Zhu Youxiao sat comfortably on the dragon chair, watching the officials all blushing and feeling happy in his heart.
In the past, when the ministers had one voice, he could only act as a rubber stamp.
But now that the ministers have different views, he, the emperor, is the target of both sides.
Several people in the cabinet did not personally participate in the battle.
Fang Congzhe looked as usual, while Liu Yishui and Han Xu watched the argument nervously.
One of them said a powerful word and wanted to give him a high-five.
People from other factions showed off their faces.
He glared at a piece of conclusive evidence, just wanting him to swallow his words.
Because of Li Sancai, the Donglin Party's biggest reason for mining tax is to compete with the people for profit is no longer tenable, and the idea that the emperor changed his father's policy just after he came to power was also used by Guan Yingzhen to "repay the favor in the same way."
The "other body" clever trick can be easily resolved, so now the people of Donglin are crying out against the evil deeds of the mining tax envoys, in order to prevent the proposal of reinstating the mining tax from succeeding.
Zhu Youxiao signaled to the clerk.
The clerk cleared his throat and shouted loudly: "The emperor has an edict.
It's unethical to make noise in the court."
He must have practiced internal martial arts.
He released his energy from his Dantian, and with a loud voice, he moved the front The officials' ears were ringing, and everyone reacted and quickly stood up in order.
Zhu Youxiao said: "I see that you seem to have two different opinions.
Well, choose two people and tell me your reasons."
Zuo Guangdou was the first to go out and said: "Your majesty is wise, back then the mining tax supervisor frequently broke down families and wiped out families, which made life miserable and the people were in dire straits.
The humble ministers thought that for the sake of the people in the world, the mining tax could not be reinstated."
Wu Liangsi waited for him to finish speaking, and then went out and said: "The merchants in the world have benefited a lot, but it is of no benefit to the country.
Nowadays, the state is in a tight situation, and the military pay in Liaodong is in danger of being cut off.
Therefore, I ask your majesty to re-collect mining taxes to help the state." ” Zhu Youxiao was silent for a while, and everyone waited with bated breath.
I saw a tangled look on the emperor's face, and said: "Both beloved ministers are right.
If we don't collect mineral taxes, the state will be short of resources.
If we collect mineral taxes, it will disturb the people.
This makes me very embarrassed.
It's really true."
It’s very difficult” At this time, the person who made the emperor no longer embarrassed appeared.
Xu Guangqi, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, said: "Your Majesty is worried about the world, and the ministers are unable to relieve the worries of the king and father.
It is really a death penalty."
After saying this, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed.
All the ministers kowtowed together and repeatedly said, "I await the death penalty."
Zhu Youxiao said displeasedly: "I don't want to hear your apology.
I want a way to get the best of both worlds.
Xu Guangqi, you are the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
If you can't find a good way, what's the use of you?"
After that, he sat down heavily on the dragon chair.
Take a shot.
Xu Guangqi continued: "I sincerely respect your Majesty's decree.
When I first arrived at the Ministry of Household Affairs, I saw that silver is needed for affairs in the east of Liaoning, and silver is also needed for matters in the southwest.
It is even more important for disaster relief in various places.
However, our annual income is limited, and we are gradually unable to make ends meet.
At that time, I also saw the arrogance of the mining tax envoys and the miserable situation of the people.
I have a proposal, and the mining tax cannot be reinstated. " As soon as this statement came out, the whole hall was shocked.
Everyone knew that Xu Guangqi was the emperor's confidant and his teacher when he was hiding in the palace.
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The emperor's idea of reinstating the mining tax had been circulated among the officials for a long time.
Unexpectedly, he would hold the opposite opinion.
Everyone in Donglin was overjoyed.
If even Xu Guangqi opposed the resumption of mining tax, then the emperor would not be able to stick to his point of view no matter what.
But Yang Lian, Sun Chengzong and others looked normal, knowing that things could never be that simple.
Zhu Youxiao was furious and stood up: "You said it was a dilemma, and you also said that the mining tax cannot be restored.
That solves one problem, but where do you want me to change the money to wipe out Liaodong and clarify the other problem?
Southwest, help the people, you have done a good job as the Minister of Household Affairs, you have done a good job."
Xu Guangqi did not panic and apologized, but continued: "Your Majesty, please calm down the angry ministers who said that the mining tax cannot be restored, but you think that another tax can be collected, called commercial tax, and this tax can no longer be collected by the envoys as internal funds.
Instead, it will be collected by the Ministry of Household Affairs and returned to the national treasury.
I don’t know what Your Majesty thinks.”
Fang Congzhe answered the question appropriately: "Your Majesty, Xu Shangshu's plan can not only collect taxes to relieve the shortage of the national treasury, but also allow merchants to donate to the country without disturbing the people.
I agree with you."
Zhu Youxiao sat down and turned his eyes in the direction of Liu Yishui.
Liu Yishuo said quickly: "Xu Shangshu's plan is actually a wonderful solution to the dilemma.
I can only praise with joy in my heart, and I also agree with it."
Han Xu also knew that there was no way to reverse the situation today, so he had no choice but to say: "I second the proposal."
The big bosses all expressed their attitude, and of course the younger brothers had no choice but to follow, so there were a lot of kowtows, and "I second the proposal" one after another, some of which may be reluctant, but at this time, it does not affect the overall situation.
Zhu Youxiao said: "My dear friends, please rise."
After everyone stood up, he continued: "My beloved ministers have worked hard for state affairs, but their income is often not enough to support their families.
I am deeply ashamed of it.
After the Ministry of Household Commercial Tax is collected this time, I want to increase the salary of officials across the country.
This matter should also be discussed by the cabinet and various ministries to reassure officials."
The salary of officials in the Ming Dynasty was very low.
For example, a seventh-rank official, like Yang Lian, was given a salary of ninety shi meters per year.
In the Ming Dynasty, one stone was 120 kilograms, and one kilogram was equivalent to five kilograms.
One hundred and ninety grams, that’s a total of six thousand three hundred and seventy two kilograms of rice, one per day Even if a person only eats half a kilogram, it can only feed thirty-five people.
There are also vegetables, so you can't eat plain rice.
And the ninety stone is only a theoretical value, and the actual amount you get is generally only fifty-four stone and sixty percent. , the remaining 40% handed out are actually cloth or even treasure notes.
Later, when silver was used to convert rice, it became twelve stone meters a year, more than twenty-seven taels of silver, and three hundred and sixty banknotes.
However, the banknote method had long been broken, and the banknotes had no purchasing power at all.
Therefore, Yang Lian's salary was very difficult to support only a few people in his family.
During the Hongwu period, Luo Fulen, a bachelor of Hongwen Hall, lived a very clean life.
Because he had no money to rent a house, he could only live in a dilapidated house in the suburbs.
Zhu Yuanzhang once ran to his house to see a migrant worker outside two dilapidated tile houses.
Carrying a bucket to wash the wall, he asked where Luo Furen was.
Unexpectedly, the migrant worker was shocked when he saw the emperor.
He knelt down and said, "I am Luo Furen."
This made Zhu Yuanzhang feel embarrassed and surprised.
However, official salaries were not increased as a result.
The famous old Mr.
Hai Rui, when he was the magistrate of Chun'an, Zhejiang, was so poor that he had to grow vegetables to support himself, and of course he was reluctant to eat meat.
One time for Hai Rui's mother's birthday, Hai Rui bought two kilograms of meat, and the news actually reached the ears of Governor Hu Zongxian.
Later generations believed that there were many corrupt officials in the Ming Dynasty, which was closely related to the low salary.
It was when Zhu Youxiao had a chat with Xu Guangqi last time that he asked about his salary and realized that officials' salaries were so low.
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Considering that public servants in later generations have committed corruption one after another under the policy of high salary and probity, it is entirely possible that officials in the Ming Dynasty had such low salaries, and they could use some means to supplement their family income.
Therefore, it was decided to significantly increase official salaries
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