The Ming Dynasty started with caution

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Zhang Sheng went straight to the empty study room and looked around, "Yuan Xi goes out. When does he usually come back?"

"I will definitely come back before Xu Shi. Do you want to have a meal first?" the steward asked with concern.

Zhang Sheng turned a deaf ear and walked absentmindedly to the main hall.

After thinking carefully for a long time, he put on Confucian clothes and ordered someone to prepare a fast horse. He was not allowed to go to Liangxiang to witness it with his own eyes, but he still didn't believe it.

The Ministry of Rites is proficient in the six arts, and Zhang Sheng is well versed in riding skills. Like a running thunder walking on the ground, he constantly surpasses the carriage, causing passers-by to yell and curse.

Zhang Sheng ignored him and rode a large maroon horse to Liangxiang quickly.

Liangxiang College of Science was crowded with people. The admitted students were wearing Tsing Yi and their hair was combed into buns. They were quite as solemn and formal as the Imperial College.

"Unexpectedly, a simple academy could be as big as the Imperial College."

The students coming and going were wearing the same clothes, but they couldn't recognize Zhang Yuanxi.

Zhang Sheng found Wang Yue and angrily asked, "Where is my son Yuan Xi?"

Wang Yue snorted lightly and ignored it.

The last time this guy came to Liangxiang to ask for advice on arithmetic, he was so polite that he almost called him daddy.

You were so rude this time. I kindly took in your son, but you bit me instead.

Zhang Sheng came to his senses, became a little anxious, and softened his expression: "I am eager to find my son, and I hope Brother Shichang will forgive me."

Wang Yue didn't care about him and took him to find Zhang Yuanxi.

Just by looking at him from a distance, Zhang Sheng was able to confirm that it was Zhang Yuanxi. Confirmed, he had indeed deceived me!

Wang Yue was surprised: "Brother Qizhao, why don't you go over and beat him up?"

Zhang Sheng shook his head. As a member of the Ministry of Rites, how could he be so rude? His Majesty was so ashamed when the Jin Yiwei heard about it.

Yanfu,

Yan Chengjin knew that if he wanted His Majesty to set up a local censor's office in the imperial court, he had to figure out the extravagant expenses first.

How much money does it cost to build a government office, and how much is the monthly salary in rice?

Xie Yu moved her fingers quickly and licked her lips from time to time.

Since clearing the yellow books for the imperial court, Xie Yu's status in Yan Chengjin's heart has improved a little.

He has obtained the qualification to come to Yan Mansion to recognize his family.

"Master Yan, we have settled the matter. Including the money spent on building the Yamen, it will cost five hundred thousand taels in the first year."

He did the liquidation according to the specifications and staffing of the state and county yamen.

There are three classes and six rooms in the prefecture and county yamen, and the censor's yamen do not need them all, saving a lot of money.

Yan Chengjin looked carefully at the clearly listed accounts.

At this moment, He Neng came over and said, "Master, there is a man outside, his name is Zhang Sheng, and he claims to be the Minister of Rites."

You don't need to think about it to know that it's about Zhang Yuanxi.

Chasing dreams is a brave thing, and Yan Chengjin admires Zhang Yuanxi for being so sneaky.

Just like in the previous life, he used his tuition fees to travel... no, to pursue his dreams.

Soon, Zhang Sheng was invited into the mansion by He Neng, and he looked around the small courtyard. The fruits and vegetables were as green as jade, and the animals were howling in the pens.

Although he heard that Marquis Anding was indifferent and clear-minded, the dilapidation and decay of Yan's mansion exceeded his expectations.

"If you come here because of Zhang Yuanxi, I'm afraid you are looking for the wrong person."

Yan Chengjin didn't get up to greet him. Zhang Sheng was here to question him anyway.

"I just came back from the College of Science. You established a management college in Liangxiang and harmed many children of aristocratic families." Zhang Sheng was a little angry.

In the School of Science, I saw not only Zhang Yuanxi, but also several children from wealthy families who often visited the house.

They were supposed to be studying the sages' books in the Imperial College, but they went astray.

Yan Chengjin said: "Master Zhang came to my house just to talk about this?"

"Of course not!"

Zhang Sheng was furious: "I want you to close the School of Science! If not, I will beg Your Majesty to order it to be closed."

My son Yuan Xi is not very talented. Yingxue is studying and his talent is good enough to pass the imperial examination. How can he divert his attention to unnecessary things and not do his job properly?

When I returned to Beijing from my good hometown, I thought about it for a long time, and even though I tried my best to persuade my son, it was all in vain.

If they could be persuaded, Li Gong and Xie Gong would have persuaded them to return. Now, why are Li Zhaofan and Xie Pi still in Liangxiang?

The only solution is to close down the School of Science.

Yan Chengjin pondered for a moment, and after a long time, he disagreed: "My lord, please think clearly, will your Majesty close the School of Science? If it is closed, the novel goods in Liangxiang will disappear, and merchants will not come to Liangxiang to do business, how will the business tax be collected? Benefit the people. Where did the doctor from the pharmacy come from?”

Liangxiang's business tax and the College of Science are closely related. If you want to ban it, you have to ask His Majesty whether he agrees.

His Majesty will be the first to accuse anyone who has tampered with the imperial court's tax money.

Zhang Sheng twitched the corner of his mouth and said with sadness: "But my son..."

"Your Excellency agrees to go to the palace with the lower official and ask for permission to open the Censor's Yamen. I have my own way."

"Hmph! How could I deal with you for my own selfish desires?"

"The Metropolitan Procuratorate inspects the government and the public, and supervises various departments. However, the Ming Dynasty has a vast territory, and there are only 115 censors. There are places beyond the reach of the eyes. Your Excellency is here for the people of the world."

"I love hearing what you say."

………

Fengtian Temple,

Emperor Hongzhi put down Zhu Pi's bold pen and suddenly looked at Xiao Jing: "I ordered the Procuratorate and the Ministry of Punishment to compile the law. How did it go?"

Xiao Jing forced a smile: "Wang Shouren of the Punishment Department was changed to Xu time last night, but Mr. Yan ran away before his shift..."

Emperor Hongzhi suddenly showed some dissatisfaction.

In his spare time, he would quietly visit the duty rooms of various government offices. He had never seen Yan Chengjin since Youshi.

"Your Majesty, Master Yan and Master Zhang would like to see you."

Yan Chengjin strode into the hall and bowed slightly to Emperor Hongzhi: "I have something to report. This is the expense of setting up the Censorate. Xie Yu should settle the account. It should be not much different."

Emperor Hongzhi flipped through it carelessly. When he saw the end, he was surprised: "Why is there more silver?"

"Your Majesty, do you still remember the hidden good farmland and tax silver when you thoroughly checked the Yellow Book? If the Censorate is set up in the local area, the gentry and officials who dare to evade taxes will be greatly reduced, and the amount of tax received by the court will naturally be higher than it is now."

Zhang Sheng nodded and said at the right time: "I second the proposal!"

Although it was a bit strange that Yan Chengjin and Zhang Sheng came to the court together, Emperor Hongzhi's attention stayed on the account book.

What Yan Chengjin said made sense. In this way, the population and good farmland in the Yellow Book would be difficult to hide.

"You think I haven't seen the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue? The difficulty is not that I have issued an order? The difficulty is that the Ministry of Revenue has no silver!"

Emperor Hongzhi was willing but unable to do so.

Zhang Sheng nodded with a wry smile and looked at Yan Chengjin.

Yan Chengjin bowed slightly: "There is silver. I guess that the island countries neighboring the Ming Dynasty have inexhaustible silver!"

Emperor Hongzhi's mouth twitched,

But he didn't believe it. Emperor Gao had instructed his descendants to establish fifteen countries that would not be conquered.

He warned the emperors of all dynasties not to conquer these fifteen vassal states, which are island countries, Korea, Ryukyu, Siam, Guawa, Zhenla...

These fifteen vassal states are poor in resources, and the land they have conquered is useless, which only wastes the national strength.

"How do you know?"