Seeing that the emperor said such a heart-wrenching remark, everyone present became more and more frightened, and a trace of remorse flashed in their hearts.

Immediately, Jiajing came to Yan Song, looked at him condescendingly, and said slowly.

"Yan Song, as the first assistant of the cabinet, do you know about this?"

"Your Majesty, Weichen doesn't know anything about this matter!"

Seeing the emperor walking in front of him, the look on Yan Song's face became even more panicked, and he saw that there were large drops of sweat rolling down his forehead.

After listening to Yan Song's explanation, Jiajing didn't mean to care, and then paced leisurely and returned to the dragon chair to sit down.

"Do you remember how much salt tax the imperial court collected last year?"

After Jiajing finished speaking, he didn't wait for everyone to answer, and said to himself.

"That's right, less than one million two hundred thousand taels of silver."

After Jiajing finished speaking, he deliberately paused for a moment, and after pouring himself a cup of hot tea, he continued.

"Hmph, I think that in the Ming Dynasty, there are two capitals and thirteen provinces, and I only collected less than 1.2 million taels of salt tax! It's ironic. ”

"According to the confession of the group of salt merchants in Jiangxi, every year when the imperial court sends people to collect salt tax, they will pay an extra part, and the extra part will be as little as five or six million taels and as much as six or seven million taels!"

"Last year, the imperial court collected less than 1.2 million taels of silver, and the part of the salt merchants alone that was overpaid was 5 million taels."

"Therefore, I would like to ask you, where has this part of the silver gone?"

After Jiajing finished speaking, his expression was quite calm, and he swept his gaze over everyone present.

And at this moment, everyone knelt on the ground tremblingly, and no one dared to answer the emperor's question.

"You damn worms, are you digging up the roots of my Ming Dynasty, do you know?"

"Also, is this canal in my Ming Dynasty built for you?"

"My money!"

Jiajing said, picked up the teacup on the side, and smashed it at Yan Song's location.

Listening to the crisp sound of 'bang', the teacup shattered beside Yan Song, turning into countless ceramic fragments, and the tea in the cup was sprinkled on the ground like this, and it was still a little hot.

Everyone present was frightened by the emperor's sudden move.

Especially Yan Song, at this moment, his brain was down, his whole face was pale, trembling, and he was stunned in place.

"Please calm your majesty's anger!"

Seeing this situation, Lu Fang on the side hurriedly comforted.

"Please calm your majesty's anger!"

After Lu Fang, the remaining few people also followed closely to persuade them.

I saw Jiajing rubbing the dragon head carved on the dragon chair, and with a kind of contemptive gaze, he glanced at everyone again and commanded.

"When this cabinet meeting is over, you must come up with an explanation for me!"

"Otherwise, you just wait for the brocade guard to come to the door."

"Do you get it?"

Seeing that the emperor has given an ultimatum, everyone present still doesn't understand, if they don't follow what the emperor said, at the latest tonight, everyone will have to finish playing together!

"Obey Your Majesty's orders, we will definitely find out the specific reason and recover all the stolen silver!"

Xu Jie looked at Yan Song, who had fallen into a stupor, then gritted his teeth, stood up, and promised Jiajing.

"Well, yes, since Elder Xu Ge is willing to make this promise, then I will wait for your good news."

"Sit, sit."

After Jiajing received Xu Jie's assurance, the whole person instantly calmed down, with a warm smile on his face, and said to everyone, as if the previous storm did not exist.

The emperor's face changed so quickly, which made everyone present have a sense of unreality, and then they were even more afraid of Jiajing in their hearts.

"Yan Song, what are you doing there? Give me back to your place and sit down. ”

Jiajing saw that Yan Song was still stunned, and couldn't help frowning, so he said.

"Wechen obeys!"

It was only at this moment that Yan Song reacted, and after saluting Jiajing tremblingly, he returned to his position and sat down.

Immediately, only listening to the sound of 'ding', Jiajing knocked on the jade pan on the side, and this also means that the cabinet meeting has officially begun!

Soon after the sound of the jade pan sounded, Gao Gong immediately stood up and asked Jiajing.

"Your Majesty, since the last time the Department of Maritime Trade released the news that the first batch of certificates for going to sea will be auctioned, now, a large number of wealthy businessmen have gathered in the capital!"

"Therefore, Weichen implores Your Majesty to organize an auction led by the government at that time, and auction off the first batch of thirty certificates for going to sea."

"In this way, it can increase the income of at least six million taels for the imperial court."

After listening to Gao Gong's proposal, Jiajing waved his hand and responded.

"Well, I'm right, your maritime trade division will take care of it yourself."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Gao Gong saw that Jiajing agreed to his proposal, and his face couldn't hide the excitement, which meant that the Maritime Trade Division under his jurisdiction was finally useful.

When Jiajing saw that Gao Gong proposed that this auction of the sea voucher would bring at least six million taels of income to the imperial court, he looked at Xu Jie and asked.

"By the way, how is the expansion of the treasury going so far?"

Xu Jie saw that the emperor asked him about the progress of the expansion of the treasury, and immediately made up his mind.

"Your Majesty, the treasury has been basically expanded, and it will soon be officially put into use."

After listening to Xu Jie's answer, Jiajing also nodded and encouraged.

"Well, well done, there is still a batch of silver to be filled into the treasury next, you ask the people over there to prepare in advance!"

"Dare to ask Your Majesty, what is the approximate amount of the next batch of silver? Wechen is also good to prepare in advance. ”

Seeing this, Xu Jie, after hesitating for a moment, asked Jiajing.

"It seems to be 50 million taels!"

After recalling for a while, Jiajing gave the answer.

"What? Fifty million taels! ”

After learning this specific number from the emperor's mouth, everyone present couldn't help but gasp, and then exclaimed in surprise.

And Jiajing seemed to see what everyone was thinking, and then explained.

"These 50 million taels of silver were all copied by Hu Zongxian from the homes of those salt merchants."

"I have to say, this group of salt merchants is really rich!"

When Jiajing said this, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

At this moment, Xu Jie, who was on the side, was still thinking in his mind, counting 50 million taels of silver, and the number of people needed!

As the head of the household, it is very clear how much silver he currently has in the treasury.

As early as before, the silver taels stored in the treasury had to be counted in billions, plus the 50 million taels of silver that were about to be sent to the treasury, the silver taels currently stored in the treasury have exceeded 200 million!

And this is equivalent to the Ming Dynasty, almost ten years of taxes!

"Do you know what these salt merchants relied on to amass such a huge fortune?"

Jiajing then turned his gaze to everyone and asked.

"Your Majesty, according to Wei Chen, most of these salt merchants have accumulated such a huge fortune by selling illicit salt and reselling salt."

"And all of this is based on the law of opening the middle of the court at the beginning!"

"In order to save money, the imperial court asked these merchants to transport military rations, horses and other materials to more remote areas to ensure the smooth supply of materials."

"And the imperial court provides salt for them according to the amount of materials they transport, and this is also the foundation of the rise of this group of salt merchants!"

Seeing that the emperor mentioned this aspect, Yan Song, who had been silent, immediately stood up and gave his own answer.

(End of chapter)