Chapter 26: The King of Yan invites the battle (3)

Zhu Zhi said goodbye to his wife and children, and quickly walked out of the front hall. He saw his brother-in-law Guo Ming walking back and forth anxiously in the conference hall.

Seeing Zhu Zhi come in, he quickly greeted him and said, "There is something wrong in Peking. The Peking Taxation Department suddenly imposed heavy taxes on Liaodong goods. The Liaodong Taxation Department issued a tax invoice, Peking did not accept it.

Now all the shops of several Liaodong merchants in Peiping have been blocked and no tax payment is paid and no business is allowed."

Zhu Zhi thought it was something, isn't that the only thing? The commercial tax collection in the Ming Dynasty was wide and the repeated collection was very similar to the lijin in later generations. Although the tax rate was very low, it was very troublesome. The goods had to be collected almost everywhere.

In the early Ming Dynasty, the liquor collection was collected in various places because the small amount at that time did not cause trouble for business operations. However, with the development of history to the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the collection of commercial taxes became more and more complicated and the amount was getting higher and higher, which seriously restricted the development of industry and commerce.

Zhu Zhi smiled and said, "If you collect it, just collect it. Go and tell the merchant that if you hand over the silver banknotes, we will pay as much as he collects. The silver banknotes are expensive, so the silver banknotes are still worth as much as they want."

Guo Ming slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, Bei Zhi was so busy that he was so busy that he forgot this. I have disturbed Your Highness. Bei Zhi will do it now." As he said that, he was about to come out.

Zhu Zhi quickly stopped him: "Jianzhi, Jianzhi walk slowly, look at you in a hurry.

What are you busy with these days?" My brother-in-law was diligent and unable to respond. It was precisely because of his diligent that Zhu Zhi was relieved to hand over the financial power of Liaodong to him. Moreover, with the help of the intelligent Qu Yuan beside him, Zhu Zhi was even more relieved.

Guo Ming smiled and said, "These days are busy with the spring farming of new immigrants, and they are so busy that they can't pay for their jobs. The number of immigrants this year is around 100,000, and there is no big problem. Now it's already arranged."

Zhu Zhi said: "Well, I'm not worried about this. It's been a few years, and you all should be very experienced. God of Wealth. How much money does our Liaodong Prefecture have now?"

Guo Ming smiled confidently and said, "After so many years of hard work, the Liaodong treasury now has a total of 800,000 taels of silver, 300,000 taels of official banknotes, and 700,000 stones of millet. Only Beizhi and Qu Yunfei and Lord Qu know this amount."

Zhu Zhi opened his mouth and couldn't close it: "Why are there so much money? I remember when we first arrived in Liaodong, there were only tens of thousands of taels of silver and tens of thousands of stones of grain here in total."

Guo Ming said: "Then your highness is generous. He took 200,000 taels of silver banknotes from the treasury into the treasury. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so much money. The salt tax grew rapidly last year, and salt merchants in Shandong bought salt in Liaodong."

Zhu Zhi said: "Then has the budget been made this year?"

Guo Ming said: "I'm still missing the navy, and I've made all the other places."

Zhu Zhi said: "How many are there?"

Guo Ming said: "The Ministry of the Ministry spent a total of 58,000 taels of silver and 322,000 shi of grain; the official income was converted from last year to silver, which required 46,000 taels of silver; and there was also a 40,000 taels of silver to repair the Liaohe water conservancy, which cost 40,000 taels of silver; and some miscellaneous expenses were also 62,000 taels of silver and 40,000 shi of grain.

At present, there are 206,000 taels of silver and 362,000 shi of grain. It is offset from last year's income. It should be able to balance another 250,000 taels of silver."

Zhu Zhi took a sip of tea and said, "It seems that the surplus is not that much this year, and there is a war again. In two days, the General Staff will give you the war budget. You can check the allocation."

Guo Ming nodded and said, "Yes. There is nothing wrong with me and I've retired."

Zhu Zhi smiled and said, "Hehe, brother-in-law. There are no outsiders here, don't be so reserved. Have you ever seen your sister?"

Guo Ming said a little embarrassedly: "There are a lot of things happening these days, and I haven't seen her yet."

Zhu Zhi said: "Your sister has a child again. Please see her more when you have time."

Liaodong's fiscal budget system was founded and implemented by Zhu Zhi.

Although Zhu Zhi has no specific experience, based on his general impression, each department will first calculate the amount by itself, and then hold a meeting with all the officials to attend, each of which will propose a budget. Then everyone can discuss and question other people's budgets. The opinions at the meeting will be submitted to Guo Ming for verification and accounting. Finally, Guo Ming submitted a budget report to Zhu Zhi.

Guo Ming naturally needs a large number of accounting talents because he has to calculate the budget plans of various departments.

However, in the Ming Dynasty, there were no so many talents who knew how to settle accounts. Guo Ming could only find them in Liaodong Academy. Li Jiawei, a man who knew how to do numbers, recommended a few students to him.

Although they are only in their teenage years old, they at least know how to calculate and gradually began to settle the accounts.

Zhu Zhi hopes that this joint budget meeting of various departments will play a role in parliament and play a role in supervising the budget plans of various departments. For example, after everyone puts forward their own budgets.

Everyone can pick the other party’s faults and find loopholes.

But Zhu Zhi thought things too simple, and today's local budget meeting was held in a harmonious conversation. Zhao Yan praised Yao Shan's agricultural work well.

Yao Shan flattered Qu Yuan's industry and business management. Zhu Zhi sat on it so angry that he just wanted to curse. It seemed that he was really underestimating the bad habits in the Chinese officialdom. A bold idea that he had not dared to implement was gradually emerging in his mind. Zhu Zhi was waiting for an opportunity.

It was not until Tie Hyun took out the Navy's budget that everyone calmed down.

This is a three-year land shipbuilding plan, with a total of twelve "Yue"-class battleships, eighteen "Famous General"-class cruisers, twenty "Fish"-class arson ships, and a total of 400,000 taels of silver for the warship maintenance costs.

Even Zhu Zhi opened his mouth wide. Is there any mistake? What exactly does Salini want to do? If he becomes an army according to this plan, how can this be called a local fleet? It can be called the Ming Navy.

He asked quickly: "Dingshi, what does Salini want to do? How do you need so many ships now?"

Tie Hyun said: "Admiral Sa formulated a plan to expedition to the South China Sea, and it will be implemented as long as the Ministry of War approved it.

"This expedition plan was mentioned casually by Zhu Zhi and Salini last year to see if it can open up the trade routes in Nanyang and transport precious medicinal materials such as ginseng and deer antlers from Liaodong to Nanyang.

Unexpectedly, Salini only followed the head of the horse. What he said was naturally more important than the emperor's imperial edict. Since that conversation, Salini has always forgotten this grand plan, so he formulated such a plan to expand the fleet with a lion's mouth.

In fact, after three years of development, the Liaodong Navy has already owned eight "Yue"-class battleships. Five "Dynasty"-class battleships, twelve "Famous General"-class cruisers, and ten "Yu"-class arson ships and six Dafu ships.

It has formed a powerful combat power of more than forty warships of all sizes.

Moreover, all the battleships in the ground have been equipped with front-mounted smoothbore guns. In Zhu Zhi's view, such a fleet is unlikely to deal with small countries in East Asia, even if they look at the whole world, they will find it difficult to find an opponent.

If you only guard the two acres and three cents of land in Liaodong, you no longer need to expand blindly, otherwise you will not be able to attract any wind when the tree is too big.

But as the navy's most staunch supporter, Zhu Zhi was embarrassed to directly reject such a budget. Zhu Zhi glanced at Yang Rong sitting beside him.

Who is Yang Rong? I immediately understood: "Now our Liaodong is full of treasury, but it is not as good as the point where we can spend money casually.

The navy's expedition was a waste of money and it would take only one or two years to achieve success. Moreover, it is not a ritual of the kingdom of our heavenly dynasty to conquer its small country. Please think twice.

Zhu Zhi pursed his lips and thought. After a moment, he asked Tiexuan: "Dingshi, what do you think?"

Tie Xuan said: "Originally, the humble position was just a famous naval admiral, and the naval development plan was designed by Admiral Sa. If His Highness asked about the humble position, the humble position would agree with the opinion of the migrant spirit. And the expedition to the South China Sea.

What name does the Liaodong Navy use? In the name of Liaodong, the navy will be named Wuming, and if it is named Ming Navy, it will be a transgression. Also, the supply along the way is a problem. It seems that the scale of the navy is already very powerful now.

What is most needed is not to expand the scale, but to strengthen training and improve combat capabilities."

The two most beloved local officials around Zhu Zhi said this, and the officials in charge of each department immediately rose up to attack him.

In the past two years, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in the Navy every year. The various departments have complained about this. At least the gains of the Army are visible, but the benefits of the Navy are not so easy to see.

Although Zhu Zhi disagreed with the prejudice of the public. But the problem now is that the scale of the navy should be controlled and the construction of a strong navy should be built instead of having a scale that is large but not strong.

He finally made a decision: "What everyone said makes sense. Let's cut the budget of the navy into a two-year plan, four "Yue' class battleships, and eight "Famous General" class cruisers.

For ten arson ships, the budget reduction will be calculated by Jianzhi. Go back to Jinzhou."

After Guo Ming collected all the budgets of various departments, the meeting ended quickly. Zhu Zhi was upset that such a meeting could not achieve the purpose he needed.

Zhu Zhi invited everyone to have afternoon tea, and then said, "Have you ever thought about what the country is? What is the court? What are the people?" Several people looked at each other and couldn't understand what Zhu Zhi was going to say.

Zhu Zhi thought about it and threw such a complicated problem to them all at once. No one could understand it. He asked again: "Why do the people have to pay taxes?"

Zhao Qi said: "All the world is the imperial land. People should pay taxes when they cultivate land. This is a natural thing."

Zhu Zhi said again: "What should the people get after paying taxes?" Zhao Yan was speechless for a moment.

Qu Yuan said: "If the people and the court are regarded as both parties to the contract, then the people pay taxes to let the court manage them, provide them with safety and convenience in their lives; then, should the court, as the other party to the contract, provide security protection to the people? A humble opinion, your colleagues laughed at me.

”

Zhu Zhi felt inexplicably excited when he listened to Qu Yuan's words. In this era, someone could understand such a truth, which was simply shocking.

Zhao Yan immediately opposed: "How can the court and the people be equated to the same height? The emperor and the court have always been above. The emperor is the heaven, and the heaven and earth regard all things as straw dogs. The people cannot stand on the equal position of the court no matter what."

Yao Shandao: "Then why did the sages say again: the people are the most important, the country is the second, and the king is the least? Since everyone puts the people above the country, why can't they be an equal position?"

Zhao Yan was speechless for a moment, and Zhu Zhi hurriedly came out to smooth things over: "Why do I ask you to think about this question? It is because my father repeatedly taught me that the people are the first, and as an official, we should take the people as the foundation at all times.

Liaodong's taxes are taken from the people and used for the people. It seems that there is no problem with how to control them, but it may not be correct in the eyes of the people. Since the world is people-oriented, should we always listen to the opinions of the people?

I suggest that representatives from farmers and merchants will be selected to attend the annual budget meeting in the future. Each department should pay attention to the budget when it proposes. Then listen to the opinions of the representatives of the public, so that the father’s teachings that put the people first are reflected in the world. What do you think?"

Zhu Zhi's words exploded in the hearts of everyone like a thunder that shakes the sky. What is the representative of public opinion? Since ancient times, officials have always been the common people. How can the public be the ones who work in the office?

Even officials who are often deeply affected by Zhu Zhi like Qu Yuan and Yao Shan cannot understand it for a while.

Zhao Yi blushed and said, "Your Highness, how can this be done? Isn't it a shame to discuss matters with the people?"

Zhu Zhi smiled in his heart and said, "Yes.

This seems to be a bit too much, so it is better to do this. You officials and masters don’t come out. You send your subordinate officials to listen to the opinions of the people, and then send these opinions to the royal palace for unified review by Lord Guo.

This will not be a disgrace to his ethics, right?" Hearing Zhu Zhi's ridicule.

Everyone stood up and bowed, "Your Highness calms down, I dare not do anything to be humble."

Zhu Zhi snorted and said, "You all think you are officials, right? Let me tell you, all of us come from the common people. My emperor's grandfather is a farmer.

Without these ordinary people, where do you come from? On the first day of my visit to Liaodong, I told you the principle of people-oriented. I hope you will remember it in the future.

Yang Changshi, you draft this order. It roughly means that taxes are taken from the people and used for the people. The people have the right to know where the tax they pay is used. Whether it is reasonable.

Cities above Liaodong County and above elect ordinary people to submit financial budgets to the Liaodong ministries by nominating. This order is called the "People's Political Participation Order"

Everyone left the palace with different moods, but Qu Yuan stayed alone. Zhu Zhi asked, "Oh, is there anything else in Yun Fei?"

Qu Yuan smiled shyly and said, "No, I heard what Your Highness said just now. I suddenly felt something, so I stayed here and wanted to ask for advice from Your Highness."

As he was speaking, another person walked into the door. Zhu Zhi saw that it was Yao Shan. Before Zhu Zhi could speak, he said, "Bei Zhi had been thinking about His Highness's words just now. Some places were understood, but some places were hard to figure out, so he came back to ask for advice.

”

Zhu Zhi was very surprised to hear them say this. In the past, he had to rack his brains to some of his thoughts. He tried every means to make a lot of turns so that his Confucian scholars who had been well-read in poetry and books since childhood could understand and implement them.

Qu Yuan and Yao Shan are rare people who are good at thinking under their subordinates. They understand the new policy the fastest and are particularly willing to ask questions.

Seeing that the two had the desire to communicate with them, Zhu Zhi was naturally very happy. He quickly asked them to sit down and asked, "The two are the same. If you have any questions, just say it. There is no need to be a hidden secret."

Yao Shandao: "The sage said. The people can be used to it, but not to know it. According to the understanding of the humble position.

The saint means that the people are ignorant and selfish, and letting them know that it will naturally affect the governance of officials and even the court. Therefore, the saints also teach us that the people should be polite and should not let them know.

But what Your Highness said today is contrary to the saint, and Shan really doesn't understand it."

Zhu Zhi thought about it and said, "Kei is a good question. The saint did say this, but the saint's words must be considered comprehensively. The saint also said that we should not worry about lack of things but about inequality.

Unevenness means inequality. When the people and the court are in an unequal position, it will lead to fewer people, and fewer people will be the only one. We are not saints. A person’s thoughts are prone to make mistakes, and everyone must correct them.

Even the father and the emperor had a grandson around him, and the minister was helping the emperor.

So if the entire Liaodong officials are regarded as a whole, that is, the only one side is the only one, and then the people in Liaodong are the same side. What is our country composed of? Is it composed of our officials or the people of the world?

Yes, since it belongs to the people of the world, we cannot let the worries of the saints appear in the world. …”

Zhu Zhi, Yao Shan and Qu Yuan talked about the world from the saints, and from the world to the people. Before he knew it, it was time to hold the lamp, and the three of them talked about the fun.

Zhu Zhi tried his best to condense the political ideals he knew about the history of human civilization for thousands of years into his discourse, from the Greek city-state to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, from Yue Fei to Zhu Yuanzhang, from the ideal country to the utopia, he made the two of them fascinated.

By the time the dawn was about to break out the next day, Qu Yuan was completely fascinated by Zhu Zhi's "profoundness". Although he had felt that Zhu Zhi's thoughts were not like ordinary people in the past, he had never understood them so deeply.

Throughout the whole night, Zhu Zhi's thoughts were easy to understand and sneaked into the hearts of the two of them like spring breeze and rain.

Qu Yuan asked excitedly: "Your Highness, can the utopia you are talking about be so beautiful?

Zhu Zhi's thoughts were also immersed in the unremitting pursuit of utopia for thousands of years by mankind, and murmured: "It's true, the right way in the world is the public." This sentence was like Huang Zhong Dalu hitting the hearts of the two of them.
Chapter completed!