Emperor Chongzhen was very pleased that Xu Guangqi could understand his meaning well without too much explanation and persuasion. If you want to prosper and dominate the world, you can't do without good courtiers. Only when there are more and more courtiers like Wen Tiren, Xu Guangqi, and Lu Xiangsheng, can they do their own things with half the effort!

Thinking so, he smiled again and instructed Xu Guangqi: "Xu Qing, to add the content of scientific and technological knowledge in the assessment of officials, there needs to be a clear rules and regulations, and announce them to the world, so that the officials in the world can have rules to follow, and form a system in the ministry to continue to implement it." Therefore, the secretary should summarize a list of such rules and regulations, hand them to the cabinet for public discussion, and announce them to the world after there is enough consensus! ”

Speaking of this, he thought for a moment and added: "On the cabinet side, I will also remind him that there will be no objection to this matter, it will only be a supplementary buff!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen believed that with his own influence, there would be no problem in getting the cabinet and the celebrant to do this. And when he said this, he also thought of one point, that is, the post station storytelling system, in the future, we can't just talk about some chivalrous people who are popular with the public, but also add some fantasy fairy tales, open up the brains of the ancient people, and then talk about some science fiction famous, and increase the acceptance of new things by the people of the Ming Dynasty. In this way, it is believed that scientific and technological knowledge will be more easily accepted by the people of the Ming Dynasty.

It is really Confucianism that has occupied the minds of Chinese scholars for too long. In order to popularize scientific and technological knowledge, it is inevitable to challenge the important position of the Four Books and the Five Classics in the minds of scholars and to attack the monopoly position of Confucianism. And this is not achieved overnight. This must be pushed forward with the best possible ability.

At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen even thought that he couldn't just use new inventions as a demonstration. The apprentice in Ying Tianfu, what kind of hot air balloon should be about to come out. After the New Year, I want to ask myself, so that people can go to the sky, so there will be a great shock in Jiangnan Shilin.

He was thinking about it, and Xu Guangqi at the bottom was very happy after hearing his words. Knowing that this practice of promoting scientific and technological knowledge is a long-term solution, I can't help but secretly praise in my heart: Your Majesty, it is really far-sighted!

So, he bowed down sincerely and said: "Weichen leads the order!" ”

This matter was settled, and after Xu Guangqi retired, the sky had already darkened. The winter days are so short, it will be dark in the blink of an eye, and there are still things to talk about tomorrow, anyway, there are still a few days before the New Year.

However, at this time, Emperor Chongzhen didn't know that today's events had spread all over the capital at the fastest speed, and for a while, it caused a sensation.

Well-informed people were the first to spread the news: "Have you heard? The equity that was previously allocated to the six ministries was taken back to the treasury by the emperor? ”

"What, how can this be? This equity is divided when it is said to be divided, and it is received when it is said to be received, so will the shares I bought be taken back by the imperial court? "When someone heard it, they immediately became worried.

"You're worried, don't you know? The reason why the emperor took back the equity of the six ministries was because the emperor found out that all the equity dividends obtained by the six ministries went into the pockets of high-ranking officials in the ministry and were embezzled! You say that if this happens, you can continue to delegate the equity to the six yamen? Moreover, the six yamen did not pay anything at the beginning, and there was nothing strange about the shares obtained for nothing. You are different, you have paid real money, and the equity belongs to you, these are two completely different things, what are you worried about? ”

Hearing such an analysis, those people who had equity were relieved, but they were also very curious, so they inquired about gossip again. When they learned that the most corrupt officials had been rectified by the emperor, and that all the high-ranking officials such as Shangshu and Shilang had been demoted to Liaodong, they couldn't help but applaud loudly one by one and scolded "You deserve it!" ”

Some people, after hearing the news, were very sensitive, and immediately guessed: "The emperor will take out the money from equity dividends to reward officials in the future, and also give money to officials, which is ...... Isn't this what the emperor said about giving us? ”

What is the big gift, this topic has always firmly occupied the center of the conversation of the people years ago. Hearing such speculation, some people felt that it was, and some people felt that it was not, and for a while, they quickly diverted their attention from the matter of equity dividends.

"That's right, this should be the big gift that the emperor said. You think, if the officials have extra money, will they make a little less? For the sake of this money, will they have more ideas to improve their political performance? In this way, will the people under their rule benefit? That's right, nine times out of ten, this is what the emperor said! ”

"My son thinks it is also, the simplest point, all the officials have become officials, and there is a lot of money from the imperial court, this is a big gift, right? Gao is not happy, is it not unexpected? There's a big gift, right? ”

“……”

The more I hear this talk, the fewer people who disagree, but there are still some people.

"But the emperor said that he wanted to give a big gift to all the people of the Ming Dynasty, you are right, at most it is a big gift to officials and officials, right? What about ordinary people? Like you, me? ”

"Yes, that's what I thought, too. This indirect benefit should not be attributed to the great gift given to us by the emperor, right? The whole family, but they have been nagging for the past few days, and they received a big gift from the emperor during the New Year, if they knew that it was just like this, they would not be disappointed! ”

“……”

But if this is not a big gift, the people of Jingshi can't think of what a bigger gift will be than this? And this is indeed a few days ago, and it also echoes what the emperor said about the New Year's gift for everyone. Slowly, the people of Beijing were a little convinced that this was the great gift that the emperor said. When they come to this conclusion, some people are disappointed, some people are unwilling but helpless, and some people still don't believe it. Only the officials, especially those at the bottom, are already happy.

The people's speculation about the big gifts mentioned by the emperor is basically unreliable. There is only one in the Jingshi, the first assistant Wen Tiren, and there are some vague guesses in his heart about the great gift announced by the emperor at the beginning.

Early the next morning, seeing that the New Year was coming, he received an edict from the emperor, announcing his visit, the first thought in his heart was that the emperor should give that big gift!

Thinking like this, he was also a little curious in his heart, wondering how that thing could become a great gift to all the people?

With this thought in mind, Wen Tiren hurried to the Mandarin Hall to meet him.

After seeing the salute, he looked at Emperor Chongzhen on the throne and waited for the following.

Sure enough, I saw Emperor Chongzhen smile and said to him: "I came here this time for the sake of Yanzheng. Wen Qing, let's listen to it? ”

When Wen Tiren heard this, he immediately came to his senses, he had been looking forward to this day for a long time. The information about Yan Zheng is also already in his mind.

As soon as Emperor Chongzhen's words fell, he heard Wen Tiren play: "Your Majesty, the salt tax of the former Song Dynasty had an annual income of more than 10 million yuan. And I, Daming, during the Wanli years, was only one million taels, and now in these years, after rectification, there is only more than two million taels of salt tax revenue at most. That's one of them! ”

"Second, the number of people in the former Song Dynasty is much lower than that of our dynasty, according to Weichen's verification of the information of the former Song Dynasty, even if the population of 60 million is good. But I'm Ming, it's almost double so far. This figure is not accurate, and it is impossible to estimate the hidden households. In this way, it stands to reason that the amount of salt used by the people of our dynasty should be more than double that of the former Song Dynasty! ”

Emperor Chongzhen didn't speak, so he listened to Wen Tiren talking eloquently there: "Third, the retail price of the salt eaten by the common people, the former Song Dynasty was about 50 wen per catty of salt, and my Ming Dynasty, the average was about 300 wen per catty. This retail price also varies greatly. Of course, in terms of details, this price may be slightly different, for example, the price of salt produced in different places will be different, and the price of salt sold in different seasons will also be different. But in general, it is the number that Weichen just played. ”

Speaking of this, a trace of anger appeared on Wen Tiren's face, and he said loudly: "In this way, the amount of salt I use is more; The retail price was high in our dynasty, but in the end, the revenue from the salt tax was much lower than that of the former Song dynasty. Wechen has been grasping this piece in the past few years, and the salt tax revenue has been about doubled. However, the current amount of salt tax is still much lower than that of the former Song Dynasty. There are all kinds of such drawbacks, I beg Your Majesty to give you a good plan! ”

As he said, he really did his best. However, he was still very dissatisfied with the amount of the salt tax. But no matter how hard you try, you often get twice the result with half the effort, and you feel a little powerless. Before, when he heard Emperor Chongzhen say that he had a way to solve the salt policy problem once and for all, he had been looking forward to it.

Therefore, after Wen Tiren finished speaking, his eyes were bright, staring at the emperor on the throne and looking forward to some good way to solve this matter.

These things he told Emperor Chongzhen actually knew for a long time. In addition to Wen Tiren's previous recital about Yanzheng, there is also the channel of the factory guard, and he can also learn the information he wants. Moreover, this is not what he asked, it is that Jinyiwei originally had such a function, and would inquire about the fluctuations in the prices of vegetables, rice, oil, salt, etc. outside.

When Emperor Chongzhen listened to Wen Tiren's recital, he nodded with a slightly serious face and said, "I know that most of the salt tax is not collected into the treasury, but lost. The money went into the pockets of local officials at all levels, as well as salt merchants and smugglers. If you want to revise and revise the original salt policy, it is just a cure for foot pain, and medicine for back pain, which is only a symptom, not a cure! ”

Wen Tiren listened extremely attentively, what Emperor Chongzhen said just now hit the nail on the head, making him nod slightly. Now he wants to know how to cure the root cause?

Emperor Chongzhen naturally wouldn't play tricks on his ministers, and he didn't hang his appetite, and said seriously: "I think that the way to cure the root cause is to completely throw away the salt policy that has been used and implement a new salt policy instead!" ”

Hearing this, Wen Tiren couldn't help but be taken aback, and hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, you have to be cautious and cautious in this matter!" ”

Salt politics is the foundation of the country, and the emperor's mouth is to be completely put aside, this movement is too big, so he hurriedly reminded him. But at the same time, he was also very curious, if the previous salt government system was completely abandoned, what new form would be used to replace it?

Seeing him like this, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but smile and said, "I am actually already cautious. Otherwise, this salt policy would not have been delayed until today! ”

After laughing for a while, he didn't wait for Wen Tiren to speak, and then continued: "In the past, the salt administration really couldn't be moved easily, after all, more than half of the imperial court's financial income came from the salt tax. If something happened, the imperial court could not afford to suffer from the large fluctuations in the salt tax. ”

Speaking of this, Emperor Chongzhen's face showed a smile again: "However, this year's tax revenue of the imperial court has come out, and the proportion of salt tax in the national treasury revenue is far less than before. Even if there are large fluctuations, even if there is no point next year, it will not be too difficult for the imperial court! ”

Wen Tiren nodded slightly when he heard this, and he was very emotional in his heart.

Although speaking of which, the imperial court's financial income is due to the implementation of the new policy by himself, the first assistant, and the tax revenue has increased so much. But in fact, almost everyone knows that most of the new policies that make a lot of money come from the emperor. I'm the first assistant, just to execute.

Thanks to the wise emperor, the wealth and income have increased so much.

Emperor Chongzhen on the throne didn't care what he was thinking, and continued to talk about the topic just now: "On the other hand, I personally conquered Liaodong, destroyed Jianyu, and expanded the territory of the Ming Dynasty. The energy of the imperial court and the focus of attention can also be freed up a lot. ”

This remark also has an implication, that is, the prestige of the emperor and the prestige of the imperial court, after this series of events, it has also reached its peak for many years. And this prestige was not obtained by the intimidation of the factory guards during the Apocalypse Dynasty, it has a greater deterrent power!

Hearing the emperor say this, Wen Tiren kept nodding. From this point of view, the emperor is actually very cautious about the innovation of salt administration. He has been quietly arranged, just waiting for the time when this general trend has been achieved, and then he will show the sword and salt politics!

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren bowed down and said, "Your Majesty, it's the minister!" How this salt policy can replace it with a new law, please show your majesty! ”

Emperor Chongzhen listened to this, and said with a slight smile: "Actually, the new salt administration I think of is simple and very simple, that is, the salt administration is abolished by the government, and it is no longer divided into regions, and the business that breaks its promise is classified as normal commercial ......."

Hearing this, Wen Tiren couldn't help but be surprised, he never expected that the new salt policy mentioned by the emperor would be so nonsense, how could this be!

Anxious, so that before the emperor could finish his words, Wen Tiren interrupted anxiously: "Your Majesty, by all means, salt has been sold by officials since ancient times!" ”