My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 236

Zhu Zhanhe said that the method of supporting transportation is bullshit, and it is actually not unreasonable. In history, this method of supporting transportation was only practiced for a few years, and then Zhu Zhanji personally abolished it.

The main reason is that this kind of transportation method has too many disadvantages. Each transportation requires 10,000+ soldiers and civilians. .

Zhu Di was also too careless, not only agreed to use water transport instead of sea transport, but also implemented the branch transport method.

It wasn't until Zhu Zhanhe restarted the sea transportation that Zhu Di had a deep understanding of the water transportation, only to find out that there were many drawbacks in it, but a policy has been implemented, and it is not easy to take it back, so he didn't want to Let Zhu Zhanhe argue with Song Li.

"Zhanhe, you said that since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, we have been extremely strict with corrupt officials. When Emperor Taizu was in power, the government was still clear, but why now, those officials are all starving ghosts. , But what about embezzling and accepting bribes whenever there is an opportunity?"

Zhu Di also showed a puzzled expression at this time.

Through his understanding of water transport, Zhu Di has discovered that many people are reaching out to water transport, especially after the abolition of sea transport last year, water transport is the only one, with several million shi of grain transportation, the corruption derived from it is already shocking.

Moreover, these corrupt officials are chained one after another, which makes Zhu Di feel helpless. After all, he is not Zhu Yuanzhang, and he dare not really set up a big prison, otherwise the entire court may be empty, maybe by then It is time for those criminal officials to wear shackles and go to the Yamen to work.

Facing Zhu Di's inquiry, Zhu Zhanhe remained silent, because Zhu Di asked a very sensitive question.

When Zhu Yuanzhang was in power, it was definitely the period when corrupt officials were severely punished. Even the punishment of peeling real grass was used on officials. Everyone has to watch it in person, so as to warn those officials not to be corrupt.

But the irony is that the Ming Dynasty happened to be the most corrupt dynasty in history, and it is estimated that only the Qing Dynasty can compare with it, because the system of the Qing Dynasty is inherited from the Ming Dynasty, and the two are almost in the same line.

"Hey, Zhanhe, why don't you speak?"

Seeing the silent Zhu Zhanhe, Zhu Di couldn't help asking curiously.

"This... my grandson dare not say it!"

Zhu Zhanhe hesitated for a while, and finally told the truth.

"Is there anything else you dare not say?"

Zhu Di sat up straight when he heard the words, and his face was also full of curiosity. You must know that Zhu Zhanhe dared to say even borrow the crown prince's words. It is estimated that there is nothing he dared to say except borrowing the throne.

"Grandson really dare not say it, because it will involve Emperor Taizu!"

Zhu Zhanhe said again very honestly.

"What's the matter with Emperor Taizu?"

Zhu Di still didn't understand, but Zhu Zhanhe kept silent at this time, as if he had made up his mind not to speak again.

Now Zhu Di couldn't bear it anymore, and immediately waved his hand and said: "Although you can say it boldly, even if it has something to do with Emperor Taizu, I won't blame you if you make a mistake!"

"Then... I can say it!"

Zhu Zhanhe seemed to be hesitant, but he had wanted to say it a long time ago, and now it was just a gesture.

"Say!"

Zhu Di finally waved his hand impatiently.

"Actually, Daming's corruption is a single word in the final analysis!"

Zhu Zhanhe said rather mysteriously.

"What word?"

Zhu Di frowned and asked.

"poverty!"

Zhu Zhanhe spat out a word.

"Who is poor? Are we Ming poor?"

Zhu Di was taken aback for a moment, and asked again in puzzlement.

"It's because our officials in Ming Dynasty are too poor, or the salary that Emperor Taizu set for officials was really too low!"

Zhu Zhanhe explained helplessly.

Being an official under Zhu Yuanzhang is really a very challenging job. Not only do you have to worry about beheading and skinning all the time, but you also have to worry about whether you will starve to death, because the salary of officials in the Ming Dynasty is definitely the lowest in history.

Even Zhu Yuanzhang made a special calculation, so that the salary of each official is only enough for them to eat, and they are even struggling to support their families.

"Just because the salary is low, those officials want to embezzle and accept bribes?"

Zhu Di was very annoyed when he heard the words, and then said again: "I am not the emperor Taizu, didn't I increase their salaries later?"

"Grandpa Huang is kind, you have indeed increased the salaries of officials, but now the value of the treasures has depreciated greatly, and the price of goods is much higher than that of Emperor Taizu, so the lives of officials are still very tight..."

Zhu Zhanhe explained patiently.

After Zhu Di came to the throne, the salaries of officials increased a bit, but don't forget that Zhu Di issued excessive banknotes, which led to a serious depreciation of the banknotes. The salary is greatly reduced.

Therefore, the officials under Zhu Di were not much better than those in Zhu Yuanzhang's time. If they relied on their salaries alone, many of them would starve to death.

If the official background is better, the family behind it can subsidize some money, but some officials from poor background can only stick to that little salary to live.

Human nature cannot stand the test. Officials have power, and power can be exchanged for money. Some officials even directly hold huge amounts of wealth.

Every day I watch my family follow me to eat chaff and swallow vegetables, but as long as I stretch out my little finger, I can exchange countless wealth, which leads many officials to take risks, and corruption is naturally repeated.

After hearing the above, Zhu Di also showed a contemplative expression. If others said that, I'm afraid he would only be furious, but even if his own grandson said that, he had to think seriously.

"In your opinion, giving officials higher salaries can prevent corruption and bribery?"

Zhu Di pondered for a long time, but asked Zhu Zhanhe suspiciously, he didn't agree with this conclusion at all.

"High salaries can't keep you honest, but at least you must ensure that officials have enough food and clothing. After all, officials are human beings who have to support their families, and they hold real power. If they can't even guarantee food and clothing, they can only make money by themselves, and Now there are already signs of this, and it has even become the norm in officialdom!"

Zhu Zhanhe replied again.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were so many unspoken rules in the officialdom, and it was also the most in history. In particular, some methods of making money were almost made public, such as ice carbon silver, filial piety for three festivals and two longevity, and local officials withholding the appropriation of the court etc.

It can be said that only you can't think of it, and there is no means of making money that they can't do. These also created the shocking official corruption in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and even directly affected later generations.

"However, the salaries of the officials were set by the Emperor Taizu, and they cannot be changed at will. I have already increased the salaries of the officials when I rewarded the ministers with the help of Jing Nan's achievements. If it increases, I am afraid it will not be good Emperor Taizu confess?"

Zhu Di was finally persuaded by Zhu Zhanhe, but he was still a little embarrassed at this time.

(End of this chapter)