The Ming Dynasty started with caution

In May, the breeze was refreshing.

Emperor Hongzhi was in a bad mood. He read the memorials for dozens of days in a row. There was no sign of an increase in the silk and tea industries in the market.

It would take two or three years for Yan Song to reach France, but the court could not wait.

"Go and ask if the silk price in Liangxiang has increased?"

Xiao Jing's expression was stiff. Your Majesty, you just asked, "I will send someone to ask!"

Soon, the eunuch looked at Xiao Jing in front of the side door and whispered a few words to Xiao Jing when he came out.

"Keep watching."

Xiao Jing turned back to the hall, looking hesitant. Seeing this, Emperor Hongzhi frowned and asked, "Hasn't it increased yet?"

Xiao Jing trembled and said, "It has fallen again, to one tael of silver per piece."

Emperor Hongzhi was stunned and expressionless. If the silk price is so depressed, what should he do?

...

Changle County, Zhejiang.

After reading the official order issued by the prefect of Shaoxing, the county magistrate Jiang Xin said, "Silk prices have plummeted. Merchants and gentry have stopped weaving silk to avoid the collapsed house tax. They even increased the silk tax in Changle. What a dog official!"

Silk prices have plummeted. Gentry have stopped buying raw silk, and silkworm farmers cannot sell the raw silk.

Increasing the silk tax in Changle means that the people have to increase mulberry leaf planting, raise silkworms and make silk.

Selling at a low price, using a huge amount of raw silk to pay the tax.

Wang Bin, the county magistrate of Xinchang, nodded: "Instead of asking the court for tax exemption, they are also increasing taxes on us. Everyone, jointly submit a petition to the cabinet?"

Shaoxing is famous for its wine shops. When growing grains to make wine, growing mulberry leaves is simply a waste of good land.

Wang Yuncheng, the prefect of Shaoxing, resorted to this bad idea to make up the tax.

Tang Chong, the county magistrate of Sheng County, stood up and bowed, saying, "You two are very courageous. I'm sorry that I dare not accompany you. I'll take my leave now."

Wang Yuncheng was a student of Cao Yuan, the Minister of Works in the court, and he didn't dare to provoke him.

As soon as he finished speaking, an official wearing a white pheasant red robe walked into the government hall.

Slightly thin, with deep-set eyes like an eagle's gaze and a face like a shoe horn, just looking at his face, you can tell that he is a sarcastic person. It was Wang Yuncheng, the prefect of Shaoxing.

Tang Chong hurriedly stood up and greeted him with a smile: "How come Lord Wang has time to come to Changle?"

Wang Yuncheng's face was full of anger, and his voice was furious: "I heard that you are here to conspire to resist my order and report it to the court."

Jiang Xin and Wang Bin looked at Tang Chong angrily. Not long after they sat down, Wang Yuncheng came, obviously to inform on someone.

Wang Yuncheng said coldly: "The silk tax of Changle and Xinchang will be increased by 30%! Sheng County will be exempted."

The silk tax is paid to the court by the prefect as a unit, and the prefect has the final say on how to divide it within the prefecture.

The silk tax of Sheng County was obviously divided between Changle and Xinchang.

Tang Chong was overjoyed.

Jiang Xin said coldly: "Changle values ​​wine, and Lord Wang asked us to grow mulberry leaves and let the people weave raw silk. How to deal with the wine tax?"

Wang Yuncheng knew that the two would not be able to pay it, "Pay it all the same!"

Jiang Xin and Wang Bin were furious, and they wanted to smash their official hats, beat Wang Yuncheng, and left.

At this moment, the yamen runners ran in in a panic: "Sir, a silver mine has been discovered in Taibai Mountain!"

Taibai Mountain is on the edge of Changle County, and there are few good farmlands around it, most of which are newly reclaimed dry fields.

Zhejiang Prefecture actually has a silver mine, and reporting it to the court is a great achievement.

Jiang Xin was shocked. He didn't expect that there was a silver mine in his jurisdiction.

Wang Yuncheng reacted from the shock and smiled: "This matter will be reported to the Minister of Works Cao in the Ming Dynasty!"

...

Huagai Palace,

Emperor Hongzhi summoned the cabinet and the nine ministers many times to discuss taxes.

After the price of silk fell, many places in Jiangnan submitted petitions to reduce the silk tax in the mansion and reduce weaving.

"Does the cabinet have any solution?"

The five people in the cabinet were silent. Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin again: "Does Mr. Yan have any solution?"

Boycotting silk and tea is like a country in the previous life that strictly prohibits the use of a certain mobile phone. It is a domestic affair.

What can Yan Chengjin do.

"I can only allow all prefectures to reduce taxes."

Minister of Works Cao Yuan said seriously: "The tax amount has been reduced, and with the previously tax-free land, where will the silver for the treasury come from?"

In the past, the treasury's revenue and expenditure were almost offset by agricultural taxes.

Now that commercial taxes have been reduced by more than half, all expenditures must be cut, otherwise, there will be a fiscal deficit.

Yan Chengjin nodded: "How do you want to deal with it, Lord Cao?"

After Zeng Jian retired, Emperor Hongzhi promoted Cao Yuan to the position of Minister of Works. This person was the son-in-law of Zhou Jing, the former Minister of Rites.

Thanks to Zhou Jing's support, he was a little arrogant, unlike other ministers who were introverted.

Cao Yuan said in a deep voice: "Use silk as currency, exchange goods with foreigners, and then resell it to the people and turn it into silver."

Silk is used as currency in some places.

Just like in the tea-horse exchange market, silk is used to trade horses, but it is a private behavior in the market.

Yan Chengjin concluded that Cao Yuan did not understand economics.

Gold can be used as a trading currency because it has a stable value. Silk has fallen to cabbage, and you still want to use cabbage as silver?

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Liu Lai: "What do you think, Mr. Liu?"

"I think it's not possible. Lord Cao is just following the example of the market. Even if someone is willing to buy it, it can only be sold at a low price." Liu Lai said bluntly.

Cao Yuan shut his mouth and wanted to speak actively in the court meeting, but ended up being embarrassed.

After the court was dismissed, he returned to the duty room of the Ministry of Works.

Cao Yuan looked at an empty desk, and anger rushed into his mind: "Where is the person at that desk?"

The chief clerk Sun Yin agreed: "Reporting to the adults, that is Song Jing's position, and the person has gone to Liangxiang."

In the past, when Lord Zeng was the Minister, he let it go.

Song Jing went wherever he wanted, and the officials of the Ministry of Works were used to it, but Cao Yuan, the new Minister, didn't know.

Leaving on duty rashly, isn't it lazy and dereliction of duty? Cao Yuan sighed heavily, and his wrinkles gradually deepened.

After reading a few memorials, his brows furrowed even deeper: "How long has the barracks of the Construction and Cleaning Department been repaired! It's not finished yet?"

Shi Qunfang, the doctor of the Construction and Cleaning Department, lowered his head and nodded.

"And the Du Shui Cleaning Department, how long has the Qiantang River defense been repaired, and the canal in Tongzhou has been built for half a year, and it is still under supervision!"

Several doctors in charge stood in front of the desk like children who had done something wrong.

"Sir, we are proficient in the drawings and works of supervision, but our craftsmen are not, which delayed the construction period."

"Although the engineers in Liangxiang are the children of clerks and refugees, they are proficient in supervision. The equipment and wooden tools they made, and the design and repair drawings are comparable to the chief clerks of the Ministry of Works. If they can be used as craftsmen, it will surely boost the Ministry of Works."

Several doctors said one after another.

They have coveted the engineers in Liangxiang for a long time. It must be said that Yan Chengjin has really trained a group of outstanding craftsmen.

Such outstanding craftsmen are comparable to these masters.

They have long wanted to recruit these people as craftsmen in the Ministry of Works.

But the former Minister of Works Zeng Jian did not allow it, and never mentioned it again. And most importantly, these people have some relationship with Yan Chengjin, so they dare not act rashly.

Cao Yuan raised his head slightly and asked uncertainly: "Do you want to recruit the engineers in Liangxiang as craftsmen?"

Sun Yin and others nodded together.

Cao Yuan had heard of these people. Yan Chengjin recruited them from the streets in the name of engineers and gave them silver every month.

It would be difficult to take them away by force.

"Go check how many engineers there are in Liangxiang and report to me. Don't alert the enemy."

An hour later, Sun Yin walked back to the duty room. This matter was not difficult to check. There was a list of high-ranking engineers in each issue. Just copy it down.

"Sir, this is the list!"

Cao Yuan opened the booklet. There were 970 engineers in Liangxiang, and 380 of them were proficient in repair, water conservancy and forging.

If they were recruited to the Ministry of Works, it would be equivalent to 380 chief doctors.

Cao Yuan was excited and fell into deep thought: "Yan Chengjin will not let go. I will think about it."