Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

Chapter 242 Financial Budget after Wealth

Liu Daxia's execution did not arouse public support in the capital. After all, the Li Dynasty regime was easily overthrown by the Ming Dynasty's army. This was something that the people of the capital were proud of.

In particular, the right and wrong of this matter is almost clear at a glance. Liu Daxia's approach may be in line with the "aesthetics" of the Harmony Party, but he has violated the law by hiding Annan's files.

Now that the war in Annan has come to an end, it has been proved that Liu Daxia's actions this time were indeed a mistake for the country and the people, and he is now to blame for himself when he is pushed to the guillotine.

Just like this, the Lord Harmony Sect seemed to have disappeared from the world. They didn't even say a word about Liu Daxia's affairs, and they didn't even know Liu Daxia at all.

The sky in the capital has always been gloomy. It seems that there are countless secrets hidden here, or perhaps a new storm is brewing.

Liu Daxia's death was not the end, but the beginning of another storm.

Although the main peace faction headed by Qingliu chose to acquiesce to Liu Daxia's matter, this was actually a tactical retreat on their part, and this incident had silently planted a seed.

Whether Liu Daxia was pushed to the guillotine or Zhang Zhen's death remonstrances slowly subsided, it was not because this group of people had forgotten about it, but because they were waiting for a suitable opportunity.

The battle in the court is never about the gains and losses of one city or one pool, but a long battle process.

Just like how this gang of Qingliu dealt with Wang Yue and Wang Zhi back then, they did not jump out after Wang Yue and Wang Zhi destroyed the Manduhai base camp, but slowly dealt with Wang Zhi and Wang Yue afterwards.

Now the entire capital did not cry out for Liu Daxia, and no one called out Zhang Zhen. On the contrary, it seemed very abnormal.

Zhu Youtang actually smelled something different, but he could only be more vigilant, but he still needed to concentrate on governing the country properly.

Even the lofty emperor actually has times where he has no choice but to do anything.

Last time he knew that there was a force that transferred Liu Daxia's hidden Annan files, just to reveal the mastermind behind it, but he found that the secret service agencies Jin Yiwei and Dongchang were not as omniscient as later generations said.

I have to admit that later generations actually exaggerated the ability of Jin Yiwei and Dongchang to collect intelligence.

On the 15th day of the twelfth lunar month, a sun-gazing ceremony was held as scheduled.

All the civil and military officials appeared to be in harmony. After bowing respectfully to the Emperor in the Fengtian Hall, they all left the court and went home to enjoy a half-day holiday.

Under Hongzhi's iron-fisted governance, all yamen in the capital are now operating efficiently, and officials who dare to be lazy and slippery are slowly being eliminated. Now the capital can be said to be in order.

Due to the increase in the number of official holidays in the Ming Dynasty, many officials began to explore their own hobbies. In particular, the number of officials who loved fishing in their free time increased significantly.

It is winter, and the roofs and trees of the Forbidden City are covered with white snow, and the tops of the vigorous ancient pines are covered with snow.

The garden behind the palace and the Royal View Pavilion.

After just paying homage to Emperor Zhenwu in the Qin'an Hall, Zhu Youtang seemed to be in a good mood today, so he came to this pavilion to enjoy the snowy scenery of the Forbidden City.

There is no wind today. Looking down from above, although we cannot have a panoramic view of the entire Forbidden City, we can still see the excitement of the East and West Palaces.

Concubine Bei held her bow and prepared to practice archery. Qingyue went out to Renshou Palace to play mahjong. Fan Jinling practiced dancing in her courtyard, while the sound of piano and pipa could be heard from the three palaces in the east and west.

Zhu Youtang actually rarely stayed in the Forbidden City during the day, but now when he was sitting here, he realized that his harem was full of fireworks.

It's just that God didn't pay special attention to him because he was a time traveler. Even though he tried very hard to torment his woman every night, no one's stomach moved.

Facts have proved that not all efforts are rewarded, and not all hard work is rewarded.

But after all, we are still eighteen years old, and there seems to be no need to worry too much about this matter now. The great man once said: The edge of a sword comes from sharpening, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold.

Just when he was thinking wildly, a noble figure came to the palace, and it was as if there was a sudden addition to the scenery here.

The person who appears here is the current Empress of Ming Dynasty. Although she is only a girl of sixteen or seventeen years old, she has a delicate face, fair skin, eyes that are steady and befitting of her age, her body is well developed, and her whole body is scattered. The scent of a queen.

Although the two accompanying maids can be called beauties, compared with the queen in front of her, they can only act as green leaves.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty!" Queen Chang Yourong said with a polite bow after learning about Zhu Youtang's whereabouts and coming here from Kunning Palace.

After these days, she also slowly entered the role of queen.

While learning the methods of managing the harem from the Queen Mother, she also knew how to please Zhu Youtang and was working hard to be a qualified queen.

Zhu Youtang was satisfied with the cautious queen and smiled slightly: "Queen, if you have nothing else to do, just sit down and enjoy the snow with me here!"

"I obey!" Chang Yourong couldn't help but feel happy when he rarely saw Zhu Youtang staying in the palace during the day and inviting herself to accompany him.

A woman wants to please her own appearance. Whenever she has the opportunity to meet Zhu Youtang, she will dress herself up carefully and strive to present the most perfect side to the emperor today.

Wearing a Qianshui skirt with an ancient pattern of double butterflies and clouds, it slightly touches the floor. Although the body is tightly wrapped, the temperament of the whole person can easily arouse a man's desire to conquer.

The sky is beautiful, and today is a sunny day suitable for enjoying the snow.

Zhu Youtang was sitting here drinking the freshly brewed tea. Looking at the picturesque world in front of him, he suddenly felt unreal.

Even as an emperor, he may not really have too much, but living in the Forbidden City and Xiyuan is undoubtedly a very happy thing.

Sitting in this position and admiring the snow in the Forbidden City at this moment, how many people will be able to be as leisurely and content as him in future generations?

"I like to stay here for a while during my free time recently. It's really good to watch the snow here!" Chang Yourong noticed Zhu Youtang's comfort and said with a smile.

Zhu Youtang knew that Chang Yourong's hands were cold, so he gently held one of her cold hands and said, "Although it's nice here, it's not good to sit for a long time. You are weak, so be careful of catching a cold!"

"I sincerely appreciate your Majesty's concern. I will not stay here for long, and I am also well-dressed." Chang Yourong felt the warmth in Zhu Youtang's hands, and also felt Zhu Youtang's concern, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of joy in her heart. A sense of warmth.

Zhu Youtang saw that Chang Yourong was indeed wearing a lot of clothes. Nowadays, women in this era are very well-dressed, and even he can only know how good their figures are at night.

Just thinking about the woman in front of Linxing tonight, I couldn't help but feel a slight heat in my lower abdomen.

Although there are more and more women, each has its own swings, and the queen is probably the most sensitive one. During the day she was clearly a noble queen, but at night she always looked like an aggrieved girl.

"Your Majesty, there are less government affairs in various places now. Would you like to take half a day off today?" Chang Yourong asked curiously when he saw Zhu Youtang's leisurely look.

Zhu Youtang looked up at the distant sky and shook his head bitterly: "There is indeed less local government affairs now, but we need to start working on next year's fiscal revenue and expenditure. I will hold a supreme meeting later."

"I don't understand government affairs, but I always feel that Your Majesty is very powerful. Your Majesty will definitely be able to govern this country well!" Chang Yourong realized that the man in front of him was a very good monarch, and he sincerely praised him.

Zhu Youtang turned his head and saw the admiration in Chang Yourong's eyes, but sighed softly: "I actually did only so-so! When I first came to the throne, many ministers opposed me, but I am more down-to-earth anyway. It's just that the people below me now Slowly everyone obeyed me, but I felt uneasy."

"Is it bad to be submissive?" Chang Yourong asked in confusion.

Zhu Youtang swallowed back the words that came to his lips, but deliberately kept the suspense and said: "Since you are the queen, you will gradually understand this matter in the future."

Being in this era, especially sitting in this highest position, allows him to see a lot of things. Now this court is peaceful and peaceful, but it cannot be taken lightly.

Chang Yourong's pretty face was full of confusion, but she could only nod lightly. I'm afraid she would have to slowly explore the answer to this matter in the future.

Xiyuan, Imperial Study Room.

Since we are in the cold winter now, the floor heating here has started to work. Charcoal fires are already burning at the entrances of the two dragon pits outside, and heat is being continuously transported to the ground here through underground secret passages.

When the two pavilion elders and senior officials from the Sixth Ministry walked into this place, they immediately felt warm and felt very comfortable all over.

Zhu Youtang liked to stay in the attic and look down at the ministers present. He also began to slowly understand the nature of these officials, but his own nature was also exposed to their sight.

"Your Majesty, please have some tea." Han Youying liked the current day very much and respectfully served her a cup of hot tea.

Zhu Youtang picked up the tea cup and took a sip, and said straight to the point: "What areas of expenditure should the court reduce next year and what areas should it focus on? Let's all discuss it here!"

Although land clearing has not yet been fully implemented across the country, and it will take at least another year to clear land in Huguang, the number of new fields in various places has increased sharply.

After all, it is an agricultural society. Now with the massive increase in cultivated land, the Ming Dynasty's grain tax has exceeded 30 million dan from more than 20 million dan.

Prime Minister Wang Yue's salt policy has gradually achieved results. Since the Nine Borders have entered a period of peace, a large amount of surplus salt can now be converted into silver, resulting in a significant increase in the court's cash income.

In addition, the income of the Shipping Department and the Tea Horse Department also increased. In addition, this time the army led by Wang Hua completely captured the Li Dynasty's treasure house.

Even leaving aside next year's cash income, the amount of silver available for free disposal now has reached three million taels, so that Ming Dynasty's finances have reached their most generous period.

In fact, there is no strict financial budget in this era, but now that Zhu Youtang is sitting here, it is natural for him to deal with financial issues more scientifically.

"Your Majesty, now that the war in Annan is over and the southern Jiangxi region has long been at peace, please abolish the southern Jiangxi guards!" Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, came out and immediately expressed his stance solemnly.

Zhu Youtang frowned slightly, realizing that he had given these Qingliu too much freedom, and they really dared to think and do anything.

If the Ming Dynasty's army began to disarmament as soon as it started to improve, not to mention that it would go against its own governing philosophy of building a strong army and a strong country, this kind of behavior would definitely affect the morale of the army.

At this moment, he knew that handing over the governance of the country to these clean currents might reduce the disaster of sudden collapse, but the dynasty was actually swallowing chronic poison.

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Yu, the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue, immediately objected clearly: "Liu Shilang, don't you know which main force defeated Shenglong City this time? Now the Gannan Guard has the best combat power in the south. The Great Victory of Annan has achieved such a great success, how can it be justified to abolish it? Once the Gannan Guard is abolished now, it will definitely chill all the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty. Who of the new armies formed in the future will still be willing to work for the imperial court? "

"That's right! Even if the imperial court wants to cut expenses, it should cut where it should be cut, instead of chilling the meritorious soldiers." Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, knew that Liu Jian's proposal was nonsense, and he immediately supported Wu Yudao.

Liu Jian's brows furrowed slightly, but he was unwilling to give in and said: "Annan has been leveled now, and many counties in southern Jiangxi have been divided into autonomous regions. It is difficult for big bandits to escape from the local area. Today's abolition can save a lot of money every year, so why not withdraw it?" ?”

"Liu Shilang, the terrain in southern Jiangxi is complicated. Now that the Gannan Guards are here, we can bring peace to southern Jiangxi. If the army is reduced for a mere amount of money, once rogue bandits reappear in the area, why will the imperial court spend so much?" Wu Yu, the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue, said His thinking was clear and he rebutted immediately.

Zhu Youtang was very satisfied with the right minister of the Ministry of Finance who knew the importance of Qing Dynasty, so he expressed his position calmly: "Part of the Gannan Guard will remain in North Vietnam, and the number of Gannan Guards remaining at the original station is only a thousand people. Even if it is abolished, there will be no savings." It’s only a few dollars, so there’s no need to discuss this matter.”

"According to the decree!" Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and others saw that Zhu Youtang had made a decision, and they immediately bowed their hands in a polite manner.

Wan An was unhappy with "thorny head" Liu Jian, so he gave him a warning look and coughed lightly to attract his attention.

It's just that cutting expenses is something that offends people after all. Cutting down the clan's Lumi directly offends the clan, so everyone started to observe each other this time.

Zhu Youtang took a sip of tea and asked helplessly: "Since you don't want to mention how to reduce expenses, then think about what should be focused on next year?"

"Your Majesty, the population of the capital has reached one million. However, the land in the city is very expensive, and it is difficult for ordinary people to gain a foothold in the capital. I think we should spend two million taels to build the outer city so that the people of the capital can have a place to stay." Right of the Ministry of Household Affairs The minister Wu Yu seemed very active and immediately came out to request.

Officials such as Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, couldn't help but nodded gently. The population in the city has indeed increased significantly. If the outer city can be built, it will indeed effectively alleviate everyone's housing pressure.

"No! There are frequent disasters in the area today. The construction of the outer city has been put on hold and water conservancy should be the priority." Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, still reciprocated with courtesy, and he immediately objected.

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