Luzhou Prefecture, Chao County, and the mouth of Yuxi River were filled with thunderous cheers. Thousands of people stood on both sides of the bank, shouting incessantly.
In front of them, a huge sluice appeared, with three huge nest gates on it, which were extremely conspicuous.
There are still lime, sand, etc. left on the roadside, which people have trampled on without paying any attention.
There is no reason why they should be unhappy.
Yuxi River is a tributary channel from Chaohu Lake to the Yangtze River. It was called Ruxu River in ancient times and is 120 miles long. It is an important channel from Luzhou Prefecture to the Yangtze River and is also a Yangtze River waterway.
Due to low water in winter, the imperial court built a large gate here to prevent the river water from flowing back during the flood period, and to close the gate to store water during the dry season. It has played a huge role in flood control, irrigation, water supply, shipping and other aspects of the Chaohu Lake Basin.
At the same time, there is also a gate at the entrance of the river to prevent the river water from flowing back and causing obstruction at all levels.
As boatmen, they sincerely hope that the Yuxi River will be well.
At this time, Li Guangdi, the prefect of Luzhou, was bowing and laughing beside him. He did not take it seriously that the hem of his clothes was stained with mud.
Because in front of him were Zhou Chang and Zhou Peigong, the chief envoys of Anhui.
Now forty-five years old, Zhou Peigong, who was only ten years older than him, was already a local official.
"Qing Jin, the Yuxi River Gate is well built and the mud in the river is dredged very well!"
Zhou Peigong looked at Li Guangdi and said with a smile: "The dredging of the 120-mile river, the dams, and the sluices all cost only 200,000 yuan. It was really beyond the expectations of the provincial government!"
"The vassal is overly praised!" Li Guangdi bowed and smiled: "I am just doing my duty as a lower official. Without the support of the vassal, I am afraid it will be difficult to succeed!"
It saves time and effort, and I have never been corrupted. I am a true official and my future is limitless!
Zhou Peigong was thoughtful. He glanced back and saw an elegant man in his thirties.
Or when he sees the probing eyes, he bends down to signal.
With the wind blowing, Zhou Peigong once again admired the sight of the large ships passing through the locks. Then he turned back and took Li Guangdi for a walk on both sides of the embankments.
A large number of weeping willows have already bent down and are swaying gently in the wind.
"Qing Jin, I'm afraid it's a bit inappropriate to borrow money to build the river!"
After thinking again and again, Zhou Peigong finally expressed his worries.
Hearing this, Li Guangdi felt the same way: "Yes, I am also uneasy, but there is really nothing we can do. Who is going to make us unlucky!"
"However, you did a good job in this matter!" Zhou Peigong showed a faint smile.
The two of them stood in front of each other, their expressions solemn.
No wonder they were so worried, since this was the first time in the world.
Borrowing money to build a river, with the approval of the imperial court, and with the money and taxes from the Yuhe Gate as collateral, was extremely rare or even unheard of in the three hundred years and thousands of years since the Ming Dynasty.
For civil servants, this is extremely inappropriate.
It is understandable to borrow money to repay debt, but tax on mortgage money is unheard of.
Even if they are just monitoring the account books and not seeking to collect taxes from checkpoints, it still brings shame to the civil servants.
In order to relieve the financial pressure on local governments, the imperial court established bank checkpoints and inspection departments at ferries, passes, river mouths and other places, and the income tax was divided 50-50 with local governments.
And this mortgage is naturally local taxes.
The local government bowed its head to businessmen and pledged taxes. This was so cruel and completely desecrated the majesty of the imperial court.
Therefore, Li Guangdi and Anhui people absolutely disagree.
Although two hundred thousand yuan is not a small number, it is too expensive to build dams and gates using cement (earth cement). The Anhui Provincial Government's reserve and local reserve are enough to cover the expenses.
But this was the emperor's wish, and the mortgage was from the imperial merchants, which really made Anhui people suffocate.
If he was the chief minister, even if Zhou Peigong was replaced, he would not hesitate to impeach him, and he would gain such a great reputation. But with the emperor's approval, he would not dare to mess around.
"Fantai, is there any profound meaning in this?"
Li Guangdi whispered: "Huang Shang is unwilling to be inferior and is trying to get ahead?"
"Impossible!" Zhou Peigong thought about it and said decisively: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs controlling the imperial merchants is like raising a dog!"
"The reason why the imperial merchants were able to take advantage of Wan Guan's wealth and compete for the interests of the local gentry was because once the skin of the imperial merchants was shed, they would be eaten by hungry wolves!"
Imperial merchants benefited from the support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so they were not as timid as ordinary merchants and were not afraid of officials, let alone gentry.
Therefore, we can plunder local minerals, medicinal materials, and special products without fear, thereby obtaining contract rights and profiting from them.
If it is the former guarding eunuch, his greedy character and identity will naturally put him at a disadvantage. If he tarnishes his name, the gentry will be in an invincible position.
But the imperial merchants were just businessmen and had no taxing rights. They were just doing business for profit. It was impossible for the gentry to say that they would not allow the imperial merchants to do business in their hometowns, right?
With backstage, connections, and shrewd minds, the imperial merchants became powerful.
But to the senior officials, the imperial merchants were still the emperor's slaves. They dared to bully the ordinary gentry, but they did not dare to mess around with the ministers and senior officials, and they still showed filial piety during the holidays.
It cannot threaten the status of civil servants at all.
"In my opinion, Your Majesty's move may have a profound meaning, but we don't know the truth."
Zhou Peigong thought: "Maybe it's for profit."
The annual interest rate is 1%, which is only 10% even for ten years. This amount of money is nothing at all, and it can even help the local government.
You must know that the interest reduction law promulgated by the imperial court requires that the annual interest rate shall not exceed 30%, and those who violate it will not be required to repay the loan.
Local loans are usually calculated on a monthly basis. An interest rate of 50% a year is considered generous, but an interest rate of double that amount is considered trivial.
Li Guangdi thought of something, squinted his eyes and said, "I guess His Majesty got inspiration from Europe and wanted to try it out locally so as to spread it to the imperial court!"
"Oh? How do you say that?" Zhou Peigong was stunned and showed some interest.
He knew that Li Guangdi was from Fujian and knew quite a lot about overseas affairs, but he never thought that he had such extensive knowledge.
Seeing that the feudal lord was interested, Li Guangdi immediately told what he knew:
"Xiaoguan once interacted with some missionaries and learned that in Europe, countries borrow money from merchants quite a lot, and it is even common."
"If the annual interest rate is low, it will only be six cents a year, and if it is high, twenty or thirty cents is not an exaggeration. As long as you can win, you can rely on compensation to pay it back. If you lose, it will go back to the state tax!"
"For example, four years ago, the King of England, Charles II, borrowed a million pounds at a time in order to fight against the Netherlands, with an annual interest rate of six cents. As a result, he returned to his country to collect taxes. The nobles did not agree, so they had no choice but to lie and not repay the interest..."
"European kings imposed violent conquests, and the British king's power was weakened. Why did no one usurp the throne and rebel?" Zhou Peigong's eyes looked at another level.
"I guess it's because under the enfeoffment system, the common people have been able to catch up!" Li Guangdi said nonchalantly.
"I guess His Majesty has seen the benefits of borrowing money. This strategy can solve the urgent needs of the imperial court. He is planning on it. If so, how can there be three rates?"
Zhou Peigong shook his head: "This is Yin eating Mao Liang, which is his usual trick."
"However, it is a good idea!"
As the chief envoy, Zhou Peigong almost stepped half way to the central threshold, and he did know a thing or two about the concerns of the imperial court.
Nowadays, taxes are abundant, but natural disasters and man-made disasters are unpredictable. If there is such an eventuality, this debt is the best way to let the court breathe a sigh of relief, and it can last for a long time.
"Your Majesty has great foresight!"
Zhou Peigong raised his hands toward the north, his face full of awe.
Li Guangdi was surprised. The emperor was almost sixty, why was he still thinking so radically?
Regarding Yuxi River, Zhu Yixi is actually also concerned about it.
Piloting loans there is part of the national debt issue he has been pondering over the past two years.
Borrowing money from merchants only existed in China during the Han Dynasty. After that, people directly ransacked and plundered their homes, which was very sophisticated and not as common as in the West.
Similar to this, the only option is to persuade donations.
But borrowing, or treasury debt, is actually a means of protecting the court's finances. It usually doesn't matter, but it can be of great use in emergencies.
In emergencies, taxation cannot quench a near-term thirst, and national debt has great advantages.
However, the government's resistance to the implementation of national debt was huge, and civil servants would not agree with it, which undermined the majesty of the court.
For Zhu Yixi, if he implements it step by step from the local level, let the central government see the benefits and effects, he will naturally gain recognition with a gentle push.
By then, people will no longer be dead and the government will be abolished.
"Your Majesty, the Chaokou Gate and Yuxi Gate were built, the river bottom was dredged, and the embankments were reinforced. The total cost was 200,000 yuan. Anhui retained 100,000 yuan and borrowed 100,000 yuan. It will be calculated over ten years with an annual interest of 1%!"
Duan Mengshu walked over cautiously and watched the emperor playing Go with his grandson. When he saw that the victory was determined, he said softly.
"It's not interesting if you can't play anymore!" Zhu Yixi pushed the chess piece, waved to the emperor's grandson Zhu Fuyi and said:
"Go play!"
"Yes!" Seeing that Grandpa Huang refused to admit defeat, Zhu Fuyi was not angry at all. He just smiled and left.
"I borrowed 100,000 yuan and finally repaired it!" Zhu Yixi stood up and moved her body.
"How many people can accept the account?"
"Since it is a matter of Hui Province, there are eighteen imperial merchants from Hui Province and two imperial merchants from Yingtian Prefecture."
Duan Mengshu, Minister of the Interior, said truthfully.
Five thousand yuan for a family is not a big pressure for the imperial merchants, and besides, they are working for the emperor, so that's what they should do.
"Then the Ministry of Internal Affairs will probably take back the repaid loan, right?"
"There is no need for this!" Zhu Yixi said in a deep voice: "If they are willing to lend money to the local government, they must be loyal. The interest of one thousand yuan a year, as well as the principal in the future, is naturally their benefit."
"Lest they say that the Ministry of Internal Affairs only knows how to make money from imperial merchants!"
Duan Mengshu was a little embarrassed, but at the same time he felt quite regretful.
Do you want to know if there is really any interest? He has already gotten it back.
Although the profit of one penny is low, it cannot be sustained year after year. This is better than leaving it at home and gathering dust!
"Now that Yuxi River has tried it, other places should also try it. It is best to choose the one with quick results."
Zhu Yixi ordered: "Strive for Shuntian Mansion next year and let the courtiers see the effect."
"Yes!" Duan Mengshu nodded hurriedly.
"By the way, how many imperial merchants are there?"
"Your Majesty, there are 12 families with assets of more than 2 million, 24 families with more than 1 million, 68 families with wealth of more than 100,000, and a total of 60 families with less than 1 million!"
"A total of one hundred and sixty-four!"
"It's not good to have too many, you can't manage them!" Zhu Yixi thought about it.
The proliferation of imperial merchants is not a good thing.
If there are too many, it is difficult to control, and it is easy to cause trouble in the local area. He knows very well the imperial businessmen group who pretend to be powerful.
"Let's stop after we get to 200 houses!"
Zhu Yixi frowned and said: "In the future, you are not allowed to add another imperial merchant without my permission."
Thinking of the fact that the prince, the queen, etc. had successively awarded many people to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zhu Yixi immediately felt that she had to close the gate.
This alone is not enough.
The imperial merchants had a layer of skin, which made it easier to operate and accumulate wealth, allowing their children to study and enter officialdom in large numbers, forming another kind of interest group.
When the time comes, it will be possible to become the guest.
Once civilian officials take control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it will be terrible.
Thinking that Zhu Yue and others had already passed the imperial examination, he decided:
"It is my decree that from today onwards, all descendants of emperors and businessmen, and relatives within three generations, are not allowed to participate in the imperial examination. Once discovered, they will be dismissed from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Duan Mengshu was shocked, this was really a killing move.
They can only ask for money, not power. This is the biggest restriction on imperial merchants.
The next day, Zhu Yixi left Bieyuan and entered Zhujiazhuang, a nearby county in Yuquan County.
According to the usual practice, Bian Yujing and three girls accompanied him.
Even though the emperor's health was not as good as before, he still managed to have sex.
Fortunately, the three girls were older and their needs were not as good as before, so they only tasted it briefly, allowing the emperor to breathe a sigh of relief.
When Zhu Yixi got up at noon, she was full of energy.
"By the way, I am determined that the descendants of the emperor and merchants are not allowed to take part in the imperial examination, in case they can't get rid of them!"
Zhu Yixi said to the three women: "In my opinion, if the Yuquan Zhu family runs for a few more years, they will withdraw from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and hundreds of millions of poems and books will be passed down to the family, which will last a long time."
Bian Yujing and others looked solemn, but they had been doing business for many years and understood the meaning.
As the saying goes, an emperor and his courtiers are like each other, and the same is naturally true for emperors and merchants.
The Zhu family can be so wealthy now, with a family fortune of two million, but the old emperor's care will not be the same once the new emperor takes the throne. It is better to withdraw voluntarily.
Today's huge wealth can not only be preserved, but also be protected from the fear of future monarchs, and it will last longer.
"By the way, Yue'er, where did Fan'er go to become an official?"
These two illegitimate sons had been admitted to the imperial examinations for many years and had finished their political duties. They were released at the beginning of this year.
"Fanger went to Qi County, Henan Province, and Yuer went to Jiyang County, Shandong Province!"
"Well done to the county magistrate, Bailihou, you've seen the real deal!"
Regarding the arrangements for the two illegitimate children, Zhu Yixi was obviously very thoughtful and made the arrangements in full accordance with the established procedures, and everything went smoothly.
After twenty years of hard work, he joined the Eighth Tribunal in his forties and became a senior member of the ministry.
If it is really worth cultivating, then the cabinet is also possible.
Several illegitimate daughters also married well. They were basically Jinshi or imperial merchants. They did not need to be rich and powerful, as long as they matched their status.
It's much easier to arrange than those princes.
While there was still time, Zhu Yixi went to Dou Meiyi's place. She had a son and a daughter. The son was very mediocre. He just wore the hat of an imperial merchant and passed the imperial examination.