The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The imperial court made money from the sale of salt and the taxation of banknotes to support the Nine Borders.

This scoundrel actually said that Yan Yin was a bad government?

Emperor Hongzhi gritted his teeth tightly and his beard trembled violently: "Emperor Gao relied on the salt policy and ordered merchants to transport grain to the borders to maintain the Ming Dynasty. Did you copy too little of the ancestral precepts? Yes, I have treated you like this a thousand times. For me, one hand is enough!"

Salt industry originated in the Song Dynasty and has been around for nearly 500 years.

Both the court and the gentry were accustomed to the salt introduction system.

Zhu Houzhao dared to say that he wanted to ban it, and also dared to say that it was a bad government?

Liu Jian was also very angry: "It costs a lot of money to transport salt. The grain, horses and fodder that the laborers need to eat in one day are all extremely expensive. If it is all borne by the court, how much labor will be required?" ? How much money does it cost?”

Just like what Lao Gao taught him, Zhu Houzhao's expression remained unchanged: "If you ban salt imports, you don't need the imperial court to transport salt. You can contract it to the gentry and merchants, and the salt merchants will become transporters. Why not?"

The imperial court sells salt. If the emperor does not increase the price of salt, the price of salt will not change, and people all over the world can eat salt. "

The eyes of Ma Wensheng and others from the Sixth Department changed slightly, and Zhu Houzhao made some sense.

But they all have salt in their homes, so this change would be a huge pain in the ass.

Emperor Hongzhi raised the corner of his mouth and looked at Zhu Houzhao: "You come to Nuange to discuss salt policy with me. You don't even have time to hide from me on weekdays. Who taught you what to say?"

Zhu Houzhao pinched his thigh secretly, his expression unchanged: "I thought of it myself."

"I'll ask again!"

"Yesterday, I saw that my father didn't want to eat or drink, so I wanted to take care of my father's worries. I thought about it all night before I came up with the idea of ​​abolishing Yan Yin."

The hall suddenly became quiet.

Xiao Jing came over and whispered: "Your Majesty, Yan Chengjin went to the East Palace half an hour ago."

Emperor Hongzhi frowned slightly and uttered a few words: "Summon Yan Chengjin!"

At this moment, the Metropolitan Procuratorate was on duty.

Yan Chengjin summoned Liu Laixuan and asked, "Is your father's family engaged in salt sales?"

Liu Jian had been an official for several generations, and he was from a prominent family in Henan, so he was naturally involved in business.

I just don’t know that there is no salt business.

When the Kaizhong Salt Law was implemented in the early Ming Dynasty, it was first implemented in Datong, Shanxi Province. Shanxi merchants relied on this to become a large merchant gang. Henan is similar to Shanxi and has many ticket offices.

Liu Lai bowed slightly and said, "My family is in Luoyang, and I have a coarse salt business."

Yan Chengjin carefully thought about it and found out that even Liu Jian had a coarse salt business, so he was afraid of banning Yan Yin...

According to Ming law, officials above the fourth rank are not allowed to do business, but most of the ministers in the court are in family business. For example, Ma Wensheng's son Ma Jie relies on his father's official position to do business.

It is probably impossible to get the approval of Liu Jian, Xie Qian and others for this recommendation.

"Master Yan, Your Majesty is announcing you!" The little eunuch rushed in panting, announcing urgently.

Liu came to look at Yan Chengjin and asked worriedly: "Sir, what's going on? I don't know what happened?"

"Hongzhi banknotes circulated, the price of salt in the world skyrocketed, merchants hoarded salt and refused to sell it, and the people had no salt to eat. Please taste it carefully."

Soon, Yan Chengjin followed the young eunuch to Fengtian Hall.

Stepping into the palace with his right foot, Liu Jian and others turned around one after another. Emperor Hongzhi had a straight face and an expression that was hard to describe.

Zhu Houzhao knelt beside the pillar, his brows moved slightly in excitement, and his mouth showed a beaming arc: I have not betrayed you, crickets are as much as thirty thousand taels of silver, no less!

Yan Chengjin nodded without revealing any trace: I will never break my promise.

Emperor Hongzhi and Li Dongyang looked strange. You two were flirting in the court. Do you think that I and the other gentlemen are blind?

"You instigated the prince to advise me to abolish the salt guide?"

Before Yan Chengjin could reply, Zhu Houzhao became anxious: "Of course only sons and ministers can come up with this kind of good governance."

"Shut up." Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin and said seriously: "I'm asking you a question."

Yan Chengjin thought for a moment and then bowed slightly: "This is what I mentioned to His Highness."

Zhu Houzhao was dumbfounded. I denied it for a long time. Didn't you, a dog official, let me deceive you?

Li Dongyang looked astonished, he didn't expect this man to admit it.

Emperor Hongzhi and several people from the Liubu Department showed varying degrees of astonishment.

This son has always been cautious and afraid of death. If he admits to conspiring with the prince, he is colluding with the East Palace.

"Bold!" Xiong Gan, the Minister of Punishment, shouted sharply.

Yan Chengjin knew very well that Zhu Houzhao alone would make this matter impossible: "Looking back, it was Wang Shu who mentioned to me that His Majesty asked me to think of ways to stabilize the price of salt. I came up with a way and did not dare to advise His Majesty. Word.

I went to Mr. Li's house and the East Palace successively. "

Li Dongyang's face froze, routine, this is a routine.

This kid wants to drag him into the water.

Emperor Hongzhi and Liu Jian were shocked again. There were too many surprises today. First, the prince wanted to abolish Yan Yin, and then it was revealed that Li Dongyang had known about it for a long time, but he had kept silent.

Yan Chengjin held the death-free medal and looked at Li Dongyang slightly, Mr. Li, it's your turn.

Li Dongyang took a deep breath: "Yan Chengjin did mention it in the minister's house.

I thought about it for a long time and thought it was good governance.

Now that the imperial court can mine silver from overseas, there is no shortage of silver from salt merchants to buy Yanyin.

The sale of salt by the imperial court could indeed keep the price of salt stable for a long time. "

Yanyin, issued in limited quantities by the imperial court, has already become a futures bond.

This is the fundamental reason why salt prices will rise.

The price of salt in the world has changed. Only by withdrawing salt can the imperial court stabilize the price of salt.

Yan Chengjin dares to plot against his own officials, and he will settle the score in the next court!

Minister of Justice Xiong Xi stood up and said: "Your Majesty, you can't do that! The court has sold millions of salt permits. Many gentry have spent all their wealth to buy salt permits. If Your Majesty abolishes it..."

It will definitely cause chaos and arouse public anger.

Minister of Personnel Ma Wensheng said solemnly: "This matter is of great importance. Your Majesty, please think twice."

"I second the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

Except Yan Chengjin and Li Dongyang, no one agreed.

Zhu Houzhao fell asleep while kneeling, and was awakened by the minister's stern shouting. He changed his posture and continued to sleep leaning against the pillar.

Yan Chengjin thought to himself that Wanli abolished the salt permit system and handed over the salt to the big salt merchants to sell.

This led to the flow of silver to the big gentry in the streets, and the treasury was empty.

This is also one of the reasons why there was no silver in the treasury of the court in the late Ming Dynasty.

How should the country be governed? Is it a prosperous era or a decline? It depends on your majesty's choice.

The cabinet and the six ministries and nine officials bowed their heads to advise. The salt permit system had been passed down for hundreds of years, and it was suddenly abolished. They were a little overwhelmed.

Emperor Hongzhi felt that this matter was serious and could not be decided immediately. He pondered for a moment: "Dismiss the court!"

Zhu Houzhao opened his eyes suddenly as if he heard an alarm clock and chased Yan Chengjin out.

Li Dongyang's furious voice sounded behind Yan Chengjin: "You guy, you actually calculated me in the court?!"

"The court can only stabilize the salt price by selling salt. This matter involves a lot. With Lord Li's advice, we will have a 10% chance." Yan Chengjin said.

Li Dongyang had been cheated many times. Li Dongyang was a good person and would not retaliate.

Liu Jian and others came up and snorted: "You also know how big this matter is!"

Li Dongyang and Yan Chengjin were speechless.

After today, the world will be more chaotic.

After Liu Jian and his men left, Zhu Houzhao came up as if nothing had happened. He said that the sky had fallen and it had nothing to do with him: "Lao Gao, did you promise me 30,000 taels?"

Yan Chengjin took out a piece of paper, and Zhu Houzhao took it and looked at it: This piece of paper is worth 30,000 taels.

"Do you want to default on your debt?"

"Silver is not easy to hide. Keep it with me first. When Your Highness wants to recruit soldiers, you can pay it with the note."

"You are not trying to fool me, are you?"

"The paper is a voucher, how can you fool me?"

"Well, good idea."

Yan Chengjin sneered in his heart. I wrote that this piece of paper is worth 30,000 taels, but I didn't say that I owe you 30,000 taels.