After five years of teaching support, Daming became an empire on which the sun never sets.

Chapter 253 Chapter 253
"In addition, Liu Bowen, Li Shanchang, Gao Qi, and Wang Guangyang also came together." Zhu Yuanzhang said again.

"According to the order."

Soon, the seven most important officials of the Ming Dynasty entered the imperial study one by one.

They are Yang Xian, Prime Minister of Zhongshu Province, Shan Anren, Minister of Industry, Chen Liang, Minister of War, Zhan Tong, Minister of Officials, Liu Zhongzhi, Minister of Rites, Lu Chang, Minister of Household, and Wang Yongji, Minister of Punishment.

Not long after, Liu Bowen, Li Shanchang, Gao Qi, Wang Guangyang and other four people also arrived.

During the Hongwu period, all the officials of the Ming Dynasty gathered in the Imperial Study Room.

Such a large formation is already equivalent to a small court meeting.

Seeing that all the members were present, the crowd looked at each other with very serious expressions.

Realized that something big is likely to happen again.

However, the frightening thing is that until now, they have no idea what the emperor summoned them for today.There was no information at all in advance, which made everyone feel uncertain.

In the past, if any major event was about to happen in the imperial court, they, as front-line officials, would basically know in advance.Even if you don't know, you can guess some clues and prepare in advance.

But this time, they were all at a loss.

It is very important for the courtiers to figure out the holy will, especially some important court officials.

If you don't know how to figure out the holy will, you will easily collapse.

……

If the emperor has any decision to announce, it can be made at the court meeting, and then discussed with the ministers.But today they were summoned together in the imperial study, which means that this important event is not suitable for ministers with low positions to participate.

For major government affairs that are not suitable for ministers with low positions to participate in, there is only 'restructuring'.

The crowd immediately realized that the imperial court might usher in another major change.

Their fate is likely to change because of this.

And it's not so much the emperor discussing with them, it's better to say it's an announcement.

Because the emperor seldom discussed some important matters with them since he got the advice of 'that person', but made a speech and directly issued an order to implement it, which greatly reduced their sense of existence.

Thinking of this, the crowd was full of resentment: Although that person lives in seclusion in a remote Lujia Village, without any fame or power, he can control the fate of us first-rank officials.

This situation is too dangerous!
However, they had nothing to do with that person.

If it were any emperor who couldn't subdue his ministers, that person would have been collectively targeted by the ministers, and then he would die without knowing how.

"Ministers, please see the emperor!" The crowd kowtowed to the emperor.

"Pingshen!" Zhu Yuanzhang said lightly.

After asking the officials to stand up, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't speak anymore, but practiced calligraphy seriously there, the wind was calm and calm.

I wrote for more than half an hour without speaking.

Not speaking for a long time made the officials feel more nervous and depressed.

"I don't know why the emperor summoned his ministers and others." Finally, Lu Chang, Minister of the Household Department, asked.Anyway, he was getting older, he was no longer so greedy for power and position, and after standing for more than half an hour, his body couldn't take it anymore.

"Lv Chang, let's ask you first, what is the head of the household department?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked, seeing someone stand up on his own initiative.

"My Majesty, the Household Department is in charge of the country's land, household registration, taxation, salary... and all financial matters." Lu Chang said.This belongs to his business scope, of course he just opened his mouth.

"Under the household department, who are the officials and what are their duties? How many people are there?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.

"The household department generally has one minister and two servants. There are four subordinate departments in the household department. There are four people in charge, two in charge of Duzhi, three in charge of the Ministry of Finance, and three in charge of the Department of Warehouse. In addition to these seventeen powerful officials, there are about [-] people in total including subordinate officials from various ministries." Lu Chang replied. .

The reason why the emperor summoned us was to examine our proficiency in various departments!After listening to the question and answer between the monarch and his ministers, the crowd thought to themselves, and they were relieved a lot.

They are very proficient in the business of their own department.

After all, each of them is capable, not just a vegetarian.

Every member of the imperial court that the dynasty had just established was promoted by virtue of their own abilities, not by virtue of connections.If it was in the middle of the dynasty, many first-rank and second-rank officials were likely to be mediocre, relying on connections to get to the top.

"Lv Chang, I remember you are over 70." Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.

"Your Majesty, I am indeed 73 this year." When asked about his age suddenly, Lu Chang couldn't figure out the holy meaning again, so he had to answer honestly.

"At your age, you have to manage the land, household registration, taxes and salary of the whole world. Can you bear it? Can your body bear it?" Zhu Yuanzhang said lightly.

"My Majesty, although I am old, there is a poem by Cao Cao that said that the old man has a long-term ambition, and the martyr is full of ambition in his old age. The old minister thinks that the old minister is still good." Lu Chang said.

The former Ministry of Households was short of money because the country had just been founded, and the emperor wanted to provide disaster relief and pay the officials.Such a Hubu Shangshu must be tired in front of him.

But now, the tax paid by the Southwest, together with the commercial tax paid by Shen Wansan, has filled the treasury of the household department with gold and silver treasures.

In addition, the imperial court ordered Hongwubao banknotes to be used instead, and the gold and silver from the people were collected into the national treasury.

In the treasury of the Ministry of Gold, gold and silver are piled up like mountains.

There are as many as one billion taels!

It was the first of its kind in thousands of years of history.

In a few years, maybe it will increase to several billion!

Not only does he not feel tired when he is in charge of such a wealthy household department, but he also feels very comfortable.

He himself said before that he is very greedy, he is greedy for the people of the world, he puts all the wealth into the national treasury, and then serves the people.His favorite things in this life are gold, silver and jewelry, and he feels comfortable physically and mentally just looking at them.

Looking at the mountains of gold and silver in the vault, he felt a sense of accomplishment.

Looking at it more every day, I feel that I can live a few more years.

Such a good householder, of course he is not willing to abdicate, although the emperor asked him his age implied that he should retire.

Moreover, his ability is also sufficient. When he was the secretary of the household department in the Yuan Dynasty, he kept the household registration and tax burden of the whole world in his heart.When he arrived in Daming, he continued to be his secretary of the household department, which also made the household department run smoothly.

"Lv Chang, since you think you are Lian Po and you still have courage, and since you think you are okay, then let's test you with a question now." Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"Please take the exam, Your Majesty." Lu Chang was full of confidence.

"Aren't we making a lot of steel this year?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "How much iron ore did the iron mines in Lingqiu, Shanxi Province produce, how much iron was produced, and how much tax did they pay for the court?"

(End of this chapter)