Under the system of the feudal dynasty, the emperor is the most dangerous profession. There is no escape route. This is the obligation to control the power of life and death in the world. Unlike civil servants and military generals, unless they make policy mistakes, they will generally not die.

of.

Except for emperors who are greedy for pleasure such as faint emperors and mediocre emperors, if they want to govern the world well and perform their duties as emperors well, they need to be proficient in knowledge in various fields, strengthen their own way of governing the country, and start fighting around this core.

"Your Majesty!" Bi Ziyan looked slightly excited, holding the imperial hut, and exclaimed in the courtroom: "Please forgive me for my sin, I have something to say!"

When Han Zanzhou finished reading out the decree in his hand, Bi Ziyan couldn't bear the surprise in his heart. Under the gaze of the ministers, he almost ran to the court and knelt down to Emperor Chongzhen.

What crime can you be guilty of?

You are guilty if you don't come out.

Emperor Chongzhen, whose expression showed no signs of joy, looked at the emotional Bi Ziyan, but secretly said in his heart, if you don't come out to divert attention, some of the rewards will inevitably be messed up.

"Bi Qing, what's the matter?" Emperor Chongzhen, who pretended to be confused, stretched out his hand and said: "Bi Qing, no courtesy, if you have anything to say, just stand up and say it."

Bi Ziyan did not stand up, but instead took the imperial scepter and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "It is the duty of your Majesty and the imperial court to reward people who have made meritorious service to our country.

However, I would like to ask for advice. I hope that Your Majesty will remember the foundation of the country and postpone the distribution of reward money and food, or allocate the reward money and food in batches. The national treasury cannot provide so much money and food at the same time!"

As the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Bi Ziyan knew the current situation of the treasury better than any other minister in the court. Based on the reward decree read out by Cao Huachun and others, Bi Ziyan made a rough calculation in his mind and concluded that at least one hundred yuan should be allocated.

Five hundred thousand taels of silver, where did the Ministry of Revenue come from?

At this time, the ministers looking at Bi Ziyan, many of them were attracted by Bi Ziyan's words, which also made some ministers start to worry about Bi Ziyan.

"Bi Qing gets up first."

Emperor Chongzhen's expression remained unchanged and he said: "The money and food awarded to meritorious people cannot be less than one tael of silver. It's not that I care about the face of the country, but in fact, these money and food rewards are what they deserve.

In this battle, in order to repel the Japanese invaders, how many able-bodied and brave men did we, the Ming Dynasty, die in the battle? How many were maimed? If we don’t give it to them, how will they miss me in their hearts? How will they miss the imperial court?”

"His Majesty……"

Bi Ziyan looked worried, looked at Emperor Chongzhen and said: "I... know that Your Majesty has a benevolent heart, and I don't want to chill the hearts of these heroes and soldiers who have made great contributions to the country.

But...but the treasury really can't come up with that much money..."

What Bi Ziyan said, how could Emperor Chongzhen not understand that the current financial balance of the Ming Dynasty was out of balance, and he was living a life of demolishing the east wall to make up for the west wall.

Often, before the previous hole has been filled, a new hole will burst out. This does not include the ripples caused by the corruption of officials in the Ming Dynasty due to the influence of party struggles.

In this context, the three major salaries assessed by the Ming Dynasty continued to increase, and local exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes also increased. Without exception, these were all passed on to the people at the bottom, thereby further intensifying class conflicts, making land annexation increasingly serious, and the foundation of the Ming Dynasty was undermined.

Keep digging.

While thinking about this, Emperor Chongzhen observed the ministers in the court. Through the changes in their expressions, he could clearly see that many ministers' attention was diverted by what Bi Ziyan said, and instead they were rewarded.

Personnel, no special concern.

If only paying one or two million taels of silver can be exchanged for his own political goals and not being questioned by the ministers in the court, then Emperor Chongzhen is willing to pay this amount of money.

Isn't it just for this moment that we established the Da Nei Xing Factory and the Xi Ji Shi Factory, ordered them to purge the imperial village owned by the imperial court, dig out the gang of thieves, and ransack their homes?

When he saw that some ministers also wanted to leave the court to persuade him, Emperor Chongzhen felt that the time was almost up and said: "Since the treasury cannot be used, let's allocate funds from internal funds."

Bi Ziyan was stunned.

The ministers who wanted to stand up and advise were all stunned.

The cabinet ministers headed by Han Xu, the military minister headed by Wang Qia, the ministers of the Yuanbu Temple headed by Liu Zongzhou, and other ministers were all stunned, and many of them looked incredulous.

All this money was allocated from internal funds?

Under everyone's astonished and disbelieving gaze, Emperor Chongzhen continued: "This time the imperial dynasty was invaded by the Jianlu, although it was caused by mediocrity, but this time we fought against the Jianlu, after all, we displayed the majesty of the Ming Dynasty.

.

We must not chill the hearts of the heroes and soldiers who have made great achievements in the war. I also know the difficulties of the Ministry of Finance. The treasury cannot make mistakes, as this will affect the stability of the country.

When the Inner Factory and the Western Factory have finished renovating the Imperial Mansion, the reward money and food allocated by the inner court will be handled by the Xiji Service Factory, and will be distributed to every meritorious official, soldier and family member.

Okay, let’s continue reading the decree.”

After listening to the emperor's words, many people woke up. Didn't the inner factory and the west factory, which they had previously focused on, join forces to purge the imperial village?

I'm afraid that during the purge of Huangzhuang, the inner and west factories copied a lot of money, which will be put into the internal funds. If this is the case, then they really don't have to worry about the reward of money and food.

But after this incident, how could they advise the emperor not to reuse the factory guards? After all, the Xiji Factory was involved in the reward of money and food, and this would not be over for a while.

Seeing the changes in the demeanor of the ministers, Emperor Chongzhen was in a good mood. Through Bi Ziyan standing up to persuade him, he achieved several political goals.

One person planned some arrangements that were hidden and were not noticed by the court officials, and then he opposed them at the court meeting and acted as a wrangler.

One is to establish a firm foothold for Da Mingxing Factory and Xiji Factory, and also lay the groundwork accordingly.

The money and food rewarded this time were all distributed by the Xiji Service Factory with full authority, without going through the hands of officials and generals at all levels. This is called the phenomenon of upper and lower hands, and there is no use for it.

If the Xiji Service Factory does a good job this time and there are no mistakes, then Emperor Chongzhen will gradually clarify the mechanism and send the Xiji Service Factory to supervise the distribution throughout the entire process.

During this period, if there is any scandal of embezzlement of food and salary, the Xichang factory manager and internal officials in charge of the batch will be killed.

Of course, this matter needs to be gradually improved. We will first focus on Liaodong, Ji Miyong Sanxie and other places for the time being. After achieving corresponding results, we will extend it to the important towns of Jiubian. As long as this matter can be done well, whether it will be extended to the southern provinces, Chongzhen

The emperor wouldn't care too much.

After all, if we control the distribution of food and salary to the border towns in the north and the provinces and ensure that the soldiers at the bottom can actually receive their food and salary, then the situation will not collapse in a bad direction.

Emperor Chongzhen is playing a big game, so you have to be patient enough to do these things little by little. As for what other things will happen during the period, just deal with them little by little.

"The emperor is destined to be transported by heaven, and the edict says:..."

While the ministers were still digesting what Emperor Chongzhen said, Li Fengxiang stepped forward and read out the decree.

This decree was about benevolently supporting widows and orphans, ordering some of the meritorious officers to take up posts in the guard posts under the rule of Northern Zhili, dismissing the guards' officers, selecting the relatives of those who died in battle to replenish the brave guard camp and the loyal army, and erecting a monument to the heroes of the Ming Dynasty.

The ministers inside and outside the palace were highly focused, especially on the third and fourth items. Many ministers had doubts.

There are already three major battalions in Gyeonggi Province. Now we want to expand the Yongwei Camp and the Zhongyong Army. Isn’t this a waste of money and money?

The more important thing is the Yongwei Camp. The Zhongyong Army is not affiliated with the Ministry of War. The former belongs directly to the emperor, and the latter belongs directly to the nine admirals. If it is expanded, won’t the emperor’s military power increase?

Doesn’t the corresponding imperial power also increase?

There is also an expanded loyal and brave army. Shouldn’t the money and food needed be called upon by the Ministry of War?

As for the Monument to the Martyrs of the Ming Dynasty, in the eyes of many ministers, it is even more unbelievable. The dynasty has spent a lot of money to reward them. How can a bunch of Qiu Ba build a monument outside Chengtian Gate?!

The political ecology involving the "gentlemen and nobles while the military is humble" made many ministers become excited. After Li Fengxiang finished reading the decree, many of them jumped out.

"I am informing Your Majesty that the expansion of the Yongwei Camp and the Zhongyong Army is really superfluous in my opinion. The country already has three major battalions to defend the capital, and there is no need to do such things. If Your Majesty has mercy on the relatives of those soldiers who died in the battle,

, they can be given priority to join the army in Jimiyong Sanxie and other places."

"Your Majesty, I feel that it is too much for the nine admirals to be in charge of the defense of the capital, to lead each of the gates, and then to take charge of the Zhongyong Army. I request an order to disband the Zhongyong Army and organize the officers and men under them into three major battalions."

"Your Majesty, since our country has rewarded the soldiers who died in battle, there is no need to waste money and people by erecting the so-called Ming Dynasty Heroes Monument outside Chengtianmen. This matter has no precedent in our Ming Dynasty, and Chengtianmen is the imperial city.

Important land, including the Sheji Altar and the Imperial Ancestral Temple, how can they be disturbed!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

Dozens of excited ministers ran out of court holding imperial huts and bowed to Emperor Chongzhen one after another, admonishing him and opposing what they did not want to see.

Not to mention the changes in the expressions of ministers such as Han Xu, Li Biao, and Zhou Yanru, and what they were thinking in their hearts, military ministers Wang Qia, Li Banghua, and the nine-door admiral Sun Zushou had solemn expressions on their faces, because

The things that the courtiers advised against affected them.

Emperor Chongzhen, who was sitting on the Dragon Throne, had no expression of joy or sorrow. He stared at the excited ministers in front of him and raised the corners of his mouth slightly. The climax of this great court meeting had arrived as scheduled. This matter had been decided by himself.

Being able to achieve the political goals he seeks will not only dampen the arrogance of civil servants, but also lay a solid foundation for his subsequent plans. Therefore, he must not make any concessions. It is related to the consolidation of imperial power. What if he takes a step back?
Chapter completed!