In the Wenhua Hall, Emperor Chongzhen first asked all his ministers to read Sun Chuanting's memorial, and then asked with a serious expression: "How do you think the matter of food and fodder for the front line should be solved? In the past, it was all
I am arranging these things, and now I want to hear what you think!"
In fact, since the golden finger of mobile phones was introduced last year, Emperor Chongzhen basically made direct decisions on the handling of government affairs, especially the military, skipping the outer court.
All the confiscated property was in the hands of the emperor and used directly for the reorganization of the Yongwei Camp and the Jingying Camp; the Dongchang also carried out the confiscation of the homes of the big salt merchants in Yangzhou, and set up procurement yamen in the south of the Yangtze River to directly purchase military supplies for the north.
If these things were done by the foreign court, it would be basically impossible to complete them.
Now, Emperor Chongzhen made it clear. This time, he wants the outer court to find a solution!
Suddenly, these officials from the Sixth Cabinet Department were dumbfounded when they heard this: Just do what we did before, okay?
No, Ni Yuanlu, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, coughed and went out to report: "Your Majesty, it is difficult to collect taxes across the country, let alone deliver them to the capital. The Ministry of Revenue has no money and food, what can we do?"
What he said is not unreasonable.
All over the country, either because there is a war or the emperor has exempted taxes for a certain period of time, it is basically impossible to collect taxes at least in the short term.
In the past, in addition to normal taxes, there were three rates. The Ministry of Household Affairs would have some money in their hands.
After hearing this, Chief Assistant He Fengsheng also came out and reported to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, hasn't the Zhangjiakou Gold Mine already made progress?"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he immediately asked: "What I want is military supplies, can I eat gold? I will give you gold, and you will be responsible for sending food and grass to the front line, how about that?"
When He Fengsheng heard this, he lowered his head and instantly transformed into a clay Bodhisattva!
Money can buy food, but this takes time, and judging from Sun Chuanting's memorial, the war cannot be delayed, otherwise it will be harder for the bandits to catch their breath and be wiped out!
Seeing that the ministers below him were silent, Emperor Chongzhen shouted coldly: "If I have to do everything, what use do I need you for?"
It's a bit heavy to say this.
He Fengsheng and others could only kneel down and plead guilty: "I know you are guilty!"
In fact, they really had no choice. They couldn't just ignore it like the emperor, ransacking their homes, and then ransacking their homes again, right?
If that minister dared to do this, it would definitely be Wei Ni's fate, and the final outcome would definitely be miserable!
As for conventional means, Ni Yuanlu has already said that at least under the current situation, money and food cannot be collected.
Emperor Chongzhen actually knew this. Of course, he only realized this under the guidance of Liu Weichao. Otherwise, he would not have used unconventional means to obtain money and food.
At least until the world is at peace and people's livelihood is restored, it is basically impossible to rely on conventional means to collect taxes and do things. And this is why many people believe that the end of the Ming Dynasty is already a dead end.
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen looked at the group of people kneeling on the ground. After waiting for a while, he sighed and said: "Actually, I also know your difficulties. Please stand up and speak!"
When He Fengsheng and others heard this, they felt grateful and understood!
After they got up, Emperor Chongzhen said with some emotion: "If railways can be built all over the country, it will not be difficult to transport goods from the southeastern coast to the Central Plains."
In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, there was a saying that if Huguang is cooked, the world is sufficient.
But the current situation is that there are riots in Huguang and there is no way to support the country's food supply. Only in the south along the coast can food be allocated. There are also procurement yamen in the south of the Yangtze River that can transport food by boat.
However, if we want to send this food to the front lines of the Central Plains, we will probably consume several times the amount of food on the way, which is a very troublesome thing.
As soon as Ni Yuanlu heard about this matter that was on her mind, she quickly said: "What your Majesty said is true. With the transportation capacity and speed of the steam train, in the future, not only the transportation of grain, but also the imperial court's control over the local area will be much stronger. Transportation of grain
, transporting troops is all convenient!"
Now that the train is just outside the capital city, it is obvious that everyone can see the advantages of steam trains at a glance.
Therefore, after he finished speaking, other ministers also agreed, supporting the large-scale construction of railways.
Emperor Chongzhen listened, nodded, acknowledged what they said, and then said: "It's just that the Railway Department has limited manpower and limited money and food. It can only do it one by one and roll it out all at once. This is impossible!"
Upon hearing this, Ni Yuanlu hurriedly said: "Your Majesty punishes your ministers for their incompetence, and I feel deeply ashamed. As the saying goes, be brave after knowing your shame. If this railway laying matter is done by the Ministry of Household Affairs, I will certainly be able to live up to your Majesty's expectations!"
"
"Do you have money and food?" When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he didn't know what his plan was. He just stared at the big fat piece of railway company. This was the point where he was preparing to transform under Liu Weichao's suggestion.
Therefore, I followed Ni Yuanlu's words and asked.
As I said just now, there is no money or food. Now that it is guaranteed to be laid, where will the money and food come from?
After hearing this, Ni Yuanlu turned to look at his colleagues, and then immediately replied: "Although the Ministry of Household Affairs does not have money and food, the people do. I think that such a large-scale railway construction must involve the local gentry, so that the local gentry can participate."
They use their money and food to do things, and then give some profits back to them, and then it can be done!"
As long as the railway is built, you can collect freight and have a steady stream of income. Who wouldn't like it?
"What's the profit sharing method?" Emperor Chongzhen seemed to think about it for a moment, and then asked again.
This plan was proposed in a hurry. Ni Yuanlu really never thought about the distribution of benefits. However, it was a rare opportunity to take advantage of the possibility of snatching food from the tiger's mouth. For fear of delay, the emperor changed his mind again, so he hurriedly said: "Build a railway."
The expenses will be funded by the local gentry, and in the future, your majesty will account for 50% of the income, 30% for the household department, and 20% for the local gentry."
"Oh?" Emperor Chongzhen seemed very interested when he heard this. He thought for a moment and then asked others: "Do you have any ideas about Ni Qing's proposal?"
He Fengsheng and others saw that the emperor seemed to be a little moved, so they quickly agreed and said it was meaningless.
If we don't take this opportunity to separate the Railway Department from the palace, it will not be possible in the future. And railway transportation is obviously the bulk of travel in the future, and it is certain to make money.
Obviously, their understanding of railways is not very deep.
Seeing that they all agreed, Emperor Chongzhen seemed to think for a moment, and then nodded and said: "That's okay, but the railway is an important road of the country, and the local gentry cannot be allowed to sit back and enjoy its benefits for a long time. After a certain period of time, its share of the income will be converted to
Reduce local government expenditures and reduce local government assessments and taxes. Of course, the local gentry contributes money and effort, and making money must be made by them, how about that?"
After hearing the last words of Emperor Chongzhen, Ni Yuanlu felt confident and quickly responded: "Your Majesty is wise!"
Taking food from the emperor's mouth has always been the tradition of civil servants in the Ming Dynasty.
At this time, when they heard the negotiation between the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and the emperor, the others looked at each other and all agreed.
Seeing that they all agreed, Emperor Chongzhen said another thing: "What do the ministers think about King Lu's rebellion reported to Wei Hui's house?"
These people present are not fools. Who doesn't know that if it weren't for Emperor Chongzhen's instructions, Sun Chuanting would go to trouble King Lu. Will Wei Hui's Mansion hold this memorial?
All the houses have been confiscated, and if the emperor had not agreed, he would have been furious.
For the feudal king, as long as they are civil servants, they have no favorable impression. Their butts will never sit on the feudal king's side.
If the emperor takes a fancy to the vassal king's money and seizes the vassal king's property, they will only say yes! Because the money for military supplies and food and grass does not need to be prepared from other places.
For them, no matter where they made the preparations, they did not make preparations from the feudal king, which made them feel even happier!
Therefore, after hearing the words of Emperor Chongzhen, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment was the first to report: "It is an ironclad fact that King Lu's mausoleum exceeded the regulations. The ministers thought that even if King Lu had no intention of rebellion, he was guilty of a major crime.
The crime of disrespect, even the penalty of confiscation of family property is light!"
"When the old minister first heard about this, he was shocked and inexplicable. Such a violation of the rules does not take the court laws into consideration. If we don't deal with it, everyone will exceed the rules in the future, and the country will be ruined!" Zuo Duyu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate
Shi Huang Zongzhou followed and said, "I think that even the vassal king and the emperor must be punished severely, so that he can warn others!"
He Fengsheng and others also agreed with this, saying that they must be severely punished. It was right for Wei Huifu and Sun Chuanting to do what they did.
Emperor Chongzhen seemed to be listening carefully to their words. When they had almost finished speaking, he nodded and said seriously: "I think what you said is reasonable. In this case, I will confiscate the property of Prince Lu and escort him away."
Fengyang guards the mausoleum and thinks about it. If other vassal kings still dare to violate laws and disciplines, I will not forgive them lightly!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
"..."
In the Wenhua Hall, Emperor Chongzhen's punishment of King Lu immediately aroused a burst of applause.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen did not feel sorry for those seven aunts and eight aunts at all. Instead, he thought that after this matter was announced to the world, other vassal kings should learn a lesson. If the factory guards he sent came to ask for money again, they would always
You won’t be a tough guy anymore, will you?
Otherwise, even if there is no Mausoleum of Prince Lu, we can still find another crime! Just ask them if they are afraid!
In the face of the ancestral foundation and the country, these relatives have to rely on their love and affection.
However, the matter of King Lu is so definite. With this as a basis, other things still need to be dealt with.
According to what Liu Weichao said, some people, some rich people, have a lot of money to burn, and they should take care of themselves.
So, after the Wenhua Palace became quiet again, Emperor Chongzhen turned serious and continued talking to his ministers.