Do you know: I have a different surname: Wang, uncle Minglan

Chapter 137 Civil and military ministers quarreled with each other, Wei Yuan offered salt and introduced the law
The grand meeting is about to begin.

Since Sheng Hong performed well after coming to Beijing, he has been promoted to the rank of Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Industry, from the fifth rank.

But he was still not qualified to enter the palace to participate in the court meeting.

He could only stand outside the hall with some colleagues.

After a while, with the roar of the mountains, the court meeting began.

Zhao Zhen originally wanted to finalize the formation of the new army at this court meeting.

Unexpectedly, Han Zhang took the lead in attacking.
"Your Majesty, the salt tax on Jinghu South Road is less than 30% of previous years. The situation on Liangzhe Road and Jiangnan Road is also quite serious."

"In previous years, the salt tax was basically between 7 million and 8 million guan, but this year, my preliminary guess is that it is only about 2 to 3 million guan."

As soon as these words came out, they instantly became the focus of heated discussion among officials.

During the Zhenzong period, the annual salt tax was as low as three million guan.

At that time, the dynasty had just been established, and it was understandable that countless people had not yet recovered from the war.

On the surface, it is talking about the salt tax.

Push it to next year?

If the salt tax problem is not solved, the court will have no money, and if there is no money, there will be no food. Without food, it can only continue to sell salt banknotes, then the salt tax problem will become increasingly serious.

"If food shortages are repeated and the issuance of salt banknotes is increased to solve the problem, then sooner or later, the salt law will collapse."

Without food and pay, how can we talk about forming a new army?
Who knows, this is just the beginning.

In the past few years, there have been either natural disasters or man-made disasters, and the court's various expenditures have also been very large. Once it cannot make ends meet, big troubles will occur.

That is, Han Zhang's helper.

It also reflects a phenomenon: the imperial court is out of money.

"Your Majesty, if the issuance of salt banknotes is not reduced, the price of salt may change in the coming year and the salt tax will be difficult to collect."

Hearing this, Wei Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Ouyang Yongshu, who is involved in political affairs and is also the Minister of Household Affairs, bowed and said:

Then what reason can be used to postpone it to the year after next year?
If this happens repeatedly, can a new army still be formed?
Wei Yuan frowned secretly. Could it be that Han Zhang, an old man, just didn't want him to form a new army, so he found some excuse to refuse the matter?
Reducing the issuance of salt banknotes means that salt banknotes can no longer be exchanged for grain.

Several civil servants stood up and continued to attack Zhao Zhen.

The so-called smooth affairs under Tong Zhongshu's family can be understood as deputy prime minister.

"Salt tax is the foundation of our country's dynasty and economy and must be carefully monitored. I would like to reduce the issuance of salt banknotes and postpone several major expenditures this year to next year to recuperate."

Forming a new army must be a huge expense.

Tong Zhongshu's disciple Ping Zhangshi Fu Yanguo said:

It's almost an endless cycle.

Wei Yuan always felt that this was to stop forming a new army.

But now, in the prosperous times, the salt tax has plummeted, which is not a good sign.

Failure to control the issuance of salt banknotes will lead to the proliferation of salt banknotes, and it will be difficult for local salt prices to remain stable. This will affect all aspects, not just the salt tax.

Zhao Zhen pretended to cough twice and slowly said:

"I have been discussing the issue of salt tax with the ministers for a long time, but we have never been able to come up with a charter."

"The issue of salt tax needs to be solved and the salt law needs to be reformed, but I believe that the top priority right now is to form a new army."

"As for the salt tax, after the dynasty is dismissed, Han Qing, Fu Qing, etc. can come to the Xuanzheng Hall to discuss it in detail with me."

Han Zhang couldn't talk about it at all. He bowed again and said:
"Your Majesty, the salt tax cannot be delayed any longer."

"It is not yet known how much food it will cost to form a new army. Even if it can be done, the salt banknotes may not be worth much."

"I propose disarmament!"

disarmament?

Hearing this, the officials were in an uproar again.

Good guy, Your Majesty is going to form a new army, but your side is going to disarm?

The imperial army, local garrison, etc. added up, the army of Zhou Dynasty was about 1.2 million.

This does not include some unrecorded civilian husbands.

It can be seen that the problem of redundant troops in the Great Zhou Dynasty is really difficult.

But disarmament is definitely not the solution!

Han Zhang proposed disarmament at this time, just to ease the economic pressure on the country and North Korea.

Prime Minister Zhang Fu said coldly: "Disarmament? I wonder how many soldiers will be laid off to fill the hole in the Ministry of Household Affairs?"

Uncle Ouyang Yong frowned and said: "British sir, you must be responsible for what you say. What do you mean by mending the holes in our household department?"

Gu Yankai asked: "If there is a problem with the salt tax, isn't it the responsibility of your Ministry of Revenue?"

Cao Yaoheng, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, said: "That is also because we have to support the battle of Daizhou and spend countless money and food."

He is a civil servant, not a military commander. Pan Yi, the Korean public servant, frowned and said, "What do you mean? The Battle of Daizhou should not be fought. We should wait until the Liao and Xia countries cross Yanmen and cross the Great Wall before you are satisfied?"

Tomihiko said: "This statement is wrong. The battle in Daizhou was led by the British Duke. The British Duke did not go out to meet the enemy. Instead, he used the strategy of defending the city to fight a protracted war with the enemy. Therefore, he spent countless money and food."

"In the past two years, we have experienced constant natural and man-made disasters during the Great Zhou Dynasty. Money and food are everywhere. In order to support the Daizhou War, the imperial court has been unable to make ends meet."

Duke Qin Ye said: "How much do you know about marching and fighting? Do you think that with a wave of your hand in this court, you can conclude that the soldiers will win when they go out to fight?"

"Do you know how many soldiers will be killed or injured if the battle outside the border is defeated?"

Big bosses from the civil and military parties began to quarrel with each other.

Some humble officials subconsciously took a few steps back.

Because they know that they cannot participate in the battle between the big guys.

Otherwise, just the spittle they spit out can drown you.

Wei Yuan pretended to be watching a show and quietly watched the scene in front of him.

After all, this scene doesn't happen often.

Maybe they were arguing too fiercely.

Han Zhang saw Zhao Zhen's expression was wrong and immediately said:

"Okay, we've gone too far. Now we're discussing how to change the salt tax system."

As soon as these words came out, the entire Zichen Palace became somewhat quiet.

Zhao Zhen said: "Disarmament is not feasible. After all, Liao and Xia are still eyeing each other."

"I have been discussing the salt tax reform with Han Qing and others for several days. I originally wanted to use salt quotations to replace salt banknotes."

"Han Qing proposed that long and short quotations could be issued to control the price of salt."

"The long-term introduction period is one year, and the short-term introduction period is half a year. If the salt introduction method is implemented, the salt tax issue may be solved."

"However, the quantity regulations for salt transportation and sales must be standardized. I wonder if you, dear sir, have any ideas? You might as well tell me."

Zhao Zhen also discovered that unless the salt tax issue was resolved, it would be difficult to form a new army.

The so-called salt banknote method means that merchants need to pay cash in exchange for salt banknotes, and then receive corresponding banknotes based on the output of the salt field.

The court used this to control the price of salt.

But if there are too many salt banknotes and the price of salt falls, it will be difficult to collect the salt tax, and the court will lose a large part of its profits.

The salt introduction method proposed by Han Zhang uses time to replace quantity.

For example, if a businessman buys a lot of Changyin, he will not need to buy any more Changyin within a year. He can use Changyin to collect salt and sell it.

Within the specified time, you can only receive the specified amount of salt.

This will prevent the price of salt from plummeting.

However, what Han Zhang proposed is not comprehensive and has obvious loopholes.

If the difference between long quotes and short quotes is only a matter of time, then everyone will buy long quotes.

With a lot of time, merchants will sell salt to outside areas that are short of salt.

In this way, it is difficult to control the stability of salt prices.

In the past few days, Han Zhang and the others were worried about this matter.

But listen to their discussion till this point.

In Wei Yuan's mind, he came up with a complete salt introduction method.

He had to admire Han Zhang's ability to manage the economy, and he almost brought the salt introduction method into existence decades earlier.

Just when all the civil and military officials are looking at me, I am looking at you, unable to come up with any solution or idea.

In order to form a new army, Wei Yuan decided to donate the complete salt method.
"Your Majesty, I do have an idea to standardize the quantity and regulation of salt transportation and sales."

Wei Yuan said this.

Many civil servants started to discuss with disdain.

"It seems that Uncle Zhongyong really wants to form a new army, but I don't know what he has in mind."

"Yes, he is a military general, what does he know about governing the country?"

"This is not leading troops to fight."

"."

When Wei Yuan heard these voices, he was unmoved and kept looking at Zhao Zhen.

At this time, even Han Zhang didn't believe that he would really come up with a solution.

"I have been thinking about it for several days, but I have never thought of a way."

"What? Uncle Zhongyong, a military general, can come up with a charter after just hearing a few words?"

"Once you deceive the emperor, does Zhongyong Bo know what his crime is?"

(End of this chapter)