Chapter 238: Zhang Yi, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, knows nothing about anything, and the King of Jin angrily denounces the lazy officials of the Ming Dynasty
Before he knew that there was a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Yi, the "Zhang Yi" that Zhu Gang could think of was the prominent figure on the political stage in the early Yuan Dynasty.

This man was from Jiaocheng, Taiyuan. He had learned a wide range of subjects and was well versed in the art of divination.

He not only studied Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, but was also proficient in astronomy, geography, yin and yang, the five elements, and calendar.

In the first year of Zhongtong, Zhang Yi was appointed as the councilor of Yanjing Province.

In the third year of Zhiyuan, he served as the Right Prime Minister of the Secretariat and was also the co-director of the State Finance Office.

In the ninth year of Zhiyuan, Zhang Yi was promoted to Zhongshu Pingzhang Zhengshi and Privy Councilor.

In the 18th year of Zhiyuan, he also took charge of the Secretariat, the Imperial Academy, and the Astronomical Observatory.

As one of the participants in Kublai Khan's implementation of Han law, Zhang Yi had become one of the few Han people with prominent political status in the Yuan Dynasty.

However, in March of the 19th year of Zhiyuan, Wang Zhuo, a thousand households of Yidu, and Gao Heshang and others took advantage of the opportunity when Kublai Khan and Prince Zhenjin went to Shangdu to sneak into Dadu.

They pretended that the real gold had returned to the palace and summoned Ahama, who was deeply favored by Emperor Taizu, and then killed Ahama and his henchman Hao Zhen.

During this period, Wang Zhuo, Gao Heshang and others once claimed to be ordered by the crown prince to recruit soldiers from Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi gave the soldiers without verifying whether it was true or not.

Afterwards he was convicted and killed by Kublai Khan.

However, there has never been a shortage of people who make far-fetched claims since ancient times. Although "Zhang Yi, the Minister of the Central Secretariat" has been dead for nearly a hundred years, there are still people with the same surname who are willing to take him as a role model.

Zhang Yi, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue who emerged during the Hongwu period, should be one of the representative figures.

From a certain perspective, he was able to be promoted to the position of Zhongshu Sheren by Zhu Yuanzhang because of his expertise in calligraphy and because he had a good name.

After all, many important court officials in the early days of the Ming Dynasty had served in the Yuan Dynasty, and they were obviously familiar with "Zhang Yi, the Minister of the Central Secretariat."

In addition, in the ninth year of Hongwu, Zhu Gang successively handled the Hu Weiyong case, the empty seal case and the Little Ming King case, providing many vacant official positions.

There is a saying in later generations that goes, if you stand in the right place, even a pig can fly.

Zhang Yi, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is obviously the pig standing on the wind!

"Let me ask you one question. How much was the Ministry of Revenue's grain tax in the last month of the ninth year of Hongwu? Just give us the total amount!"

Looking at the silent Zhang Yi, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes gradually became cold.

"I remember that you always boasted that you were an official based on Confucianism.

You should be a talkative person, why are you dumb now? Speak! "

Zhang Yi was well aware of the perilous situation in the Ming Dynasty officialdom. Moreover, if the emperor personally intervened in this matter, he might end up losing his head.

But he really couldn't answer, and finally he could only say in a hoarse voice: "I don't know."

Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed his anger and turned to look at the screen behind him.

Then he took a deep breath, and then gritted his teeth and asked again: "Zhang Yi, how much salary can the Minister of Revenue get in a month? You should know this, right?"

Zhang Yi, who was already shaking like a sieve, bowed and replied quickly: "According to the laws currently implemented in the Ming Dynasty, the monthly salary of a minister is 35 shi.

After the reform, performance bonuses are paid quarterly, divided into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter, which is equivalent to 400 strings of treasure notes.

Add to that the 420 guan of treasure notes as a bonus, and you can get guan of treasure notes and shi of grain every year."

Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry when he heard this that he laughed, "I thought you knew nothing about mathematics, but now it seems that I underestimated you!

But as a minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he doesn't even understand his job. Do you think it's appropriate for him to receive such a large salary?"

Zhang Yi knew that his death was approaching, so he knelt down on the ground and said with a stiff face: "The specific income and expenditure of the Ministry of Revenue is all controlled by the clerks.

I just need to give them enough trust and assign the right people to the right positions. There is no need to do everything myself."

Zhu Gang, who was already somewhat fed up with listening, ignored the old Zhu's previous warning, walked out from behind the screen and said: "As an official, you are not active in governing, and you are lazy and slack in dealing with government affairs. You are unwilling to do it because you are afraid of trouble, and you don't want to do it because you are greedy for comfort.

If one has mediocre abilities, he will not do it; if one cannot gain any benefits under the high pressure of anti-corruption, he will not do it.

I just don't know which type Mr. Zhang belongs to?"

Zhang Yi, whose heart was full of worry and uneasiness, was now constantly kowtowing to Zhu Yuanzhang.

As time went by, his forehead was scratched and bleeding.

"Your Majesty, I am truly wronged!
I just think that the work of the Ministry of Revenue should be handled by those who are experienced and capable. "

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhang Yi angrily and shouted, "Humph! So, we should thank you for sharing the country's worries?

Zhang Yi, you are simply shirking responsibility!"

At this moment, Zhu Gang suddenly said, "Father, I think what Lord Zhang said is not completely unreasonable.

The affairs of the Ministry of Revenue are indeed very complicated, but this is definitely not a reason for him to do nothing.

If everyone was like Lord Zhang, wouldn't the court be in chaos? "

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, indicating that he agreed with his son's opinion.

He then frowned, looked at Zhang Yi and said sternly: "In that case, Lord Zhang.

You should give up the position of Minister of Revenue, and we will find someone more suitable to take the position."

Zhu Gang suddenly thought of something, "Dad, I remember that Lord Zhang once said, 'The specific income and expenditure of the Ministry of Revenue is all in the hands of the clerks.'

We might as well call all the clerks from the Ministry of Revenue to the Imperial Study.

If there are indeed talents among them, Father can make an exception and promote them."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly lit up, "Listening to my son's words, I am suddenly enlightened.

Wang Jinghong, you go to the Ministry of Revenue in person to pass on the order and make sure to bring the person over to us."

After about an incense stick of time, several young men dressed in clerk clothes, led by the Minister of Revenue, Qie Si, came before Zhu Yuanzhang.

"I remember that the person Wang Jinghong was summoning was a clerk from the Ministry of Revenue. Lord Qie came to the Imperial Study without permission. Is there something important?"

Since its birth, the surname Qie has quickly ushered in its "highlight moment".

All five sons and one nephew of Qie Wenzhi passed the imperial examinations and became Jinshi.

Therefore, the Yuan court specially erected a "Wuguifang" archway in Shazhang Village, the birthplace of the Xie family, to commend the Xie family's "five sons who passed the imperial examinations."

Among them, one of the sons of Qie Wenzhi, Qie Zhedu, after passing the imperial examination, served as the Minister of Rites and Minister of Personnel of the Yuan Dynasty.

During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang's son Zhu Si was appointed as the Minister of Revenue, so there came the saying "Father and son, two ministers".

According to Zhu Gang's understanding: Xie Si's brother Xie Xun later served as a high-ranking official in the neighboring Goryeo Kingdom, thus spreading the Xie bloodline to Korea.

According to historical records of later generations, the Xie family produced a total of eight Jinshi, two Shangshu and seven prime ministers.

Qie Si, who was destined to be written into the family tree, could only plead guilty to Zhu Yuanzhang in fear.

"The Ministry of Revenue has a person like Zhang Yi who is just sitting there doing nothing but eating and drinking. As the Minister of Revenue, I have made the mistake of not employing the right people.

I came to the Imperial Study to meet His Majesty, on the one hand to apologize, and on the other hand to recommend a few talented people to the court."

(End of this chapter)