Emperor Sui Yang

Chapter 138
In the entire Jingzhou area, there are only two treasuries, which are guarded by commissioners.

If you want to use the money from the treasury, unless you have the emperor's seal and a document issued by the Ministry of Households, opening the treasury privately is tantamount to treason.

This is why it can often be seen in history that a place is already full of hungry people, but the local parents and officials dare not open the granary to release grain, because the granary is the granary in the state treasury. Then he must choose not to open.

Of course, there is another reason why he dare not open a warehouse, that is, the granary is empty.

Every year, taxes must be sealed into the national treasury, and then all regions will report the expenditure budget for the coming year. After approval layer by layer, the national treasury will allocate funds to you according to the budget.

As for the remaining money from the national treasury, it will enter the overall planning scope of the central government, which is the general ledger of the Sui Dynasty. Where money is needed for military use, where money is needed for disaster relief, forging weapons, developing mines, and foreign trade, all are allocated from the general ledger.

Only the emperor can move the money in the ledger.

In the early morning of the next day, Yang Ming ordered Yuan Wendu to find [-] assistants from the general manager's mansion and place them in the corner of the back hall. In front of everyone was a long table with paper, pen and ink besides the abacus.

Didn't they ask me for money?Then I will settle accounts with them properly.

Let’s start with Yang Xuangan first,
"The renovation of Jiangxia Wharf will cost 23 guan, please submit the detailed account to me for a look."

Yang Xuangan nodded, and handed a page of paper to the servant of the palace in front of him, who then handed it to Yang Ming.

"[-] guan for wood, [-] guan for stone, [-] guan for storage, [-] guan for each of ten boats, and [-] guan for miscellaneous items. Is this also called a detailed list?"

Yang Ming slapped the list on the table with a slap:

"Why do you use [-] pieces of wood? Is it purchased or felled? And this miscellaneous, what are the miscellaneous items? Are you fooling me?"

Who is fooling you? Isn't that what you used to do?
Yang Xuangan frowned and said, "Of course the wood is bought from Bashu. As for miscellaneous items, the manpower and material resources required for repairs are all money."

"How much manpower, material resources, and loss, haven't you calculated it in detail?" Yang Ming asked.

Yang Xuangan: "It's just an approximate figure based on previous years' standards."

"I don't want approximate figures, I want detailed figures,"

With that said, Yang Ming typed back Jiangxia County's expenditure paperwork and asked them to recheck the calculations to be accurate to the purpose of each money.

Isn't this just a joke?Can you give me an estimate?
Then I said that the general manager's mansion needs to build a hut, which costs about [-] yuan, is it okay?

Next, Yang Ming looked at the details of the other chief officials. Although some of them were much more detailed than Yang Xuangan's, they were all fuzzy and basically depended on estimates.

So Yang Ming became "angry" directly, and scolded one by one,
"Repairing the city gate is not a new city gate. How did you calculate the [-] guan? Civilians with manpower and hard labor don't spend a single penny. Stones can be worth [-] guan? You picked this stone from Nantianmen down?"

"And this, the main road in the county needs to be dug up and rebuilt. I checked and found that this main street was repaired the year before last, so it needs to be repaired again so soon? It collapsed in three years?"

Some of Yang Ming's scolding words were indeed untenable, and somewhat unreasonable. After all, he didn't understand many aspects, and Yuan Wendu had been quietly correcting him by the side.

But Yang Ming doesn't care. Whether he scolded is right or not is the second thing. The main thing is to show these people a clear attitude: Jingzhou is now my decision, and no one can spend money indiscriminately.

As for admitting mistakes?Impossible, he learned a lot from Yang Jian and his wife, but he didn't learn to admit his mistakes.

"It's the end of the year, don't go back, and immediately send someone to call all your assistants here, right here at the king's general manager's mansion, let's settle these accounts carefully, you can fool me, but I can't fool the court."

After speaking, Yang Ming showed a look of impatience, and left with a flick of his sleeves.

Leave these 22 top leaders in states and counties, you look at me, I look at you, and look at each other.

Zheng Yuanshou, the prefect of Guiyang County, moved the chair under his buttocks, leaned in front of Zhao Changwen, the prefect of Yiyang County, and whispered:

"Our little Highness is very powerful. Some of his words are clear and logical. It is said that it is the first time for him to leave Beijing. How can he know so much?"

Zhao Changwen also whispered in a low voice: "He is well prepared. This year's budget discussion may not be as easy as previous years."

Zheng Yuanshou said: "Every family's payment is a bit exaggerated. After all, the traditional rule is to report higher to avoid insufficient quota. But I think His Highness wants us to reduce expenses."

"People will settle the details with you. If you don't want to cut it, you have to cut it." Zhao Changwen said in a low voice, "Wait, let's see what other families mean. The money is reported to the household department by His Highness. If His Highness doesn't approve it, You won't lose a single penny."

In the back hall, everyone whispered and whispered.

Murong Sanzang approached Yang Xuangan and asked, "Jiang Xia's expenses are so low next year?"

"There's no use for it," Yang Xuangan frowned and said, "Didn't you see that so few people don't want to approve it for you?"

As he said that, Yang Xuangan turned his head and said in surprise: "Hiss, but I said Murong, you played hard enough, did you just lose money?"

Murong Sanzang said with a distressed expression: "Jiangling is the capital, and there are many yamen, and they all ask me for money with their mouths open. You know, who can support us with our little salary? If I don't report more money, I will give it to the people below." If you share one point, from next year onwards, I won’t be able to control anyone.”

"That's because you can't do it. The yamen are short of money, let them figure out their own way, don't always stare at the total money in the account," Yang Xuangan snorted coldly: "This year is the first year for people to come to Jingzhou, you should also be more clever. , leave more balance in the account, so that people are happy, and the higher-ups are also happy."

Murong Sanzang was taken aback for a moment: "I didn't expect brother Xuangan to have such awareness, to be taught and taught."

Standing and talking doesn't hurt your back. Murong Sanzang complained in his heart, you are the eldest son of Duke Yue, who would dare not listen to you?

Who am I? If the people below can't afford it, who will listen to me?Since I came here as the King of Hedong, I, the county guard, have been like a decoration. If I don’t feed the people below, I’ll just hang up and take care of the elderly.

"It's almost noon, why don't you have dinner?" Yang Xuangan yelled at the servant, who hurried to remind him.

Inner Court,

Both Yang Ming and Yuan Wen sat down to discuss matters, while Yang Yinjiang took the opportunity to pour tea for them and listened from the side.

"How much of the annual payment is actually implemented?" Yang Ming asked.

Yuan Wen thought for a while, and replied: "I'm not very clear, but when my father was in Jiangling, basically the yamen of each government could take [-]% of it, but that was many years ago. The situation is better now, about Take fifty percent."

"That's half of it." Yang Ming nodded, and glanced at Yang Yinjiang. It seems that she made a good estimate. At least half of the money can be withheld.

Yang Ming asked again: "It seems that the money has been divided among various yamen. If I do a drastic investigation, I'm afraid it will touch the root of Jingzhou's officialdom."

"Can't check," Yuan Wendu hurriedly said:
"We can only reduce them a little bit. If we really want to strictly investigate and deal with it, there will be big troubles. Except for the hall officials in the counties and counties who are appointed by the Supreme and the Ministry of Officials, almost all other assistant officials are from the local area. These local snakes are the most difficult to deal with. In his eyes, there are only interests and no laws of the country. When Wei Gong first became the governor of Jingzhou, he was too ruthless, so that the local forces gathered and attacked the governor's mansion. To deal with these people, we can only take it slowly."

Yang Ming nodded. Regarding this point, he also knew not to be in a hurry.

That's why he stopped immediately after cleaning up the Wen family, because he was worried that the local forces would be aware of the crisis, so that they would link up with each other and form a monolith.

After Yuan Wendu left, Yang Ming looked at Yang Yinjiang and said with a smile:

"Let's cut it by a third. If it's too much, there will be problems."

"Excellent!" Yang Yinjiang nodded: "They eat a lot, so there will be more people who show filial piety to you. The big fish eat the small fish."

Yang Ming smiled and said, "Do you think I care about this?"

"No," Yang Yinjiang shook his head: "I know that you really want to do something, you want to govern Jingzhou well, but don't act too hastily, the more urgent, the greater the resistance will be."

Yang Ming smiled and nodded. It had to be Yang Yinjiang. She always had the same thoughts with him.

Just like the scientific research of the Sui Dynasty, it has been carried out for 14 years. How many people have emerged?

not a single one.

Why?Because the scientific research has moved the interests of the aristocratic family, it will inevitably encounter great resistance.

Originally, the position of a lord can be inherited, from father to son, and from son to grandson. You suddenly appeared in the imperial examination, which is equivalent to occupying the seat that should belong to my children and grandchildren. If I don’t stop it, my children and grandchildren will still be alive. up?

Just like the current Jingzhou officialdom,
Originally, I could get one thousand coins a year, but since you came, I can only get five hundred coins. Do you think I want you to stay, or do I want you to go?

If in the future, I can only get [-] guan a year, then it is not to save the problem, but to want you to die.

This is the status quo of feudal society, and Yang Ming cannot change it.

At this time, Xu Jing came in with a strange look on his face.
"Miss Pei came from Daxing, and she is currently placed in the front office."

Yang Ming was taken aback, and subconsciously looked at Yang Yinjiang, who shook his head helplessly:

"I made it very clear in my reply to her that I'm in Jingzhou and told her not to worry about it, but she still came."

Yang Ming smiled, and said to Xu Jing, "There are so many people in the front yamen, please invite her in."

Not long after, Pei Shuying, who was wearing a light blue long dress, came to Yang Ming's dormitory under the guidance of Xu Jing. When she saw General Yang Yin, she smiled apologetically:
"The capital is really bored. Once Yin Jiang left, I didn't even have anyone to talk to, so I went to Jingzhou to meet Yin Jiang. Please don't be offended by Yin Jiang."

Are you really just here to see me?Yang Yinjiang hurried forward to hold Pei Shuying's hand, and said affectionately:
"How can I be surprised? It's too late for me to be happy."

After all, Pei Shuying was not good at hiding, her smile was quite unnatural, then she looked at Yang Ming, and said with a smile:
"His Highness is well, do you mind if I disturb the residence for a while?"

Yang Ming smiled and said, "Does Mr. Pei know?"

"Yes!" Pei Shuying nodded.

Pei Ju, you old fox, what exactly are you planning?Yang Ming nodded:

"Reunion after a long absence, I think Miss Pei and Yin Jiang have a lot to say, so I won't bother you."

After finishing speaking, Yang Ming told Xu Jing to settle down with Pei Shuying, and went back to his room to rest.

After Yang Ming left, Yang Yinjiang smiled and said, "Your sister is here, does Mr. Pei really know?"

Pei Shuying nodded and said, "I only went out with my father's permission."

"Oh." Yang Yinjiang nodded, lost in thought.

(End of this chapter)