"That's true." Huang Zongxi shook his head and said casually: "It needs to be cleaned up from time to time to allow the officialdom to circulate."
"let's go!"
As the saying goes, in one's position, one must seek his own government. The most taboo thing in official circles is to stretch one's hands randomly.
Even if you can't see clearly, you can't give blind orders or impeach randomly, otherwise you will break the rules, because this is the responsibility of the Inspectorate.
He was responsible for supervising the six ministries, and Wang Fuzhi's secretary to the cabinet was helping the cabinet, so it was difficult to get involved.
However, all the events that happened in Chongwen County could not be hidden from the cabinet.
As the Marquis of Fou and the chief minister of the cabinet, Zhao Shu's mansion was given by the emperor. The huge golden characters "Edict to build the Marquis of Fou's Mansion" can be said to be enviable.
The huge Marquis Mansion covers an area as large as some of the Duke's Mansions, and its red doors and green tiles are magnificent, telling the power of its owner.
As a powerful man in the new dynasty, Zhao Shu did not enjoy his wealth peacefully. Instead, he locked himself in his study from time to time to reflect on his gains and losses.
In the court hall, one must be careful every step of the way and not be careless in the slightest.
Now he seems to be in harmony, but who can restrain his desire for the position of first assistant?
"Father -" the eldest son Zhao Liang personally called out the door while carrying a pot of tea and snacks.
"come in!"
Zhao Shu responded tiredly.
Creaking, the study door opened.
A wave of warmth greeted him, Zhao Liang exhaled, put down the tea in his hand, and felt much more comfortable.
With the popularity of honeycomb briquettes, earth dragons have also become popular throughout the capital, and all the homes of the rich and powerful have been renovated.
Although it is a bit extravagant, the warmth of spring in winter is something that people cannot let go of.
Otherwise, Zhao Shu wouldn't be able to stay in the study because it would be too cold.
"Chongwen County is very lively today..."
Zhao Liang poured tea while recounting the incident.
Relying on his biological father who was the chief assistant, although Zhao Liang was only a civil servant, he was a doctor and knew a lot about the ways of the capital.
He told Zhao Shu about some of his daily experiences, because what he saw as commonplace things was different among the chief ministers of the cabinet.
"Merchant Bank——"
Zhao Shu muttered, suddenly narrowed his eyes, placed his hands on the table unconsciously, and started tapping rhythmically.
The chief assistant, whose temples were turning white, seemed to have remembered something.
"Are you sure it's just the county government?"
"It should be the county government judge." Zhao Liang thought for a while and said vaguely: "However, there may be other people mixed in."
Regarding Jinyiwei and Dongchang, although they have been keeping a low profile in the past two years, their existence is the emperor's eyes and ears, and the capital is the base camp, how can people not doubt it?
"Lending money to officials from the capital, remote control officials to serve, the merchants are so bold!"
Zhao Shu frowned and slapped the table hard.
Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, the bureaucrats both used and suppressed the businessmen. They either joined the ranks of scholars or became a glove for making money. They must not be ranked above the scholar-bureaucrats.
"Father, it's not easy to live in the capital. Let's just say that coal costs several silver coins in one winter. Although the salary of the officials in the capital has increased a lot, it is not easy to support a family in the capital."
"It is also common to borrow money from merchants."
Desire is hard to fill.
When the bureaucrats' annual salary can meet their family's small expenses and they have no worries about food and drink, they want more and live a luxurious life compared with businessmen.
Therefore, borrowing and lending is inevitable and cannot be forbidden.
“Banning money banks only treats the symptoms but not the root cause.”
Zhao Shu nodded and said something.
But he understood that if this was the emperor's method, there must be a series of measures waiting behind him, and it was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
However, the ban on banks caused an uproar in the capital's business.
The merchants under the Shaanxi merchants, Hui merchants, Shanxi merchants and other large merchant gangs immediately stopped lending business to officials, not daring to go any further for fear of being called upon.
However, the residence of Zhang Qi, the minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has been almost breached recently.
Without him, the emperor's Lao Taishan was purely a businessman and became an official, and he was also an internal affairs office dedicated to serving the emperor, so he was the most suitable person.
Zhang Qi was also annoyed so much that he could only say: "I only work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and I don't know anything else..."
So, we closed the door and thanked guests.
The two sons are keen on power and enjoy the flattery of everyone, especially the Shaanxi businessmen who had to look up to them before. Now they are begging in low voices, not to mention how comfortable they are.
"Dad, it is understandable that you drove away the foreign businessmen, but why did you drive away the Shaanxi businessmen as well?"
The eldest son said puzzledly.
"Shaanxi businessmen are already scattered, but they just stick together to keep warm."
Zhang Qi said coldly: "Now the fire in my house is burning brightly, which is more than enough. They just want a piece of the pie without paying anything. The love of hometown is not enough."
After finishing speaking, he looked at his two sons and said seriously: "How can a mere county government dare to provoke a bank?"
"There must be someone standing behind us. No matter who it is, we must not get involved. The gain outweighs the loss."
At this time, in the palace, reports about the ban on banks were being continuously reported.
"There are more than 50 banks and more than 600 pawnshops in Beijing, coming from all provinces across the country..."
"For ordinary loans, the monthly interest is three to five cents, and the annual interest is twice that, or even twice that..."
"If there is something to mortgage, if the shop capital in Fujian is small, the profit will be three-quarters of it; in Huizhou, if the shop capital is large, the profit will be only one, two, and three cents..."
The business of borrowing and lending is extremely popular among the people. If it is not necessary, ordinary people will never borrow money, because it is compound interest. If you borrow a hundred cents, you will have to pay back at least two hundred cents in the next year. If you are not careful, your whole family will be sold.
Most of the land annexation in rural areas comes from the lending industry, and many temples also lend out incense money, so the temple fields are vast.
Of course, compared to borrowing, pledge loans are more popular, and the interest rates are as low as 20% or 30%. This is why many people sold their bodies to bury their fathers in ancient times.
Without him, if you use yourself as collateral, the interest will be cheap! At least there is a chance to turn around.
During Wang Anshi's reform in the Song Dynasty, the Qingmiao Law was for five months, twice a year, with an annual interest of 50%, but it was called a preferential loan.
After the failure of Wang Anshi's reform, the Green Crop Law was also abolished. The "Xu Zi Zhi Tong Jian Chang Bian" recorded that from then on, "the poor must be selected from the home of the powerful and right, and they will have the breath of being rich."
Interest rates are twice as high. After the reform was abolished, people borrowed money at least twice the annual interest rate.
Listening to these murmurs, Zhu Yixi pondered:
"The Laws of the Ming Dynasty" stipulates: "Anyone who lends money, debts or pawns property privately, the monthly interest cannot exceed three-thirds. Although there are many years and months, it is only one profit for one dollar. Anyone who violates this will be punished with forty punishments."