"Gather people and wealth, since ancient times, there is no food and no soldiers."

Li Shouhan's voice was not loud, but his words were clear.

"The whole army is through the military, the combat effectiveness is improved, the military discipline is strictly enforced, and money and food are required everywhere. Li Shouhan unceremoniously picked up the teacup and took a sip of sweet hot cocoa.

"But I have gained knowledge, and sure enough, today I know what it is that the soldiers and horses have not moved, and the grain and grass go first." Ma Shiying praised Li Shouhan without a trace.

"Shousuke-sama is right. Therefore, when a certain family was in Nanzhong, the matter of farmland and water conservancy was put in the top priority. Otherwise, a flood, a drought, and a locust will wipe out a year's hard work for the peasants. Let me ask, without food, how can the country raise soldiers, establish education, and develop industry and commerce? ”

"That's why the marshal has always said that there is no food and instability, no work is not strong, no business is not rich, and no soldiers are uneasy?" Zhu Yousong couldn't hold back the excitement in his eyes.

"Exactly. Your Majesty, the minister is just the strategy of Emperor Taizu Gao's high wall and extensive accumulation of grain to slowly claim the king, taking the essence of the first two sentences and changing it slightly. "Cast it with peach and plum to repay it with Qiong Yao, Li Shouhan also replied to Zhu Yousong very well, the so-called flower sedan chair people carry people, you praise me in front of you, I will say that I am just imitating the tricks of your ancestors, there is nothing unusual.

Hongguang Emperor Zhu Yousong nodded and agreed with Li Shouhan's words. Xuan even set his eyes on the first assistant Ma Shiying: "Old Ma, what is the situation of the collection of money and grain in the land under the jurisdiction of the imperial court?" What the marshal said about gathering people and saying wealth is a wise saying. Can't the imperial court always let the marshal take out his own money and food to pay for military expenses!? ”

Zhu Yousong's words inadvertently exposed the most anxious worries in his heart. The dignified Ming court always asked a courtier to take out his own treasury money and grain to raise soldiers for the court, which is also an undignified thing in the final analysis. If this goes on for a long time, will the army of the imperial court be the soldiers and horses of the imperial court, or will he be the family of Li Shouhan? Therefore, it is necessary to restore the financial system of the imperial court as soon as possible!

Ma Shiying is also a master who is good at figuring out his intentions. For the emperor's thoughts in Zhu Yousong's heart, not to mention that he knows everything about it, he can also guess the best of ten.

"Your Majesty, since Your Majesty's accession to the throne, the Holy Grace has spread all over the world, cutting down the tax and silver, and opening the Enko. Cleaning up the arrears of money and grain over the years, restoring the old system of the Divine Sect, the treasury has gradually become full. This also depends on the wisdom of the marshal. ”

Ma Shiying said that Li Shouhan's so-called wisdom of knowing people refers to the fact that he recommended the famous platoon gun raider Cha Baidi, who investigated the imperial history, and made chickens and dogs jump in the area of Suzhou Mansion. However, to say that the scholars and gentry of Suzhou Mansion are also a group of cheap people, when Emperor Wanli, Wei Zhongxian and Wei Gonggong sent people to collect taxes, they dared to gather people to make trouble, and smashed the government at every turn. However, now Cha Baidi is raiding his house at every turn to recover the money and food he owes, and they are all obedient like cats.

Those who were raided did not dare to resist, and those who were not raided went one after another to dig holes in the mountains to buy grain to pay off the money and grain owed over the years, and some even went to borrow usury. (What a world!) The gentry have always been usury, why is it the turn of the gentry to borrow usury today? It reminds people of the "five antis" movement that has been criticized by the Phoenix and other media openly and secretly, which is a nightmare that has made countless capitalists miserable! ）

With such a powerful helper, Ma Shiying's implementation of the new policy, the restoration of the old system during the Wanli period, and the recovery of the arrears of money and grain over the years have progressed quite smoothly. At least, much smoother than Ma Shiying himself and his staff imagined.

"Your Majesty, now the imperial court is in Zhejiang, Jiangxi (excluding Gannan, the administrative division of the Ming Dynasty, Gannan is a separate administrative region. ), Huguang, Nanzhili and other places to clean up the arrears of money and grain and restore the old system of the Wanli Emperor. ”

"Among them, according to the old Wanli system, 46,696,982 mu of land registered in Zhejiang need to be handed over to the grain field, and 2,522,627 stone of grain needs to be paid, with an average tax rate of 0.054 stone/mu; 40,115,127 mu of grain land registered in Jiangxi need to be handed over, and 2,616,341 stone of grain need to be paid, with an average tax rate of 0.065 stone/mu; Huguang: 221,619,940 mu of land, 2,162,183 stone of grain to be paid, with an average tax rate of 0.010 stone/mu; Nanzhili: 77,394,662 mu of land, 6,011,846 stone of tax and grain, with an average tax rate of 0.078 stone per mu. ”

"According to the decree issued by His Majesty, the clearing of the arrears of money and grain began in the second year of Chongzhen, and before that, the imperial court collected money and grain from Wei Zhongxian and Wei Gonggong, even if there was arrears, there was not much difference. Therefore, the collection of money and grain arrears began in the second year of Chongzhen. ”

"From the second year of Chongzhen to the third year of Chongzhen, Ding Yin is nine cents. From the fourth year of Chongzhen to the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, Ding Yin was one cent and two cents. From the thirteenth year of Chongzhen to the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, Ding Yin was only two cents. Of course, according to the regulations of the preferential exemption rules, the land and silver of these people who are famous and above can also be exempted, but the preferential exemption rules seem to be only free from food and labor. But it doesn't matter, the amount of exempted from labor is converted according to the quantity of Ding, and the exempted grain is converted according to the market price of the rice in July. ”

Ma Shiying's series of numbers came out of his mouth like flowing water, and Li Shouhan secretly admired it in his heart, and Zhu Yousong's eyes lit up, but this pile of numbers did not have the number he wanted to know: "Old Ma, the number of these money, grain fields, and the matter of a few cents of silver standard for the time being, you just have to tell me, these four places in Nanzhili, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Huguang should be given to the treasury, and how much grain should be handed over to me?" ”

Ma Shiying stroked his famous beard, and he could see that the emperor was in a good mood today, so he decided to sell Guanzi with the emperor.

"Your Majesty, although the minister is the first assistant in the matter of the amount of money and grain, he does not dare to speak falsely. The taxes that should be paid to the treasury can be speculated from the documents reported by the secretary and said to His Majesty. However, the amount of grain in the warehouse depends on the commander. After saying this, Ma Shiying also winked at Li Shouhan narrowly.

In such a situation, Zhu Yousong naturally fell into his eyes, and understood in his heart that this was Lord Shoufu joking with himself. "Old horse, this is yours or not. How to count the amount of grain, depending on the commander? ”

Ma Shiying's words not only made Zhu Yousong not understand, but also made Li Shouhan himself fall into a fog. "Master Ma, where do you start with this? How to store the number of imperial grains, it depends on a certain family? Could it be that a certain family has anything to do with these people who owe money and food to the court? ”

"Your Majesty, Sir, the lower official said this, and naturally there is a reason for saying this. Fang Cai said that the number of fields in the four places in Jiangnan that should be handed over for money and grain. If the amount is paid in full, in addition to the fraction of the annual payment (let's count it as a good exemption), the officials and gentry and scholars in all parts of the Jiangnan will have to pay almost 96 million stone grain! ”

"Nine! Thousand! Six! Hundred! Ten thousand! Stone! This number, like six golden cannonballs, smashed the Hongguang Emperor Zhu Yousong's happy eyes straight out of Venus, a little breathless. He grew up in the splendid pile since he was a child, and he is also used to seeing gold, silver, pearls and jade. However, after the collapse of the country and the death of the family, he suddenly fell from heaven to earth (note, not hell. A character of his level, no matter how miserable he is, is much better than those poor people who are really living in hell on earth. From that moment on, he knew the importance of money and food. Now, Ma Shiying said that he was able to clear the accumulated money and grain in Zhejiang, Nanzhili, Huguang, and Jiangxi, reaching an unprecedentedly huge amount of 96 million stones, how could he not be surprised and happy? !

"Of course, if it is converted into silver dollars, it will cost 48 million silver dollars according to the price of July rice. This is still the ideal number for no one in the middle link. However, when the water is clear, there are no fish, and when people are observed, there are no fugitives. How can those tax collectors let go of these fat sheep in front of them? Your Majesty must know that in previous years, these gentlemen and gentlemen would not even lift their eyelids when they saw the tax collectors, household secretaries and others. Now that this generation has such an opportunity, how can he let it go? Therefore, if the tax collectors deliberately cheat these officials and take the opportunity to extort money, I am afraid that it may not be even 58 million silver dollars! ”

Ma Shiying complained a few words, and continued to talk about the current situation of money and grain storage for Zhu Yousong and Li Shouhan Junchen.

"Tian Fu has always been a collection of goods. Especially at the moment when the army is booming, the Quartet is in urgent need of military rations. However, where do you go to find so much food in the south of the Yangtze River? Don't say that Su Songtai and Hangjiahu are no longer the time for 'Su Lake is ripe for the world', that is, the lake is wide, and the war has been continuous for many years, and the grain produced can barely be used to pay the field endowment, which is already the ancestor is virtuous! ”

"So, such gentry hit the idea on the marshal! Everyone knows that most of the grain in Jiangnan today comes from the rule of the marshal. Therefore, these people went to the marshal's Longsheng to purchase grain and hand it over to the treasury. ”

"No wonder! Old horse! I only know now, why do you say that how much food can be collected by the imperial treasury depends on the marshal! And so it was! ”

"Exactly! As much grain could be transported by the marshal's merchant ships, they could buy as much grain as they could hand in. As far as the minister knows, now, in Shanghai County and Jiangning Mansion and other places, the CIF price of the marshal's Nancao grain and rice delivery contract has risen to three silver dollars per stone of rice. This is also the friendly price of a trade between friends. ”

Three silver dollars per stone meter, 96 million stone meters, this huge astronomical amount, immediately crushed Zhu Yousong, even Li Shouhan himself, there was a burst of Venus shaking in front of him.

"Old horse! How much grain and rice has been put into storage now? How many are left unstocked? ”

"Lord Shousuke, how much grain and rice is there still a shortage?"

Almost at the same time, Zhu Yousong and Li Shouhan Junchen shouted out almost the same question.

Although they asked the same question, the two gentlemen and ministers were concerned about different angles. As the emperor, Zhu Yousong naturally cared about how much grain and silver money could be put into his treasury. And Li Shouhan keenly discovered a huge opportunity.

"Lao Tzu is going to slash at this group of Donglin in Jiangnan this time, so that they will not have such strong economic strength to make trouble with Lao Tzu in the future!"

"Your Majesty, Sir, the documents reported everywhere now, about 10 million stone grains and rice have been put into storage, and nearly 10 million silver dollars of Ding silver and other taxes have been transferred to the household department. In addition to the silver, there are also millions of yuan in commercial taxes and banknotes everywhere. Your Majesty, I am afraid that this is the most fulfilling moment for the dynasty since the Divine Sect! ”

Ma Shiying couldn't hold back her joyful look, and proudly introduced to Zhu Yousong and Li Shouhan the current amount of grain and silver in the national stockpile. Indeed, at present, Taicang in Nanjing is extremely full. Of course, it is from the perspective of Ma Shiying and others. In previous years, the treasury that could gallop inside was full of grain and rice, and the silver dollars wrapped in mulberry paper, which made the treasury soldiers who were originally accustomed to carrying the treasury silver out gritted their teeth with hatred, looking at the mountains of silver dollars, but they didn't know where to start. (No way, the adaptive training that started since childhood was all for silver ingots, and now they have been replaced with silver dollars, and the shape and size are different.) ）

"That means that there are still more than 80 million stone grains and rice that have not been put into storage?" Li Shouhan groaned.

"General, don't be too little. It has been a long time, and it is not easy to receive such a degree. If it weren't for the investigation of the imperial history you sponsored, it was really powerful, but I am afraid that even a fraction of this money and grain might not be able to be collected. Zhu Yousong thought that Li Shouhan was afraid that he had received too little, and hurriedly defended himself to his subordinates.

"Old Ma, when you go back, you will make a will in the name of the cabinet. Cha was able to do things, and was promoted to Suzhou Tongzhi, patrolling the imperial history! Receive five ranks! ”

In a word, our Chabaidi has changed from the magistrate of Wu County to the Tongzhi of Suzhou, patrolling the imperial history.

"Minister, I would like to check on behalf of a certain emperor for his promotion. When he went back, he ordered someone to tell Cha that he would do things for the emperor. First of all, in strict accordance with the etiquette, Zhu Yousong thanked Zhu Yousong for the grace of the special promotion, which is also the proper meaning of Li Shouhan, the guarantor.

"Lord Shoufu, a certain family just heard you say that now everywhere is purchasing grain from a certain Nanzhong to pay for the imperial grain. But? ”

"Exactly. That's probably the process. The gentry first purchased the grain and rice contracts issued by the Marshal Firm in the commercial and trade area of Shanghai County, the commercial area of Hangzhou Prefecture, or in the city of Jiangning, and then delivered the goods in kind by the contract. Then the grain and rice were transported to the various government treasury to pay the imperial grain. ”

"Why bother! Not to mention the delay time, the quantity and quality of grain and rice have been lost after many transportations. Li Shouhan came out of nowhere, and Zhu Yousong and Ma Shiying were a little stunned when they heard it.

"Sir, why do you say that?" Zhu Yousong looked at the bulging blood vessels on Li Shouhan's face and forehead, and asked timidly.

"Your Majesty, Lao Ma, I dare to ask today, when Emperor Wanli and Lord Jiajing, Chengzu, and Great Grandfather were in power, how much was stored in their Shaofu?"

Get! asked about the private money of Zhu Yousong's ancestors. Shaofu is an ancient Chinese official name that began in the Warring States period. Qin and Han Dynasty are one of the nine Qings. Shaofu is in charge of the income of the mountains and Haidi Ze and the royal handicraft manufacturing, and is the emperor's private residence. Shaofu, in charge of the private wealth of the Son of Heaven. Qin and Han both set up Shaofu, and Wang Mang called Gonggong, and was in charge of wealth and goods together with Dasi Nong, that is, the household department. That is, we are familiar with the internal affairs government and other institutions, the scholars and doctors of the Ming Dynasty, but they often put hundreds of inscriptions, asking the emperor to use internal money, that is, the emperor's own personal money and private money to do this. For example, if there is a flood or drought in a certain place, your Majesty, you have to take out your internal funds to help the disaster. There is a war somewhere, the emperor, you have to use your internal money to reward the three armies and motivate the soldiers. All in all, since you are the emperor, then all the things in the world and the expenses should be borne by you.

However, the Wanli Emperor, who has the reputation of greedy for money and good goods, has accumulated a lifetime of private money, in addition to taking it to fight the three major campaigns, the remaining millions of taels of silver, within a few days after he closed his eyes, was handed over to his good son, the emperor who was completely brainwashed by the literati, and handed it over to the household department, leaving the adults and gentlemen to embezzle and drift.

"Your Majesty, don't you want to fill up the treasury and the Shaofu? Lao Ma, they all say that it is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice, you are now the head of our Ming family, if you want to make a difference, you must have money in your hands, have you ever thought that the cabinet chief assistant directly holds tens of millions of silver in his hands? ”

Li Shouhan's tone of speech is very demagogic. It's exactly like the snake in the Garden of Eden in the doctrine of the Cross, and more like the little white faces who lure girls into the special services industry on the streets.

"Tens of millions of silver? General? Seriously? In my inner house, can there really be tens of millions of silver in storage? Even though Zhu Yousong had ascended the throne as emperor, he couldn't help but stutter excitedly when he heard Li Shouhan talk about this amount.

Li Shouhan smiled and began to break his fingers to settle accounts for Zhu Yousong and Ma Shiying.

"As Lao Ma Fangcai said, now the treasury has actually collected 10 million stone of grain, and there is still a gap of 88 million stone in arrears over the years. However, the purchase of grain in kind is paid in kind, the first delay is long, and the second grain is transferred and loaded and unloaded several times, and the loss in the middle is not a few. Therefore, a certain family thought, since they bought the grain and rice contract issued by a certain family, and then delivered the physical goods and transferred them to various places. Why don't we just issue an order that the grain and rice contracts can be handed over directly to the government treasury, and then the merchants from the contemptible places can directly enter the treasury and pay it, which is not a matter of public and private convenience? As long as they pay enough, we don't have to worry about anything. ”

Li Shouhan's words made Zhu Yousong and Ma Shiying seem to understand it.

"Sir, this matter is good, but how can you have a lot of money that you just said is tens of millions of silver?"

Zhu Yousong blinked his small eyes, and his eyes were full of a huge desire for a lot of money. Are you kidding? There are tens of millions of silver dollars in my direct hands, so I can't use them as I want? All you need is a handwritten edict. What is the joy of the king, this is the joy of the king!