Chapter 490 A pair of difficult monarchs and ministers
"We obviously won, why is it so difficult!" Zhu Ying scratched her head, very confused.
Jia Lu was not surprised at all, and he even experienced it more.
"It's the same to build a river, it's the same treasure. It's the same people, it's the same money. We can't change the court, God will bring blessings, the embankment will be solid without repairing, and the grain will be there without planting? In the end, our Ming Dynasty and the
The difference in Ni Yuan is nothing more than the hearts of the people in charge above. That’s why I say that having Zhang Xiang here is a blessing to all people.”
Zhu Ying rolled her eyelids and suddenly said: "Then you always think that my godfather doesn't have this heart anymore?"
Jia Lu was helpless, "How can I dare to criticize the emperor? I mean, even if His Majesty has this intention, he may not be able to have a safe solution to the situation in front of him."
Zhu Ying thought about it seriously and chuckled: "I think you may have guessed wrong. My godfather can't think of a safe way, but he can always think of a way. Just wait and see if you don't believe me!"
…
Does Zhu Yuanzhang really have any solution?
"Hu Weiyong, you asked us to imitate the Qin State and trap and kill prisoners... If we do this, wouldn't our reputation be ruined? Do you want to frame your father for injustice?"
Hu Weiyong was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down and said with sincerity and fear, "Your Majesty, I will never dare to have such rebellious thoughts. If I really dare to frame your father, I will have my body cut into pieces by five horses, and I will be struck by lightning. I will die a happy death!"
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted lightly, "There's no need to swear or make a wish. God is so busy. Even if you chop a hundred people a day, you won't be able to chop down all the unjust villains... If you have any detailed plans, you can only tell us. Let's listen carefully."
"
Hu Weiyong was frightened, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and then said: "Your Majesty, there are so many prisoners now, and the food consumed every day is not a small amount, and it has to be allocated from the army. But the army's food is also limited. We just won a big victory, and there are no rewards."
It doesn't make sense to ask the soldiers to scrimp on food and clothing and feed the captives. It doesn't make sense either emotionally or rationally."
Zhu Yuanzhang had a gloomy face and said nothing. How could he know about this?
"Go on and let us listen carefully."
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang like this, Hu Weiyong relaxed slightly, and then said: "The superiors, the Yuan soldiers harmed the people, killing without accounting. The people of the Central Plains are not alive. Such a big blood feud must be avenged. I feel that I can use it in the name of revenge.
Kill and get rid of this scourge!"
"Kill?"
"Yes! I do mean that. As long as they kill innocent people indiscriminately, they deserve what they deserve. No one will question the superiors. On the contrary, they will say that the superiors are wise and eliminate harm for the people!"
As Hu Weiyong spoke, he observed his words and expressions, hoping to see something on Lao Zhu's face.
But Zhu Yuanzhang's face was solemn, like a piece of pig iron, and he did not give Hu Weiyong a chance... After pondering for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Hu Weiyong, if he wants to kill the generals of the Yuan Dynasty and get rid of those who are officials for the sake of the people, it is excusable.
You told us that you want to kill more than 200,000 people, but you think no one understands what's going on? You underestimate the wisdom of the people in the world. Are you the only one who is smart and everyone is a fool? "
"I, I don't mean this, please give me a clear warning!" Hu Weiyong knelt on the ground again, trembling all over and sweating profusely.
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly: "I'm telling you, this won't work! This time, there are Mongolian soldiers guarding Shaanxi Province, and there are Mongolian soldiers marching to Baixingkou... In order to march into the Central Plains, we also have Timur first, and there are many more
Mongolian wealthy businessmen, they all contributed money and did their best for the country! Among the prisoners, there are indeed guilty ones, so naturally we will not let them go, but if we want to kill innocent people indiscriminately and kill 200,000 people, these million have already been
What to do with the returning Mongols? Have they all been killed?"
Hu Weiyong was frightened and hurriedly said: "I, I was confused for a moment and didn't think clearly. Please forgive me! I, I really have a good intention, but I didn't think so deeply!"
As he spoke, he kowtowed.
Zhu Yuanzhang watched silently, with a sneer on his face. This man has a vicious heart and will do anything to the extreme. He is indeed a poisonous person!
A few years ago, if Zhu Yuanzhang didn't bother to look at him, he would probably kill him directly.
But after sitting on the Dragon Throne and thinking more, I understood.
For example, right now, it is almost a dead situation, and it is impossible to break it with ordinary methods... Even if Lao Zhu kills 200,000 prisoners, he won't be able to do it.
Then the only option is to think of other ideas.
"Hu Weiyong, what do you think about moving the rich families to the southeast and letting them enrich the Central Plains?"
Hu Weiyong was slightly startled. He didn't quite understand, so he was stunned.
Zhu Yuanzhang continued: "We are not that unreasonable. We are still willing to be lenient to those who take the initiative to lend money to the court and allow them to pay the money to protect their families. As for those who have not borrowed money, they are not of the same mind as the court."
, of course you don’t have to be polite, just be drastic and relocate a lot. Hu Weiyong, do you think what we are saying makes sense?”
Hu Weiyong's mind was spinning rapidly, and he finally understood what Zhu Yuanzhang meant.
"Are you saying that you want wealthy businessmen to take the initiative to forgive their debts and stop forcing the court?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's face sank and he said angrily: "What do you mean they should forgive the debts of the imperial court? We are asking them to use money to pay for their lives and the safety of their people. Don't you understand?"
"I understand, I understand!" Hu Weiyong agreed hastily, but his heart was pounding, what a ruthless Zhu Yuanzhang!
Two hundred thousand prisoners cannot be killed, but thousands of wealthy households can still be killed.
By relocating and raiding your home, not only can you get rid of your debts, but you can also make a fortune, restore the Central Plains, and make money.
As for whether it is reasonable or not, Zhu Yuanzhang also has his own set of considerations.
"Hu Weiyong, aren't you in charge of the tax department? You must be very familiar with the situation of these large households. I ask you to handle this matter, can you handle it satisfactorily and appropriately?"
Hu Weiyong was dumbfounded... What does perfection mean?
After ransacking homes and arresting people, do you still want them to be grateful?
I really can’t do this!
Seeing him pondering, Zhu Yuanzhang actually sneered slightly, "I asked you to kill two hundred thousand prisoners, but you didn't hesitate. When I asked you to deal with a big family, you hesitated. Hu Weiyong, are you colluding with the big family?"
Hu Weiyong didn't know how many times he broke out in sweat. These words were too heartbreaking.
"Your Majesty, I don't dare to collude with big businesses, but I think if I do this, will it shake the foundation of the country?"
"Absurd!" Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly: "The foundation of the Ming Dynasty is the common people! It's not just a few merchants and wealthy households. We ask you to do this, just to ensure that the people in the southeast are not disturbed, and the people in the Central Plains are enriched. We have to balance the two dilemmas.
I’ll reward you with a chance to take part in political affairs!”
At present, Ming Dynasty still participates in politics in two ways. If Hu Weiyong can be promoted one step higher, there is no doubt that he will reach the sky in one step.
But is this step easy to take?
That requires doing the emperor's dirty work.
Dealing with the big players in the southeast was the task given to him by Lao Zhu, and it was also a test for him.
Hu Weiyong knew very well that if he dared to refuse, he would be killed immediately.
After all, 200,000 prisoners cannot be killed, and hundreds of large households have to hesitate, but Hu Weiyong is no more than an ant, so there is no need to hesitate!
"I, I am willing!" Hu Weiyong gritted his teeth and said: "If you are in charge, I will definitely do things well. However, I have little qualifications and do not dare to expect to participate in high-level political positions. I only hope that the superior can give me more opportunities to practice, so that I can give you the chance to become a leader."
When you do something, I will do it with joy!"
I don’t want to be an official anymore, just let me do the dirty work for you from now on.
Hu Weiyong found his position easily, and Zhu Yuanzhang had a slight smile on his face, which seemed to indicate that he recognized Hu Weiyong's statement and accepted this vicious dog.
But at this moment, Zhang Ximeng hurried over.
Compared with his cold attitude towards Hu Weiyong, his attitude towards Zhang Ximeng was much better, with a smile on his face. Zhu Yuanzhang even picked up the teapot himself and poured tea for Zhang Ximeng.
Something is wrong!
Even if you prefer Zhang Ximeng, you should not look like you are trying to please him. Where is the majesty of the emperor?
Hu Weiyong was greatly shocked, but he did not dare to say anything more.
Zhang Ximeng pondered for a moment and guessed what was going on. He stopped talking nonsense and said directly: "My lord, Zhu Ying brought back a sum of money from Lingnan, which should be enough to pay the interest. I am thinking that I can sell a batch of bonds again...
...just borrow money from merchants.”
"You still want to borrow money?" Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed strangely: "There is nothing we can do about borrowing money for the Northern Expedition. Now that the Northern Expedition has won and the Central Plains has been liberated, we are still asked to borrow money! We, after we become emperor, we have to be controlled by others?"
Zhang Ximeng knew that Zhu Yuanzhang would say this, so he said: "My lord, this time I borrowed new debt to repay the old debt. The name is the Central Plains Renaissance Bond. In the final analysis, this is taking money from businessmen to help the court do things. This is a good thing!"
"
"We didn't see it!" Zhu Yuanzhang said rudely: "We know that when you borrow money, you have to pay interest. Merchants don't have to do anything, just sit back and enjoy the profits, and let the money make money! We work hard to govern the country, and the people work hard to cultivate the fields.
There is a group of people who get something for nothing! We won’t allow it!”
Zhu Yuanzhang hummed: "We have thought of a way, we are going to move to Haoqiang!"
Zhang Ximeng was slightly startled, and suddenly looked at Hu Weiyong, his eyes like lightning. Hu Weiyong was so frightened that he was trembling all over. How could this look be more scary than Zhu Yuanzhang's?
"Xiang Zhang, lower the official, lower the official..."
Lao Zhu was straightforward and said directly: "This is what we mean, Mr. Zhang, you don't have to blame him."
Zhang Ximeng smiled helplessly, "My lord, this is no one's fault. This can indeed solve the temporary problem. But if the credit of bonds collapses, the treasure banknotes will collapse sooner or later. Once that step is reached, the people who will lose the most are actually the people. They
The treasures kept at home will really turn into waste paper, which goes against His Majesty’s love for the people!”
Lao Zhu was stunned for a while and murmured: "How could it be like this?"
Zhang Ximeng shook his head slightly. He taught Lao Zhu so much, but he didn’t teach him this thing!
"My lord, the accounts can't be calculated like this... As long as we maintain the national debt and treasure banknotes, we can start quantitative easing next year. I can give my lord tens of millions of treasure banknotes, and then I will support my lord in regaining the land of Yanyun.
In the blink of an eye.”
Zhang Ximeng was almost coaxing a child. Lao Zhu frowned and said, "Sir, please don't coax us!"
"How dare you! As long as the merchants can accept the exchange of old debts for new debts, it won't be a big problem."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while and said, "This is not difficult... Hu Weiyong, do you understand? Whatever Mr. Zhang asks you to do, you will do it!"