It’s the twelfth lunar month.
Tang Yin has been sending troops for nearly a month, but the court knows nothing about his troops.
Because of Tang Yin's dispatch of troops, the original impeachment of him had to come to an end. However, at this time, some officials in the court who participated in the impeachment of Zhang Zhou had just come out of the imperial edict. Naturally, there were also A batch of them were folded and sent to Binhai City for shipbuilding.
At this time, Ming Dynasty's fleet heading to America returned to Binhai City, Ming Dynasty's port, after more than half a year of sailing.
For a while, both the government and the opposition were also very concerned.
The main reason is...
This is the second time that the Ming Dynasty has sailed to the Americas in two years. This time the fleet is larger, the ships have stronger carrying capacity, and they are also equipped with Ming soldiers. The quantity, as well as the number of firearms, was unmatched by the previous one.
The purpose of such a massive overseas trip is to obtain more resources.
As the fleet docked, the first step of the report had been transmitted to the capital. This was the most exciting thing for Zhu Youtang, and the most terrifying thing for the civil servants in the DPRK and China...
This time the fleet brought back at least ten million taels of silver.
It was less than two million taels compared to the last time, which was several times more. When the number reached the capital, there was no other sound from the government and the public except for saying it was incredible.
Previously, some people in the DPRK were worried that the two million taels of silver would bring about a sharp depreciation of silver on the market. However, as time went by, the number of Ming products increased sharply in more than a year. , especially the increase in daily necessities such as cloth, allowed people to experience the freedom of dressing.
With the advent of new crops, more people began to have enough food and clothing.
The purchasing power of silver is still rising, so no one dares to criticize casually, saying what kind of bleak market prospects these ten million taels of silver will bring, and many people are even applauding it... …Because the Ming court was rich.
It seems that there is finally no need to exploit the people, and even the silver in the Ming treasury can be saved. The uncashed salaries of Ming officials and soldiers can now be distributed together.
……
……
Zhu Youtang still did not go to court.
But as Zhu Youtang confirmed that he had more than 10 million taels of silver in his account, the first thing he did was to agree to pay all the owed salaries to all officials in the court at once with a stroke of his pen. After the payment was completed, an additional bonus was even given.
That is, on the basis of the original folding color, add 30%.
In the original salary of Ming officials, the part other than the original salary was outrageous. It was often said to be one hundred taels, and it would be good if it could be converted back to ten taels.
But this time, the one hundred and thirty taels will be given out for several years at a time...
Even the most honest official in the court can get one at a time. With a salary of several hundred taels of silver, it feels like pie in the sky, and you can live a life without worries about food and clothing in an instant.
So much so that after the officials heard the news, they thought they had heard it wrong or were spreading rumors. But when they actually took the salary home and even distributed the salary and rice, they Only then did I know that the Ming Dynasty was rich.
After Shen Lu got his salary, he immediately went to find Lin Han.
At this time, Shen Lu admired Lin Han very much. He also knew that Lin Han was not interested in government affairs and was about to retire. He wanted to get something from Lin Han while the Minister of Civil Affairs was on good terms with him. .
"Mr. Lin, let me tell you this to make you laugh. This time I got more than 470 taels of silver. It is said that I can get another 2300 taels at the end of the year..."
Shen Lu was very happy.
Although Shen Lu has a background as a relative of the Zhang family, it is still not easy for officials of the Ming Dynasty to make some money outside of their duties.
Lin Han asked: "Are you short of money?"
Shen Lu smiled bitterly: "Is there anyone in the world who is not short of money? Silver is a good thing, Lin Didn't I get a lot this time? Your salary is much higher than mine."
"It's just over a thousand taels..." Lin Han said with an indifferent expression.
"It's really enviable." Shen Lu said, "If you can pay so much silver every year, at least you will have an income of three to four hundred taels of silver in a year, right?"
Lin Han said: "How can it be that easy?"
Shen Lu smiled and said: "In the past few years, haven't I cashed everything at once? By the way, what are you doing with three or four hundred taels of silver this year? Isn’t it enough? Are you still thinking of quitting?”
When these words came out, Lin Han felt a little embarrassed.
He was determined to retreat before, and even had a showdown with Zhang Zhou, asking Zhang Zhou to help him talk to the emperor.
But now that he suddenly received more than a thousand taels of silver, he thought that he would receive another three to four hundred taels of silver in the next year, not counting the year-end bonus... He felt that he would not take bribes and bend the law. They can all live a prosperous life like a corrupt official...
When I think about having wives and concubines to feed, and a whole family waiting for me to feed them, it feels like saying, don’t leave, stay. Continue to support your family.
After retirement, all you can do is sit back and eat.
If I ever thought about such a good life again, it would be gone.
Shen Lu said: "Mr. Lin can be regarded as a representative of upright officials in the court. You never accept gifts. Even when others come to you to discuss matters, you turn them away. Since you took charge of the Ministry of Personnel, the court has The evaluation of middle school officials can be said to be the most fair and just time. Who doesn't praise it now?"
Lin Han waved his hands and said: "Don't make such compliments. Let me ask you, in recent years, how have you really been? Are you stronger than before?"
"What do you think?" Shen Lu said with a smile, "Even when Ma Shangshu was here, there were factions in the court, and you were the only one who recommended and evaluated the world. When he was an official, he never avoided relatives and friends. This kind of magnanimity was something that no one else had."
Lin Han thought about it and couldn't help but nodded: "It's not that I don't avoid it, it's that I don't.Nothing to avoid. ”
Shen Lu smiled and said: “Isn’t that because you can take care of yourself? If it had been anyone else, it wouldn’t have worked. ”
“That’s true. ”
Lin Han suddenly felt that it was necessary for him to stay in the Ministry of Civil Affairs and serve as minister.
It seemed that he was the only one who was not on the side of traditional civil servants, nor was he considered one of them. On Zhang Zhou's side, he would help both sides, but he would not help either side.
It is actually difficult for a fence-sitting faction to stand up in the government, but only as a minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs can he do it. It's really rare to be able to do both.
And there's one more thing...
Lin Han loves money, but he gets it wisely and never embezzles it. Breaking the law, and he is from a teaching background. He sometimes falls into book bags and is very principled... Even if there is a slight flaw in his character, that is, his interest in concubinage is unusual for ordinary people, it is not illegal. .
Some people like him and want to marry him without giving him any political help.
The only thing that was bad about him before was his salary. It’s not enough to support such a big family, or the life is not that prosperous, but now that I suddenly have money, I feel that being an official is a good choice.
“Mr. Lin, you’d better not quit. After you retreat, it is not certain what the government and the opposition will be like.
Shen Lu said earnestly, "Now everyone in the court wants to retain you, and even His Majesty often talks about your kindness. Do you think there is anyone in the court or the public who dislikes you?" If this were changed before, it was just a matter of official assessment, wouldn't it be a bloody battle? "
Lin Han said: "But I have already told Bingkuan..."
"Cai Guogong must be on your side. Shen Lu smiled and said, "Who made him your son-in-law?" "
"I dare not say that, the little girl is just a concubine he took into his room. "Lin Han still knew it in his heart.
Shen Lu smiled and said: "Who doesn't know that Ling Qianjin is the marriage gift given by the emperor? If it were anyone else, who would be able to get it? Besides, Cai Guogong respects you very much. "
"Bingkuan is very... polite to me, but there are some things..."
"Stop talking about it, just treat it as my colleague representing the DPRK. Could you please? What's wrong with staying in the DPRK for a few more years and watching the Ming Dynasty's resurgence? Our Ming Dynasty also needs people like you. If it were someone else, wouldn't you be afraid of trouble in the government and the public? At that time, the party will be divided again, and there will be endless worries. "
As Shen Lu spoke, he seemed to be about to kneel down to Lin Han.
Lin Han sighed: "Let me think about this matter again. ”
Shen Lu knew there was something going on as soon as he heard it.
In the past, no matter what he told Lin Han, Lin Han would always have the same attitude, that is, go back as soon as possible to take care of himself. To put it bluntly, I want to get out of it.
But now that there is money to pave the way, even stubborn people like Lin Han seem to have changed their minds.
……
……
p>Before the money was sent to Beijing, the salaries that had been owed to officials from the DPRK and China for many years were paid out. They were paid in full and bonuses were added.
Smiles can be seen on the faces of everyone in the government and the public.
But not everyone felt excited about this. Just like Liu Jian and Li Dongyang, neither of them showed any joy on their faces. Instead, they were worried about it.
"Is Zhang Bingkuan trying to win people's hearts?"
On this day, Li Dongyang specially stayed to watch the night with Liu Jian. After the candles were lit, Li Dongyang did not forget to go over and follow him. Liu Jian talked about this.
Liu Jiandao: "Ten million taels of silver at a time, is this news accurate?"
Li Dongyang shook his head and said: "I don't know if it is accurate, but His Majesty's hand is huge. This batch of silver is both It didn't come from Taicang, nor did it come from the Ministry of Revenue, it was just... Alas!" "The officials in the capital are here, but what about the local government?" Liu Jian asked again.
"It is said that they are distributed together, but the local officials do not add 30% of the bonus. This is probably the difference between the capital officials and the local officials." Li Dongyang said, "Now everyone in the government and the public is talking about this matter , Some also said that officials’ salaries will increase in the coming year... They all said it, and they probably felt that the Ming Dynasty can still survive even if it does not rely on taxes."
Liu Jian frowned and said: " Is this possible?"
Li Dongyang said helplessly: "Zhongtang, you should know best about the Ming Dynasty's taxation and other matters. This year, only the silver tax will be worth up to two to three million taels. Including taxes, rice, grain, etc., it's only four to five million taels a year. If you can get so much money back from overseas every year..."
"Impossible!" Liu Jian snapped.
"Alas!" Li Dongyang sighed, "Do you know what else I heard? The Ming Dynasty still has more than 1,900 troops and horses overseas that have not been withdrawn, and there are also a large number of overseas troops. The ship is left overseas, and it is said that there are tens of thousands of overseas people, who are responsible for growing grain and even working in the silver mines..."
Liu Jian couldn't help but frown when he heard this.
The Ming Dynasty started overseas colonization.
"Is the news accurate?" Liu Jian asked.
"The situation will only get worse than this." Li Dongyang said.
Liu Jiandao: "It's not that bad. If the Ming Dynasty can really establish an overseas territory and continuously send silver, it wouldn't be a bad thing. But I'm afraid..."
"Zhongtang, are you worried that people overseas will backfire on the Ming Dynasty?" Li Dongyang asked.
In this matter, it is obvious that Li Dongyang is also helping Liu Jian to find compensation.
The Ming Dynasty started colonizing overseas with just a few ships and thousands of troops. I think overseas is a group of savages who drink blood and rough hair. Do you think those people will threaten the Ming Dynasty?
"What kind of place is that overseas? How can it support so many people? There is also so much silver, and... on this point, has anyone asked anyone with experience in going overseas?" Liu Jiandao .
Li Dongyang shook helplesslyShake his head.
Obviously, the traditional civil servants never cared about this matter before. Even when they returned from overseas last year, the civil servants did not take it seriously.
Even everyone is still waiting to see Zhang Zhou’s joke, just waiting for the people who go to sea to encounter a storm and be wiped out, so that they can jointly impeach Zhang Zhou... But only now, they know, It turns out that Zhang Zhouzhou had started building ships a long time ago. It was not an aimless project, but it was actually profitable.
Li Dongyang said: "Now there is even worse news, that is, a ship has landed from the south, that is, from the seaport in Jiangnan, and there is a batch of things shipped over there. What is it? It’s unclear now. It is said that among the tributes sent to Beijing, there are islanders brought back from overseas.”
“Who are they?” Liu Jian asked.
Li Dongyang continued to shake his head and said: "I don't know, whether they are like the Kunlun slaves, or like the people of Nanyang, or the people of the West... I don't know at all. I can only wait for these batches. After the tribute is delivered to Beijing, we will inquire in detail."
Liu Jian looked grim.
Li Dongyang said: "This time Zhang Bingkuan is probably going to change the taxation order of the Ming Dynasty with his own efforts. Originally, we planned to impeach him for his inability to manage the household department, but now it seems... alas!"
Another heavy sigh seemed to be telling Liu Jian.
Zhang Bingkuan’s previous position as Minister of War was very stable.
Now that he has even secured his position as Minister of Household Affairs, we have no reason to attack him, and it is impossible for the emperor to change his mind and take him down.
......
......
"Your Majesty, I am very happy."
Chen Kuan ran to the emperor to express his congratulations that day. "The Concubine Xian is coming to Beijing soon, and..."
Zhu Youtang sighed: "What is there to be happy about? It would be great if he was a prince, but it is a pity that this This time she was just a princess. If she was a prince, I would have announced it to everyone in the government. If she was just a little daughter, I would like to protect her and not let others disturb her. But that’s fine, it’s just a son and a daughter... In the past few years, Bingkuan seems to be worse than me in this regard. "(End of this chapter) The transcoding has been serious recently, which makes us more motivated and updates faster. Please use your little hands to exit the reading mode. Thank you