Emperor Ming Dynasty

"The officialdom is unclean after all."

Wang Fuzhi calmed down a lot and said frankly.

"That's true." Huang Zongxi shook his head, and said casually: "It needs to be cleaned up from time to time, so that the officialdom can circulate up and down."

"let's go!"

As the saying goes, when one is in one's position and seeks one's own government, the most taboo thing in official circles is to stretch one's hands indiscriminately.

Even if you can't see it, you can't command blindly and impeach indiscriminately, otherwise you will break the rules, because this is the responsibility of the Inspectorate.

The matter is to supervise the six departments, and Wang Fuzhi's cabinet secretary is helping the cabinet, so it is difficult to get involved.

However, everything that happened in Chongwen County cannot be hidden from the cabinet members.

As Marquis Feng, the chief assistant of the cabinet, Zhao Shu's mansion was bestowed by the emperor, and the huge golden characters "Imperial Mansion of Fenghou" are enviable.

The huge Hou's mansion occupies an area comparable to some mansions, rich in green tiles, magnificent and magnificent, telling the power of its master.

As a dignitary in the new dynasty, Zhao Shu did not enjoy the wealth peacefully, but instead locked himself in the study from time to time, feeling gains and losses.

Above the court, it can be said that every step is careful, and there must be no carelessness.

Now that one looks friendly, but who can restrain the desire for the position of chief assistant?

"Father—" the eldest son Zhao Liang called out from outside the door, holding a pot of tea and snacks himself.

"come in!"

Zhao Shu responded wearily.

Creaking, the door of the study was opened.

A warm feeling came, Zhao Liang exhaled, put down the tea in his hand, and felt much more comfortable.

With the popularity of briquettes, earth dragons have also become popular in the entire capital, and all the homes of the rich and powerful have undergone some renovations.

Although it is a bit extravagant, the warmth of winter like spring makes people unable to part with it.

Otherwise, Zhao Shu wouldn't be able to stay in the study, it's too cold.

"Chongwen County is very lively today..."

Zhao Liang talked about the matter while pouring tea.

It depends on a father who is the first assistant. Although Zhao Liang is only from a family background, he is an official and a doctor, and he knows a lot about the ways of the capital.

He told Zhao Shu what he saw and heard on weekdays, because in his eyes, the ordinary things were different in the chief minister of the cabinet.

"Merchant's Bank—"

Zhao Shu muttered, then narrowed his eyes suddenly, placed his hands on the table unconsciously, and beat rhythmically.

Shoufu, whose temples were gradually graying, seemed to have remembered something.

"Are you sure it's only the county government?"

"It should be judged by the county government." Zhao Liang thought for a while, and said vaguely: "However, there may be other people mixed in."

Regarding Jinyiwei and Dongchang, although they have been keeping a low profile for the past two years, their existence is the emperor's eyes and ears, and the capital is the base camp, so how can people not doubt it?
"Borrowing money from officials in the capital and holding positions remotely, merchants are so bold!"

Zhao Shu frowned and patted the table hard.

Scholars, farmers, businessmen, businessmen, bureaucrats both use and oppress them, either join the ranks of scholars, or become a glove for making money, and must not be above the scholar-bureaucrats.

"Father, it's not easy to live in the capital. Let's just say that the coal consumes several silver dollars in one winter. Although the annual salary of the Beijing officials has increased a lot, it is not easy to support a family in the capital."

"Borrowing from merchants is also commonplace."

Desires are hard to fill.

When the annual salary of the bureaucrats can meet the small expenses of the family, and there is no need to worry about food and drink, they want more. Compared with the businessmen, they live a luxurious life.

Therefore, borrowing is inevitable, and it cannot be prohibited.

"The banning of money houses is also a temporary solution rather than a permanent cure."

Zhao Shu nodded and uttered a word.

But he understands that if this is the emperor's method, it must be a series of measures waiting behind, not as simple as it seems on the surface.

However, the ban on the bank caused an uproar in the business of the capital.

Shanxi merchants, Anhui merchants, Shanxi merchants and other big merchant gangs, the merchants under their command immediately stopped lending business to officials, not daring to go beyond the slightest, for fear of being approached.

However, the threshold of Zhang Qi's mansion, the minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has been almost broken recently.

Without him, the emperor's Lao Taishan was purely transferred from a merchant to an official, and he was also the yamen of the House of Internal Affairs that specially served the emperor. He was the most suitable person.

Zhang Qi was also annoyed so much that he could only say: "I only work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and I don't know anything else..."

So, thank you behind closed doors.

The two sons are keen on power, and enjoy the flattery of everyone, especially the big businessmen from Shaanxi who had to look up to before, and now they are begging in a low voice, not to mention how comfortable they are.

"Father, it is understandable for you to drive away the foreign businessmen, but why did you drive away the Shaanxi businessmen?"

The eldest son was puzzled.

"Shaanxi merchants were originally scattered, but they just hugged together to keep warm."

Zhang Qi said in a cold voice: "Now the fire in my house is burning, there is more than enough. They don't pay anything and want a piece of the pie. Homeland love is not enough."

After finishing speaking, he looked at his two sons and said earnestly, "How can a mere county government dare to provoke a bank?"

"There must be someone standing behind it. No matter who it is, we don't want to be contaminated. The gain outweighs the loss."

At this time, in the palace, everything about the banned bank was constantly being reported.

"There are more than [-] money houses and more than [-] pawnshops in Beijing, from all provinces in the country..."

"For ordinary loans, the monthly interest is three to five cents, and the annual interest is doubled, or even doubled..."

"If there is something to mortgage, the shop in Fujian has a small capital, and the profit is three or four points; the shop in Huizhou has a large capital, and the profit is only one, two, and three..."

The business of lending is extremely popular among the people. If it is not necessary, ordinary people will never borrow money, because it is interest rate, and if you borrow one hundred cash, you will pay at least two hundred in the next year. If you don't pay attention, the whole family will be sold.

Most of the land mergers in rural areas come from the lending industry, and many temples also lend incense money, so the temple fields are vast.

Of course, compared to borrowing, mortgage loans are more popular, and the interest rate is as low as [-]% or [-]%. This is why there were many people who sold their bodies to bury their fathers in ancient times.

Without him, using yourself as collateral, the interest is cheap!At least there is still a chance to stand up.

In the Song Dynasty, Wang Anshi reformed the law, and the green crop law was for five months, twice a year, with an annual interest of [-]%, but it was called a preferential loan.

After the failure of Wang Anshi's reform, the Qingmiao Law was also abolished. "Continued Zizhi Tongjian Changbian" records that after that, "the poor must be taken from the home of the rich and right, and there will be a double breath."

After the reform is abolished, the people borrow at least twice the annual interest rate.

Listening to these chanting, Zhu Yixi pondered:

"Law of the Ming Dynasty" stipulates: "Whoever privately lends money and debts and pawns property, the monthly interest shall not exceed three cents. Although there are many years and months, it is only one interest per penny. Violators will be punished forty."

That is, the annual interest shall not exceed 30.00%.

These co-authors are loan sharks!