Nanjing, No. 1, the First Auxiliary Residence, West Chang'an Street.

As the end of the year approaches, and the emperor Zhu Yunwen is not in the palace, even though the cabinet ministers in the cabinet are relatively comfortable, they save the routine of going to Jinshen Hall to hold a small court meeting every day, and they just need to sit in the palace and do the work in Wenhua Hall.

As the chief minister of the cabinet, Yang Shiqi didn't have to be on duty, so he went to Wenhua Palace less, and most of the government affairs were basically approved at his home.

This is also a privilege exclusive to the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.

"It will be the 36th year of Emperor Ming, that is, the fifteenth year of Jianwen."

Wrapped in a thick cotton suit, Yang Shiqi stood at the door of the main hall, stopped and watched the pieces of auspicious snow that kept falling like goose feathers in front of him, and said something.

There was still Xie Jin standing beside Yang Shiqi. After receiving Zhu Yunwen's reply from Tongzhengsi, he found Yang Shiqi's announcement.

Yang Shiqi, who learned the news, said such unconnected words, which made Xie Jin a little difficult to understand.

If you don’t send me a memorial book, what does it have to do with the calendar?

Xie Jin couldn't figure it out, but he had a good habit of asking if he didn't understand.

"Come and sit."

Faced with Xie Jin's confusion, Yang Shiqi called to sit down. Looking at the steaming tea, Yang Shiqi said: "Your Majesty has been working diligently for more than ten years, and suddenly responded like this. The Imperial Front Office also said that Your Majesty was too hard-working, and the Imperial Doctor suggested that you be well raised, so it would be best to take a break."

Knowing that Xie Jin probably couldn't understand, Yang Shiqi expressed his thoughts.

"Grandman, we both have risen to the top. I was the co-organizer of the Grand Secretary in the first year of Jianwen, and then entered the cabinet. After retiring, I became the chief minister of the cabinet. I have been working for twelve years today.

Even Your Majesty is about to take a break, and I, the chief minister of the cabinet, should I take a break."

Xie Jin was shocked: "Geor, are you planning to retire?"

How old is Yang Shiqi? He is only forty-nine years old after the New Year, and he is still sixteen years away from the red line for the retirement of cabinet ministers.

"How many cabinet ministers have gone in the past few years?"

Yang Shiqi looked at Xie Jin and smiled slightly: "First it was Qian Zhao, then Yu Xin and Yan Zhen went straight to the Federation of Industry and Commerce, and even Wang Qian, who was later replenished, but you and I have been staying here due to their age. The government and the country are rumored that the cabinet became the Wenyuan Pavilion in Jiangxi, and the Wenhua Pavilion became the Yang Mansion.

If I really continue to sit in this position for sixteen years and hold the country for thirty years, then it will be unconventional and ungrateful."

No one is not greedy for power, but smart people often stop at the right time.

The chief minister of the cabinet is under one person, and the ministers avoid the Tao and rituals and all the officials have enjoyed it. Yang Shiqi has enjoyed it for twelve years, but now he is unwilling to continue enjoying it.

At least in Yang Shiqi's thoughts, Zhu Yunwen suddenly gave such a reply. Does it have a deep meaning? Is it a use of this to remind him and Xie Jin in a concealed manner?

If you have this meaning, you have to know the tact, hurry up and give up your position, and give later generations some room for improvement.

Xie Jin disagreed with Yang Shiqi's hidden worries: "Has Mr. Ge thought too much?"

"It's always better to think more than to think less."

Yang Shiqi leaned into the Grand Master's chair, closed his eyes and muttered: "My son Yang Ji has gone to the local area to be the county magistrate, but the local area actually calls him the little master. This is simply a mess.

The students of the first phase of Lakeside School are now basically in charge of various positions and have outstanding abilities. It is not necessary to enter the cabinet in the future. At that time, the father and son will dare to accept such things as the same cabinet. I will not dare to be a minister."

After a pause, Yang Shiqi said again: "The most important thing is that I am from an old Confucian scholar. Your Majesty praised me for being a good country. This is not a good thing.

What is square?

Fang means that there are rules and regulations, but Fang has nothing outstanding.

At present, all the newly recruited officials in the local area are trying to change. They are new and new Confucians. They have radical ideas and their own unique governance methods, so we can no longer keep up.

For the best, we cannot keep up with Your Majesty’s thoughts, and for the best, we cannot lead the progress of local provinces, and it is not appropriate to rely on this position."

This interpretation left Xie Jin Pass speechless. If you think about it carefully, it is true.

"At our feet, Yingtian Prefecture Prime Minister Wang Yusen is busier than the cabinet every day. When he was in office, he engaged in collective production, built large workshops and factories. Now he is promoting the household contract responsibility system to encourage the people to vigorously develop animal husbandry, breeding or other side businesses. He is doing it in full swing, and the people in every household are full of energy. On the other hand, we have worked for more than ten years in the cabinet ministers, but we don't even have a little reform plan to take action, which is embarrassing."

If a cabinet does not achieve any political achievements, it will not be possible to write in historical books in the next hundred years.

Xie Jin disagreed with Yang Shiqi's ashamed and advised: "Don't think about this. The situation in the world has gradually changed. Although the first contribution is the "Jianwen Encyclopedia" and Your Majesty's thoughts, the gradual change process can be so peaceful and stable, which is inseparable from your achievements in balancing the court over the years.

If the so-called New Confucian Party and new officials were mentioned as officials of the ministry as soon as they came up, and the old and new parties fought for political dividends, and the party was the same and the different, the world would have been in chaos.

When the disease is in a serious condition, it is only after the strong medicine is given. In the peaceful and prosperous era, it is natural to cure a big country like cooking small fresh food. It is correct to simmer slowly in low heat. On this issue, Your Majesty has also commented on the political reforms of all dynasties. Some are too radical and have destroyed the stable political foundation, while others are too scrutinized and lack the courage and determination to not break or establish.

Therefore, the elders should not have this idea, and they should not do anything to retreat because of this.”

This is an official fan.

Yang Shiqi sighed in his heart. When it comes to this point, Xie Jin is still unwilling to retreat. Doesn’t he understand it?

The gradual change is coming to an end. Every year in the following year, the emperor and the local government will begin to gradually examine the achievements of the cabinet. Without taking advantage of reform ideas and specific policies, how can you convince the public?

It seemed that Xie Jin could sense a little from the slight change in Yang Shiqi's expression, and suddenly said, "Gei Master, the lower official has an idea or may do it."

Can you have another idea?

It’s not that Yang Shiqi looked down on Xie Jin. The former is conscious of the current Ming Dynasty, and even he himself feels gradually unacceptable. As a scholar-oriented person, what constructive policies can Xie Jin come up with?

"Tell me, look."

Although Xie Jin probably couldn't have any ivory in his mouth, Yang Shiqi was still willing to listen.

I was looking forward to it. After all, Xie Jin, who has been compiling the "Kangwen Encyclopedia" for so many years, may not be able to give a little insight.

“Exempt agricultural tax and in-kind tax!”

Xie Jin didn't speak, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he was startled Yang Shiqi.

Exempt agricultural tax and in-kind tax?

"I am now thirty-tax tax for Daming. Is it important to have or not?"

Xie Jin expressed his opinions and talked happily: "Next year, several major granaries in Shandong will be built. At that time, the policy of guiding the price of salt and grain will be introduced and the control system of the central government's two major daily necessities of salt and grain can be implemented. The absorption of Indian grain exports can be relaxed. Once the grain prices are calm, whether there is such a trivial grain tax will not affect the people's livelihood.

As for the physical tax of the national treasury, the main ones are the two major departments, except grain, silk and iron, and they will be cancelled together. The two weaving bureaus in Jiangnan and Liaodong are no longer the only two cloth and silk shops in Daming. Fujian has expanded the amount of cloth and garments by a so-called nude machine. In the future, merchants from Zhejiang and Guangdong will introduce and use it. This will have a great impact on the weaving bureau.

The iron taxation is getting lower and lower every year. What the Ministry of Works now needs is not iron, but steel. It is steel used for gun barrels that can support multiple gunfires. Building buildings in Guangdong and building bridges in local areas is also used for steel bars, and no one uses iron.

How about abolishing in-kind taxes and deducting them from cash bank to increase consumption and goods transfer and promote the prosperity of private commerce?”

Abolish in-kind taxes, discounts and cash-outs?

Yang Shiqi frowned and thought hard.

Is Xie Jin's suggestion feasible?

This is like the one-whip method, which has both pros and cons. In different eras, the pros and cons are naturally different.

"Tomorrow, go to Wenhua Hall, and the cabinet will discuss with each department."

After thinking for a long time, Yang Shiqi still couldn't make up his mind. Xie Jin's suggestion was full of temptation for him. After all, even if he wanted to retreat, Yang Shiqi hoped that before he retreated, he could leave a few good policies and a rapid development and increasingly powerful world of Daming, leaving a mark that belonged to him.

But Yang Shiqi was also worried. After all, major national affairs, especially agricultural tax, and physical taxes, are related to the foundation of the country. If something goes wrong, it will involve tens of millions of people, and great achievements will become a serious crime.

"I won't mention this in advance. I have to wait for tomorrow to discuss it. However, if His Majesty doesn't come back to celebrate the New Year this year, how can we prepare for the matters related to the New Year?"

After counting Xie Jin's two proposals, Yang Shiqi began to worry about other things again.

Zhu Yunwen said that he would not go back to Nanjing. How should he handle such a big stall like Nanjing?

The cabinet cannot manage the affairs of the palace, but the palace will not care about the affairs of the palace.

"The scale of the New Year banquet, the list of officials invited to attend the banquet, including the process of the banquet, must be carefully considered."

Because the founding day of the Ming Dynasty, that is, the fourth day of the first lunar month, is too close to the New Year, so there will be a big banquet every year, and the two festivals are celebrated together, which is a good day for the family and country to be happy together.

In the past, when Zhu Yunwen was in Beijing, the normal process was basically that on New Year's Day, all officials gathered in Huagai Hall to greet Zhu Yunwen. Then the monarch and minister moved to Fengtian Hall, and the Tongzheng Department read out the New Year's edict, affirming the achievements of the previous year, affirming the hard work of the officials of the court, and finally ended with the usual reward of one month of salary increase. After reading it, everyone can go back to their homes to celebrate the New Year.

On the second day of the lunar month and the third day of the lunar month, there is a two-day holiday, giving all officials a time to visit relatives and visit gifts.

On the fourth day of the National Day, Zhu Yunwen will hold a medal ceremony in Fengtian Hall during the day, which may be a military honor or a literary honor, and even awarded a medal of craftsmanship against the Ministry of Works.

If there is a major event in the previous year, other corresponding medals will be awarded.

For example, the flood fighting medal, the 15th Plan commemorative medal, etc.

On the day when the award was over, the Huagai Palace held a banquet, and everyone ate and drank happily, and the process was all over.

In these processes, there are too many places where the emperor needs to be present. Without the emperor, and if there is no process, it will be a disastrous.

You can't go to the Ministry of Revenue to get an additional salary as soon as you wake up, and then go back to your own house. On the fourth day of the lunar month, you can rush into the palace to eat and drink.

There is no such thing as an official, and what is the difference between it and a beggar?

Either you ask for money or you open your mouth to eat and drink.

So you have to add a few items.

Yang Shiqi and Xie Jin began to rack their brains to prepare, and in Zhongdu City, not far from Nanjing, Zhu Wenkui was also preparing to return to Beijing.

"I've been busy for a year and can go back to the palace to see my mother."

Zhu Wenkui was packing his luggage in his bedroom. As Fengyang's prefect, who would dare to take care of the entire Fengyang?

Yu Qian, who was busy eating at the small table next to him, suddenly asked a question.

"Have your Highness asked for leave from Tongmasato this time?"

This sudden question immediately made Zhu Wenkui stop his hands and turn his head halfway: "No, do I need it?"

As the eldest son of the emperor Zhu Yunwen and the eldest prince of the country, there is no need to ask for leave from Tongzhengsi when he goes home for the New Year.
To be continued...