People in Hongwu, from heavenly master to emperor master

Chapter 264 What you get will naturally be lost elsewhere
Liu Ji probably guessed what the emperor wanted to do, but he couldn't believe it.

Zhu Yuanzhang's temperament, these veterans probably understand.

It was also because of cognitive problems that he didn't dare to believe his guess.

"Someone told me that you can't push everyone to your opposite!
Human nature is unpredictable, good and evil are just a thought.

You, Liu Ji, can keep your heart because you have your own ideals and ambitions, as well as your confidence.

But many people may have problems when they hold power but are not decent.

Maybe what is missing, you will use your own power to get it from the country's treasury.

Maybe because I don't have one, I can't keep my heart when others send it over!

This person, you can't treat them all as you Liu Ji,

Even if everyone is your Liu Ji, I can't just bully these people.

You Liu Ji have lived like this, so I have to think about this issue! "

Liu Bowen was silent, and he was shocked that Zhu Yuanzhang could think of this on his own initiative.

Old Zhu was a good emperor, but he was never a good boss.

Including the present, the core idea is actually very clear. He didn't suddenly become generous because of other reasons, but he was also weighing the pros and cons.

If officials don't get decent, they will use their power in exchange for decent.

This will eventually hurt the national interest, and it will also bring down the official atmosphere.

In this world, there are saints who are dedicated to the public, and there are villains who only want to get promoted and get rich.

But most people are nothing more than ordinary people.

Having a good life, being able to maintain the expectations of scholars, coupled with the deterrence of severe punishment laws, they will consider the cost-effectiveness of crime.

This is not a question of pity or not, it is a math problem.

If according to the standards set by Zhu Yuanzhang before, maybe [-]% to [-]% of those officials who should not be greedy for ink will be greedy for ink because of their indignity.
And after giving them relative dignity, these people will become [-]% to [-]%.

If all eight people in the officialdom are greedy, then the remaining two people are heterogeneous.

In this atmosphere, everyone will sink.

"Of course, since I am willing to give them face, then if I stretch out my hand to benefit the country, don't blame me for being ruthless!

This country is difficult, if I have ample finances, I am willing to give more!
But you know the situation in the world today, these extra parts can be regarded as cut out from other places..."

Zhu Yuanzhang was still a little bit pained, but after thinking about one thing, the money was not so uncomfortable to pay.

Regarding the part he wanted to give to the clan before, even if Lao Zhu was for the world, he would never be so generous.

Fortunately, he still has a young son, so he doesn't have to worry about this problem for the time being.

He continued:

"You have the responsibility of supervising the officials, and you will write a secret report to me later!

Regarding the living conditions of the low-level officials of the Ming Dynasty, I want their detailed information!
How much do they spend?How many days do you eat meat?Housing, clothing, travel...

Record all these things for me!

I don't feel relieved to leave this matter to others, but you are the best!
You get this done for me, remember! "

A flash of excitement flashed in Liu Ji's eyes, and Zhu Yuanzhang took the initiative to care about the lives of those low-level officials.
It is His Majesty's rare mercy.

Now that the world has settled down, scholars in the world should share the benefits of the world with His Majesty.

Zhu Yuanzhang at least showed them enough kindness,

This kindness should also be felt by the scholars.

After he sent the emperor out, he stood by the door and said to himself:

"Does Your Majesty like traveling in micro-clothes recently? Once at Zhang Yi's house, and the old man here too...

No, this His Majesty shouldn't be like this, especially for today's matter, it's the same if His Majesty called me to the palace!

and so……

Your Majesty went elsewhere before coming to me.

Moreover, His Majesty said there is someone, who is that person?

Is it really the legendary high Taoist Zhang Sanfeng? "

Liu Bowen couldn't think of an answer, but at least he understood.

There is someone who can advise Zhu Yuanzhang and even gain his unreserved trust.

He can even change Zhu Yuanzhang's heart and make Zhu Yuanzhang do things that violate common sense that these old courtiers never expected.

This person is very important in His Majesty's heart, and his ability is very high.

"Such a talent, His Majesty only uses him as a counselor!

This is not in line with His Majesty's temperament. Whenever possible, he will definitely promote this person.

Unless the other party has the status of His Majesty and can't do anything about it, the other party is an outsider. "

Liu Bowen was silent, and he saw Zhu Yuanzhang's suppression of monks and Taoism.

The master who can make Lao Zhu so obedient, to a certain extent, that person has surpassed himself and the old people who follow Lao Zhu.

Liu Bowen has witnessed the emperor's temperament.

It is not acceptable to put on airs of a superior in front of him.

There were some people in the front who were unwilling to miss the former dynasty, and were unwilling to serve Lao Zhu. They found an excuse to become a monk and live in seclusion, but Lao Zhu arrested them from the mountains.

What Song Lian did can be used against the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty.

The emperor of Ming Dynasty must never do it.

Coupled with the fact that there is a faint trend of ZTE in Taoist sect recently, Liu Ji is more and more sure about the identity of that expert.

He is not sure if it is Zhang Sanfeng, but at least he must be a Taoist priest.

"Wait, it can't be him?"

A small figure flashed in Liu Ji's mind, but he thought it was too absurd, so the idea disappeared in a flash.

Day two.

In the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, a vigorous investigation activity began.

The censors of Yushitai summoned low-level officials and asked them about their basic situation in detail.

Although the people above don't say anything, how many people who can be officials are fools?
They vaguely knew from these clues that the emperor was going to raise their salaries.

According to the salaries set by Lao Zhu when he was the king of Wu, the life of these officials is really not very good.

Compared with the Mongols who do not let the imperial power go to the provinces, your officials are tossing themselves, as long as you pay taxes to Lao Tzu, those officials who have been officials under the Mongols can experience the precipitous decline in their income.

The reason for the decline is naturally that the officials cannot be as lawless as the previous court.

But even the legal income part, they are also reduced.

Now that the world is settled, it is naturally a good thing that the emperor sympathizes with their difficulties.

All of a sudden, all the officials in Yingtian Mansion were praising the emperor.

These voices naturally reached Zhu Yuanzhang's ears through the way of the school.

The inspection school is no better than the Jinyiwei of the later generations, in terms of number of people, and authority, they are far inferior.

It is naturally impossible for Zhu Yuanzhang to have a school inspector in any official mansion.

Even among the third-rank officials, not every household can arrange a master.

However, after Lao Zhu asked the inspection school to operate a market business, and explored the rights of communication and other things from it, the inspection school actually expanded its enrollment.

A large number of non-staff personnel appeared in the market, which also provided Zhu Yuanzhang with another kind of information.

From the butcher who buys meat, the waiter in the restaurant, the girl from Qinhuai River, the clerk in the bookstore...

The information of these people is fragmentary, but when collected in the hands of Zhu Biao who is actually in charge of the inspection, it can become a piece of useful information.

Which officials can eat meat, which officials have never even been to the meat stand, which officials secretly go to find girls, and which people pawn their things at home.

Zhu Yuanzhang is a stubborn person, but he is not self-willed.

He may not agree with what Zhang Yi said, but he will still use time to verify whether these words make sense.

Zhang Yi provided him with a perspective that he had never thought of.

The final decision is still his own!

"No wonder some people miss the former dynasty, especially those scholars!

Compared with the benefits the Mongols gave them, I really seem stingy!
But there are some things I can give, and some things I really can't!

The Ming Dynasty was no different than the Southern Song Dynasty, and had a large amount of commercial taxes to support their high salaries. Similarly, it is impossible for me to be like the Mongol emperors who only pay taxes and ignore their wanton actions!
Decent, I gave it!

If they don't want to be decent, I will help them be decent. "

Lao Zhu put down the secret music in his hand and taught Zhu Biao earnestly.

"Your Majesty, Lord Li, Lord Yang and Lord Liu are asking to see you..."

"Let them in!"

Under the emperor's order, Li Shanchang, Yang Xian and Liu Ji entered the imperial study.

Accompanying him are several ministers from the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of Officials.

"I have seen His Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

After saluting, Zhu Yuanzhang said:
"Liu Ji, did you do what I asked you to do?"

Liu Ji hurriedly presented a memorial, and Lao Zhu asked Li Shanchang again:
"What is the opinion of the Ministry of Education?"

Li Shanchang winked at Zhu Zhao, Minister of the Household Department, and Zhu Zhao also submitted a proposal.

Zhu Yuanzhang first checked Liu Bowen's memorials.

"I didn't expect that because of the word [Li], officials would have to pay so much!

This expenditure should be partially subsidized by the court, and should not be borne by officials..."

As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang opened his mouth, Li Shanchang and others were stunned. Is this the sun coming out from the west?

The imperial court subsidizes the installation costs of officials, which is great news for low-ranking officials.

Court clothes, official clothes, ordinary clothes...

Among other things for officials, the cost of outfitting three sets of clothing for each spring and autumn is a considerable expense for low-ranking officials.

There are many other things, and there are many hard expenses.

With a swipe of a pen, Zhu Yuanzhang covered these expenses to the officials at the lowest standard.

In fact, this is tantamount to increasing the salaries of officials in disguise.

With Lao Zhu's temperament, it would be very difficult for him to distribute the money himself, but it can be regarded as a great merit if he can solve part of it.

Liu Bowen let out a sigh of relief, the emperor had exceeded his expectations by doing so.

It would be even better if the salary could go up a bit.

As a worker, Liu Bowen stands behind the expectations of countless low-level officials!
Zhu Yuanzhang put aside Liu Bowen's memorial, and then looked at Li Shanchang and Yang Xian's memorial issued by the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Education.

Zhu Zhao's proposal from Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the proposal from Zhongshu Sheng made Lao Zhu quite interesting.

If Zhang Yi didn't say anything, Zhu Yuanzhang would probably agree to this proposal, but Zhang Yi's few words that day made Lao Zhu vigilant.

"Do you not have high requirements for salary?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Zhao with interest, and Zhu Zhao replied:
"Your Majesty, it's not that the ministers are not demanding, but that the finances are really tight!
If the ministers are suffering, the common people will benefit more, and the soldiers in front will have more rations..."

Zhu Zhao responded fluently to what he said, standing on the moral high ground, there was nothing wrong with it.

Lao Zhu took another look at Zhongshu Sheng’s memorial and said:

"Then will the preferential treatment be given to people like Juren and Scholars?"

Li Shanchang said:

"Your Majesty, what Master Zhu said is the same truth, but after all, all things are low-grade and only one can study well. The salary that I, Daming, can give is already extremely low. If you don't seek compensation from other places, the people's hearts will not be used!

The minister felt that giving up some insignificant privileges in exchange for the court's frugal expenditure!
This can not only appease the hearts of the people, but also benefit!

Wei Chen..."

"Humph!"

With Zhu Yuanzhang's slap, Li Shanchang's words stopped in mid-air and could not fall.

"There were no such regulations in the previous dynasty, not only the Mongols did not, but also in the Tang Dynasty!

Let it go!

An uses the authority of the future to exchange for the small profits at this time, I will not consider this matter for the time being!
Let's discuss the issue of officials' salaries!

I have decided that the official salaries of our Ming Dynasty will increase by [-]% based on the regulations set before!
Part of the expenses will be subsidized by the imperial court!
Now that the imperial court is short of money, we can temporarily wrong you. After ten or twenty years, if the world's finances improve, I will consider increasing officials' salaries as appropriate!

Since you want to lead by example,
In principle, there are more low-level officials, and relatively few first-rank officials! "

Regardless of which faction, Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen and Yang Xian's faces are not good.

Although the emperor gave them a raise, what they wanted most was lost.

Li Shanchang had no choice but to take the lead in thanking him.

Liu Bowen, Yang Xian and others followed Xie En, turned and left.

"The salary has been increased, but you adults are not as happy as you imagined!"

Zhu Biao waited for Li Shanchang and the others to leave before asking.

Zhu Yuanzhang said:

"Because I didn't give them what they wanted most!"

"Is it a suggestion to improve the status of scholars?"

Zhu Biao had read the memorial and knew what Li Shanchang and others meant.

The memorial was approved by all three parties including Li Shanchang, Yang Xian, and Liu Bowen. It can be regarded as transcending party disputes, and it belongs to the common interests of scholars.

Zhang Yi had no intention of reminding the emperor if there was no Chaotian Palace party.

There is a high probability that Zhu Yuanzhang will agree to the execution of this memorial.

Because improving the status of scholars is also in the interests of the emperor to a certain extent.

After a hundred years of Mongol rule, the emperor was obliged to revitalize the culture of the Han people, and these tasks largely fell on the scholars.

In addition, compared with the former Yuan Dynasty, the treatment that the imperial court can give is really not that good.

It is natural to compensate the scholars from other places and increase the enthusiasm of the scholars.

Zhu Yuanzhang hated officials, but not even the Confucian scholars hated him...

After various considerations, he encouraged others to study and work for the court with similar benefits such as not worshiping officials, exempting from corvee, tax reduction and exemption, and some legal preferential treatments.

This is a great deal!

If Zhang Yi's stinky mouth didn't remind Zhu Yuanzhang, everything would be perfect.

(End of this chapter)