Chapter 18 Ending, goal achieved
"Eat your meal one bite at a time."
"The same is true for this national policy of increasing Ming's fiscal revenue."
"Therefore, I will make some adjustments to Elder Yan's proposal."
Seeing Jiajing looking at him, Yan Song bowed slightly, and the uneasiness in his heart became stronger.
"We can conduct a small-scale pilot project in Zhejiang and Zhili to evaluate the policy effects and possible problems. This is one point." Jiajing sat upright on the throne and raised his finger, "Lü Fang."
Lu Fang understood and immediately began to spread out the white paper and memorize it quickly.
Jiajing ignored the Zhejiang mentioned earlier and changed it to Nanzhili and Zhejiang. The "Zhezhi" in "Zhezhi" refers to Nanzhili.
"Second, we will gradually expand the scope of the pilot program in stages to avoid harming farming and people's grain harvests."
"Third, we should provide some subsidies or reduce taxes for farmers who participate in the crop change to ease their initial burden."
"Fourth, we must draw a bottom line!" At this point, Jiajing's tone was particularly serious, "Make sure that farmers' planting and harvest are not affected, and buy grain from all over the country when necessary!"
“Fifth, we will strengthen supervision over the sale of silk, severely punish merchants who illegally profit, and ensure fair transactions.
The Ministry of Justice will draft new legal provisions to prevent officials and businessmen from colluding to buy and sell the people’s land at low prices.”
“Sixth, widely publicize the purpose of the national policy and the expected benefits to increase the people’s understanding and support for the national policy.
For farmers who have suffered losses due to adjustments in national policies, a special relief office will be set up to provide necessary living security. "
"Seventh, we need to send people to conduct regular inspections."
He mentioned seven policies in one breath, and the people in the cabinet felt as if a storm had been set off in their hearts.
Yan Song has just proposed the national policy of replacing rice with mulberry trees. Why did Your Majesty come up with corresponding supporting decisions so quickly?
Qingliu: "Could it be that Your Majesty has already discussed this with the Yan Party?"
Yan Song and Yan Shifan: "Could it be that the Qingliu faction knew the secret in advance and made preparations in advance?"
For a moment, the relationship between the two parties, who had just worked together tacitly, took a sharp turn for the worse and they began to become suspicious of each other.
Jiajing ignored everyone's thoughts and continued speaking.
"In fact, I have been paying attention to the price of silk for a long time." Hearing this, Yan Song's heart sank.
"I am the one in charge, so I naturally need to pay more attention to people's livelihood and finances. Naturally, I need to understand what makes money."
"Yesterday I asked Lu Bing to come to the palace. According to the latest market information he learned, a piece of silk sold overseas..." At this point, Jiajing glanced at Yan Song, and then continued:
"Even if we sell it to Westerners for ten taels, they will sell it overseas for at least ten times the price."
"So, my Ming Dynasty will also raise the price of silk."
"After that, a piece of silk shipped overseas was priced at 40 taels, and private merchants were prohibited from selling silk abroad."
"Things are valuable because they are rare. In this world, only the Ming Dynasty can produce such high-quality silk. They have to buy it even if they don't want to."
As he spoke, Jiajing raised his hand and pointed at Yan Song, "Lord Yan, you are kind-hearted, but you must remember that there is no business without evil.
Did Lu Bing come to the palace yesterday to report on shipping prices? Yan Song guessed in his heart, but he lowered his head in shame.
"I am old and have been negligent for a moment." He knew very well that the emperor had seen through his little plan.
The reason I say this is just to give him face, but at the same time, it is also a warning.
In fact, silk has always been sold at such a high price, even more expensive than the forty taels set by the emperor.
Didn't those overseas businessmen finally accept the price after some bargaining?
But now that the emperor knows about this, this business is likely to be cut short.
At this point, he seemed to have figured out the emperor's intention. Perhaps rectifying the administration of officials was an excuse, and the purpose was money?
But for some reason, he always felt that the emperor's purpose might be far more than that, perhaps even deeper, and this was what he was worried about.
"These matters will be handled by the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Works." He then glanced at Gao Gong and said, "From now on, all the money will go to the Ministry of Revenue. As for the person in charge of supervising the work, do you have any candidates?"
Hearing this, Yan Shifan frowned and weighed the pros and cons in his mind. If he directly replaced rice with mulberry and started to implement it on a large scale, he would eat up this piece of fat meat and become fat to death!
But with just a few words, the emperor turned an established short-term, quick way of making money into a stable, long-term national policy.
This... although it can make money, it is still a bit slow.
After weighing the pros and cons, Yan Shifan made up his mind and made a decision.
We must fight!
There is no reason not to fight for a long-term, stable and lucrative job!
"Your Majesty," Yan Shifan had just opened his mouth when Gao Gong, who was staring at him, interrupted him, "Tan Lun, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, was once the Governor of Fujian, responsible for the military and political affairs of Fujian Province. He played an important role in fighting against the Japanese pirates, and I think he is qualified for the job!"
"Okay." Jiajing waved his hand in agreement.
Seeing this, Yan Shifan could only glare at Gao Gong hatefully, wishing he could kill this bastard!
At this point, Jiajing had basically accomplished what he needed to do.
Next, we just have to wait for Lu Bing’s butcher knife to fall.
Slow down the pace of converting rice to mulberry? Do you really think I don't need money urgently? Everything can be lacking, but military supplies must not be lacking!
But there is a treasure mountain guarding the court, so why go far away?
No matter whether you are from the Qingliu or Yan party, you must return my money to me this time!
The imperial meeting had come to an end here. Jiajing walked down from the throne with relaxed steps and came to the door.
The snow was falling heavily and the wind was cold, making his Taoist robe rustle.
Looking at the sky full of snow and wind, Jiajing had a myriad of thoughts in his mind.
Suddenly, Jiajing was moved, "There is a sentence in the second volume of Ao Ying's Donggu Zhuiyan that really suits my heart."
Hearing this, everyone lowered their heads in thought.
Jiajing ignored all this and said in a gloomy tone:
"He said in his book that our dynasty's national power surpassed that of the ancients. We controlled the northern barbarians and the western tribes without the marriage alliance of the Han Dynasty, the alliance of the Tang Dynasty, the annual tribute of the Song Dynasty, or the etiquette of treating brothers as enemies."
"Wouldn't it be nice to stay in such a beautiful place?"
"If I cannot protect this ancestral land and restore the Ming Dynasty to its peak, how can I be worthy of my ancestors?"
Hearing these words and looking at the heavy snow, which seemed like the ever-shaking Ming Dynasty, the court officials behind Jiajing couldn't help but feel a sense of inexplicable sadness in their hearts.
But no one can tell where this sadness comes from.
"Okay, go ahead." Jiajing waved his hand, and everyone bowed and left the hall one by one.
A lot of things happened today, and they need to digest it all.
However, after Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng and others left, Yan Song, who was walking at the end, exchanged glances with Yan Shifan.
Yan Shifan immediately understood what his father meant.
They did not forget that they had a Taoist priest named Qingfeng in their house who they wanted to send to the palace.
Although His Majesty said that the palace would be demolished and all expenses for Taoist construction would be stopped, he did not say that there would be no more Taoist construction.
So, you still have to give gifts to those who deserve them!
Moreover, what happened today made Yan Song even more determined to place a woman by the emperor's side.
"Your Majesty, a Jurchen from the Zhengyi sect came to your mansion recently. Would Your Majesty like to meet him?" Yan Shifan said.
Jiajing was not surprised to hear this. The Yan family would still have to use him in the future, and he would have to give him appropriate rewards. Accepting the people he sent would put his mind at ease.
As for the affairs of the Jurchens, he naturally knew about it.
Obviously, the purpose of sending the female Taoist priest also has a deeper meaning, but it doesn’t matter.
"The Zhengyi Dao has done me a favor, so let the Taoist come to the palace and see me." Jiajing said, waving his hand to signal him to leave.
"Yes." Yan Song and Yan Shifan bowed and retreated.
"..."
(End of this chapter)
