Beauty is in Huaijiangshan in hand

"If a sentence is not finished and there is a pause in the middle, what symbol should be used to express it; if it is finished, what symbol should be used; what symbol should be used to express doubts; what should be used to express strong feelings?" Jiang Zhe threw a series of questions. As far as Li Gang is concerned, these questions are actually at the level of elementary school students, but they are still difficult for people who have never been exposed to punctuation marks. Jiang Zhe believes that these questions are enough for Li Gang to spend a lot of time thinking about.

Li Gang was indeed a little dazzled by this series of questions, but he is also a learned person, and he immediately knew that if the emperor's these things can be realized, it will definitely be a sensational feat in the literary world, and he may be famous in history. possible.So I happily accepted the task and planned to go back and invent and create.

After Li Gang left, Jiang Zhe realized that it was already noon and he was a little hungry, so he ordered Zhao Neng to pass on the meal.

Li Min, Minister of the Household Department, is really efficient at work. Before Jiang Zhe had finished his lunch, Baili Hongyu came to report that Li Min asked to see him.

For the current Minister of Finance of the Great Tang Dynasty, Jiang Zhe still intends to try his best to win him over. Judging from the information he has obtained so far, Li Min's work ability is still very outstanding, and the key is that he has no factions. It was all the imperial court, which is why Li Gang wanted to attack him.So when Jiang Zhe heard that Li Min asked to see him, he quickly asked someone to put the food in a food box and take it to Hongdexuan. He wanted to eat with Li Min.

Li Min was standing outside the Chuihua Gate, staring at the ground in a daze. In fact, he was also full of worries. The former emperor passed away, Li Gang was in power, wars continued, natural disasters occurred frequently, and the court spent more and more money. Mental and mentally haggard or stretched.

The emperor was young and didn't know whether he was the Ming Lord, so this private audience was just a good time to test it out.Suddenly it occurred to him that he should take this opportunity to recommend Lu Yunhai, and his mind was running around wildly.Hearing the call, he hurriedly stepped into the courtyard, bowed into Hongdexuan, took a step forward and kowtowed: "Minister, Li Min is ordered to see you! Respectfully please Sheng'an."

"Get up." Jiang Zhe said with a relaxed smile, "Hongyu, move a stool for Gongmian (Li Min's word)."

After Li Min sat down, Jiang Zhe said again: "Don't be in a hurry to go back to your errands. I expected you haven't eaten lunch at this time, and it happened that I didn't eat either. I just asked someone to cook a few simple dishes, just to accompany you I will eat together."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness." Li Min felt a surge of enthusiasm. The emperor always addressed ministers by their first names, and rarely called them by their names. Moreover, this was the first time he had been an official in the court for more than [-] years. I was fortunate enough to dine alone with the emperor.

Focusing on these two points, Li Min felt that the master in front of him was worthy of someone else's life for him. He never thought that he would meet such a respectful and virtuous master in his lifetime.Suppressing tears, silently accompanied Jiang Zhe to eat this extraordinary lunch.

In order to let Li Min eat enough, Jiang Zhe ate slowly on purpose. He didn't put down his chopsticks until Li Min took the initiative to stand up to thank him, ordered someone to remove the food, and said with a smile: "Gong Mian already knows about the drought in Lingnan?"

Li Min nodded and said: "I know, before I came over, Shang Shusheng had already turned over the notes."

"According to the public encouragement, how should the disaster relief work be carried out? I guess your household department will not be able to get the money." Seeing Li Min's calm expression, Jiang Zhe couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

Li Min bowed and said with a smile: "The emperor's holy candle is shining brightly, and the minister's little thoughts are clearly seen by the emperor. Let's not say that the household department is really out of money now. This money."

"Oh? I'd like to hear why you, Li Gongmian, don't plan to pay this money." Jiang Zhe also became interested.

Li Min said calmly: "Back to the emperor, the discount of Lingnan Dao is 200 million shi of grain, but as far as I know, the population of Lingnan Dao is only 300 million, even if two-thirds of the people are affected by the disaster, according to 200 million people Calculated, the relief rations are 30 taels per person per day, the daily consumption is 90 shi, a month is 100 shi, and three months is only [-] shi. Therefore, I think that [-] million shi of food is enough for Lingnan to survive. It's disaster time."

Jiang Zhe waved his hand and said, "Even if it's a false report from Lingnan Road, the 100 million shi of grain is still needed. You don't plan to ask the Ministry of Households to pay the money, so where does the grain come from?"

Seeing that Jiang Zhe was in a hurry, Li Min hurriedly said: "Return to the emperor, although Lingnan has suffered a disaster, Jiangnan and Dongnan are both well-cooked this year, and the Yicang in Jiangnan is no longer enough. The price has dropped to eight cents per shi, and low-grade brown rice is even as low as six cents and five cents. So I plan to ask Dongnan Road to give 80 shi and Jiangnan Road to give 20 shi to relieve the drought in Lingnan."

Jiang Zhe said again: "The cheap grain hurts the peasants, it would be the best if it can be done like this, but the treasuries of Dongnan Road and Jiangnan Road are definitely not willing to give away this grain for nothing.

Li Min smiled lightly and said, "Of course they don't want to give it away for nothing, but I bought it from them at the price of one tael of silver and one stone, how could they refuse?"

"Buy? Didn't you just say that you don't plan to pay the money from the household department?" Jiang Zhe was a little confused.

Li Min replied: "I bought them, but I didn't give them money at the same time."

"Don't be foolish, explain it to me soon." Jiang Zhe pretended to be angry. This Li Min looked dull and honest, but when it came to money, food and finance, he was as smart as a ghost.

Li Min quickly restrained himself and said: "The emperor forgives the sin, Rong Chen said slowly. The minister agreed to Jiangnan Road and Dongnan Road, and the money purchased by the household department this time will be deducted from their autumn tax this year."

"Oh, so that's what happened." Jiang Zhe couldn't help smiling when he heard the idea, paused, and then said, "But it's already October, hasn't the autumn tax been paid yet?"

Li Min said: "My Tang Dynasty practiced a two-tax system. The summer tax does not end in August, and the autumn tax does not end in February next year."

"What about the tax rate?" Jiang Zhe is still very concerned about this point. Exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes have been one of the most direct reasons for arousing public resentment throughout the ages.

"Fifteen taxes and one tax." Li Min answered eloquently.

"That's seven percent, not too high." Jiang Zhe thought to himself, thinking to himself.

Li Min was taken aback, and said: "Please make it clear, Your Majesty."

Only then did Jiang Zhe realize that he had accidentally talked about running the train, and quickly covered it up with a smile: "I mean the tax rate is not high, no wonder the Ministry of Households has no money."

As soon as Li Min heard that the emperor's tone was not right, he hurriedly said: "Return to the emperor, my Tang Dynasty has a summer tax of 500 million taels, an autumn tax of 500 million taels, and a total of 4000 million taels of taxes every year. Not less."

Jiang Zhe was just talking casually to cover up his slip of the tongue. Now that he heard that the annual financial revenue can be as much as 4000 million taels, but the national treasury is actually empty, his face changed color: "Since the summer tax collected in August is 500 taels There are as many as 200 million taels, why are there less than [-] million taels left after just two months?"

Seeing this, Li Min hurriedly took out an account book from his bosom and presented it with both hands, saying: "The emperor's inquiry has been compiled into a book, please have a look at it."

Jiang Zhe took over the account book, and after flipping through it, he realized how exhausted Li Min was as the secretary of the household department.He read a little bit bitterly: "The former emperor spent 5505 million taels of silver on his funeral; the regular military pay of the garrison everywhere was 9203 million taels; the river workers everywhere used 400 million taels of silver; the Eastern Turkic coins were 1205 million taels..."

Looking at Li Min's gray hair and beard and slightly hunched back, Jiang Zhe couldn't help but feel a little moved. The old emperor's funeral cost half a year's military pay for the whole country's army. How could he blame the Minister of Household Affairs?But no, this military expenditure is a bit too high.So he asked, "The annual military expenditure is as much as 900 million taels?"

"Returning to the emperor, this is not a year's military expenditure, it is half a year's military expenditure." Li Min was a little bit unsurprising and endless.

This is half a year?That's not 800 million taels for the whole year?Jiang Zhe almost didn't go abroad to scold him. The annual financial revenue is only 4000 million taels, and the military expenditure alone takes up half of it. How can the court save money?Jiang Zhe had no choice but to ask this question clearly, "How much do I have as a soldier? How much is a soldier's annual fee?"

"Returning to the emperor, there are 160 million imperial troops and 250 million Xiang troops in our dynasty, a total of 400 million people." Li Min is also very clear about this.

"400 million?" Jiang Zhe stared like a bull's eye, "How many people are there in the whole country? I heard you just said that Lingnan Quandao only has a population of 300 million."

"I have a total of twelve roads, with a registered population of 410 households." Li Min replied.

Jiang Zhe felt a little ironic: "On average, one of the eight households is a soldier? How many laborers can there be in the eight households? Why does the imperial court raise so many soldiers?"

Faced with Jiang Zhe's question, Li Min chose to remain silent this time.Jiang Zhe also immediately realized that this question cannot be answered by a courtier, because if he really wants to be held accountable, then the responsibility must be on the previous emperors.

As Jiang Zhe, who has traveled through the modern society, he understands very well that a country based on agriculture and valuing agriculture over business has this shortcoming from the monarch to the ministers. He looks down on businessmen, and the result of looking down on businessmen is that they have no respect for money. The concept is that when you have money, you only know how to spend it, but you don't know how to control it, so there are more and more officials at all levels, and the army is getting bigger and bigger.

Jiang Zhe couldn't help but feel a headache when he thought that there would be 500 million mouths waiting for others to raise each year.Money...it's all about money.Fortunately, this Li Min in front of him still has two brushes in terms of finances, and now he must be caught, but looking at Li Min's body, he doesn't know how long he can work.

After a pause, Jiang Zhe asked with concern: "How old is Gong Mian this year?"

Li Min didn't expect that Jiang Zhe would suddenly turn the topic to this, and said with a smile: "This year, I will be forty and seven."

"Oh, pay more attention to your body at ordinary times, and prepare to give me another 20 years of strength." Jiang Zhe comforted.

This is a very clear statement. Of course, Li Min could hear the hidden meaning in the emperor's words. He quickly knelt down on the ground and kowtowed: "The emperor has the intention of revitalizing our Tang Dynasty. Although the minister is dull, he is also willing to serve the emperor like a dog and a horse." work."

Jiang Zhe couldn't help being in a good mood to have such a courtier swear allegiance, and said, "Get up. Now, your son, by the way, can Gong Mian have any heirs?"

Li Min thought that Jiang Zhe would take this opportunity to reward his son, so he said modestly: "I have two sons, but they are both stubborn and stupid, not worthy of the emperor's concern."

Jiang Zhe knew that Li Min had misunderstood him, so he smiled and said, "Still filial?"

"Filial piety." Li Min had no choice but to answer honestly to this question.

Jiang Zhe said with a smile: "It's good to be filial. Your son should not come out to be an official, and he will serve you at home. Remember, this is the emperor's envoy. It is the greatest credit to serve you well. Well, I will give them six ranks. The salary will come from the internal treasury."

"How can my minister, He De, let the emperor miss you so much? I will be the Tang Dynasty, and I will devote myself to the emperor, and I will die." Li Min couldn't hold it anymore, tears streaming down his face.

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