Chapter 60: Cultivating Cronies

On the Ruicheng Pavilion in the palace garden. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

Zheng De and Wang Ting sat opposite each other, sipping fragrant tea happily, as if the 500,000 yuan had not affected the mood of the two at all. However, the anxiety that flashed from the former's eyes from time to time betrayed his true mood at the moment.

Wang Tingxiang said with a smile, "Didn't Your Majesty issue an edict a few days ago to recall all the eunuchs guarding outside. ”

Zheng De glanced at Wang Tingxiang and didn't understand what he meant. The latter continued, "Didn't Your Majesty tell Weichen a few days ago that many of these eunuchs were bullying the people outside, expropriating and embezzling a lot of money. He also said that he would let local officials report and expose them, give justice to the people of the world, and also discredit the royal family. ”

Zheng De patted his head and immediately reacted. yes, how did I forget about this stubble?

However, he still said with some suspicion, "Ziheng means that by filling the money and wealth of those eunuchs who are greedy for ink, you can make up the 500,000 taels of silver, but are the bits and pieces they greedy enough for?" ”

Don't blame him for thinking so, after all, the total amount of taxes paid in the Ming Dynasty in a year is only five million taels, and this 500,000 taels is one-tenth of the fiscal revenue. If the money of these eunuchs has reached 500,000 taels, this is really amazing.

Fragmented?

Wang Tingxiang was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then couldn't help but shake his head. The emperor still underestimated the ability of these eunuchs to collect money, if the money they were greedy for was all bits and pieces, then there would be no corrupt officials in the world.

"Your Majesty might as well give it a try, you can get some after all, right?" Wang Tingxiang did not answer Zheng De's question, but said this directly.

In fact, there is nothing to say, after all, when the time comes to include the money and wealth of the eunuchs who are greedy for ink, the emperor naturally knows whether what he said is right or wrong.

If you talk too much now, if you really don't have enough by then, won't you embarrass yourself? Of course, it will also leave a bad impression on the emperor, which is not good for himself.

Zheng De nodded, no matter how much he could get, it could be regarded as relieving his pressure, but what should he do with the rest?

He looked up at Wang Tingxiang, who seemed to have guessed his thoughts, and said with a smile, "As for the rest, Your Majesty can go to the Hubu Shangshu to ask for it." ”

Looking for this money from this iron rooster in Hangul?

Zheng De looked embarrassed when he heard this, shook his head helplessly, and sighed lightly, "Somehow this year, it's not peaceful everywhere." The things that need to cost money are one after another, and now the household department is already stretched. These 500,000 taels of silver will definitely not be able to be taken out. ”

"Not necessarily."

Zheng De was stunned when he heard this, looked at Wang Tingxiang, and didn't understand why he said that.

Wang Tingxiang explained with a smile, "The Tai Warehouse not only has silver taels, but also four million stone grains that are shipped to the capital every year. ”

yes, I didn't think of it!

Zheng De suddenly realized that it was also due to the inertial thinking in his previous life. I thought that the national fiscal revenue was a sum of money, but I forgot that this was the Ming Dynasty, and the tax revenue in this world was mainly based on taxes in kind, especially grain, which was the most important tax. As for the silver taels in the Tai warehouse and the gold and silver in the palace, they were all transported to the capital after the grain was converted into silver from the place. Even the imperial court's Yulu was measured according to "how many stone grains each person has".

"You mean that you can replace some silver taels with grain, which is indeed a good idea, why didn't I think of it." Zheng De said excitedly.

"In your eyes, everything is measured in silver taels, how can you think of this?" Wang Tingxiang thought with a smile when he heard this.

Zheng De looked at him, "If all these 500,000 taels are paid with grain, what does Ziheng think?" ”

"No." Wang Tingxiang shook his head and directly rejected his proposal.

Zheng De was stunned when he heard this, "What's wrong?" ”

"According to the regulations of Emperor Taizu in the thirtieth year of Hongwu: silver is counted as one or two folds of rice and four stones. 500,000 would cost 200 stone of grain in the warehouse, which is half of the stock. The grain in Taicang not only has to maintain the consumption of the imperial court, but also is responsible for the consumption of disaster relief and border transportation. If half of it is withdrawn, I am afraid that it will shake the foundation of the imperial court, so this is simply desirable. ”

After listening to Wang Tingxiang's explanation, Zheng De also understood that he had thought about the problem too simply. After all, every tax paid by the imperial court has a fixed purpose, and if the east wall is demolished to make up for the west wall, things will only get worse and worse in the end.

"How much do you think is better?"

Wang Tingxiang said lightly, "400,000 stone grain is the most suitable." ”

400,000 stone of grain is equivalent to one-tenth of the stock, although the amount is also relatively huge, but compared to 2 million stone, it is also within the normal range

"Four hundred thousand stones? That is, 100,000 taels of silver. Zheng De frowned when he heard this, "What about the rest of the part?" ”

"Your Majesty, 400,000 stone of grain is not 100,000 taels of silver, it should be 200,000 taels of silver." Wang Tingxiang said with a smile.

200,000 taels of silver?

Zheng De was stunned for a moment, looked at Wang Tingxiang with a puzzled expression, could he have miscalculated?

It's impossible, how can you make a mistake in such a simple arithmetic problem, and it's not taught by a physical education teacher.

I couldn't help but calculate it carefully, it was indeed 100,000 taels of silver, yes!

Could it be that this person didn't learn math well?

He looked at Wang Tingxiang with a suspicious expression, "Didn't you just say that Emperor Taizu stipulated that every tael of silver would be discounted by four stone of grain?" ”

Even if the emperor didn't say it, Wang Tingxiang could guess what he was thinking at the moment. He explained with a smile, "Emperor Taizu did make such a provision for the conversion of taxes into silver, but he didn't say that he also needed to convert it like this when he spent it. Now the grain on the market is almost one tael of silver, which can buy two stone of grain, and it can be converted into 200,000 taels of silver. ”

High! It's really high!

When Zheng De heard this, he instantly understood that this person was using the difference between the official pricing and the market pricing, and the amount of silver converted was naturally different, but it helped him reduce the burden of 100,000 taels of silver.

However, he was still a little worried, "In this way, will it cause dissatisfaction among the soldiers!" ”

After all, in this way, these soldiers are equivalent to a reward of 100,000 taels less.

Regarding the emperor's worries, Wang Tingxiang felt that it was not necessary, but he still patiently explained, "It is already a blessing for the soldiers to receive a reward of three taels of silver for nothing, and they are quite grateful to Your Majesty, so how can they care about these trivial matters?" If you annoy the court and the emperor, and don't give rewards in the future, won't the gains outweigh the losses! ”

After listening to Wang Tingxiang's words, Zheng De also felt that there was some truth.

It's like a company that suddenly decides to issue a double year-end bonus at the end of the year, and finally gets more than half of the double year-end bonus, and the last part of the company uses 100 catties of pork to convert. Even if the pork is not worth this part of the value, it is estimated that no one will run to the boss and complain.

took advantage of it for no reason, and if you are insatiable, you will be disgusted.

"And what about the rest of the piece?"

Wang Tingxiang thought for a while, "The amount of money involved in this matter is too big, and I am not in a hurry." Your Majesty will first thoroughly investigate all the eunuchs guarding the town, and put all the money and wealth that are greedy for ink into the internal treasury, and see how much the difference is. As for the 400,000 stone grain, it should also be asked for by the household department after this matter is settled. If the amount of the missing amount is too large, the household department cannot come up with it, and it can only find a new way. ”

Zheng De nodded, and felt that he had to do this first.

But after thinking about it, he still raised a question, "Then who is going to do this?" ”

Although the emperor trusts himself quite a lot, Wang Tingxiang will not be arrogant enough to make decisions for the emperor, which is the most taboo thing for the king.

Although he is still a chick above the officialdom. But there is still self-knowledge.

"Weichen has just come to the imperial study on an errand, and he is not familiar with the ministers of the imperial court, so His Majesty can decide."

Listening to Wang Tingxiang's words, Zheng De thought for a while, "Since it is a royal matter, I will leave it to Wang Yue to handle, after all, he is now the commander of Dongchang." ”

When Wang Tingxiang heard this, he understood that the emperor was afraid that the imperial court would cut off these money, so he wanted to hand it over to Dongchang.

However, in his opinion, this worry is completely unnecessary, after all, as a dignified tomorrow, it is synonymous with unscrupulousness, and no one really dares to grab things from the emperor.

Of course, he didn't know that after Zheng De was coaxed by the Hangul of the Tobu Shangshu once, his vigilance against the treacherous and cunning ministers of the DPRK and China had been raised to the highest level. In order to prevent similar things from happening, it is most reliable to let the people in the palace do this.

Wang Tingxiang thought for a while, and finally said, "Your Majesty, Wang Yue is the head of the palace after all, in order to avoid suspicion, you still need to change someone." ”

Zheng De nodded, but although he felt that what he said was indeed reasonable, he didn't find a suitable candidate in the court after thinking about it for a while.

In the final analysis, it was caused by the lack of trust in the ministers of the imperial court. In other words, there are no cronies you can trust.

If you don't have cronies, why can't you cultivate yourself?

Suddenly, Zheng De's mind flashed a person's name.

"Wang Yue is now the deputy minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but he is the governor of Dongchang, do you think it is appropriate now?"

Wang Tingxiang was stunned when he heard this, His Majesty asked what this meant, did he want to test his relationship with Wang Yue?

"Admiral Dongchang is served by a person from the inner court, this matter is a rule set by Emperor Taizong, there is nothing suitable or inappropriate, but the minister thinks that the prince is not bad."

After thinking about it, he decided to answer truthfully.

Zheng De didn't say anything more, and asked people to bring pen and ink inkstones and Huang Aya to Wang Tingxiang, and said, "You now write this holy decree for all localities to report and expose the eunuchs guarding the town and guard the tyranny in the local area, and then hand it over to the Ministry of Rites to transcribe Huang and send it to all places." ”

Wang Tingxiang nodded, took it and picked up the pen and wrote.

"As for the thorough investigation of the eunuchs, I will be in charge of Tu Xun, the left attendant of the Criminal Department, and Wang Yue will be responsible for co-organizing, and you will issue my order together."

Zuo Shilang Tu Xun, an official with A-level ability, is also Zheng De's most optimistic candidate for the future secretary of the Criminal Department.

This matter was handed over to him, and it was also the first step for him to make up his mind to cultivate his cronies well.