Chapter 799 898 Objection

When Wei Guangde was lost in thought, Xu Jianglan had already seen that Wei Guangde was thinking about something.

From the moment she saw the copy of the memorial, she knew that this was a government matter. Although Wei Guangde, who was in mourning at home, should not intervene in this matter, her husband obviously knew that this matter could not be refused.

Being able to use the official post to deliver official documents, and sending them in the form of memorials, you can guess who sent them.

So at this time, she did not disturb Wei Guangde's thinking, but went out to bring a cup of hot tea and put it on the table, and then left the room.

As a person from the future, Wei Guangde certainly would not only look at the immediate interests and ignore the future.

Just like the royal family salary rice of the Ming Dynasty, the policy set in the early Ming Dynasty did not seem to put much pressure on the court's finances at the time, but now it has become a heavy burden on the court.

And to be honest, the Longqing Peace Talks negotiated by Wang Chonggu did not meet Wei Guangde's psychological expectations, and were even far worse.

Although Wang Chonggu's idea was to fix the annual transaction volume, Wei Guangde knew that the rules were meant to be broken.

Now the annual transaction volume is set at tens of thousands of taels, what about ten years later?

The reward silver is calculated according to the transaction volume. The larger the transaction volume, the more reward silver is needed.

Although the Ming Dynasty can get horses and cattle and sheep for this, the tribute of the Ming Dynasty has always been a business of thin give and thick give, and it is a loss.

How can we know that the appetite of the Tartars will not grow bigger and bigger, and they will continue to demand an increase in the transaction volume.

The market price of horses and cattle and sheep plus the reward silver is a high price, which does not meet his desire to weaken or even control the Tartar economy.

He must be refuted. If Mongolia is given reward silver, the so-called three hundred years of the Ming Dynasty in later generations will be greatly discounted without marriage and tribute.

Wei Guangde determined his own ideas in a very short time. Although he supported the peace talks at the beginning, the conditions were too harsh, so it would not work.

There is no problem with opening a free market in the border town.

But it would be inappropriate for the Ming Dynasty to send a lot of silver to the Mongols for nothing.

Although it seems that the court can save a lot of money in this way, it is a wrong decision if the purpose of weakening the grassland power is not achieved.

Rather than signing the content of the Longqing Peace Agreement, it is better to wait until Altan Khan dies and the grassland power fights for the Khanship, and then the Ming Dynasty will take advantage of Hanaji.

After thinking about this, Wei Guangde immediately took things to the study.

After all, this is a bedroom, and there are no pens, ink, paper, and inkstones.

When he arrived at the study, he directly poured clear water into the inkstone, picked up the ink stick and began to grind, while organizing the words in his mind.

He didn't want to consider those people in the court who supported this memorial, which had nothing to do with him, but as a cabinet minister, he had to report what he thought in his heart so that the emperor could think about it carefully.

At this time, Wei Guangde's mind began to diverge again, and suddenly a noun jumped into his mind, "Shanxi merchants".

Jin merchants actually refer to Shanxi merchants during the five hundred years of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Jin merchants were engaged in salt business, banknotes and other businesses, especially banknotes.

However, at this time, the strength of Jin merchants was still very weak. Even though some Jin merchants had become big salt merchants, they would choose to move away from there and go to Suzhou and Hangzhou for development.

Moreover, due to the strict restrictions on border trade in the Ming Dynasty, except for those who had transformed into big salt merchants, the strength of other merchants in Jin merchants during this period was still very weak.

Even if they intervened in the smuggling business, the scale was not actually large.

After all, in the eyes of most businessmen, the salt industry still made the fastest money.

Similar to Fujian, both were small and densely populated, and going out to do business became a means of livelihood for people.

The difference is that most Fujianese went overseas, while Shanxi merchants moved around in the Ming Dynasty.

At this time, Jinzhong merchants were all over the country. Although the scale of their business was not large, there was a popular saying in Beijing: "The big merchants in the capital are Jin people."

As for the late Ming Dynasty, in order to seek greater benefits, Shanxi merchants used Zhangjiakou as a base to travel back and forth between the border areas, engaged in trade activities, transported materials for the Manchu regime, and even delivered written intelligence.

The trade activities of Shanxi merchants inside and outside the border areas gave great support to the Later Jin regime in terms of materials. The Later Jin regime also treated Shanxi merchants with courtesy and attention, and they played a supporting role in the Qing rulers' strengthening of their rule over the Mongolian region.

At this time, Wei Guangde had already realized that the Shanxi merchants in later generations would develop to that state, and it was not without the "contribution" of the mutual trade.

In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, they used the mutual trade to expand their capital and make friends with the Ming border generals. In the later period, they were bold enough to directly become traitorous merchants and earn blood-stained silver.

Wang Chonggu, a family of Shanxi merchants

Wei Guangde only knew that there was a Qiao family among the eight major Shanxi merchants. It was only thanks to the film and television dramas that he knew about this treacherous merchant family.

But Wei Guangde really didn't know if there was anyone surnamed Wang among the eight major families.

Perhaps, because the Wang family has gradually entered the Ming Dynasty court, they will not get involved in those traitorous activities, but other Shanxi merchants finally intervened.

The merchant family in Shanxi, Wei Guangde now thinks of Zhang Siwei, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

The Zhang family seems to be a big merchant in Shanxi, and there is Yang Bo who retired and returned to his hometown to recuperate.

Suddenly, Wei Guangde felt a chill. When did the strength of Shanxi merchants begin to penetrate the court?

Although Wei Guangde did not believe that people like Yang Bo, Zhang Siwei, and Wang Chonggu would agree to the traitorous activities of the clan members, money and silk moved people's hearts, and there were always those who were bold enough to deceive the superiors and conceal the truth.

Such a peace treaty must be organized.

Wei Guangde became more determined in his mind, so he put down the ink stick, picked up the pen and started writing.

At this moment, thousands of miles away in the cabinet of the Forbidden City in Beijing, Yin Shizhen was also arguing with Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng about the terms of peace negotiations.

Naturally, Yin Shizhen didn't know about the "Eight Great Shanxi Merchants" or what would happen in a few decades. He only knew that once the contract was signed, it would be a treaty that humiliated the country and was no different from the "Chanyuan Alliance". Paying reparations to the Mongols.

Not to mention that Wang Chonggu has set a small figure for bilateral trade. It seems that the reward is not much, but even one tael of silver cannot be paid.

"No, absolutely not. Everything else is fine, but the reward is absolutely non-negotiable."

Yin Shizhen roared at Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng in the check-in room, expressing his firm attitude.

But did what he said have any impact on Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng?

Of course not.

Of course they knew what the so-called "rewards" were. The Longqing Peace Agreement was essentially money to buy peace and ensure the security of all nine sides.

But no matter what, they still chose to support Wang Chonggu's memorial, because in their eyes, this little money was nothing.

In their view, the most important thing is to stabilize the financial crisis of the Ming Dynasty, which is on the verge of collapse. At the same time, it can also ease the situation in the north of the Ming Dynasty, allowing them to free up their hands for internal rectification.

In their view, the Ming Dynasty was already riddled with holes, and they continued to use strong medicine to treat the country internally. Otherwise, the Ming Dynasty would be finished before the Mongols could rise.

Before fighting the outside world, you must first make peace with the inside.

Today we sign a contract with the Mongols. When the Ming Dynasty recovers its national strength in the future, it can just find a reason to start a war and start another Northern Expedition. This contract will become a useless piece of paper.

In the eyes of politicians, there is only profit.

Now Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng just want to carry out internal reforms as soon as possible, and do not want the threat from the north to interfere with their plans.

"The Datong peace talks were a unanimous decision of the original cabinet and have also been discussed by the court. What's the use of your opposition."

Gao Gong looked at the furious Yin Shizhen and sneered disdainfully: "And the imperial court has always treated tribute like this, giving rewards to its subordinates. When has it not been like this?

It's OK for other vassals, but not for King Shunyi? What's the point? "

"Zhengfu, we all know what you are thinking, but given the current situation of the court, eliminating hidden dangers in the north is a top priority.

Jiangxi and South Zhili are now experimenting with a whipping method. Seeing that it has been completed, it will be promoted nationwide. At this time, no external force can be allowed to interrupt.

You should understand how much resistance there will be in the implementation of a whip method, not to mention that the essence of this method is to measure the world's acres and plow the taxes.

Our cabinet should be united more sincerely at this time, and we must not be thrown into disarray just because of these trivial matters. "

Zhang Juzheng continued what Gao Gong said.

Although Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong also had their own thoughts, on this issue, he and Gao Gong had the same view, so they naturally stood together to deal with Yin Shizhen.

At this time, the chief assistant Li Chunfang was just sitting in the chief assistant's seat, silently watching the three people's argument.

The cabinet has been debating this matter for several days, and the government and the opposition are also discussing it.

However, because of the last court meeting, the number of people who publicly stood up to oppose this time was unexpectedly much smaller.

Of course, this does not mean that all the original opponents have changed their stance, but in the past few months, most of the Kedao spokespersons with the toughest attitudes have been released.

These are naturally Gao Gong's handiwork. Naturally, if you are not convinced by him, you will be transferred out of the capital.

When the remaining people saw this situation, they naturally became jealous.

Except for Guo Qian, Zhu Heng and other six ministers who dared to oppose loudly in the cabinet, most others were silent.

Even an important minister like the Minister does not want to be transferred to Nanjing to be a minister.

As for Guo Gan's daring to make trouble, the fundamental reason is that he is dissatisfied with this matter.

You know, the Datong Peace Negotiation was a matter for the Ministry of War. The cabinet had a hand in it and actually agreed to generous rewards.

Well, if peace is really negotiated, it will be meaningless to be the Minister of the Ministry of War. There are really too many changes.

Although the Ming Dynasty's large number of troops stationed in border towns will not be completely withdrawn in the short term, the aristocratic families who will be damaged after the resumption of farming are not easy to mess with.

Don't take advantage of it and make yourself a mess, it's not worth it.

Therefore, Guo Gan was eager to make a big fuss and ask the court to remove him so that he could go home and take care of himself in old age, so as not to make too many enemies and make his old age a problem.

But if he wants to leave, the court will naturally not let him go easily.

After all, he is the Minister of the Ministry of War, which is related to military and national affairs, and he was personally appointed by Emperor Longqing.

It's somewhat unjustifiable to have to leave not long after taking office.

Therefore, he can only anger cabinet ministers and even Emperor Longqing with his almost stubborn character.

As for Zhu Heng, he has always opposed mutual trading. This is not because he sees further, but because he does not want to capitalize on the enemy.

At this time, Emperor Longqing also felt in a dilemma because of the disagreement between his cabinet ministers and the six ministers.

He was not a responsible and decisive emperor. Although he could listen to his ministers, he still showed a trace of indecisiveness when dealing with problems.

The reward silver made Emperor Longqing feel uncomfortable. He didn't want to agree, but Gao Gong, his most trusted minister and teacher, supported him. At the same time, Zhang Juzheng, who was more convinced of his ability, also had the same attitude.

Li Chunfang, the chief minister of the cabinet, who should have provided him with important consulting references, was very hesitant at this time, which made his thoughts gradually lean towards Gao Gong.

Wei Guangde, who was far away in Pengze, certainly didn't know about the change in the wind direction in the capital.

He had finished writing his memorial, and then put it back into the box with the copy of the memorial, and locked it.

Later, the box would be handed over to the postman, who would take it back to the capital.

So far, the only thing Wei Guangde guessed was that Gao Gong must have voted in favor of the peace agreement, otherwise the copy would not have been sent here.

As for the others, Wei Guangde was not very sure.

"Zhang Ji."

After Wei Guangde did all this, he shouted outside the house.

Zhang Ji, the housekeeper, came in from outside immediately, stood in front of Wei Guangde with his hands down, waiting for instructions.

"Give this box to the postmen and ask them to send it back."

While speaking, Wei Guangde handed the box to Zhang Ji.

After Zhang Ji took it with both hands, he was hesitating whether to leave, and Wei Guangde ordered again: "Ask the capital to send back a copy of what happened in the capital every month in the future."

Originally, Wei Guangde thought that since he was going back to his hometown to mourn, there was no need to pay attention to the court.

But at this moment he found that it was still not possible.

This memorial must be inconsistent with Gao Xinzheng's opinion, and he might offend him again.

In order to be on guard, Wei Guangde felt that he should pay more attention to the news in the capital, even if he could not do anything.

"Yes, sir."

Zhang Ji bowed and agreed hurriedly, but before he left, Wei Guangde suddenly remembered something and asked casually: "Have you heard any news about the land inventory in Luling and other places? Does Nanchang intend to promote it throughout the province?"

In the fourth year of Longqing, before the governor Liu Guangji was transferred to Nanjing as the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he wrote a letter to request that the land inventory be allowed to be carried out after the implementation of the "One Whip Law" in Jiangxi to determine the tax per acre of land.

This memorial was handed over to Emperor Longqing by Wei Guangde and was approved.

At the same time, not only Jiangxi, but also Yingtian Prefecture in Nanzhili was required to confirm a place as a pilot for land inventory.

However, the order was easy to give, but the execution was full of resistance, and the preparation work took almost half a year.

Of course, the main reason for such procrastination was that Liu Guangji was transferred to Nanjing, and Jiangxi did not have a strong pusher to execute this order.

Wei Guangde's soul was more or less the soul of the future generations who were born in New China and grew up under the red flag, so he was naturally not so interested in tax evasion.

Besides, he has always looked down on the land tax of the Ming Dynasty. The real way to make money is to develop industry and commerce, which is the right way to strengthen the country and enrich the people.

"No, I heard that the progress is slow and it will not be blown to us in the short term."

Zhang Ji misunderstood Wei Guangde's meaning and replied. (End of this chapter)