With the start of the war machine of the Ming Dynasty, from the south to the north, from the south to the north to the north to the Gyeonggi generation, all the incumbent eunuchs were running for the war preparations in Liaodong.

The newly established Special Military Department was even busier, with several cabinet ministers barely touching the ground and barely having time to eat a few bites of food.

Fortunately, the Emperor of the Apocalypse took into account the age of Ye Xianggao and Sun Chengzong, so he specially ordered someone to expand the house opposite Wenyuan Pavilion, clean up a few rooms that can be used for temporary rest, and at the same time let the imperial dining room add an extra meal prepared for the emperor every day to the military department, so as to show the emperor's thoughtfulness and courtiers.

In the military hall adjacent to Wenyuan Pavilion.

Wang Qi is gathering several members to discuss important matters.

"There are enough soldiers in Liaodong, and there is no need to recruit them temporarily, and now the question is, when will the salary and silver be gathered," Wang Qi sat at the top, and Ye Xianggao, Sun Chengzong, Xu Guangqi, and Lu Yu were listed below.

"There is still a part of the balance of the Yamen of the Ministry of Household from the previous year, and the remaining part needs the salt tax of Zhejiang Province, and the silver of the river can only be made up after it arrives," Xu Guangqi has also taken on the errand of the Ministry of Households, and has been raising silver for the war in Liaodong with Lu Yu in the past few days.

"Now only Shandong and Henan have paid the silver tax on time, and the Shanxi region still needs the imperial court to help because of the severe drought, so it is really impossible to pay the silver. In addition, because of the poor spring grain harvest in Huguang and other places this year, there is no extra money to supplement the payment," Lu Yu frowned, and also added: "As for Jiangsu, the local officials are all complaining about hardship and poverty, and none of them can actually hand over the money." ”

On the other side, Sun Chengzong looked at Lu Yu, slapped the table and said angrily: "I owe the imperial court three years of commercial tax silver, they have always exchanged money for grain, or used cotton brocade to deduct taxes, during the period of loss, how much silver was missed, can it stand up to investigation?" If you dare to delay now, it's really deadly! ”

The provinces in the south of the Yangtze River have always been rich and rich, but the taxation of the imperial court can be delayed, and they can be avoided.

There's no way, who let the Jiangnan area have more officials?

There are many dedications, tricks, concealments, and fake officials.

Merchants mostly attached themselves to the eunuchs, the gentry spoke for the landlords, the south of the Yangtze River was full of beautiful scenery, wind and snow, and the court's finance and taxation were stretched thin, and the use was missing.

"Now is not the time to rectify the financial and tax problems in Jiangnan, let's pass the Liaodong pass first," Wang Qi put down the fold in his hand and looked at several colleagues in the palace: "The imperial court has no money, so it can only borrow from the people!" ”

Borrowing money from the private sector?

Ye Xianggao was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously said: "Under the whole world, if it is not the king's land, how can it."

But halfway through speaking, Ye Xianggao took the initiative to close his mouth, because he had already realized that if it was really not the king's land, would the imperial court still be short of money?

"What does Lang Guogong mean is that the quota of local low-level officials is liberalized?" Sun Chengzong tentatively spoke.

And it was already very deliberate, and it was not directly used to sell the official beard.

"It's not about buying and selling official quotas," Wang Qi shook his head: "This kind of thing, I don't need to say it, from the south to the north, from the west to the east, where there is no official quota?" Do you need me to speak? Besides, whether the money for buying and selling official quotas can reach the hands of the imperial court is another matter! ”

Hiss.

If you don't sell your official beard, then what will you use to attract those rich businessmen and gentry to pay for the imperial court?

"After the pacification of Liaodong, the imperial court will set up a special trade port, Horqin, Liaodong, Japan, and North Korea trade materials, without the permission of the imperial court, private trafficking is strictly prohibited, and at the same time strengthen the sea ban and southeast trade control, and also strictly prohibit trade between private individuals and Jiaozhi countries, once investigated, a hundred times the fine!" Wang Qi glanced at everyone and sneered: "Of course, if the officials, businessmen, and gentry are willing to accept silk in advance, then the imperial court will issue franchise licenses, and will also encourage merchants to go to countries other than the Ming Dynasty to conduct business and trade, as long as it brings benefits and advanced technology to the Ming Dynasty, we will welcome it!" Moreover, after the pacification of Liaodong, it is also necessary to increase immigration and support, if there are gentry and businessmen to join, then the imperial court only needs to be introduced, and the effect of chaos can be achieved, why not? ”

In exchange for the franchise, the merchant will receive silk.

This method is similar to the salt introduction system, but it seems to be a little different.

Everyone in the palace was pondering Wang Qi's words, especially his last few sentences: Encouraging merchants to go to countries other than the Ming Dynasty for trade.

This. Isn't it necessary to open up the sea ban?

"Before this matter is reported to His Majesty, several of us need to speak in a unified voice," Wang Qi picked up the teacup and sipped it lightly: "What do you think?" ”

Rong Laochen asked, "Sun Chengzong spoke first: "If the business affairs of the four seas are opened, then all the people do not think about production, and they all do business, grab the wealth of pleasure, and the affairs of the world, isn't it bad?" ”

"The bad thing in the world is not that the people don't think about production, but that the bad thing is that the court doesn't want to make progress and change," Wang Qi retorted unceremoniously: "Lord Sun, as representatives of the people, we must not be paranoid at one end, or sacrifice the basics." ”

Wang Qi's words really didn't give Sun Chengzong the slightest face, Rao is this well-educated Confucian has a gentle temper, and his face is still red.

However, as far as matters are concerned, several people in the hall also know Wang Qi's temperament, and there is nothing else to do.

"If you really open up the business affairs of the four seas, there will be a lot of things to be done in the follow-up control of the imperial court," Xu Guangqi was very easy to accept Wang Qi's suggestion, after all, he himself had many exchanges with Western missionaries, and he also discussed the policy of Yiren Guodu, and now it seems that he has some expectations.

"Let's take Liaodong as a pilot first, but we can do it at once," Lu Yu also agreed: "After all, Liaodi is occupied by all directions, and the population is mixed. ”

Wang Qi's gaze finally fell on Ye Xianggao: "Lord Ye, what do you think?" ”

"Should this matter be referred to the cabinet for further discussion?" Ye Xianggao always felt that there was something wrong, how to do a good special military department, an agency specializing in military affairs in Liaodong, in a blink of an eye, under the guidance of Wang Qi, it became a department that designated national policies.

This made the cabinet chief assistant Ye Xianggao a little uneasy.

"Liaodong affairs, there is no need to go through the cabinet deliberation," Wang Qi directly rejected Ye Xianggao's suggestion: "In the afternoon, I will enter the palace to face the saint, and report this matter directly to the saint, and then you can be present at that time." ”

"Okay, the affairs of the military department and the household yamen, we will meet again tomorrow, and we will disperse today."

"Obey the orders of the Duke of Lang"

Except for Ye Xianggao, the other three people all stood up and bowed.

After a while, the rest of the people dispersed, leaving only Wang Qi and Ye Xianggao in the house.

"Lord Ye has something to say?" Wang Qi had a good time, as if he had been prepared.

"Grandpa Guo, there is a sentence, I don't know if to say it?" Ye Xianggao pondered for a long time before he spoke.

"But it doesn't hurt to say it," Wang Qi nodded.

"The southeast region has always been forbidden by Donglin," Ye Xianggao paid attention to Wang Qi's expression and said, "If this move causes Donglin to counterattack."

"Autumn queen grasshoppers, they dare to speak against it," Wang Qi sneered: "Are those fans of the celebrant eating dry rice?" ”

Forehead.

As if shocked by Wang Qi's answer, Ye Xianggao didn't say a word for a long time, with bitterness in his heart: This Langguo Gong seems to be no longer restrained.

(End of chapter)