Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

Chapter 426: The ministers work overtime again, and the ministers are happy
By the time we returned to the palace, it was getting dark.

Zhu Di sat on the dragon chair, thought about what Guo An said, and then ordered Yishiha on the side: "Call all the cabinet ministers to see you!"

Is it this time again?
Yi Shiha was stunned subconsciously. Since the establishment of the cabinet, His Majesty has safely handed over the memorial to the cabinet elders and the eldest prince.

And he often left the palace and wandered around.

His Majesty did not come back until evening.

Then, he summoned the cabinet ministers who were about to go on duty to report to him. Those cabinet ministers were already a little frightened when they saw him.

If Your Majesty continues like this, those cabinet ministers may...

Thinking about it, Yishiha sighed slightly in his heart, but still responded obediently.

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Immediately, he walked quickly to Wenyuan Pavilion.

And in Wenyuan Pavilion.

Nie Zishi, Zhu Fu and other cabinet ministers also finished handling today's memorials and began to prepare for their duties.

Seeing that the time was approaching, Nie Zishi, Zhu Fu and others couldn't help but frown.

They saw another person they didn't want to see.

The eunuch who often served Zhu Di also lost his temper and walked towards Wenyuan Pavilion.

Yi Shiha actually didn't want to come at this time, but His Majesty had a decree and he had to come, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and walked in quickly.

"Your Majesty has a decree to summon all ministers to Fengtian Palace!"

Everyone in Wenyuan Pavilion was stunned.

Nie Zishi asked in surprise: "Call me and everyone else?"

Yi Shiha nodded slowly: "Exactly!"

Nie Zishi asked hurriedly: "I wonder what important matter your Majesty summoned us for?"

"I do not know either!"

Yi Shiha replied slowly.

Nie Zishi, Zhu Fu and other ministers looked helpless, "How could your Majesty do this?"

"Your Majesty has called you, so go quickly. Don't keep your Majesty waiting!"

"Ugh……"

……

On the road.

Zhu Fu couldn't help complaining to Nie Zishi, "I hope your Majesty's summons this time has nothing to do with Marquis Dinghai!"

Nie Zushi was startled, "Is Master Zhu so afraid of Marquis Dinghai?"

Zhu Fu sighed slightly, "It's not that I'm afraid, Marquis Dinghai is indeed talented and a virtuous minister.

However, it was too much work. When I was in Prince Yan's Mansion in Peking, I was exhausted from dealing with the government affairs that Marquis Dinghai had to deal with every day.

Unexpectedly, he was forced to come to the capital by Marquis Dinghai, entered the cabinet, and once again helped His Majesty review the numerous memorials...

If Marquis Dinghai causes trouble again, this old man will really have to answer here..."

What Zhu Fu said was true and not false at all.

Nie Zizhi nodded slightly, with sympathy on his face.

He also knew something about Zhu Fu's situation in Prince Yan's Mansion in Peking.

"Scholar Zhu has really worked hard these years!"

Zhu Fu was immediately moved, "Scholar Nie still understands me!"

On the side, Fang Xiaoru, Xie Jin and other cabinet ministers looked puzzled.

As a minister, being used highly by His Majesty and reviewing memorials is such a great honor. Why do these two people feel some resistance to it?

Could it be because of his old age?
Zhu Fu and Nie Zishi didn't know about this, but even if they knew, they would just smile lightly.

Only those who have experienced the torment of Dinghaihou Guo An will know how tiring it is!

soon.

Several people followed Yi Shiha and came to Fengtian Hall.

"Wei Chen sees His Majesty!"

After several people finished saluting, they looked at Zhu Di with some doubts.

"I wonder what your Majesty's orders are when he summons the ministers and others?"

Zhu Di sighed inexplicably, "We have been thinking these past few days, is your family's salary really enough for your family's food and drink?"

Nie Zishi and Jie Jin were all shocked and couldn't help but look at each other, their eyes full of worry.

Could it be that the case between the Zhang family and Zang Shiwen and others a few days ago is still not over.

Among the seven people in the cabinet, only Zhu Fu was old and at ease.

He has no relatives or friends in the court.

As for his family's belongings, they were all gifts from Zhu Di.

It was Nie Zishi who spoke first, saying: "Reporting to your majesty, there are not many people in Weichen's family. We have 35 dan per month, which is enough for Weichen's family to eat and clothe.

In addition, Wei Chen’s family also has quite a bit of land..."

Zhu Di nodded slightly.

The Nie family of Shunde Prefecture was also a moderate gentry.

Whether it was salary or rent at home, it was enough for Nie Zizhen.

As for Zhu Fu...

"Your Majesty, a humble minister is enough!"

Zhu Di nodded slightly again, "When Zhu Fu was appointed as the Chief of the Yan Palace, his annual year-end bonus and various rewards would be even more!"

Fang Xiaoru, Xie Jin, Huang Boqian, Yin Changlong, and Huang Huai, except for Yin Changlong, are all from wealthy families.

Zhu Di couldn't help but be surprised.

"Yin Qing, is your salary enough?"

Yin Changlong hurriedly replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Weichen's salary is enough for Weichen's family of more than ten people. In addition, Weichen's family has more than 20 acres of fertile land that does not need to pay taxes, and his relatives do not need to do hard labor. It is enough!"

"Ok!"

Zhu Di nodded slightly, "What do you think if we give all the courtiers of the Ming Dynasty a salary increase?" "Your Majesty is wise!"

After a moment of astonishment, Nie Zishi, Fang Xiaoru and the other seven people immediately praised him with joy on their faces without any hesitation.

Zhu Fu was direct again: "May I ask Your Majesty, how much will the salary increase be?"

Zhu Di paused and said: "Officials of the first to third grades will receive a monthly increase of five taels of treasure notes, officials of the fourth to sixth grades will receive a monthly increase of four taels of treasure notes, and officials of the seventh to ninth grades will receive a monthly increase of three taels of treasure notes! "

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

Nie Zishi, Fang Xiaoru and others were immediately overjoyed and flattered them hurriedly.

Your Majesty is so generous, he actually increased his salary by so much!

Zang Shiwen's death was worth it!

Only Zhu Fu frowned slightly. He calculated silently in his mind. At this rate, the Ming Dynasty would issue about 100 million taels of additional treasure notes every month, and he couldn't help but feel a little solemn.

"May I ask Your Majesty, with such an increase in salary, will the court's money be enough?"

Hearing this, Nie Zishi, Fang Xiaoru and others' expressions froze.

Yes, the Ministry of Finance complains about poverty every day, and money is needed everywhere in the court!
Now, the court needs to issue about 100 million taels more treasure notes every month. How can it be issued?

Zhu Di said: "We have decided to raise the commercial tax! From now on, the commercial tax will be reduced from thirty to one to fifteen!"

"Tax one for fifteen?"

Nie Zishi, Fang Xiaoru and others were startled again, with complex expressions on their faces.

Zhu Fu directly handed over the money again, "Your Majesty is wise, if the business tax is raised, it will indeed be enough to solve this problem."

Zhu Di added: "We have also decided to change the inspection in Beijing from once every three years to once every year!"

"Inspection once a year?"

At this time, Nie Zishi, Fang Xiaoru and others couldn't help but express their thoughts.

"Your Majesty, wouldn't this be a little too frequent?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, we conduct inspections once a year, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs does not have that many officials!"

Zhu Di ignored it and continued: "We want to use the Beijing Examination to evaluate the performance of all officials in the Ming Dynasty, and evaluate their political performance based on such factors as ethics, government affairs, talent, and corruption.

The political performance levels are divided into levels A, B, C and D.

In addition, the court will also provide a year-end bonus. If the assessment result is top-A, you will receive a year-end bonus of eight times your monthly salary at the end of the year;
If you are in the second grade, you can only get a year-end bonus of six times your monthly salary;

If you are ranked C, you can only get four times your monthly salary as a year-end bonus...

As for Ding, there is no year-end bonus and no promotion.

We set up these year-end bonuses so that those officials can live a prosperous life. They no longer have to take the risk of confiscating their homes and annihilating their families, forming cliques for personal gain, and engaging in corruption... and there is no need for the Zhang family to drag officials of the Ming Dynasty into the water again. This kind of evil thing..."

Then, Zhu Di explained everything Guo An said in detail.

After listening, Nie Zishi, Fang Xiaoru and other cabinet ministers were stunned.

Such a genius?Such a study of people's strategies, His Majesty is not as simple as it seems on the surface...

"Your Majesty's genius and ingenuity are far inferior to those of the ministers and others!"

Zhu Di laughed heartily and said, "So, what do you think of what I said?"

Nie Zishi, Fang Xiaoru and others quickly saluted and said: "This is a great thing that will benefit all the officials of the Ming Dynasty. Wei Chen and others are very supportive."

At this moment, Nie Zishi and others were in great spirits, their faces flushed with excitement.

As long as this is accomplished, the seven of them will definitely be praised and respected by all officials in the world.

Moreover, it can give them an extra 100 taels of banknotes every year, which is enough to make them much richer.

Although they just said it was very beautiful, they would be even more happy if they could receive more salary.

"So, I would like to trouble you all to sort out what I have said into a more detailed and feasible charter.

I set up the year-end bonus so that the officials of the Ming Dynasty will no longer let the big businessmen woo them for some money...

But it is absolutely not allowed that corrupt and mediocre officials pretend to be fake, and one becomes B and C..."

Nie Zishi, Fang Xiaoru and others quickly bowed their hands and saluted, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will definitely make good arrangements for you!"

"good!"

Zhu Di was full of satisfaction.

Zhu Fu also breathed a sigh of relief. If these people were so active, it wouldn't be his turn!

……

Out of the palace gate.

Nie Zizhi then looked at Zhu Fu tentatively, "Scholar Zhu, this method is very similar to the year-end bonus of Prince Yan's Mansion in Peking. Is it..."

Zhu Fu said with certainty: "It must be that Dinghaihou who tore him out!"

Nie Zishi's expression was complicated, "It is indeed the Marquis of Dinghai!"

"In this case, the court will be shaken again!"

"It's also a great thing!"

"Extremely, extremely..."

……

really.

Day two.

I don’t know who revealed it, but His Majesty wants to increase the salaries of all the courtiers in the court.

All the court officials were talking a lot and looking forward to it.

Day three.

At the court meeting, Zhu Di finally took out a memorial filled with various detailed regulations, and Yi Shiha beside him told the courtiers.

All the courtiers were filled with joy when they heard that not only would they be given more taels of treasure money each month, but at the end of the year, they would also be given year-end bonuses that were several times their monthly salary based on assessments.

Shout out to His Majesty!

As for the increase in commercial taxes, no officials cared about it at all.

How dare those lowly businessmen disobey a mere business tax?

Even if some officials feel that something is wrong, under this general trend, they can only lie down and hibernate!
……

(End of this chapter)