If I fail to overcome the tribulation, I can only return to the Ming Dynasty and become a prince.

Chapter 61 The Court’s Credibility

"It is precisely because it is inconvenient to use money that the new treasury and the household are separated. Hasn't Xia Shangshu figured it out yet?" Zhu Zhanjuan asked Xia Yuanji in response to his question.

"Deliberately causing trouble for yourself, Your Highness asked me. I really can't figure out why I did this." Xia Yuanji did not directly answer Zhu Zhanchun's question, but said that he really didn't think about it.

This answer did not go beyond Zhu Zhanqi's expectation. As for whether Xia Yuanji really didn't want to understand it or didn't want to understand it, that's a matter of opinion.

But for Zhu Zhancheng, Xia Yuanji had to let him understand whether he wanted to understand or not.

So Zhu Zhanquan sat down in front of Xia Yuanji, looked at the Ming Dynasty steward who was in charge of the country's finances, and said: "Xia Shangshu, the purpose of the court's establishment of a new treasury is to win the trust of the people, reform the banknote law, and make money available to the public." The banknotes will not turn into a piece of waste paper and make the imperial government's finances rich. I think you have no doubt about this, right?"

"Of course there is no doubt about it, and it is for this reason that I suggested that the new treasury be brought under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs. After all, what else in the world is more trustworthy than the imperial court?" Xia Yuanji spread his hands and expressed While showing a helpless look, both inside and outside his words expressed that he was dedicated to serving the country.

Zhu Zhanqi did not doubt whether Xia Yuanji was dedicated to serving the country, but it was hard to say whether he had any selfish motives or other thoughts besides serving the country.

However, Zhu Zhanchun could understand some of Xia Yuanji's reasons for wanting to bring the new treasury under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

So he asked Xia Yuanji what he said: "If the common people trust the imperial court, how come the treasure banknotes issued by the imperial court become waste paper? Xia Shangshu, we are all our own people, there is no need to do it in front of our father and son When it comes to acting like this, if you have any ideas, just tell me!
You want to bring the new treasury under the jurisdiction of your Ministry of Household Affairs, just to increase the authority of you, the Minister of Household Affairs. What else do you want to do? "

Although he guessed that Xia Yuanji must have some other purposes, Zhu Zhanyu believed that Xia Yuanji was not trying to fight for power or profit from it.

After all, Xia Yuanji can be regarded as a famous official of the Yongle Dynasty recorded in history books. When Zhu Di passed away, he specially left a last word like "Xia Yuanji loves me", which shows how important Xia Yuanji was to the Yongle Dynasty.

Apart from anything else, in the more than 20 years of the Yongle reign, there were five Northern Expeditions, six voyages to the West, the compilation of the Yongle Grand Ceremony, and the move of the capital to Beijing. Which of these projects was not a costly project?

Although the income of the imperial court during the Yongle period was indeed good, without Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs, to be in charge of the family and arrange everything in an orderly manner, there is a question mark as to whether the Yongle Dynasty could accomplish so many things.

Therefore, Zhu Zhanjuan still does not believe that Xia Yuanji, who has been concluded in the history books, will be a corrupt official or a powerful official.

As for Xia Yuanji's desire to increase the authority of the Ministry of Revenue, it is easy to understand. Since Zhu Yuanzhang deposed the Prime Minister in the Ming Dynasty, the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, who is in charge of personnel, has been the head of the hundred officials, followed by Xia Yuanji, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who is in charge of the world's finances. .

The officials were noble, but they held high positions of power. Although Xia Yuanji was dedicated to serving the country, he might not be willing to live in depression for a long time.

After all, the power of the Ministry of Personnel and the power of the Ministry of Households will be completely different from the style of governance to the ideas of governance.But facing Zhu Zhanyu's question, Xia Yuanji was a little reluctant to answer. He just said to Zhu Zhanyu: "Your Highness has misunderstood. I am devoted to the country and have no other ideas. The treasure banknotes issued by the imperial court have become waste paper, isn't it?" The common people do not trust the imperial court, but the imperial court issued too many treasures and coins. This is the reason. As long as this is changed, everything will be fine."

Hearing Xia Yuanji's words, it would be nice if he changed his words. Zhu Zhanchun glanced at Xia Yuanji meaningfully, seeming to hear what he meant.

So he stopped questioning Xia Yuanji and instead explained to Xia Yuanji why the new treasury should be separated from the household department: "Xia Shangshu also said just now that nothing in the world is more trustworthy than the imperial court. I agree with this, but the common people The trust of the court is not unlimited.

Back then, Emperor Hongwu issued treasure banknotes. The reason why they could be circulated throughout the world was because the new government was established and people all over the world had full trust in me, the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, the treasure banknotes could really be spent as money.

This is like someone borrowing money from Xia Shangshu. He has a good reputation and you are willing to lend him a little more. But no matter how good this person is, you will no longer be willing to lend him more money.

The same is true for the country. When Emperor Hongwu expelled the Tartars and restored China, he was diligent and caring for the people and established the imperial edict. He had unparalleled status and trust in the hearts of the people, so the people were willing to trust the imperial court and use treasure money.

However, as the court continued to issue more money, the treasure banknotes were like people who kept borrowing money, consuming the court's credibility in the hearts of the people.

Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty has a stable government and a prosperous country. At most, the common people despise the treasure banknotes because they are difficult to use, causing the treasure banknotes to depreciate seriously. However, if the government is unstable and the country is in trouble internally and externally, the people will not just despise the treasure banknotes for being difficult to use. I feel that this court is not easy to use and I need to get a new one. "

"Your Highness, your words are serious. Our Ming Dynasty now has good governance, virtuous kings, and clear government. It is the time when everyone is working hard to govern. How can the people think about changing the emperor?" Xia Yuanji naturally heard the meaning of Zhu Zhancui's words. After all, This was said so clearly, but he couldn't answer the question.

Zhu Zhanjun didn't care about this and just continued: "Establishing a new treasury is to clear up the old bad debts and re-establish the people's trust in the court, so the top priority is how to win the trust of the people.

I don't think Xia Shangshu is the kind of mediocre and stupid official who thinks that the people of the world will obey the government's decree, right? "

"Of course I don't think so, and the Dukes in the court are not like this!" On this point, Xia Yuanji is still very ethical and persistent.

Faced with Xia Yuanji's attitude, Zhu Zhanjun nodded with satisfaction, and then continued: "Since Xia Shangshu agrees with this, then the matter can be easily explained. The new treasury of the imperial court is to attract wealthy merchants from all over the world. The gentry and the common people deposited their money into it and issued new banknotes based on it.

This is just like Xia Shangshu, who left a sum of money with a friend and the friend issued a receipt for you. You can get the money back at any time with the receipt.

If your friend spends the money without your consent, Xia Shangshu, will you still trust your friend and leave the money with him next time?If he issues you a receipt or borrows money from you, or says something to you, will you still trust Xia Shangshu? "

(End of this chapter)