Ming Dynasty 1566

Chapter 3

A little behind the four big pillars there are four large dolomitic copper stoves, and in front of each copper stove stands a puppet-like eunuch, and everyone's eyes are fixed on the stove, because the stove does not burn incense. , but inch-long silver charcoal, the fiery red is green, without a trace of smoke, so it is as warm as spring.The method used in the palace at that time was simple but very effective.

Lu Fang led the four eunuchs to stand in a row on the left, Yan Song led the cabinet members, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng to stand in a row on the right, and the two of them knelt down facing the empty seat in the middle.After three prostrations, Lu Fang led the four eunuchs to stand behind the long case on the left, and Xu Jie, the second assistant, led the four cabinet members present to stand behind the long case on the right.Only then did Yan Song walk slowly to the embroidered pier on the right side of the throne and sit down.

——The imperial financial meeting in the 40th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty was held in front of the empty emperor's throne.

Everyone held their breath, first Lu Fang looked at the passageway with heavy veils on the east side of the main hall, and then everyone's eyes slowly looked at that passageway.

To the south of the passage is the outer wall of Yuxi Palace, and the windows are all open. To the north is the Jingshen Abode where Emperor Jiajing confined himself. Carrying a few flakes of snowflakes through the window and then through the door into the monastery.Emperor Jiajing, who was dormant inside, was obviously not afraid of the cold, and he also obviously liked the snowflakes that drifted in.After a while, there was a clear and melodious copper chime sound from the abode.

This was the signal to start the discussion, and Lu Fang immediately announced: "Let's discuss the matter."

The four eunuchs who were still standing by the Baiyun copper stove like puppets just now gently put the four hollowed-out copper covers on the stove, and then walked like cats and walked gently through the small doors on both sides. backed out.

"It's still the old rule." As usual, Lu Fang presided over the meeting, "The cabinet reported last year's expenditures according to the actual expenditures of the ministries and the two capitals and the thirteen provinces. What should be settled and what should not be settled, there must be a report today. Explanation. What big expenditures will be made this year? The ministries will propose them, the Ministry of Finance will make a comprehensive calculation, and the cabinet will draw up a vote. If we can approve it, we will approve it. Mr. Ge, what do you think?"

"Relying on the emperor's virtue like heaven, and everyone's hard work, the most difficult days are finally over." Yan Song slowly began to set the tone for the meeting, "Last year, there was a severe drought in two provinces, and floods in three provinces. Several major wars in the north and southeast, plus a fire in the palace. To be honest, I don’t know how I got here. The emperor’s clothes and food, everyone should be tired. Coincidentally, last winter, several provinces It hasn't snowed yet, so some people use this to attack the court. If it doesn't snow again today, I'm afraid we all have to plead guilty and resign. It doesn't matter, what matters is the year of my Ming Dynasty this year. But it snowed today , There was heavy snow. Everyone knows that from the first day of the new year to now, the emperor has been here alone to fast and worship the sky. This snow was brought down by the emperor, and the sincerity of the emperor touched the sky. God blesses, as long as we are sincere Use things, my Ming Dynasty is still in full swing!" He stopped here, what he was waiting for was not the approval of the audience, but the emperor's chewing in the abode next door.

Knowing that what Yan Song said was flattery, whether they agreed or not, all the people before the two cases had a solemn expression.

If you pass through the passage on the east and enter the abode in the north, you will see the Sanqing tablet on the altar on the front wall at first sight. tower.At this time, there was no one on the stage, so the copper chime on the red sandalwood shelf beside the seat and the copper chime and pestle resting obliquely in the copper chime were very conspicuous.It immediately reminds people that the clear and crisp copper chime sounded from here.

In front of the wall directly connected to the main hall, there is a row of tall rosewood bookcases on the entire wall.Suddenly wandering in front of the bookcase was a tall and thin man in a light silk toga, tied in a bun, and with a black beard fluttering fifty years away.If it weren't for being here, no one would be able to tell that he is Zhu Houcong, the current Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty.

Since moving here in November last year, it has been decorated here as his alchemy room for practicing Taoism and Xuan, and also as a living room for him to read and read memorials for daily life. This place is called "Jingshen Abode". The word "respectful" is actually a warning to those people in the main hall outside, as well as the tens of thousands of officials in the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty.

Because of the heavy snow, Emperor Jiajing obviously relaxed at this time.After fifteen days of fasting and meditation, he still didn’t feel tired. He slowly wandered to the bookcase with the label of “Household Department” and stood down. The back of the bookcase that was taken out of the account book was actually empty, standing here can hear everyone's speech in the hall better than sitting on the futon.He listened to what Yan Song said just now, and now he is waiting to hear what he will say next.

After 20 years of tacit understanding between the monarch and his ministers, Yan Song in the hall even knew where Jiajing was standing inside and waited to hear what he said next. After grasping the rhythm, he continued: "Everyone has worked hard for more than a month. Calculate all the expenditures of last year. The cabinet has also drawn up the bills in the past few days, and the supervisor of rituals has approved it, and last year's accounts are considered settled. Then we will discuss this year's expenditures, Mr. Xu Ge." Speaking of this, Yan Song looked at Xu Jie, the second assistant beside him, "You and Su Qing are in charge of the household department. The cabinet votes are planned to be with you. You can talk about it, and then submit it to Eunuch Lu and the others for approval."

"Brother Shifan handed over the cabinet ticket to our household department yesterday." Xu Jie, the second assistant to the cabinet and the secretary of the household department, spoke as slowly as Yan Song, but he didn't have Yan Song's overwhelming momentum. He read it The quasi-cabinet member of Yan Shifan's subordinate and minister of the household department gave a high shot, "I checked with Su Qing last night. After checking, we signed some proposals, and we didn't dare to sign some proposals."

"What?" Yan Shifan was the first to respond immediately, "You didn't sign some proposals? Which proposals didn't you sign?"

Lu Fang and the eunuchs, Supervisor of Rituals, were also a little surprised, and all looked at Xu Jie.

Xu Jie still replied slowly: "We signed the expenditure bill of the Ministry of War, but the expenditure bills of the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Industry were too large, so we did not dare to sign."

"Your household department didn't sign the bills from the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Industry?" Although Yan Shifan was somewhat prepared, Xu Jie's eyes widened in astonishment when he said these words from the always cautious and obedient Xu Jie.

Everyone was a little surprised, and the air in the entire hall suddenly froze.

In Jinshen Abode, Emperor Jiajing raised his head abruptly, and looked up.

A voice, Zhou Yunyi's voice, seemed to be very far away, but also seemed to be very close. It rang in his ears: "The inner court is spending too much... This is a warning from the heavens... a warning from the heavens..."

His gaze fell gloomyly on the cover of the ledger in his hand.

——On the cover of the account book, it is impressively marked "The General Account Book of the Ministry of Households for the 39th year of Jiajing's reign"!
In the main hall, Xu Jie closed his eyes habitually after finishing those words.Yan Shifan's eyes turned to Gao Gong, and although his voice was suppressed, it was still almost a roar. "You were all present when the expenditure cabinets of various ministries drafted bills, but now you sign for one ministry and not for the other. What is your Ministry of Finance going to do?"

Yan Shifan's low growl shook the originally very quiet hall with echoes everywhere.

Gao Gong had no choice but to speak, he pushed forward a pile of account books on the desk in front of him, coughed first, his voice was not loud but did not conceal his arrogance: "Mr. The household department is not the household department of "our"; the official department and the Ministry of Industry are also the official department and the Ministry of Industry of Ming Dynasty, not your official department and the Ministry of Industry. If all the household departments in the official department and the Ministry of Industry are If you want to do it, then let you take up all the errands of the Ministry of Accounts, and of course we don't have to come here to discuss this matter."

Everyone's eyes became more and more tense, they looked at Gao Gong, and then at Yan Shifan.

Sure enough, it was in trouble!Yan Shifan was taken aback by Gao Gong's words at first, but he quickly reacted and became even more irritated: "One of you is the Minister of the Household Department, and the other is the Minister of the Household Department. What's wrong with calling you the Department of Households in this position? Of course, the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Industry are not the yamen of my Yan Shifan, but the expenditures of the two ministries are votes drawn up by the cabinet! You can say that you can’t do it or you don’t want to do it. You know what it is to threaten the court and delay the court’s major affairs by not signing. as a result of!"

"It's nothing more than dismissal from office." Gao Gong didn't give in today, "Looking at the bill you sent yesterday, Mr. Xu Ge and I already had this idea. We can't do the job of the Ministry of Households, you Xiaoge. Let whoever thinks it is suitable to do it do it.”

"Gao Suqing!" Yan Shifan raised his hand and wanted to pat the case.

"Yan Shifan." Before his palm touched the case, Yan Song yelled softly, "This is the imperial meeting."

In the Abode, Jiajing stopped turning over the account books again, and stared sideways at the bookcase.

"Father!" Yan Shifan's aggrieved voice came from outside.

"There is no 'father' here, only my courtiers of Ming Dynasty." Then Yan Song's voice came, "The imperial court discusses matters, let people speak. Suqing, why didn't the Ministry of Households sign the cabinet proposal? What do you have? Speak out of any difficulties."

Jiajing continued to listen attentively.

"Let me also remind you." Then came Lu Fang's voice, "Just discuss the matter, don't be dismissed from office and dismissed at every turn. Who should do what and what should not be done, the scale is in the hands of the emperor. I hope everyone understands. "

Jiajing was still listening.

"Okay. Then I'll talk about numbers." This is the voice of Gao Gong.

Jiajing's gaze returned to the account book and turned to the first page.

In the main hall, Gao Gong also held up an account book.That account book was exactly the same as the account book held by Emperor Jiajing in the inner room, and on the cover it said "General Account Book of the Ministry of Households for the 39th year of Jiajing".

高拱翻开了账册：“去年两京一十三省全年的税银共为四千530六万7000两，去年年初各项开支预算为三千980万两。可是，昨天各部报来的账单共耗银五千380万两。收支两抵，去年一年亏空竟达840三万3000两！”

In front of the Jingshe bookcase, Emperor Jiajing looked at the account books, but his ears were listening to the voices outside.

A high arched voice came from the outside: "If you check with the expenditure budget at the beginning of last year, the overspend last year was more than 400 million taels!"

Emperor Jiajing closed the account book in his hand, lightly threw it on the red sandalwood desk in front of him, then walked to the futon in front of the incense burner and sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes gently.

Gao Gong in the main hall went on to say: "Among these overspends, the Ministry of War accounted for 300 million taels. The remaining 100 million taels were overspends from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Officials. But why did we sign the bills of the Ministry of War? The reason is The 300 million taels overspend by the Ministry of War was also used by the Ministry of Industry. In a word, the overspend of 400 million taels last year was all overspend by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Officials!" At this point, Gao Gong drew out a cabinet ticket Drafted bill: "Let's talk about the 300 million shortfall recorded on the head of the Ministry of War! The Ministry of War did not spend the 300 million, but drew up a ticket for us to sign. Mr. Xiaoge, how do you ask us to sign this word!"

Hearing Gao Gong's words in the outer hall, the long eyebrows of Emperor Jiajing who was sitting on the futon twitched again, his eyes still closed.

Everyone in the hall looked at Yan Shifan at this moment.Yan Shifan was a little frustrated: "When the bill was drafted, the two hall officials of your household department were there. At that time, you all saw this draft bill. At that time, you didn't say anything, but now you put the account on the head of the Ministry of Industry! Old Xu , What are you guys trying to do?" He stopped confronting Gao Gong head-on, and stared at Xu Jie instead.

Xu Jie continued: "Seeing it does not mean verifying it. Last night, we checked with the Ministry of War and found out that there was a discrepancy in the expenditure. This matter, Tai Yue." He looked at the youngest cabinet candidate standing at the end Cabinet member Zhang Juzheng: "Let's talk."

"Yes." Zhang Juzheng replied, "Last year's expenditures of the Ministry of War were verified and sent to the Ministry of Accounts on the 27th of the twelfth lunar month. At that time, our expenditures were completely according to the budget at the beginning of the year and did not exceed the budget. But yesterday, the Ministry of Accounts notified me to verify the invoices. It was proposed that the Ministry of War overspend by 300 million taels. I went to see that the 300 million taels were recorded in the account of the Ministry of War for building [-] warships. It is also clearly recorded that they were built for Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou to fight Japanese pirates in the southeast sea. Yes. In fact, the Ministry of War has never seen a warship."

After Zhang Juzheng finished speaking in one breath, many eyes that didn't know the inside story began to collide with each other.

In the jingshe, Emperor Jiajing seemed to be completely in meditation at this moment, sitting motionless on the futon.It has been 21 years since he moved out of the Forbidden City and moved to Xiyuan during the "Renyin Palace Change" in the 20st year of Jiajing. In the past 20 years, he no longer went to court, nor did he collectively summon even the cabinet members. He spent more time practicing Daoism and mysteries every day, which he called "ruling by doing nothing."How many people know that he has realized the true meaning of "Tai Chi" politics - politics can't be done by oneself, and all are left to the people below to manage and fight for.If he did the right thing, he would admit it; if he did the wrong thing, the responsibility would always be below.It is better to be silent than to be safe.For any sentence, if you don't say it, you are the master of that sentence, and if you say it, you are the slave of that sentence.Let the cabinet speak, let the director of ceremonies speak, let them figure out their own holy will and speak.Therefore, for an annual financial meeting like this, I must be clear that every decision must be implemented according to my own wishes.Luckily, he could think, but he didn't show up. He just knocked the bell next door to tacitly agree which item could be approved and which item could not be approved. Even if he made a mistake afterwards, it was the fault of the cabinet and the supervisor.

This is even more the case at this time, the more intense the quarrel outside, the quieter he is in meditation.Let them quarrel, listen to them quarrel.

At this time, Jiajing did not show up, and the dispute was deadlocked. Every time, it was Lu Fang who asked questions on behalf of the next-door emperor: "What do you say about this matter?" The words he asked were obviously a continuation of Zhang Juzheng's topic just now, but the questioner Shi Shi didn't look at anyone, but looked at the ink cartridge on the table in front of him.

"You can't get into trouble with this matter!" Yan Shifan stared at Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng first, and then faced Lu Fang, "If you go back to the Supervisor of Rites, there were indeed 300 warships last year, and the cost was [-] million taels. The two workshops in Zhejiang and Fujian were built at the same time. Originally, these thirty ships were built for the Ministry of War for sea combat. Later, ten ships were used to transport wood for several halls in the palace, and the remaining twenty ships were temporarily released. The Shibo Department in charge of the palace borrowed it. The Shibo Department should report this matter to the palace."

"Is there such a thing?" Lu Fang looked at the next few eunuchs who were in charge of etiquette and Bingbi.

This is of course knowingly asking.Several Bingbi eunuchs met their eyes.

"There is such a thing." Chen Hong, who was under Lu Fang's head, replied, "At that time, the Shibo Department was to transport silk, tea and porcelain to Persia, India and other places in exchange for silver. Due to insufficient ships, we borrowed [-] ships. Ship. Later, because Japanese pirates made a big noise on the sea, and there were not enough military ships to escort the goods, the goods were diverted to the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal and transported to Beijing.”

Lu Fang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's clear. The ten ships were used to transport wood for the repair of the main hall in the palace, and the twenty ships were used by the Maritime Department to transport goods to the imperial court. But the money is still being used in the right way. Now the fire-damaged main hall in the palace has been repaired in several places, and the others can be repaired slowly. Lord Yan, your Ministry of Industry returned the ten ships to the Ministry of War. I am here for the Department of Shipbuilding. Let me also say hello, if there is a shortage of ships, you can build another one, and don’t occupy the warships of the Ministry of War. Thirty ships have been returned to the Ministry of War, and the expenditure of 300 million taels is justified in the account of the Ministry of War.”

Everyone fell silent.

Gao Gong also froze there with the 300 million tael ticket in his hand.

Everyone was waiting, waiting for the knocking of the chime in the abode next door.As soon as the chime sounded, the 300 million taels could be reimbursed.

(End of this chapter)