Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhang Weixian with a somewhat puzzled expression on his face.
It was obvious that Zhang Weixian had sold out Duke Dingguo Xu Xi for a good deal, but Zhu Youxiao felt that what Zhang Weixian said was true.
Zhu Youxiao had always felt that what Duke Dingguo Xu Xi had done was inappropriate, and now he suddenly came to provoke him, which seemed particularly abrupt and did not connect the beginning and the end at all.
It seemed that he was learning from Duke Zhu Chunchen, but Zhu Youxiao knew in his heart that Zhu Chunchen had been betrayed by him.
In the Ming Dynasty, who would want to imitate Zhu Chunchen?
Even if someone learned it, it wouldn't be Duke Dingguo. There was obviously something wrong. After hearing what Zhang Weixian said, Zhu Youxiao felt that this was the case.
However, Zhu Youxiao also knew that the matter was definitely not as trivial as Zhang Weixian said, at least it was not as Zhang Weixian said that he just gave advice.
Duke Dingguo Xu Xi is not stupid. How could he come here to make a contribution or get involved in this matter just because of a few words from Zhang Weixian?
It was obvious that Zhang Weixian was trying to scare people, and Xu Xi was frightened so badly that the result was counterproductive.
After being frightened, Xu Xi thought it would be better for him to take the credit, so he ran over here and stabbed it.
After he released the news, Zhang Weixian panicked.
However, Zhu Youxiao was not going to investigate these matters any further, not even to delve into them. The truth of the matter was not important to Zhang Weixian, nor to himself. The key was what to do about this matter.
Dynamic salt,
Zhu Youxiao had considered this issue before, and he had also thought about making money from the salt. However, Zhu Youxiao knew in his heart that it was too difficult, so he had not taken action until he had dealt with the current situation.
But now it seems that we can do something about it. Since Zhang Weixian wants to do it, let him do it.
So Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Weixian and said, "Okay, sit down and talk."
After Zhang Weixian sat down, Zhu Youxiao continued, "Tell me what you think."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhang Weixian said quickly, "I would like to start the investigation from the Occupied Nest."
Zhang Weixian had only said this when Zhu Youxiao waved his hand.
Starting the investigation from the Occupied Nest meant taking action against the nobles and relatives of the nobles. Zhu Youxiao naturally didn't want to say anything, nor would he be reluctant, but this direction was not feasible.
First of all, the practice of occupying a nest was first started by Emperor Hongzhi.
Subsequently, successive emperors issued salt permits as rewards to numerous nobles, relatives, and vassal kings who had been granted fiefdoms in various regions. These individuals were the primary source of the salt reserves. To put it bluntly, this was something the emperor's family had created themselves.
If you start investigating from the place where the emperor occupies his nest, you are actually starting investigating yourself. Although the investigation is relatively easy, it will cause a great stir and may even uncover the scandals of previous emperors.
This is a very inappropriate direction. If something really happens, it will easily put oneself in a difficult position and it will be troublesome if the situation cannot be resolved. Zhu Youxiao would never do such a thing.
Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhang Weixian calmly.
Obviously, Zhang Weixian was also influenced by Zhu Chunchen, and both wanted to start with the nobles and relatives of the nobles.
After thinking about it for a while, Zhu Youxiao understood that Zhang Weixian's plan was killing two birds with one stone.
Starting with the nobles and relatives of the nobility, firstly, can expand the scope of the case and let him investigate better on his own; secondly, it can let him distinguish himself from the nobles and relatives of the nobility and prepare for the next step of promotion; thirdly, it is to integrate the nobles and relatives of the nobility, and after giving them a warning, it is to win them over.
However, Zhang Weixian had a good plan. If he really did this, it would cause a lot of trouble. Zhu Youxiao would never let him do this.
After a moment's thought, Zhu Youxiao said, "Occupying a salt base is a serious undertaking and we shouldn't act rashly. Furthermore, many of the salt permits were granted by successive emperors. What should we do? Take them back?"
"Isn't that just slapping yourself in the face? You can't do such a thing." Zhu Youxiao sighed softly and said, "This salt issue, in the final analysis, is a problem with the system."
"The wise policy of Emperor Taizu during the grain tax collection period was completely messed up by later generations."
"Why did we pay taxes and open the border in the first place? Wasn't it to prevent salt merchants from cheating, and also to prevent food shortages at the border. By tying grain and salt together, as long as salt is profitable, the Ming Dynasty's borders will never be short of food."
"But what happened later? With so much salt and so much money, many people only cared about the money. Everyone was pushing, and everyone said that Nayin Kaizhong was better."
"As long as the silver is paid, the court will have a lot of additional income. With this money, we can do more things. But what is the reality? Is this really the case?"
"Those civil servants who advocated for the policy of accepting silver and opening up the economy all had salt businesses at home, and they were all big salt merchants. No need to send grain, no need to farm, just trade silver and you can buy salt. How wonderful is that?"
"The cabinet's chief minister, Grand Secretary Zhang Siwei, and Shaanxi Governor Wang Chonggu, are both high-ranking officials. They all talk about loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and filial piety, but their families are all big salt merchants."
"During the Hongzhi era, the Minister of Revenue, Ye Qi, proposed the silver tax. His family also sold salt. I imagine all the officials at the time knew about this, right? But who proposed it? Who said it?"
"Everyone is trying to get rich, and everyone is holding their breath to make money from salt. As for the income of the court and what the soldiers at the border eat, who cares?"
"By the fifteenth year of the Hongzhi reign, the imperial court was in chaos, the fiscal deficit was widening, and the court was unable to make ends meet. By then, Ye Qi had long since retired and returned home. Who remained? It was the Minister of Revenue, Qi Zhong. He tried to reform the salt administration, but in the end, he also retired and returned home, with a dismal end."
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