First Minister of Ming Dynasty

At this moment, Li Shanchang seemed to have calmed down.

Although he was seriously injured just now, it seems that he has another chance to show his skills at this moment.

"Superior, I think what Zhang Xiang said is reasonable, and I'm thinking about whether we can deal with the taxation and household registration, including treasure notes, customs duties, and salt tax, so as to prevent disadvantages."

Li Shanchang's voice was very low. After he finished speaking, he observed his words and found that not only Lao Zhu, but also Zhang Ximeng was thinking.

"My lord, Li Xiang's proposal is very good... Tariff, salt tax, and other resale, it is better to transfer them to the tax department. The household department is only in charge of land, land tax, and household administration. It is best to set up a new budget department , put the Baochao Department and the Duzhi Bureau under the jurisdiction of the Budget Department. In this way, agriculture and commerce, revenue and expenditure are all separated. One household department has become three departments, with separation of powers and clear responsibilities and powers, which is indeed beneficial Implement government affairs. Prevent selfishness and fraud."

Zhu Yuanzhang listened silently, and suddenly said: "Sir, according to what you say, there will be many more positions at once. In this way, I am afraid that the number of officials will increase greatly, and the salary expenditure is not a small sum of money!"

Zhang Ximeng naturally knew it, and just as he was waiting for an explanation, Li Shanchang said first: "Your Majesty, in fact, some time ago, adjustments have been made to the salaries of hundreds of officials. I have calculated carefully, and our salary expenditure is less than that of Zhao Song. A lot. If the fraud can be avoided, and the tax department can collect more, I think it is still a good deal. After all, you can’t give up because of choking!”

It was a little surprising that Li Shanchang stood on Zhang Ximeng's side neatly.

Old Zhu pondered for a while, then smiled and said: "So, it must be like this?"

Zhang Ximeng paused, "My lord, if you want to prevent favoritism and fraud, you need to have a clear division of labor and strengthen supervision... But in this way, you will inevitably increase the manpower, and it will become more water and more noodles. Adding water has turned into a mess in the end. Whether the income is more than the consumption, or the consumption is more than the income, I can't tell for a while."

Zhang Ximeng said: "I think it's better to find a place to try first. If it works, then spread it out. If it doesn't work, then find another way."

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while, then suddenly smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang, the place you are talking about is not Lingnan?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "My lord is wise, you can guess right!"

Old Zhu hehe said: "We are still clear about your thoughts, and that kid Zhu Ying is indeed good. It's just that he can afford it?"

Zhang Ximeng said sternly: "It's still the same sentence, experiment... it's best if he can do it, if he can't do it, spank his ass!"

Old Zhu was slightly taken aback, and then laughed loudly: "Alright, it's settled! Let our son go, just right!"

The two monarchs and ministers quickly finalized the matter... Li Shanchang secretly sighed beside him, thinking that it was Zhu Ying, if someone else went to Lingnan, he would lose his head if he didn't do well.

After a busy day, Zhang Ximeng and Li Shanchang bid farewell to Zhu Yuanzhang and withdrew from the palace.

A few days later, Li Shanchang came to invite Zhang Ximeng again, and went to his valet. Li Shanchang went straight to the point, "Zhang Xiang, I thought about it for a long time last night. Zhu Ying went to Lingnan, and the burden on her shoulders was too heavy... I was thinking, this time Undertaking corrupt officials and inspecting the household department, you can get 10 taels, and so much food. Give Zhu Ying whatever he needs, so that he can make a good start!"

Li Shanchang did this for Zhu Ying, but he didn't mean to favor his son in the slightest.

Hearing this, Zhang Ximeng couldn't help shaking his head, "Brother Li, if you do this, then the Lord will use troops next, where will the expenses come from?"

Li Shanchang was stunned, "This... the enthronement ceremony of the superior, the expense is not small, and the use of troops is indeed a little nervous. But, this matter can't have the best of both worlds!"

Zhang Ximeng laughed suddenly, "Brother Li, I actually thought about it. Zhu Ying seems to need money instead of going here."

"It's not money? It's?"

"It is enough to make people think that he is rich!"

Li Shanchang was stunned for a while, he really couldn't understand, Zhang Ximeng, what are you talking about?You won't even cheat your own brothers, right?

Chapter 4 Twenty Million Silver Taels

Like a little doormat, Zhu Ying hugged her shoulders and sat on Zhang Ximeng's threshold.

"Brother, I'm going to Lingnan."

"That's right!"

"Now I have nothing but a bunch of crouching dragons and phoenix chicks."

Zhang Ximeng nodded again, "Indeed."

Zhu Ying suddenly raised her head and shouted strangely: "I had a chance! Li Shanchang said that he would give me all the stolen money collected and let me be the start-up capital, but someone refused!"

Zhang Ximeng laughed and said, "Boy, are you quite well-informed?"

Zhu Ying snorted angrily: "That son of Li Xiang is also going to Lingnan, he has already surrendered to me."

"You are quite capable? Did he really attach himself, or was it instructed by Li Shanchang?"

Zhu Ying was stunned for a moment... He became even more irritable, and he could only say angrily: "It should be arranged by Li Shanchang...Brother, that old Li has no good intentions! You, why can't you even trust your own brother? How can you pay so much money? No!"

Zhang Ximeng took a serious look at Zhu Ying, this kid was sixteen or seventeen, he was considered young at the moment, but in Zhang Ximeng's eyes, even if he was white-haired, he was probably still a kid.

"sit!"

Zhu Ying leaned against the door frame and did not move, like an angry child.

Zhang Ximeng smiled, walked over, and sat on the threshold.

"Zhu Ying, these years I just let you study and practice martial arts, but I didn't teach you any skills. Do you think that your big brother can't do anything?"

Zhu Ying shook her head hastily, "Brother, your skills are beyond the sky, but it's just not suitable for me to learn."

Zhang Ximeng laughed again and said: "Everything can be won by being upright. Since I am an upright person, I will naturally do heretics. Moreover, it is very easy to practice heretics. As long as you are smart enough, I will be able to do it tonight." Let you fly up immediately!"

Zhu Ying's eyes widened, and she looked carefully, and found that Zhang Ximeng was not lying. The kid suddenly stood up, so happy that he couldn't slap him together.

"Brother, I knew you were full of bad ideas, so hurry up and teach me, I'm smart! Guaranteed to learn!"

Zhang Ximeng gave him a big roll of his eyes, with your current virtue, how can you look like a smart person!

"Let me ask you first, if you have 100 million taels of silver, do you need to spend money to eat in a restaurant?" Zhang Ximeng asked with a smile.

Zhu Ying was stunned for a moment, "Of course the money has to be spent, but large households can keep accounts and settle at the end of the month."

Zhang Ximeng said again: "Then I will give you 100 million now, will you have a way to return it to me at the end of the month?"

"sure!"

Zhu Ying immediately said: "I understand this reasoning. I can save the money and live well with the interest alone... The interest of 100 million taels is enough for me to eat and drink without smoking."

Zhang Ximeng had a pleasant smile. He didn't expect this kid to be a bit talented, and the introductory course didn't take much effort.

"Then let me ask you again, if I let you buy a batch of goods without moving the 100 million taels, can you get them?"

"On credit?" Zhu Ying said, "It doesn't seem to be difficult."

Zhang Ximeng nodded again, "If you can credit for three months, during this period, you can sell the things, get the money back, and make a small profit. Is the 100 million taels worth it?"

"This...of course you don't need it!"

"Then what is this 100 million?"

"Yes..." Zhu Ying held her head, thinking hard, and suddenly she had a flash of inspiration, "This, this is proof! I only have so much money, so people are willing to give me things on credit and do business with me. After all, a poor No one wants to deal with ghosts."

Zhang Ximeng laughed again, "Zhu Ying, do you understand business?"

Zhu Ying giggled, "Brother, don't underestimate people. I'm also of three religions and nine streams, and I know everything! Don't look at me, who are my subordinates!"

Indeed, those gangs of crouching dragons and phoenixes, cheating and abducting, can't do anything!What a good child with them, it is estimated that they will learn badly.

"Zhu Ying, think about it again. Do you need real 100 million taels of silver, or do people think you have 100 million taels of silver?"

Zhu Ying was stunned, is there any difference?

It seems that there are.

Zhu Ying's academic performance in recent years is not very good, but it is definitely enough to study.And with the influence of his subordinates, Zhu Ying's comprehension ability is far superior to that of his peers. This is the advantage that he has never realized.

The so-called one million taels of silver is just a proof of financial resources.

If you have financial resources, there will be people who are willing to do business with you. As long as you manage it properly, you can make money, and you can turn around smoothly, then the 100 million taels can indeed be left there.

As long as people believe you have it!

"Brother! You are amazing!"

Zhu Ying was so excited that she danced and danced with joy.

"Hey, what's the name of this trick? Is there a name?"

"Yes...it's called credit. Of course, you can use more straightforward words to call it something out of nothing!"

Zhu Ying was silent for a moment, engraved this trick in her heart, and couldn't help but said again: "Brother, do you have any other brilliant tricks?"

Zhang Ximeng said again: "Let me ask you, if there was a gold mine, what would you do?"

"What should I do? Go dig!"

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "The taste of gold mines is also different. If you have been busy for a long time and the gold you find is not worth the cost, then what should you do? Or, how can you ensure that you will not lose money?"

Zhu Ying scratched her head, "Why don't you... rob! Whoever finds gold, I will lead others to rob him!" Gu Quan

"Pooh!"

Zhang Ximeng spat at him, "I can't help boasting! You have to know that you are now the commander of the rear army appointed by the lord, the son of the emperor, and my brother... Are you going to be a bandit? You can't be upright To collect money?"

Zhu Ying turned pale with shock, "Collecting money openly? Isn't that the tax department? I, I understand! Hu Weiyong is a bandit leader with permission! Isn't it?"

"It's you big-headed ghost!" Zhang Ximeng said viciously: "I want you to provide convenience and create a good business environment. This is called building a nest to attract phoenixes, understand?"

"Understood, I understand, just put the fat sheep in and slaughter them!" Zhu Ying said with a smile, "Brother, you are such a thief!"

Still can't speak human language, Zhang Ximeng has given up hope for him.

"I won't say much else... There is one last trick in this science. Whether you can learn it or not depends entirely on your comprehension."

Zhu Ying cheered up quickly and listened carefully.

"Brother, tell me quickly!"

Zhang Ximeng said: "Do you remember what I told you earlier?"

"Remember!" Zhu Ying tapped her head and said with a smile, "I only listened to it once, and then I remembered it. Do you think I am a child prodigy who never forgets?"

"shut up!"

Zhang Ximeng wanted to beat him up.

"Listen, kid, if you understand what I told you earlier. The third trick is to tell this story to others and tell them."

"Tell others?" Zhu Ying was shocked, "Then, what should I do if I let them learn it?"

"Learn it? Could it be that they are also the commanders of the rear army?"

In one sentence, Zhu Ying was left speechless.

His brain finally turned...I am the commander-in-chief of the rear army, I am the son of the emperor, I am the brother of Zhang Xiang...I, am I so blessed?

"Brother, it's true that others can't learn it... Then, what's the use of telling them stories?"

"It's very useful, you can be generous and let them join!" Zhang Ximeng stretched his legs and said with a smile.

Zhu Ying frowned, and asked something that made him feel idiotic, "This...isn't it free to join?"

"nonsense!"

Zhang Ximeng scolded angrily, "Are you willing to let others take advantage of you, kid? This third trick is called painting cakes to satisfy your hunger! I've finished the explanation, you can understand it yourself! It depends on your ability to reach the level of cultivation. "

Zhang Ximeng directly issued an order to evict the guest, kicked Zhu Ying's ass, and drove him out!

After coming out from the eldest brother, Zhu Ying was really comfortable all over, as if she was going to soar on the spot.

I really didn't expect that big brother had so many ghost ideas!

Poor people outside, they don't even know who the Mr. Zhang you admire is!

This set of tricks of making something out of nothing, blackmailing, and drawing cakes to satisfy one's hunger, Zhu Ying has memorized it all.

In order to deepen his impression, he went back and meditated for a long time.Finally engraved in the bone, recorded in the depths of the head.

Zhu Ying suddenly understood a little bit, isn't this the trick of some unscrupulous profiteers!

Sure enough!

After Zhu Ying figured it out, she immediately found her crouching dragon and phoenix chick.

The first sentence of the meeting is, "It's time for us to act!"

The big guys were shocked, Qi Qi looked at Zhu Ying, who are you planning to harm?

"Let me tell you, let me know this time... This time when I go south to Guangzhou, I must first open up the Ganjiang River and the Dayuling trade route, transport the products from Lingnan to Jinling, and transport the porcelain and silk from Jingdezhen to Jinling. , as well as tea, shipped overseas. As long as interested businessmen can sign up for it.”

Lu Zhou was taken aback, and quickly asked, "Can anyone do it?"

"Of course... no! If you want to go to Lingnan to make money, you must have enough financial resources... let them pay 5 taels of silver per household first."

Zhu Ying silently calculated, as long as there are twenty, it will be enough for 100 million taels, perfect!

Big brother means to let others think that I have money, so I just ask them to send money, wouldn't it be better?

What does it mean that blue comes out of blue and is better than blue!

Zhu Ying chose to retreat tactically.