Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 284
"Bozhang, what do you think about the Huang Laifu bond that the emperor said?"

After returning to the cabinet, the first assistant Zhao Zhigao asked Yang Junmin, Minister of the Ministry of household affairs.

Just now, Emperor Wanli called all the cabinet ministers into the palace to discuss the national debt and other matters proposed by Huang Laifu yesterday.After discussing for a whole morning, everyone was able to return to the cabinet.

"Ridiculous!" Yang Junmin's attitude was very clear, and he firmly opposed it.

He straightened his official robes and said seriously: "Since three generations, there has never been a court borrowing money from the common people. If this spreads, it will damage the court's dignity. Even if the money is borrowed and the urgent need is solved, how will we repay it in the future? Right now, the national treasury is empty, and there are millions of taels of silver, so it is not easy to return it. If the money is not repaid, and some disturbances are caused, my personal prestige and official position are minor matters, and the country’s government is the most important thing, so it must not be done!"

It's a joke, this national debt matter will definitely be counted on the head of the household department in the future. If there is any accident with such a large amount of money in the future, it will lose a large number of official hats. Yang Junmin is not willing to bear this kind of big black pot .

Zhao Zhigao also nodded with Fuxu. As the chief minister of the cabinet, he could not accept Huang Laifu's avant-garde ideas such as bonds.

However, there is an urgent need for money to pay for the various expenses of the army entering the court. If there is no other way, he also prefers that the people collect taxes from the Eastern Expedition. The Ming Dynasty has a vast land and abundant resources. It's several million taels of silver, and it's extremely safe.Even if the common people resent, they will only blame the emperor. In the whole world, there is no king.The shore of the land, could it be the king's minister?

The rest of the cabinet ministers had nothing to do with them, they were high-spirited, they were not in charge of finances, so they casually agreed with a few words with the attitude of watching the show.

Chen Yubi, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion, frowned and said, "As a general, Huang Laifu should have done his duty and devoted himself to guarding the country's frontiers. How could he deceive the emperor with clever words? The treasury should be exhausted. It is time to clean up the accumulated evils, remove redundant personnel, and scavenge." The storage in the internal treasury is collected and converted into silver taels. In this way, the preparations are made for the eastward collection of grain and payment!... What is the dignity and face of ordering the imperial court to issue national debts?"

Everyone nodded, thinking that the method proposed by Huang Laifu was absurd.The emperor didn't know what he was thinking, but he would agree with Huang Laifu's opinion, really...

In the next few days, Emperor Wanli was arguing with several cabinet ministers, especially Zhao Zhigao, the chief minister of the cabinet, and Yang Junmin, Minister of the Ministry of household affairs, about the issue of national debt. To be resolute is to firmly insist that this method will not work.

Things are stuck here, and the aid of the imperial army is about to enter the imperial court, and the preparation of food and payment is becoming more and more urgent. Moreover, after the news about the national debt, the officials are talking a lot, it seems that it is necessary to hold a grand court meeting.

……

On April 25, the 25th year of Wanli, Emperor Wanli ordered a court meeting.

On this day, the sky had just dawned, and all the officials had gathered outside the palace gate, adorned with dazzling red and blue ramie silk court dresses.The official uniform of the Ming Dynasty is red for the fourth rank and above, and blue for the fifth rank and below.

Huang Laifu also wore a court crown, a red official robe, a jade belt hanging from his waist, and a tiger and leopard on his patch. All eyes.

In this field, there are very few officials of the imperial court who are as young as him, let alone a general.Moreover, in these years, he has been the hot topic of controversy among all. Many officials have cast curious eyes on him and whispered constantly.Especially today's matter is very special in itself. It is really a major event that has never been seen before in a court meeting for a matter proposed by a military general.

Huang Laifu noticed that many people were whispering to each other, and noticed that Zhao Zhigao, the chief assistant of the cabinet, and Yang Junmin, the secretary of the household department, cast complicated eyes on him.Only the assistant ministers Zhang Wei and Shen Yiguan smiled and nodded when they met his gaze.

Soon, when it was Yinshi, only the sound of the three-way drum was heard.With the sound of drums, the Meridian Gate slowly opened, and a large group of forbidden troops came out, standing on both sides with shining spears in their hands.At this time, the sound of the drum stopped, and the two court elephants were led out of the Meridian Gate by the servants of the imperial horse supervisor, and stood on both sides of the door opening, forming a nose bridge with their long trunks.

The forbidden bell rang, and all the officials solemnly entered the palace gate from under the trunk.And the officials whose rank is less than the fourth rank can only wait outside the Meridian Gate.After entering the palace gate, all the officials formed a team in the square in front of the hall, with the civil officials facing east and west, and the military officials facing west and east.The censor in charge of the picket began to roll the roll, and wrote down the names of officials who coughed, spit, etc., as well as Yahu fell to the ground, and walked unsteadily.

After the officials of the Ministry of Rites counted the number of officials in the court, they reported in with the yellow book.Soon, the guard of honor of Emperor Wanli's chariot and Lubo arrived, and the emperor entered the hall of Huangji sitting on a magnificent big seat.

Soon, the whip sounded in the hall, and all the officials kowtowed under the order of the praise officer. Together with the hundreds of officials on the square and the low-level officials outside the Meridian Gate, they bowed five times and kowtowed three times. The sound of "Long live my emperor" resounded throughout world.

Looking at this situation, Zhao Zhigao and Chen Yubi's eyes were moist. This scene... How many years have you not seen it?

After the salute, all the people in the arena stood and waited quietly, and the eunuch came out to deliver a message, announcing that officials of the fourth rank and above would enter the palace.

Chen Yubi said to Zhao Zhigao: "Master Ge, please!"

Zhao Zhigao said to everyone with a smile: "Ministers, please!"

Yang Junmin, Minister of the Household Department, glanced at Huang Laifu who was not far away, and said, "Please, Mr. Ge, please, all ministers."

At present, the civil and military officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital are divided into east and west, ascending the steps and entering the hall from the left gate.

The chief assistant of the cabinet, Zhao Zhigao, as the head of the hundred officials, naturally stood beside the golden platform, and most of the six ministers and nine ministers stood beside the east eaves pillar.Huang Laifu stood a little further back on the west side, and the front was full of senior officials from the Ministry of War or the Governor's Mansion. Although they were in charge of military affairs, they were actually literati. The position in the west row is still very far behind.As for the real generals in the palace, there is no one except him.

In the crowd, however, the new minister of the Ministry of War, Xing Jie, was nowhere to be seen. He had already gone to Liaodong.

All the ministers came in, and Emperor Wanli who was sitting on Majesty Dan's eyes slowly glanced at everyone, such a grand court meeting had not been held for many years, and usually the cabinet discussed matters, and the supervisor of ceremonies approved the red.This kind of big court meeting is mostly full of disputes, and it is rare to have a unified opinion. In addition, year after year, day after day, the boring ceremony is very annoying.

However, regarding the matter of the national debt, the cabinet disagreed with life and death, and Emperor Wanli had no choice but to go to the court to discuss matters.However, he was not sure whether this group of civil servants could come up with anything and agree with Huang Laifu's opinion during the court meeting.

……

"Your Majesty, President Huang's proposal must not be done!"

When Emperor Wanli brought up the issue of national debt again, Yang Junmin, Minister of the Household Department, categorically opposed it, and had a fierce dispute with Huang Laifu.

He sincerely said to the emperor: "Is there any reason for my court to borrow money from the people? Since the third generation, I have never heard of it. If it is spread, it will make the world ridicule. This is one of them! Even if the court is disregarded , I borrowed millions of taels of silver from the common people, plus interest, and all kinds of calculations. In the end, it is not a small sum. How will the money be repaid in the future? If it is not repaid, what will happen in the future, and whose responsibility will it be? "

Huang Laifu said: "Didn't I say that in the future, Japan will be required to pay compensation, and force them to open a treaty port so that they can trade with our merchants? In this way, it will be enough to repay the borrowed national debt!"

Yang Junmin said with a sneer: "How can Mr. Huang be sure that Japan will pay compensation in the future, and how can we be sure that our Ming merchants are willing to trade in Japan?"

Huang Laifu said: "Of course I can be sure, I understand what those businessmen are thinking!" He smiled and asked: "Dare to ask Mr. Yang, if the national debt is not issued, how will we prepare for the eastward levy?"

Yang Junmin said: "The emperor can issue a decree to levy more money from the people all over the world. If there is an additional tax of five per cent per mu of land, the whole country will be able to raise more than several million taels of silver, which is enough to pay for all the Eastern Expeditions." It's more than enough!"

Huang Laifu said indifferently: "Master Yang has read the books of sages and sages, don't you know the sufferings of the people in the world? An extra tax of five cents per mu of land may not be a lot, but if the people at the bottom make a move, the common people will finally pay the above farm money." The tax is not five per cent, five cents is possible! Now the natural disasters continue, and the people of Li are suffering. Does Lord Yang have the heart to let them increase the tax? Issuing national debt, although the government has a bad reputation, is really benefiting the people The people who buy the national debt will definitely be private merchants and wealthy households in the future, and they will pay them double in the future.

Yang Junmin considers himself a role model among civil officials, and thinks that everything he does is for the country and the people. Today, for the first time among hundreds of officials, he was openly accused by Huang Laifu of ignoring the suffering of the people. If this word spreads, what is his reputation? ?He blushed immediately, pointed at Huang Laifu and shouted: "Pride, you... what did you say?"

At the same time, several people in the hall criticized Huang Laifu, and the minister of the Ministry of Rites, Zhang Wei, also ordered Huang Laifu to pay attention to etiquette and not to be rude to the ministers.

Emperor Wanli also criticized Huang Laifu a few words, and at the same time comforted Yang Junmin, telling him not to care too much, who made Huang Laifu a warrior, rough by nature and ignorant of etiquette.After the emperor said this, Yang Junmin also hated to shut up, but he also made up his mind not to speak.

The other people in the hall relayed the relay and debated with Huang Laifu.

Kechen Zhao Wanbi said: "Boss Huang said that Japan would cede territory and pay compensation after the war, not to mention whether the Japanese will do so in the future. I am a majestic king, and I will enter the court to put down the thieves. , how can we continue to seek people and property, and increase hatred?"

Huang Laifu said: "If you are defeated, you will have to cede land and pay compensation. This is a very normal thing. Even if the Japanese hate my Celestial Dynasty, so what? If you don't accept it, fight another battle! As for seeking people and wealth, can it be said that you can only take me? To use the wealth of the common people of Ming Dynasty, why not take the wealth and silk of foreign countries for my use? Are the common people of my Ming Dynasty not worth as much as those Japanese slaves?"

Huke Hao Jingdao: "After the government issued the national debt, Mr. Huang can be sure that someone will buy it? If no one buys it, wouldn't it make the world laugh?"

Huang Laifu said confidently: "I'm sure there will be a lot of people buying, with such a high interest rate, and the vast overseas market in the future, those rich merchants are not blind!"

……

Chen Yubi came up again, Huang Laifu said again, he was boastful, he fought one after another, everyone in the hall was speechless, did not expect that a warrior like Huang Laifu could speak so eloquently.One person singled out dozens of people, without the slightest timidity, and there was a taste of fighting with the Confucians.

Ma Congpin, the imperial censor, left his job suddenly, but ignored Huang Laifu, and just said to Emperor Wanli: "Your Majesty, today I want to invite a matter of national danger, which is the harm of mining and taxation ordered by the Emperor. Otherwise, what will happen after the preparations for the Eastern Expedition of Food and Pay, and what will happen after the victory of the Ping Dynasty, these are the last foundations of the country."

He ignored the changed face of Emperor Wanli, and continued: "Nowadays, a group of young people are competing for eloquence, and His Majesty sends out envoys every day, and there is an endless stream. How can this be the case in a prosperous age? He conspired with ministers and workers. For such a major event as reform and profit, the emperor followed the music and promoted it with sparks, instead of asking the cabinet and the ministry to discuss and decide, and not allowing the officials of science and Taoism to oppose it. It is a great loss to the ancestor system!"

Seeing the change in Emperor Wanli's face, Ma Congpin was even happier. He continued: "Now the envoys are everywhere, doing what they want, roaring at everyone, opening every inch, setting traps layer by layer, and the world is about to collapse. , Your Majesty's intention to collect money is to prepare for unexpected events, but to attract disasters! I ask the emperor to withdraw all the envoys and return the name to the world!"

A group of censors suddenly realized that they usually persuaded the emperor to give up the mining tax, but after the memorial was entered, there was nothing to follow. Now is a good opportunity.At present, another censor came and said: "I agree with what Ma Yushi said. The current situation is very worrying! At present, the central discipline is abolished, and Rongdi invades the mausoleum. It is fundamentally shaken! The military equipment is not repaired, and the treasury is exhausted. .Your Majesty also lives in the deep palace. You can't see the ministers, and you can't listen to the opinions of the officials. The beauty is present, and the swallows are lazy. I ask the emperor to be diligent in the government, to have a pure heart and few desires. Self-cultivation in political affairs can inspire my future!"

Fu Haoli, the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, also came out and said: "The current tax envoys are everywhere to levies cruelly and exploit the people! The country's poverty should not be included as a balm for the life of the small people. Why do you want to benefit from it? I ask the emperor to remove the mining tax. thing!"

Liu Gang, a concubine of the Imperial Academy, also said: "Last year, a fire broke out in the Kunning and Qianqing Second Palaces. Your Majesty issued an edict. The sin was lack of sincerity and did not share benefits with the people. I know that the heavenly grievances have not stopped. It is construction, logging, and tax collection. , Quarrying stones and transporting tiles, the distance is thousands of miles, and the distance is hundreds of miles. The small people are not enough to pay for their expenses, their muscles and bones are not enough to work hard, and they cannot repay their loans by selling their wives. Added to the drought, there is no grass in the wild, and human feelings are angry. Such as enmity, so that there will be another fire in the third hall. Please think about it yourself, whether you can think about the Tao day and night? There are Japanese plagues outside and thieves inside. If your majesty does not make a clear decision, the sky will be angry and the people will complain!"

Censor Zhou Pan came forward and said: "Your Majesty, please take the blame and reflect on it, and then give the court lectures to communicate the feelings between the inside and the outside. Please take the position of the eldest son of the emperor, Donggong, to relieve the doubts of the officials. Please withdraw the mine envoy to eliminate hidden dangers in the world. .Employ the deposed ministers and strictly restrain the servants. Only in this way can the country be peaceful and the people safe!"

……

Huang Laifu was dumbfounded as he watched the ministers approach aggressively one by one, all of them eloquent and unscrupulous, all pointing their finger at Emperor Wanli. Only then did he understand the power of civil servants in this era.If he were the emperor, he would just go to court and hide in the palace, out of sight.

The face of Emperor Wanli above became increasingly ugly, and finally, a voice came from above: "Retire...!"

(End of this chapter)