Nanjing, No. 1 West Chang'an Street.

When the New Year is approaching, and the emperor Zhu Yunwen is not in the palace, the cabinet ministers are relatively comfortable, after all, they don't need to go to the palace every day to hold a small court meeting, and they only need to sit in the palace to run errands in the Wenhua Palace.

As the first assistant of the cabinet, Yang Shiqi did not have to be on duty, so the Wenhua Hall was rarely visited, and most of the government affairs were basically approved in his home.

This is also a privilege reserved for the head of the cabinet.

"It's about to be the thirty-sixth year of the Emperor's Ming Dynasty, that is, the fifteenth year of Jianwen."

Wrapped in thick cotton clothes, Yang Shiqi stood at the door of the main hall, stopped to watch the pieces of snow that kept falling like goose feathers in front of him, and muttered.

There was still Xie Jin standing next to Yang Shiqi, who had just received Zhu Yunwen's reply from the General Administration Department that he didn't need to send the relevant recital to the north, and then found Yang Shiqi's announcement.

Yang Shiqi, who learned the news, said such a disconnected sentence, which made Xie Jin a little difficult to understand.

If you don't send a book to the north, what does it have to do with the calendar?

Xie Jin didn't understand, but he had a good habit of asking if he didn't understand.

"Sit down."

Facing Xie Jin's incomprehension, Yang Shiqi beckoned to sit down, looking at the steaming tea, Yang Shiqi said: "Your Majesty has been diligent for more than ten years, and he has always been diligent and unslack, and suddenly replied like this. The Imperial Commander also said that His Majesty had worked too hard, and the Imperial Doctor suggested that it would be better to take a rest. ”

Knowing that Xie Jin probably couldn't understand, Yang Shiqi said his thoughts.

"Great gentleman, we are both considered to have risen to the top, I was a co-organizer of the university in the first year of Jianwen, and then entered the cabinet, and I took over the first assistant of the cabinet, and I have been doing it for a full twelve years now.

Even His Majesty has to take a break, and I, the head of the cabinet, should also rest. ”

Xie Jin was taken aback: "Elder Ge, you are here, are you going to pay tribute?" ”

How old is Young's wizard? He is only 49 years old after the New Year, and he is still 16 years away from the red line of retirement of cabinet ministers.

"How many cabinet ministers have gone over the years?"

Yang Shiqi looked at Xie Jin and smiled slightly: "First it was Violent Zhao, then Yu Xin, Yan Zhen went straight to the Federation of Industry and Commerce, and even Wang Qian, who was replaced, retired, but you and I have been staying here because of age, and the government and the opposition have rumored that the cabinet has become the Wenyuan Pavilion of Jiangxi, and the Wenhua Hall has become the Yang Mansion."

If I really continue to sit in this position for sixteen years, and hold the authority of the country for thirty years, then I will not be in a system, and I don't know what to do. ”

No one is not greedy for power, but smart people tend to do it in moderation.

The first assistant of the cabinet is under one person, and the ministers avoid the pomp and circumstance of hundreds of officials, Yang Shiqi has enjoyed it for twelve years, and now he is unwilling to continue to enjoy it.

At least in Yang Shiqi's thoughts, Zhu Yunwen suddenly came to such a reply, is there a deep meaning in it, is it a subtle knock to remind him of reconciliation?

If there is such a meaning, you have to be interested, hurry up and give up your position, and also give some room for progression and promotion for latecomers.

Regarding Yang Shiqi's hidden worries, Xie Jin was a little unimpressed: "Is Elder Ge thinking too much?" ”

"It's better to think more than less."

Yang Shiqi leaned into the Taishi chair, and the old god was muttering with his eyes closed: "My son Yang Ji has gone down to the local place to make a county order, and the local government actually calls him Xiaoge Lao, this is just nonsense."

The students of the first phase of the Lakeside School are now basically filled with various positions, with outstanding ability, and it may not be impossible to enter the cabinet in the future. ”

After a pause, Yang Shiqi replied again: "The most important thing is that I was born in an old Confucian, and Your Majesty praised me for holding the country well, which is not a good word."

What is Fang?

Fang is well-behaved, but there is nothing outstanding about Fang.

At present, the newly registered officials in the local government are all trying to change, they are the new cutting-edge faction, they are the neo-Confucian party, their ideas are radical and their own unique methods of governance, we can no longer keep up.

Yes, we can't keep up with His Majesty's thoughts, and by the way, we can't lead the progress of the local provinces, and it's not appropriate to rely on this son. ”

This interpretation made Xie Jinya speechless, and if you think about it, it is indeed true.

"At our feet, Ying Tianfu Yin Wang Yusen is busier than the cabinet every day, when he first took office, he engaged in collective production, built large workshops and large factories, and now he is promoting what package production to households, encouraging the people to vigorously develop animal husbandry, breeding or other sideline industries, doing is in full swing, and the people in every household are full of energy, on the other hand, we have been a cabinet minister for more than ten years, and we have not even taken out a little reform plan, which is a shame."

If a cabinet does not make any achievements, it will not be possible to write in the history books in the next 100 years.

Regarding Yang Shiqi's self-ashamedness, Xie Jin disagreed, and opened his mouth to persuade: "Ge Lao Mo thinks about this, the situation in the world is gradually changing, although the first merit is the "Jianwen Canon" and His Majesty's thought as a program, but this gradual change process can be so peaceful and stable, it is inseparable from your efforts to balance the situation over the years."

If the so-called Neo-Confucian Party and new officials had been raised to the position of senior members of the ministry and hall as soon as they came up in those days, the old and new parties would have fought vigorously in order to compete for political dividends, and the party would have fought against each other, and the world would have become a mess long ago.

On this issue, His Majesty has also commented on the political reforms of the relevant dynasties, some of which are too radical and undermine the political fundamentals of stability, and some are too forward-looking, lacking the courage and determination not to break or stand.

Therefore, the elder should not do this, let alone retire because of this. ”

This is an official fan.

Yang Shiqi sighed in his heart, when it came to this, Xie Jin was still unwilling to retreat, didn't he understand it in his heart.

The gradual change is coming to an end, and every year that follows, the emperor and the local government will begin to gradually review the achievements of the cabinet.

It seemed that Xie Jin sensed a hint of meaning from the slight change in Yang Shiqi's expression, and suddenly said: "Pavilion Elder, Xia Guan has an idea that may be possible." ”

Do you have an idea?

It's really not that Yang Shiqi looks down on Xie Jin, the former is consciously in the current Da Ming, and even he himself has a feeling of gradually becoming uncomfortable, as a Xie Jin who is dedicated to learning, what constructive policies can he come up with?

"Tell me about it."

Although it is estimated that Xie Jin can't have any ivory in his mouth, Yang Shiqi is still willing to listen to it.

I look forward to it in my heart, after all, after compiling the "Jianwen Canon" for so many years, it is still being included and supplemented to this day, and it may not be possible to really give a little insight.

"Exemption from agricultural taxes and taxes in kind!"

Xie Jin didn't open his mouth, and Yang Shiqi was startled as soon as he opened his mouth.

Exemption from agricultural and in-kind taxes?

"Nowadays, I pay thirty taxes on Ming grain, does it matter if I have it or not?"

Xie Jin expressed his views and talked eloquently: "Next year, several major granaries in Shandong will be built, and then the policy of guiding the price of salt and grain will be introduced, and the control system of the two main daily necessities of salt and grain will be implemented.

As for the tax in kind of the state treasury, the two major divisions of silk and iron, except for grain, were simply abolished. Jiangnan and Liaodong two weaving bureaus are no longer the only two cloth and silk mills in my Ming Dynasty, Fujian cloth output, garment volume because of a so-called Duojiao machine expanded dozens of times, the future Zhejiang, Guangdong businessmen to introduce the use, this is the weaving bureau of the impact is absolutely huge.

The iron tax is getting lower and lower year by year, and what the Ministry of Industry needs now is not iron, but steel, which can support the manufacture of multiple cannons.

How about abolishing taxes in kind, replacing them with cash silver, increasing consumption and the circulation of goods, and promoting the prosperity of private commerce? ”

Abolish taxes in kind, convert and levy cash?

Yang Shiqi frowned and thought hard.

Is Xie Jin's proposal feasible?

This is like a whip method, there are pros and cons, and in different eras, the pros and cons are naturally different.

"Tomorrow, go to the Wenhua Palace, and the cabinet will discuss it with the ministries."

After thinking about it for a long time, Yang Shiqi still couldn't make up his mind, Xie Jin's suggestion was full of temptation for him, after all, even if he wanted to retreat, Yang Shiqi also hoped that before he retreated, he could leave a few good policies, and leave a little mark that belonged to him under the rapid development and becoming more and more powerful.

But Yang Shiqi has some worries, after all, the major affairs of the country, especially the agricultural tax and the tax in kind, are related to the country's capital, and if something goes wrong, tens of millions of people will be involved, and great success will become a big crime.

"I won't mention this in advance, anyway, we have to wait for tomorrow to discuss it, but this year, His Majesty will not come back for the New Year, how can we prepare for the New Year?"

After Xie Jin's two proposals, Yang Shiqi began to worry about other things.

Zhu Yunwen said that if he didn't go back to Nanjing, he wouldn't go back, how should he handle such a big mess in Nanjing?

The affairs of the palace cannot be managed by the cabinet, but the affairs of the outer court will not be managed by the deep palace.

"The scale of the New Year's banquet, the list of officials invited to the banquet, including the process of the banquet, must be refined and carefully considered."

Because the founding day of the Ming Dynasty, that is, the National Day is the fourth day of the first month, and the New Year is too close, so there will be a big banquet every New Year, and the two festivals are spent together, which is a good day for the family and the country to rejoice.

In the past, when Zhu Yunwen was in Beijing, the normal process was basically that on New Year's Day, hundreds of officials gathered in the Huagai Hall to pay New Year's greetings to Zhu Yunwen, and then the monarchs and ministers moved to Fengtian Palace, and the General Administration Department read out the New Year's edict, affirming the achievements of the previous year, affirming the hard work of the hundred officials of the imperial court, and finally ending with the customary reward of adding a month, and everyone can go back to their respective homes for the New Year after reading it.

The second and third days of junior high school have two days off to give the officials a time to visit relatives and give gifts.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhu Yunwen will hold an award ceremony in Fengtian Hall during the day, which may be awarded martial arts or Wenxun, and even awarded the Ingenuity Medal for the craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry.

If there is a major event in the previous year, other corresponding medals will be awarded.

For example, the Flood Fighting Medal, the First Five-Year Plan Commemorative Medal, etc.

On the day of the end of the award, a big banquet was set up in the Huagai Palace, and the big guys ate and drank happily, and the process was all over.

And in these processes, there are too many places that require the presence of the emperor, and without the emperor, if you don't add some processes, it won't be the same.

You can't go to the household to get the food as soon as you wake up, and then go back to your own home, and wait until the fourth day of the new year, and rush directly into the palace to eat and drink.

There is still a little bit of the appearance of an official, what is the difference between it and a beggar.

Either reaching out for money, or opening your mouth to eat and drink.

So there must be a few more items.

Yang Shiqi and Xie Jin began to rack their brains to prepare, and in Zhongdu City, not far from Nanjing, Zhu Wenkui was also preparing to return to Beijing.

"After a busy year, I can go back to the palace to see my mother."

Zhu Wenkui packed his bags in his bedroom, as the prefect of Fengyang, who would dare to control his head in the entire Fengyang.

And Yu Qian, who was busy eating at the small table on the side, suddenly asked a question.

"Your Highness returned to the palace this time, did you ask for leave from the General Administration?"

This sudden question suddenly made Zhu Wenkui stop his hands and half-turn his head: "No, does the palace need it?" ”

As the eldest son of the emperor Zhu Yunwen and the eldest prince of the country, he still needs to ask for leave from the General Administration Department when he goes home for the New Year.

"If His Royal Highness returns to the palace as a prince, then naturally there is no need to ask for leave from the General Administration."

Yu Qian said: "Then if His Royal Highness returns to Beijing as the prefect of Fengyang, it will be needed." ”

Zhu Wenkui got up happy when he said this, put down his bags, walked to Yu Qian and sat down, and asked curiously: "What you said, does this palace need to return to the palace as the prefect of Fengyang, how troublesome it is." ”

The identities are different, and the process of the same thing cannot be the same.

If Zhu Wenkui chooses to return to the palace as a prince, it is enough to ask Zhu Yunwen, the father, in advance.

Zhu Yunwen is not in Nanjing, so who else does Zhu Wenkui need to ask for?

He didn't go back with a formed army, although Zhu Wenkui didn't either.

"Then it depends on Your Highness, whether you want to participate in the New Year's banquet or not."

Yu Qian buried his head in eating, and said vaguely: "Your Majesty is not in Beijing, you just go back, in the past few days of the New Year, you can only stay in the palace to talk to the queen mother, but if you ask the General Secretary for a leave, the New Year's banquet, you can participate." ”

Zhu Wenkui is the prefect of Fengyang, the fourth grade of Beijing officials at the foot of Nanzhili, the New Year's banquet of the imperial court, and anyone who can go to Nanjing can participate, and there is nothing wrong with it.

Let Zhu Wenkui ask the General Administration Department to return to Beijing in the name of the Fengyang prefect, and naturally he can attend the New Year's banquet in this name.

"What good is it to the palace to participate in the New Year's banquet?"

Zhu Wenkui pushed Yu Qian over a cup of tea, so as not to choke the latter, and joked: "Could it be that I participated, Yang Shiqi can still let the palace say a few words at the banquet?" The left and right are nothing more than a burying head in eating and drinking, the wine and food that is scarce in the palace, isn't it good to accompany the queen mother in the palace at that time. ”

"Nothing good."

Yu Qian raised his head with a mouthful of residue: "It's just that you can participate, but the second prince can't participate." ”

As soon as this sentence came out, Zhu Wenkui was stunned.

After a long time, the corners of his mouth raised.

(Tomorrow's 10,000 words, make up for yesterday's shortcomings.) ）