Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 150 Breaking up with Mentor Ma Wensheng (Two in One)

The imperial officials who participated in the financial meeting did not know what Zhu Houzhao meant by the financial meeting, what exactly it was about, and what it was going to discuss.

Even the cabinet ministers and the Minister of Revenue Wang Hua did not know about it. In fact, Wang Hua, Jiao Fang and Xu Jing, who were in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, were summoned by Zhu Houzhao in advance to prepare for this financial meeting.

On this day, the imperial officials participating in the financial meeting all went to the platform outside the Qianqing Palace. The reason they did not go inside the palace was because it was not bright enough. Since it was a financial meeting, it naturally involved looking at many numbers. Some older ministers found it difficult to see these numbers clearly without bright light.

"Today I have summoned all of you, my dear ministers. In fact, to put it simply, today is the day to settle accounts and distribute dividends to you. To be more specific, it is the day to distribute money. Except for officials from the Ministry of Revenue, the Royal Tax Bureau, and the Royal Bank, all of you present are shareholders of the Royal Bank. Now that the Royal Bank has made a profit, it is natural that we will share the money with you!"

Zhu Houzhao spoke first, pointing to a pile of account books in the middle, and said:

"In the eighteenth year of the Hongzhi reign, I asked Xu Jing to invest money with you, and I told you that you would get a certain percentage of the money you invested. Now two years have passed, and the Royal Bank has achieved profitability. These account books were calculated by them overnight, and you should remember the details of how much each of you got.

Later, the Royal Bank will read it out, and you can come and take it when you hear your name. If you have any objections after reading it, you can directly question Xu Jing to prevent him from embezzling your money. "

After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, Xu Jing bowed and smiled. Except for the emperor, all the investors of the Royal Bank were important officials of the court, so he did not dare to embezzle money from it.

The other officials also smiled slightly, as if they also felt that Xu Jing did not have the courage. However, at this time, these officials felt more of a sense of freshness. They felt fresh because the emperor was going to give them money, because when they took out the money in the first place, they did not expect the emperor to really return it to them.

This was the case with the cabinet chief minister Ma Wensheng. The five thousand taels of silver he took out at the beginning was actually funeral money prepared for him by his family. After all, he was already old and an important official in the court, so his funeral when he died in the future could not be treated carelessly.

It was precisely because he took out the only five thousand taels of silver in the family that his son was very resentful.

Now, when Ma Wensheng heard Zhu Houzhao say that he would give money to officials like him, he felt very curious as well as other officials. He thought that since ancient times, if the emperor had money, if he was a wise ruler, he would reduce the taxes and grain of the country, repair rivers and roads, and if he was a foolish ruler, he would build large-scale projects, such as gardens or offer sacrifices to the gods.
And why is Your Majesty so different from all the previous emperors? He neither benefits the people nor enjoys himself, but instead distributes the profits to the officials who hold shares in the company. He looks more like a businessman than an emperor.

However, officials such as Ma Wensheng are no strangers to the Royal Bank now, because since the establishment of the Royal Bank, the cabinet has received numerous memorials from censors and censors requesting the closure of the Royal Bank. The reason is that the Royal Bank cannot compete with the people for profits, and it cannot open a precedent for the royal store and leave a bad reputation for eternity.

However, because Emperor Zhu Houzhao kept all these memorials in his possession and did not send them out, the Royal Bank continued to operate and even became known to more and more people. Even if Zhu Houzhao did not mention it now, Ma Wensheng could learn about the Royal Bank from his colleagues and family, and hear whether the interest rate had increased or decreased.

Moreover, Ma Wensheng also knew that the Royal Bank was getting bigger and bigger, with branches all over the capital, and branches in important towns in the capital such as Tongzhou and Baoding. Because of its advanced business model, high credit brought by the royal background and huge reserves, it squeezed out many money houses and money shops.

So, like other imperial officials, Ma Wensheng was also curious about how much profit the Royal Bank had made.

"I know you are all curious about how much profit the Royal Bank has made. It will be written on the account book I will give you later. You can ask someone to review it again. Now let's start reading out the accounts," Zhu Houzhao ordered.

Then Xu Jing came over with an eunuch, who read out, "Wang Hua family, 72,006 taels of silver!"

In this era, many clans did not split up, and some even viewed the split as a sign of family decline. Therefore, all the shareholders of the Royal Bank were from different families. Wang Yangming had invested all his wife's dowry and family savings, becoming the largest shareholder besides Zhu Houzhao. Naturally, his Wang family would get the largest share now.

The imperial officials present were stunned for a long time after hearing this, and were very shocked! Because 70,000 taels of silver was not a small amount in this era, and many important officials in the court did not even have so much cash at home, and they all looked at Wang Hua.

Wang Hua was also very surprised. He was still feeling resentful about the fact that his son Wang Shouren gave more than 30,000 taels of silver to Xu Jing. Even Wang Yangming's father-in-law's family was also feeling resentful about it. Wang Hua now felt sorry for his in-laws. After all, he had embezzled all of their daughter's dowry!
Moreover, Wang Hua is often slandered, saying that he bought the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue with more than 30,000 taels of silver. Even his own family members say so, and they are very dissatisfied with his behavior of using the family's money to buy an official position for himself but refusing to take care of other family members.

Now, when Wang Hua heard that his family had received 70,000 taels of silver, he could hardly believe his ears. But when he got the certificate from the people from the Royal Bank, he was sure that his Wang family had indeed received 70,000 taels of silver through the Royal Bank!

Although a gentleman is ashamed to talk about profit, which made Wang Hua still smile sternly, he was happy in his heart, thinking that he could explain to his clansmen that his disappointing son did not use the money to buy an official position for himself, but really wanted to make a profit for the family. With 70,000 taels of silver, at least the family's private school could be expanded, and several commoner family members could also get more subsidies.

"Ma Wensheng family, 10,400 taels for 7 taels of silver!"

After reading out the names of the Eight Tigers and several other officials, the next name was Ma Wensheng. Ma Wensheng had never expected that he would actually get more than 10,000 taels of silver. He was even a little worried that he would be impeached for corruption and his reputation for integrity would be damaged.

But at the same time, Ma Wensheng was also very happy. He never expected that after being an honest official all his life, he would one day get a legal income of more than 10,000 taels of silver. This was more profitable than doing business. He thought that now he would not have to worry about using thin wood to make a coffin after his death.

Because Emperor Zhu Houzhao was not in power at the time, not many officials were willing to give money to Zhu Houzhao. Of course, some officials wanted to pretend to be honest, so not many imperial officials received dividends, and it did not take much time. The dividend data of the participating officials was read out quickly, but Zhu Houzhao did not announce the adjournment of the court.

In this financial meeting, he distributed money in order to share profits with those who worked for him and were willing to contribute to him, and at the same time to win over some officials to make money with him and thus be loyal to him. However, this was not his ultimate goal. His ultimate goal was to cultivate a class with an expansionist nature. Therefore, he had to use his status as an emperor to advocate it.

"Now that all the ministers have received their share of silver, you do not need to worry about being accused of profiteering. A gentleman loves money but earns it in a proper way. This is what I give back to you. It is reasonable and legal. However, you are not businessmen, you are court officials, responsible for the Ming Dynasty! Therefore, even if the gold and silver are in your hands, you should use them for the benefit of the people, just like me! Rather than for personal and family gains."

After Zhu Houzhao said this, the officials who were happy about getting a lot of silver suddenly became unhappy. They thought that their joy was in vain. The emperor said that it was given to them, but he would take it back eventually, and the reason was very legitimate: he would use it to benefit the people.

Like other officials, the cabinet chief minister Ma Wensheng was naturally a little disappointed, but he felt that as the chief minister, he should set an example, so he stood up first and said, "Your Majesty is right. I am willing to donate this money to the Ministry of Revenue."

"I am willing too!"

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty is willing!"

……

Inspired by Zhu Houzhao's imperial majesty, these officials did not refuse.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but laugh: "What are you doing? I don't mean to ask you to donate the silver to the national treasury. I mean that for the sake of the Ming Dynasty's long-term plan, I and you should sign a promise, and another promise about how to use the benefits obtained today."

When the imperial officials heard what Zhu Houzhao said, they all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it was a good thing that so much silver did not have to be donated, otherwise it would be a pity. Now when they heard Zhu Houzhao asking them to abide by the agreement, they didn't think much of it. They guessed that maybe it meant not to be arrogant and extravagant or something.

So, a group of civil and military officials responded, "Your Majesty, please give us your instructions!"

"Okay, you have all been officials for a long time, and you should know the importance of the amount of land occupied by the people and the population to the court. So, I ask you that the profits you get in the future, one, must not be used to purchase land within the Great Wall and accept donations, two, must not be used to buy the people of the Ming Dynasty as slaves, three, the family must not use it to do business, and four, must not bury it underground or hide it at home!" After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, he looked at these officials, and these officials did not understand. They thought that it was understandable not to use the money to purchase land and accept donations, as it was to ensure the source of tax revenue for the court, it was understandable not to buy people as slaves, and it was understandable not to do business, as it was nothing more than to avoid abusing power for personal gain, and agriculture should be the basis, and commerce should be the end, but why should it not be buried? Should it be spent?

At this time, the Minister of War Xu Jin asked this question.

"That's right. I want you to spend it. If you are in poor health, buy some ginseng to replenish your body. If you like painting, buy famous paintings. If you like antiques, buy antiques. If you need to manage your garden, manage it. Or you can put it in the Royal Bank or lend it out."

Zhu Houzhao gave these officials who participated in the investment dividends in the form of silver, hoping that they would spend the silver to revive the economic life of the Ming Dynasty. In this way, he also wanted silver to gradually become the mainstream currency of the empire, in preparation for the future opening of the sea.

At the same time, Zhu Houzhao's implication was to encourage these people to expand outward. The land and population within the Great Wall could not be bought and sold, but those overseas and outside the Great Wall were naturally allowed.

Zhu Houzhao did this in order to allow them to use their power and financial resources to promote the empire's technological and economic development and changes, rather than exist underground or become larger landlords. As for not allowing them to do business directly, it was to avoid collusion between officials and businessmen. Although it could not be completely prevented, at least on the surface, Zhu Houzhao did not support it and even prohibited it.

The current Ming Dynasty officials, especially those in the financial meeting, do not have a business background and do not even care so much about personal interests. The level of social corruption is not as serious as after the Wanli period. Therefore, when Zhu Houzhao made such a request, these officials did not refuse.

As a result, all the officials present signed the agreement, and Zhu Houzhao immediately ordered that the agreement be engraved in the Fengtian Hall and a monument be erected to commemorate it, saying: "Now, if anyone does not abide by this agreement, I will take back his share directly. Do you understand?"

"We understand!" Ma Wensheng and other officials replied.

The imperial officials who attended the financial meeting left one after another with the receipts in their hands. Many of them still couldn't believe that they suddenly had so much more silver, and it was not collected from below, but given by the emperor. It was not even a reward, but the profit they deserved.

In order to stop his family from complaining about his inability to be an official, and also to see if he really had so much silver, Ma Wensheng asked his family to take a few carriages to withdraw his 10,000 taels of silver from the Royal Bank. 10,000 taels of silver is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms of silver, which is not a small amount when piled up. After seeing this, Ma Wensheng still couldn't help but burst into tears:

"I really didn't expect that, after being an honest official all my life, I would be able to earn so much money one day!"

"Master, please accept my respect. I have misunderstood you. You are just making money in a proper way, not a bad official. I understand now. No wonder you are able to hold such a high position!"

Ma Wensheng's son Ma Fu knelt down and said with a smile.

"Get up! This is all thanks to the Emperor! We should thank the Emperor!"

Ma Wensheng walked into the house as he spoke, and Ma Fu took the initiative to support Ma Wensheng. Ma Wensheng smiled with relief when he saw that his usually cold little son began to understand how to be filial to him.

However, Zhu Houzhao's distribution of dividends and silver only benefited a small number of officials, namely the officials who were willing to help him as the emperor when Liu Jian and others were in power. Therefore, most officials did not get this benefit at this moment, and many of them were even jealous, especially when they saw some officials moving cartloads of silver from the Royal Bank to their homes, and some honest officials whom they despised suddenly moved into large mansions, which made them feel even more unbalanced.

What's more, Zhu Houzhao allowed these officials who benefited from it to spend money lavishly, so there were more officials who felt unbalanced or even dissatisfied. Although many of them just regretted not supporting His Majesty with money earlier, many officials were so jealous that they wanted the court to close the Royal Bank even more, especially those officials and nobles who opened money shops at home or made profits by taking usury.

On this day, Ma Wensheng's student Gong Shangwei, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, asked to see Ma Wensheng and said, "Master, if the emperor opens a royal bank today, it is equivalent to opening a royal store to compete with the people for profits. I cannot ignore this. Master, you are the head of all officials, so I come to ask you, can I speak for the people and advise Your Majesty to close the royal store!"

According to official rules, if a student wants to submit a memorial, he or she will consult his or her teacher. This is to avoid offending the teacher by submitting a memorial rashly and to gain the teacher's support. It is also to avoid causing the emperor to be furious so that someone can plead for them.

"Yi Qing (Gong Shangwei's pen name is Yi Qing), the Royal Bank is not run by Your Majesty alone. Most of the important officials in the court are involved. It is inappropriate to make rash suggestions. You have just been promoted to a ministerial official. You should act cautiously and not do something that disobeys the monarch and offends important officials in the court. This will affect your future entry into the cabinet. Don't do this!"

Although Ma Wensheng admitted that opening a royal bank was equivalent to the emperor doing business and opening a royal store, which was suspected of stealing profits from the people, he now knew that the current emperor did not open the royal store for his own personal enjoyment. In addition, based on his understanding of Zhu Houzhao, the royal bank would never be closed. Therefore, considering the career of his student Gong Shangwei, he decided to dissuade Gong Shangwei.

Moreover, when he thought about how he would lose a lot of money if the Royal Bank was closed down, he instinctively began to resist the idea of ​​closing down the Royal Bank.

Gong Shangwei had never thought that not giving money to the emperor would lead to losing so many benefits today. He was already very angry, and now that he saw that Ma Wensheng was unwilling to support him, he became even more angry. He thought that his mentor had now become a coward, so he turned away and said, "Then I'll take my leave! In the future, I won't dare to wait for you again!"

In this era when the etiquette between teachers and students is very important, Gong Shangwei's words are tantamount to breaking with Ma Wensheng!
Ma Wensheng was so angry that he pointed at Gong Shangwei and cursed, "You!" But he didn't know how to scold him, so he could only sigh.

Gong Shangwei came directly to ask to see Jiao Fang.

Jiao Fang had now earned a lot of money, and had just bought a large courtyard that a former minister had purchased in Beijing. He was happily telling his children and grandchildren how generous the emperor was, but he saw Gong Shangwei, the right vice minister of the Ministry of Rites, writing to him and asking for an audience. He was quite surprised:

"Isn't this Ma Wensheng's disciple? Why did he suddenly come to see me and ask him to wait in Juanyun Pavilion?"

Gong Shangwei bowed as soon as he saw Jiao Fang appear: "Your humble servant greets His Excellency the Deputy Minister!"

"Tell me, what's the matter with you suddenly seeing me? Why did the Prime Minister ask you to come to me?" Jiao Fang asked.

"It is not the Prime Minister's order, and I have decided not to set foot in the Ma Mansion again. From now on, the relationship between teacher and student is severed! I came here just to ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he wants to go further," said Gong Shangwei.

Jiao Fang was almost shocked when she heard this, wondering why Gong Shangwei suddenly betrayed his master and came directly to her. But on the surface, Jiao Fang pretended to be calm and said, "Just say it if you have something to say."

"Yes! Your Excellency, the Deputy Prime Minister should understand that the Royal Bank run by Your Majesty is actually harmful to the people. Merchants and even gentry in the capital are all resentful of this, and ministers in the court are even more indignant about this. Even your own bank has been deeply affected, hasn't it?

Therefore, I dare to suggest that if you, the Deputy Minister, are willing to come forward and strongly advise Your Majesty to close the Royal Bank, the people of the world will certainly respect you. At that time, I will join forces with a few colleagues to impeach the Prime Minister for his inaction. Wouldn't that make you the Prime Minister?"

This is what Gong Shangwei said.

Thanks to my book friend Hua...丿辰 for the 2600 starting coins reward. Thank you to my book friend Yeyu-Qingkuang* for the 200 starting coins reward. Thank you to my book friend Daowu Huaxia for the 200 starting coins reward. If these two chapters cannot be separated, they will be combined into one.

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(End of this chapter)