According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty, it was difficult (or even impossible) for concubines to return home after entering the palace.
When they missed their parents, apart from writing letters, the only way was to ask their parents to come to the palace to visit them.
But the harem belongs to the emperor alone, so the concubine's parents cannot come to the palace to visit unless His Majesty grants permission.
It can be said that Chongzhen's move touched Zhang Yan.
"You don't have to be polite, sister-in-law. I am doing this for the people of the world." Chongzhen continued to brainwash them.
After the two queens left, Chongzhen reviewed his economic reforms to see if there was room for improvement.
Yes, he has begun the reform quietly.
The first step was to abolish the household registration system, and then change the hereditary relationship between military households and stove households into an employment relationship.
Secondly, he asked Earl Taikang and Earl Jiading to set up workshops and factories.
This move is not to develop capitalism, and they cannot develop it alone.
In Chongzhen's view, he could not complete the bourgeois revolution from top to bottom.
Because the small peasant economy of the Ming Dynasty was huge, the gentry and landlords posed many obstacles.
Capitalism may have sprouted in the Ming Dynasty, but it was difficult for it to grow and develop.
He did this to send a signal to the nobles and gentry: he supported this behavior!
The nobles and gentry like to please others.
They will try to do similar things to win his favor and trust.
Given time, capitalism might even grow and become stronger.
This alternative reform may not necessarily succeed, but whether it succeeds or not, it will not be a loss for him or the Ming Dynasty.
......
It was a very hot time in the capital in early July. The air was hot and stuffy, making people feel uneasy.
On the afternoon of the second day of July, Li Banghua quietly came to the Qianqing Palace to ask for an audience.
Chongzhen was drinking sour plum soup made by Empress Zhou to cool off. When he saw Li Banghua coming, he immediately ordered someone to bring him a bowl.
Li Banghua didn't dare to drink it, he knew it was brewed by the Queen herself.
"This is my reward to you. Lord Li, just drink it." Chongzhen said sincerely.
Li Banghua had no choice but to drink the sour plum soup in the bowl.
After putting down the bowl and spoon, Li Banghua took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, it is already the beginning of July."
"Hmm? Is there anything wrong, Mr. Li?"
"I'm fine, but there's trouble in the south." Li Banghua's expression was very solemn. "The relief team has already set out from Shandong, and the next step south is Nanzhili."
"Isn't that right?" Chongzhen thought for a moment and said, "I remember that there is no disaster relief in Henan yet."
"The eight prefectures of Henan have been under the jurisdiction of the state for years, and the land has been barren for thousands of miles, and there are starving people everywhere. Not only the gentry and landlords, but even the ordinary people are few and far between. Because the information of the prefectures and counties was burned in the war, the over-collected taxes cannot be refunded, and the overdue taxes cannot be recovered."
"Strictly speaking, there is no need for disaster relief anymore."
Chongzhen held the bowl of sour plum soup, staring blankly.
Henan has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times.
The Central Plains in "He who controls the Central Plains controls the world" refers to Henan.
Whenever there is troubled times, Henan is always the most unfortunate.
Seeing Chongzhen was stunned, Li Banghua thought that he did not understand what he said, so he continued to explain: "Your Majesty, what I mean is that Henan is not short of land now, but short of people to farm the land, so I said there is no need for disaster relief."
"I understand what Lord Li meant. I will pass down the decree. Starting next year, Henan will be exempted from taxes for three consecutive years."
This time it was Li Banghua's turn to be stunned.
The entire country had been exempted from taxes for two years, including Henan.
Now another three years have been added to the previous basis.
Henan has been exempted from taxes for five consecutive years!
This has never happened since the founding of the country!
Li Banghua stood up tremblingly, then bent down and knelt before Chongzhen: "I, Li Banghua, thank Your Majesty on behalf of the people of Henan."
"Mr. Li, there is no need to perform such a great ceremony. Please sit down quickly." Chongzhen said as he asked Wang Chengen to help Li Banghua up.
After sitting down again, Li Banghua suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say from the bottom of my heart. I hope Your Majesty will tell me the truth."
"Mr. Li, please speak."
"Does your majesty trust me?"
"Of course I trust you, otherwise I wouldn't have let you serve as the Minister of War and the Prime Minister of the Cabinet."
"No, what I mean is, how much does Your Majesty trust me?"
Chongzhen didn't know why Li Banghua asked this question. After careful consideration, he replied: "Among all the people I trust, Li Gelao can be ranked in the top three."
"Huh," Li Banghua breathed a sigh of relief. He stood up with the help of his cane, then bowed deeply to Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the imperial examination will be held in August, and the relief team will soon arrive in Nanzhili. I request your permission to personally go to Nanzhili to organize the imperial examination and provide relief at the same time."
"Your Majesty, please grant me your permission."
Chongzhen stood up suddenly: "No."
Nanzhili was the Shura field of the Ming Dynasty. If you fell into it, you would lose a layer of skin at best, and die without a burial place at worst.
Not to mention how many things there are to do during the Autumn Examination, just the issue of disaster relief is enough to make Li Banghua very upset.
It's a hotbed for tax evasion.
The rich, the powerful, and the powerful and the rich all try every means to evade taxes.
Although there was tax evasion in Northern Zhili, it was not particularly serious because it was under the emperor's rule.
Nanzhili was different. It was the founding capital of the Ming Dynasty. After the capital was moved to Beijing, it became a place of exile for frustrated officials.
All kinds of monsters and demons are available.
There are two reasons why the prince did not encounter much difficulty.
First, the prince is the heir apparent, the future emperor. Those people in Nanjing are too busy trying to curry favor with him to take the initiative to trip him up.
Second, the prince has been spending money since arriving in Nanjing, and has not received any money. If he does not receive money, it will not affect their interests, and they will not make trouble for the prince.
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