Rule over Ming Dynasty

Chapter 280

Song Cheng, who was wearing a third-rank official uniform, came in from the outside, saluting Zhu Youtang in a respectful manner.

Ordinarily, Song Cheng, as a third-rank local official, is completely unqualified to appear at this supreme meeting, but this time he was specially summoned by the emperor, which is naturally another matter.

In the attic, as hot water is poured into the tea leaves, the fragrance of tea rises.

As beautiful as jade, a pair of slender hands brought a cup of fragrant hot tea.

Zhu Youtang likes to sit on the pavilion and sip tea, and said lightly: "Song Aiqing, tell everyone about the financial industry in the capital first!"

Li Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and other officials exchanged glances silently, and then turned to look at Song Cheng.

Among the descendants, except Liu Zhong, Governor of Huguang, who went to Qingzhang Tianmu in Huguang, and Governor Chen Shen of Xuanda, who was in charge of border trade in Datong, the most outstanding rising star in the capital is the Shuntian Fu Yin who is in charge of Shuntian Mansion.

Although this black-faced young man is out of tune with the officialdom, but in terms of integrity and justice, I am afraid that the entire Ming Dynasty will not be able to find a second place.

What's more, Song Cheng now has the title of Song Qingtian, and is deeply loved by the people in the capital.

Song Cheng stood upright, his facial features were well defined, his whole black face looked neither sad nor happy, only his eyes were piercing.First he solemnly responded, then he stood on the left side, turned around and gave a salute to the present Shangguan.

Although he faced many contemptuous gazes, he was not affected in the slightest, and naturally he would not be stage fright on such an occasion.

Song Cheng took out a notebook from his cuff, and then said solemnly: "As verified by the Shuntian government, there are 360 ​​shops in the capital that are engaged in lending and pawning. Among them, the monthly interest rate of lending is about five cents, and the monthly interest rate of pawning has reached Four points are more than three points of the monthly interest stipulated by the law of the Ming Dynasty, and each family does not follow the principle of "although there are many years and months, one profit per share". Those who are in charge will return the property to the store after the expiration of the period, and then sell it at a high price to make a profit Several times; those who borrowed money and did not return it when it was due, evil servants came to ask for land deeds and title deeds, forcing good families to sell their children as slaves and handmaids, and the unpaid money forced the suffering master to establish a new certificate, and the people have been suffering from financial loans for a long time."

The so-called "although there are many years, one profit per share" is actually Zhu Yuanzhang's intention to use the "Law of the Ming Dynasty" to protect ordinary people, requiring that no matter how long the borrower borrows, the total interest cannot exceed the principal.

I have to admit that Zhu Yuanzhang is indeed a wise king who cares about the people, and he always wants to protect the interests of ordinary people to the greatest extent and give them a chance to stand up.

It's just that "there are policies at the top, and countermeasures at the bottom." The regulations of the "Da Ming Law" cannot stop the determination of these powerful people to squeeze the people's interests.

The principal loaned by their initial contract may only be ten taels, but if the borrower fails to repay it when it is due, they will require the borrower to make a new IOU, or put it in another pawnshop for loan.

In this way, they have found a solution.As long as the local yamen cooperates, then it is natural to avoid the restriction of "although there are many years, one profit per share", and one hundred taels of principal can be exchanged for one hundred taels or more.

Unfortunately, this kind of thing is not an isolated case, but generally exists in the capital.

The money lending industry started in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, and in the Yuan Dynasty, there was an official money lending organization——Quality Library, which made money lending an important source of income for the court and nobles.

At that time, a new profession appeared in the capital, the "wotuhu" who were mainly engaged in the lending industry with Semu people as the main body.

The Mongolian nobles relied on Han to get rid of their households to lend money for themselves. The annual interest of "lamb money" was as high as 100%, which caused a large number of people to go bankrupt, and eventually became the last straw that crushed the Yuan Dynasty.

It has been more than a hundred years since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, and the rich and powerful have already completed their primitive accumulation, so it is logical to intervene in the lending industry.After all, there is probably no better business than lending in this world.

Although the "wotuhu" in the Yuan Dynasty disappeared, a profession called "lajing debt" appeared in the capital.

"Lajing debt" is not a decent profession. It mainly relies on one's own network resources to lure some officials to borrow Beijing debt, so as to obtain commissions from it.

"Ming Yingzong Records" records: "There are dozens of generations of rascals in the capital, who often wait in front of the officials, often attract rich families to borrow money, and then bribe them. It has its gold."

Earlier, Zhu Youtang mobilized the nobles to plant cotton together. The reason why many martial arts did not respond to Zhu Youtang was that they were unwilling to cooperate with Zhu Youtang's actions on the one hand, and on the other hand, these three melons were not lacking. date.

After their ancestors completed their primitive accumulation, they began to engage in lending business in the capital, especially the Beijing debt for officials with outstanding repayment ability, which enabled them to find the most stable and lucrative source of income just like the Mongolian nobles.

The golden sunlight scattered in the courtyard behind, and the expressions of the officials in the imperial study were different.

In March of Yangchun in the second year of Hongzhi, the window paper of usury was pierced by the upright Shuntian Fu Yin, and all the nobles in the capital were pointed at.

Han Youying's body became more feminine, especially her skin became fairer, her legs were straight and slender, and she was handing Zhu Youtang a cup of new tea.

She actually understands business, but she knows that lending usury is indeed a good business, but the consequence is that countless families and wives are separated, and many families can only live in rich families as slaves for generations.

But now, seeing the emperor in front of her pointing at the most profitable business in the world, she couldn't help but feel her heart beat faster because of this man's courage.

Perhaps in the near future, I can really see a truly prosperous society, a society where every ordinary person can live well.

Zhu Youtang watched Song Cheng tell the financial situation in Beijing, and then picked up the teacup and sipped tea slowly, not in a hurry to express his opinion.

Regarding Daming's financial problems, he already knew it well, but only now decided to take action.

Zhu Youtang took a sip of tea, as if he was just a bystander, condescendingly ready to listen to the opinions of the important officials below, or sit and watch them argue endlessly.

Even ordinary things will be quarreled, and now surrounding financial decisions, today must be full of gunpowder.

"In the matter of private lending, one person is willing to fight and the other is willing to suffer. Although the interest rate of private loan is a bit higher, it can help people solve their urgent needs. Now the monthly interest rate of four to five cents is much lower than in the past." Wu Yu, the servant on the right of the Ministry, didn't say a word when he saw the old fox in front of him, and Dang even took the lead in expressing his views.

coming!

When Wu Yu expressed his views, Wan An and Liu Ji opened their eyes as if they had a heart-to-heart connection.

Song Cheng turned his head to look at Wu Yu looking for a sound, and said seriously: "Master Wu, you are wrong! Not to mention that these pawnshops and banks actually earn several times or even dozens of times, even if the monthly interest is four or five cents, it has already violated the general rule of thumb. The law established by the ancestors. Since the law of the Ming Dynasty has been violated, how can the court sit idly by? As for how the moon will last in the past, this matter is not worth discussing. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, it has governed the world with benevolence and filial piety, and it should be benevolent! "

benevolent government?

Wan An turned his head and took a deep look at the eloquent and eloquent Song Cheng. Although he felt that this dark-faced young man seemed naive, he still maintained his innocence.

"Governor of the Song Dynasty, the government of the country naturally wants to rule the world with benevolence and filial piety, but we must not stick to the rules! Private lending has been going on for 2000 years. Our country should be kind to the people, but we must also understand that cheap grain hurts farmers, and we must understand the norms Wenzheng is the way of governing the country based on the three policies of Huangzheng!" He Qiaoxin, the new secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, is Song Cheng's boss, and he seems to be preaching in a serious manner.

The so-called "Three Strategies for Famine Policy" are Fan Zhongyan's three measures in the face of local disasters.

Fan Zhongyan failed to preside over the New Deal again, and was released by the court, and later changed to Hangzhou Zhizhou.After working in Hangzhou, there was a great famine in Liangzhe Road this year. There were starving people on the road, and hungry people moved all over the road.

Faced with this kind of disaster, the governments all over the country are busy cracking down on price gouging, but Fan Zhongyan unbelievably launched three "three policies for famine policy" that are not understood by ordinary people.

The most puzzling thing is that Fan Zhongyan raised the price of rice. At that time, the price of a bucket of rice in Hangzhou was 120 renminbi. He directly raised the price of rice to 180 renminbi.

Unfortunately, this controversial move has achieved miraculous results.

The Ming court transported 400 million shi grains from the southeast to the capital, and the freight cost was nearly 200 million taels, and the grain merchants also spent a lot of money to transport the rice to Hangzhou.

Because they believed Fan Zhongyan's false propaganda, many grain merchants in the southeast thought it would be profitable, so they flocked here.

It's just that when these rice grains arrived in Hangzhou City one after another, due to the limited demand for rice grains from the people in Hangzhou City, there was a market with oversupply, and the rice price in Hangzhou City eventually dropped rapidly.

Now He Qiaoxin cites Fan Zhongyan's three strategies for famine policy, which can be said to be very clever. After all, Fan Zhongyan is the most admired Song official by civil servants, and raising the price of rice has indeed received miraculous results.

Through this example, it seems to be able to support the "rationality" of the high interest rate of private lending.

Jia Jun, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, and others were originally opposed to the high interest rate behavior of private financial institutions, but after seeing He Qiaoxin's analysis, they found that the monthly interest rate of four to five cents may be a reasonable interest rate.

Zhu Youtang put down the teacup in his hand, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

He Qiaoxin is actually changing the concept secretly. Fan Zhongyan raised the price of rice in order to achieve "low rice price", and now the high interest rate of private lending is to maintain the high profits of the elite.

Even people with a little economic knowledge in future generations can understand that high interest rates will only cause a large amount of capital to flow into the financial industry, while low interest rates are a good way to stimulate the economy.

Why are the rich and powerful still unwilling to build weaving factories to participate in maritime trade? The most fundamental problem is that the income from lending is too high, so they are unwilling to step out of their comfort zone.

It’s not that high interest rates are not beneficial at all. A sound lending system can indeed solve some people’s urgent needs, but it often causes borrowers to drink poison to quench their thirst.

"He Shangshu, I don't understand the relationship between high interest rates and the three policies of the famine policy! It's just that private lending is clearly violating the laws of the Ming Dynasty, and a hundred profits is a violation of the original intention of the ancestors, so this evil trend can no longer rise! Today How can there be no reason for me to welcome Lord Ming?" Song Cheng had his own stand, and responded solemnly.

Huh?
Wan An and Liu Ji couldn't help looking at Song Cheng, feeling that this black-faced young man knows how to flatter.

But the thing is true, if Zhu Youtang hadn't been in power, the other emperors might not have discovered this stubborn disease, not to mention whether they had the courage.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at Song Cheng, but still didn't express his opinion.

Although I want to rectify it, the loan lending is too involved, and it can be said that the entire capital's dignitaries are involved.The best thing to do now is for people like Song Cheng to take the lead, while he sits firmly behind.

As a qualified emperor, he couldn't express his opinion easily.If there is a truly patriotic minister, let him rush forward for himself, so that he can win with one blow.

He Qiaoxin suspected that Song Cheng didn't even know what was going on with the three policies of famine policy, so he looked at Song Cheng contemptuously: "Mr. The good governance you think is not necessarily good governance, whether a policy is good or bad is not up to you alone, but should be evaluated by the people!"

As soon as these words came out, Liu Ji and other officials couldn't help but secretly nodded, and at the same time seriously looked at the new Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, he was indeed somewhat genuine.

Zhu Youtang also looked at He Qiaoxin, but his eyes did not appreciate it.

Although He Qiaoxin has already become Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, his father He Wenyuan was even more powerful back then.

However, the final fate of his father He Wenyuan is more tragic.After the change of seizing the door, because in the edict of Emperor Jingtai's Yi Chu, He Wenyuan wrote the phrase "the father has a son passed down to the world" in the memorial.

If Emperor Jingtai inherits the throne from the same line, then he is naturally a great hero from Conglong.

It's just that the sky didn't work out, and when Yingzong reset to learn of this, he immediately ordered He Wenyuan to be arrested. As a result, He Wenyuan chose to hang himself to protect his family.

He Qiaoxin kept his filial piety for several years, and then returned to the officialdom. His official career was not influenced by his father, but was strongly recommended by Wynn and others.

Zhu Youtang originally arranged He Qiaoxin to retire in Nanjing, but Du Ming was forced to resign under the influence of his son, and his favorite Liu Zhong and Chen Kun did not have enough experience in the local area. Governor He Cong of Shandong and Governor Liu Xuan of Liaodong cannot now move.

In fact, he and He Qiaoxin had nothing to do with each other, because He Qiaoxin's father was indirectly killed by Yingzong, so he didn't really want to reuse this person.

It's just that the emperor still has to say some rules. Now the most suitable candidate is indeed He Qiaoxin. In addition, he is ready to kick Liu Jian, so he really needs to add a clear stream to check and balance the forces of the court.

Wu Yu, the right servant of the household department, seemed like He Qiaoxin's little fan, and echoed with bright eyes: "What Shangshu said is very true! Back then, everyone thought that Fan Wenzheng raised the price of rice to put the people in trouble, but Little do you know that the price of rice in Hangzhou City will soon drop, and the people can survive! Today you think the interest rate is too high, but now the people have no complaints, so this proves that this matter should not be taken lightly!"

"The people have no complaints? Wu Shilang, you are too far away from the people! Your Majesty, I beg you to summon Yu Ming, a villager in Hebei Village, to listen to the voices of the people!" Song Cheng looked at Wu Yu contemptuously, Then he solemnly asked for his life.

　August is here, good luck to everyone!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)