"Bai ......" Liu Zhi opened his mouth, because he was an elder, he wanted to call him by his name, but when the words came to his mouth, he changed his words: "Lord Bai still owes the top ten merchant gangs, more than 40 million taels of silver." However, the top ten merchant gangs still owe more than 5 million taels to Lord Bai, of which 24 million taels are the cash of silver tickets. ”

Liu Zhi said this, saying that Bai Minghe was in arrears, but it also proved in disguise how rich Bai Minghe is now.

The silver ticket will basically not be cashed, because the silver ticket issued by the white crane is divided into three parts, and the least part is only two million taels, which is written on the silver ticket in Guangzhou and Fuzhou. The other has five million taels, which are written in Guangdong and Fujian. The last part accounts for the decoration, which is 17 million taels, and it is written in the Ming Dynasty.

In particular, an inner character has been added, which represents the land of the Ming Dynasty within the coastline.

This kind of silver ticket will never be exchanged into cash silver, because this kind of silver ticket can be withdrawn without damage in any place where there is a white crane silver number in the entire Ming Dynasty, and as much as you want. Even at the moment, there are only four silver horns of Bai Minghe, namely Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Beijing and Jiangnan Silver Horn that is ready to be built. The merchant gang will not honor this kind of silver ticket lightly.

If it is a silver ticket with Guangzhou written on it, then it is necessary to exchange huàn in the capital for seven cents of silver.

If it is written in Guangdong, it will also cost five cents of silver.

There is no need to explain that the merchant gang understands that so much silver is transported from Guangdong to the capital, not to mention the freight on the road, even the safety of ordinary merchants cannot guarantee it.

Therefore, the white crane, a silver ticket that is not damaged in the inland of the Ming Dynasty, is definitely hard currency.

How deep is the draft of the white crane fortune boat can be seen by the merchant gang, this huge fortune boat is a load of nearly 30,000 stones, although the dock of the fortune boat is separated from the public dock, but the silver carts can not hide from everyone, how many horse-drawn carriages with silver have entered the dock. The people of the Shang Gang probably have a number in their hearts.

Bai Chongxi listened all the time, did not interject, and did not express any opinions.

The matter of the white crane is no longer something he can manage, or can express his opinion, even if someone mentions the white crane, he will avoid it as much as possible. He didn't want any of his attitudes to affect his eldest son.

At this time, the white crane had completed the ceremony and entered the palace.

Emperor Ming received Bai Minghe in the Taihe Palace, and there were only two monarchs and ministers in the entire hall except for the eunuchs and forbidden soldiers.

"Bai Minghe, the affairs of Luzon are doing well, I heard that the Luzon chieftain Mo Long came to the capital with you." Emperor Zhu Qiyu of the Ming Dynasty asked, and the white crane knelt down and replied: "The matter of Luzon is just the responsibility of the ministers, Mo Long is now in Tianjin, and there is no long-lived minister who does not dare to let him enter the capital, how to enter the capital." One qiē is in charge of long live! ”

Zhu Qiyu laughed heartily a few times: "Da Cai." ”

"The old slave is here!" Gonggong Cai hurriedly took two steps forward.

Zhu Qiyu instructed: "According to what Bai Minghe said, this little Luzon Mo Long is my retainer, how to do this matter, what to do." You discuss with Cheng for reading to come up with a way, and the Ministry of Rites will also go to ventilate, in short, you can't lose the face of my Ming Dynasty, and you can't lose my face. ”

"The old slave commands."

"White Crane, follow me to the study. There are some things to ask you individually. Zhu Qiyu is very clear. There are many things that can't be said in public, and the things that the white crane did in Nanyang. The things that the hundred officials did in Datong did not know completely, and now it is time for the hundred officials to know, but how many reservations there are still must be a degree.

When Bai Minghe arrived in the south study, it was already time for lunch, and the banquet had already been set up in the side hall of the Qianqing Palace, and Zhu Qiyu motioned for Bai Minghe to sit together. There were only some gossips about humanistic customs in the banquet, and there was no mention of business in half a sentence.

At the banquet, there were really only two monarchs and ministers in the study, as well as the absolutely reliable scribes and eunuchs in the inner palace.

What is special about these eunuchs is that they write well. But not much. Their task is to make records, and every word and deed of the Ming Emperor will be recorded, especially such important monarchs and ministers, which are naturally recorded.

The most special thing in the study room is not the imperial case, but a table in front of it, on which is placed a set of tableware from Jiangxi, as well as Qiu Guanyin tea from Fujian.

The Ming Dynasty was not yet the Qing Dynasty, and the era of treating courtiers as dogs. Zhu Qiyu pointed to the chair on the side: "Sit down, I heard that this tea ceremony was also made by you, and this tea is the same." Today, there are some things that you and I have to open the skylight, and I know that there are some things in your heart that you dare not say, and there are some things that you want to do but dare not do. Speaking of this, Zhu Qiyu turned around and said to the chief eunuch in the study: "Record, today I have a word first, no matter what Bai Minghe says, there is no fault, no mistake, no guilt!" ”

"Yes!" The chief eunuch gave a salute and motioned for two of the four pen-wielding eunuchs to record.

Choosing four people means that two are recorded together, and two comparisons can be less wrong. The four people are divided into two groups, and they are changed every half an hour to ensure that the handwriting is beautiful and people can take a breath.

"Long live, the minister got off the ship from Tianjin to the capital and thought all the way, if he wrote a notebook, it is estimated that he could write a basket, what to talk about first, what to talk about later, and I thought about it for a long time. The minister asked Banzai to arrange a few people who had a good abacus, and the minister calculated three accounts for Banzai. It's just that before the reckoning, long live the minister, no matter what the result of the calculation, please don't be angry. ”

Zhu Qiyu was stunned for a moment, and smiled indifferently: "According to what you play!" ”

Soon, there were two more small tables next to them, and the two eunuchs in charge of calculations had already set up their postures.

"Long live, these three accounts are more terrible than the other, please be prepared in your heart."

"I'll see if your three accounts can shock me and make me angry." Zhu Qiyu was still smiling, took the teacup and sniffed it, and then said softly: "It is said that spring tea is good, who thinks that this autumn tea cotton will have a different flavor, good tea!" ”

Bai Minghe took a deep breath: "Long live, the first account is salt." The Ming Dynasty has a registered population of 11.6 million households, and according to the records of the Ministry of Households, the population is about 85 million. According to the Ministry of Rites, Lord Hu Hu, each person in the Ming Dynasty consumes about five catties of salt per year, plus other uses of salt, the actual consumption of salt in the Ming Dynasty is six million quintals of salt a year. ”

The eunuch who was in charge of the calculations next to him, as well as the eunuch who went to arrange for the file check, began to be busy.

Soon, someone reported: "Long live, what Lord Bai said is not much different, the consumption of salt in a year should be more than six million quintals!" ”

"Hooray, how much of the salt tax of the Ming Dynasty was handed over to the treasury? Last year it was 1,140,000 taels. But a pound of salt sells for 300 wen on the market, and the minister wants to say how much the price difference is. The minister thought it was over 100 million taels. ”

Zhu Qiyu's face twitched, his eyes changed, and he stared viciously at the two eunuchs in charge of the abacus.

The hands of the two eunuchs were trembling, and after finally finishing the calculation, a number was reported: "Wan ......" The eunuch's tone was also trembling, and Zhu Qiyu asked coldly: "Just answer." Whether it is over 100 million! ”

"Yes!"

Zhu Qiyu overturned the tea set in front of him.

The white crane was quick, holding his own cup, and sat there silently. This reaction is like the reaction of young people. Emperor Zhu Qiyu of the Ming Dynasty is only twenty-three or four years old at the moment.

Emperor Ming was angry, really angry.

Bai Minghe remained silent: "The income of a salt farmer from a pound of salt is not as high as the price of a pound of rice." The salt tax is 22 cents per catty, plus the cost of transportation, the cost of a catty of salt is 40 wending, so there are still 260 taels there. There is also a salt introduction of silver is really 1,140,000 taels, but how much is 600 stones, this is more than 10,000 taels short of the state treasury. ”

Zhu Qiyu pointed at the white crane and laughed angrily.

After laughing twice: "Make a note and reward a pair of white-named cranes with dragon pattern jade walls." Clean up the place and rearrange the coffee table. ”

"Long live thanks!"

Zhu Qiyu also reacted at this time, checked the few numbers he knew in his heart, and then let the two eunuchs calculate quickly. It's really as the white crane said. The loss of salt and salt tax alone exceeded 10 million taels. No matter how black-hearted this merchant is, it is impossible to earn five times the difference. So whose pocket does the proceeds fall into?

At this time, Shira-na-sa Crane picked up the notebook from the backpack that had been placed on the ground.

Zhu Qiyu looked at the white crane picking, this kid seems to have prepared more than 20 books. didn't speak, quietly waiting for Bai Minghe to pick out the four books.

"Long live, the minister's petition for sin, as well as the salt tax reform transcript jointly signed with Lord Yu and Lord Hu, and a copy called Yanglian Yin. and a request for military administration of salt. ”

Zhu Qiyu took the notebook and did not let the eunuch change hands again.

After quickly flipping through it, Bai Minghe first admitted that the Bai family in Guanzhong had a problem with the salt tax, which included the cost of bribing officials. The Bai family accepted the punishment, and Bai Minghe donated all the proceeds of the match workshop on behalf of the Bai family. The Bai family offered another 10,000 quintals of winter storage cabbage.

This matter is too small, the match shop and the Bai family's plea are all trivial matters, and Zhu Qiyu cares about it at all.

After reading the last three books, especially this incorruptible silver, Zhu Qiyu gently put down the notebook and looked at Bai Minghe: "Your notebook has written the annual income of a magistrate, as well as the minimum annual expenditure, it seems that it is not enough to support a magistrate." ”

"Long live, this is the minister's request to Dongchang to investigate the income and expenditure of my Ming Military Department Shangshu Yu in the past year."

The white crane produced another notebook.

Yu Qian is a high-ranking official, he is a second grade, the prince is a young protector, and there are many rewards.

But what does Yu Qian eat, what does he live in, what does he wear, and what is the treatment of his family? really gave Yu Qian a big house, Yu Qian was afraid that most of the house would be deserted. Yu Qian is a real clean official, dedicated to the public. His little money was barely enough to make ends meet.

"The important minister of the country, the pillar of the country. This is my mistake! Zhu Qiyu knew what kind of person Yu Qian was, Yu Qian's life made him feel cold, such an important minister didn't even have a piece of brocade clothes and food.

"Long live, Yulu was set by the ancestors. But raising incorruptible silver is long live......" Bai Minghe continued to persuade, Zhu Qiyu waved his hand to signal Bai Minghe to say no more: "Record, I mean that in addition to raising incorruptible silver, add a meritorious silver." The amount of silver raised is planned by the cabinet, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Officials, and the Ministry of Households. ”

After giving the order, Zhu Qiyu looked at Bai Minghe: "Bai Minghe, you are very good." With this amount of honest silver, I can return the Ming officialdom to a clear and honest government, and treat corruption seriously. ”

"Long live the wise!" Bai Minghe shook his robe and kowtowed immediately.

Wise? Zhu Qiyu looked at Bai Minghe, and he no longer praised Bai Minghe in his heart, but vaguely admired him. (To be continued......)

PS: Four watches, thank you for the guaranteed monthly pass. Thank you, thank you.