Daming: I, Yang Xian, really govern Yang!

Chapter 80: Awesome National Preceptor
"Corruption is a huge matter, and we can only do it step by step. If we take too big a step, we will easily lose our temper."

Yang Xian looked at Zhu Biao who was listening attentively and began to explain his own knowledge.

The biggest advantage of living in a modern information society is that you see more.

There are too many examples from ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad, spanning 5000 years, to learn from.

It’s not that Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao are not smart, but that people of every era have historical limitations in their respective eras.

Yang Xian is equivalent to standing on the shoulders of giants, overlooking the Ming Dynasty.

"The first step is to increase the salary of officials. How much the salary should be determined will be analyzed in detail later. Although it does not have to be as high as the Song Dynasty, the national treasury does not support us to do this now."

"But one thing must be done, that is, at least the officials must be able to live a relatively decent life, not just food, but at least they must be able to afford fish and meat."

"In this way, whenever officials want to be corrupt, they will think about whether it is worth it. The higher the opportunity cost of corruption, the less likely people will be corrupt."

Zhu Biao nodded, indicating that he had taken note of it.

He originally thought that the corruption of officials in the Ming Dynasty was all due to their lack of support. After what Yang Xian said before, he finally realized that the salary of officials in the Ming Dynasty was too low.

For some people, they really can’t live without greed.

In the original time and space, around the tenth year of Hongwu, Zeng Bingzheng, who was the general envoy of the General Affairs Department at the time, was dismissed from his post by Zhu Yuanzhang for violating the holy will. He was so poor that he had no money to pay for his return home, so he sold his four-year-old daughter to raise travel expenses.

Although there is an element of favoring boys over girls, no matter what, it is still my own flesh and blood, and I would definitely not do this unless I really had no money.

After Zhu Yuanzhang heard the news, he was furious and ordered Zeng Bingzheng to be captured and castrated.

Lao Zhu's meaning is very simple. Since you can't treat your children well, then don't have children in this life. Otherwise, a dignified official of the third rank of the Ming Dynasty will have a salary that is really too low to support his family. He will have to sell his sons and daughters to pay for travel. Can't?

Zhu Yuanzhang believed that Zeng Bingzheng wanted to take the opportunity to insult the court and insult him.

A third-grade official, with an annual salary of 7 shi, which is about [-] to [-] yuan in modern terms.

In terms of rank, a third-grade official is equivalent to the deputy ministerial level. In later generations, not to mention Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, a department-level (county bureau) leading cadre will receive this amount in salary in one year.

Normally speaking, even if the salary in the Ming Dynasty was already ridiculously low, reaching the level of a third-rank official would definitely mean you would have enough food and clothing.

But Zhu Yuanzhang did not count another point, that is, the Ming Dynasty currency notes he issued.

This thing is completely another trap.

Later, the issuance of Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes without restrictions by the court led to inflation. Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes of the same denomination did not have the same purchasing power at all.

The salary of officials in the Ming Dynasty was paid in rice and cash.

The first and second grades have four branches of rice and six branches of banknotes; the third and fourth grades of rice have more than half of the banknotes; the fifth and sixth grades of rice have six banknotes and four; the seventh and eighth grades of rice have eight banknotes and two.

A third-rank official in Beijing has a lot of daily expenses, so the government must hire a concierge.

This led to Zeng Bingzheng not saving any remaining money and taking the opportunity to insult him. Lao Zhu had really wronged him. Which official during the Hongwu period would dare to do this.

Isn't this the old man who has eaten arsenic and is living impatiently?Regarding the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes, Yang Xian was going to find another time to chat with Zhu Biao.

"Your Highness, are you sure that your Majesty will directly increase the salary of all officials?" Yang Xian looked at Zhu Biao and asked.

The salaries of officials at all levels were set by Zhu Yuanzhang himself, and it was only a few years ago.

Coupled with Lao Zhu's temper and character, you must know that in his eyes, these officials are pure cows and horses.

Therefore, Yang Xian is really worried about this.

Sure enough, there was a trace of embarrassment on Zhu Biao's face, but it was quickly replaced by a determined look in his eyes, and he said solemnly: "I will try my best to convince my father with reason."

Seeing the serious look on Zhu Biao's face, Yang Xian smiled and said: "Your Highness does not need to be so embarrassed. Although I don't think His Majesty will necessarily reject this proposal, the salaries of officials at all levels set by His Majesty do not need to be touched."

"Didn't Yang Qing say that to combat corruption, the first step is to increase the salaries of officials at all levels? If we don't do this, how can we improve them?" Zhu Biao asked.

"There are many ways to improve officials' salaries, and the court can definitely introduce a reward mechanism."

Yang Xian said: "Set various corresponding assessment targets for each yamen of the imperial court and the officials themselves. Bonuses will be issued if the assessment requirements are met."

In fact, Yangzhou, where Yang Xian is in charge, has already been doing this in advance. The performance appraisal awards issued to officials at all levels in Yangzhou last year were based on this consideration.

"Assessment, bonus?" Zhu Biao muttered something as if he had caught something.

Yang Xian then said: "For example, officials in Beijing have long been miserable about going to court in the morning. They can set up an attendance check. As long as they are not late for the morning meeting, they can get a full attendance salary. With this bonus, it will be better than The previous simple punishments were more able to stimulate officials’ enthusiasm to go to court.”

"There is also a seniority salary set for officials based on their working years. This amount will increase as the officials' working years increase."

"At the same time, detailed assessment indicators can be set for each government affairs. At the end of the year, each yamen will be assessed and ranked, and performance appraisal awards will be issued according to the performance ratings. The same applies to officials. This can stimulate the relationship between departments and officials. healthy competition.”

"It is best to hold a commendation meeting every year to reward outstanding and advanced officials."

"Most people in this world are just ordinary people, and it is their instinct to pursue fame and fortune. His Highness the Crown Prince feels that setting up these rewards can not only gain money but also make him famous. Will the ministers of the entire Ming Dynasty be full of energy? Go work hard.”

"With these opportunities to obtain money through formal channels, I believe that most officials will not take such a big risk of beheading just for a small amount of personal gain."

in the carriage.

Zhu Biao, who was sitting opposite Yang Xian, was so shocked by Yang Xian's words that he was speechless.

This suggestion is simply magical.

In his opinion, Yang Xian's talent was worthy of being a national teacher.

Yang Xian's move not only covered up Zhu Yuanzhang's previous fault of setting too low salaries for officials, but also stimulated the enthusiasm of Ming officials through the assessment mechanism.

Zhu Biao can already imagine that if this policy is implemented by then, it will definitely inject a new vitality into the entire Ming Dynasty officialdom.

(End of this chapter)