General Constitution of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 227

Jiajing set the time to call the businessmen's housekeeping department to discuss the matter the day after tomorrow, which is the third day.

The day left in the middle is to allow time for all parties to make changes.

On the second day after the merchants in Beijing received the news, they sent invitations to the entire six yamen, and all Beijing officials above the third grade in Beijing received such an invitation.

Even the invitation has been stuffed into the imperial prison.

Ning Jue and three others squatting in the cell held the invitations and looked at Lu Bing in astonishment.

"Governor, isn't this a slap in the face? Ever since Emperor Taizu Gao founded the country, I haven't heard of anyone who dared to send invitations to the Imperial Prison."

"What do they think our place is? The Hui Tong Pavilion? Or the Huiguo Wengong Temple?" Zhu Xixiao said angrily.

Looking at the invitations from the three of them, Lu Bing waved his hand towards the cell where Ning Jue and the other two were detained and said, "That's all. My father is in the prime of employing people, and the victims still have to rely on these businessmen. Let me ask Eunuch Huang."

Lu Bing has also noticed the abnormal situation in the DPRK and China.

Whether it is Dongchang or Jinyiwei, they are nothing but the products of the emperor to check and balance the officials.

Once the emperor is separated from the outer court, the power of Jinyiwei and Dongchang will inevitably be affected.

Lu Bing faintly felt that maybe he should make some preparations.

Not long after Lu Bing came back, the three of Ning Jue were kicked out of the prison.

As soon as Fang went out, there was a carriage waiting outside the prison.

"Three gentlemen, my master has been waiting for a long time, and he is waiting for three."

"Who is your master?" Zhang Juzheng asked.

"It's Ning Qianxian's old friend from the south of the Yangtze River, Mr. Zou in Xishan."

After the entourage said that, Gao Gong climbed into the carriage by himself.

"Two, the people in the northwest are still counting on these businessmen to help the disaster. For the sake of the victims, this meal has to be eaten."

Ning Jue and Zhang Juzheng looked at each other and had no choice but to get in the car.

I saw that the carriage went straight to the direction of Huguo Temple.

Not long after, they arrived outside a restaurant called "Liuquanju". The plaque was still new, and Zou Wang and other businessmen had already gathered outside the restaurant.

After walking in, the three of them saw a brazier at the gate of the restaurant.

Zou Wang stood in front of the brazier with a flattering look and said with a smile: "The banquet has been prepared inside, and we are just waiting for the three of us to step over the brazier."

Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong stepped over the brazier one after another, until it was Ning Jue's turn, Zou Wang stretched out his hand towards Ning Jue, and said with a smile: "Qian Xian, please."

Ning Jue looked at Zou Wang and snorted coldly, then walked into the restaurant beside the brazier.

Zou Wang wasn't angry at all, seeing Ning Jue enter the door, Dang Shi waved his hands at the restaurant and said, "Blow it up, fight it up."

"Here!"

In the restaurant, guzheng, drums, suona, bamboo flute, and pipa were all playing in unison. It was a bit more lively than the Chinese New Year, so happy.

Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong didn't make a sound, only Ning Jue looked at Zou Wang and said in a low voice: "Wake up in the middle of the night to wake up the dream of yellow beams, a beautiful woman with a lonely lamp."

"What does Qian Xian mean by that?" Zou Wang asked with a wry smile.

"I advise Mr. Zou to practice more virtue, otherwise he will feel uncomfortable when he wakes up from the dream."

"Aren't we accumulating virtue? We can't bear to watch the disaster in the northwest. If Qian Xian is too noisy..." Zou Wang paused, then waved his hand in the distance and said, "It's all stopped!"

Even if Liu Quanju turned inward, he returned to silence.

"Commissioner Zou should lead the way." Ning Jue interrupted before Zou Wang could finish.

Zou Wang and his team packed up the entire Liuquan residence, separated the six officials into different categories, and even considered the interpersonal relationship of the officials. Qingliu and Yandang were also scattered in each private room with a clear distinction.

Zou Wang, who was leading the way, took Ning Jue and the others straight towards the deepest part of the restaurant.

It wasn't until they reached the most secluded private room in the restaurant and saw Zou Wang that the waiter outside the private room let the four people in.

After entering, Ning Jue discovered that in addition to the three people, there were also Yan Shifan and Xu Fan in the box.

Sensing that Ning Jue's expression was not right, Zou Wang hurriedly stepped forward and explained: "Qian Xian, let's discuss one thing today, without this matter, no one can make it..."

"Let's discuss." Ning Jue pulled aside a chair casually, and sat down at the door of the box.

Yan Shifan held up his chopsticks and said helplessly: "I haven't seen you for so long, but Ke is still the same as before."

"Naturally, you can't compare with the two Xiaoge elders. You can only make millions in the south of the Yangtze River, right?"

Xu Fan was stunned and said, "What's the matter with me?"

"Today, Yuanwai Zou spent so much time and energy to ask the court for the reserve price. Let's discuss the matter directly. It should be clear what price Yuanwai Zou is going to ask the court for, right?" Zou Wang rubbed his hands and said. Said: "This is also the first time for me to do business with the imperial court. We roughly calculated the accounts. There are nearly ten million victims in the northwest. If we count tens of millions, we need [-] shi for food every day."

"The court's relief, based on four months, counts for 120 days, and it needs 200 million shi."

"These 200 million stones should be used as much as possible by water. Calculating the overall allocation from various provinces, almost 800 million stones of grain will be used on the road..."

Zhang Juzheng raised his head and glanced at Yan Shifan who was beside him.

Yan Shifan also nodded and said: "The strategy proposed by the three of you, the shipping cost is actually the shipping cost of transporting grain from Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Zhejiang to the northwest, 800 million shi, it should be a saving."

"Xiaoge Lao Mingjian, if this is the case, then it will be a total of 2000 million stone grains. Your Majesty is so kind to me. We also have to contribute to the court. The price of this grain will be based on the price of grain in Jiangnan, which is calculated as six qian of silver." At this point, Zou Wang couldn't help but glance at Ning Jue. When he saw that Ning Jue didn't speak, Zou Wang was relieved.

The price of rice in Jiangnan is six renminbi per shi, but that is the land of fish and rice. After leaving Jiangnan, only Huguang's grain price in Daming can compare with that of Jiangnan.

"Twenty million stones of grain, six cents per stone, so the total is 2000 million taels."

Hearing this number, Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong couldn't help but be surprised.

This cost alone is enough for the court to go without food or drink for two years.

But Ning Jue said: "Mr. Zou, don't mention these things. Just tell me how much you plan to make from it. You can set a price based on your conscience."

"Our calculation is that we need a total of 200 million taels of silver."

Ning Jue almost couldn't help but splash the wine in the glass on Zou Wang's face.

"Make an offer with conscience!"

"Heaven and earth conscience, Qian Xian, we have to fight for this interest for the gentry and common people below! And this account has to be settled. After borrowing the food from Liangguang, Liangguang still needs to borrow money from Jiangnan and Huguang. Only by distributing food a few times can we, Daming, pass this pass."

"Such a large cycle, such a large sum of money, you just went to the cabinet, and that's the price."

After speaking, Zou Wang counted with Ning Jue with his fingers.

"It will take about a year and a half before and after, 750 million taels of silver. We have a lot of traffic and horses under us, and the cost of transporting grain to the counties and state capitals is all included. The 450 million taels of silver received from the court is really not much!"

"Bang!", Ning Jue slapped the case and said angrily: "For a total of one and a half years, you collected [-]% interest from the court and put usury on the court?!"

Xu Fan hurriedly smoothed things over and said, "Kezhu, the accounts can't be calculated like this. The emperor's father has decreed that the commercial taxes should be transferred to the household department. Just now Zou Yuanwai calculated the accounts. After the imperial court has sorted out the commercial taxes, it will take at least one year and the imperial court's annual income will be enough." It can exceed 500 million taels, and there is no limit on this account. Within five years, even if the imperial court is still doing frivolous corvee and low taxes, the annual income will be as high as the 7000 million taels of the former Song Dynasty."

After finishing speaking, Xu Fan winked at Zou Wang.

Zou Wang quickly took out another account book.

"Qian Xian, that's pretty much it. Look, we already have a general regulation on how to remit business tax. Just take a look..."

Ning Jue didn't even look at the ledger in Zou Wang's hand, but instead looked at Xu Fan and Yan Shifan and asked, "You two, allow me to ask a question."

"Ask." Xu Fan said casually.

"Where the fuck are you two from?!"

"Is the imperial court's money coming from the strong wind?! Which grain of rice in the imperial court is not the blood of the people, and finally let the two eat the blood of the people who have found a chance to be upright?"

When Yan Shifan heard this, he also slapped the case with a bang.

"Ning Kezhong! Who do you think of us? The crown prince spoils you, we don't spoil you! If the court doesn't pay enough money, the grain merchants won't be able to raise grain, and the grain merchants won't be able to raise grain. The victims in the Northwest will starve to death!"

"Do you think you are fighting for the interests of the people? You are killing people!"

After saying that, Yan Shifan sat down on the chair.

Xu Fan also echoed from the side: "Ke Zhong, one tael of silver is used to do one tael of silver, and whatever the court saves will eventually have to be picked out bit by bit from the mouths of the victims. Can you bear it?"

"You two young elders, both of you are deeply favored by the state, no matter what, you won't turn your elbows outside." Zhang Juzheng said with a frown.

Xu Fan and Yan Shifan were furious when they heard this.

"Zhang Juzheng! Tell me clearly, who is trying to make the victims eat more food in this Liuquan residence today! And who is trying to extract money from the victims!" Yan Shifan shouted angrily.

"It is precisely because of the state's favor that the two of us cannot just sit back and watch the victims starve to death! My father and son have received the country's favor deeply, so the three of you have received the country's favor less? It came from the common people? How about letting the victims eat better?" Xu Fan said.

Neither Yan Shifan nor Xu Fan realized that a living commoner was already much more important than before.

As long as people are alive, there are ways to make money from them.

Xu Fan and Yan Shifan talked to each other, but they forced Zhang Juzheng to be speechless.

Finally, Yan Shifan threw away the chopsticks in his hand.

Then he looked around and asked: "I would like to ask the three of you to give me a letter, do you really want to let the nearly tens of millions of victims in the northwest of Daming survive this test, and do it as a matter of life, then we will discuss it tomorrow! If we starve to death halfway, then we will continue to press down..."

Before Yan Shifan finished speaking, he felt a black shadow flashing in front of his eyes, as if something was flying towards him.

(End of this chapter)