Chapter 395: You can earn and I can spend

Zong Ze felt a little dizzy when he heard this number.

In the past, he was a small county magistrate, and the amount of money he handled was calculated at most in tens of thousands. After arriving in Hangzhou, when he saw Hangzhou using millions to calculate taxes, he even lamented the good foundation laid by Su Dongpo and Zhao Xing. Unexpectedly, the numbers he heard were calculated this time were calculated at tens of millions. This made him feel dizzy and it took him a long time to get used to it.

Zong Ze was an old-fashioned person. He immediately stood up and advised seriously: "Master Taiwei, now that money is overflowing, prices have risen several times a day. If this money is spent, it will inevitably cause prices to soar again. Master Taiwei, the subordinate official begged the people of Hangzhou to ask Master Taiwei to reconsider this plan."

"Jiaochaoqian soared? Cai Yuanchang finally pushed Jiaoqian out. 'Only the king won't' - it means that the emperor doesn't need to make money. Cai Yuanchang immediately hugged a big thick leg." Zhao Xing shook his head slowly.

Zong Ze ignored Zhao Xing and Cai Jing's close relationship and scolded angrily: "Cai thief can be killed..."

After saying that, he looked at Zhao Xing and then remembered that the first banknote was actually the person in front of him, so he swallowed the rest of the attack banknotes back. Zhao Xing did not notice it and then asked: "How about the money for money is flooded?"

The so-called Guangchao is a banknote issued by Zhao Xing in Guangdong. Since the issuance of this banknote was completely handed over to the three major banks, and the three major banks carried out commercial operations, and the government did not intervene in it. Therefore, the implementation of Guangchao seems to be very unsatisfactory.

Zong Ze bowed and replied: "Guangchao is still acceptable. The court requires the people to pay taxes with copper coins, but the court pays the labor costs of the servants by paying money. When the people receive the money, they have to exchange it for copper coins, and they have to go through a layer of exploitation. It is said that the public is very resentful. Guangchao is just a transaction certificate for merchants. Speaking of which, Guangchao is very credible. Now merchants like to use Guangchao to repay each other. Taiwei,..."

Zhao Xing took Zong Ze's words and said with a smile: "The court allocated funds from all prefectures and counties by paying money. I can plan and arrange them separately on the southeast coast, so I asked you to make the budget. From this year on, we will make the budget in advance. Withdrawal for next year's expenditures - I will pay with Persian silver coins and Guangnan gold and silver coins."

Zong Ze looked at Zhao Xing expectantly: "Taiwei, I heard that Zhou Bangyan is familiar with you. Lord Huang Luzhi can speak in the Privy Council. Cai Zhe is so arrogant, Lord Taiwei..."

Zhao Xing changed the topic: "For the official side, protect the land, let's take care of ourselves."

Zong Ze advised Zhao Xing to organize the Jiangxi party in the court to impeach Cai Jing, but Zhao Xing knew that Cai Jing's actions were all favored by the young emperor. Although he could use the emperor's trust to kill Cai Jing, in this way, when Cai Jing recovered again, he could not do whatever he wanted in Nanfan.

"I still have a lot to do. I can't consume the emperor's trust at once," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Zong Ze sighed and turned the topic back: "One million guan, I have estimated it. At present, there are three roads that urgently need to be repaired, each road is 100,000 guan, and the free pharmacy bureau does not use much money. With the government's expenses, one million guan should be enough."

Zhao Xing waved his hand: "You are stupid. You are asking for money everywhere. You said that the prices of land are soaring. If they are rising everywhere, will it not rise in Hangzhou... I will leave you 20 million yuan. After all, this is the location of the Nanyang Affairs Bureau. If you leave money more, it will be easier for you to do things. If it is really as you think, I don't have to worry."

Zong Ze replied stubbornly: "We can only start construction of three roads at the same time. Adults, each road requires at least 5,000 migrant workers, and three roads are 15,000 farmers. Although these civilians can earn money when working for the government, so many people do not go to farm. I am afraid that the price of grain will fluctuate as a result."

Zhao Xing laughed: "You are still stupid. We contracted the project to merchants. Where do merchants go to hire merchants? Do we still have to care? They may be employed by Hangzhou residents, but they may also be from other places. Now that the waterway is so smooth, we release the bidding news one month in advance. This month is enough for thousands of residents to transport from the Three Buddhas."

"That won't work. The money brought back from Nanhai with great effort, and the people of Nanhai have been earned by the people of Nanhai. This is not enough. I must gather the people of Hangzhou." Zong Ze insisted.

Zhao Xing was speechless by the other party's stubbornness, so he immediately changed the topic: "How is the Hangzhou Dixiang Senior Association now?"

Zong Ze nodded with satisfaction: "In the past, the hometown elders had no power to impeach, and the Ministry of Personnel did not have corresponding rules. When the Taiwei left, he left a method to ask the hometown elders to complain to the newspaper, and the newspaper would publish the annual review of the hometown elders for free. This method is good. The Ministry of Personnel's evaluation, and the original discussion was the first. When the official's evaluation was published, the Ministry of Personnel left a file. In this way, all officials had to be careful of their actions..."

Zhao Xing stood up and said, "In the twelfth lunar month, it's time for fellow villagers from all over the country to comment on our officials. I'll go down and take a look at the comments on our officials from all over Hangzhou."

Zong Ze shook his head: "Master Taiwei doesn't have to worry about Hangzhou. I look at the southeast, but Fujian needs to worry about it. In Guangdong and Guangxi, the local system of Taiwei is very rigorous. I paid attention to the Maritime Newspaper and found that the people of Guangdong and Guangxi are all satisfied with their current lives.

The situation on Liangzhe Road is the same. These teams were built by the Taiwei. Under the eyes of the Taiwei, these officials' ethics are worthy of peace of mind. But I heard that in Fujian, the local clans have joined hands with the officials to bully the market and exclude small clans, which has made the situation very chaotic. In addition, the iron coins in Fujian are flooding, and the market is in a bad situation."

Zhao Xing shook his head helplessly and sighed: "The customs in Fujianzi's hometown have never been right, but most of them should be good people. They just need some effort to rectify and let them make trouble. Now that there are Maritime Services everywhere, the advantages of Quanzhou, Fujian have disappeared. If they are so xenophobic, I am afraid that they will feel that the market is depressed, and it will not be too late to take action to rectify it."

When Zong Ze saw that Zhao Xing was trying to see him off, he bowed his farewell. Then, all the coastal areas jumped up. The states and counties knew that Zhao Xing was going to spend a lot of money this time, so they compared the plan. They knew that Zhao Xing liked to build roads, and all the states were ambitious to renovate the roads in the whole state. Many prefectures and counties reported plans yesterday, and they felt that the plan was bold, so they turned around and asked. Others were more courageous than themselves, so they quickly changed their minds and sent a fast horse to recover the previous envoy and re-established a more ambitious plan. The plan was set up, and they couldn't believe its authenticity.

At the end of the month, the court received a certificate from Zhao Xing, and followed the certificate from the court to the court and Zhao Xing captured several vassal kings from overseas. The number of people led by these vassal kings was only equivalent to a tribe in the Song Dynasty, so Zhao Xing was embarrassed to say their actual territory and people, and only said in the certificate of vassal: The Song army was attacked by the coalition forces overseas, and the number of coalition forces reached 120,000. The Song army defeated the coalition forces and captured these kings, the head of the coalition forces, and the King of the Seljuks surrendered and was willing to offer 2 billion Persian coins to atone for their sins...

With these captured kings going to Beijing, there was a second batch of money-begging. This batch of spoils was worth 200 million yuan, including many Arab-style gold, silver, and antiques, which made the little emperor dazzled.

"120,000 coalition forces, 2 billion Persian coins", the little emperor looked at the Persian coins from left to right, and looked to the right, looking at the captured king kneeling under the palace, and said to the ministers with a smile: "Zhao Qing really knows how to get money."

Today is the grand dynasty meeting. It is almost the twelfth lunar month, and all officials are going to have a golden holiday. At this time, the court often pays holiday rewards continuously. During the New Year rewards, generally speaking, employees are unwilling to absent from the office when the year-end bonus is issued, so no one of the officials in the grand dynasty meeting was left behind. Even Huang Tingjian and others who did not have to attend the court meeting were present. After listening to the words of the little emperor, Huang Tingjian nodded slightly with satisfaction. The party to which Zhao Xing belongs was also full of energy and honored.

Jiang Zhiqi whispered: "Ten hundred and twenty thousand people, Zhao Liren only transferred 3,000 troops this time."

Three thousand people defeated 120,000 people, and the resort was clean and neat. For Zhao Xing's record, all the officials present had already become immune. Guo Zhizhang, the direct scholar of Baowen Pavilion, said with a smile: "I heard that among the three thousand people, there were some generals of Guangjie Army and Xuanyi Army. They were so beautiful. After Zhao Li people landed on the shore, they gave them a three-month holiday. They carried large bags and small bags. When they returned to the capital, they heard that in that battle, the Seljuk Turks did not rush to the front, and our army suffered less than 100 casualties. Afterwards, Zhao Li people plundered the four realms and allowed the soldiers to plunder gold, silver and treasures...

But in this way, it is said that after landing, Zhao Liren also gave the soldiers a war reward. He paid for the land with gold, all of which were shining Persian gold bars."

When Guo Zhizhang mentioned this, Cai Jing took out a few memorials in embarrassment and said, "Zhao Shumi posted several memorials in succession. This memorial said: The amount of spoils is huge, and it is very troublesome to pick up the canon. He asked the court to allow him to ship it one after another. In addition to gold and silver, he hoped to cash out all those Persian antiques and rare treasures at Hangzhou auction."

When Cai Jing mentioned Arabia here, he accidentally used Zhao Xing's name - Persia. Thanks to the popularization of overseas things by the Maritime Newspaper, the people of the Song Dynasty no longer use white clothes, black clothes, and green clothes to distinguish the Arab world, and gradually became closer to normal names, such as Seljuk and the names of the serjuk.

When the little emperor heard Cai Jing say, he blurted out: "Let's go, let him send all the spoils to the capital, and let me take a look first..."

After saying this, the little emperor himself felt a little embarrassed. He looked around with guilt and found that everyone had curiosity, and all the officials were nodding their heads.

Cai Jing pointed out Zhao Xing's memorial and said in embarrassment: "Zhao Liren said that there is no need to keep too much of the same spoils. He planned to reserve ten or hundreds of spoils for each spoil for auction. Those that are not the same will be valued by the local auction house and sent to the capital, and His Majesty will be given the price.

However, he said it would be better to cash out all of them, and then ask the buyer to rent them out and send them to the capital for exhibition. In this way, the court can recover as little as possible... I think he said the loss may be because he was worried that those things were sent to the capital for a low price."

The little emperor waved his hand: "No, no, let him send all of them to the capital. I also want to choose some reward ministers."

When the little emperor said this, all his heads in the court were shaking up and down, and he seemed very pleased. Cai Jing nodded and replied: "Your Majesty means that this memorial is rejected? Then, Zhao Liren's memorial may have to be allowed - he requested to deduct military expenses, government operation fees, and next year's budget from the spoils."

Jiang Zhiqi also became immunized to Zhao Xing's technique. He smiled and said, "I'm afraid that the court will reject this edict, and he will not be able to count the spoils."

The little emperor was also helpless: "Since Cai Qing and Jiang Qing both said so, then there is only Xu."

Guo Zhizhang asked casually: "What is his budget and final settlement next year?"

Cai Jing was embarrassed himself, and he weakly said a thunderous number: "130 million!"

This number made all the officials present jump up, and the little emperor almost rolled down from his seat. He opened his mouth for a long time and said in a daze: "One 30 million, when I ascended the throne, it seems that the annual tax was only 120 million."

Cai Jing affirmed the emperor's memory: "Yes, 120 million yuan. Guangnan paid 60 million yuan in taxes, which happened to account for half of the total."

After pausing, Cai Jing said again: "Two billion, Zhao Liren will hand over 2 billion Persian coins this time, worth 1 billion coins from us. We must let him spend some of them himself, right?"

Thinking about the 2 billion, the little emperor felt a little better, and he reluctantly said, "Since that's the case, please."

Cai Jing added with difficulty: "He also has to withhold 100 million yuan of military funds and reserve emergency funds..."

The little emperor moaned, waved his hand and said, "What else, Cai Qing, you can tell me it together."

Cai Jing immediately added: "There are still 70 million... Zhao Liren will have to travel a total of 340 million yuan. He also asked the Hujie army to return to Rong Palace City and transfer the demon army in the palace to fight overseas. He said that the Seljuk Turks could not afford so much money at a time. So they planned to pay them year by year. He stayed in Kaizhi City, the Kaizhi City of the Banglu Branch, and needed the court to send an army to take care of them."

Jiang Zhiqi couldn't sit still, and he said enthusiastically: "Twenty billion jins, he didn't leave a single soldier to guard it. No, the three thousand demon-elimination army is enough. Please send the army of the Palace Front Office again. At least 20,000 people are required to guard it."

Huang Tingjian reminded him dissatisfiedly: "I heard that the people left some people to guard Kaizhicheng. You are in charge of the Privy Council. You should be clear about this matter and you can't talk nonsense."

Jiang Zhiqi nodded: "He has kept people, but he has indeed kept people-100 people. The government has billions of treasures, but he has left 100 people to guard them. Isn't this a joke to use national wealth?"

The little emperor smoothed out: "A hundred people are indeed few. But I know Zhao Qing's temper. These 2 billion yuan was originally an unexpected fortune. Although it was a pity to lose, maybe he left some reason to find someone to start a war. I believe that whoever dares to touch Zhao Qing's treasure will definitely regret it for life."

Jiang Zhiqi agreed to what the little emperor said: "Of course, who is Zhao Laohu? Whoever dares to take advantage of him, then don't pay three copper coins."

Zhou Bangyan held his brush and waited for a long time, but he didn't see the emperor's intentions. At this moment, everyone's tone became relaxed, and he also took the opportunity to tease: "More than that, who dares to take advantage of him with one copper plate? It's more than just three copper plates to pay. I think it's enough to pay at least ten copper plates. Some people have already paid the country."

After Zhou Bangyan finished speaking, he pointed at the captured kings who were kneeling down with the tip of his pen. This humor made the courtiers burst into laughter.

The little emperor asked Cai Jing casually: "Have they handed over the surrendered letter?"

Cai Jing waved his hand, Zhang Lei, who was the editor of Tianzhang Pavilion at that time, brought a large number of files and explained: "The surrender letters are in duplicate, and they are written and our words are used. I asked Yici Leye to translate the official official. Some kings have paid the ransom in advance. Zhao Li people escorted them to make them officially surrender to the court. There are also several portraits of the kings who paid the ransom. I have investigated them and only three kings did not pay the ransom because their country has been annexed by the King of Tangluzhi."

The little emperor took the portrait handed over by Zhang Lei, and used it to look at the king kneeling on the ground one by one, exclaiming: "Zhao Li people are always so careful in doing things. Okay, the three kings who did not pay the ransom will be given official residences, so that they can raise their wealth in the capital - I have paid this money. The kings who have already paid the ransom will take their land and give them freedom, allowing them to leave and return to their country."

Jiang Zhiqi asked again: "Your Majesty, how about the Demon-Eliminating Army returning to Rong and the Palace Front Office transferring troops to the war?"

The little emperor looked at Tong Guan standing beside him, and Tong Guan bowed and said, "The Xuanyi army has been reorganized. Why not let Xuanyi army go to war and transfer the tiger army back. Zhao Liren takes away the Demon Elimination Army and let him transfer another army from Guangnan to move the army... Zhao Liren fights and uses the firearm army with good use. The army in front of the palace has not been reorganized, so it is probably not useful if it comes to his hands."

The little emperor suddenly remembered his agreement with Zhao Xing, and immediately issued an edict: "The imperial edict will be transferred to the two armies of the Palace Front Office to go out and handed over Zhao Qing's reorganization and dressing... Didn't Zhao Qing reserve hundreds of millions of military expenses? Then he will change the army for me."

Jiang Zhiqi raised his hands to agree with this matter, and shouted: "Your Majesty, the muskets made by military weapons are always inferior to those of Guangnan muskets. I plan to hand over all the muskets to the Nanyang Affairs Bureau in the future to suspend the service of military weapons and to manufacture muskets.

In addition, the imperial court relies on purchasing sulfur and saltpeter from overseas. The two products are produced in Xiaoliuqiu. Japan is all under the jurisdiction of the Beiyang Affairs Bureau. I believe that in the future, the Nanyang Affairs Bureau is responsible for making guns and the Beiyang Affairs Bureau is responsible for purchasing gunpowder. The two major affairs bureaus work together separately. This is a way to reduce the burden on the court. This move is also a balanced central government strategy. Please beg the government to approve it."

Jiang Zhiqi's suggestion was actually a consistent strategy of restraining. Although senior Chinese officials in ancient China were laymen in fighting abroad, they were all experts in curbing the development and growth of their own forces. They had thousands of years of experience to learn from. Therefore, when Jiang Zhiqi said that the young emperor immediately understood his meaning. The ministers in the court also praised him in unison. Even Huang Tingjian, Zhang Lei and others did not want Zhao Xing, the rafters that had risen to the fore. They also adopted a default attitude towards this suggestion - this was considered to be a protection for Zhao Xing.

However, no one present expected that the court's move would be equivalent to giving financial autonomy to the southeast coastal areas. In this way, Zhao Xing, who had military power, could no longer control the separatist facts.

The court ministers avoided this more than this. According to the court rules, generals who went to the expedition needed to return to the capital first and then remove their military armor. They reported their duties to the court, that is, "committing to the court" and only after he regained the trust of the emperor, could they return to the local area to control military power. Zhao Xing's expedition involved the act of privately transferring troops without the permission of the Privy Council. Originally, the court should have rebuked heavily and even deprived Zhao Xing of the military power, but the young emperor was a person who did not follow the rules, and the minister who followed the rules had been driven out of the court by him.

In addition, the new party led by Cai Jing in the court is dominant. The old party is silent, while the Jiangxi school where Zhao Xing is located is pretending to be deaf and dumb. Everyone has specifically ignored an important detail - after Zhao Xing sent troops privately, he was not punished by the court, and the court is too lazy to hold a memorial to the court, but instead praised Zhao Xing.

This is equivalent to the court allowing Zhao Xing the power to use troops freely, so the southeast coastal cities were already equal to the country in the country.

Zhao Xing was newly granted the position of Count. The court had no promotion to Zhao Xing in terms of official rank, so he could only promote his title. Zhao Xing received the news of the reward from the court and was in Nanxin Town next to Hangzhou. At this time, his right-hand man Wanqi Yong and Shuai Fan Zheng were busy distributing rewards and reorganizing the troops. Only his eldest son Zhao Feng, fourth son Zhao Shan, third son Zhao Yun, and Yuan Yeping also led several servants to accompany him.

This is a "people-friendly teahouse" in Nanxin Town. The teahouse is full of whispering guests. There are also a group of officers sitting outside the teahouse. Although they tried their best to hide it so that they could accompany Zhao Xing on a trip, the people in the teahouse were talking about the war horses they rode, the waist knives and hand guns they were wearing.

"What a steep war horse. I heard that such war horses were seized from the Drum Road. Most of the people who can ride such war horses have something to do with the Nanyang Yamen. Liao San, now the Nanyang Affairs Bureau is a hot yamen, and it is so hot. Can we 'fly across the sea' to the Nanyang Affairs Bureau?" A guest whispered to ask the scholar who looked like a broker in the teahouse.

Zhao Xing swept his eyes to Yuan Yeping. Yuan Yeping looked awkward. Zhao Feng whispered: "The so-called 'flying across the sea' is a common saying in the officialdom. Since Cai Qingzheng, the Ministry of Personnel has been extremely serious in selling official positions. Every time Tong Dage takes action, more than 300 places are out - 'wholesale'. By the way, the 'god' uses land as the word, which is appropriate.

Now in the court, Liang Shicheng, Tong Guan wholesale official titles, Cai Jing retail official titles, and the rest of the officials took advantage of their time. As a result, more and more officials have more and more officials, and countless candidates for the Ministry of Personnel. Those who pass the imperial examination will be selected one by one after another, and they don’t know how many years will be waiting. If you use money and choose to be in front of others, you will be an official soon. The candidates call this move "flying across the sea."

Zhao Feng sighed and added: "Now, all the rules are already chaotic. Those who are not qualified will not be allowed to be good officials, but now they can buy official positions as long as they have money. If those who are successful want to become officials, they still need to bribe a lot of money and bribe them. Someone who is alone is unable to bribe them, so they find four or five partners to contribute funds. One person becomes famous as an official, and the other person is on the ground to share the spoils..."

Zhao Feng reached out and paddled the favored teahouse, pointed to the guests who were yelling in the teahouse and said, "These are all people who ask for favors. They do the same thing - flying across the sea!"

As they were talking, a group of boys at the door sang songs while jumping by. They sang: "Three thousand ropes are straight to the secret pavilion; five hundred jin, promoted to the magistrate; water and wine are hundreds of jin a day, salt is several tens of thousands..."

Zhao Xing opened his mouth in surprise, looked at Yuan Yeping in surprise, then looked at Zhao Feng, then looked at the children of the generals sitting at the entrance of the Renqing Teahouse, and asked at a loss: "What, even the Zhi Secret Pavilion has clearly marked the price, and even the boys on the street know the price?"

The "three thousand ropes" mentioned in this song are three thousand guan. "Water wine a day, salt a few tens of thousands" means that after Cai Jing took office, the daily necessities that concern the people's livelihood: the taxes attached to wine, salt and tea are getting heavier and heavier, and prices soar. Now the salt required by a family of three needs several tens of thousands of cents a month, but in the past, it only costs fifty to seventy cents to seventy cents. However, the fine wine that used to cost seventy cents of cents can now be mixed with water (water wine) and can be sold for one hundred cents.

In fact, this refers to the social phenomenon of depreciation of Jiaobao and inflation.

Several people in the teahouse were discussing "human favors" in a low voice. Zhao Xing turned to Yuan Yeping and asked: "Can our Nanyang Affairs Bureau also do "human favors"?"

Yuan Yeping shook his head gently: "The officials of the Nanyang Affairs Bureau have a generous salary, but they are the first-class poor. However, due to the lack of officials under his jurisdiction, except for some of the chief officials who are detained and appointed by our bureau, most of the lower-level officials are assigned by the capital - this is inevitable that they will 'fly across the sea'."

Yuan Yeping paused for a moment and immediately added with confidence: "Don't worry, sir, I have already investigated. The supervision of officials on the southeast coast is the most strict. The officials have not said that they have embezzled, but the investigation and punishment are very timely.

Hehe, those who have passed the Jinshi can only get a ninth rank official, and those who are ninth rank officials elsewhere have a monthly salary of only fifteen stags. In our Nanyang Affairs Bureau, the monthly salary can reach 85 stags, and with various subsidies, they can reach about a hundred stags. Therefore, even if you are not greedy for bribes, most Nanyang officials can earn back the money to buy officials. What's more, if you get the position of overseas governor, it will be worth paying 3,000 stags to "fly across the sea."

Zhao Xing sighed, Yuan Yeping immediately confessed and said, "Sir, I have smelled the smell of the end of the world you mentioned earlier. So that's it. Please rest assured, I will strengthen the supervision of officials..."

"The world is in chaos," Zhao Xing sighed sadly: "Supervisor, in this chaotic world, how can he go against the will of heaven? If you don't do it well, you will only supervise the right hand with your left hand, it's just a joke."
Chapter completed!