Daming: The Sims, Lao Zhu’s mentality collapsed

Chapter 73 Why was the Ming Dynasty so poor?

In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang could always see that there was a unique feeling in Zhu Xi.

It was as if Zhu Tong was just a tourist who came to Ming Dynasty to take a quick look at the flowers. To him, everything he experienced was just a glimpse and not worthy of further investigation.

When Lao Zhu was a child, he heard people say that some people were sent down from the sky with tasks. For example, Hou Huo Qubing, the champion of the Han Dynasty, was ordered by God to attack the Huns in the north. After defeating the Huns, he was taken away by God.

If Zhu Ting was sent by God, then Lao Zhu doesn't understand. Why did God send this thing down? Just to let this traitor sing on the Qinhuai River every night?
  But when Lao Zhu imitated Emperor Chengzu Wu, he suddenly understood why God sent Zhu Xi down. Maybe some people came down to earth with a mission.

In Zhu Yu, Zhu Yuanzhang can see many futures, such as becoming the ancestor of Wu Emperor, usurping the throne and seizing the country, or the Zheng brother standing in front of him now, but no matter what kind of future, the final result is the same .

Emperor Chengzu and Emperor Wu created the prosperous age of Yongle, and usurped the throne and usurped the country to create the prosperous age of Jian'an. If the Zheng brother in front of us now takes power, I am afraid he will also go to the prosperous age.

This is Zhu Ru's mission.

Ying Zheng clasped his fists and said, "Brother Zhu, I don't understand something. I hope you can explain it to me."

"Brother Zheng, please speak." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

He was still a little doubtful about Ying Zheng's identity. This matter was too strange, and it was difficult for him to believe in a short time that the other party was really the First Emperor, whose achievements surpassed those of the Three Emperors.

Whether it is true or not, Lao Zhu still needs to observe slowly.

Ying Zheng slowly expressed his doubts that he had always had: "Why is the Ming Dynasty so poor?"

This sentence made Lao Zhu completely confused.

Damn it, why is this question so sharp?
  Ying Zheng continued: "The dynasty has just been established, with hundreds of wastes waiting to be revitalized. The country is on the rise. Logically speaking, the Ming Dynasty at this time should be heading towards a prosperous state. But now it seems that the economy of the Ming Dynasty is absolutely It is not considered rich, it can only be said to be mediocre, which is extremely abnormal for the Ming Dynasty at this stage."

Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated and said: "This... Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, I have been on the Northern Expedition, fighting and burning money. It is reasonable to be poor, right? Furthermore, since we succeeded to the throne, we have been increasing revenue and reducing expenditure, and right now If you are poor, the Ming Dynasty will be rich in a few years."

"Let's not mention the source of income for now. I don't see where the Ming Dynasty has increased the source of income. I'm just talking about reducing expenditure." Ying Zheng said, "The biggest expenses of the imperial court are nothing but the army and bureaucracy. The Ming Dynasty has been on the Northern Expedition, and the army must not be able to reduce expenditure. Yes, all the farmland has been moved to the military camps. Since the army cannot reduce expenditures, it can only start from the bureaucracy."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang retorted: "The salary we pay to officials in the Ming Dynasty is determined after careful consideration. It cannot be said to be too much, but it is definitely not too small. I don't understand why so many people risk their lives." Corruption kills one brood after another.”

Although Zhu Yu gave the answer to eradicate corruption when simulating the heyday of Jian'an, Zhu Yuanzhang still didn't quite understand what this operation was.

Why are there so many corrupt officials, and how to rectify this rampant corruption situation?
  The salary of officials in the Ming Dynasty was more than a thousand shi for the first grade, nearly 900 shi for the first grade, more than 700 shi for the second grade, and 60 shi for the ninth grade.

In the early Tang Dynasty, the salary of first-rank officials was 700 shi, second-rank officials were less than 500 shi, and ninth-rank officials were 54 shi. If we really count, the salary of officials in the Tang Dynasty was not as good as that of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty had just been founded, and the north was almost wiped out. Lao Zhu was engaged in local immigration while fighting the war with the Northern Yuan Dynasty. The national treasury was very poor. He felt that it was good for him to pay such high wages to the officials.

"That's true, but brother Zhu, have you overlooked an issue?" Ying Zheng said slowly, "Although you did not reduce the salaries of officials, you did reduce the number of officials!"  Zhu Yuanzhang's operations have always been so impressive. It was an eye-opener that in order to save money, he used all kinds of strange ideas. Although the salaries of officials were not reduced, the number of grassroots and middle-level officials was reduced, and even the number of high-level officials was reduced.

Ying Zheng sighed: "Brother Zhu, although you have reduced the number of officials in name, these people still exist in fact. The only difference is that these people no longer have the salary of the imperial court."

Take the county government as an example. The county magistrates of the Ming Dynasty not only had to support their family but also the entire government staff with their salaries.

The magistrate of the Ming Dynasty was in charge of a series of duties such as supervision, criminal justice, finance, taxation, industry and commerce, construction... etc. It would be impossible for him to do so many errands by himself, so he had to find someone to help him. He did it, otherwise he would be too exhausted to do this job.

In addition to these, the county also has cooks, masters, gatekeepers, ink grinders in the signature room, trial clerks, court clerks, and seal clerks... And some important places in the county government also have to be watched by someone. People have no official establishment and can only rely on the county magistrate's salary to support them.

The people in the county magistrate are all stupid. How much salary does he get in a year? How can it be enough to support the expenses of the entire yamen? After working as a county magistrate for a year, I happily went to receive my salary, only to find that my salary was not enough to pay the wages of the people under my command. In the end, I had to pay out of my own pocket. Who can accept paying to go to work?
  "So, does Brother Zheng have a solution to this problem?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked diligently.

Ying Zheng fell into deep thought.

This question is as unrealistic as trying to build a golden palace with one tael of silver, and it obviously touches Brother Zheng's knowledge blind spot.

"Brother Zhu, please wait a moment. I'll find someone to solve this problem for you." Ying Zheng immediately shook people in his mind, "Xiao Wu, I'm here to pick up the guests."

What Ying Zheng is good at is managing people. People are not omniscient and omnipotent, but they always have their own specialties. What he is good at is assigning the right things to the right talents, and what Ying Zheng needs to do is to control these talents.

Such as Li Si, such as Meng Tian, ​​such as Wei Liao, such as Zhang Han, such as Zhao Gao... Besides Ying Zheng, who else can control these unruly talents?

Now the question asked by Lao Zhu, in Ying Zheng's opinion, the most suitable person to answer this question is Zhu Xi.

Zhu is the most professional when it comes to money and systems.

From Zhu Yuanzhang's perspective, King Wu was still Ying Zheng one moment, and seemed to be a different person the next. The same person, but seamlessly connected between solemnity and laziness.

Lao Zhu recognized him at a glance. He was definitely his rebellious son standing in front of him now.

Zhu Zhu said lazily: "How simple it is. Officials are short of money. Just give them a salary increase."

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed to the gate of Fengtian Palace without hesitation: "Get out of here."

If I had money to give them a salary increase, why would I need to ask you?

It’s not like you don’t know how poor Ming Dynasty is!

Those people are all officials of the Ming Dynasty. They work for the court and they actually want to get rewards and want to increase their wages?
  It can’t rise a little!
  (End of this chapter)