The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin promised Emperor Hongzhi that the answer would be revealed one day later, so he couldn't tell Han Wen now.

Otherwise, he would be deceiving the emperor in the hall just now.

No matter how Han Wen asked, he didn't say anything and took the map of the banknote customs back to Yan's house.

Xie Yu came to Yan Chengjin's old house and couldn't understand why Yan Chengjin had so much silver but lived in such a broken house.

"Master Yan, are you looking for me?"

"Calculate these accounts carefully and hand them over to me tomorrow."

Xie Yu's hands were weak. Why is it the year-end surplus of the court again?

He had a bitter face and tapped the abacus beside him. I'm afraid he will have to spend the night in Yan's house today.

Back in the study, Yan Chengjin hung up the map of the banknote customs. If a customs is set up, customs must be set up in the northwest, southwest and southeast coasts.

There are more than the thirteen ports he drew last time, probably no less than fifty.

Now the treasury is short of five million taels, and His Majesty will definitely not allow it.

He thought carefully for a long time, drew a mind map on the desk, prepared four layers, and waited to go to the palace tomorrow afternoon to advise His Majesty.

The next day, early in the morning.

Xie Yu's two eye bags were clearly visible, and his originally suave face was full of fatigue.

Unknowingly, it was dawn. There was a man running in the yard. Looking carefully, it was Yan Chengjin.

He hurriedly smiled and said, "Master Yan, I have finished the calculation."

Yan Chengjin took the account, opened it and looked at it for a few times, and it was true! He ordered someone to go to Han's house to invite Han Wen to come.

Han Wen was about to go to the palace to attend the court. He heard that Yan Chengjin was looking for him, so he hurriedly sent someone to the palace to ask for leave and rode a fast horse to rush over.

The doorman had been waiting for a long time and led him into the main hall.

Han Wen asked anxiously, "Master Yan, do you know where the silver was lost?"

"The silver is overseas."

"What do you mean? Master Yan means that the silver was stolen by the foreigners? But why is there no movement for such a huge amount?" Han Wen asked anxiously.

Yan Chengjin shook his head and showed him the accounts calculated by Xie Yu.

Han Wen took a closer look. The accounts were a comparison of this year's tax revenue with last year's, and were detailed to each prefecture and each banknote office.

But he was still at a loss, looking at Yan Chengjin: "Master Yan, speak frankly!"

"After the maritime ban was lifted, the French bought silk, tea, porcelain and other goods at three times the price.

The gentry all wanted to sell silk, tea and porcelain to the sea.

Originally, silk, tea and porcelain were sold from the south to the north, passing through many customs, and each customs collected a layer of tax.

The court could naturally receive commercial taxes.

Now, these goods are directly shipped to the sea from Guangzhou Prefecture, Songjiang Prefecture, and Tianjin Wei. There are fewer goods circulating in the Ming Dynasty, and the commercial taxes received are naturally less."

After the commercial tax was changed to silver, the silver collected accounted for the majority of the year-end income.

But now, most of the goods have become exports, there is no inland transportation and hoarding, and the customs and the collapsed houses cannot collect taxes.

This is the consequence of not setting up customs.

Without customs, there are no overseas tariffs.

If the court does not sell goods itself, it cannot benefit from overseas trade.

Han Wen broke out in cold sweat and almost sat on the ground powerlessly: "Then we will ask His Majesty to restart the maritime ban!"

"No need, Lord Han and I will advise together to set up more overseas banknotes."

"How many banknotes do you want to set up?"

"At least fifty!"

Han Wen was speechless. After a moment, he said: "But the banknotes need clerks to keep accounts, warehouses to store tax silver, and soldiers to guard the banknotes. I don't know how many people are needed. I'm afraid that His Majesty and the officials will not agree."

...

Fengtian Hall,

Emperor Hongzhi wanted to discuss the matter of 5 million taels of silver, but he didn't see Han Wen: "Where is Han Qing's family?"

"Before going to court today, Yan Chengjin invited him to Yan's Mansion."

Li Dongyang's heart moved slightly: "Yan Chengjin must have an idea for this move. Your Majesty might as well summon him to the palace."

It is said to be a day and a half, but it doesn't have to be so long.

Some things are understood by everyone, so don't expose them.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded: "Summon Yan Qingjia to the palace. I want to see him immediately."

Half an hour later, Yan Chengjin and Han Wen came to Fengtian Hall together. Looking around, it seems that His Majesty and the officials did not sleep last night.

Just as he was about to bow, Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand and said: "No need. Have you found out where the five million taels of silver went?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have found out. I have good news and bad news. I wonder which one Your Majesty and the officials will hear first?" Yan Chengjin said.

Emperor Hongzhi is used to suffering first and then happiness. He said without thinking: "Let's talk about the bad news first."

"The bad news is that the five million taels of silver cannot be recovered."

There was a commotion in the hall, and the faces of all the officials were different. This is not a small amount.

Emperor Hongzhi felt a pain in his heart. He had saved the treasury for nine years, but he didn't have so much silver.

"Why can't we get it back?"

Yan Chengjin thought carefully and said, "This is the good news. Five million taels of silver were not stolen by anyone. I beg Your Majesty to open an overseas banknote customs!"

Han Wen agreed: "I second the proposal!"

Emperor Hongzhi trembled. Is it time for the court to discuss lifting the sea ban? Where did the five million taels go when I was discussing it in the court?

Liu Jian and others had the same idea as Emperor Hongzhi. That was the food ration for the nine borders for three years.

Emperor Hongzhi said seriously: "Let's talk about the year-end surplus first. I don't know how the five million taels were lost?"

Yan Chengjin looked at Han Wen. It was most appropriate for Han Wen to talk about this matter.

Han Wen said: "Jiangnan is a major town producing silk and porcelain. The French bought them at high prices, and these goods can be shipped directly from Songjiang Prefecture to the sea without passing through the banknotes and the tafang.

The same is true for the tea industry in Guangzhou Prefecture, which can be shipped directly from Guangzhou to the sea."

Emperor Hongzhi suddenly understood.

If the goods do not pass through the banknotes and the tafang, where will the tax come from?

This matter seems simple, but Yan Chengjin has the experience of later generations to understand it. Li Dongyang and others are mostly literati, and perhaps only a thorough investigation can make it clear.

So, the reaction is not as fast as his.

Liu Hongxiang, the secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, said: "Then don't lift the sea ban. I advise you to close the sea ban."

"No, adding overseas banknotes is a good idea!" Han Wen said.

All officials did not expect that Han Wen would advise together with Yan Chengjin.

Even if an overseas banknote is added, it is just one pass. Can it be compared with the many banknotes of the court?

Emperor Hongzhi wanted to hear Han Wen's thoughts: "Mr. Han, tell me in detail."

"If the sea ban is closed, the Grand Canal cannot be built. Moreover, by adding more overseas banknotes, we can not only collect taxes on goods going out, but also on goods brought by the French." Han Wen said.

The officials lowered their heads in thought. The French had the most money.

Yan Chengjin added: "Although there is only one overseas banknote, it can collect taxes ten times higher than the internal banknote.

Moreover, the court controls the outbound shipment volume by adjusting the customs tariff.

Take silk as an example. If the customs tariff is adjusted to twenty times, the silk trade abroad will decrease.

If it is reduced to five times, the silk trade abroad will increase."

The reason is very simple, and Emperor Hongzhi and all the officials understand it.

"How many banknotes should be set up?"

Yan Chengjin ordered someone to send a map of banknotes: "I roughly counted them and at least fifty are needed."

Fifty banknotes are equivalent to fifty government offices.

How many people will be allocated? The first reaction of Emperor Hongzhi and Han Wen was the same.

But now they can only set up a banknote customs, otherwise the silver will flow out.

Han Wen looked at Emperor Hongzhi eagerly. Only the inner treasury still had silver.

Emperor Hongzhi understood what he meant: "If a banknote customs is set up, which government office will be in charge of it?"

Yan Chengjin bowed: "I have something to say, I don't know if I should say it or not?"

Emperor Hongzhi said bluntly: "No need to say it, I know what you want to say."

Not only Emperor Hongzhi knew, but Li Dongyang and others also knew it. Don't you want to say that you will be in charge?

The Censorate is in charge of criminal law and taxation.

It is like the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Justice combined into one!