Chapter 593: Collection of Copper
Regarding Zhang Juzheng.

Longqing still had some expectations.

At least in the year after Zhu Zaigui ascended the throne, he thought many times about transferring Zhang Juzheng back to the capital for appointment and then finding an opportunity to have him join the cabinet.

This was the advice the late emperor gave me before his death.

Only Yan Shaoting, Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui were included in the late emperor's will.

In Zhu Zaigui's own view, he had promoted the Gia Long New Deal with Gao Gong and others in the past two years, and in the future he could let Yan, Zhang and Hai join the cabinet together.

Hai Rui was in charge of criminal cases and inspected all officials. Yan Shaoting was in charge of the economy and was responsible for the taxation of the country. Zhang Juzheng was in charge of rectifying all officials and maintaining the functioning of officials in the two capitals and thirteen provinces.

In this way, the Longqing Dynasty would inevitably be known as the dynasty of revival.

He gained the reputation of a sage king, and his people enjoyed peace and prosperity.

The best of both worlds.

So let’s talk about the present.

When Lu Fang presented the memorial to him, Zhu Zaigui's curiosity reached its peak.

He immediately opened the memorial and read it carefully.

Everyone in the hall remained silent, but the expressions on their faces were different.

In the crowd, Yan Shaoting remained silent, his eyes sweeping over Li Chunfang and others in front of him.

If it were not for the purpose of seeking a few years of peace, he really did not want to let Zhang Juzheng submit the memorial now.

After all, in his original plan, he wanted Gao Gong to fight in the front for a few years, and only when Gao's value was squeezed out would they take over the government affairs of the country and implement the strategy that he, Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui had discussed in the West Garden of Nanjing.

It was this time that he noticed it.

For the country and society, all plans cannot keep up with changes.

but.

This time I didn't get too involved, I just treated it as an attempt.

Just like when he returned from the northern expedition, Gao Gong submitted a memorial suggesting that the land be measured, and he did not say anything to stop it.

And above.

Zhu Zaigui glanced at the memorial, then his eyes flickered and he looked up at the ministers in front of him.

"Lü Fang, read the memorial to the ministers."

After giving the order, a gleam of light flashed in Zhu Zaigui's eyes.

But he did not say anything about the contents of the memorial first, but waited for the reactions and attitudes of the ministers in front of him.

Lu Fangze took the order and stepped forward.

"I, Zhang Juzheng, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, the Minister of Maritime Affairs, the Admiral of the Southern Zhili Navy, the Inspector of the Tax and Military Affairs Office, and the Commissioner of Land Survey in Southern Zhili and Zhejiang, would like to report the difficulties faced by the people of Southern Zhili and Zhejiang in transporting grain. I respectfully request that Your Majesty grant my request."

This is the opening of the memorial, which contains strict and concise remarks.

There was a murmur in the hall.

"I have observed that over the past 200 years of our dynasty, the system of grain transport has become increasingly complex, and its disadvantages have become more serious. In the past, when Emperor Taizu established his capital in Nanjing, he used to transport grain from the southeast, and the annual supply was 4 million shi. When Emperor Chengzu moved his capital to Yanjing, the river was 3,000 miles long, and the work of transporting grain was twice as much as before."

"Every spring, when the ice begins to melt, the canal boats gather on the Huai River. The officials in charge of transporting the canal are like tigers and wolves. They first ask for the usual amount of silver, which is called 'preparing for the trip'. When the canal boats set sail, the feng shui is not favorable, and the canal boatmen are naked, dragging the ropes, and the blood is stained on the frosty blades. When they reach the Linqing sluice gate, the water dries up and the boats are stuck. The laborers carry hoes and dredge the river day and night. The bones of the canal boats are piled up on the river bank, and the number is incalculable. When the canal boatmen die of hunger and cold on the road, they are thrown into the muddy river, which is called 'water burial'."

The hall was deserted.

Gao Gong, the chief minister of the cabinet, frowned even more.

He admired Zhang Juzheng very much and knew that he was an ambitious man. He also intended to work with him on various state affairs in the future.

Now hearing this memorial, I didn't expect that Zhang Juzheng would actually discuss the issue of grain transport.

Could it be that Zhang Juzheng was going to propose a reform of the grain transport system?
And Lu Fang continued to read the contents of the memorial.

"The people of Jiangnan suffered the most from paying taxes. Officials collected taxes and levied taxes three times as much. The poor sold their land and houses, and mortgaged their wives and children, but still could not afford to pay. The fields were barren, and the old and the young cried out of hunger. Some people even committed suicide by hanging themselves in the water, but the village officials still arrested their children and registered their debts. Suzhou and Songjiang, which were once fertile, are now barren lands."

"Alas! The Canal is the lifeblood of the country. However, exploiting the people to support the capital and draining the southeast to fill the granary is like cutting flesh to heal a wound. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, Zhou Chen wrote in a memorial that 'the people suffer more from the Canal than from taxes'. These are truly heartbreaking words. Those who manage national affairs in the future should not think deeply about this."

They were still discussing the water transport issue.

His frown relaxed.

If we propose the canal issue now, it may be early but there is no harm in doing so.

After all, as Zhang Juzheng said, the drawbacks of the 3,000-mile canal transportation are indeed serious, and it is time to make some changes.

However, water transport is of great importance.

Not only the millions of transport workers who depended on the transport, but also the rice supply to the capital could not go wrong. Once the transport was handled rashly, the capital might be left without rice.

Li Chunfang beside him also frowned slightly.

Zhang Juzheng is currently working on measuring farmland in Jiangnan, and now it seems he is getting involved in the grain transport business. This means he is leaving no way out for the Qingliu old party and the gentry in Jiangnan!
Li Chunfang became annoyed when he thought that Zhang Juzheng was once a member of the Qingliu faction and was Xu Jie's favorite student, but now he was turning his sword against the Qingliu gentry.

Available in the next second.

The memorial that Lu Fang was reading suddenly changed the subject.

"The grain transport is a heavy matter, heavier than Mount Tai. As a minister in Jiangnan, I dare not speak rashly. However, the system of grain transport is to collect grain from the capital, with more from Huguang and less from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. If you want to relieve the hardship of the people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, I humbly request that the taxes in Jiangsu and Zhejiang be changed to copper coins. Only this can save the people from the heavy taxes and the pain of transporting grain, ease the people's hardship, and the court can get the benefits of copper coins. For this reason, I personally present this document and respectfully submit it to the emperor's order."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly changed.

Gao Gong's eyes widened and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He actually didn't expect that Zhang Juzheng would start with the grain transport issue, but end up talking about the taxation issues in Nanzhili and Zhejiang.

However, in a flash, Gao Gong felt that Zhang Juzheng's method might be feasible.

The two regions of Jiangsu and Zhejiang have been burdened with heavy taxes since the beginning of the country due to various reasons, and this has not changed to this day.

Although this was due to Taizu's jealousy towards Jiangdong.

However, there are also factors that seek to weaken the power of Jiangnan by imposing heavy taxes.

After all, under the tax-farming system implemented during the Yuan Dynasty, the people in Jiangnan still missed the time when they were Yuan officials even after the Yuan Dynasty was destroyed and the Ming Dynasty was founded.

Since the Early Song Dynasty, Jiangnan gradually replaced Guanzhong and Hedong, and countless capable people took charge of the court.

Suppressing Jiangnan is almost a default thing.

Then.

It is naturally impossible to reduce the tax burden in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Gao Gong was well aware of this.

But if it can help alleviate the suffering of the people, it can be done.

Allowing the people of Jiangsu and Zhejiang to pay taxes in copper coins would indeed save them the trouble of transporting tax grain to the Caohe ferry every year, and would also save them from being severely punished by government officials when paying taxes.

Collect taxes in the form of copper?

Gao Gong smiled slightly.

That's a good idea.

however.

Li Chunfang was shocked, his eyes were filled with gloom, and his face became even gloomier.

It was originally thought that Zhang Juzheng wanted to interfere in the grain transport business so that he could take the opportunity to survey the land in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and then, relying on the achievements of the grain transport business, return to Beijing to take up a position and seek to join the cabinet.

Unexpectedly.

This traitor of the Qingliu old party actually wanted to levy taxes in the two places of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

This is naturally a good thing, but for him, it is a very bad thing!

In just a moment, Li Chunfang secretly lowered his head and glanced at Yan Shaoting behind him.

At this moment he also knew that Zhang Juzheng's memorial must be in cooperation with Yan Shaoting.

Once the emperor and the court allowed the people of Jiangsu and Zhejiang to pay taxes in copper in the future, it would only lead to one situation.

The copper price in Jiangsu and Zhejiang will rise sharply, while the silver price will depreciate accordingly.

To know.

Just recently, they withdrew all the silver coins from the gold bank!
We must not let this memorial succeed!
In a moment.

Li Chunfang had already thought of the measurement in his mind.

He immediately bowed and stood out holding the tablet in his hand.

"Your Majesty, I think this is inappropriate!"

Yan Shaoting behind him smiled slightly.

Collecting taxes in the form of copper is naturally a serious problem for Li Chunfang, the old Qingliu party, and the gentry and wealthy families in Jiangnan.

And in the original history.

After the little brat Zhang ascended the throne, he implemented the Single Whip System and the method of levying taxes in silver, although his starting point was good.

However, it overlooked the errors and loopholes in the Central Plains currency system.

Ultimately, because of the need to pay taxes in silver, the gentry and wealthy families in the south of the Yangtze River completely seized control of the world's currency.

And now.

Because of myself.

Because of a little bit of changes and deviations.

Such a situation will naturally not happen again.

Although the wealthy gentry in Jiangnan today hold silver and money in their hands, so what?

Now in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, we no longer talk in silver, we all use copper coins to pay taxes.

Those wealthy people could only exchange their silver for copper coins.

What a coincidence.

Yan Shaoting also learned from the news recently sent back by the Jinyiwei arranged by Lu Yi in Jiangnan that in order to run the gold bank into bankruptcy, many people in Jiangnan actually sold their land, houses and shops to go to the gold bank to withdraw cash.

It is also in this process.

Bai Fugui and his gang, who were docked at the Hangzhou Maritime Customs Pier, used the millions of taels of silver they brought this time to buy up all the valuable things in Zhejiang at extremely low prices.

We have to find a way to get those valuable assets back from Bai Fugui and his gang.

Yan Shaoting pondered secretly.

And in front.

Li Chunfang continued to speak urgently: "Right now, the land in Nanzhili and Zhejiang is being measured, and the situation is already chaotic. In a month or so, the spring ploughing will begin in the south, which is the time when there is a shortage of crops. If we approve Zhang Juzheng's request and collect taxes in copper, it may cause unrest in the local area."

This time.

Without waiting for others to speak.

Gao Gong, who already thought that what Zhang Juzheng had suggested was a good idea, frowned and looked at Li Chunfang.

"I think your suggestion is a good one."

"If we collect taxes in exchange for copper, we can save the people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang from the hardship of transporting grain. How could this lead to any changes?"

Li Chunfang's heart trembled. He didn't expect that when Zhang Juzheng submitted a memorial, it was not Yan Shaoting who seconded the proposal to refute him, nor was it Yuan Wei and Zhao Zhenji who squeezed him. Instead, it was Gao Gong who refuted him.

His face changed, he nodded and said sideways: "Prime Minister, the nine frontiers are being reorganized now. Hai Rui of the Censorate is inspecting the nine frontiers. In addition, the new frontiers of Hetao and Yinshan are being established. The court is also relocating people from Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places to the new frontiers, reorganizing and relocating troops from the old frontiers. Money and food are needed everywhere to settle the soldiers and civilians. Although most of the rice in the world is produced in Huguang, the rice produced in Jiangsu and Zhejiang also needs to be transported to the capital. If the rice in this area is missing, I am afraid that the court will not have enough for daily use in recent years."

Li Chunfang knew in his heart that it was just empty talk to just talk about the changes in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, so he immediately linked the matter to the Nine Borders.

I'm sure you, Lord Gao, don't want anything to happen to the Nine Borders.

If by then there is a food shortage in the nine border areas, it will be all caused by you, Lord Gao, agreeing to Zhang Juzheng’s request today!
Gao Gong's face darkened immediately when he heard this.

Li Chunfang did not want to offend the Prime Minister, so he softened his tone and said softly, "The method proposed by Zhang Juzheng is indeed feasible and will benefit the people. But it is not appropriate at the moment. Why not put it on hold for now and wait until the land survey in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is completed and the soldiers and civilians in the new border are settled, and then implement this method in Jiangsu and Zhejiang to benefit the people in both places?"

Zhu Zaigui's eyes also moved: "Prime Minister, this matter..."

Seeing the emperor asking questions, Gao Gong couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Jiangnan’s finances and taxation are important, but so are the people’s livelihood.

But the affairs of the Nine Borders are more important!
Looking at the current situation, it seems to be at a stalemate.

Yan Shaoting suddenly flashed out.

The red robe swayed.

He has already reached the front.

"Your Majesty, I was ordered to lead the army to the north. If you want to talk about the affairs of the new border, I can say a few words."

Zhu Zaigui originally thought that the copper tax collection issue could not be processed immediately, but when he saw Yan Shaoting speaking, his eyes lit up.

He really didn't think that much about these things.

I just think that it would be a good thing if I could implement more good policies in my own hands.

If we do it later, who knows what new changes will happen.

Now seeing that Yan Shaoting seemed to have other arguments, he immediately nodded and said, "You can speak frankly if you want to."

Yan Shaoting nodded in thanks, and then slowly spoke under the unfriendly gaze of Li Chunfang next to him: "Since last year, I led troops out of the border to fight against the Mongolian bandits, and lost tens of thousands of elite soldiers of the Anda tribe. Wuchuan Bo bravely pursued the enemy, and the tribes south of the desert fled north. I think that in the past three to five years, the nine borders will not see the majority of the Mongolian bandits invade. As for the new borders of Hetao and Yinshan, although it involves the relocation of civilians and the placement of soldiers and horses, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue have already worked diligently on this matter, and I think it will be settled within this year."

Say it.

He then looked at the Minister of Revenue Gao Yao, and the Minister of War Yang Bo.

Yang Bo immediately stood up with a tablet in his hand.

Yan Shaoting's words just now were clearly praising the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War for their diligence and hard work. Of course, he himself could not do the job of the Minister of War, but instead refused to admit it.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the new borders of Hetao and Yinshan are indeed as Shaobao Yan said. The troops and horses needed for the new borders were originally stationed by Qi Jiguang's troops. If there are no large numbers of Mongolian bandits attacking the Yinshan side, there should be no danger. As for the borders of Guyuan, Yansui, Shanxi, etc., there are no external worries since the establishment of the new borders. The Ministry of War has recently reorganized and transferred troops from various places to station in the important places of Hetao and Yinshan."

After saying this, Yang Bo glanced at Gao Yao who was still in the train.

Gao Yao understood and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, the area north of Yinshan Mountain is mainly occupied by military settlements. Cities such as Wuchuan are all military settlements. The Ministry of Revenue has not relocated civilians from the interior of the country here. However, in the area south of Yinshan Mountain, in the Hetao area, 30,000 civilians have been called to relocate. Although the city walls and houses have not been fully built, the civilians have already settled here. As the Ministry of War said, the borders of Guyuan, Yansui, Shanxi, etc. no longer have the same external threats as before, and the grain stored in various places can also be transferred to the Hetao area."

After Yan Shaoting made his report, Yang Bo and Gao Yao made additional explanations one after another.

Li Chunfang's face was gloomy.

Zhu Zaigui even glanced at Li Chunfang.

Then he looked at Yan Shaoting and others with a smile, and finally fell to Gao Gong.

"Prime Minister."

"If it is based on what the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War said."

"Is it feasible for Jiangsu and Zhejiang to collect taxes in copper?"

…………

Monthly PassMonthly Pass
(End of this chapter)