bullyxtreme Chapter 518: Something's Wrong About 2 Points
Chapter 518: Something's Wrong About 2 Points
If we're talking purely about sales performance, Emperor Zhu would at most rank second.
Empress Ma is undoubtedly the top influencer in terms of sales; she can create a blockbuster product just by buying something casually.
Unfortunately, Empress Ma showed no interest in shopping at the Dengzhou border market, instead having Jin'er and Yu'er accompany her as she strolled around.
After wandering around for quite a while, Yang Shaofeng finally couldn't resist anymore.
"I need to ask my mother-in-law to buy something."
"It doesn't matter if it's rouge, face powder, pearls, gemstones, or anything else."
"Whether my mother-in-law keeps it for herself or takes it back to reward the people in the palace, it doesn't matter."
"In short, my mother-in-law has to be the one to make the purchase."
Yang Shaofeng pulled Yu'er aside and whispered, "As long as Mother-in-law buys something, we can use the excuse that even the Empress likes it, understand?"
Yu'er chuckled and said, "Husband finally couldn't hold back anymore?"
"Actually, my godmother just told me to buy some things when we go back."
"Right now, we need to take a look around and at least find out what's worth buying at the market."
"Moreover, my adoptive mother also said that the border market that my husband set up is indeed very good. It not only makes things more convenient for the people, but also fills the national treasury. It is a great thing that benefits the country and the people."
Upon hearing Yu'er's words, Yang Shaofeng immediately understood what was going on.
Look at Empress Ma's insight and awareness.
And look at that son-in-law of the Ma family, who's like a silly goose, only knows how to go on a shopping spree.
Heh~tui~
……
Time passed day by day, and soon it was October of the fourth year of Hongwu.
Yang Shaofeng first picked up the small dragon ball and took a sip, then slumped back into the recliner.
The lingering heat of late summer has finally passed, and the weather is neither too cold nor too cold—perfect for being a couch potato.
It's a pity that Zhu Chongba, that old man, is still determined to stay in Dengzhou Prefecture and refuse to leave, as if he has completely forgotten about the northern tour and returning to the capital.
That won't do!
Forgetting about the Northern Tour is fine, and not wanting to return to the capital is fine too, but could you please move your noble dragon backside and stay in Jinan Prefecture for a while?
If you refuse to leave Dengzhou Prefecture, how can I, the prefect of Dengzhou, be a lazy bum?
In particular, Zhu Chongba, this old man, was the king of all the kings of scrolls.
He would deal with memorials sent from the capital by express courier at night, and wander around Dengzhou City and its surroundings during the day, occasionally having Yang Shaofeng accompany him to the counties under Dengzhou's jurisdiction.
What's even more infuriating is that this old man not only wanders around aimlessly, but he also tries to make friends everywhere. He'll grab any old farmer working in the fields, call them "brother," and then pull them aside to ask all sorts of questions.
"How many people are there in the family?"
How many acres of land do you own?
Do you have any cows at home?
"Is there enough food?"
"Has your child gotten married and had children?"
"Have you heard of the workshop? Does anyone in your family work there? Are the wages paid on time? Is the money earned by one person enough to support the whole family?"
They don't ask how the officials govern, nor do they ask whether the officials are honest or not; they only ask about these trivial family matters.
He is indeed clever.
The questions were simple, covering both land allocation and the changes brought about by the workshops.
The crux of the problem is that Lao Deng is endlessly fond of this kind of thing—running around to the countryside, trying to make connections, and asking around—and he does it almost every day.
Yang Shaofeng was so angry he wanted to grab Lao Deng and yell at him: "Don't you know winter is coming? You need to take care of your health in winter, you bastard!"
"You're dragging me around everywhere, how am I supposed to maintain my health?"
"You old dreadful oxen and horses, but I am a scholar who can't lift a finger or carry a load. You can handle it, but I can't!"
But the thought of Emperor Zhu's grumpy face forced Yang Shaofeng to abandon this tempting idea.
Of course, not daring to criticize Emperor Zhu is one thing, but whether or not it upsets Emperor Zhu is another.
"I feel like something's missing."
Unable to bear it any longer, Yang Shaofeng simply took Emperor Zhu to the village furthest from Dengzhou Prefecture.
“For villages that are closer to other counties, it is very troublesome for the county to manage them. If the county has something to tell the heads of the various communes or the village chiefs, it will also cause those heads of communes and village chiefs to run back and forth.”
"Not only does it waste time, but the officials in the county may not have enough energy to manage these villages."
"If the officials don't pay attention to these villages, these villages will fall outside the jurisdiction of the county government."
Emperor Zhu glanced at Yang Shaofeng and said, "There's also the possibility of clan power emerging, leading to situations where clan law takes precedence over the law of the land, isn't that right?"
Before Yang Shaofeng could answer, Emperor Zhu sneered and said, "I guess you mean to add another government office between the county and the village, and use these government offices to strengthen control over the villages, right?"
"Sometimes I just don't understand, you bastard, what's wrong with you?"
"Are you really treating the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel like they're not human, just to cause us trouble and annoyance?"
Yang Shaofeng was slightly taken aback and asked, "Why doesn't my son-in-law treat the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel as human beings?"
Emperor Zhu countered, "Then let me ask you again, how many more low-level officials would be needed to add another yamen (government office) between the county and the commune?"
"These officials have good official positions, but who will pay their salaries?"
"Yes, the newly added officials are of low rank and have low salaries."
"But every little bit counts. The Ming Dynasty has more than a thousand prefectures and counties. Even if each prefecture or county only adds five government offices and each government office only adds three officials, that would add more than 15,000 officials."
"Assuming each person's monthly salary is two strings of cash, that would mean an extra 30,000 strings of cash per month, and 300,000 strings per year..."
When the number 300,000 was mentioned, Emperor Zhu suddenly stopped.
"Three hundred thousand strings of cash?"
With an extra 300,000 strings of cash in expenditure each year, could another small government office be added between the county and the commune?
Compared to the control that this small government office can exert, an annual expenditure of 300,000 strings of cash is nothing.
Not to mention that the Dengzhou Prefecture border market can contribute a large amount of taxes to the national treasury every month, the national treasury itself can fully support this expenditure!
But then Emperor Zhu felt something was amiss.
This is definitely 12 out of 10 that's wrong.
The numbers were calculated correctly, but Emperor Zhu felt inexplicably uneasy.
However, just as Emperor Zhu was pondering what the problem was, Yang Shaofeng said with a smile, "Father-in-law, there are actually not many officials in the yamen. The real problem lies with the clerks."
"Most importantly, the addition of more than 5,000 small government offices is equivalent to more than 10,000 vacant official positions."
"The Ming Dynasty shouldn't have that many scholars now."
Emperor Zhu immediately realized what was wrong.
No matter how tempting the pie in the sky is, we don't have that many educated people under our command!
Thinking of this, Emperor Zhu was immediately displeased, and his gaze toward Yang Shaofeng carried a hint of hostility: "Then what do you suggest we do?"