The people who are most in need of money in this world are obviously not Zhu Di and Zhu Fan, but Zhu Yuanzhang, the head of the family!
It costs money to run schools, it costs money to raise soldiers, it costs money to increase officials.
Even if the sons and daughters get older and get married later, they still have to spend money.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's head exploded and he was at a loss what to do.
However, this case did give Lao Zhu some ideas. How about we search the house in the future?
Cut it every three or two years, just like cutting leeks.
As long as we wield our swords diligently enough, we won't have to worry about running out of money to fill the treasury.
No, Li Shanchang and Mao Xiang came together to meet Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Mr. Li, sit down!"
Zhu Yuanzhang gave Li Shanchang a seat, and it also had a backrest. Not only did it have a backrest, but he also gave him a wolf-skin cushion, for fear that Li Shanchang would freeze, so he was very considerate.
Lao Li burst into tears of gratitude. After thanking him, he immediately reported the situation to Lao Zhu.
"Your superiors, should I speak first to the civil servants or the generals?"
Lao Zhu paused and said helplessly: "Whatever, I'm afraid no one will be greedy!"
Elder Li Shan's face darkened, and he could only say: "Well, let's talk about it from the Yushitai first... Yang Xian promoted and appointed his confidants on a large scale. In the Yushitai, more than 30% of the censors were all his minions.
.They took advantage of the opportunity of patrolling various places to collect money wantonly, and the taxes collected from various places amounted to no less than five million yuan!"
"Absurd! We asked the imperial censor to supervise the officials everywhere, but they actually supervised and robbed themselves, turning them into cowards of the country! It is really abominable! Kill! They all deserve to be killed!" Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily.
Li Shanchang then said: "In the upper position, this is just a means for Yang Xian to be greedy for money. In addition to supervising taxes, the supervisory censor is also responsible for supervising merchants, banknotes and customs cards in various places, and the shipping department. They all send
People’s travel, especially the export of goods, must be approved by the Yushitai, which also makes it easier for them to smuggle!”
Although the Ming Dynasty established a tax department, there was still a lack of local officials. Usually, local officials were responsible for collecting taxes, while Yushitai was responsible for supervision.
As for the Shipping Department, Zhang Ximeng and Zhu Yuanzhang discussed at the beginning that they should ensure the price of goods and not export them casually. Ming merchants competed with each other, wouldn't it mean that outsiders were advantaged?
Logically speaking, this idea is a good one, but someone must implement it.
In addition to the Municipal Shipping Department, there was also the need to ban smuggling and prevent the outflow of finances and taxes... As a result, this matter also fell into the hands of Yushitai.
It is precisely because the Yushitai has the power to control the situation that they got involved with the Navy.
The navy roamed the seas without any restrictions at all, except that goods had to be put into the sea and things brought from outside had to be landed. When the country's gate was blocked by the Yushitai, it was absolutely impossible not to open the door to them.
This is why they came together.
According to Li Shanchang's report, there were more than forty censors from Yang Xian on down who were involved.
In total, they have more than 15 million yuan of money!
The situation on the Navy side is even worse. The two princes, their families, and the generals under their command, including the commander-in-chief, number eight.
More than two thousand people were involved.
It can be said that the entire Daming Navy was almost uprooted.
This is not over yet. Their smuggling transactions naturally require the cooperation of merchants, and thousands of merchants have been implicated.
Not to mention anything else, the amount of gold copied from the Liao family and the Yu family alone amounted to more than one million taels!
Looking at the thick list, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be about to explode!
silverfish!
They are all giant silverfish!
We work hard to govern the country, work hard and sleeplessly... Every year the national treasury is in deficit, forcing us to issue debts to survive.
But these beasts are good at taking advantage of the opportunity to make money and do anything they can!
They made a fortune one by one, and the rich were enjoying the hot food, and the gold and silver piled up in mountains. On the other side, the treasury was empty and the operation was difficult. Are these the heroes of the Ming Dynasty?
"Mr. Li, Liao Yongzhong and Yu Tonghai, they helped us cross the river and made great contributions!"
Li Shanchang was startled, thinking, "What does Your Majesty mean?"
Then I heard Lao Zhu continue: "Both of them, both of them, died fighting for the country. They sacrificed their lives in exchange for the title!"
Li Shanchang was even more surprised. Could it be that His Majesty wants to be lenient?
This is not Lao Zhu’s character!
Sure enough, I heard Lao Zhu snort coldly: "In order to reciprocate kindness as a friend, we should open up the net and give them a way to survive... But they have spent millions of dollars in ink! What they have done is simply too numerous to describe. We want to spare them, but we can't even describe it."
It makes no sense. Mr. Li, write down their charges immediately and make them known to the world, so that everyone can know!"
Hearing this, Li Shanchang was slightly startled and said, "Sir, can this matter be slowed down a little?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was furious, "What do you mean, do you want us to protect them?"
Li Shanchang hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, this case involves nearly a thousand civil and military officials. The amount of corruption money is more than 20 to 30 million yuan... Such a big case, let alone the Ming Dynasty, is unprecedented throughout the ages.
I'm afraid that if I tell the truth, some people still won't believe it and will suspect that there is an intention to frame the case. I think it's better to continue the thorough investigation, find out all the cases, and then make it known to the world, so that everything is foolproof."
A case that is so big that it makes those who handle it doubt their lives, no one else can.
Zhu Yuanzhang was startled and hesitated a little. Do you want to slow down?
At this time, Mao Xiang suddenly said: "Ms. Li, if the news about such a big case cannot be announced as soon as possible, people will discuss it and make wild speculations!"
Li Shanchang was speechless. Although it was a little overestimating his ability to argue with Mao Xiang due to his status, what Mao Xiang said was not unreasonable.
The case has reached this stage, and Lao Zhu is getting more and more irritated. If those businessmen are included, the amount this time is definitely more than tens of millions, accounting for almost half of the Ming Dynasty's fiscal revenue!
Thinking about it, I was surprised, and Lao Zhu’s face also felt hot.
I can be considered as working hard and working hard.
I still thought that the Ming Dynasty was a prosperous era, when kings were upright and ministers were virtuous, but in the end something like this happened. A big bib was stuck on Lao Zhu's face.
What a shame!
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang became even more furious. No matter what, the people involved in the case must be made into human skin pillows, otherwise he will not be able to vent his resentment!
Zhang Ximeng, who was in Peiping, got the news not much later than Zhu Yuanzhang.
"This is unheard of and has never happened in ancient times. Prime Minister Zhang, how can these people be so greedy for ink? Could it be a mistake?" Qi Tai simply doubted his life.
Also doubting life are Lian Zining, Huang Zicheng and others.
Everyone was surprised and in disbelief.
Are you living in a dream?
Compared with several others, Zhang Ximeng was not so surprised.
He even felt that it was a bit small. If a few years passed, these people might be able to steal a whole amount of money from the national treasury.
Zhang Ximeng pondered for a moment and then said: "Do you know how big the world is and how rich the merchants can be?"
Huang Zicheng took the lead and said: "Prime Minister Zhang, I heard that in the Ming Dynasty, there are many merchants with millions of dollars. There are even wealthy businessmen with a fortune of over ten million. They are as rich as the country. It is really shocking."
Zhang Ximeng added: "It's indeed a lot! But have you ever thought about it? To put it another way, it's not that they make too much money, but that the taxes our treasury can collect are too little!"
Several people were startled, feeling that their hearts were moved, and quickly said: "Please make it clear, Prime Minister Zhang!"
Zhang Ximeng sighed: "Throughout the ages, collecting commercial taxes has been a very troublesome matter. The country is too big, the situation is too complicated, and tax collection is too difficult. Obviously we have developed commerce, the Silk Road, and our tea and silk products increase every year
It can be exchanged for huge income. This money flows to the people and into the hands of merchants, but it cannot enter the national treasury. Don’t you think it is a pity?"
At this time, Fang Xiaoru suddenly said: "Mr. Zhang, I have something that I would like to ask you sir...This time, the incident started from the investigation of navy smuggling, and the smuggling implicated the two marquises, and then implicated the Yushitai.
It has become the biggest case!”
Fang Xiaoru leaned forward and said, "Xiang Zhang, what's the connection here?"
Zhang Ximeng laughed and said, "You have almost hit the key point by asking this...this money is the business tax that has not been collected by the state!"
Several people were shocked and stared at Zhang Ximeng stupidly.
"You don't think that doing business doesn't require management or smoothing the joints, do you? Nor do you think that just by adding a few more ministries, you can control all the merchant trade in the world?" Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "
Since it can't be controlled, someone must be taking action. If merchants want to find someone to protect them, they need to spend money... To put it bluntly, whether it is the Navy or the Yushitai, they are all making this money. Tian Fu, business tax,
It’s all national tax revenue, and they take up half of it. How difficult is it to be rich enough to rival the country?”
When several people heard this, they couldn't help but suddenly realized.
"Xiang Zhang, if this is the case, what should we do?"
Zhang Ximeng said: "Of course we have strict legislation and everything is done according to the rules. We supervise everything from top to bottom. No loopholes are left."
Fang Xiaoru was overjoyed and said: "This is the best! Prime Minister Zhang, hurry up and report to your Majesty and ask for your Majesty's decree."
Zhang Ximeng suddenly laughed, "What I just said is just empty talk. How can we set rules and supervise? How can we do it without a mature strategy?"
Fang Xiaoru was stunned. Huang Zicheng thought for a moment and suddenly said: "Prime Minister Zhang, does this matter have something to do with our tax collection in Peking?"
Zhang Ximeng put his hands on his hands and laughed, "After talking about this, the truth becomes clear... That's right! No matter how many yamen are set up in Yingtian, they can only manage a general plan. If you want to really come up with a feasible strategy, you must have a piece that is neither big nor small.
There is a place for verification. It also requires a selfless and strong-minded person to carry out this matter."
At this time, Qi Tai whispered: "The person that Prime Minister Zhang is talking about cannot be His Highness King Yan, right?"
Zhang Ximeng smiled and said nothing. Several people looked at each other and finally understood. No wonder why Mr. Zhang prefers King Yan! How dare he carry such a heavy burden on him!