he took out a document and had it passed to Li Qiyuan by a palace servant. He continued, "Commercial taxes will be reformed next year. These are some of my ideas. Li Qing, take it back and call someone to study it."
"Yes, I obey your command." Li Qiyuan bowed and took the document, then asked, "Your Majesty, will the partial tax exemption for Suzhou and Songjiang Prefectures next year be delayed? Or should we hold off on an announcement and wait until after the autumn harvest to see how things go?"
Zhu Youxiao pondered and did not make a decision immediately.
The tax grain of Suzhou and Songjiang is second to none in the country, and it is known as "Suzhou and Songjiang's taxes account for half of the world's taxes."
This exaggerated description was not a compliment, and the common people of Suzhou and Songjiang did not want to show off, because the heavy burden of taxes fell almost entirely on them.
Historical records state: "Farmers toiled all year long, but after paying their rent, they still had insufficient rice for two or three months. They looked forward to the next year's wheat harvest, which they would use to grow crops. By midsummer, they ate only coarse wheat porridge. They worked day and night to carry water, their soles worn out."
Perhaps for this reason, the common people of Suzhou and Songjiang paid their taxes primarily by exchanging cotton cloth for silver. This is why it was said: "The millions of yuan in taxes, which have survived for three hundred years, are entirely due to this single loom."
Zhu Youxiao wanted to crack down on the gentry and students in Jiangnan, so he wanted to benefit the common people first. According to this year's tax exemption policy, the common people's families with less than 5 liang of tax were exempted.
Li Qiyuan felt that it was inappropriate to announce it at the beginning of the year. What if a large-scale disaster occurs? Would you go back on your word and invalidate the exemption policy?
Zhu Youxiao knew Li Qiyuan's caution and also knew that he was considering his own reputation.
After thinking for a long time, Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly, "Mr. Li is a mature and wise man who is planning for the country. Let's not announce this matter to the public for the time being!"
Seeing that the emperor was willing to accept advice, Li Qiyuan was very pleased and reported the financial situation of the Nanjing capital to Zhu Youxiao.
The annual grain quota for the south was a staggering 827,000 yuan, but the accumulated arrears had reached several million yuan. After Zheng Sanjun was transferred to Nanjing as the Minister of Revenue, he worked hard to eliminate long-standing malpractices, rectifying each and every one of them, verifying false and fraudulent claims, and replenishing the national treasury.
Li Youlan, Huo Huapeng and Ren Chu, the officials of the three money-collecting offices in Wuhu, Huai'an and Hangzhou, were all corrupt. Zheng Sanjun impeached them, and the Censorate investigated the case and confiscated their property and punished them.
Although Zheng Sanjun did a good job, Zhu Youxiao was not prepared to let him manage the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue for a long time.
It was not because Zheng Sanjun sympathized with Donglin, but because Zheng Sanjun was a traditional official. Like Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, Fang Zhenru and others, his integrity was his advantage, but his lack of flexibility was also an inherent disadvantage.
Sorting out, verifying false information, strictly prohibiting embezzlement, and impeaching corruption are not creative methods. Just like clearing the military base and paying military salaries, as long as the law is strictly enforced with an iron hand, results can be achieved.
However, such traditional officials, due to their lack of creativity, were not the capable people that Zhu Youxiao wanted to use for a long time and had high hopes for.
In fact, after more than half a year of observation and adaptation, Zhu Youxiao gradually saw through a lot. Therefore, he deliberately slowed down the pace of reform.
The so-called promoting benefits and eliminating disadvantages does not mean starting over from scratch, or even requiring new policies that are too radical.
As long as officials give up factional struggles and attacks, work sincerely, and do not commit corruption or abuse their power, the state affairs of the Ming Dynasty will not be completely changed, but it will definitely improve significantly.
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