My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 23: Giving Officials Sufficient Salaries

"Not enough money saved."

Hearing Bi Ziyan's words, Zhu Youxiao was stunned for a moment, but then said.

"You don't have to worry at this time. I will make up the money from my own funds when the time comes."

Zhu Youxiao said, waved his hand, picked up a book from the table, and asked the eunuch to hand it to the three of them.

"I have read a lot of things these days, and the one that interests me the most is the "Records of the Meeting" that Zhang Jiangling supervised when he was in Shenzong."

"Wanli Accounting Records" was supervised by Zhang Juzheng and compiled by Wang Guoguang, the Minister of Household Affairs, and Li Youzi, the minister. It started in July of the sixth year of Longqing (1572) and was completed in the fourth year of Wanli (1576).

This book is divided into volumes based on geography, first the whole country, then provinces and prefectures.

It stipulates the annual income and expenditure of farmland and grain throughout the country, the scores of prefectures and counties, the rates of border towns, treasury supervisors, Guanglu, vassals, official positions, salaries, water transportation, warehouses, military and military salaries, farming, salt laws, Specific income and expenditure details such as tea law, money law, banknotes, miscellaneous subjects, etc.

This book was compiled and used until the ninth year of Chongzhen. Bi Ziyan compiled the "Du Zhi Memorial" in order to help Emperor Chongzhen sort out the bad debts of the Ming Dynasty.

But in fact, the "Du Zhi Memorial" that Chongzhen finally saw was actually the blueprint for Bi Ziyan's original plan to compile the "Collection of Taxes and Services", and it was just a preliminary calculation.

But even the preliminary calculation gave Chongzhen great confidence.

Because this year, Sun Chuanting captured and killed Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang in Heishuiyu, and Bi Ziyan initially cleared up the bad debts of the Ming Dynasty.

I thought it was the resurrection of the Ming Dynasty, but I never thought it was the return of the light.

And why did Zhu Youxiao have a copy of "Wanli Accounting Records" in his hands? This has to mention Li Ruhua, the Minister of Household Affairs, who is an experienced guy.

In the 46th year of Wanli (1618), in order to meet the needs of the Liaodong war, Li Ruhua, the Minister of Household Affairs, proposed that the land tax be increased by 47 cents per mu according to the "Wanli Accounting Records", and in [-] years another [-] cents was added.

Yesterday, Li Ruhua wrote again, asking for a court meeting to increase the amount by two cents per mu, and then asked Zhu Youxiao to approve it.

If you add a hammer, add a gift at this time, is it because the poor people among the people don't scold him enough as an emperor?

At the same time, Zhu Youxiao also knew very well that the gift he added was the famous Liao salary in history.

Accumulated over three years, an additional levy of nine cents of silver per mu was calculated, and the total number of acres in the world was 520 million taels.

Liao's taxes were increased by nine cents per mu. This level of taxation was maintained until the fourth year of Chongzhen Emperor Chongzhen's coming to power, when the tax was again increased by three cents per mu.

Many people know that Emperor Apocalypse in history was a smart man, and the three rates of subjugation in the late Ming Dynasty really had nothing to do with Apocalypse.The Liao rates were added by Wanli, and the payment and training rates were added by Chongzhen.

But why was Tianqi’s use of internal funds so arrogant in history compared to Chongzhen?
Because Tianqi has mastered a skill that Chongzhen does not know, that is, robbing large households.

In the first year of Tianqi, 114 million taels of miscellaneous silver were collected.

In the second year of Tianqi's reign, 65 taels of miscellaneous silver were collected.

This kind of fluctuation was certainly not enough for Tianqi to spend everywhere, so Tianqi increased the amount in three years, and the miscellaneous silver limit was 229 million taels.

Furthermore, four years after the Apocalypse, the salt tax silver was increased to 54 taels, and the customs silver was increased to 20 taels.

The final calculation showed that Apocalypse spent much more money than Chongzhen Hao in history, and all kinds of people freed up at least 2000 million taels of silver from internal funds.

"Li Ruhua, the Minister of Household Affairs, is old after all. He wrote several times to become an official, but was kept by Shenzong. Now that Shenzong has gone, I can't keep Li Shangshu anymore. I heard that you have always been strict in managing the country and benefiting the people. Talent, I hope you can clear up the accounts of Ming Dynasty for me."

"And Yuan Aiqing and Wang Aiqing also need to help."

Zhu Youxiao looked at the three people below and took out a copper coin from nowhere in his hand to play with.

"In passing the imperial edict, Bi Ziyan moved to the left as the Minister of Household Affairs, Yuan Keli moved to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and Wang Sanshan moved to the right as the Censor of Jiandu."

"I will live up to His Majesty's kindness."

The emperor had already reached this point in his speech, and Bi Ziyan could not refuse at this time, so he bowed quickly.

"For officials' salary increases, part of it will be provided by the national treasury, and I will provide part of it from internal funds. After the three of you accept the order, you will first make an overall plan for the quota and salary of the imperial officials."

"I accept the order and thank you."

"Cut it."

After waving for the three of them to leave, Zhu Youxiao's voice sounded faintly in the hall.

"Don't lose my hope."

(End of this chapter)