Chapter 100 No martial ethics
Deng Qianqiu asked hurriedly, "I wonder if Your Majesty has any other instructions?"

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyebrows and said, "I have been thinking about this for a long time since I came back..."

He looked up at Deng Qianqiu.

After a pause, he continued, "There are so many people in the Yiluansi Qianhu Division, how come no one has stood up? Everyone is harboring evil intentions. I am very strict in governing officials. Don't they really fear death?"

Deng Qianqiu thought for a moment and said, "Actually... I think... this is already good. After all, they embezzled half, so they still left half for Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised a sneer on his lips and said, "Humph, what are you talking about? In troubled times, severe punishments are used. I intend to use severe punishments to punish officials, but these people still keep falling one after another. It's really hateful."

Deng Qianqiu lowered his head and said nothing.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him impatiently: "If you have something to say, just say it. You can say anything in front of me."

Deng Qianqiu said: "Your Majesty, I actually think that this official's salary is too low."

"Low?" Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Do you know how much tax silver the national treasury and the inner treasury collect every year? How many officials and soldiers do the world need to support? With these salaries, the court does not need to provide relief to the people, does not need to use foreign troops, and even if it does nothing, it will not be enough to pay salaries. This time, you have made great contributions by confiscating the property, and I can indeed earn hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, but ask yourself, if this silver is used to pay millions of soldiers and hundreds of thousands of officials, if it is really as you said, to pay full salaries, I want to ask you, this seemingly astronomical amount of confiscated property income, is it enough to pay for one month?"

What Zhu Yuanzhang said was the truth. Even though expenses were greatly reduced, in reality, the income of the Ming Dynasty was limited.

Deng Qianqiu opened his mouth, but decided to speak boldly: "I am going to say something that I shouldn't say. Your Majesty keeps saying that the Ming Dynasty inherited the system of the Tang and Song dynasties, but in fact, except for some official titles and clothing, what was really inherited was the system of the Mongols and Yuan Dynasty."

"What did you say?" Zhu Yuanzhang said, his eyes widening instantly.

Deng Qianqiu said aggrievedly: "Your Majesty told me to tell you everything I know."

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright, took a deep breath, and then said, "Tell me, it seems that you are going to follow the example of the censor."

Deng Qianqiu shook his head: "I don't want to be a censor. What the censor says are all irrelevant, but I want to say a few words from the heart. Your Majesty is always nice to me, so I want to speak a little from my heart."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face looked much better, and he nodded with satisfaction: "You have a conscience."

Deng Qianqiu smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. He was actually a little afraid that His Majesty would be angry just now.

Deng Qianqiu said: "The Mongols entered the country, but they knew nothing about governing the country except herding. So they treated the country as a pasture and the people as cattle and sheep, letting them graze at will. Not only were they unable to unify the selection of officials, they couldn't even unify the taxation. And what is the difference between our Ming Dynasty and the Mongols? What is a country? The essence of a country is just a tool to maintain rule..."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he couldn't help but open his mouth and looked at Deng Qianqiu in surprise.

"If you want to maintain your rule, you need a violent agency, which is what your majesty often calls officials. It's like a sword. If you don't take good care of it and let it rust, then... over time, once something happens, what will happen? Your majesty, the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty started with the construction of the Yellow River. But why did the construction of the Yellow River cause a rebellion among the people? In the final analysis... it was just those Mongolian princes and nobles who couldn't collect taxes, but put all the corvée labor on the people who were repairing the river. It would be strange if they didn't revolt."

Zhu Yuanzhang gradually frowned and became thoughtful.

Deng Qianqiu continued, "So I think that insufficient taxes are not a reason for not paying full salaries. Soldiers need to guard the borders, officials need to eat, and the people need relief when they are hit by disasters. All of these require money, but what does this have to do with the lack of money in the treasury?"

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyebrows and said, "Do you want me to impose heavy taxes and levies?"

Deng Qianqiu: “…”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Go on."

"It's not extortion." Deng Qianqiu said, "It's a reasonable tax system! Otherwise, sooner or later, the world will become old and decrepit, just like an old mill. The old donkey can still pull the millstone and grind out tofu, but it can't do anything in the end."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head and said, "In the final analysis, it's all about money. Now I understand what you said. It's nothing more than making money. If we plunder a few more houses..."

Deng Qianqiu’s eyes widened. No way, are you going to play like this?
Deng Qianqiu hurriedly shook his head: "Your Majesty, what I meant is... collecting taxes."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered: "I know what kind of life the people are living. They live a life worse than death. It's good enough to be able to make a living. If the tax is increased, they will definitely rebel."

Deng Qianqiu said: "Then why not take it from the merchants?"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, "Boy, I thought you had some great ideas. Do you really think I didn't collect taxes? It seems that you don't read the Great Edict enough. I set up taxation offices in all the main roads in the country to collect commercial taxes. I charged merchants all over the country 1/30 of the tax. How could I not collect commercial taxes from them? However, there are so many things to be done in the country, and I'm afraid that merchants are scarce in circulation. The city taxes, ship taxes, and commercial taxes collected are only tens of thousands of taels a year."

Deng Qianqiu said directly: "This shows that the imperial court's tax collection is wrong."

"Hmm?" Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Deng Qianqiu.

Deng Qianqiu asked, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that His Royal Highness Prince Jin made a fortune from doing business?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said with disdain: "That's because he is a prince, so he can't be treated the same as ordinary merchants. Do you think I really don't know where the money you earn comes from? It's just that I won't pursue it."

Not pursuing the matter is one aspect, but the main reason is that you can also benefit from it.

Deng Qianqiu sighed and said, "Your Majesty, actually... I have a bold idea."

Zhu Yuanzhang was excited when he heard the word "bold": "Really? Tell me quickly." "Your Majesty, why not try it as a pilot in Jiangning County... tax reform? In this way, even if something goes wrong, the impact will only be on one county. Let's see if it can succeed."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Deng Qianqiu and said, "You mean, you and your son are in Jiangning..."

He hesitated, as if thinking about something: "I will think about this matter for a while before making a decision."

Deng Qianqiu felt a little disappointed. In fact, after gradually becoming familiar with Zhu Yuanzhang and no longer having so much fear in his heart, Deng Qianqiu still hoped... to make some changes in this world.

Even if it only slightly advances the course of history.

Even he himself doesn't know whether the things he picked up from his previous life are inappropriate in this era.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang's caution was a bit excessive. However, judging from Zhu Yuanzhang's various behaviors in history, he seemed to be a particularly conservative person. It seemed that apart from confiscating property, he did not like anything too new.

Deng Qianqiu sighed helplessly and returned to Xianliang Temple.

Who knew that there were already guests in my residence?

An eunuch was waiting outside. When he saw Deng Qianqiu coming back, he smiled and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for Captain Deng."

When Deng Qianqiu heard that the prince had arrived, he did not dare to be negligent and hurried into the house. As expected, Zhu Biao had become the host and was standing in Deng Qianqiu's room with his hands behind his back.

He looked at the row of bookshelves on the wall, contemplating something.

Deng Qianqiu asked: "Why is Your Highness here?"

Zhu Biao turned around and asked, "You are so young, and you are already watching pornographic pictures?"

"Ah..." Deng Qianqiu's lips twitched unconsciously, hiding the guilty feeling that flashed across his eyes. Finally, he said, "It might be His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin. He always likes to hide things with me."

Zhu Biao smiled, without asking further questions, and said, "I haven't seen you for a few days. I was worried that you haven't fully recovered from the injury you sustained last time when you protected the emperor. Today, I saw that the emperor summoned you to go on a business trip in the main hall. I was afraid that you couldn't handle it, so I came to see you."

Then he added: "I brought some nourishing things, but I don't know if they are useful. You are well versed in pharmacology, so pick them up and eat them yourself."

Deng Qianqiu said: "I just have headaches and dizziness occasionally, sometimes feel chest tightness and pain, or unexplained palpitations. I am well now, Your Highness, don't worry."

After hearing this, Zhu Biao became more serious. He looked at Deng Qianqiu and said, "Then you should take good care of him. I see that you look unwell."

Deng Qianqiu hesitated and said, "Maybe I'm a little tired, but that's secondary. The main reason is..."

"Hmm?" Zhu Biao said with a smile, "If you have anything to say, you can tell me. I know that Third Brother is like a brother to you. I am his elder brother, and you can trust me."

Deng Qianqiu then said, "Well, I actually want to do something. I reported to His Majesty today that I think the world needs to implement commercial taxes. Of course, this matter has a great impact, but it has started in Jiangning County..."

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "I know. It must be that my father did not grant your approval. I am afraid he even scolded you."

Deng Qianqiu said with a slightly dejected look, "He didn't scold me, but he almost told me to get out."

Zhu Biao said: "Please talk to me about your tax system. I am different from my father. My father is suspicious of others, but I am the opposite."

Deng Qianqiu did not hide it, it was probably with Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao frowned after hearing this. He seemed to be thinking about something. After a moment's silence, he said, "Then let's try it in Jiangning County. Let the county magistrate cooperate with the Hundred Households Office and follow your rules."

Deng Qianqiu was surprised and said, "No, no, no, how can I dare to do it without your Majesty's permission?"

Zhu Biao said: "Your Hundred Households Office is under the jurisdiction of Chunhe Palace, so you have to listen to me. Besides, my father has always wanted me to get involved in some government affairs. Since you want to do it, I will take care of it."

Deng Qianqiu looked at Zhu Biao in surprise, speechless.

That being said...it seems to make some sense.

Then he couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, do you believe this charter is useful?"

Zhu Biao said: "I still have some doubts about your rules. But I trust people when I employ them, and I don't employ people I don't trust. I trust you, so you can do it without any worries. But..."

Zhu Biao winked at Deng Qianqiu and said with a playful smile, "Do it secretly first, don't let the emperor find out. Otherwise, you won't be able to push this plan forward. When the emperor really finds out and gets angry, you can push it to me. I have a way to deal with him."

Deng Qianqiu couldn't help but give a thumbs up. The more he looked at the prince, the more he liked him.

No wonder he and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are so in tune with each other, it turns out they are the same kind of people, both experts in controlling their fathers.

(End of this chapter)