Huaiyu ranks very high in the class. Although Yongzhou Zhizhong is only a fourth-rank official, his current rank is the third-rank official of Dr. Jin Ziguanglu. Moreover, Yongzhou Mu is only an eight-year-old imperial brother, and Yongzhou Biejia is still vacant.
Nowadays, all the eighteen counties in Yongzhou will be led by Wu Huaiyu, who is extremely powerful.
Of course, Wu Huaiyu has not yet taken office. He will not officially take office until after Zhengdan. Now he does not need to go to Yongzhou Yamen to be busy.
But he was not idle either. He also served as the minister of the Ministry of punishment, the prince's horse washer, the head of Chongxian hall and bachelor, and even the inspector of the prince's right guard.
The most important thing is that Wu Huaiyu won the emperor's trust and is still the doctor of the Six-door Xingxian Division. Originally the doctor was Zhang Liang, but now Zhang Liang has been promoted to Guangluqing and is also the doctor of the Xingxian Division, and the emperor asked Wu Huaiyu to also be the doctor.
, so the two of them were in charge of the Criminal Justice Department together.
Small meetings are held for big things, but there is no serious business in the big meeting.
The morning court meeting was a bit boring, especially today was still November and a half. There were many officials attending the court meeting at the end of the year, and even the local governors and governors who were gathered in Beijing for the court meeting were also here, so there were no serious topics.
After some routine procedures, the morning session ended.
So many officials got up early in the dark, rushed on their way, and queued up at the palace gate. As a result, they ended up in the palace in less than two quarters of an hour. Many low-ranking officials even failed to enter the palace and were just outside the palace.
Standing in the square.
Quite frustrating.
However, with so many people, it is unrealistic to discuss serious matters during the morning session. There are too many people talking.
At the end of the morning court, the chamberlain came over and called some names to discuss the affairs of the chamber.
The seven prime ministers, and then some officials related to today's issues, Wu Huaiyu was also named.
The treatment in the inner court is much better.
Not only is the hall warm, everyone has soft cushions and even tea and snacks.
He was also more relaxed during the discussion, and there was no imperial censor watching him all the time.
Huaiyu looked at the snacks on the small table in front of him.
The snacks provided today are oranges and crisp pears from Jiangnan Province. Huaiyu remembers that this year there seemed to be a bumper harvest of crisp pears in the Wujia Liyuan in the south of the city. Not only did he make a lot of crisp pear paste, but he also made crisp pear wine and crisp pear roasts. In addition,
A lot of fresh fruits were also picked and presented as tribute to the palace and as gifts to relatives and friends.
This crisp pear is a tribute from the Wu family, and is also known as the Jiangjun pear. It is golden in color, fragrant, rich in juice, sweet, crisp and delicious. It is also known as the Golden Top Xiehua Crispy Fragrant Tribute Pear. It is a famous specialty of Chang'an.
Jiangnan oranges, Wujia pears, purple sweet potatoes and corn.
However, it seems that everyone still pays great attention to etiquette, and no one sits there and eats randomly regardless of their image.
Brother-in-law Ma Zhou is also in the palace. Although he is only a fifth-rank official, he has the same confidential position as Zhongshusheren. He is called the prime minister. Generally, important matters are discussed in court meetings. Zhongshusheren is the same as Zhongshusheren.
All the Chinese people will be present.
Wu Huaiyu also occupied a relatively front position during court discussions.
The 20-year-old Jin Zi minister was officially crowned Duke, and he was quite conspicuous in the palace. Many people couldn't even figure out why Wu Huaiyu could rise to prominence so smoothly, and they didn't think he had made such shocking achievements, but the emperor did not treat him so well.
Reward again and again.
On the other hand, those prime ministers, whether they were Fang Du or the newly appointed prime ministers Wang Gui, Wen Yanbo and Qin Qiong, actually knew about the existence of the Dianxing Xiansi. This secret organization was expanding rapidly. Wei Zheng had several times
He remonstrated with the emperor and felt that there was no need to establish such a secret intelligence agency and hoped that the emperor would withdraw it.
But Li Shimin didn't listen to Wei Zheng, and instead increased the experience, personnel, etc. of the Six Doors.
The court meeting was quite efficient compared to the early court meeting.
One matter was discussed by the emperor and his ministers. He observed that the main process of the discussion was that it may have been put on the agenda a few days ago and relevant preparations were made. The officials responsible for the relevant issues today reported directly to the emperor and prime ministers, and then attached
solution.
At this time, the prime ministers also had plans in advance, reviewed them directly, made suggestions for the emperor, and the emperor made decisions.
Then even if the matter is passed, after the court meeting is over, the three provinces will issue relevant documents and go through the process accordingly. For example, the Zhongshu Province will draft the edict, the Menxia Province will review it, and finally it will be handed over to the Shangshu Province for execution, because the emperor and the prime ministers have reached a consensus during the court meeting.
, so there is no need for the three provinces to argue with each other to get through. When the time comes, just go through the process directly.
In fact, Li Shimin's current method of court deliberation is a disguised form of usurping some of the prime minister's powers.
For example, the current way of deliberation was originally a meeting between the prime ministers of the political affairs hall. The prime ministers of the three provinces gathered together to discuss matters. In this way, after reaching an agreement, there would be no more things that the three provinces could not pass quickly.
Of course, Li Shimin was young. The thirty-year-old emperor had just ascended the throne for more than a year. He was at his most energetic and enterprising. It was impossible for him to leave everything to the prime ministers.
The court deliberations were very efficient, and all issues were resolved quickly, without any confusion.
Because the emperor also formulated a set of rules of procedure for the court council. For example, every matter has a time limit from reporting to discussion, and no ramblings or random attacks are allowed.
When reporting to relevant officials, you must not only report the problem, but also bring a solution, and you may even have to prepare a backup plan, and the prime ministers must also make plans for this in advance and formulate disposal suggestions.
Do not post random content that is not relevant to the topic.
Talk about things.
Previously, the two prime ministers, Xiao Yu and Chen Shuda, attacked each other when discussing matters in front of the emperor, talked about things here and there, and even rolled up their sleeves in the end to anger the emperor.
Later, Xiao Yu and Feng Deyi, two servants, also fought among themselves when they were performing in front of the emperor.
There are two things that have been on the agenda today. One is the severe drought in Guandong this year, which has affected many prefectures and counties. Although the imperial court issued a timely decree to exempt Guandong from rent transfer this year, many people were affected by the disaster and had no food, and local relief could not be provided.
, causing many Guandong people to flee to Guanzhong, Jianghuai, Shannan and other places to beg for food.
It even led to the situation in some places in Guandong where refugees gathered to become thieves and bandits.
Now the emperor is asking for a reliable and effective plan. Some officials suggest that the victims should be intercepted and not allowed to leave the country. Local officials must be allowed to control the victims under their jurisdiction to their hometowns and are not allowed to move across counties and townships.
Let them wait for food relief.
Some officials believe that the disaster is serious this time. If the people are asked to wait at home for relief, they may not be able to receive relief. Many people will definitely starve to death, and there will inevitably be more hungry people fleeing for their lives, becoming thieves, etc. Therefore, it cannot be done.
People wait for food, but people need food. Wherever there is food, the victims should be sent there first. This can improve relief efficiency and save costs.
They even suggested that the current focus should be on disaster relief and relief for the people, and that other matters should not be so strict. For example, when people go to other places, local officials should fully cooperate with them and provide guidance and even dry food, and local governments are not allowed to intercept these victims.
There are even local powerful landowners who want to recruit these refugees as tenants, but they should allow it for the time being. After the disaster is over, adjustments will be made later.
Wu Huaiyu quite agrees with the latter policy.
After all, it is people-oriented.
The disaster is only temporary, retaining talents is the key.
In order to provide disaster relief, some officials proposed to borrow grain and money from large households. In fact, this was a disguised form of taxing large households, and such loans were generally not repaid.
This proposal was opposed by many officials, who believed that it had no basis and that it was a forced apportionment that would inevitably disturb and harm the people.
I had no intention of repaying it, so if you said you wanted to borrow it, wouldn't you be acting like a hooligan? If the court loses its credit, there will be big trouble.
Some officials also suggested not to ask for a loan, but to issue an edict directly to levy an additional sum of money and grain from large households and merchants.
This is even more ruthless, without any pretense, just robbing directly.
"Wu Huaiyu, you are the ruler of Yongzhou. Now all eighteen counties of Yongzhou are under your rule. Now a large number of disaster victims from Guandong are pouring into the capital. Do you have any good suggestions for dealing with it?"
The emperor named Wu Huaiyu.
Everyone else was discussing things, but Wu Huaiyu was the only one peeling oranges and eating them one after another, which was too conspicuous.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the key to Yongzhou's response to the victims is two points. One is to have food, and the other is how to manage relief. As long as the victims have food to eat, they can settle down. But too many refugees gather together. If they are not managed well,
It is indeed easy to cause trouble, so I think we can take two steps.
"First, in the name of Yongzhou Yamen, issue bonds to the princes, nobles or large merchants of Gyeonggi Province, agree on the interest, give the notes, and cash the principal and interest together when they are due."
"Use the money borrowed from debt issuance to purchase grain from the market and the noble families."
"Using the victims gathered now, we will carry out some civil engineering projects in Guanzhong, such as cleaning and dredging the Zhengbai Canal, cleaning the Chang'an Canal, and building bridges and paving roads, etc. We will provide work for relief, and the victims will work and receive food wages."
Huaiyu's several-step plan is indeed quite practical.
Focus on the problem, solve the problem, and speak meaningfully.
Although this bond is quite new, it still sounds like that.
"Tell me more about this bond." Li Shimin became interested.
In fact, we have been arguing for a long time just now. Li Shimin is inclined to borrow money, and directly raising taxes on large households will obviously have great consequences.
But it’s not easy to borrow food, because people think you just borrow and never repay the debt.
"Your Majesty, the key is that this bond must be negotiable and transferable, and it can be unnamed. When it matures, the bond can be redeemed. The bond and interest will be paid according to the agreement on the note, and it must be guaranteed that the court can pay it when it matures."
Huaiyu asked for paper and pen, cut a piece of rice paper into many palm-sized pieces, and then took up the pen to write on it.
There are several denominations such as 1,000 Wen, 500 Wen, 200 Wen, and 100 Wen. It can also be agreed upon for three years, two years, and one year. The interest rate ranges from six cents to two cents per year.
The lowest one-year interest rate is only 20%, which is indeed lower than the annual interest rate of public money lending, which is at least 100%.
But Wu Huaiyu told the emperor that this kind of bond can be circulated, that is, the court not only promises to pay the principal and interest when it is due, but even before it matures, the bond can be used to offset such things as service money, Zheyong money, etc. This money can be used
Buy grain, cloth, etc. in the official warehouse.
Instead of forcing the apportionment, the government and the people can purchase it voluntarily. For example, if you buy a bond worth ten thousand yuan, it can be ten bonds worth one thousand yuan, or one hundred bonds worth one hundred yuan. The difference between these bonds and IOUs is that they
Regardless of the name, whoever holds the bond will be redeemed by the court at that time.
Of course, you can also circulate it before it expires, such as using it to buy supplies for official warehouses, or redeeming it for taxes and levies, etc. Before it expires, you can also exchange it according to its face value and actual existing interest.
As long as the imperial court can find a way to ensure the credit of this bond, then this can become a financial management product. For some ordinary businessmen who have some spare money but not much, buying some bonds will also earn interest. After all, not everyone has it.
Conditions apply to lend and collect interest, and the lending must be strong enough to ensure that the principal is not damaged.
Li Shimin held the pieces of paper and asked, "Why do they have to be made into different denominations and even different expiration dates?"
"You can also have one denomination, one term, and one interest rate. It doesn't matter. Having only one type can reduce costs, but having different bonds naturally has its convenience."
Those pieces of paper were passed from the emperor's hand to the seven prime ministers. After the prime ministers read it, they passed it to Dai Zhou, the Minister of Civil Affairs, Yang Shidao, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Li Jing, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment.
After going around in a circle, everyone was amazed at this small piece of paper. After all, it is common for the imperial court to borrow money from the private sector due to wars, disasters and other reasons. Some will issue IOUs, and some will not issue IOUs, but they have to issue
This is the first time the bond has come.
Bearer bonds have a problem of preventing forgery. Of course, it is not easy to forge them.
"Is this piece of paper worth one thousand yuan?" Wei Zheng asked Huaiyu holding a piece of rice paper with one thousand yuan written on it.
Huaiyu smiled and said, "This piece of paper has a three-year term, with an annual interest rate of six cents. The total interest in three years is one thousand eight hundred yuan. Therefore, after three years of expiration, this piece of paper is actually worth two thousand eight hundred yuan."
Wei Zheng took a breath, two thousand eight hundred coins, if it were copper coins, it would weigh more than seventeen kilograms, but now it is just a thin piece of paper.
Even if it is 2,800 yuan of silk, it is enough for fourteen pieces. One piece weighs twelve taels, which is more than ten kilograms.
Wei Zheng looked at the thin piece of paper and felt something was wrong, but he couldn't explain it for the moment.
He had a strong feeling that if he couldn't handle this thing, something would happen.
After all, even if the imperial court cast a large spring in the past and paid a lot of money, one was worth ten or twenty at most, but it was still copper money. If this piece of paper was written on, stamped with some security marks, it would be worth 2,800 yuan?
And a hundred-penny bond, almost the same size, is only worth two hundred and eighty?
"Your Majesty, I believe that it is not allowed to borrow debts from the private sector, and it is even more illegal to use paper as coupons as money," Wei Zheng firmly objected.
"Prime Minister Wei, how do you think the court should provide relief to the people and overcome the current difficulties?"
"Ask the saints to contribute internal funds, and then let the nobles take the lead in donating. Officials will also donate some of their salaries to tide over the difficulties together."
Wei Zheng's words made Li Shimin sigh. The emperor contributed money, the nobles contributed money, and officials donated their salaries. It sounds nice, but it is not realistic at all.
"Your Majesty, this is just a bond. The court borrows from the private sector to temporarily tide over the difficulties, and then repays the principal and interest later. What's wrong with this?
Although this is a piece of paper, it is not paper money. It is just an anonymous voucher. Wei Zheng does not need to be so afraid of it."