Chapter 340 – The Heart of the Emperor is Hard to Predict

More than two million taels …… commercial tax ……

This amount is beyond Zhu’s imagination.

In the eyes of the world, Zhu Di was an emperor who was ‘good for nothing’.

It was because of his ‘good-for-nothingness’ that he naturally wasted countless amounts of money.

He made one northern expedition, another to the West, and launched a war against Annam.

As a result, countless ministers to advise, in addition to that in the Ministry of households daily worry white hair Xia Yuanji, naturally, there is on the original almost did not Zhu Di angry Li Shimian such as ministers, that Zhu Di to do these things, empty the national treasury, depletion of the people’s power.

The people s power has not been consumed Zhang Anshi do not know, but empty the treasury …… which really wronged Zhu Di.

With the tax capacity of the Ming Dynasty, the actual situation is that although Zhu Di has done a lot of things, but in fact …… even if he does not do these things, the annual annual income can be said to be poor.

One of the most important reasons for this lies in the fact that the commercial tax is almost difficult to collect, or …… not collected at all.

This is also a magical thing, the world’s two richest groups, one is the scholar-gentry a merchant, actually do not need to pay taxes, the former would be fine, but the latter you say that the merchants did not pay taxes, in fact, it is also wronged them, in fact, they suffer from the exploitation of the absolutely not small, just these exploits, and the treasury of the imperial court has nothing to do with it.

Looking at this number, Zhu Di said: “are said to rest and recuperate, into his mother, how …… are one and all so rich, more than two million two, in previous years the silver tax, the whole world a year only got so much, which also encompasses the official salt and iron silver, now the district can do it in one house. ”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “In order to encourage business, in fact, I will set this commercial tax has been very low, more is not good to ask for, the merchants have praised the minister benevolence, said that like me such a good man, can not be found by lanterns.”

“Nonsense.” Zhu laughed, “You took away more than two million taels from people, and you still expect them to read your favor?”

“Your Majesty, merchants don’t really care about paying a little tax if they make a profit, it’s the uncertainty they fear ……”

“Hmm?”

Zhang Anshi of course knew very well that no one likes to pay taxes, the reason why he said so was actually just that the merchants and traders of this era had something more terrible to do, making them prefer to pay taxes honestly and properly.

Zhang Anshi said: “I let a person investigated, said in Qixia, there is a merchant, originally a cargo, and then gradually have some capital, so the sale of silk, he said that once upon a time to do this silk trade, is in the betting on life, from the origin of the goods, in itself, there are risks, a fear of thieves, fear of the official, the thieves see you have the silver, it may be murder, and you bet silk all the way through the various crossings and passes, but wherever the officials are staring at or local some of the head of the snake will not be able to avoid planting you on the charge, in order to be safe, you will have to think of ways to plug the silver. and passes, but where the officials are staring at, or some of the local snakes, it is not inevitable to plant your charges, in order to be safe, you will have to think of ways to plug the silver, not a day is not panic, so …… on the surface, the government did not levy taxes from him, but in fact, in order to deal with the official and the thieves, his spending, at least three or five times as much as now! The three or five times, not to mention, do not know when to get into trouble with the lawsuit, or …… was killed by the mountain bandits.”

Zhang Anshi continued: “But Taiping Province this side, set up the rules, as long as the tax, the government side try to crack down on bandits, in addition, try to provide convenience, dare not say that this official business is not collusion of the possibility, but the exploitation is reduced by seven or eight percent, which merchants instead feel buy ** formerly good to do ten times a hundred times. Now Taipingfu …… colorful workshops, there are many stores, are so spawned.”

Zhu Di also seems to have grasped the core of it, “You mean …… the merchants and merchants …… actually should be out of the silver are also out of it, and also out of a lot, only… . these silver …… fell into other people’s pockets.”

Zhang Anshi smiled awkwardly, “I didn’t say that, I just made an analogy.”

Zhu Di snorted coldly from his nose: “No wonder this up and down, are obstructing the new government, one by one, like a dead mother, but also a vibrant, heh ……”

Zhang Anshi then said, “Your Majesty, forget it, there is no need to be concerned, can we still slaughter them.”

Zhang Anshi did not say okay, so said, directly let Zhu Di burst into a rage: “I slaughtered them just how?”

Zhang Anshi then dryly laughed: “Hehehe …… forget it, forget it, slaughtered one, the new one is not still the same …… not to shovel this soil clean, that is just futile, I thought … . this matter …… is better to forget it.”

Zhu Di gritted his teeth, his back teeth are going to be crushed: “Then it will be eradicated together. Into his mother, merchants and people screamed bitterly, silver are squeezed away, not a penny to me here. In the end, who is the world?”

Zhang Anshi was silent.

“Hm?” Zhu Di had thought that Zhang Anshi would go along with Zhang Anshi’s words by saying that it was naturally His Majesty’s world.

But Zhang Anshi showed a difficult color, so that Zhu Di s heart …… sank violently.

Silence, it must be said, sometimes brings great harm.

Zhu Di said, “Could it be that you mean to say …… that this is not my Daming Jiangshan?”

“I did not say so.”

Zhu Di said, “If you have anything to say, there’s no harm in saying it.”

Zhang Anshi said awkwardly, “Your Majesty, it’s almost enough, this can’t be looked into deeply.”

Zhu Di was furious: “I see something in your words.”

Zhang Anshi coughed, “I am guilty of ten thousand deaths.”

Zhu Di was momentarily furious, but after all, there was no way to vent his anger on Zhang Anshi, so he could only bow his head, continue to read this zhangshi, and said, “This grid of yours, it looks interesting.”

Zhang Anshi said: ”Yes, I am now the right governor, the management of more provinces and counties, in order to select talent, but also for the governance of the provinces, intends to invoke this form, as a means of performance, your majesty, you see, in the future, this form, there will be a comparison of the taxes of the provinces and counties, in addition to the …… there is also the annual growth, by the way. Here …… is the statistics of the enrolled students, which is also included in the performance. Here it is, is this table, is each county above scale pig iron, silk, cloth production. In the future, I intend to further refine the statistics to include the number of medical centers and doctors, as well as the number of workshops above the scale, and even the number of water conservancies, bridges, and roads constructed each year. Your Majesty, the good and bad officials, in fact, in my opinion, with the so-called gentleman to measure, does not have any practical significance, we often say, what the many positive surplus dynasty, in fact, this is just a joke, who is positive, who is evil? Who is good and who is evil? This, on the contrary, will only make the ministers only pay one-sided attention to the so-called ‘official reputation’, and ‘official reputation’ is something that precisely makes the officials govern, fearful.”

“Scowling?”

Zhang Anshi said: ”In the actual process of governing the prefectures and counties, I have discovered an extremely serious problem, that is, no matter what is implemented, there will always be quite a lot of opposition, and those who have gained …… will generally not make a sound, but if those who have lost out as a result, they are bound to yell around and curse endlessly. The people who have gained a lot of money will always have a lot of opposition. Your Majesty, think about it, if too much importance is attached to the official reputation, what is the final result? It is that people who are officials dare not do anything, so they are reduced to talking about it every day. Just like this trip to the West, if Your Majesty wants to go to the West, it is bound to attract controversy, but what are the benefits of going to the West? If Your Majesty also has an official reputation, I’m afraid that this going to the West Ocean alone is going to attract countless people’s criticism.”

“And it is precisely those …… people like Li Shimian in the court, as a court official, but almost not in charge of the actual affairs, only daily rhetoric, or today’s impeachment of this, tomorrow painfully impeachment of that, it looks as if doing nothing is not to plead for the people, but in fact, he is sitting and eating the people’s fat and wealth, in the world and what good is it? But in reality, he sits and eats the people’s fat and wealth, and what good does it do to the world? But on the contrary, it is such a reticent person, often praised as a gentleman, as a righteous minister, everyone touted, all praise, I dare to ask your majesty …… the court to raise the purpose of the soldiers, in the end, is it to let them rule the world, or to let them receive their salaries, to build up the reputation of it? Is this not tantamount to offering a clay Bodhisattva?”

“So I thought …… this is the first major harm in this dynasty, if the dynasty is full of such talkative people, sooner or later there will be a big problem, I thought, it is better to formulate a performance to speak with data, other things in this world can be deceiving, of course, the data may also deceive people, but at least …… it is much more accurate than the vast majority of things, the good or bad governance of a place is nothing more than to look at its money and food, to look at its schoolchildren enrolled in school, to see whether the people are sick can seek medical treatment, as well as whether the transportation is convenient, will be these various factors, made of the table, everything is clear.”

Zhu Di heard this and was quite impressed, “You can try, so let’s start trying from you.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Yes.”

Zhu Di then sighed: “My brother …… that is, the king of Shu …… is still worrying me about …… the matter, he is an honest person, I did not expect. but also be pulled into such right and wrong.”

Zhu Di said this, depressed in his heart.

Many of Zhu Di’s brothers were ambitious, probably because their dads were all Zhu Yuanzhang.

But this Shu Wang, to be honest, is a rare honest man, favoring such a good reputation, but was suddenly coaxed up, but had to let Zhu Di born of vigilance.

After all, the essence of Zhu Di and Shu Wang this pair of brothers is still considered to be amicable, and now everyone praises Shu Wang virtuous, a certain degree is actually Yin and Yang Zhu Di is not virtuous, so Zhu Di is bound to be wary of Shu Wang.

Often, the so-called heavenly family flesh and blood, is in this situation, step by step to confrontation, inevitable, not to mention the brothers, even if the father and son, and not so.

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty …… I have two hands to prepare, please rest assured, Your Majesty.”

Zhu Di was not in a position to say anything to Zhang Anshi and only nodded his head, “Go.”

Zhang Anshi excused himself.

Forms of the learning class, carried out very smoothly, the counties have drawn manpower, learning, and then …… Zhang Anshi and ordered the printing workshop, specializing in printing a large number of special forms, distributed to the counties.

For the money and food thing, everyone actually got it right.

The new officials of the various prefectures and counties, immediately copy the experience of Taipingfu, the fire speed inventory of hidden fields, both hidden fields, then …… belong to the crime, of course, but not like the Taipingfu that, the direct treatment of the crime of deceiving the king, just the hidden fields, all confiscated.

For a while, the grievances were widespread, half of Zhili, as if in the crater generally, and even appeared a number of attacks on the killing of clerical officials.

Thus, the model battalion attacked to eliminate the thieves, and the Jin Yiwei hearty rider four out.

Finally, it was early winter before things calmed down.

Taking advantage of the agricultural leisure, they began to measure the land and carry out the distribution of the land, because the experience is readily available, so there is no mess, of course, this is still the result of the brocade guards to poke around.

But bad things, but also occasionally, such as Suzhou County, there are people in the county government office arson, because the burning is kerosene, the fire will not be extinguished, so that the local county magistrate was burned directly to death, other officials, was burned to death seven or eight.

Zhang Anshi took his troops to Suzhou in the night, searched and raided the city for the night, inspected the losses, and ordered compassionate treatment.

When the matter was settled and returned to Qixia, Zhang Anshi summoned Chen Li to come, Chen Li had long been terrified, and when he saw Zhang Anshi, he bowed down and said, “I am incompetent.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Which there is a thousand days of defense against thieves, just to do things in the future, or to be more meticulous, must be strictly guarded, forbid these things to happen.”

“I have also heard …… that many of the subordinate officials of our Left Governor’s Office …… them …… their families… …”

“You said ……”

“My humble inquiry, many of these people’s families are in their hometowns, some people threatened …… to be unfavorable to them, not only that …… Shouzhou County Lieutenant his family’s ancestral tomb … . has also been dug up, open coffins to kill corpses ……”

Zhang Anshi stood up and paced back and forth, he took a deep breath, and naturally knew in his heart that such conflicts could no longer be resolved.

When it was confined to the Taiping House, each other has not yet reached the point of the sword, but now …… has reached the point of the same water and fire.

“Investigate thoroughly, make sure you find out who did it, and when you do, immediately imprison all those involved, as well as their families, by imperial decree; they dare to play such terror-creating tricks in front of me, Zhang Anshi, and they are really making a fool of themselves.”

“Yes.”

“And ……”

“What are the Governor’s orders.”

“Send more men to protect me.”

“Ah …… yes, yes …… humble consideration is not well thought out, actually neglected this matter, humble ten thousand deaths.”

Zhang Anshi waved his hand, “Go.”

Over the course of several months, a decree was sent to Chengdu.

Zhu Chun, King of Shu, rushed to the capital.

Zhu Di also ordered all the post stations, so that they are good along the way good hospitality.

By the beginning of November, finally …… Zhu Chun went west and finally arrived at the capital.

This way, since it is not free from labor, and Zhu Chun this person, has always been thrifty, not luxury, with the escort, but only a few people.

He arrived first in Quang Duc State in the dust.

This Guangdezhou is the boundary of South Zhili, and the mood of …… Zhu Chun is very bad along the way.

The court pushed him this Shu King to do what the left governor, let Zhu Chun is very vigilant about this, the situation in the capital, he is not unaware of, Shu Wangfu some of the staff, but also worried about this time …… may lead to the palace on him this Shu King’s suspicion.

Just …… at this time, he had to come, because if he refused to enter the capital, instead, he might arouse everyone s suspicion.

Zhu Chun to advocate education and famous, Wang Fu, gathered a large number of scholars, the most famous, is the original Fang Xiaoru, just after Fang Xiaoru into the dynasty as an official, who had thought that the last but was killed by Zhu Di, which makes Zhu Chun very regrettable.

Among the several people accompanying this trip, there were two great scholars accompanying them.

One is called Liu Guangjin, is a famous Confucian scholar in Sichuan, the other is Liu Desheng, this Liu Desheng has been successful in the examination, but for the examination is not enthusiastic, but drunk on painting, poetry, idleness, but Zhu Chun is courteous to him.

The three of them, plus a few guards, were worried about themselves along the way.

Zhu Chun was in a bad mood and was even more depressed when he arrived in Guang De Zhou.

There is still some distance from the front of the post station, Zhu Chun has been exhausted, let people stay at will, the three of them, are dressed as Confucians, and therefore did not attract too much attention.

After checking in, Liu Guangjin and Liu Desheng came to Zhu Chun’s bedroom to see him, and the two of them saluted Zhu Chun, “Your Highness, you will be entering the capital soon, is it better to send a fast horse to inform first.”

Zhu Chun put down his own compilation of the Dedication Garden Ruizhi Collection and glanced up at the two: “No need, keep everything simple and don’t make a big deal out of it, or else it will inevitably be noticeable, and that’s not a good thing.”

Liu Guangjin nodded, “Is Your Highness still worried because of His Majesty’s suspicions?”

Zhu Chun pondered for a moment, “Sometimes, people are exhausted by fame, this king naturally knows what the dynastic princes are thinking, they are trying to borrow this king to question your majesty’s state policy ……”

Liu Guangjin sighed, “Your Highness, in these two years, the court has indeed gone too far, if this continues, sooner or later, something big is going to happen. What is the difference between Your Majesty’s move and burning books and pitting scholars?”

Zhu Chun, however, said with a straight face, “Be careful what you say.”

“Yes.” Liu Guangjin was hastily silenced.

That Liu Desheng but laughed: “Your Highness …… If Your Highness meets His Majesty, His Majesty really let Your Highness be this left governor?”

Zhu Chun mused, “What I’ve seen along the way, what I’ve seen is mostly people’s livelihoods withering away, hey ……”

Liu Desheng said, “Then what does Your Highness mean ……”

Zhu Chun said, “Hey, don’t talk about this ……”

He shook his head, not even indicating his heart.

Liu Desheng and Liu Guangjin obviously knew that His Highness the King of Shu was a prudent man, not that they did not trust the two of them.

Rather, even he himself, up to now, could not make up his mind.

Staying in the capital will be scorned by his own imperial brother, plus his reputation is too big, the more the hundred officials tout him, the more the way to take trouble.

But looking at the world …… this way, so much so that even the hundred officials are not afraid to make a fuss about the risk of killing his head to deliberately give his majesty a hard time, visible dynastic situation has come to an unmanageable point, if you do not do a little thing, is really sorry for the ancestors and ancestors.

“This way, the officials along the way, heard that His Highness the King of Shu into the capital, one by one, all elated, there are a lot of local officials, even moved to tears …… ” Liu Desheng lamented: “are saying that …… If His Highness the King of Shu can take up a big responsibility, perhaps the world can turn around, the Ming can no longer withstand the toss.”

Liu Guangjin, however, sighed: “But this is undoubtedly the king of Shu, into the dilemma of the situation, the clan governance of the capital, at least in my Ming, is unprecedented, the king of Shu, the king of the popularity of the king of Shu, this is not a good thing ah.”

The words of the two were both reasonable, so Zhu Chun mused and said, “Go to bed early, you still have to travel tomorrow.”

Early the next morning, Zhu Chun will move, he has always dawned up to read a book, before eating a little refreshment, and then continue to move to depart, here is just a small county, Zhu Chun do not like to welcome to send things, so lazy to inform the parents of this place.

A few moments later, the guards brought Zhu Chun’s donkey, Zhu Chun rolled over onto the donkey and rode away with the other two.

Out of the city, then to a place, not yet gone far, was suddenly intercepted by a group of Zhuang Ding, someone led dozens of people swarmed, one of them shouted: “Daring, you step on our crops.”

Zhu Chun saw the situation and was calm and relaxed, he had a kind of noble aura that was not angry.

Liu Desheng was furious and called out, “Don’t make trouble.”

Several guards in the back, also tensed up.

This man went forward, “I see that they are not good people, I am a local li long, come …… to see what goods they are carrying.”

He let out a loud cry, and then a group of bankers at the back wanted to swarm up.

Liu Desheng said, “Do you know what we are.”

“I only know that you are not readers.” The manager crossed his arms, proudly said: “Although you are wearing Confucian clothes, head scarf, but carrying so many goods, but this Confucian clothes scarf, but with Shu embroidery, but also speak the official language of Fengyang, in all likelihood, you are Qixia merchants it, there are a lot of merchants, in order to avoid trouble, intentionally use the dress of the readers, in order to try to deceive us, there are also you riding donkeys, not decent, if the readers would not be so, this state has rules, all merchants crossing the border, goods are required to ten for one, and let people see, and let people see, all the goods need ten for one. Unorthodox, if it is a scholar, will not be so, this state has rules, all merchants crossing the border, the goods are required to ten draw one, and let people see, you here bet what goods.”

Here the chief is imposing, with a smug look on his face.

Zhu Chun laughed, “How are you guys any different from strongmen.”

“Cut the nagging, that’s the rule around here.”

The guards were already going to feel for the swords on their bodies.

Unfortunately, the chief of this place was quite annoyed and walked up, kicking Zhu Chun’s seated donkey so hard that the donkey shrieked in alarm and began to scurry about.

Zhu Chun was so shocked that he fell off the donkey.

In a flash, the guards drew their swords, and when the chief here took a look, he was also taken aback, “This is the official army.”

He cried out, turned and fled.

The crofters, not knowing what to do, also dispersed.

The two of them, Liu Desheng, hurriedly helped Zhu Chun up and helped him pat the dust on his body.

Zhu Chun was in a sorry state to the extreme, saying, “The world’s wind has come to this, hey ……”

“Your Highness, I will send a letter to the county office of this county and tell them to demand the thieves.”

Zhu Chun shook his head and sighed, “There are so many such people in the world, so what’s the point of taking one?”

At that moment, he pacified the donkey and rolled back up again, saying, “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s talk about it when we get to the capital, and don’t make any trouble.”

Zhu Chun raised his head, in front of him was a ferry, but found that it was crowded with people.

Zhu Chun simply didn’t ride a donkey either, and walked nearly a mile on foot before barely getting close.

But I saw that the place was already overcrowded, with many people bringing their families and even some carrying luggage.

At the ferry, however, there were a number of officers and soldiers, one calling out something.

Zhu Chun pulled one person and said, “What is this? Going to a fair?”

The man turned back, resentful look, only vaguely said: “You also go to Taipingfu to make a living? Be careful, now the road guide check is strict ……”

…………

I’ll be adjusting over the next two days, this is the second update from yesterday, I’ll move the update back over the next two days, and I’ll have two more today.