Chapter 82: Dividing Silver on the Spot, Raising Profits in Times of Scarcity

The cash silver Hai Rui confiscated on this trip south was not as much as Zhu Yijun had imagined—the grand occasion of a salt merchant having hundreds of thousands of taels was somewhat of a daydream.

The main reason was that these salt merchants could only be considered gloves; the bulk had already been sent up, so it was hard to say how much could be left.

By comparison, the salt merchants did not produce as much as those judges of the Transport Commission, salt levy ambassadors, and vice-ambassadors.

Large and small salt merchants combined, cash silver, jewelry, calligraphy, and paintings totaled over six hundred thousand taels.

Nearly a hundred officials of all ranks were killed, but one million three hundred thousand taels were confiscated!

Sensational!

Sure enough, no wealthy merchant could compare to a clean prefect of three years.

This was only the number before seeing Li Chunfang.

If one added the large salt merchants promised by Li Chunfang, the portion of grain tax blocked by the Ministry of Revenue, and the family assets of more than ten high-ranking officials including Hai Yushi-in-Chief Xu Shi, Yingtian Prefecture Governor Zhu Gang, Ministry of War Vice Minister Ji Lian, and Taizhou Prefect, they could probably scrape together another nearly three million taels.

Combined, that was five million taels!

In the fifth year of Longqing, the annual income of the national treasury was only three million; this was a trip worth nearly two years of effort.

Not only that, but there would also be hundreds of thousands of *yin* of salt, thirty percent of the tea levy, and the grain tax conceded in the future.

Every year, at least several million taels more would be produced.

With such a rich harvest, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but want to do this every year.

Apart from salt administration, there were horse markets, maritime trade offices, border defense, empty pay, grain taxes, tea levies... one could count on one's fingers and not finish cleaning them up in ten years.

In any case, with so much money, he could finally stretch his legs!

Previously, a clever woman could not cook without rice, and he could only maneuver in political affairs; from now on, it would be different.

As long as he had this silver, he could emulate Emperor Wuzong and touch military power!

The weapon of criticism cannot replace the criticism of weapons.

If one wants to clear the universe for ten thousand miles, one must raise a thousand-pound rod.

Gu Huan had been placed in the Beijing Camp for a long time, holding his troops still, just waiting for money and grain.

Only by kneading the Beijing Camp into one piece would he have the qualifications to touch the Jin Party and shake the Southeast!

Ministry of Revenue Minister Wang Guoguang arrived at Chengguang Hall panting, the sweat on his forehead somewhat unseemly, showing he had truly come in a hurry.

No way around it, this was five million taels of cash silver!

The national treasury was currently in need of various silver, and when converted, it was only this amount.

As the Minister of Revenue, if he weren't anxious about this, he should basically leave this position.

Wang Guoguang took the towel handed by the eunuch outside Chengguang Hall, wiped his sweat slightly, straightened his clothes, and then stepped into the hall.

As soon as he entered, he saw the Emperor, the Senior Grand Secretary, and the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial each holding paper and pen, writing and drawing.

Wang Guoguang looked twice more before collecting his thoughts and stepping forward to salute: "Your Majesty."

Zhu Yijun looked up slightly and nodded for him to sit.

Then, having no time to deal with Wang Guoguang for the moment, he argued with Zhang Juzheng: "Senior Grand Secretary, last time to appease the various armies, the inner treasury lent out a full one million taels!"

"For this, my mother scolded me several times, saying that was the foundation for my wedding with the Prince of Lu, and we were almost at odds!"

"Senior Grand Secretary, this money should be returned to the inner treasury before dividing it, right?"

Previously, upon learning of the new Emperor's ascension, the officers and soldiers clamored, demanding the grain pay owed to them by the imperial court.

To quell this incident, the Taicang Treasury put out 300,000 taels, the Court of Imperial Stud Treasury drew 300,000 taels, the Jieshen Treasury put out 200,000 taels, and the inner treasury put out 1 million.

This matter was naturally the bargaining chip for dividing the money now.

Zhang Juzheng said respectfully: "Your Majesty, in this matter, the inner court put out 1 million, and the outer court put out 800,000; it is only right to return 200,000 to the inner treasury."

Zhu Yijun said earnestly: "Senior Grand Secretary, that's not how it's calculated. The officers and soldiers clamored because of owed pay, which were all old accounts from previous years; this doesn't have much to do with the inner treasury."

Zhang Juzheng realized and echoed: "Also true, old accounts indeed shouldn't be counted against the inner treasury, but..."

He looked at Wang Guoguang: "Minister Wang, I remember that previously Emperor Muzong borrowed from the Ministry of Revenue several times; does the Ministry of Revenue still have old accounts?"

Zhu Yijun choked.

Seeing that Wang Guoguang was about to answer, he hurriedly interrupted.

He waved his hand: "Alright, the palace and the government are one body; saying these things makes us strangers."

"Then let's divide it according to the rules; what the Embroidered Uniform Guard confiscated belongs to the inner treasury, what the prefectural government confiscated belongs to the outer court, and as for the extra grain tax, let everyone divide it equally."

This was strange; this time, no one other than the Embroidered Uniform Guard had intervened in the confiscations.

Zhang Juzheng shook his head: "Your Majesty, although these are family assets, they are actually embezzled salt taxes."

"My meaning is, why not follow the salt tax entering the capital: seven percent belongs to the Ministry of Revenue, and the rest is divided equally between the Court of Imperial Stud Treasury and the inner treasury."

The two pulled back and forth, unable to reach a stalemate.

Wang Guoguang watched for a long time and couldn't help but interject: "Your Majesty, Senior Grand Secretary, state affairs are paramount; why not settle the places that need money first, and then discuss the rest?"

At this rate of bickering, don't even think about reaching a result.

Wang Guoguang immediately brought out a reliable approach.

The two heard Wang Guoguang's words and stopped arguing.

Then, after pondering for a moment, both reluctantly nodded.

Zhu Yijun spoke first: "Based on the assessment, let's first reissue a portion of the salaries owed to officials at all levels."

"Now that the arrears for the two capitals and one province have been issued, the ones for other provinces must also be reserved first."

"The performance pay that should be issued this year must be reserved for the inner treasury."

"Calculated, it totals about 900,000 taels."

Clarifying the administration of officials cannot be done without money; after all, having no money will force people to become ghosts.

Only after issuing the money can one cooperate with thunderous means.

Zhang Juzheng agreed directly: "There is no wisdom greater than Your Majesty's."

It wasn't that the two were unevenly dividing the spoils, but that they had different views on the use of silver; however, there was no disagreement on using it for the *kaocheng* method.

It was just that with one opening of the mouth, 900,000 taels were thrown away.

Zhang Hong picked up a pen on the side and wrote the two characters "salary," noting 5 million next to it, deducting 900,000, leaving 4.1 million.

Zhang Juzheng continued: "Your Majesty, let's test it for two more seasons; by August, it will be a full year."

"I request to test the *kaocheng* method in provinces such as Huguang, Shandong, Henan, and Shaanxi."

Zhu Yijun glanced at Zhang Juzheng, knowing this was wanting to start measuring fields as soon as possible.

He thought for a moment and nodded slowly: "I am not well-versed in political affairs; you and the Grand Secretariat and court ministers can just discuss it."

"However... at that time, it is still necessary to sort out the shortcomings and defects well and come up with a more perfect set of regulations."

He would not interfere in such specific matters.

Just grasp the general direction.

Zhang Juzheng bowed in agreement.

After the two finished speaking, Wang Guoguang couldn't wait to speak: "Your Majesty, the canal grain from the Canal Transport Office has entered the capital, totaling 2,711,501 *shi* and 1 *dou*."

"It is 400,000 *shi* less than in previous years, and 290,000 *shi* less compared to what should have entered the granaries."

"Can you show grace and purchase a portion from the commoners around the capital?"

This part of the deficiency was caused by canal transport shipwrecks, and also by Wang Zongmu drawing a portion to run sea transport.

This was all grain pay for the border towns; in any case, this part had to be made up.

The commoners around the capital were actually the large households around the capital; after all, there were really too many people exempt from taxes in the capital.

Zhu Yijun and Zhang Juzheng looked at each other.

This account naturally had to be accepted; one couldn't take the benefits and not accept the losses.

Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and said to Wang Guoguang: "Let's go with eighty percent of the market price; the account still has to go through the Ministry of Revenue."

What the Ministry of Revenue wants to store is miscellaneous grain, rice with husks mixed with wheat.

There is no fixed number for how much a *shi* of miscellaneous grain costs; sometimes it is 2 *qian*, sometimes 1.2 *taels*.

But now there are only small disasters and difficulties, so it is not too expensive; the price around the capital is 7 *qian* per *shi*.

Buying at eighty percent of the price is 160,000 taels.

Zhang Hong picked up a pen on the side and wrote the two characters "grain silver," estimated again, then used 4.1 million, deducting 160,000, leaving 3.94 million.

Wang Guoguang naturally had no objections and hurriedly thanked him.

But he did not retreat immediately, instead saying: "Your Majesty, this year's salary grain for the imperial clan has risen by a large chunk again, and the inner treasury needs more than 100,000 taels more..."

There were too many places needing money; he could only list the items and ask for as much as was needed.

But Zhu Yijun could not indulge him in this.

He refused flatly: "Minister Wang said earlier to settle the accounts for places in urgent need of money; the salary grain for the imperial clan has its own precedents, so why bring it up now?"

Although Zhu Yijun knew that Wang Guoguang's words made sense, the silver taken away by the inner treasury increased year by year, all under the name of increasing salary grain for the imperial clan.

The royal family's expenses were in the millions, but the amount truly used for the inner court, compared to the salary grain for the imperial clan, was a three-to-seven split.

Gold-swallowing beasts!

But knowing was knowing; he had no way now, having just ascended the throne, so moving the imperial clan was truly not the right time.

His tone was firm, giving Wang Guoguang no room for negotiation.

Seeing this, Wang Guoguang could only shut his mouth.

Next, Zhang Juzheng took over: "Your Majesty, the military expenses for the two Guangs, Ningxia, and Xuan-Da still have a gap of 700,000 taels; we have already submitted memorials to urge the Ministry of War several times."

The needs of the border towns were naturally the most urgent items now.

Zhu Yijun shook his head: "I know about the two Guangs and Ningxia, but Xuan-Da..."

He really didn't want to let Xuan-Da suck blood anymore.

The words stopped at his lips.

After all, he really didn't know if these people were making up names or if they were truly short of money.

What if it were the latter?

Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and waved his hand in compromise: "Then let it be so; 700,000 for the three places."

Zhang Hong wrote the two characters "border towns" on the paper; 3.94 million, deducting 700,000, leaving only 3.24 million.

Zhu Yijun was in no mood to calculate these.

His intuitive feeling now was that Xuan-Da was truly too capable of asking for money!

Yesterday it was "horse feed and grass; besides the regular support, add one month of horse feed every year for feeding."

Today it was "guest soldier silver for Xuanfu Town."

Tomorrow it would be "completion of the construction of border forts and mounds."

Each time it was 30,000 or 80,000; not much, but truly too frequent.

In the fifth year of Longqing, the border towns used 4,209,192 taels and 6 *qian* 2 *fen* of silver, and Xuan-Da accounted for thirty percent!

On the contrary, the grain was 946,986 *shi*, 5 *dou*, and 7 *sheng*, accounting for only fifteen percent.

Those who didn't know would think they didn't eat grain but only silver.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yijun asked: "Why hasn't Wang Chonggu entered the capital yet?"

Last year, he was promoted to Minister of War, and he requested to delay entering the capital on the grounds that the Tatars were patrolling and invading the borders.

The central government naturally persuaded him with kind words, asking him to enter the capital to take office after the year.

It was already the seventeenth day of the second month; still not done delaying?

Four hundred *li* felt like three thousand *li*.

Seeing the Emperor was a bit angry, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but persuade: "It should be soon; the day before yesterday, Grand Secretary Yang already submitted a memorial to retire."

Yang Bo's current position in the Grand Secretariat was occupied by Zhang Siwei.

The Emperor and the Senior Grand Secretary had clearly stated that they did not want to see the Jin Party occupy the three seats of the Grand Secretariat, Ministry of War, and Ministry of Rites.

If Wang Chonggu wanted to enter the capital, Yang Bo had to retire.

Conversely, since Yang Bo had submitted the memorial, Wang Chonggu should also enter the capital.

Zhu Yijun still said gloomily: "Arranging back-up plans for half a year, looking like I'm going to trick him into the capital and kill him."

Zhang Juzheng looked at the Emperor strangely, not daring to refute.

Instead, he brought up another matter: "Your Majesty, the Xuan-Da Viceroy should have someone to succeed him."

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng: "Does the Senior Grand Secretary have a recommendation?"

For matters consistent with his interests, he would respect the people pushed up by the Grand Secretariat.

For the Xuan-Da matter, he naturally trusted Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng pondered for a moment: "How about Tan Lun, former Right Hai Yushi-in-Chief of the Censorate, concurrently Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and Assistant in charge of Beijing Camp military affairs?"

Zhu Yijun pondered without speaking.

This person was indeed within his expectations.

A *jinshi* by background, yet a military talent with long experience in actual combat.

When it came to the ability of a civil official to command, Qi Jiguang, Liu Xian, and Yu Dayou had all been under his command and had been recommended and promoted by him to varying degrees.

When it came to the actual combat achievements of a military general, there was the great victory at Pinghai Guard when he was Provincial Governor of Fujian, beheading over ten thousand enemies and quelling the Japanese pirate scourge in Fujian.

When it came to the qualifications of a minister's resume, he had served as Provincial Governor of Sichuan, Viceroy of the two Guangs, and Viceroy of Jiliao; he had served in almost every central position in the north and south.

The so-called "thirty years in the military, counting over 21,500 heads in merit, also a pillar of the time," with solid combat achievements in front, he was one of the top military stars and capable ministers of the time.

However, a capable person is a capable person, but his health is not very good.

Zhu Yijun asked with concern: "I heard Tan Erhua has a chronic illness?"

I don't know why, but there are especially many lung diseases in this era.

Zhang Juzheng's father, Zhu Xizhong, and Tan Lun were all like this.

Previously, Tan Lun's lung disease flared up, and he frequently coughed with phlegm during court, was impeached by the censors for being unseemly, and only then did he retire to his hometown.

Now asking him to go to Xuan-Da, I'm afraid he will die of illness.

Zhang Juzheng deliberated: "Just use his prestige to deter Xuan-Da and the Tatars; there should be no close-quarters combat."

Zhu Yijun thought about it and acknowledged the matter.

At the end, he gave an instruction: "Ask first; if his health truly cannot take it, don't force it. They are all national scholars; they should have a good ending."

Zhang Juzheng was silent and bowed in agreement.

Zhu Yijun sat up slightly and looked at Zhang Juzheng: "Senior Grand Secretary, the three places of the two Guangs, Ningxia, and Xuan-Da have been supplemented with 700,000; I have nothing to say, but..."

"The pay for the Beijing Camp must also be issued!"

Zhang Juzheng paused and explained: "For this matter, I'm afraid I still have to ask the Ministry of War."

Some camps and guards don't issue pay because they have no money, but some don't issue it because they do it on purpose.

Not all officials hope that the Emperor has a strong army directly under his command.

Zhu Yijun naturally understood this.

It was precisely because he understood that he had not taken any action after calling Gu Huan back.

Only now that he could issue the pay did he dare to put this matter on the agenda.

He said sincerely: "As for the Ministry of War, wait until Wang Chonggu enters the capital; now, I want 1.5 million taels of pay!"

Zhang Juzheng had no reaction, but Wang Guoguang and Zhang Hong on the side couldn't help but jump in their hearts.

The three places of the two Guangs, Ningxia, and Xuan-Da only asked for 700,000; the Beijing Camp alone wanted 1.5 million taels.

Don't tell me, you want to expand the army!?

Zhu Yijun naturally knew what they were thinking.

Before Zhang Juzheng could speak, he explained: "Besides military pay, there are also uses for craftsmen, firearms, and rewards; it is not empty talk."

Zhang Juzheng was expressionless, pondered for a moment, and said: "Your Majesty, there are only 5 million in total; 1.5 million is a bit too much."

"The other treasuries like the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Treasury, the Court of Imperial Stud Treasury, and the Jieshen Treasury are all still short on accounts."

"Especially the Jieshen Treasury of the Ministry of Works; in the past six months, there have been the mausoleums, the Yellow River, and Your Majesty previously asked Minister Zhu to build ships."

"Your Majesty... please show some understanding."

He knew the Emperor wanted to reorganize the Beijing Camp, and he didn't care about the details of craftsmen and firearms.

But there was only so much silver, so he still had to show understanding for the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue that were not at the table.

Wang Guoguang also spoke: "Your Majesty, last year there was an earthquake in Ningxia and Shaanxi; the disaster relief silver was drawn from the local prefectural treasuries, and it is still short."

Zhu Yijun was helpless; why were there so many places short of money?

Building ships indeed shouldn't be skimped on; he also knew that the Court of Imperial Stud was short on horse price silver and guest soldier silver.

Disaster relief was even less to be said.

Zhu Yijun sighed: "1.2 million, then; it really can't be less, Senior Grand Secretary."

Seeing the Emperor concede, Zhang Juzheng knelt to plead guilty.

Zhu Yijun waved his hand, signaling it was fine.

Zhang Hong silently wrote down the two characters "Beijing Camp" on the side; 3.24 million, deducting 1.2 million, leaving 2.04 million.

At the end, seeing that the Emperor and the Ministry of Revenue did not mention any other items, he wrote down a note: "Remaining 2.04 million; inner treasury, Taicang Treasury, Court of Imperial Sacrifices Treasury, Court of Imperial Stud Treasury, Jieshen Treasury, etc., waiting for court deliberation to decide how to allocate."

Zhang Juzheng looked at the somewhat aggrieved Emperor and couldn't help but persuade: "Your Majesty, the reign has just been changed, and the salt administration has been settled; in the future, with an extra million taels every year, you won't be so embarrassed."

"Your Majesty has a long life; there is no need to rush."

This meant you are still young; the good days are still ahead.

Zhu Yijun nodded, considering it heard.

But he thought for a moment and emphasized: "However, this silver cannot be distributed without authorization, bypassing the Viceroy."

Previously, the Earl of Zhangwu was a waste; sometimes after the Beijing Camp issued pay, he had to be told by his subordinates to know.

Now that he had replaced him with Gu Huan, this opening could no longer be opened.

For soldiers, whoever issues the pay, whoever's words count.

Issuing pay bypassing the Beijing Camp Viceroy is truly too much.

Zhang Juzheng nodded and agreed to this matter.

Seeing the Emperor was still a bit uneasy, he couldn't help but look at the Emperor and say seriously: "Your Majesty, if you have any doubts, why not... inspect the troops yourself!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 83 =====