The imperial court relied on the sale of salt and the collection of taxes on banknotes to earn the national capital and support the nine sides.

This son of a, he actually said that salt introduction is a bad government?

Emperor Hongzhi clenched his teeth, and his beard shook violently: "Emperor Gao relied on salt politics to order merchants to transport grain to the border, so that he could maintain the Ming Dynasty, are you the ancestor Xun copied less?" Yes, a thousand times is enough for you rebel, one hand! ”

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

Whether it is the imperial court or the gentry in the market, they are all accustomed to the salt introduction system.

Zhu Houzhao dared to say that he wanted to ban it, and he dared to say that it was a maladministration?

Liu Jian was also very angry: "The amount of silver spent on transporting salt is extremely high, and the grain to be eaten for a day of forced labor, horses, grain and grass, etc., are all extremely high expenses, if they are all borne by the imperial court, how much labor will be levied?" How much money it costs! ”

Like what Lao Gao taught him, Zhu Houzhao's face did not change: "Banning salt introduction, and there is no need for the imperial court to transport salt, contracting to the gentry and merchants to carry it, and the salt merchants become transporters, why not?"

The imperial court sells salt, and if the emperor does not increase the price of salt, the price of salt will not change, and the people of the world can eat salt. ”

Ma Wensheng and several other people from the six departments changed their eyes slightly, and Zhu Houzhao made some sense.

But they all have salt in their homes, and this change must hurt their muscles and bones.

The corners of Emperor Hongzhi's mouth were hooked, and he looked at Zhu Houzhao: "Innocent people come to Nuan Pavilion to discuss salt politics with me, it's too late to hide from me on weekdays, who taught you that?" ”

Zhu Houzhao secretly pinched his thigh, and his face remained unchanged: "Erchen thought of it himself." ”

"I'll ask again!"

"Yesterday, when my son saw that his father was not thinking about tea and dinner, he wanted to share his worries for his father, and after thinking about it all night, he came up with the idea of abolishing the salt introduction."

The hall suddenly fell silent.

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

Emperor Hongzhi's brows sank slightly, and he spit out a few words: "Summoning Yan Chengjin!" ”

At this time, the Metropolitan Procuratorate was on duty.

Yan Chengjin announced Liu Lai and asked, "Is there a salt seller in your father's family?" ”

Liu Jian has been an official for several generations, but he is a prominent family in Henan, so he naturally has business.

It's just that I don't know if there is no salt business.

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, when the salt law was opened, it was first implemented in Datong, Shanxi, and the Jin merchants relied on this to become a big merchant gang, Henan and Shanxi are similar, and there are also many ticket numbers.

Liu Lai smiled slightly: "My family is in Luoyang, and there is coarse salt business. ”

Yan Chengjin carefully scrutinized, even Liu Jian also had coarse salt business, but he was afraid of banning salt and introducing ......

According to the Ming law, officials above the fourth rank are not allowed to do business, but most of the ministers of the court and the central government are family businesses, such as Ma Wensheng's son Ma Jue, who relies on his father's official position to do business.

This recommendation, if you want to get the approval of Liu Jian, Xie Qian and others, I am afraid it is impossible.

"Lord Yan, Your Majesty declares you!" The little eunuch rushed in panting, and it was a hurry.

Liu came to see Yan Chengjin and asked worriedly: "My lord, what happened to the officials don't know?" ”

"Hongzhi silver tickets circulate, the price of salt in the world is soaring, merchants hoard salt and do not sell it, and the people have no salt to eat, you taste it carefully."

Soon, Yan Chengjin followed the little eunuch to Fengtian Palace.

Stepping into the hall with his right foot, Liu Jian and several people turned back one after another, and Emperor Hongzhi had a straight face, and his expression was indescribable.

Zhu Houzhao knelt beside the pillar, his brows moved slightly, and his mouth showed the arc of his eyebrows: This palace did not betray you, crickets and 30,000 taels of silver, the same is not less!

Yan Chengjin nodded without showing a trace: The minister will not break his word.

Emperor Hongzhi and Li Dongyang have strange faces, you two are eyebrows in the court, are I and Zhugong blind?

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

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

"Shut up." Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin and said seriously: "I asked you something." ”

Yan Chengjin thought for a moment before bowing slightly: "It was mentioned by the minister and His Highness." ”

Zhu Houzhao was dumbfounded, this palace denied it for a long time, didn't you, a dog official, let this palace bully the king?

Li Dongyang's face was stunned, and he didn't expect this son to admit it.

Emperor Hongzhi and several people from the six departments showed varying degrees of astonishment.

This son has always been steady and afraid of death, and admits that he conspired with the prince, which is to collude with the East Palace.

"Bold!" Shangshu Xiong of the Criminal Department snorted loudly.

Yan Chengjin knew very well that with Zhu Houzhao alone, this matter would definitely not be resolved: "Speaking of which, it should be Wang Shu who mentioned to the minister, His Majesty asked the minister to stabilize the price of salt, and the minister came up with a way to dare to advise His Majesty."

successively went to Lord Li's mansion, as well as the East Palace. ”

Li Dongyang's face stiffened, routine, this is routine.

The son wanted to pull him into the water.

Emperor Hongzhi and Liu Jian were stunned again, there were too many surprises today, first the prince wanted to abolish the salt introduction, and then it was revealed that Li Dongyang had already known, but he had been silent.

Yan Chengjin held the gold medal for avoiding death, and looked at Li Dongyang slightly, Li Gong, it's your turn.

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

The minister thought about it for a long time and thought it was good government.

Nowadays, the imperial court can mine silver from overseas, and there is no shortage of silver from salt merchants to buy salt.

Selling salt by the imperial court can indeed keep the price of salt unchanged for a long time. ”

Salt citation, issued in limited quantities by the imperial court, has long been a futures bond.

This is the basis for the rise in salt prices.

The price of salt in the world has changed, and the imperial court can only stabilize the price of salt by taking back the salt.

Yan Chengjin, this guy dares to even calculate his own officials, and settle accounts in the next dynasty!

Xiong Wei of the Criminal Department stood up: "Your Majesty can't!" The salt sold by the imperial court is enough to be in the millions, and how many gentry have spent all their wealth to buy salt and quotations, if Your Majesty abolishes ......"

It is bound to cause chaos and arouse public indignation.

Ma Wensheng, the secretary of the ministry, said solemnly: "This matter is very important, Your Majesty thinks twice." ”

"The minister seconded the proposal!"

"The ministers seconded it!"

Except for Yan Chengjin and Li Dongyang, no one agreed.

Zhu Houzhao fell asleep on his knees, was awakened by the minister's loud shouts, changed his position, and continued to sleep leaning on the pillar.

Yan Chengjin secretly thought to himself, Wanli abolished the salt introduction system, and handed over the salt to the big salt merchants for sale.

As a result, silver flowed to the gentry and the treasury was empty.

This is also one of the reasons why there was no silver in the imperial treasury at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

How should the country be governed? Is it prosperity or decay? It only depends on His Majesty's choice.

The cabinet and the six ministries and nine secretaries bowed down to advise, and the salt introduction system had been passed down for hundreds of years, and it was suddenly abolished, and I was a little at a loss.

Emperor Hongzhi felt that this matter was so important that he couldn't make a decision immediately, and he pondered for a moment: "Retreat from the dynasty!" ”

As if hearing an alarm, Zhu Houzhao opened his eyes suddenly and chased Yan Chengjin out.

Li Dongyang's angry voice sounded behind Yan Chengjin: "You guy, you are actually calculating your own official in the court?!" ”

"Only by selling salt in the imperial court can the price of salt be stabilized, and this matter is very involved, and with Lord Li's advice, it will be more certain." Yan Chengjin Road.

has cheated Li Dongyang many times, Li Dongyang is a good person, and he will not retaliate.

Liu Jian and a few people walked up and snorted coldly: "You also know that this matter is very involved!" ”

Li Dongyang and Yan Chengjin were speechless.

After today, I am afraid that the world will be even more chaotic.

After Liu Jian and the others left, Zhu Houzhao walked up as if nothing happened, and the sky fell and had nothing to do with him: "Lao Gao, did you promise the 30,000 taels of this palace?" ”

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

"You want to pay off?"

"The silver is not easy to hide, first store it in the minister's place, and when His Royal Highness wants to recruit troops and buy horses, he will pay it with a note."

"You don't want to fool Hongu, do you?"

"Paper is a certificate, how to fool it?"

"Well, good idea."

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