Baidu otaku as Chongzhen

Chapter 178

In the Qianqing Palace, there was a fierce debate on the abolition of the salt tax.

The emperor wanted to end the era when bureaucrats relied on salt for profit at a price of 150 million taels of silver per year.

This kind of idea is really fearless. The elders of the pavilion were already dizzy with the emperor's anger, and they didn't know what to say to the emperor.

Once the emperor really writes the abolition of the salt policy into the amnesty, the bureaucrats who profit from this chain of interests will all have to drink the northwest wind.

A cabinet member felt that he really could not watch the emperor do such a "ridiculous thing".As soon as this kind of amnesty is promulgated, people all over the world will go crazy, the bureaucrats will go crazy with anger, and the common people will go crazy with joy.Without the salt government, there will be only private salt, and the gap between official salt and private salt is worlds apart.

"Your Majesty, you are not satisfied with the fact that the salt tax is too little? If that is the case, your majesty, why don't you add more salt tax? Why do you have to stop the salt administration? If so, isn't it because of the waste of food?" a cabinet asked for forgiveness Yes, I told the truth to the emperor, but if I didn't tell the truth, how many people's jobs would be ruined if the emperor went down?
"No, no, no! I plan to bless my people and let them have a good amnesty. As for collecting more and collecting less, it doesn't matter." Yang Reform insisted on abolishing the salt administration.

Several cabinets were even more anxious when they saw that they couldn't talk about the emperor at all.

The chief minister of the cabinet really asked for forgiveness. The whole person was immersed in the turmoil in the officialdom once the salt government was abolished. He was terrified and frightened. He knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please tell me what to do. Well, the salt government really cannot be abolished! I know that Your Majesty hates that the salt tax is paid too little. I must persuade the registered salt merchants to pay more taxes. Your Majesty must not abolish the salt government..."

Shoufu suddenly knelt down and begged for mercy, and the other cabinet ministers also knelt down and begged for mercy. A small AE was displayed, but there was no intention of making a move.

"Your Majesty, the Salt Administration cannot be abolished, no..."

"Your Majesty, the Salt Administration must not be abolished..."

Several cabinets kowtowed, making the Qianqing Palace sound like a drum.

Yang Reform felt distressed when he saw it.One is that it really hurts to hit my head on the floor, and the other is that I pay 150 million taels a year, which really "pains my heart".Yang Reform didn't want to spend the wronged money either.

"Several ministers, I have also studied and learned arithmetic. I believe that the Qing family is the best among scholars, and they must also be proficient in the six arts... I don't know if I didn't learn arithmetic well, or I’m not smart enough, so I’d like to trouble you to settle the salt tax with me.” Yang Reform intends to make it clear that he will settle the salt tax with these cabinets, otherwise, he will always say it like slang It's boring to make cuts and lay out unspoken rules.

Several cabinet ministers, you look at me, and I look at you.Shoufu said: "Your Majesty, please express."

"How much do I sell for a catty of salt?" Yang Reform asked the core question directly, and stopped playing games with these bureaucrats.

Sweat is dripping on Shoufu's forehead, this salt tax can't be counted!One calculation is full of loopholes.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the price of my court salt ranges from two hundred to four to five hundred." Shoufu still answered the emperor's words.

"Very well, then I'll ask you again, my Great Ming Dynasty has a population of more than [-] million, isn't that true." Yang Reform asked again.

The chief assistant thought for a while, and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Your Majesty has commanded over a trillion people, and this statement is true."

"How many catties of salt does anyone eat every year?"

Shoufu didn't answer.He bowed his head and thought for a long time, but didn't speak.

Seeing that the chief minister was unwilling to speak, Yang Reform said, "That minister knows how much salt each person eats every year?"

A cabinet minister still responded: "Reporting to Your Majesty, common people, save, I guess seven or eight catties of salt is enough every year."

"Is it really only seven or eight catties? Do you remember correctly?"

The cabinet minister thought for a while, gritted his teeth, and said, "Is it eight or nine catties? Eight or nine catties. It's almost the same." [According to the amount of salt cited in the Ming Dynasty, the annual output of salt is 6000 million catties, which is based on [-] million According to population statistics, ten catties of salt per person per year. 】

Eight catties, nine catties?Yang Reform said: "That's nine catties, then let me ask you, in my Ming Dynasty, each person ate nine catties of salt per year, based on a population of [-] million, how much salt should this be?" In fact, the problem is very simple, as long as an elementary school student who has studied academics can figure it out.

"..." The cabinet ministers were all silent, this account cannot be settled.Once calculated, there are loopholes.They all knelt on the ground without saying a word, with their heads bowed.

"Since you all don't count, I have learned arithmetic, so let me do the math. I should eat [-] million catties of salt every year. This arithmetic, I am not wrong, right?" Yang Reform looked at the cabinet ministers on the ground again. Ladies and gentlemen, none of the cabinet ministers spoke.They all lowered their heads and remained silent.

"How much is the salt class every year? It's only 100 million taels of silver. Calculate, how much is the tax for a catty of salt?" When it comes to salt class, Yang Reform feels that his elementary school is for nothing. It's so simple. All problems are wrong.

The few cabinet ministers still knelt on the ground, did not speak, bowed their heads, and could not stop cursing in their hearts, cursing those salt merchants, they were too greedy, once this kind of loophole was serious, it could not be covered up no matter what.

"Since the few ministers don't want to count, let's count it, let's count it according to one hundred thousand catties of salt, one million taels of silver per year, and only one penny per catty of salt..." Yang Reform spit out This cold penny.

The ministers on the ground are even more silent.

"Very good. The price of this salt is more than [-] Wen, and I can receive a salt tax of one copper coin. Tell me, why do I need this salt tax? Simply, I will take a penny to benefit the world, that's it. I don’t care about this penny. Tell me, are you right?” Yang Reform’s arithmetic made these ministers even more speechless.

Yang Reform is also heartbroken about his own salt tax. If the salt tax is above the normal level, the annual income should be more than 1000 million. Unfortunately, it has never been reached.

In the main hall of Qianqing Palace, there was such a strange confrontation. The emperor sat on a high throne, looked at the minister, and waited for the minister to answer.

Several cabinet members knelt on the ground, bowed their heads, and said nothing.This time, continue like this.

The crowd outside the Chengtian Gate had already grown impatient. The amnesty, logically speaking, should have been read out long ago. Sorry to say, the "crowd" who watched the excitement on the sidelines were even more arguing, discussing what was going on in the palace and why it was so difficult to get an amnesty.

The official of the Ministry of Rites who was in charge of the ceremony couldn't bear it any longer, and called a little Huangmen to enter the palace to urge him. What's going on? Why hasn't the amnesty come down?

A small yellow gate quickly ran to the palace.

Wang Chengen went out for a while, and when he came back, he reported: "Your Majesty, the XXX outside the Chengtian Gate, Mr. X urged me to ask when the edict of amnesty would arrive, saying that the people outside the Chengtian Gate had been waiting for it for a long time. It's..."

Someone urged the imperial edict, but Yang Reform was not in a hurry. He sat on the dragon chair on the throne, leisurely and leisurely.

Drink tea.

"I see." Then there was no more text.

Today is the day of amnesty, the date has been set long ago, if the day of amnesty is set but there is no edict of amnesty, this joke will be too big, this Wei case cannot be finalized, how many people have to rush out White hair!Yang Reform and these cabinet ministers fought for patience.

Time passed by every minute and every second, and several cabinet ministers on the ground were also using their brains to find a way.It is necessary not to strangle the salt merchants to death, but also to satisfy the emperor.

A minister couldn't take it anymore, and said: "Your Majesty, I think that the salt tax can be raised to 500 million taels. What does your Majesty think? From one penny per catty to five pennies, that's it." , Your Majesty, you should be satisfied..." The cabinet can't take it anymore, if the day of the amnesty passes, and the edict has been delayed and cannot be issued, the emperor will definitely take the Wei case again, how many people will be involved?In this capital city, there are probably hundreds of bureaucrats involved. Who hasn't made old friends?For the sake of the hundreds of bureaucrats in the capital, it is better to cut off the interests of the salt merchants. It is true that the salt merchants have been too indulgent these years.

"Hehe, 500 million taels, this assistant minister is very bold, but I don't know, can I get the 500 million taels?" Yang Reform was also surprised by the determination of his cabinet minister, who could raise the salt class to 500 in one go. If you go in two thousand, this courage is not insufficient.This time, it is estimated that the salt merchants will be squawked.

The cabinet who spoke, gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and said: "Report to Your Majesty, I must find a way to pay the 500 million taels of salt..."

From 100 million taels to 500 million taels, from one penny to five pennies.Yang Reform feels that the salt class and these bureaucrats are like a woman's cleavage, squeezed, there will always be some.

Yang Reform said with a smile: "Hehe, yes, this cabinet minister has courage and determination, but I thought that the tax rate in my court was [-] yuan, that is to say, a catty of salt can be sold for [-] to [-] yuan. Four or five hundred coins, take the middle number, let’s say three hundred coins, thirty one tax, there should be ten copper coins, how come there are only five copper coins?”

Yang Reform felt that the salt class was similar to a woman's cleavage, and when squeezed, it would be there, so he decided to squeeze the "cleavage".All of a sudden, from five coppers, asking price to ten coppers.

The cabinets on the ground did not faint. One copper plate rose to ten coppers. This means that 1000 million taels of silver must be paid to the emperor every year. This scared the cabinets to death. The Ming Dynasty is about to explode Hu!If so, those salt merchants, the bureaucrats who depend on salt merchants for profit, have to pull out their skins.

In the hall, it was quiet again, aimlessly confronting each other.

More and more people gathered outside Chengtian Gate, Xiao Huangmen, once again quickly ran towards the palace.Another hour has passed.The edict of amnesty has not yet arrived.Many bureaucrats involved in the Wei case became anxious.Nothing will happen.This is a deal, pay money to avoid disaster, and take them along with them during the amnesty. If there is no amnesty, then it is certain that the Wei case will be reopened!My heart suddenly panicked.More and more people gathered outside Chengtianmen.

"Your Majesty, someone is calling outside again..." Wang Chengen didn't dare to speak loudly, this hall is too quiet.

Yang Reform still sat on the dragon chair on the throne, drinking tea leisurely, neither in a hurry nor in a hurry.

The minister on the ground began to struggle, knelt there, sweating continuously on his forehead.

The cabinet that had been "negotiating" with the emperor just now came out again, ready to negotiate with the emperor. This time, not only was his forehead sweating, but his veins were already bulging, and he was about to collapse.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I think that the seven copper coins raised for each catty of salt is already the limit..."

As soon as the cabinet's words came out, the other cabinet ministers on the ground did not faint.Another price increase? 700 million taels?Will the salt merchants, and those who rely on the salt administration for profit, spit out seven copper coins?Their skin might not be enough for them to peel off!

Sitting on the dragon chair, Yang Reform just wanted to laugh, he really read it right, this salt class is really like a woman's "cleavage", no matter how tight it is, it will become a bit more.

"Seven copper coins? What can seven copper coins do? Now the imperial court spends tens of thousands of dollars every year, military pay, disaster relief, and military expenses are far from enough. What can these seven copper coins do? The Eastern captives will enter the customs at any time, and the payment here must not be less. Do you want this salary for the elite guarding the capital? How do you resettle the millions and tens of millions of people for disaster relief? Do you want money? That is as little as money? Seven copper coins? What can you do?" Yang Reform thought One pot, monopolize the salt industry market by himself, instead of collecting 700 million taels of protection fees every year.What can seven copper plates do?You can buy two newspapers for seven copper coins, and the source sells newspaper songs...

The cabinet on the ground, who had been haggling with the emperor, couldn't take it anymore. The body that was kneeling suddenly collapsed and fell to the ground, paralyzed by the emperor.

When the other cabinets saw that someone was forced to this position, they felt miserable and burst into tears. Isn't it just to be an official?is it easy
"I report to Your Majesty that I have limited talents and virtues and cannot assist Your Majesty. I would like to resign, and I would like to ask Your Majesty to let you return to your hometown so that you can die forever." A cabinet really couldn't bear the air of being caught between the emperor and the salt rat. up.Decided to withdraw and make soy sauce.

Seeing someone taking the lead, other cabinets also stood up and resigned one after another. This official can't go on anymore. One end is the emperor, and it is definitely not good to offend. The other end involves the interests of thousands of colleagues. Offended, I can't do it either.I had no choice but to lay down the burden.

"Hehe, all the ministers, why are you resigning? I just gave a few pennies to the people of the world, so why did you resign? I feel that I have done nothing wrong. Huh?" Soy sauce?No way, Yang Reform will never let these people leave now. If he leaves now, wouldn't that confirm his reputation of persecuting ministers?
The cabinet ministers wanted to die, and it seemed that the emperor had no intention of letting them retire at all.The mice in the bellows are really having a hard time getting angry at both ends.

A cabinet has been frowning and thinking for a long time, and seems to have finally come up with an idea, said: "His Majesty, I have a method, which can not only allow His Majesty to reward the people of the world, let the people of the world bathe in His Majesty's long grace, but also make this The salt class has improved, and I don’t know whether to say it or not.”

These cabinets really have nothing to say when faced with the arithmetic problems of the emperor's elementary school level, they can only constantly think of ways to make a compromise, this compromise is to fold again and again.From the initial 150 million taels, to 500 million taels, and then to 8 to [-] taels, now it seems that it is not enough and has to be discounted again.

"Oh? Hehe, what can I do? Tell me, if it works, I'm not unreasonable." Yang Reform also wanted to see what this guy could come up with. He couldn't raise the salt class to ten copper coins. Well, if that's the case, I don't mind suspending my plan to cut salt merchants, first use the 1000 million taels of silver to train tens of thousands of soldiers, and first lay down the wild boar skin. With so many soldiers in my hand, I want to cut them Wouldn't it be easier for a salt merchant?

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is what I think. Your Majesty just wants to benefit the people of the world, and he is not satisfied with this salt lesson. In fact, there is no need to abolish the salt lesson. In this way, your Majesty loses more than 100 million taels of silver every year. It is not worth it, is it? Your Majesty , How about this, Your Majesty will not abolish the Salt Administration, but only suspend the Salt Administration for three years. In this way, Your Majesty can not only let the people of the world bathe in His Majesty's grace, but also avoid spending more than one million yuan to the Ministry of Households every year. Well, what does your majesty think?" The solution proposed by the cabinet really took into account the emperor's thoughts, and he thought about it with the emperor everywhere.Not only has he gained fame, but he doesn't need to ask the Ministry of Households for money.

Yang Reform felt that this person was of a certain level, and he could imagine such a behavior.Hey, it's interesting.

"What about the salt class of the household department? I don't want it? Without the more than 100 million taels of silver I made up here, wouldn't the deficit of the household department be even greater?" Yang Reform took a look at the "cleavage" of the salt merchants. , to what extent can it be squeezed.

The cabinet thought for a while, and said: "Your Majesty, I think that our dynasty has always had a tradition of hiding wealth from the people. I think that now that the country is in crisis, it is time for these salt merchants to serve the court. Your Majesty, but Let these salt merchants pay 100 million taels of salt on behalf of the people in the world, or let them donate 100 million taels to the household department to solve the urgent need of the court. As long as your majesty allows them to continue selling salt, they will understand your majesty's painstaking efforts. In this way, Your Majesty, you can achieve multiple goals in one fell swoop!" The minister really wanted to think better.

Hehe, Yang Reform laughed secretly in his heart, this idea is powerful enough, this kind of method can be thought of, what is it?Compromised?I just used a little bit of force, and the salt merchant and the official representative of the salt merchant compromised?This cleavage is too easy to squeeze.

"100 million taels? How is 100 million taels enough? Didn't a minister say that just now? Isn't it possible to pay 700 million taels of salt? Why is it now 100 million taels?" Yang Reform pretended to be stupid. "Cleavage" is easy to squeeze, why not squeeze more and see how far it can go.

All the courtiers on the ground rolled their eyes, His Majesty the Emperor is so naive.He also loves money too much, and is too shrewd.

"... Your Majesty... Your Majesty, 500 million taels, the salt administration will be suspended for one year, one year..." The cabinet who just came up with an idea, regardless of etiquette, was eager to bargain with the emperor like a vegetable vendor in a vegetable market. Being able to "make peace" with the emperor at this level can be regarded as a victory for the salt merchants.The salt class was suspended for one year, and the annual payment of 500 million yuan was barely acceptable. In fact, the salt merchants had no loss at all. They just raised the price of [-] yuan of salt by [-] copper coins, and everything came out.The price increase is only one-fortieth, which is really nothing.Well, I just took five copper coins from the salt merchant to the household department. Anyway, the household department's money was going to be spent, and it didn't go into the emperor's pocket. After all, it went into "my" pocket.The cabinet minister quietly calculated the account again.Once I figured it out, I felt at ease.The confidence to bargain with the emperor became stronger and stronger.

(End of this chapter)