Chapter 166 Jiajing's Compensation (Subscription Request)
Yan Shaoting stopped thinking.

Talk about official administration and business.

It is very consistent with my current status and experience.

He changed the subject and said, "The downfall of the country is due to the corruption of officials. The immorality of officials is due to bribery. How can we not be afraid! How can we not be vigilant!"

Jiajing frowned slightly.

Yan Shaoting's words are actually divided into a before and after.

The first half of the sentence was suggested by Zang Aibo, a minister of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and the second half was supplemented by Hu Yin, a historian of the Southern Song Dynasty.

They were all talking about the pros and cons of the imperial supervision system and the corruption in the officialdom.

Jiajing said quietly: "The sage governs officials instead of the people. I am in charge of six powers, and I take this very seriously."

Six handles.

It comes from Guanzi's theory of six handles.

To give life, to kill, to make one rich, to make one poor, to make one noble, to make one humble, these six handles are wielded by the master.

Yan Shaoting nodded in agreement, flattering, "Your Majesty has been in charge of the world for many years, and has clearly distinguished rewards and punishments, punishing corruption and promoting good deeds. However, our dynasty has 100,000 civil and military officials, and countless clerks. It is really difficult for your Majesty to govern them all.

If the government is governed by law and the court is strict, it can generally be achieved. However, the clerks and the scoundrels are numerous and have deep roots in the local areas, making them the most difficult to govern. If the court wants to rectify the government, it must not ignore the clerks and the local officials. "

Jiajing snorted coldly: "What a despicable petty official!"

Afterwards, he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

Because he couldn't solve the problem.

Since ancient times, local officials have been hereditary, and imperial power has never extended to the countryside.

Jiajing then asked, "You said that emphasizing commerce with taxes, can the taxes on commerce really be higher than those on farming?"

This is the most important thing.

If commercial taxes can really exceed agricultural taxes.

That means the court can get more silver.

Jiajing showed curiosity on his face and cast an expectant look at Yan Shaoting.

Yan Shaoting silently complained in his heart.

The old Taoist priest is still the same old Taoist priest.

Making money is the priority.

He said: "The Lianghuai Incident is an opportunity. If the court finds that the Lianghuai salt merchants have committed illegal acts, the court can take the opportunity to investigate the finances and taxes of the merchants in Nanzhili, rectify the banknotes in the past, and levy additional taxes based on the profits of the merchants.

"I think that merchants can now be divided into production merchants and traveling merchants. Regardless of whether they are producing on the spot or traveling to sell goods, the tax rate should be re-determined. The tax rate of thirty percent was set at the beginning of the country, which was done to open up the country and prosper all industries.

"It has been two hundred years now, and a tax rate of one in thirty is obviously not acceptable. The profits earned by merchants should be determined and divided into fixed amounts. If the profit is small, the tax will be small, and if the profit is large, the tax will be large. If the profit is 100,000, the tax should be seven or eight.

Merchants will be able to survive without damaging commerce, and the court will also be able to gain more benefits.”

After saying that.

Yan Shaoting glanced at the Taoist priest quietly, then slowly lowered his head.

Southeast, Lianghuai, commercial taxes.

Merchants are heavily taxed.

I don’t know whether the Taoist priest can agree to it.

If he can agree to this, I can watch someone's good show again.

Jiajing did not respond immediately.

He turned to look at Lu Fang and waved his hand: "I remember that Zhang Juzheng re-measured the land in Suzhou and Songjiang Prefectures a few days ago and submitted a memorial."

Lu Fang understood.

He immediately went to the rows of bookshelves at the back of the hall to look up the books.

Soon, a memorial was delivered to Jiajing.

Jiajing opened it and read it.

Yan Shaoting looked up.

After a while, Jiajing finally spoke: "Zhang Juzheng re-surveyed the land tax in Suzhou and Songjiang this time and found that the new land was twice as much. It was said that the business in the two prefectures is now thriving.

Just as you said, merchants wear coarse linen when they go out, and silk and satin at home. Under the Taihu Lake, the cangshi are now difficult to salvage, and the precious trees from all over the world have all been returned to the gardens of the two governments. "

When I think of myself in this West Garden, practicing the mysteries in seclusion and hardship.

The merchants in the southeast used the money and grain they earned to fish out all the Taihu stones in Taihu Lake and collect all the rare flowers, plants and trees from all over the world, all of which were used to build private gardens.

Jiajing felt angry.

It seems that the Taoist priest is extremely angry about those businessmen who live a luxurious life.

Yan Shaoting tentatively said, "Your Majesty... the Lianghuai Incident has just begun..."

Jiajing raised his eyes and looked at Yan Shaoting: "Now, let me think about it again."

After all, the southeast is an important tax collection area for the imperial court.

A single movement affects the whole body.

This year, the land in Suzhou and Songjiang prefectures was re-measured.

If we increase commercial taxes again now.

I'm afraid there's really going to be trouble.

Don't be afraid of trouble.

Jiajing's eyes became cold and deep.

What he was worried about was someone who could stir up trouble in the southeast.

The old Taoist priest was scared again.

Yan Shaoting had no other feelings.

But once again, a look of frustration and resentment appeared on his face.

Yan Shaoting clasped his hands together, bowed his head and said in a deep voice: "I only regret that I am young and inexperienced, and cannot serve your majesty loyally!"

Representatives of the five good young officials of the Ming Dynasty are online again.

Jiajing frowned.

He did not want to reform, nor did he want to change the commercial tax in the southeast, but he also did not want to destroy his image in the mind of this young minister, and did not want to destroy his ideal of loyalty to the emperor and serving the country.

The hands hidden under the Taoist robe clenched and unclenched.

Jiajing let out a silent sigh, then leaned back on the table and said softly, "I'm really a little tired..."

Yan Shaoting immediately bowed and nodded.

"Wei Chen retire."

Jiajing glanced secretly at Yan Shaoting.

"go Go."

"I know your loyalty and your aspirations."

"Do your job well, and save yourself the trouble of sending memorials to other places. Just do your job well."

"I don't need your salary."

Yan Shaoting expressed his gratitude out loud, which was unexpected. He did not expect that the old Taoist priest also knew about this matter.

But he still retreated slowly step by step with a full heart of refusal.

After leaving the Wanshou Palace, the palace door closed again.

Feeling that he had done enough for today, he straightened up and looked around.

The three dukes who had been wearing armor and carrying swords, representing the nobles of the Ming Dynasty and guarding the imperial court a few days ago, are no longer here.

Yan Shaoting narrowed his eyes slightly.

It seems that the old Taoist priest has temporarily put the Xiyuan Incident aside.

But he had many doubts in his mind.

Who was responsible for the gunshot outside the wall of Xiyuan Palace at that time?

Until now, neither the Jinyiwei nor the Eastern Depot has found out the truth.

That person really seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth.

According to the internal information sent by his brother-in-law Lu Yi, the factory guards did not actually file the matter, but secretly sent people to continue investigating.

But the reality is that there has been no major official movement regarding the Xiyuan Incident.

And in the court, everything remained the same.

Anyway, the emperor was fine and the case fell to the Censorate.

As for them.

None of their business.

Whoever wants to check can check it.

After leaving Wanshou Palace and looking at the road ahead, Yan Shaoting thought for a moment before turning to go out of the palace.

No matter how you look at it, today has been quite fruitful.

If Yan Maoqing did not return to Beijing as a criminal, then what this guy did in Lianghuai would have nothing to do with himself and the Yan family.

Taking advantage of the changes in Lianghuai, the salt merchants were thoroughly investigated. I thought that by the time the factory guards went south to Lianghuai, the salt merchants in Lianghuai would have been replaced.

Given the old Taoist priest's love of money, the wealth accumulated by these salt merchants over countless years will probably be taken back to the capital.

I just don't know whether it will be sent to the Ministry of Revenue or all put into the imperial treasury.

In a place where no one cares.

I am also taking advantage of the situation and asking the old Taoist priest to stop the labor service of the kitchen cooks from now on, which can be considered a good deed.

And the most important thing is that he now has the power to intervene in the Lianghuai Salt Affairs.

Walking all the way out of the palace, Yan Shaoting kept thinking about the Lianghuai Salt Administration, and then he thought of the grain transport mentioned today by Xu Jie, the hypocritical man.

The issue of water transport can only be brought up when the opportunity arises and the time is right.

After all, millions of dollars depend on food and clothing.

If one is not absolutely sure and mentions the matter of grain transport, then every household in the capital will be left with nothing but food and clothing.

Except rebellion.

Those people really dare to do anything.

I put on a great show in front of the old Taoist priest today, but I don’t know if he can hear the hint in it.

If we want to reform the system and implement new policies.

There needs to be someone.

And they are a group of like-minded people.

In fact, what he hinted at was tantamount to asking for more authority from the old Taoist priest.

"Powerful official?"

Yan Shaoting suddenly muttered in a low voice.

Then a smile appeared on his face.

In fact, after a series of tests today, he knew it clearly.

Reform is impossible.

At least it was impossible to truly implement reforms during the Jiajing period.

So……

Why not try being a powerful official first?

……

"I will give him more authority."

Inside the Wanshou Palace.

After Yan Shaoting had left for a long time, Jiajing muttered this in a low voice.

Lu Fang, who was sorting out all the records on the side, suddenly trembled and looked at the emperor with some surprise on his face.

Jiajing smiled and said playfully, "Why? Are you worried that I'll give him too much power?"

Lu Fang handed the sorted records to Jiajing.

He whispered, "Mr. Yan is young and promising, and he is loyal to his master, so he should be given important positions. But Mr. Yan is still young, and if he is given too much power now, it might be a case of him growing too fast. If he takes a wrong step, then..."

"What is it?"

Jiajing's face showed a more amused expression. He asked back, "Powerful minister? The powerful minister who controls the government?"

Lu Fang shook her head and said, "I dare not tell you the whole story of Yan Shidu, but he is definitely not that kind of person. But in the court... the master also knows about it. It is inevitable that others will say so at that time, which will only add to the trouble."

"Humph!"

Jiajing snorted coldly.

There was a gleam in his eyes.

"So what if there are powerful ministers? In the 200 years of the Ming Dynasty, there has never been a powerful minister!"

"If anyone in the court has the same love that Yan Runwu has for me, I can make them powerful ministers for once!"

Lu Fang still wanted to persuade.

After all, I am very optimistic about that young man.

However, the emperor wanted to make him a powerful official, which was not a good thing.

But the emperor has already said this.

Lu Fang also knew that no matter how much he tried to persuade the emperor, he would not be able to change his mind.

Jiajing sighed and a look of regret appeared on his face.

"In my life..."

He stopped talking halfway.

Jiajing changed the subject and said, "That kid has suffered enough today and is full of grievances. I don't know what he will do when he returns."

When Lü Fang heard the emperor say this, he quickly said, "Young man, it's okay to suffer some grievances. After all, Yan Shidu is still willing to work for His Majesty."

"It's one thing to do, and it's okay for young people to be wronged, but I still want to comfort him, so that he won't be really hurt."

Jiajing seemed to be talking to himself, muttering softly.

Then he turned and looked at Lu Fang.

"Go and draft an edict."

"I want to compensate this kid."

…………

Monthly ticket recommendation ticket

(End of this chapter)