First Minister of Ming Dynasty

First Minister Section 537

But even so, according to Jin Yiwei's rules, they are not people who talk casually, anyway, they just send people away, and they will have nothing to do.

Shen Chongde was so heartbroken that he was dragged left and right and brought to the imperial palace in Beiping!

That's right, there is an imperial palace in Beiping, which is the imperial city of the Yuan Dynasty.

Needless to say, the scale and pattern.

At first, according to Zhang Ximeng's proposal, the main body in front of the palace was opened up and turned into a museum, which displayed many cultural relics from the Yuan Dynasty, including various valuable documents and cultural relics when the Ming army recovered Beiping.

Except for the first half, there is a piece on the east side, which was included in the Yanwang Mansion.

Due to the occupation of the palace, Zhu Di's palace is the first among all the vassal kings.

In addition, there is still a part left unoccupied, which has been tidied up before Lao Zhu went north, and it is temporarily counted as a palace.Although it was far less spacious and luxurious than Yingtian, Zhu Yuanzhang was quite pleased that the husband and wife could live together.

When you come out to play, what you want is to be happy and happy!

The fourth child is quite filial in making such an arrangement.

"Sir, we agreed to the plan you mentioned, and then we will start preparing for the Tuntian Company!" Lao Zhu put his feet in the warm water and said casually.

He really didn't regard Zhang Ximeng as an outsider, so Zhang Ximeng could only pretend not to see it.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid things are not that simple."

Old Zhu was puzzled, "What's your idea?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled faintly, "I will ask His Royal Highness King Yan about this."

Zhu Di still couldn't keep up, "Sir, what did you say to Father? I don't know either!"

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "His Royal Highness Yan Wang really doesn't know? These days, Peking University is discussing the price of goods in the market. Too many Korean laborers have come to fill the workshops. Although they can't afford any valuables, A lot of food and rotten vegetable leaves on the market were bought up, which directly caused the price of vegetables to rise!"

When Zhu Di heard this, he became anxious, "Sir, I will order now that they are not allowed to buy vegetables in the market! If you dare to disturb people's livelihood, I will cut off his dog's head!"

"Cough cough!"

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was soaking his feet, couldn't bear it anymore, don't go too far, you boy, you don't even let people eat rotten vegetable leaves, you are too dark.

"Vegetables are expensive, so try to find a way to make them more varied. Don't let people eat meat, and don't let people eat vegetables?"

Zhu Di didn't dare to refute, so he had no choice but to agree.

At this time Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Your Majesty, in fact, the matter fell here... According to the minister's plan, most of the farming companies to be established will only be responsible for food production. After all, the food production is large, the price is high, and it is easy to store and transport. It helps them bring a lot of profits. But ordinary people, the citizens of Beiping, must not only eat food, but also have vegetables and fruits in their daily life. Therefore, in my vision, there must be small farmers.”

"But this small farmer can't be everywhere. It's better to concentrate in the suburbs of the city, close to the road. Vegetables and fruits are mainly grown here for the consumption of the citizens. Taxes can be reduced appropriately, and some conveniences can be provided. In short, the common people must be protected. basket."

Zhu Di listened silently, remembering it in his heart, but Lao Zhu said with a smile: "Zhu Di, this time you know what it means to be an exhaustive strategy! Mr. Zhang has always been thoughtful and thorough in his affairs."

Zhu Di didn't have the slightest doubt about this, but I have inherited the secrets of magical skills that you have never learned before!Speaking of which, Mr. Zhang's ability to make plans is really the best in the world.

Faced with Lao Zhu's approval, Zhang Ximeng had long been used to hearing it, and he didn't respond. Instead, he said, "Your Majesty, I plan to reserve at least one-tenth of the land in Beiping for the use of small farmers. They may not be able to provide No matter how much tax you pay, you may not be able to earn much money...but they are related to the livelihood of ordinary citizens, and there are many ordinary people who may not be able to adapt to work in the city, nor can they be crammed into workshops to work. Leave some room for them, too. Give the imperial court a leeway, and don’t take everything away.”

Zhang Ximeng mentioned another important matter. Although Beiping can build a huge farming company, it cannot have only one kind of farming company.

Zhu Yuanzhang agreed immediately without hesitation.

"Sir, what else do you say?"

Zhang Ximeng said: "I've thought of so much for the time being, but I don't think there may be only the method of Tuntian Company. As long as it is large enough to withstand the risks and earn enough profits to maintain it, it can be encouraged. After all, the court can't subject to man."

Zhu Yuanzhang greatly agreed and nodded again and again.

Sure enough, he was his confidant and important minister. Zhang Ximeng not only knew how to write and learn, but his ability to do things was no worse than Li Shanchang.

These are all valuable experiences that need to be engraved in the heart.

They talked about this, and the general direction was basically determined.

Someone brought Shen Chongde in from the outside, to be precise, he came in with a strut, and he knelt down as soon as he stepped over the threshold.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

Old Zhu couldn't help laughing, "You still know it's us, you have a good memory!"

Shen Chongde didn't need to raise his head, once he heard this voice, he no longer had any doubts.

God!

He really captured Emperor Ming!

He even sent him to prison!

Which gods and Buddhas can manifest spirits, please help me!

At this time Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said: "Raise your head!"

Shen Chongde was excited all over, he didn't dare to disobey, so he could only try to raise his head, meeting Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.He was so scared that he quickly lowered his head again.

"Let me ask you, what is the crime of arresting the emperor?"

Shen Chongde was so frightened that he could not speak coherently, and he said after a while: "Yes, it is a capital crime!"

"Then if you didn't arrest us, what crime is it?"

Shen Chongde was stumped by this question for a moment, don't you want to catch it?What crime is that?

That is accepting bribes and indulging in tax evasion... Although it sounds a lot lighter than deceiving the emperor, if the crime falls into His Majesty's hands, it is estimated that the nine clans will be wiped out!

So I'm lucky, otherwise I would have been decapitated long ago!

Thinking of this, Shen Chongde was speechless,

Old Zhu laughed, he took his feet out of the tub, and said with a smile: "You can refuse bribes and enforce the law impartially. This is right. We can't punish you because you did the right thing. Then we have become a foolish king. Don't worry, we will not only not punish you, but reward you! Being a tax collector is a bit wronged, and we are going to let you set up a farming company."

Hearing the word "reward", Shen Chongde was overjoyed, and was about to thank him, but he heard that he was not allowed to be a tax collector and to set up a farming company.

Shen Chongde wanted to curse in an instant, if you plan to reward me, just keep making me a tax collector!

In the entire Ming Dynasty, is there a better official position than taxation?

It's okay to catch the emperor, and you can get a bonus and make a fortune.

What a beautiful thing!

"Your Majesty, I, I don't want rewards, I just want to work hard, do my best, and do things for Your Majesty!" Shen Chongde lay on the ground, pouted his butt high, and kowtowed wildly.

Old Zhu smiled faintly, "You have your loyalty, but since it's our will, don't shirk it. We promise you to rent and grow land, let's go and make a fortune!"

……

Shen Chongde was dizzy, came out of the palace, and got rich?

He hasn't felt it yet, but there is one thing that he feels is urgent.

"Damn mother-in-law, please don't remarry!"

After he finished speaking, he felt that something was wrong again, "It's fine to remarry, but don't take my money!"

It doesn't seem right, I'm about to become rich and prosperous, "Take what you take, don't take too much anyway!"

This guy ran home with his ass pouted, talking nonsense, it really made people wonder what to say!

Along with the launch of the plan to establish the Tuntian Company, discussions arose throughout Beiping.The big guy wasn't too surprised. After all, Beiping is different from the mainland of the Central Plains, and new methods emerge one after another. This kind of thing is not surprising.

But on the other side, several people arrived at Hu Dahai's residence and came to see the Duke of Yue.

"Duke, it's been almost ten years. We have built beacon towers for thousands of miles starting from Shanhaiguan, and we have kept one side safe. We can have a clear conscience."

Hu Dahai nodded vigorously, "That's right, you have all worked hard. Your Majesty said that in a few days, you will come to Shanhaiguan again. Just like before, let's drink together and celebrate the achievements of the big guys!"

The veterans were overjoyed, sure enough, the superior still remembered the big guy.

In the short silence, the oldest one among them bowed forward, "Master, I can't figure it out now, we worked hard to build the Great Wall, build beacon towers, and keep one side safe, but when we finished our work, we sent people to pick peaches." , what is the reason for this?"

Hu Dahai was taken aback for a moment, and then said: "What do you mean? Are you against the imperial court's establishment of a farming company?"

"No...we want to ask, is it necessary for a merchant to do it? Can we do it?"

Hu Dahai was very surprised, "You guys? Are you okay?"

The veteran gritted his teeth and said, "As long as the court doesn't object, we can get things done!"

"Really?" Hu Dahai asked in surprise.

Several veterans looked at each other and nodded vigorously.

"Duke, we have been building the Beacon Tower for more than ten years. We know everything about the situation around us. If we let us farm, we will definitely be no worse than others!"

Hu Dahai was stunned, and said again: "Then you have thought about it, you have made money, how do you want to distribute it?"

Several people were taken aback, "Naturally the average score!"

Hu Dahai shook his head, "That won't work. People don't go without a head, and birds don't fly without a head. This Tuntian company is not the military and commercial villages it used to be... It's bigger in scale, it does more things, and it doesn't have the backing of the court. , You have to do everything yourself, someone has to have the final say, the big guys are like in the army, you have to order and stop, otherwise you can't make it!"

Hu Dahai's few words can be called good words of gold and jade, which instantly awakened these people.

Sure enough, if you want to achieve great things, only passion will not work.

"Let's discuss now, and we will definitely come up with a strategy!"

Hu Dahai nodded happily, and then Hu Dahai went to see Zhang Ximeng and told the whole story.

"Zhang Xiang, these old brothers are also competing! I'm afraid they don't want to hand over the land of Beiping to others to make a fortune."

Zhang Ximeng nodded with a smile, "Okay! What I want is this ambition! They come up with a proper plan, and I will arrange for banks in Beiping to provide them with loans and help them get things done! Remember, since From now on, the way we play in Beiping will be different from that in Central Plains."

Chapter 745 The Domineering Zhu Yuanzhang

Facing Hu Dahai, Zhang Ximeng has always been open and honest, and there is really no need to hide from this loyal and reliable general.

"Actually, ever since Wei Guogong resigned from the military and transferred to the imperial censor, he has set an example for all the generals. Take these soldiers in Beiping as an example. They want to set up a reclamation company to farm and make money by themselves. The court will definitely support it , I also spare no effort. But some rules still have to be followed. They must take off their military status, and they must be responsible for their own profits and losses in business."

Hu Dahai nodded again and again, "I know this. If there is an imperial court to wipe his ass, it will be no different from a military camp."

Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "This makes it clear. Our military settlements need to pay a certain percentage of the harvest without compensation. The original plan is basically a [-]% fluctuation. Now the farming company needs to pay taxes."

Zhang Ximeng and Hu Dahai explained the situation clearly... In the past, there were roughly several forms of land ownership in Beiping. One was small farmers like the Central Plains, and the number of individual farms might be more, basically limited to a hundred acres.This is the same tax service as the people in the Central Plains.

Then there are military villages and commercial villages for the purpose of supplying garrison expenses.

The so-called military settlements can be used by registered soldiers. They work collectively and distribute them equally, and [-]% of the output must be paid to the garrison they belong to.

The remaining food can be sold or distributed to the big guys.

The situation in Shangtun is similar, except that they can trade in salt by paying military rations in exchange for salt.

All in all, there is an element of barter to both.

But when it came to Tuntian Company, it changed completely.

They pay money according to their output.The harvested food is also controlled by oneself, which can be hoarded or sold.

Due to the larger scale and more grain, they can even influence the market price of grain.

In fact, according to Zhang Ximeng's plan, around Beiping, all the way to Liaodong, and even extending to Korea... a group of large-scale farming companies will be formed, with the number ranging from dozens to one hundred.

These companies are not only large in scale and produce a lot, Zhang Ximeng also hopes to rely on Tuntian Company to explore new agricultural technologies... For example, if he gets sweet potatoes in the future, it will definitely be very troublesome to persuade small farmers to grow these new things. It may take decades or hundreds of years, but it may not be effective.

But these big farming companies are different.

As long as something is really good and profitable, and the leader is persuaded, the rest will be smooth.

Therefore, Zhang Ximeng's tinkering with the farming company is not only a problem that small farmers cannot continue to play, but he also has the intention of innovating agricultural technology.

This is also in line with Zhang Ximeng's style of doing things. When he deploys one thing, it often leads to a lot of things, and then forms an unstoppable trend that completely reverses the overall situation of the world.

After Hu Dahai listened to Zhang Ximeng's overall plan in silence, Lao Hu murmured: "Mr. Zhang, I understand, but I'm afraid it's inappropriate to entrust such a big matter to businessmen? The imperial court may not have the world! Even if it is good for everyone and bad for them, they may not be willing to do it!"

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "You are right, so I hope that some aspiring soldiers can stand up and say that they are merchants seeking profit, but it is better to be born in the army... It is not that we are not allowed to pursue profit, but When they want to make a fortune, they should think about Daming a little bit, and have a certain limit, that's all."

Zhang Ximeng said again: "Furthermore, the Peking Academy has an agricultural college, a business college, and those banks. If the Tuntian Company is to operate, it must recruit these talents and borrow from the imperial court. Another example is to resist the Mongols. Organizing shipping, sales... These things are still inseparable from the help of the imperial court. All in all, we can use these methods to hold them. If these methods do not work, it means that everyone has been bribed, and by that time , I am helpless."

When Zhang Ximeng said this, he also felt a little helpless. No matter what he chooses, there will be good and bad... But the choice at this time will turn into a bad government that needs to be reformed in a few years. This is almost impossible. .

Hu Dahai listened silently, and then said: "Mr. Zhang, I dare not say anything else. The soldiers in the army are different from those. I will explain it clearly to them. When will I forget the court and the world? They don’t even want to be human! They all say that there is no business without fraud, but I think about it, there are also righteous ways to do business, and our Ming Dynasty conquered the world by relying on the righteous way, and if there is no reason to do business, it must be crooked!"

Hearing this, Zhang Ximeng couldn't help clapping his hands and laughing, "Very well, I'm relieved that Yue Guogong has this insight. You are like a magic needle in the sea in Beiping!"

Lao Hu's face turned red, and he was a little embarrassed to be praised by Zhang Xiang.But Hu Dahai knew that this opportunity must not be missed, "Zhang Xiang, there is nothing else. My grandson is stupid, so naturally he dare not ask extravagantly. He pointed the way."

Zhang Ximeng pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "I remembered, indeed, your grandson is not the most intelligent... But I found that his hands-on ability is not bad, if you are willing, let him learn to make machines or something. If so Being able to achieve something in this line of work is a great achievement for your Hu family. If he is really willing to learn, I can help him contact Fudan School. The machines there are still very good. Fudan made the woolen looms in Beiping. of."

Hu Dahai nodded again and again, overjoyed, "Of course what Zhang Xiang said is not wrong, in my heart, there is a reason."

With Zhang Ximeng's knowledge, just a few casual pointers, that is a bright road and a bright future, even Hu Dahai dare not take it lightly.