In Zhu Yixi's view, the Huohuo Guigong implemented during the Yongzheng period only treated the symptoms but not the root cause, or in other words, its essence was harsh rule.
When the silver collected by the local government is reforged into official silver, purified and forged, etc., there will inevitably be losses, that is, fire losses.
Before Yongzheng, local officials would levy an additional 10% to 20% of the original tax amount as a way to spend money. After all, the imperial court did not compromise on tax collection.
The collected fire consumption, excluding the real losses, will belong to the local officials.
Yongzheng's implementation of returning fire consumption to the public meant that fire consumption other than the regular tax was included in the taxation and then returned to the local officials.
It has a good name: raising honest gold.
Miscellaneous taxes become regular taxes.
The imperial court's revenue increased, and all officials received more salaries, but only the common people had to bear the heavy taxes.
Therefore, after having a deep understanding of this era, Zhu Yixi stayed away from Huo Hao's return to public service.
Therefore, controlling the issuance of currency has become key.
The currency of an era has a mark of the times.
Since the Shang Dynasty, copper has served as a form of currency, because bronze can not only become a weapon for opening up territories, but also a necessity for sacrifices.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Chu State was located in the south, with a small population and a small territory. It was because of the copper mines that were the sheep of the Emperor of Zhou that it gradually began to dominate.
King Xuan of Zhou was trying to conquer the Southern Kingdom near the Han River and recapture the copper mines, so his entire army was wiped out and ZTE fell short of success.
From the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Tang and Song Dynasties, copper coins dominated China and radiated to Asia. Due to the superb money-making technology, a large number of copper coins were leaked out. China's own copper coins were not enough.
In the Ming Dynasty, the popularity of maritime trade and the inflow of large amounts of silver gradually replaced copper coins as the standard currency.
However, just like Emperor Zhou's copper mines, silver was not controlled by the imperial court, and this was the biggest danger.
"Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the inflow of silver from overseas has increased, but it has been more in the east and less in the west."
Zhu Yixi began to simply popularize financial knowledge with the ministers: "In the early years of Jiajing, one stone of grain was only five coins of silver. By the early years of Tianqi, one stone of grain was as much as one tael of silver."
"And the silver collected by the imperial court is still about five million taels every year. To this day, the price of grain in Nanjing ranges from two taels per stone to three or four taels."
"In other words, the period between Jiajing and Jiajing was only over a hundred years ago, and while taxes remained unchanged, the national treasury had depreciated by at least half."
"Your Majesty, why is this?"
Lu Daqi, Jiang Yueguang and others were confused. Why is the money not valuable anymore?
"Things are rare and valuable!"
Zhu Yixi said calmly: "If there is too much silver and too few copper coins, it will naturally be worthless."
After saying that, he looked at everyone thinking and said directly:
"Since the inflow of silver cannot be controlled, then control the silver coins."
"How many silver coins are produced every year? But we hold them in our hands. When silver slowly withdraws, prices in the market will naturally stabilize in the long run."
"This summer, the Ministry of Revenue in Nanzhili will collect taxes in silver yuan. If it is silver, it will be converted into 90%."
"Your Majesty, if someone hoards silver coins and sells them at a high price, wouldn't ordinary people be in trouble?"
Feng Xianzong was worthy of being a landowner, and he immediately noticed its shortcomings.
"This is Jin Yiwei's business."
The emperor showed a smile: "There are so many people in the world who can't control it, but South Zhili is right under their noses."
After saying this, the emperor lost interest and left directly.
"Shou Kui——"
When Jiang Yueguang saw that Zhao Shu was about to leave, he rushed over to stop him: "Your Majesty has never done this before. I'm afraid the risk is too high."
"Southern Zhili is the most important place in the world, there must be no turmoil!"
"Relax!" Zhao Shu shook his head and chuckled: "The Battle of Huai'an has just ended. Taking advantage of this limelight, who dares to act arrogantly in Southern Zhili?"
Gu Ding
Jiang said Guang Leng was standing there, suddenly enlightened.
…
At the end of April, after the emperor returned to Beijing, the city of Nanjing became more and more lively like a raging fire cooking oil.
What's even more exciting is that Enke, who was in the first year of Shaowu's reign, is about to begin his spring examination.
People from all over the world are rushing to Nanjing one after another. The pain they have suffered for decades will be realized at this moment.
Before dawn, Zhuque Street was already crowded with people. Many people walked forward under the stars and the moon, with lanterns erected high to indicate the way for them.
Zheng Sen rode the carriage and drove slowly. When he was half a mile away from Gongyuan, he was finally blocked and could not walk even half a mile.
"Walk--"
He resolutely picked up the baggage and moved forward.
Along the way, Beijing soldiers with murderous intent surrounded the entire road, acting as a human fence.
In this way, the road is clearly visible and as long as there are soldiers, it is correct.
When he arrived at the camp gate, he saw huge lantern signs erected one after another - South Zhili, Fujian, Guangdong...
Thirteen provinces and two Zhili provinces are clearly visible at a glance.
The most crowded place is Nanzhili, and the place with the least number of graduates is Shandong.
The two armies fought for half a year, and there were only a few dozen soldiers in the army. They obviously came on sea ships.
At a glance, there are people everywhere.
But he was a thoughtful person, and he made a slight estimate in his mind that there were less than 500 people in the northern provinces combined.
In the south, it is indeed more than ten times that.
In other words, if we calculate that 35% of the Northerners are based on 300 people, the ratio will be 105 to 500, or 1 to 500.
For the Southerners, one hundred and sixty-five were taken from five thousand, but one was taken from thirty.
In the central provinces, Yunnan fell, Guizhou has a small population, Fengyang, Sichuan and other provinces have only three to four hundred people on the list, so thirty people will be selected.
"Getting into the imperial examination depends on luck! Being born well is also a skill."
Zheng Sen sighed and reluctantly lined up and walked into the examination room.
One sentry every three steps, one post every five steps, the importance of the army made Zheng Sen understand how much the emperor valued Enke.
In a restaurant hundreds of steps away from the Gongyuan, Zhu Yixi climbed up and looked out, only to see the vast Gongyuan with only one lantern conspicuous.
Not only are there no trees nearby, but there are also no tall buildings, so measures are taken very carefully.
And those carriages have blocked the road and lined up outside the restaurant.
Seeing this, Zhu Yixi couldn't help stroking his short beard and pretended to sigh: "All the heroes in the world have come to my home."
The function of the imperial examination is to draw the elite into the ruling class, and it does not matter what is tested.
Even if it is not Confucianism, but Mohism or Taoism, once it becomes a tool of the ruler, it will mutate and distort.
Zhu Yixi scoffed at the argument that the imperial examination harmed the country. Is it okay for the nobles to govern together?
The key is not the imperial examination, but what is tested.
"Your Majesty, Lord Li is here..."
Just when he was filled with emotion, Tian Ren, the personal eunuch, walked over cautiously and interrupted.
"Let him come over!"
Thinking of Li Jizu, Zhu Yixi smiled knowingly. This was the first younger brother he had accepted, a talented man who knew current affairs.
"The last general, Li Jizu, comes to see His Majesty——"
Li Jizu walked up quickly, revealing his big dark face.