At this grand court meeting, Fu Xiaoguan summarized the gains and losses of the year, planned the work priorities for the coming year, and issued a year-end bonus to the officials for the first time.
"Everyone has worked hard with me for a year, and now the New Year is almost here. To express my gratitude, I declare that all civil and military officials in our Wu Dynasty will receive a year-end bonus of one month's salary, so that everyone can have a good New Year!"
Minister of Revenue You Xianzhi was startled, but then he heard His Majesty say, "This expenditure will be paid from the imperial treasury. The Ministry of Revenue will calculate the required silver and report to me later."
All the ministers were delighted, and You Xianzhi's old face suddenly blossomed with a smile.
This is a rule that has not existed for thousands of years, but our Majesty seems to like changing the rules. This rule is good, which is equivalent to working for twelve months and getting paid for thirteen months. I hope this rule can also be included in the Constitution.
"Alright, today's grand court meeting is over. Everyone, go home early to buy New Year's goods, have a comfortable New Year, and take a holiday!"
After saying this, Fu Xiaoguan turned and left, and cheers were immediately heard in the Xuande Hall.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
"Come on, come on, I heard pork is on sale now, I have to go buy a few pounds."
"Those fireworks are beautiful. My grandson likes them very much. I'll take him to buy some later."
"The Sima family's silk shop has opened in Guanyun City. It's just the right time to buy some for my wives and concubines."
"You go first, all officials from the Ministry of Revenue will stay and work overtime!"
You Xianzhi roared and led the officials of the Ministry of Revenue straight to the Ministry of Revenue's office.
As the statistics of the number of officials and salaries in each state came out, You Xianzhi excitedly went straight to the imperial study with the booklet.
Fu Xiaoguan was making tea in the imperial study while chatting with Zhuo and his group, Nangong Yiyu, and Meng Changping.
He handed over the list, and Fu Xiaoguan took it and took a look:
The Wu Dynasty had a total of more than 8,000 officials, which was similar to the Tang Dynasty in the previous life.
The government structure is simple and efficient this year. A total of more than 1.23 million taels of silver need to be allocated.
It’s not really that much. It seems that we will have to give these officials a salary increase next year.
Thinking of this, Fu Xiaoguan took out his personal seal and stamped it on the paper.
"Take it to Sitong Bank and they will distribute it uniformly. Places far away definitely won't be able to make it before the New Year. Next year's year-end bonus needs to arrive earlier."
You Xianzhi took the note and said happily, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
He and the three prime ministers bowed and left the imperial study, then ran away happily.
Shangshu Ling Meng Changping looked at Fu Xiaoguan with great curiosity and asked, "Your Majesty...how much silver do you have in your treasury?"
Fu Xiaoguan grinned, "I made 100 million in the Yu Dynasty. Let me tell you, if I hadn't become the emperor, I would have made a fortune that could rival a country in the Wu Dynasty."
One hundred million...!
Meng Changping gasped. This was already rich enough to rival a nation! It was enough to cover nearly four years of tax revenue for the entire Wu Dynasty!
Nangong Yiyu glared at him and said, "Your Majesty, please don't let your imagination run wild. You should focus on governing the country."
"By the way, did you acquire the salt mines in Yi Country?"
Of course, Fu Xiaoguan couldn't admit that this old fox was wrong. "In a market economy, anyone can buy the salt mine. How would I know who bought it?"
"But you're the only one who knows how to make white salt!"
"No, Chen also already knows the refining method."
Zhuo Yixing was shocked. "Chen? The Chen who went to the Yu Dynasty?"
"Yes, I just recently learned that the Chen family has mastered the method of refining white salt. Perhaps because of this, they moved their entire family to the Yu Dynasty."
Zhuo and his group frowned. Since the Chen family had stolen the method, they certainly wouldn't dare to operate in the Wu Dynasty. It was heard that they had acquired many salt fields in the Yu Dynasty. In this case, the Wu Dynasty would lose its advantage in controlling salt.
"Ah..." He sighed deeply, "If I had known that Chen was like this, I shouldn't have let them leave."
Nangong Yiyu was also extremely surprised and suddenly said, "I heard that the old fellow Chen Dongsheng, the patriarch of the Chen family, is still here. Should we tie him up and threaten the Chen family not to refine the white salt in the Yu Dynasty?"
Fu Xiaoguan quickly waved his hands, "Don't do that, it's over now. It's just a piece of salt, isn't it? It's no big deal."
What else can we do?
Everyone ran away, and the recipe was lost. Unless we occupied the Yu Dynasty... Yes, "How about we take down the Yu Dynasty?"
Nangong Yiyu's old eyes sparkled as he asked with great anticipation.
"To occupy a country, one does not necessarily have to use force."
"So, Your Majesty, what do you mean...?"
"Economic means are also a method. Don't be impatient. We must first consolidate the economy of our Wu Dynasty. The silk and porcelain of the Yu Dynasty have already entered the Wu Dynasty market. If it weren't for the silk of the Sima and Wang families, I'm afraid that our Wu Dynasty's silk market would have been completely occupied by the Yu Dynasty."
"You have to know that the Sima and Wang families are foreign-funded enterprises. Our Wu Dynasty also produces high-quality silk cocoons, but we haven't developed a textile factory with any real strength. Especially porcelain. Look, almost all the porcelain used in the palace is produced by the Ding Kiln of the Yu Dynasty."
"Of course, I don't mean to use means to interfere with people doing business in our Wu Dynasty. This goes against the principles of a market economy. What I mean is that there may be some problems with the guidance of private capital."
"We should guide private capital to invest heavily in the research and development of these tools and equipment to achieve technological upgrades and make our own products more competitive under the same conditions."
The three ministers fell silent for a moment. This was the crux of the matter. As His Majesty often said, being conservative and building things in a closed door manner is good for nothing except self-entertainment.
There is no harm without comparison. Their silk is the same price as that of the Wu Dynasty. Although their porcelain is a little more expensive, it has beautiful shapes and wonderful glaze, and is deeply loved by the people of the Wu Dynasty.
"There are still big problems in connecting the Academy's achievements with private capital. The Academy has already created glass, which is a very promising thing. But now, apart from the glass workshop established in Chi Lechuan, there is no glass company in our local area."
"In terms of business acumen, the Wu people are inferior to the Yu people. If I hadn't prohibited the opening of scientific research results to foreign investment, this glass technology would have been bought by the Yu people long ago."
Military men value martial arts, which is a cultural inheritance, just like the Yu people value culture.
In a fight, the Yu people could hardly beat the Wu people, but when it came to essays, the Yu people could beat the Wu people by several blocks.
The warriors thought that linen clothes were enough, while the Yu people thought that silk was more luxurious.
The Wu people thought that a bowl that could hold rice was enough, while the Yu people thought that exquisite utensils were more pleasing to the eye.
Now, influenced by the holy learning, the warriors have begun to value literature and pursue a better quality of life, but they are still far behind the Yu people.
This is why the products of the Yu people are more exquisite and more popular in the market than those of the Wu people in terms of these daily necessities.
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