That night, the Xuanshi Hall of Weiyang Palace was brightly lit.
Liu Che sat at the top, holding a wine bottle, drinking opposite the Prime Minister Zhou Yafu and the imperial censor Chao Cuo.
Gongsun Hong and his father Yanjing accompanied the last one.
Today, these two people finally have a seat in the Xuanshi Hall.
The reason lies in their political performance.
Last year, the Lord Commander's Yamen, relying on the emperor's sign and no more than a hundred people, contributed nearly 60 million to the Han Dynasty's fiscal revenue!
On average, each official of the Lord, Lord, and Lieutenant Government created an income of 600,000 yuan!
He was the one who created the most benefits in the entire Han Dynasty official office.
The income they contributed is even equivalent to a year's income from land tax and fake land tax in a middle and lower county.
Naturally, they are automatically qualified to obtain a position in the court.
Although it is just a position without a say.
But it was enough for both of them to be proud of.
There are hundreds of thousands of officials in the world.
However, there are only three to four hundred people in the world who can have a seat in Xuanshi Hall.
And they are one of those three or four hundred.
Although there is still some distance from the top of the pyramid.
However, at least, the steps at the top of the pyramid have been knocked down.
And they are all young.
Twenty years from now, who will be in charge?
This is something you don't need to think about.
Therefore, although they looked humble and bowed their heads in front of Zhou Yafu and Chao Cuo, in fact, these two people were extremely confident, or I could replace them with confidence.
Of course, neither Zhou Yafu nor Chao Cuo would care about their affairs.
The prime minister and the imperial censor are ministers of great importance, and they are in charge of military and state affairs.
The Lord Commander, at least for now, is still a dispensable yamen.
His power cannot go out of Guanzhong. Even in Guanzhong, he needs the support of the internal history, the Jingfu captain, the big farmer and the young man to walk.
Last year, more than half of the Lord Commander's income came from the horse racing tax collected by the Young Master.
Instead of caring about the lord and captain, it would be better to keep an eye on the young man who is getting richer and richer.
You know, last year, the Shaofu paid as much as 30 million in horse racing tax to the Lord Commander.
And his income from horse betting and horse racing is obviously an astronomical figure.
Last year, the Prime Minister's Office selected a horse farm address in Shangjun and planned to build a horse farm there capable of raising 10,000 horses.
But when we look back, we can see that it would cost 70 million to build this horse garden!
This does not include the cost of horses and labor.
The little money in the Prime Minister's pocket is obviously not enough.
So, he went to the emperor to complain.
After the emperor heard the report, he called the young master over without saying a word.
Then the young master raised his eyebrows: Only 70 million?
Now we allocate 10 million to build that horse garden!
As far as Zhou Yafu knew, the money was transferred directly from the racecourse in Maoling by the Shaofu.
Its huge profits are astonishing.
This made Zhou Yafu pay more attention and sent people to investigate Maoling's horse racing and related games.
You won’t know if you don’t check, but you’ll be shocked if you check.
Maoling's racecourse holds a horse racing competition every five days and a final every month.
Every horse racing day, all the aristocrats, gentry, wealthy businessmen and landlords in Guanzhong would hear the news and take action.
Especially the younger generations of these families.
Many people spend huge sums of money at every turn just for a chance to win.
And these people do have the capital to squander it like this.
Whether they are businessmen or nobles, they have all made too much money in recent years.
The output of the Jiaen fiefdom has expanded the wealth of a large number of princely families, and the annual examination has also allowed the merchants and landlords in Guanzhong to make a lot of money.
Coupled with the needs of the emerging Anton market.
It was too easy for merchants and nobles to make money.
The older generation may also have plans to save money and accumulate wealth.
But young people are already addicted to extravagance and comparison.
However, horse racing and betting in Maoling are the only legal gambling in the world now, and they are also covered with a layer of "supporting the military and national defense" construction.
Naturally, it was enthusiastically sought after.
During the monthly finals, a single bet often brings tens of millions or even tens of millions of funds into the Shaofu.
Just by betting on horse racing, the young master earns tens of millions a year.
This is still a conservative estimate.
As for this year…
Zhou Yafu heard that the betting amount for the finals in April had exceeded 50 million, and there was even a gold betting amount of more than 4,000 gold.
This made Zhou Yafu extremely wary of the Shaofu and its horse betting industry.
The Shaofu itself controls the income of Tianxiashanzelinchi, Shanglinyuan and a huge group of workshops.
At the same time, he also controlled the oral tax, the largest financial revenue of the Han Dynasty.
A government office that was not short of money is now even richer.
What will it do?
According to normal logic, it must be to expand one's power and territory, and to stretch one's hand longer and longer.
This year, the Shaofu decided to build a track from Xiaoguan to Taiyuan at the foot of the Great Wall.
This further aggravated Zhou Yafu's doubts.
Zhou Yafu will never forget who turned the tide when Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rebelled, the world was in chaos, and the Qin Empire was on the verge of collapse.
Young Mansion!
The Qin Shaofu ordered Zhang Han to send hundreds of thousands of prisoners to Lishan, form an armed army, and go out to put out the rebellion.
The army, composed of prisoners, Shaofu officials, and the Lishan garrison, destroyed Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's rebel army with overwhelming force. They also went south and defeated Xiang Liang. If it had not been defeated by Julu, it would have almost become the Qin Dynasty.
Continue life.
However, Zhou Yafu had no good way to stop the young master.
Just like today, many scholar-officials and nobles hate businessmen, but they cannot hate businessmen's money.
Zhou Yafu can be wary and wary of the Shaofu.
But he and the Prime Minister's Mansion he controlled could not refuse the Shaofu's money.
Just like that horse garden, there is no sponsorship from the young master.
The Prime Minister's Mansion will watch helplessly as that plan comes to nothing.
Not to mention that nowadays, if the Young Mansion hadn't transferred money and food to the Prime Minister's Mansion from time to time, it would probably be difficult for the Prime Minister to distribute the salaries to all the civil and military officials.
Moreover, Zhou Yafu also understood that the Shaofu's control of finances was the result of the designs of successive emperors of the Han Dynasty.
The emperor needs to hold the money bag to prevent being ignored.
The only thing that makes Zhou Yafu feel at ease is that the emperor is also watching out for and paying attention to the Young Mansion and controlling its powers.
So that it can't reach out everywhere.
Rules were also set up to prohibit people with titles below the fifth official from entering the racecourse to gamble on horses, which limited horse racing to wealthy businessmen and landowners.
It will not affect the lower levels.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yafu raised his head and asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, I heard that Cen Mai, the former Shaofu Minister, was ordered to preside over the construction of 'Lingyan Pavilion'. Now, Lingyan Pavilion is about to be completed, and Cen Mai has resigned from Lingyan Pavilion."
After becoming ambassador, I wonder what your Majesty’s plans are?”
When Liu Che heard this, he chuckled.
Cen Mai has done an outstanding job in both positions of Shaofu and Lingyange Ambassador.
At the very least, the test paper submitted is qualified.
To be fair, he should be given more important responsibilities and go to a more important position to shine.
Obviously, the more important position than Jiuqing is Sangong.
The three princes of the Han family were the imperial censor, the Taiwei, and the prime minister.
Nothing is missing now.
Liu Che is also having a headache because of this!
Originally, Liu Che planned to create a new position.
However, now Prime Minister Zhou Yafu suddenly mentioned this matter.
Obviously, it is impossible for Zhou Yafu to come to seek official position for Cen Mai.
If this stubborn donkey suddenly mentioned this matter, he must have his demands.
Liu Che took the wine bottle, thought for a moment, and deliberately said: "Gong Cen's hard work has made great achievements. I think that after he retires as the ambassador of Lingyan Pavilion, he will be worshiped as the Marquis of Guannei, and I will give him a name for his praise... However, this arrangement has not been made yet.
decided……"
"Since the Prime Minister mentioned this matter..." Liu Che blinked and said, "He must have some opinions. Please give me some advice, Prime Minister!"
"Don't dare!" Zhou Yafu bowed his head and said, "I just have a little knowledge..."
He raised his head, looked at Liu Che, and said: "Since your Majesty came to the throne, you have been virtuous and compassionate to the people. Therefore, you have established the forest garden to revitalize the Yuan Dynasty, and the four passes to consolidate the foundation of the country! These are beyond the reach of your ministers, and they have been done by three generations.
Good governance cannot be implemented...but..."
Zhou Yafu raised his voice slightly and said: "Shanglin Garden is three hundred miles wide, and the land it controls is as big as a country. I think it seems inappropriate to have it under the supervision of the Shaofu..."
Shanglinyuan expanded at the north and south ends the year before last and the year before last.
Today's Hanjia Shanglin Garden starts from Hangu (Jiuguan) in the east, Hongguyuan in the south, and Qishan in the north, with a radius of seven to eight hundred miles, which is almost equivalent to half of Guanzhong (in front of Guangguan).
This land, placed in Kanto, is enough to become a kingdom with more than ten cities.
Naturally, there was discussion among the government and the public.
He said that he wanted to separate Shanglinyuan from the Shaofu.
Of course the young master is determined to refuse to obey!
Are you kidding!?
Today, most of the Shaofu's property and officials are located in Shanglin Garden.
Most of the political achievements also came from Shanglinyuan.
When you say peel off, peel off?
Are there hundreds of thousands of craftsmen and officials in the Shaofu government who are vegetarians?
Immediately, countless royal trolls swarmed up, making the proposer unable to take care of himself.
Anyway, the young master is very rich!
Nowadays, the schools and private schools opened by various scholars and giants in their hometowns and Chang'an basically rely on funds from the Shaofu to maintain them.
Otherwise, like the Confucian schools of Hu Wusheng and Dong Zhongshu, there would be thousands of disciples.
Just giving each of these disciples a copy of "Hu" or "Miscellaneous Words and Great Meanings" summarized by Dong Zi would cost who knows how much money.
What's more, a disciple needs to spend money on food, drink, food, and accommodation during his studies.
However, the repairs they pay are obviously not worth much money. (The giants of various schools are embarrassed to ask for too many repairs. After all, they want to show off and show that they regard money as dirt).
Nowadays, academies and private schools all over the world are so prosperous.
I want to thank the merchant and the young man.
In order for businessmen to send their sons and nephews to famous schools to study under famous teachers, they receive sponsorship every year.
The number ranges from thousands to millions.
The Shaofu, on the other hand, had begun to subsidize these academies before Liu Che came to the throne. As time went by, the subsidies naturally increased.
Last year, the Shaofu's one-year subsidy to Tianxia Academy reached as much as 50 million.
Although Datou sponsors the Huang Lao School.
This is what Liu Che meant, to support Huang Laoxue financially to prevent these guys from getting away with it.
But the funds flowing to other schools of thought are also close to tens of millions.
As the saying goes, those who take advantage of others are short-handed and those who eat others are soft-spoken.
The Shaofu spends money every year to spread his ideas and knowledge to others.
Now, the young master is in trouble.
Everyone will naturally support him.
What's more, it's just a few small shrimps.
Liu Che paid no attention to these situations.
After all, the Shaofu spends money to support education, which is what he has authorized.
It is human nature for the young master to take the opportunity to stuff some private goods.
As for the merchants and wealthy households all over the world, it is a matter of course that they give money to the giants of various schools of thought so that their children can go to school.
It is better for them to send their money to the academy than to bury it in their cellars to mold, or give it to magicians.
But Zhou Yafu suddenly mentioned this matter again, which is very interesting!
Liu Che pondered for a moment, turned to look at Chao Cuo, and asked, "Does the imperial censor also mean this?"
Chao Cuo stood up and bowed, saying, "I do have this intention!"
Chao Cuo and Zhou Yafu were the three princes and the rulers.
Regardless of whether they are public or private, they are not willing to see the Shaofu continue to expand like this.
Shanglinyuan will be separated from the Shaofu and another management organization will be established.
This is considered to be a drain on the fire.
It is also a check and balance on the Shaofu.
This is not only for the sake of political stability, but also out of consideration for maintaining the authority of the Three Lords.
Otherwise, the Young Mansion will continue to expand like this.
Sooner or later, one day, the Shaofu not only has more money than San Gong, but also has more resources than San Gong.
It is more likely that there are more employees than San Gong and more authority than San Gong.
At that time, Sangong became the subordinate of the young master, and it was up to him to act according to the young master's face.
Liu Che naturally knew that such a day would come.
In fact, he had already guessed this day when he expanded the territory of Shanglinyuan.
In recent years, he has allowed the Shaofu to continuously expand his authority.
Just for today, I can dismember the ambush laid by the young master.
The best way to attack and weaken a force is to hold it up until everyone can see it.
Then suddenly take back the hand holding it!
This is what is called prosperity and decline.
but……
Liu Che rolled his eyes and suddenly remembered his plan for today, and he chuckled in his heart.
Then, he said to Zhou Yafu and Chao Cuo with a serious face: "Prime Minister, what the imperial censor said makes sense..."
"The powers of the Young Master are a bit too great..." Liu Che smiled slightly.
In fact, the powers of today's young master are not too great, but too terrifying.
Produce by yourself, sell by yourself, hire workers by yourself, and even collect taxes by yourself.
It is simply an independent kingdom.
But, since this matter was brought up first by the Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor.
Then, it proves that the prime minister and the imperial censor are more anxious than the emperor.
This leaves room for trading.
"I plan to use all the scholars from merchants and merchants after the examination this year to enrich the lord and captain's yamen, and set up lord and captain's offices in all the counties and important places in the world to collect taxes on my behalf and benefit the country.
How do you feel about replenishing the inner treasury, Prime Minister and Imperial Censor?" Liu Che stood up and asked.
Zhou Yafu and Chao Cuo looked at each other, and of course they knew that the emperor had started to play with bondage again.
He linked the separation of Shanglinyuan and the expansion of the army by the Lord Commander Duwei Yamen.
These two things should be done together. If you don’t do them, don’t mention them at all.
This Liu family tradition of being rogue and mischievous has reached its peak in the present hands.
I dare not say that there will be no one since, at least there is no one before.
As courtiers, the two of them really didn't know whether to cry or laugh!
……………
Tomorrow at 13:00 "Undefeated Legend" will be officially launched for testing. I will go and play with everyone. How are our preparations for "Leaving" the army? Tomorrow we will go to the battlefield of Yan Kingdom in the Tian District. This undefeated journey
Don’t be a coward, I’m counting on you all to see if it can become a legend! (To be continued.)
