Just as Yu Huatian was about to use Yama's Bolt on Zhou Huaian, Zhu Zaihou was listening to the report from the cabinet.
Chief Xu Jie reported the arrest operation in the capital.
He also reported the situation of the Northwest Governor Liu Bobing's extermination of the bandits.
Liu Bobing was the descendant of Liu Bowen, the founder of the Ming Empire. He had been in Gan Su Town for five years.
Nine sides, also known as nine towns.
During the Hongzhi period, along the northern border, the Great Wall defense line had set up nine military towns.
They were Liaodong Town, Jizhou Town, Xuanfu Town, Datong Town, Sanguan Town, Yansui Town, Linxia Town, Guyuan Town, and Gansu Town.
In the past few years, the bandits in the northwest had gradually calmed down.
Most of the valiant machetemen and bandits were subdued by Liu Bobing, either killed or appeased.
Liu Bobing submitted a memorial and returned to the capital to report on his work…
"Alright, I also have the idea of meeting General Liu.”
"Let the cabinet draft a decree to let him enter the capital. Zhen wants to ask him about some matters in the northwest.”
"This lowly subject obeys the decree. After this subject returns, this lowly subject will summon Liu Bobing back to the capital to report on his work.”
Xu Jie bowed.
After Zhu Zaihou ruled on Liu Bobing's matter.
He also asked about the progress of the business reform and the difficulties they encountered...
The curtain of the Empire's commercial reform had already opened.
The people gradually opened up, and capital began to flow...
The Central Plains had been a small-scale peasant economy for thousands of years.
After all, the empire's business was in decline.
A business that could have generated a large amount of tax revenue for the national treasury.
Now, it was far less than one-twentieth of the agricultural tax revenue, and it was not even as good as the Song Dynasty's economy.
However, once the business developed,
In a very short period of time, the empire's treasury would be filled with wealth!
At that time, whether it was training the army or the Ministry of Works developing firearms, there would be no worries.
Zhu Houjian's reform was to completely free up the business world.
However, other than Zhang Juzheng, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Gao Yi were not so supportive of the cabinet.
The imperial censors in the court were even more opposed. The reasons for their opposition were none other than the following.
"The foundation of an empire lies in agriculture, not commerce.”
"As long as we untie agriculture and inspect the land in the world, we will formulate stricter agricultural taxes. The empire could be renewed, and business could not be allowed to open up.”
"Business is the source of chaos in a country. Merchants are selfish and never consider the people of the world.”
"Once merchants have a certain status, they will sponsor the Mountain Bandits.”
"In the Northwest, Guangdong, and Guangxi, the Japanese pirates are all inextricably linked to merchants…"
Zhu Zaihou's decree to the cabinet was:
"I know that agriculture is the foundation of the empire, but commerce is equally important.
"As long as you manage the merchants well, the empire will be rich and powerful.”
After finishing his edict, Zhu Zaihou looked at Xu Jie and said reproachfully,"
"Zhen saw the memorial from the Ministry of Revenue. The expenses of the national treasury are so huge.
"Last time, Zhen saw that there were still 90 million taels. How come there are only 30 million taels left in these few days?”
"It hasn't even been two months. You're the temporary chief assistant, supervising the Ministry of Revenue.”
"Zhen asks you, where did the treasury silver go?”
After hearing the emperor ask about the whereabouts of the silver in the national treasury.
Xu Jie's eyes immediately revealed an expression of cooking without rice.
He bowed and said loudly,
"The Japanese pirates invaded the southeast. His Majesty ordered the Ministry of Revenue to allocate 20 million yuan to increase firearms."
"The Yellow River burst its banks and allocated two million to repair the river. In order to strengthen the northern border, His Majesty ordered 500,000 troops from the south to set out.”
"Other than the twenty million taels spent on moving the camp, His Majesty also rewarded each soldier with twenty taels.”
" Initiate commercial reform. Where to build docks and ports in the country..."
"For the northwest raiders, the Ministry of Revenue will allocate two million taels.”
" The Empire has an army of a million soldiers. Each soldier's annual salary is two silver taels, and the annual expenditure is more than ten million…"
"His Majesty said that he wanted to increase the defense of the Nine Border Town and allocated 9.2 million taels of silver.”
"Qi Jiguang wanted the Ministry of Works to quickly develop a new type of cannon, so another three million silver was taken away.”
Xu Jie listed out the whereabouts of the national treasury silver in one breath.
After hearing Xu Jie's words, Zhu Zaihou nodded slightly.
That's right, the money confiscated from corrupt officials during the G Storm was all spent by him.
However, they were investing in the future of the empire.
The empire was vast, but in Zhu Zaihou's opinion, these were far from enough…
For example, Zhu Zaihou wanted to rebuild the Ming Navy the most.
Silver was absolutely indispensable.
But now, the silver in the national treasury had run out again…
If there was another G Storm, it would be very difficult to dig out the money.
Those big tigers had been beaten down, and there was nothing left…
However, he still had to say what needed to be said.
"Zhen wants to build a navy. Silver, your cabinet will think of a way.”
"I want you to give me a satisfactory answer before the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
"Your Majesty, where can I get silver?”
The cabinet ministers cupped their hands together and complained.
"Zhen wants silver to build a navy. If you don't have money, you can all conjure it for Zhen.”
"Aren't you guys doing business reform? I'm telling you, the silver is in the business tax!”
Xu Jie bowed and said respectfully,"
"Your Majesty, if we reform the business sector, I'm afraid that our cabinet will be scolded to death by those censors and impeached to death by the imperial censors.
" You'll even be despised and ridiculed by the aristocrats of the world, Your Majesty…"
Zhu Zaihou waved his long sleeves and said,"
"This is a matter for your cabinet to consider. If you can't think of a way, what's the use of me raising you?”
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