golden scales

Among a series of personnel appointments in the East Palace, Cai Maode's transfer to governor of Shandong was a flat transfer; the third envoy was vacant, and only Zhang Shiqi was appointed to participate in politics and supervise the affairs of the Second Mansion of Denglai.As the two prefectures under the direct control of the East Palace, Hou Fangyu and Wu Weiye served as prefects of Deng and Lai.

Because Dengzhou is the residence of the Shandong Navy, and Shen Tingyang, the admiral of the Navy, set up a camp in Weihaiwei, and it needs someone who understands the importance of management, so Hou Fangyu is more suitable than Wu Weiye.In Laizhou, Zhu Cihong was in charge, and Pingdu was supported by Zhou Yuji's cavalry battalion, so the pressure was relatively small, so Wu Weiye was handed over to Pingdu.

Wu Weiye didn't expect that he would be able to be used again. Looking back on the time when he gave up on himself, he was really guilty and unbearably guilty. He made up his mind to be a good official who is proficient in common affairs and would not let the prince down.

However, Zhu Cihong really has no one in his hands.

The national government has collapsed, and Shandong naturally cannot stand alone.It can be said with certainty that every official in office has corruption and fraud, otherwise he would not be able to survive.Zhu Cihong has always been more magnanimous about minor issues, but his tolerance for corruption and mediocrity is extremely low, so he naturally cannot accept old officials from Shandong as local officials.

Moreover, in terms of the promotion of government orders, only by appointing their own people from the Eastern Palace Department can they ensure that the following will not be violated.On a piece of wasteland, weeds can only be topped off if rice is raised.These newly appointed secretaries of the East Palace Department are exactly the rice that Zhu Cihong wants to cultivate.

Because the Ming Dynasty's official administration was doomed to collapse from the time of Taizu.

Without him, it's just too contrary to the human name! !

In the 13th year of Hongwu, Emperor Gao re-determined the annual salary of civil and military officials.There are 44 grades in total, with the ninth rank being the right follower.The official salary of the first rank is [-] shi, and the salary of the magistrate of the seventh rank is ninety shi.At first glance, it seems to be enough, and it is indeed enough to have ninety shilumi in the first year of the founding of the People's Republic of China.However, these Lumi are not all rice, there are also many precious banknotes that are depreciating day by day.Officials don't eat Lumi alone, they have to hire masters, long squads, etc. as private individuals.

After the world was stabilized, social production resumed, and social wealth gradually accumulated, especially the large amount of silver obtained from foreign trade made Huang Ming more and more prosperous.In an environment where prices and living standards are rising day by day, the ninety shi rice is relaxed at two taels of silver per shi, but only 180 taels.During the Jiajing and Wanli dynasties, the affluence of Ming Dynasty reached its peak. Ordinary well-off families pooled money to do sea trade, and their annual income was more than 180 taels.

Mr. Hai Rui, who truly carried out Emperor Gao's will, was so poor that he only went to the market to cut two or two taels of meat on his mother's birthday. This made the people of the whole city rush to tell the story, and they were extremely surprised.

There is not enough protection for living at home, not to mention the need to be greeted in the officialdom, and socializing in the shilin.If you want to live with dignity, you can only use your brains on the power in your hands.Therefore, it has become a common political style that small officials cheat to save the poor, and high officials corrupt to get rich.

"The salaries of officials in the past dynasties are less than that of our dynasty." Zhu Cihong spent one night with two magistrates and fourteen new county magistrates, and selected ten old officials, ten gentry and peasants, thoroughly Sort out various local administrative expenses and income.

Those old officials and squires and peasants never imagined that they could sit in front of the crown prince and discuss matters, and even had a meal with the crown prince.Zhu Cihong was also very considerate of them, and didn't ask any questions about favoritism and fraud, but just asked everyone to think about where money was spent, and what money was apportioned to the squires and peasants.

Yao Tao sat around with a group of female officials, and wrote down every item in the form.In the end, 27 miscellaneous items were listed.

"These 27 items, if classified according to the East Palace, can be classified into three categories." Yao Tao stood gracefully in front of the crowd, wearing not palace attire, but five-rank civil official uniform.This made everyone dare not look directly at her. I have never seen a woman who can be a court official, and she is still a fifth rank!Although Shandong is the hometown of sages and has a strong sense of etiquette, it is because of its limited status that it does not dare to speak out and commit crimes like the imperial censor in Beijing.

"Administrative expenses." Yao Tao's voice made everyone in the hall dare not breathe loudly.She said: "Including the pen, ink, paper and inkstone of the county government, the food and silver for the bearers of the friends, the winter charcoal and the summer ice, and the expenses of the official invitations and festivals."

Wu Weiye was quite surprised that the East Palace even counted public entertainment and festive gifts as administrative expenses, which had been prohibited by court orders before.

Zhu Cihong just nodded, signaling Yao Tao to continue.

Yao Tao cleared his throat, and said, "The second category of expenses is public welfare expenses such as repairing bridges and roads, disaster relief and relief to the people. This category is mainly allocated by the government to the gentry and commoners." The gentry and commoners all nodded in agreement.

"The third category is officials' friends and money to support scholars, which is public relations expenses." Yao Tao said: "Your Highness, all 27 small items are covered."

Zhu Cihong nodded, let Yao Tao sit down, and said just now: "Actually, you have missed one item, I thought of it for you."

The county magistrates were taken aback for a moment, and thought to themselves: If His Highness even recognizes these, what expenses will there be?

"Food expenses." Zhu Cihong said with a smile: "Food is the most important thing for the people. You are officials, not immortals. Don't you even eat food?"

"Your Highness, we have already received our salary, how can we still get the food expenses?" Liao Xing followed Zhu Cihong in Luoyang, and this time he became the magistrate of Pingdu Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of Weixian County and Changyi County. Step into the ranks of the fifth rank.Also because of the Luoyang incident, his family was squeezed out by big local households. Liao Xing had already completed his studies and returned home, and asked his grandpa to take the lead and move his family to Shandong to settle down.

And this is also temporary, Liao Xing firmly believes that the crown prince can restore Shenjing within three to five years.At that time, when the tide rises, he can naturally go further.

"Living expenses are your salary expenses." Zhu Cihong said: "Food expenses are one meal a day. If you work overtime late, you can include another dinner, which is considered a working meal. Six-grade and seven-grade dishes, one soup, one meat and one vegetable. Five grades, three dishes and one soup, plus a small meat dish. This is the same as when you were in the East Palace, and I will still take care of the meals." Everyone smiled when they heard the words.The place where these old Donggong are most happy to work in Donggong is to provide board and lodging.With their identities, it is an extremely extravagant thing to eat meat every meal.

"I have to say," Zhu Cihong said, "the government is not a place for business. When the court collects taxes, it should be taken from the people and used by the people. How can we only think about making money from the people? So today we list The 27 items of these three categories are recognized as regular expenses. In the future, the local government will use money, and if there are any items that cannot be classified as items, you can tell me. But..."

Zhu Cihong changed the subject: "Those who dare to stretch out their hands to the people, don't blame me for being ruthless! Emperor Gao said: You are paid, and the people are fat and the people are anointed; the people are easy to abuse, but the sky is hard to bully! Here, I don't need to take care of this matter. The government has taken care of it! Except for the regular tax, the government will exempt all others. The specific tax adjustment plan will be sent to you soon. After you take office, the first thing is to encourage farming, resettlement of immigrants, and resume local production."

Most of the East Palace secretaries selected this time are scholars from the countryside. Regardless of their family background, they are no strangers to farm affairs.Although everyone, including Zhu Cihong, knew that this was an official article, it made a big difference whether to say it or not.Now that the crown prince has spoken out, if someone doesn't care about it in the future, it will be a great crime.

"Moreover, all counties also need to build fortresses, measure land, update fish scale yellow books, and reasonably approve land taxes as appropriate. You have to go down to see it yourself, and you can't just listen to the subordinates' nonsense. I don't care what the subordinates do. As long as Let me find out that any of you are not true, and you will be punished severely!" Zhu Cihong warned.

Everyone smelled the bloody smell, and immediately restrained their breath, nodding in agreement.

"The resettlement of refugees and immigrants must be done as soon as possible, without delay." Zhu Cihong said: "The "County Town Planning Reference Book" has been sent to you, and I have written all the reasons clearly. I see how many of you You have already participated in the writing of this book. So how to manage your own county well, I have already provided ideas, and it depends on whether you can do things."

Having said that, the state and county officials below became agitated.In the county planning book, it describes what a county should look like.Neat street environment, excellent drainage system, tidy houses and streets, urban functional areas with clear division of labor... It's like a huge garden waiting for them to plan and rebuild.

Zhu Cihong looked at the expectant faces of the crowd, but in his heart he doubted the effectiveness of this well-meaning.If you want to really achieve the power of your fingers, you still have to establish a sound local government system, so that states and counties have the same functional constraints as the provinces.However, there is a shortage of manpower now, but adjustments cannot be made immediately. (To be continued.)