[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-great-ming-i-remonstrate-daily-becoming-the-eter":3,"chapter-great-ming-i-remonstrate-daily-becoming-the-eter-great-ming-i-die-daily-remonstrating-becoming-th-chapter-47":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Great Ming: I Die Daily Remonstrating, Becoming the Eternal Prime Minister?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2038702,3117,"Chapter 47","great-ming-i-die-daily-remonstrating-becoming-th-chapter-47",47,"\u003Cp>It was precisely this question from you, old fellow, that I was waiting for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Su Qiao remained utterly composed and said calmly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your subject can state with certainty that, given time, the civil and military officials of Great Ming will surely be thus!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know that even Liu Liu Bowen dared not make such a guarantee to us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Qiao sneered and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because the Count of Sincerity dealt in feng shui and numerology, whereas I do not; I only dig out the root of the illness. If the root is not removed, the patient dies of the disease—is that not common sense?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where lies the root of the illness?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The root of the illness is Your Majesty himself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>49, silver is nothing but stone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Sihe Academy fell into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the chirping of crickets remained in the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang stared fixedly at Su Qiao and asked, somewhat bewildered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you truly unafraid of death?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Qiao looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang with an expression of helplessness and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, during the former Song Dynasty, a first-rank official received a monthly stipend of one hundred and twenty taels, with various allowances totaling two hundred and forty taels, amounting to an annual income of four thousand three hundred and twenty taels.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In our dynasty, a first-rank official receives a monthly grain stipend of merely eighty-seven shi, with no allowances whatsoever, yielding an annual grain stipend of only one thousand and forty-four shi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, do you deem this appropriate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang immediately realized the implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We pickle our own vegetables daily within the palace, yet the entire court practices strict frugality?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the court consumes one mouthful less, the common people under heaven can gain one mouthful more; what could be wrong with that?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Qiao sighed helplessly and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Your Majesty aware of a common saying among the folk?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"'Master the arts of war and literature, then sell them to the imperial house'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone under heaven knows that when courtiers enter the government, they are essentially becoming long-term laborers for the Son of Heaven. If the Son of Heaven pays so little, how can one expect the courtiers to exert themselves or the soldiers to dedicate their hearts?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Your Majesty were a merchant, would you make such a deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang instantly flew into a rage and rebuked harshly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what if it is so? We merely issue them eighty-seven shi of grain each month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Scholars under heaven still flock to it like ducks, and all the talented individuals under heaven enter the court.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Su Qiao immediately remarked sarcastically,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does Your Majesty not find this terrifying?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately stood speechless on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared fixedly at Su Qiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long while, he could not utter a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a fool knows this deal must inevitably result in a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why is it still so sought after?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it truly be that they have had a change of conscience and seek office solely to serve the people?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang said sternly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they do not take the imperial examinations, would not their lofty ambitions go to waste?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Under heaven, there is only this one house!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All the fertile lands under heaven have already returned to Great Ming; the remaining barbarian states are either filled with miasma or poisonous insects. Even if they wished to go to another house, where would they have to go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Old Zhu could only grasp at the point of monopoly to refute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Su Qiao immediately opened his mouth to counter,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty's words are erroneous. Although the kingdom of Goryeo lies overseas, its Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and Chungcheong circuits (Chungcheong consists of Cheongju and Chungju, not renamed after the Qing Dynasty) possess a climate no different from Jiangnan, lacking the miasma and poisonous insects of Jiaozhi, and it is separated only by the Paek River. Why do they not migrate to Goryeo to fulfill their ambitions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As Your Majesty knows, the stipends for the officials of Goryeo are in no way inferior to those of our Great Ming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang immediately snorted coldly and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A mere band of uncivilized barbarians; how could they possibly be as wealthy and prosperous as our Great Ming!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has Your Majesty ever considered why wealth and prosperity have become the reference index by which officials compare three different houses?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was momentarily at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Great Ming is wealthy and prosperous, why do the officials not leave?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because in wealthy and prosperous places, there is grease to be skimmed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Old Zhu was beginning to show signs of breaking down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's expression turned gloomy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They dare not! We have issued ancestral instructions and erected an iron stele, immutable for ten thousand generations: anyone who embezzles sixty taels shall be flayed and stuffed with straw!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Above there are the words of the sages, and below there are the ancestral instructions of the sovereign father; we simply do not believe that so many would dare commit such a rebellious act of betraying their teachers and annihilating their ancestors...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke these final words, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's voice noticeably diminished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the news from Chongzhen's side had already been confirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the entire court of civil and military officials had not taken the Sage's words much to heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Old Zhu's ancestral injunctions,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they had likely long been used as toilet paper...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Qiao, however, smiled coldly with indifference and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, do you truly believe that every monarch of future generations will be able to control their ministers just as Your Majesty does?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Furthermore, has Your Majesty ever considered one thing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since the fifth year of Hongwu, official salaries have repeatedly been paid in converted goods.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does Your Majesty really think the value of silver will remain constant forever?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing these words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's expression suddenly changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately rebuked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nonsense! A difference of a few copper coins—does that count as a change?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If today it is worth ten jin of grain and tomorrow twenty jin, would silver still be silver?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing aside, Su Qiao reminded him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, scarcity creates value.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The price of gold and silver remains stable only because the total amount of gold and silver under heaven is limited to just this much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But has Your Majesty considered what would happen if a certain region suddenly unearthed a massive quantity of silver?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As far as this subject knows, overseas in Fusang, there exists a silver mine that in recent years has produced hundreds of thousands of shi of silver annually! Moreover, this output increases year by year. Given time, if all this silver flows into the Central Plains, will the meager salaries of the officials under heaven still be enough for them to survive?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter how you argue it, even if silver is exceedingly rare, it is ultimately nothing more than a piece of iron! A stone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment these words fell,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was instantly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silver is merely a stone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silver mine in Fusang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang immediately became alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a few days ago, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian had told him about the grain prices in the Great Ming of that future era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One shi of rice actually cost two taels of silver!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the Hongwu reign, one shi of rice cost less than one tael of silver!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, seeing this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang had assumed it was simply a year of disaster, where grain was expensive and silver cheap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this matter of the silver mine was true.\u003C\u002Fp>",1330,"2026-06-15T23:33:58.699Z","2026-06-16T00:02:23.775Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","44b98ef83d3f50584c360a2328ac2b1d7dfeaef53ff7b9c913b43df24056b009","great-ming-i-die-daily-remonstrating-becoming-th-chapter-48","great-ming-i-die-daily-remonstrating-becoming-th-chapter-46",125,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fgreat-ming-i-die-daily-remonstrating-becoming-th-cover.jpg"]