Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 560 Establishing a Province in Hebei
"Get up!"

Zhu Yixi looked at him carefully.

Yan Yingyuan has been keeping a low profile after serving as Shuntian Governor for nearly two months. He has been working in Xiao Gui Cao Sui, concentrating on the city's renovation.

The Ministry of Households has been complaining that Shuntian Mansion is thinking about how to spend money every day, stretching out tens of thousands of silver every month, and it is not a small amount of money to flow down for a long time.

"How about the renovation of the outer city?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the outer city is dirty and messy, with a lot of filth and collapsed houses. The area is more than twice that of the inner city. It will take several years to clean up and renovate."

Yan Yingyuan's voice is a bit hard, which gives people a very aggressive feeling, but in fact his temper and personality are indeed unique.

"A few years?" The emperor's tone changed: "Wouldn't it cost 100,000 yuan?"

"Your Majesty Shengming."

Yan Yingyuan clasped his hands and said, "Fortunately, the imperial court has enough power to do so..."

As he said that, he briefly introduced his measures of adhering to the holy will, transforming the streets, building underground canals, dredging and expanding open canals, etc.

In order not to interfere with the lives of the people, he divided the huge outer city into nine parts, and cleaned up one area every season. Except for the three months in winter, he had nine months to renovate each year.

Therefore, it is conservatively estimated that three years should be about the same.

Of course, seeing the surprised expression on the emperor's face, he immediately added: "If the Ministry of Households allocates 500,000 silver dollars, it will only take half a year."

"It's still three years!"

Zhu Yixi said in a depressed mood.

The budget for this year has been drawn up, and the money for the reconstruction of Beijing has also been fixed. Half of the internal funds have been paid out, and 25 yuan is taken out at once. Isn't that terrible?

The money from the internal funds is ready to repair the garden!

"Is there no silver in the treasury of Shuntian Mansion?"

"Your Majesty, although Dingkou in Beijing City has recovered very quickly, it has suffered a catastrophe after all, and the current population is only 500,000."

A bit of bitterness appeared on Yan Yingyuan's blunt face: "One season's business tax is enough to maintain the salaries of government officials."

The tax exemption mentioned by the imperial court refers to the agricultural tax. Agriculture is the foundation of all industries. Three years of tax exemption and two and a half years of tax are the fundamental strategy for restoring the vitality of the north.

The lack of agricultural tax will naturally be made up from commercial tax.

But even in the city of Beijing, although there are many commercial taxes, Chongwenmen, the most courageous piece of meat, is controlled by the Chaoguan and belongs to internal funds. Now Shuntian Mansion naturally needs the Ministry of Households to allocate money and food.

"Lack of money."

Zhu Yixi was right in his words, staring at his sincere eyes, his brain turned rapidly, and his eyes lit up instantly:
"Shuntian Prefecture only governs two counties, which is really too small."

The majestic Shuntian Fuyin has less than one-tenth of the jurisdiction of the later generations of Beijing.

"The five prefectures of Tong, Ji, Zhuo, Ba, and Changping near Beijing, as well as Liangxiang, Fangshan, Dong'an, Gu'an, Yongqing, Baoding, Dacheng, Wen'an, Wuqing, Xianghe, Baodi, Ninghe, Sanhe, Pinggu, The seventeen counties of Shunyi, Miyun, and Huairou counties were all assigned to Shuntian Prefecture."

As a result, Shuntian Prefecture directly governs nineteen counties and five prefectures, with an estimated population of more than 2 million, which matches its prefect status.

During the 300 years of the Ming Dynasty, the largest official in the Northern Zhili area was Governor Jiliao. The three governors of Shuntian, Baoding, and Liaodong all obeyed his orders and were stationed in Miyun.

During the reign of Chongzhen, it was divided into four, Governor Xuanda, Governor Shuntian, Governor Baoding, and Governor Jiliao.

After Emperor Shaowu returned to the north, Beizhili had been under the direct control of the six ministries, but now it was suddenly divided, and there was no constraint.

But, why is Yan Yingyuan's eyes so weird?

"In the past, I only heard that the emperor likes to divide the prefectures and counties and break the previous borders. I never thought that I would witness it with my own eyes today. This trip is worthwhile..."

Yan Yingyuan lowered his head and thought about it.

"cough--"

Pretending to cough, Zhu Yixi said: "With these counties, even if there is no summer grain, it must be that the commercial tax can add some?"

"This..." Yan Yingyuan could only say: "If Huhu is still subsidized, it must be enough."

After all, there are a lot of corvees that can be used, saving a lot of cost.

"That's fine."

The emperor suddenly became interested, and said to Tian Ren beside him, "Bring me the map."

Soon, a huge map six feet high and one foot wide was brought in.

This made Yan Yingyuan startled. Could this be the legendary opening of the map, no, the division of the map?

I have heard it for a long time, and finally saw it today.

"Shuntian Mansion has now dug up such a large piece, and Beizhili is still huge, so it can't still be directly controlled by the imperial court?"

The emperor stood in front of the map and muttered to himself.

Everyone on the side didn't dare to say anything, for fear of disturbing his thoughts.

"Yes, there was a governor of Baoding in Beizhili, and now Hebei Province is established, isn't it justified?"

"As for the capital, let's choose Baoding Mansion!"

"What about the Yongping Mansion in the east? Shanhaiguan is there! How about setting up a governor to be in charge of the Liaoxi Corridor..."

After muttering for a while, the emperor suddenly said with great interest: "I have an idea."

"Yongping Mansion and Liaoxi Corridor set up the governor of Liaoxi, and the governor of Xuanda, one east and one west, to guard the capital."

"Tianjin Wei established Tianjin Prefecture, which is directly under the jurisdiction of the imperial court."

"The rest of the northern Zhili area should be Hebei Province, with a governor and three divisions, and the capital is Baoding."

Suddenly there was Hebei Province, but Yan Yingyuan was very comfortable, but he didn't understand why Tianjin Wei set up a mansion. Isn't this superfluous?

However, after turning around in his mind, he suddenly understood that this was because of the sea transportation, and Tianjin Wei was a must pass, so he naturally had to pay attention to it.

Furthermore, Emperor Chengzu also endowed it with sanctity, so it is only natural to set up a mansion.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Yan Yingyuan cupped his hands in admiration.

"Leave it to the cabinet and let them draft a charter."

Zhu Yixi breathed a sigh of relief, and then met Yan Yingyuan and said, "Although there are five city soldiers and horses in charge of law and order, the Yamen of Shuntian Mansion cannot be idle. They must take responsibility and supervise each other."

"There is no small matter in the capital, and I will reward you with a plaque. From today onwards, you can hand the plaque into the palace at any time."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

Yan Yingyuan's face was moved, and his mood was greatly moved.

Such power is really not small.

To meet the emperor, either the emperor takes the initiative to meet you, or you ask to meet yourself.

However, when ministers asked to see the emperor, they had a lengthy process, which was cumbersome and lengthy, and they had to go through the mouth of the eunuch.

For example, if a relative of the emperor breaks the law, he goes to the palace first, and the villain files a complaint first, but you can only submit a brief defense and accuse yourself.

And he can enter the palace like the cabinet ministers and easily see the emperor, which means that he is very close to the center of power.

Now that people can ask for a meeting, you can also ask for a meeting directly, at least on the same starting line.

The top and bottom of the cabinet thought over and over again about the emperor's opinion on border demarcation, and felt that it was reasonable, and it was appropriate to establish a province in Hebei.

The candidates for the governor of Xuanda and the governor of western Liaoning fell into dystocia.

(End of this chapter)