Chapter 55: Methodical, Convinced and Nodding

Coming up with a big move, bringing up the salt administration in the two Huai regions, but it was not that Zhu Yijun had the heart to bully an honest man.

It was really forced by the situation, and someone must take on this great responsibility.

Short of money!

Counting the things Zhu Yijun wants to do now.

Official governance, tax system, land measurement, opening the seas, re-establishing the Imperial Household Department, promoting the sprout of natural philosophy, splitting Southern Zhili, improving the tribute system... and so on.

Every single item, there is no matter that does not need real military power as a backing.

Training troops always requires white silver.

This brings us back to that question—when considering where the money is used, we must first answer where the money comes from.

How much money is in the subordinate treasuries of each ministry is the first thing he needs to be told after Zhang Juzheng is in charge.

Zhang Juzheng didn't want to hide it from him, and after having the results, he informed him for the first time.

Among them, the situation of the Court of Imperial Entertainments is the worst.

In July, he let Feng Shi, the Right Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, check the Court of Imperial Entertainments.

In September, there was a result, and he played that the Court of Imperial Entertainments had no balance for years.

This is fine, from the change of reign of Longqing to the fifth year, counting all provinces, a total of 195,200 and more were in arrears.

In other words, spending the future's money, not a cent left, and the accounts of the provinces also began to be uncollectible.

Then there is the Great Granary Treasury of the Ministry of Revenue, which is the national treasury.

After Zhang Shouzhi retired, Wang Guoguang took office as Minister of Revenue and immediately thoroughly investigated the Great Granary Treasury.

There was a result last month.

Great Granary Silver Treasury, as of the end of June.

A total of 2,525,616 taels of silver, 465 taels of gold, and 16,199,408 copper coins.

All converted into silver, even if calculated by more, it is only 5 million taels of silver!

This is the national treasury! The Heavenly Dynasty, the national treasury only has 5 million taels of inventory!

Far away, in the second year of Longqing, the annual expenditure was 4.4 million taels, and in the near future, last year, it also spent more than 3.2 million.

In other words, the national treasury only has more than one year of inventory. No wonder Gao Gong said that he could not easily start a war. With this little money, if he fought a battle, the national treasury would be emptied.

The rest, large and small, such as the Court of Imperial Stud Treasury of the Ministry of War, are almost in this state of spending the future's money and being in debt.

The inner treasury is no exception, otherwise the late Emperor would not have run to the Ministry of Revenue to ask for money.

Especially after spending 1 million in August, there were only 2.3 million taels left.

Zhu Yijun had roughly known about these situations for a long time.

So he made plans to open the source early.

How to open the source of wealth?

Whether it is the tax law, land measurement, or opening the seas, these real source-opening things need silver as a bottom, as well as long-term preparation.

Therefore, Zhu Yijun stared at the salt administration for the first start-up capital!

There are six salt transportation commissions, namely two Huai, two Zhe, Changlu, Shandong, Fujian, and Hedong.

No matter which well it is opened from, these six commissions are responsible for collection and transportation.

And most of the world's salt administration falls on the two Huai regions.

The so-called Changlu Shandong, cheap price and full tax, only Huai salt occupies half of the world.

But salt administration makes money fast, but it doesn't mean there is much tax revenue.

During the Hongwu period, there were 30 salt fields in the two Huai regions, with 350,000 *yin* per year, which is 140 million catties.

As a result, now, just changed the unit of measurement, from 400 catties per *yin* to 200 catties per *yin*.

It sounds like there are 700,000 *yin*, but in fact, it is still 140 million catties.

Very stable.

Of course, corresponding to this is the private salt that doesn't know where it came from, which is increasing day by day, which seems to be the sea salt dried by Japanese pirates.

Actually, this is fine. If the tax is paid in full, Zhu Yijun can tolerate it for a while.

But according to the current salt *gang* system, one *yin* collects 6 *qian* 4 *li* of silver, and an additional 3 silver tax and 3 silver public envoy.

A total of 6 silver 6 *qian* 4 *li* tax per *yin*.

Then the two Huai regions should pay at least 4.6 million taels of tax.

But what about the reality?

Last year, the Ministry of Revenue, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and other treasuries were added together, only 1.1 million taels!

Two percent on the surface! Not counting the private salt sold!

Simply deceiving heaven!

From salt merchants, salt fields, and local government offices to the Transport Commission, the Grain Transport Yamen, and the parasites in the central government—inside and out, top to bottom—who knows how much they have collected!

This is the reason why he called Hai Rui back.

This scale of corruption, Zhang Juzheng might not support this matter.

As long as there is private affection, one must talk about "the big picture comes first".

Especially the private requests in the Ming Dynasty can be said to be rampant.

Zhang Juzheng relies on the Chu Party, with many students and old officials, intertwined, and will be dragged away by everyone.

Not to mention the Zhe Party and Jin Party frantically pulling legs.

It can be said that the salt administration in the two Huai regions, except for Hai Rui, no one can handle it.

The twists and turns here, as long as you pull someone with an official status, you know a little bit.

Hai Rui naturally is no exception.

He reacted instantly and asked back: "Has the center reached this point?"

The salt administration in the two Huai regions is much harder than exploiting the people.

Now that the salt administration in the two Huai regions is to be moved, the situation in the center must be urgent.

Zhu Yijun praised secretly.

This is the reason why he appreciates Hai Rui.

Persistence, but also extraordinary political wisdom.

Clean official, and capable official.

But as long as it can be controlled, which superior doesn't cherish it?

Zhu Yijun nodded and said bluntly: "Hai might not know that the financial loss in the center has reached this point."

"If we don't take advantage of the current strength to find a way to collect taxes, I'm afraid..."

Zhu Yijun stopped at the point.

Instead, he detailed the inventory of each division treasury.

Hai Rui's expression was solemn, only feeling that the situation was shocking.

Zhu Yijun saw Hai Rui listening carefully.

Continued: "This is fine, the tax silver collected from all over the country is decreasing year by year, and there are even arrears."

"Many provincial administration commissioners have changed, and they don't recognize the accounts of their predecessors."

"And the predecessors were transferred, and they said they didn't know."

"So much so that only 80% of the summer tax was collected this year."

"There was also a mess in military pay."

"In July, the internal and external officers and soldiers learned that the late Emperor died, and they all clamored together, asking the local governors to urge the arrears, a posture of mutiny."

"Finally, the Cabinet and I really had no choice but to gather everywhere."

"In the August court discussion, the Great Granary Treasury of the Ministry of Revenue came out with 300,000 taels, the Ministry of War drew 300,000 taels from the horse price silver of the Court of Imperial Stud Treasury, and the Ministry of Works played to reduce the regulations of the mausoleum, saving 200,000 taels from the cautious treasury."

Speaking of this, Zhu Yijun raised a finger, his tone complex: "My inner treasury took out 1 million taels."

"A total of 1.8 million taels, 664,319 internal and external officers and soldiers, 2 taels of silver each."

"It was suppressed."

He looked at Hai Rui: "Hai, I really don't want the Great Ming Dynasty to be handed over in my hands."

Hai Rui looked at the young Emperor who was worried about the country and the people, and was stunned for a while.

When he returned to his rise this time, many people said that he was nearly sixty years old, how could he still take on a heavy responsibility, and advised him to rest at home and serve his mother.

But now seeing this young Emperor, with a young body, carrying the world, isn't he more tired than Hai Rui?

Zhu Yijun finished the suffering, explained the necessity, and then cut into the topic: "So, I want you to start from the salt administration in the two Huai regions and clarify the tax administration."

This matter can be said to be difficult to the extreme.

Without killing people, don't think about doing it.

And the danger of this is self-evident.

Hai Rui finally came back to his senses, but didn't agree easily.

Instead, he sat upright and asked cautiously: "What does Your Majesty want me to do?"

Agreeing to this matter is also a reminder.

Today is the first time he met the new Emperor.

Although the Emperor treated him with courtesy and sincerity, he didn't understand the Emperor after all.

Hai Rui was afraid that the Emperor was young and thought things were too simple.

At the beginning, just dealing with Xu Jie alone, he inadvertently stirred up a "civil riot".

That was just 300,000 *mu* of good fields, and now what the Emperor wants to move is the food and clothing of millions of canal workers!

Hai Rui is not afraid of the importance of this matter, but only afraid of messing it up, ruining the big picture, and failing the Emperor's trust.

Zhu Yijun didn't answer directly.

Seeing that the dishes were served, he stopped talking.

Instead, he said: "Hai is tired from the journey, must be hungry, let's talk after eating."

Hai Rui wanted to say more, but Zhu Yijun hurriedly pressed him: "After lunch, let's talk in another place, I will take you to see a few people."

The former didn't speak anymore, saluted, and ate lunch somewhat restrainedly.

During this period, Hai Rui kept looking at the Emperor.

Hai Rui is not a stupid straight person.

On the contrary, Hai Rui is a biased smart person.

When he was a county magistrate, he encountered a bribe, but he couldn't afford to offend the son of the governor, so he would falsely claim that the person was impersonating, and tied him up to send to the governor.

And then remonstrating with the late Emperor, he also knew that he should say all the good words, and set the tone that the nature is good, and later slackened.

Later, dealing with Xu Jie in Nanzhili, although he lost, he also showed flexible means.

Hai Rui naturally understands that the young Emperor in front of him, the previous performances, have some components of buying people's hearts.

But, he is still ready to take on this errand without reservation.

Naturally, it is not that he likes to bow down, but that Hai Rui has Hai Rui's code of conduct—Hai Rui, only observes his actions.

No matter how much he says, it's all flowery.

If he wants him, Hai Rui, to whitewash the peace, or come back to be a helper, he will turn around and leave, and there is no room for discussion.

Conversely, if the errand given to him, Hai Rui, is really beneficial to the country and the people, even if he is smashed to pieces, he will definitely not hesitate!

Therefore, when he heard that the parasites of the two Huai regions were to be cleared out, he did not have the slightest hesitation in his heart and immediately agreed to this matter!

Hai Rui has always only done what he thinks is right.

He, will only live for justice!

The two were busy talking about serious business, eating very fast, and after a simple scramble, they finished the meal.

Zhu Yijun led Hai Rui out of the Wenhua Hall.

Let the attendants follow further, and then he turned back to pick up the topic just now.

The two walked on the wide imperial road, and there was no one around.

Zhu Yijun apologized: "The so-called monarch is not secret, then the subject is lost. The Wenhua Hall is crowded with people, so it is not as convenient as this open place to talk about things."

This is explaining why he interrupted Hai Rui at the key place just now and didn't talk about it.

Hai Rui looked at the Emperor in surprise.

It is hard to imagine that this is the city government that a young Emperor can have, and he actually maintains vigilance in such a place as the Wenhua Hall.

He inexplicably added a few more points of confidence.

Zhu Yijun waved his hand: "Where did we talk just now?"

Hai Rui said carefully: "Said, what does Your Majesty want me to do?"

Is it to stop at the point?

Or to stir up the two Huai regions?

Or to investigate to the end and poke the nine heavens?

If the Emperor has different goals, his appointment this time naturally also needs different responses and means.

Zhu Yijun walked in front and signaled Hai Rui to walk closer.

And then turned his head, looked at Hai Rui seriously and said: "Hai, I don't want to use you as a knife that is discarded after use."

This is a heartfelt word, sincere.

Hai Rui naturally felt it, but didn't dare to take this word, after all, there is a suspicion of implying the late Emperor.

Hurriedly wanted to plead guilty.

Zhu Yijun helped him and hurriedly advised: "Listen to me carefully."

The Three Bonds and Five Constants are in the brain, easy to command, but it is indeed a bit uncomfortable to get along.

He managed to persuade Hai Rui.

Only then continued: "The matter of the two Huai regions, I will draw a line for you."

Hai Rui didn't understand, and asked suspiciously: "Please clarify, Your Majesty."

Zhu Yijun nodded and said: "First, this matter does not need to be completed, four or five percent of the effect is enough, you grasp it yourself."

"Second, things before the first year of Wanli, let bygones be bygones."

Now there are two months until the first year of Wanli, enough for Hai Rui to rush to the two Huai regions.

Not investigating the old, and leaving room, are necessary compromises.

If you have to investigate to the bottom, the fire will inevitably burn half the sky.

It is said that it will be burned, and Hai Rui will be carried to oppose the Emperor.

Who dares to guarantee that the Zhang Juzheng, Lu Diaoyang, etc. he relies on are all clean?

Not to mention whether his Imperial Father-in-law, his Empress Dowager, his Three Dukes, his inner court, his Embroidered Uniform Guard, can be clean?

Launching an indiscriminate anti-corruption prison is no less than a dark turmoil.

Instead, it will cause the things that really need to be done to be expanded, lose their rules, and then end in a sloppy way.

However, the truth is this truth, he is still a bit afraid that Hai Rui will stubbornly refuse to agree.

After all, the historical image and the real person may not be the same.

After saying this, he couldn't help but look at Hai Rui, wanting to see the reaction of this Sea Blue Sky.

If he really can't rub sand in his eyes, he will use other plans.

However, to his surprise, Hai Rui didn't shout that corrupt officials must be killed and never forgiven.

Instead, he cast an admiring look.

Until the Emperor looked at him suspiciously, he explained helplessly: "Your Majesty, do you think I am some kind of stubborn person?"

Fortunately, he started as a county magistrate and went all the way to the center.

I don't know what the world has passed him into.

Even this young Emperor is afraid that he is such an old stubborn.

Zhu Yijun coughed lightly, covering up his embarrassment: "That's not it, it's just that I'm afraid that the corrupt officials will go too far and make you excited."

He looked left and right and continued: "Where the Performance Assessment Law arrives, I will distribute performance."

"Previously, the salary was insufficient, making the officials lose their restraint, which is also my lack of virtue."

"But, if the Performance Assessment Law arrives, and the performance is issued, and they still don't know how to restrain, Hai, you don't have to worry."

The two Huai regions and Southern Zhili are also within the scope of this Performance Assessment Law.

If the salary is not enough, you reach out, that's fine, otherwise you can always blame the Zhu family.

But after the performance is issued, if you still don't know how to live or die, then don't blame the Emperor for killing you.

High salary does not necessarily raise honesty, it must be combined with thunderous means.

Hai Rui beside him, I don't know if he thought of the poor official career, or if he saw colleagues who were greedy because of poverty.

A trace of complexity flashed in his eyes.

Arched his hands and bowed, performing a thank-you ceremony: "Your Majesty is benevolent, the humble subject thanks on behalf of the clean stream of the world."

Does Hai Rui lack money? Does he not have the heart to make his wife, children, and mother live better?

But the imperial court's salary is just a little bit, and he has no choice.

He understands the situation of relying only on salary, and naturally understands how difficult it is for ordinary people to persist like him.

That's why so many colleagues went on the evil path.

Now that the Holy One thinks of the difficulty of the clean stream, and has this political achievement of performance, he is really thanking on behalf of future generations and colleagues.

Zhu Yijun didn't pay attention and helped him up.

Continued: "As for how to deal with it, I will draw a few more lines for you."

Hai Rui bowed and listened.

Zhu Yijun put his hands behind his back and talked eloquently: "First, the powerful small officials, gentry, and salt merchants in the family who have no official status, you deal with them heavily, kill as many as you can."

Without official status, the energy is always limited, and it can't stir up too much wind and waves.

It is just the right time to take the opportunity to clear out a batch of parasites, confiscate their property, and wipe out their families, which will also help fill the national treasury.

"Second, those involved in the seventh rank and below, you deal with them according to the law, don't worry about the wind."

This batch must be dealt with.

The atmosphere has already been ruined, and it is necessary to clear these small officials, vacate key positions, and leave them for the officials who pass the Examination and Assessment Law.

"Third, those below the fourth rank, you must clarify the law, meet with Wang Zongmu and the Ministry of Justice, and handle it into an iron case. If you need to be decisive, tell me before you do it."

Above the seventh rank, it can be said to be a high official in a place.

Even if you give Hai Rui the title of inspector, you can't be arbitrary.

Handling it into an iron case is naturally to reduce Hai Rui's political risk.

If you want to compete for timing, power and flexibility, then report it to me, and I will naturally help make up the procedures afterwards. If someone pursues responsibility, I will naturally top it.

As for clarifying the law, it is also considered.

This level of high official is the weather vane of the regional political atmosphere.

It must be killed well to have a deterrent effect.

"Fourth, those at the fourth rank and above, don't move easily. Your fourth-rank board can't carry it. Just let me know, and I will make the decision for you personally."

Hai Rui, this Assistant Hai Yushi-in-Chief, is only fourth rank himself, and there are a lot of third-rank vice ministers and second-rank ministers in Nanzhili.

Not to mention some old and immortal super-ranks.

If these people are really involved in the case, Hai Rui will not be able to carry it.

Letting people carry it again has the risk of being too hard and easy to break.

Zhu Yijun has not been cold enough to this point.

Naturally, he needs to take it himself.

Hai Rui listened quietly to the Emperor's sincere friendship and drawing a line for him.

A few words were decisive, and the murderous spirit was overflowing. Hai Rui didn't know why, but a smile suddenly appeared on his face, and the more he smiled, the brighter it was.

This kind of rules of conduct, the talent is even better than the late Emperor.

How could he not hear the intention in it.

With Hai Rui's years of experience in doing things, he understood that this was targeted.

This Emperor is like marching and arraying, knowing himself and the enemy, dividing and drawing, and breaking each one.

In addition to this heaven-sent talent, the trust and care in it made Hai Rui touched in his heart.

Seventh rank and below can be dealt with at will.

Fourth rank and below follow the process.

What kind of entrustment and trust is this?

Other inspectors, even if they have the King's order flag, cannot shout and kill civil officials.

The Holy One is completely delegating power to him.

What is even more rare is that he doesn't let him kill at the fourth rank and above.

If there is no such sentence, the Emperor is just using him as a knife that is discarded after use.

But once this last sentence is added... Hai Rui sighed in his heart, it is really impossible to repay.

However, while moved, he did not forget to check for omissions.

Hai Rui asked respectfully: "Your Majesty, what about the nobles and imperial relatives?"

The salt administration in the two Huai regions, don't think it's just local corruption.

In the two capitals, those in high positions are mostly involved, and nobles and imperial relatives must also be in the game.

Zhu Yijun had already thought of this joint.

His tone was strange: "Let them come to me, just say, I have a big business here, don't worry about small profits, otherwise don't blame me for turning my face and not recognizing people."

Give face, then exchange interests; if you don't give face, you can only peel off the faces of these nobles yourself.

This is a bit of a mystery.

But the Emperor didn't say, and Hai Rui wouldn't ask in detail.

Just saluted and indicated compliance.

At the end, he reminded: "Your Majesty, Minister of Justice Wang Zhi, I heard that he was quite popular in the officialdom of Nanzhili before."

Let kill return to kill.

But Assistant Hai Yushi-in-Chief, at most, handles cases, how can he kill as he says.

To clarify the law, this matter must fall on the Ministry of Justice.

But the current Minister of Justice Wang Zhi, his popularity in Nanzhili is a bit too good.

Zhu Yijun naturally heard the implication.

He shook his head slightly and said solemnly: "Don't follow the process of the Ministry of Justice."

"The Minister of Justice of Nanzhili has retired, I will not fill the vacancy for the time being. At that time, the Left Vice Minister of Justice of Nanzhili, Wang Xijue, will cooperate with you."

"And the new Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, Chen Dong, will follow you to the two Huai regions."

Hai Rui sighed.

The Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple... This is a Three Judicial Offices tailored for him, Hai Rui.

It is really calculated.

I didn't expect that he, Hai Rui, would have a day when he didn't have to worry about authority.

He saluted again, his tone firm, and set a military order: "The Holy One trusts me so much, the subject will definitely not fail the mission!"

Zhu Yijun grinned: "Hai, don't worry, there's more."

"Go, I'll take you to the drill ground and give you a few more people."

Note 1: Order to take 300,000 taels of silver from the Ministry of Revenue, 300,000 taels of horse price silver from the Ministry of War, 200,000 taels of silver from the Ministry of Works, and 1 million taels from the inner treasury, to reward internal and external officers and soldiers, as in the first year of Longqing. Send four supervising secretaries to the borders, together with the viceroy, governor, and inspector, to reward the main guest border troops, from Liaodong to Gansu, a total of 664,319 people, 2 taels of silver each.

Note 2: Ministry of Revenue played: Taicang Silver Treasury, at the end of June this year, a total of 2,525,616 taels of silver, 465 taels of gold, and 16,199,408 copper coins.

Note 3: Right Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue Feng Shi said, the annual income of the Court of Imperial Entertainments is only enough for one year's use. Recently, there have been many ceremonies in the country, and the expenses are immeasurable. Check from the change of reign of Longqing to the fifth year, counting all provinces, a total of 195,200 and more were in arrears.

Note 4: Inspector of Zhili Zhang Shouyue, article six things of salt law... under the Ministry of Revenue, said Taicang Silver Treasury, in the fifth year of Longqing, the income was only more than 3.1 million, and the expenditure reached more than 3.2 million. ===== CHAPTER 56 =====