The Ming Dynasty: The Iron-Blooded Martial Emperor, Who Slaughtered the World

Chapter 80 Wielding Asura-like methods, yet possessing a compassionate heart!

Zhu Houzhao's face darkened: "Zhou Jing, what do you mean by that?"

"These county government offices are being maintained by me at great expense every year. How is this forcing them to rebel?"

Zhou Jing lowered his head and remained silent. Zhu Houzhao's words clearly indicated that he was pretending not to understand.

The annual stipends issued by the Ming Dynasty were barely enough to cover the basic living expenses of county and prefectural magistrates in various regions.

If you want to splurge a little, you can't even get a bigger house.

They've all become county magistrates, wielding such immense power. If we still let them live the lives of ordinary people, wouldn't their positions as county magistrates be meaningless?

Can a county magistrate be called one who doesn't live a life of luxury, has a large harem, or amass a fortune?

Zhu Houzhao wanted to cut off these officials' source of income; how could they not rebel?

"That's settled then," Zhu Houzhao declared decisively.

Knowing he was powerless to stop Zhu Houzhao, Zhou Jing could only accept the order.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Then, Zhu Houzhao looked at Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian.

"Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, the tax supervisors and eunuchs in various regions, and the garrison eunuchs in various regions should also send one person to be stationed in the local Ming Salt Estate to perform supervisory duties."

"If any problems arise within the Ming Dynasty's salt estates, report them to me immediately!"

Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian immediately became serious and bowed to accept the order.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

For an institution that controls a large amount of money and resources, a supervisory system is of paramount importance.

To this end, Zhu Houzhao directly ordered one person from each of the Eastern Depot and Western Depot to be stationed at the Daming Salt Estate, thereby ensuring absolute surveillance over the Daming Salt Estate.

After doing all this, Zhu Houzhao pondered for a moment and then asked, "By the way, Grand Secretary Zhou, you mentioned last time that commercial activities in the Ming Dynasty are particularly active. Does that mean the requirements for transporting silver are also particularly high?"

Zhou Jing nodded: "Your Majesty is right. As far as I know, there are security escort agencies and money shops in various places to facilitate the circulation of money and grain."

"The escort agencies go without saying. Some large money shops have branches all over the Ming Dynasty. After a merchant deposits his silver into a money shop, he will receive a silver note that belongs exclusively to that money shop."

"After obtaining this silver note, the merchant can go to other silver shops and exchange it for an equivalent amount of silver, but a certain fee must be paid each time."

After listening to Zhou Jing's explanation, Zhu Houzhao pondered that this was the prototype of the bank in later generations.

At this point, Zhou Jing frowned again: "However, the size of the money shops in the Ming Dynasty varies greatly. There are many money shops, and some of them cooperate with each other so that their banknotes can be used interchangeably. But some money shops only have a few branches, so their circulation is still limited."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao suddenly smiled and said calmly, "In terms of scale, what bank can compare to the size and number of my Ming Dynasty salt estates?"

"In order to promote commercial activities in various places, the Daming Salt Bureau has added money exchange services for all people and issued Daming Silver Notes, with the fee set at half a percent."

"At the same time, we will also provide low-interest loans to all poor people, with an annual interest rate of one percent."

"Not only can you borrow money, but you can also borrow grain and cloth, with an annual interest rate of one percent."

"However, the eligibility for loans needs to be strictly reviewed. Only people with an annual income of less than five taels of silver can enjoy the low-interest loan policy."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jing stood up from the bench in shock, deeply impressed by Zhu Houzhao's benevolent and sagacious nature.

Given the size of the Ming Dynasty Salt Estates, if it were to engage in money lending, there would be virtually no other money lending businesses left to operate.

The fact that saltworks could be established throughout the entire Ming Dynasty greatly accelerated the circulation of silver and facilitated trade among merchants.

Although the handling fee of 5% is higher than that of other money changers, which is 2% or 3%, it is still higher.

However, its sheer size also makes it a top choice for businessmen.

However, if we consider whether Zhu Houzhao's money shop business was about unifying the entire money shop market in the Ming Dynasty or driven by profit, then...

Zhu Houzhao's low-interest loan policy was practically a charity to relieve suffering and help those in distress!

Zhu Houzhao's order saved countless impoverished people from suffering!

It's important to know that private, high-interest loans can have shockingly high rates.

Nine outs and thirteen returns is no joke; the interest rate is sky-high.

Countless ordinary people, facing sudden disasters and needing emergency cash, have no choice but to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates.

In the end, he was exploited to the bone by loan sharks, forced to sell his children, his fields and land, and finally even had to sell himself into slavery.

Previously, Zhu Houzhao's two maternal uncles, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, had done many similar things.

The one percent annual interest rate set by Zhu Houzhao was so low that it was practically nonexistent. For ordinary people, what difference was there between that and doing charity?

Thinking of this, Zhou Jing's admiration for Zhu Houzhao was like the Yellow River, flowing endlessly!

"Your Majesty! It is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty, a blessing for the world, and a blessing for all its people to have such a wise and virtuous ruler as you!"

Faced with Zhou Jing's extreme flattery, Zhu Houzhao simply said calmly, "As the Emperor of the Great Ming, I should strive for the well-being of the people of the Great Ming."

"This is my mission, my responsibility. Grand Secretary Zhou need not do this."

With a single thought or order, Zhu Houzhao could save the lives of millions of impoverished people in the Ming Dynasty.

Wielding the methods of Asura, yet possessing a compassionate heart!

This was the Zhu Houzhao she, Shangguan Haitang, loved. His aura of ruling the world and saving the common people captivated her.

Thinking of this, Shangguan Haitang trembled slightly, and her cheeks flushed red without her realizing it.

After issuing these orders, Zhu Houzhao repeated the name of the Ming Dynasty Salt Estates twice, feeling that something was amiss.

"No, this would mean that the responsibilities of the Daming Salt Estate have far exceeded the limitations of a salt estate, and it would be quite inappropriate to continue calling it the Daming Salt Estate."

"In my opinion, it should be renamed the Great Ming Money Shop. What do you think?"

No one dared to object to Zhu Houzhao's words, and they quickly echoed, "Your Majesty's wise decision is perfectly appropriate; the name 'Da Ming Qian Zhuang' is very suitable."

Zhu Houzhao nodded: "Then let's call him that."

"Haitang, you stay. The rest of you, leave. Carry out my orders as quickly as possible!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zhou Jing, Cao Zhengchun, and Yu Huatian bowed and accepted the order, then withdrew from Cining Palace.

Once there was no one else in Cining Palace, Shangguan Haitang couldn't help but move closer to Zhu Houzhao and press her head against his chest.

"His Majesty……"

Zhu Houzhao smiled slightly as he looked at Shangguan Haitang's emotional expression, and then picked her up in his arms.

Just as Zhu Houzhao was about to carry Shangguan Haitang to the bed, Gu Dayong rushed in.

Zhu Houzhao frowned slightly, feeling somewhat displeased.

Gu Dayong, who is usually good at reading people, what's wrong with him now?

"Your Majesty!" Gu Dayong was so anxious that he was almost incoherent.

"Consort Li...she's pregnant!"