"The two dear friends have worked hard and made great achievements. They worked together to open up millions of miles of territory for our great Zhou Dynasty. Even Ban Dingyuan, Huo whoring and Yao couldn't do it. I am very happy."
In Wenyuan Pavilion, Emperor Xiaode, the Emperor of Zhou Dynasty, said calmly.
"I have devoted my whole life to you, and have been deeply favored by the emperor. How dare you not die in service?"
Tian Congdian and Lin Zhao bowed their hands in salute, looking humble.
Seeing that they were neither arrogant nor impetuous, Emperor Xiaode nodded with satisfaction. But his face was indeed very tired.
In fact, in the Wenyuan Pavilion, there were not only the monarchs and ministers, but also the cabinet chief minister Zhang Tingyu, the third minister Zhao Zhenhai, the Hubu Shangshu Xu Ben, the two Hubu ministers Zhang Yunfei, Wang Chuyi and others.
There are also several officials, but in Lin Zhao's opinion, they all have small positions and little power, and are not worth mentioning.
In fact, expanding the territory to millions of miles is indeed a good thing. For an emperor who loves great achievements, it is certainly a great thing. It is very unreasonable to follow the old example of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, who always brought the emperor to drink and dance.
But although Emperor Xiaode was a man of great talent and strategy, he was also pragmatic.
After opening up the territory for millions of miles, the actual population is only a few hundred thousand, and they are just herdsmen grazing, but because the Eros are eyeing them eagerly, they have to catch them.
In fact, it's just tasteless.
It's just a waste of military spending.
But because we need to be a buffer with the Eros people, we have to set it up.
As for Obasi of the Torgut tribe, it is reasonable to say that he wants to get rid of the rule of the tsar and lead his people back to the embrace of the motherland. This sounds very morale-boosting and shows that he is a filial and virtuous Khan who is tolerant of the world, but he will occupy the pasture.
, triggering violent conflicts among nomadic peoples.
Since ancient times, when the nomads in northern Xinjiang have brought trouble to China, was it not because the previous Han rulers allowed the nomads in the north to migrate southward?
Besides, the Torgut tribe is one of the four tribes of Erote Mongolia. No matter how you pull it off, it is related to Genghis Khan, Dayan Khan and the like, and is hostile to the Han nation!
Although Xiao Detian Khan wanted to tolerate the world and swallow up thousands of miles, this would consume money and the national treasury.
Without the development of new financial resources, is it possible to exploit the people?
Wouldn't I then become a foolish king who "measures the material resources of the Zhou Dynasty and gains the favor of the nomadic people"?
So while summoning Tian Congdian and Lin Zhao, the emperor also called the cabinet and the Ministry of Household Affairs to see if they could increase revenue and reduce expenditure to solve this problem.
"Xu Ben, you are the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. I have already given you the details on how to expand the territory in the Western Regions. Do you have any strategies on how to develop financial resources?"
Emperor Xiaode looked at Xu Ben and asked.
"Your Majesty!" Xu Ben, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, took a step forward and handed over his hand: "Since your Majesty came to power, you have worked hard to govern, and the revenue from the treasury has increased significantly, which is unprecedented. However, as the revenue from the treasury has increased, various national measures have also increased.
In addition to the border battles, the expenses are naturally like water, but your Majesty's inner treasury is getting richer and richer. I believe that your Majesty is the world, and the inner treasury is the national treasury. Your Majesty should not amass wealth, but should hand over the wealth from your treasury to the state.
.”
What Xu Ben, the Minister of Household Affairs, said was so righteous and impassioned that even everyone in the cabinet turned their attention to it, and several officials of the Ministry of Households nodded their heads, as if what Xu Ben said was an old man's advice for the country.
"Asshole!"
Emperor Xiaode shouted angrily, stood up, grabbed a penholder beside him and smashed it over. The penholder was made of jade and was heavy.
And the emperor was in his prime, with considerable arm strength.
I saw this arrow shot towards the meteor, and hit Xu Ben's forehead straight. If it hit Xu Ben this time, he might be seriously injured immediately.
It was too late to say that, but Lin Zhao reacted quickly and walked over with a single stride, pulling Xu Ben, the Minister of the Ministry of Finance away.
At the court meeting, both eunuchs and ministers, as well as Tong Lin in the corner, all knelt down and said in unison: "Your Majesty, calm down!"
Of course Lin Zhao did not kneel down.
But in everyone's mind, it feels like it's normal.
"I have set quotas in Yangzhou and set rules in Guihua City. You can't bear to live a more relaxed life. In the past, Yangzhou could collect so much tax and money? Was Guihua City so obedient in the past? What's your life like?
Can't you survive? Aren't you all trying to get more and pay less? You don't dare to bully those rich salt merchants, and you can't deal with the prairie men with knives, so you just grind me here? Yours
Where’s your face?”
Emperor Xiaode's scolding made the Minister of Household Affairs below turn from blushing to pale, and finally kowtowed to the ground. He continued with a sneer: "Yangzhou's tribute has not been reduced, and the tax money has been reduced three times in a row.
In 2016, without Lin Ruhai helping me suppress the salt merchants in Yangzhou, your Ministry of Revenue would not be able to collect tax money? Then what use would I have for you, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?"
Seeing that a cabinet scholar was about to speak, Emperor Xiaode said again: "Let me give you a brief explanation. This year's salt tax can be as high as four million. Why haven't we cut off a few inspections?"
, Secretary, now you are all honest, if you don’t do your job well, I will send out all the capable people! When the time comes, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will open a taxation agency, I will see how you civil servants still have the face!"
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is mostly filled with royal family members, military attachés, and eunuchs, and has never accepted civilian officials. Therefore, the courtiers and local officials were the most resistant. When the emperor suddenly mentioned this, the courtiers changed their expressions.
Xu Ben, the Minister of Household Affairs, turned pale. Not long after he took this position, taxes decreased and the national treasury became empty. He couldn't think of any way, so he thought about making a fuss about the royal inner treasury. Anyway, he passed the responsibility to
The royal family has no responsibility.
However, he was the new one after all, and some of the taboos were not so clear. He got into trouble right away, and even caused Emperor Xiaode to say these words.
Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs is a state agency, in essence it can only be said to be a royal agency. It only needs to be responsible to the royal family and does not need to consider the country at all. It collects money from the local government and does not need to think about what means and who has the money like local civil servants.
No matter who you attack, you will naturally deal with the wealthy gentry and relatives of officials, so the courtiers must argue vigorously every time this happens.
If Xu Ben caused this incident this time, he would definitely be hostile to officials from top to bottom, and there would be a lot of trouble in the future.
Xu Ben tried to shirk his responsibilities in the limelight, but he was almost beaten. He had to kneel down and ask His Majesty to calm down. This humiliating situation would probably become a joke to both the government and the public. However, the emperor wanted to arrange local tax collection under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This was fighting with the people.
Li, even if it is embarrassing, it still has to be argued.
However, Zhang Tingyu, Zhao Zhenhai and others could see that although the emperor was powerful, he also knew how powerful the landlords and gentry were in the world, so these were just angry words.
Not only did they notice it, Tian Congdian and Lin Zhao both bowed their heads and remained silent.
Emperor Xiaode sighed, looked at Lin Zhao, and said, "Lin Zhao, you just pushed Xu Ben away. Could it be that you want to recommend yourself and think of some ways to open up the country?"
Lin Zhao was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but be stunned.
Mmp, you, the emperor, are too shameless!
If I hadn't pushed Xu Ben away, you, the emperor, would have been called a tyrant!
You actually want me to take the blame!
Where is the law of heaven?
The other ministers were also startled, then breathed a long sigh of relief and looked at Lin Zhao together.
The emperor turns his attention to Lin Zhao, and everyone's burden will be relieved.
Speaking of which, Lin Zhao was a philanthropic boy in the Great Zhou Dynasty. He could make a lot of money with three tricks. This was proved by both Yangzhou and Guihua City.
Looking at the expectant looks of everyone, Lin Zhao could only say: "Your Majesty, the opening of Songjiang port should be on the right track, right?"