Daming: The most ruthless tyrant in history

Chapter 229: Driving posts all over the capital

Everything in the world can't be solved by a rush.

Because there are too many things, even if they can be solved by one plus one equals two, there are too many people or interests involved behind the scenes, which makes things complicated.

It’s not the things that are complicated, it’s the people!
The reason why today's Ming Dynasty is so rotten and breeds all kinds of bad policies and problems is that there are too many groups, enjoying all kinds of privileges, deceiving the superiors, bullying the inferiors, and then triggering a series of disturbances...

Ministry of Accounts.

The main hall of Shangshu Department.

"The imperial edict has decreed that there will never be any additional gifts, but I still feel that... we should not act too hastily."

Nan Juyi, the left minister, had a solemn expression, leaning on the official hat chair, and said in a low tone: "This matter is indeed a favorable policy. If it can be clearly promulgated to the world, all provinces, prefectures and counties will need to levy a quota of per capita tax. This will undoubtedly relieve the people at the bottom. However, this policy is also controversial in the government.

The emperor's concern for the people is a blessing to the world and the country.

But Master Situ, you should know one thing. Ding tax has always been the largest tax revenue of our dynasty, and it is an important tax second only to land tax.

How many matters are involved in the collection of Ding tax? This is not an official document issued by the Ministry of Household Affairs and sent by express delivery to the various administrative envoys to implement it. "

"Zuo Situ is right."

Li Zongyan, the right servant, nodded in approval and said: "The collection of Ding tax is based on yellow records from various places, but... no one can say how many tricks there are in it.

When collecting taxes, there has always been a fish scale book and a yellow book. Isn't there a lot of wrangling and lawsuits?

It is said that the Hubu is the richest and the officials in the Hubu are the best, but is this really the case?When the Household Department encounters trouble, not only the Household Department itself must be considered, but other departments must also be taken into consideration.

I just want to say one thing, okay, our Ministry of Household Affairs has decided on the year of the yellow roll population as the benchmark, and has made it clear that we will never increase the tax, but if the shortfall is too large, let alone what troubles will occur in various places. , let’s just say...the difference in Ding tax is too large compared to the previous shortfall, and the treasury has no silver to use, and when ministers in the government and government are asking for money, how should the Ministry of Household Affairs deal with it? "

Bi Ziyan, who was wearing a red robe and patched up uniform, sat quietly on the official hat chair with no expression on his face. Listening to what Nan Juyi and Li Zongyan said, he felt various feelings in his heart.

The issue of never adding taxes was promulgated by the imperial decree at the imperial meeting. Various events occurred during the period. After Bi Ziyan took charge of this matter, he discussed it with his colleagues and subordinates in the Ministry of Revenue for a long time, but it has not been truly clarified yet.

This is by no means Bi Ziyan's incompetence. In fact, there are too many things. As long as it involves taxes and servitude, you must consider it again and again, be cautious and cautious.

There is a long process from the proposal of a tax item to the specific implementation and collection.

Even tax policies that benefit the people are not easily implemented. After all, if you benefit the people, you will be under pressure. If there is a shortfall in the national treasury tax revenue, how will the shortfall be made up?
"Let's talk about the Liao salary that was abolished by His Majesty earlier."

Seeing that Bi Ziyan was silent, Nan Juyi continued: "Yes, the lower officials also know that the apportionment of Liao's salary will be a heavy burden on the local people. But if the troubles of Jianqi are not solved, there will be no stability in Liaodong. In the past I won’t mention the battle in Liaozuo, but just talk about the war in Liaozuo this time.

Indeed, from the outbreak of the war in Liaozuo until now, His Majesty has never asked the Ministry of Household Affairs to allocate one tael of silver or one pound of grain. However, he placed too much trust in Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong manager, and the court did not respond at all. If the actual situation of the Liao Bureau is corrupt, then..."

"Zuo Situ, you talk too much."

Bi Ziyan frowned slightly and looked at Nan Juyi with sharp eyes.

In the current complicated situation of the court, there is only one thing that no one can get involved in, and that is the Battle of Liaozuo. Even if there are officials from the Ministry of War, although there are many memorials submitted to the imperial court, most of them are ignored by Zhu Youxiao. Fa, Zhu Youxiao's attitude towards Liao affairs was very clear, and no one was allowed to interfere.

It is precisely this situation that makes many people secretly speculate that if the emperor has such an attitude, he is afraid that he will secretly transfer money to Liaodong to adjust grain.

How can anyone not need money and food to fight a war?

And the money and food will not be short!

It is an indisputable fact that soldiers and horses move forward before food and fodder are used, and that golden taels are fired when guns and cannons are fired.

It is precisely this situation. In fact, some people are very worried in the bottom of their hearts. They are afraid that the Liao bureau will have relapses, that Xiong Tingbi has selfish motives, and that Liao Zuo will really be lost. Of course, in the hearts of a few people, they are even afraid that Liao Zuo will win in the first battle...

It's just that the emperor's wedding is coming soon, and the emperor takes this matter very seriously. This also makes many courtiers have various thoughts in their hearts, but they just hide it in their hearts.

This is precisely what Zhu Youxiao is good at, which is to focus the attention and energy of the people in Beijing on this three-acre area of ​​​​the capital.

"Actually, although I am stupid, I know a thing or two about what you are worried about."

Bi Ziyan rolled up his robe sleeves and said with a calm expression: "In addition to using the Yellow Book as a basis and making it clear that there will never be any additional tax, there may be a shortage of Ding tax, and there are also people who have escaped from their households, hermits, etc. who know about this preferential policy. , and then new troubles broke out in the place of origin, and there were also balances among military, craftsman, Zao, Le and other households... I have thought about each of these, is this really what you are worried about? "

One sentence made Nan Juyi and Li Zongyan show different expressions.

Although Bi Ziyan didn't point it out, both of them understood it.

Is this the end of the preferential policy of never increasing taxes, or does it have other hidden motives?

This is something that many people are not sure about.

After all, Jin Shang's thoughts are completely unpredictable.

If it ends here, well, the worst that can happen is that all localities will spend some effort to revise the Yellow Book. After all, the capitation tax was previously levied and many lower-class groups were unable to pay it. However, for those who have done many things, infant drowning is one of the common phenomena.

In desperation, the most common thing they did was to flee. This group of people disappeared from the Ming Dynasty officialdom out of thin air, or fled to various places, or hid under the names of local powerful gentry. The former would cause local instability, while the latter would Wealth is transferred from public to private.

Any living person can be hidden!

What about land? !
What many people are really worried about now is that after this favorable policy is implemented, things will happen if the emperor turns his attention to the land.Land, land.

There are so many bad policies and problems in the Ming Dynasty that evolved from this incident. Cutting off people's wealth is like killing their parents. This is sworn hatred!
"I got a guarantee from His Majesty."

Bi Ziyan snorted coldly, "If it is difficult for the Ministry of Household Affairs to implement preferential policies such as never increasing taxes, then we might as well..."

"hurry up!"

"Follow!"

"Da Situ, something happened!"

Before Bi Ziyan finished speaking, he was interrupted by a loud voice. This made Nan Juyi and Li Zongyan's expressions change slightly, and the chief executive who ran in had a small amount of sweat on his forehead.

"Da Situ, the Independent Commission Against Corruption broke into our Household Department office without permission."

Under Bi Ziyan's frowning gaze, the chief official bowed his head and saluted, saying: "Cui Chengxiu, the Minister of Integrity and Integrity, is outside the hall right now."

what? !

Nan Juyi and Li Zongyan stood up suddenly and looked at the chief officer in disbelief. Cui Chengxiu must have been too courageous to bring people to the household department.

"Da Situ, this matter must be stopped."

"Da Situ~"

Under the shouts of the two men, Bi Ziyan lifted up his robe and stood up, walking out of the hall with a calm expression. At that time, Cui Chengxiu, who was also wearing a red robe to patch up his uniform, was standing outside the hall with a faint smile on his face.

"Shang Shu, Mr. Cui is here to cause trouble."

Seeing Bi Ziyan coming, Cui Chengxiu kept smiling, walked towards Bi Ziyan, raised his hand and saluted.

"Why is Cui Shangshu here...?"

Although Bi Ziyan had already guessed what the purpose of Cui Chengxiu's visit to the household department was with such a big fanfare, he still asked.

"Cui is here~"

Cui Chengxiu said with a smile, but was interrupted before he finished speaking.

"Cui Chengxiu, are you here to promote the prestige of your Integrity Agency by causing such a commotion in our household department?" Nan Juyi asked Cui Chengxiu with cold eyes.

Despite the fact that it is a special institution of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, its reputation is not good.

"That's right!!"

Li Zongyan followed closely and said: "Aren't you afraid that I will take part in your book? When is it now..."

"You two, if you want to participate, you can."

Cui Chengxiu was indifferent and said with a smile: "What case was supervised by the Independent Commission Against Corruption previously? I don't need to remind you. You two know it, right?"

What happened in Cangchang?
Nan Juyi and Li Zongyan looked at each other and immediately thought of something.

"Shang Shu Bi, I am definitely not here to show off my authority when I come to the Ministry of Revenue."

Cui Chengxiu did not look at the two of them, but looked at Bi Ziyan and said: "In fact, the people summoned by the Integrity Council this time are not just people from the Ministry of Household Affairs, but also from the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Industry and other departments..."

"Do you have a driving notice for such a grand summons?!"

Nan Juyi frowned and stepped forward: "Even if the factory guard wants to arrest someone, he must have a driving license. Your Integrity Institute..."

"Haha, are you driving?"

Cui Chengxiu chuckled, took out something and stretched it out to Nan Juyi, "This thing... I, the Integrity Institute, can handle it myself. Do you have any questions, Minister Nan?"

This! ! !
Nan Juyi was horrified and looked at Cui Chengxiu in disbelief. He never expected that the emperor would give such privileges to the Integrity Commission.

"Cui Shangshu, I also know a little bit about the Cangchang case. If you want to investigate the case and summon you, I will cooperate."

Bi Ziyan lifted up the sleeves of his robe at this moment, his eyes staring straight at Cui Chengxiu, "But if I know that the person summoned by your Integrity Council in my household department has nothing to do with the Cangchang case, I will definitely not sit idly by and watch."

"Shang Shu can rest assured about this."

Cui Chengxiu said with a smile: "The people who have been summoned are all those who have been repeatedly reviewed by this official. Although the Integrity Council is newly established, it is still unable to frame colleagues."

After listening to what Cui Chengxiu said, Bi Ziyan didn't pay any more attention to it. His eyes were staring ahead. He saw a famous subordinate officer being taken away by people from the Integrity Agency. Bi Ziyan's hanging hands clenched tightly. If these The people who were summoned were all related to the Cangchang case, and the matter became big.

What Bi Ziyan didn't know was that at this moment, in addition to the Hubu Yamen Office, there were also many other places in the Beijing Yamen Office where people from the Institute of Integrity appeared, causing such things to happen just before the emperor's wedding. , the ripples and impacts will surely shake the capital...

(End of this chapter)