The imperial officials who participated in the financial meeting did not know what Zhu Houzhao meant, what exactly was going to hold, and what was going to discuss.

Even the cabinet minister and the Minister of Revenue Wang Hua did not know about it. Even Wang Hua and Jiao Fang and Xu Jing, who were in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, were summoned by Zhu Houzhao in advance to prepare for the financial meeting.

On this day, the imperial officials who participated in the financial meeting all arrived on the platform outside the Ganqing Palace. The reason why they were not in the palace was because the palace was not bright enough. Since it was a financial meeting, it naturally involved looking at many numbers. It was difficult for some older ministers to see these numbers clearly without bright light.

"Today I summoned all my beloved ministers. In fact, in short, in a word, I want to settle accounts and dividends for you. To be more specific, it is the day when the money is distributed. Except for the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, the Royal Taxation Bureau and the Royal Bank of China, all the shareholders of the Royal Bank of China. Now, after the Royal Bank makes a profit, it will naturally give you money!"

Zhu Houzhao made a speech in person, pointed to the stack of books placed in the center, and said:

"In the 18th year of Hongzhi, I asked Xu Jing to ask you to invest in the money, and I said that the proportion of the investment would be as much as possible. Now two years have passed, and Royal Bank has made a profit. Now these books are calculated overnight. You can remember the details of each of them clearly;

Later, the people from the Royal Bank will read it again. You will come and take it when you hear the name. After reading it, those who have objections can directly question Xu Jing, so as not to greed for you.”

After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, Xu Jing bowed and smiled. The investors of the Royal Bank were all important officials of the court except the emperor, so he did not dare to be greedy for it.

The other officials also smiled slightly, as if they felt that Xu Jing didn't have the courage, but these officials felt more that they felt it was fresh at this time, and they felt it was fresh because the emperor wanted to send him money, because they didn't expect the emperor to really return it to him at the beginning.

This is true for the cabinet chief Ma Wensheng. The five thousand taels of silver he took out were actually the funeral silver prepared by his family. After all, he is not young and is an important official of the court. The funeral in his future death must not be sloppy.

It was precisely because he took out the only five thousand taels of silver in his family that his son was very complaining.

Now, after hearing Zhu Houzhao say that he would give money to his officials, Ma Wensheng felt very novel and strange, thinking that since ancient times, if the emperor had money, he would reduce the money and grain in the world to manage rivers and build official roads. If he was a fool, he would build a large-scale construction such as building gardens or offering sacrifices to heaven;

Why is His Majesty different from the previous emperors? He does not benefit the people or enjoy himself, but he has to distribute them to these shareholders, and he does not look like the emperor but like a businessman in business.

However, officials such as Ma Wensheng are now familiar with the Royal Bank, because the cabinet has received countless memorials from the Censors to the suspension of the Royal Bank, with the reason that they cannot seize profits from the people, cannot open a precedent for the Royal Bank, and will leave a stigma for the eternal period.

However, because Emperor Zhu Houzhao kept these memorials and did not issue them, the Royal Bank is still in operation and is even known to more and more people. Even if Zhu Houzhao doesn't mention it now, Ma Wensheng can still learn about the Royal Bank from his colleagues and family members, and hear about whether the interest rate has risen or fallen.

Moreover, Ma Wensheng also knew that the Royal Bank is getting bigger and bigger now, and even branches are spread throughout the capital, and has branches in important towns in the capital such as Tongzhou and Baoding. Due to the advanced business model and the high credit level brought by the royal background and huge reserves, many money shops have been squeezed out.

So, like other imperial officials, Ma Wensheng was also curious about how much profit the Royal Bank had gained.

"I know you are all curious about how much profit the Royal Bank has obtained. What has been written on your account book later. You can ask someone to review it again. Now start reading the name and sharing the accounts," Zhu Houzhao ordered.

So Xu Jing came over with an inner servant, who recited first: "Wang Hua family, 72,060 taels of silver!"

In this era, many clans did not separate their families, and even regarded their family division as a manifestation of their decline. Therefore, the Royal Bank's shareholders were all the families. Wang Yangming invested his wife's dowry and family savings and became the largest shareholder except Zhu Houzhao. Now his Wang family naturally has the most shares.

The imperial officials present were stunned for a long time when they heard this and were very shocked! Because 70,000 taels of silver was not a small amount in this era, many important officials in the court did not even have so much cash in their families, and they all looked at Wang Hua in one go.

Wang Hua was also surprised. He was still worried about his son Wang Shouren giving more than 30,000 taels of silver to Xu Jing. Even Wang Yangming's father-in-law's family was also worried about this, which made Wang Hua feel sorry for his in-laws now. After all, he embezzled all the dowry of his daughter!

Moreover, Wang Hua is often slandered that he bought the Minister of Revenue for more than 30,000 taels of silver. Even his Wang family said this, and he had a lot of objections to his behavior of using the money he only wanted to seek an official for himself but refused to take care of other family members.

Now when Wang Hua heard that his family had received 70,000 taels of silver, he couldn't believe his ears, but when he got the certificate from the Royal Bank, he was convinced that the Wang family had indeed received 70,000 taels of silver through the Royal Bank!

Although a gentleman is ashamed of making profits, Wang Hua is still smiling carefully, but he is still happy in his heart. He thought that he could explain to his tribe members that his unscrupulous son did not buy an official position for him, but really made a profit for the family. At least the private school at home can be expanded, and the families of several common people can also get more subsidies.

"Ma Wensheng's family, 10,000, 4,000 yuan to receive seven taels of silver!"

After studying Bahu and several other officials, he came to Ma Wensheng. Ma Wensheng did not expect that he could get more than 10,000 taels of silver. He even became a little worried, worried that he would be impeached if he got the money, and impeached himself for being greedy and detrimental to his integrity.

However, at the same time, Ma Wensheng was also very happy. He did not expect that he would be a clean official all his life and would one day get a legal income of more than 10,000 taels of silver, which is more cost-effective than doing business. He thought that after he died, he would not have to worry about using thin wood to make a coffin.

Because Emperor Zhu Houzhao was not in power at the beginning, there were not many officials willing to give money to Zhu Houzhao, and of course it was not ruled out that they should pretend to be honest. Therefore, there were not many imperial officials who were dividends and did not spend much time. Soon, they read the dividend data of the shareholders' officials, but Zhu Houzhao did not announce the dispersion of the dynasty.

In this financial meeting, he paid money to those who were willing to contribute to his own affairs, and at the same time he won over some officials to make money with him and be loyal to him. However, this is not his ultimate goal. His ultimate goal is to cultivate an expansionary class, so he has to use his identity as emperor to advocate.

"Now all the ministers have all the money, so you don't have to worry about it. Someone impeaches you for profit for yourself. A gentleman loves money and gets it well. This is what I give back to you, and it is reasonable and lawful. But like me, we are not businessmen, and we are officials of the court, and we are responsible for the country and country of the Ming Dynasty! Therefore, even if gold and silver are in the hands of all the ministers, we should use it as I do to benefit the people! Instead of for the selfish interests of individuals and families."

After Zhu Houzhao said this, the officials who were happy just now were unhappy because they got a lot of money and thought that it was indeed a waste of joy. The emperor said that it was sent to him, but it still had to be taken back after all, and the reason was very legitimate, and they wanted to use it for the welfare of the people.

Like other officials, the chief minister of the cabinet, Ma Wensheng, naturally felt a little disappointed, but he felt that as the chief minister, he still had to set an example, so he stood up first: "Your Majesty said so much, I am willing to give this money to the Ministry of Revenue."

"I am...I am willing!"

"I...I am willing!"

...

Taking Zhu Houzhao's imperial majesty, these officials did not refuse.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but laugh: "What are you doing? I don't mean to donate the money to the treasury. I mean to make plans for the future of the Ming Dynasty. I should make a promise with you, and a promise to use the benefits you gain today."

When the imperial officials heard Zhu Houzhao say this, they all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it was a good thing that they didn't have to give up so much money, otherwise it would be a pity. Now, when Zhu Houzhao asked them to abide by any promise, they didn't think anything. They guessed that maybe they just didn't want to be arrogant, extravagant, or something.

So, a group of civil and military officials replied: "Please tell me your Majesty!"

"Okay, you are all people who have been officials for a long time. You should know the importance of the amount of land occupied by the people and the people to the court. Therefore, I ask you that the benefits you gain in the future shall not be used to purchase land within the pass or receive contributions, nor shall you be used to buy the people of the Ming Dynasty as slaves, nor shall your family be used to do business, nor shall you save them to your descendants!"

After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, he looked at these officials, but these officials were a little confused. He thought that it was understandable not to buy land and accept investment. It was to ensure the source of taxes in the court. It was understandable if you didn’t buy people as slaves. It was understandable if you didn’t do business. It was just to avoid making profits by using power. It should be based on agriculture and business as the end, but why shouldn’t you save it? Is it going to spend it?

At this time, Xu Jin, the Minister of War, asked this question.

"That's right, I just let you spend it. If you are not in good health, buy ginseng to replenish it. If you like painting, buy famous paintings. If you like antiques, buy antiques. If you should manage the garden, or put it at the Royal Bank and lend it out."

Zhu Houzhao gave these shareholders the dividends to the officials who participated in the shares this time, and wanted them to spend the money to make the Ming Dynasty live, and in this way, silver gradually became the mainstream currency of the empire, preparing for the future development of the sea;

At the same time, Zhu Houzhao's implication is to encourage these people to expand externally. The land population within the pass cannot be bought and sold, so it is natural that overseas and outside the pass can be used.

Zhu Houzhao did this to allow them to use their power and financial resources to promote the development and change of the Empire's science and technology and economy, rather than to exist underground or become larger landlords. As for not allowing them to do business directly, it is to avoid collusion between officials and businessmen. Although it cannot be completely stopped, at least on the surface, Zhu Houzhao does not support or even prohibit it.

The current Ming officials, especially those in financial meetings, are not yet businessmen's background, and they do not even value personal interests so much. The degree of social corruption is not as serious as after Wanli. Therefore, now Zhu Houzhao's request is so requested, these officials have not refused.

So, all the officials present signed this agreement, and Zhu Houzhao immediately issued an order to engrave this agreement in Fengtian Hall and erect a monument to record it, and said, "Whoever does not abide by this agreement now, I will directly take back his due share, and you will understand!"

"I understand!" Ma Wensheng and other officials replied.

The imperial officials who attended the financial meeting successively retired with the certificates in their hands. Many of them still couldn't believe that they had increased so much money at once, and they were not collected from below, but given by the emperor, or even rewards, but the profits they deserved.

In order to prevent his family from complaining that he would not be an official from now on, and to see if he really had so much money, Ma Wensheng asked his family to take his carriages to withdraw his 10,000 taels of silver from the Royal Bank. Ten thousand taels of silver is a thousand kilograms of silver, which is not small. Therefore, after seeing it, Ma Wensheng still couldn't help but burst into tears:

"I really didn't expect that, I've been a clean official all my life and one day I can get so much money!"

"Master, please accept an unfilial son. Unfilial son Fu'er misunderstood the master. Master, you are just taking it with me, not being a bad official. Only then did Fu'er understand, no wonder you can be the most powerful minister!"

Ma Fu, the son of Ma Wensheng, knelt down and smiled.

"Get up, this is all the emperor's kindness! We have to thank the emperor!"

Ma Wensheng said that and entered the house, and Ma Fu also took the initiative to support Ma Wensheng. Ma Wensheng saw that his usually cold young son began to know how to be filial to him, and at this time he smiled with relief.

However, Zhu Houzhao only gave the dividends to a small number of officials, that is, officials who were willing to help him, the emperor, gained benefits when Liu Jian and others were in power. Therefore, most officials did not get this benefit at this moment, and many of them were even very jealous, especially when they saw some officials moving a cart of silver from the Royal Bank home, and some honest officials who were despised suddenly changed to large mansions, they felt even more unbalanced.

Moreover, Zhu Houzhao also asked these profitable officials to spend in a high-profile manner, so there were more officials who were unbalanced and even dissatisfied. Although there were many unbalanced people who just regretted that they did not support His Majesty early, many officials were jealous and wanted the court to stop the Royal Bank, especially those officials who opened money houses or made profits by taking usury.

On this day, Ma Wensheng's disciple Gong Shangwei, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, asked to see Ma Wensheng and said, "Mr., if you open a Royal Bank today, it is equivalent to opening an imperial shop and gaining profits from the people. The students really cannot ignore this. The teacher is the leader of all officials. Therefore, I would like to ask the teacher, whether the students can make decisions for the scholars and the people, and ask your Majesty to stop the imperial shop!"

According to the official rules, if students want to submit memorials, they will ask their teachers for advice. This is not only to avoid offending the teacher and obtaining the teacher's support because of rashly submitting memorials, but also to avoid causing Long Yan to be furious, so that someone can plead for him.

"Yi Qing (Gong Shangwei's courtesy name Yi Qing), Royal Bank is not managed by His Majesty alone, and most important officials in the court and inside and outside are involved. It is inappropriate to make a rash statement. You have just been promoted to a minister, so you should act cautiously and not do this to rebel against the emperor or offend the important officials in the internal and external areas, so as not to affect your future entry into the cabinet. This matter cannot be done!"

Although Ma Wensheng admitted that opening a Royal Bank was equivalent to the emperor doing business and opening an imperial store, which was suspected of winning profits from the people, he now knew that His Majesty the Emperor opened an imperial store for himself, and with his understanding of Zhu Houzhao, it was impossible for the Royal Bank to stop it. Therefore, he decided to dissuade Gong Shangwei from his disciple Gong Shangwei's career.

Moreover, when he thought that if the Royal Bank was suspended, he would have lost a lot of money, he instinctively began to resist the behavior of someone who wanted to suspend the Royal Bank.

Gong Shangwei didn't expect that he would lose so much benefit if he didn't vote for the emperor today. He was very angry. Now that he saw that Ma Wensheng refused to support him, he became even more angry. He thought that his mentor had become a greedy person who was afraid of death. He directly said, "The student said goodbye! In the future, students will not dare to wait for the mentor's door!"

In this era when teachers and students are very generous, Gong Shangwei said this to break up with Ma Wensheng!

Ma Wensheng pointed at Gong Shangwei in anger and cursed: "You!" But he didn't know how to scold him, so he had to sigh.

And Gong Shangwei came directly to see Jiao Fang.

Jiao Fang has also obtained a lot of money now, and just bought the large yard that the Secretary of State had bought in Beijing. He was happily talking to his children and grandchildren about how kindness the emperor is now, but when he saw Gong Shangwei, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, submitting a post for a visit, he was quite shocked:

"Isn't this Ma Wensheng's high-level football? Why did he suddenly come to see me and ask him to wait in Juanyun Pavilion!"

Gong Shangwei hurriedly saluted when he saw Jiao Fang appear: "I have met Master Zifu!"

"Tell me, what happened suddenly? The chief minister asked you to come to me?" Jiao Fang asked.

"It was not the order of the chief minister, and the lower official has decided not to step into the Ma Mansion again. From then on, the teacher and student have decided to decide whether to make the right decision! The lower official came here just to ask the Lord of the Second Support, and the Lord of the Second Support, if he wants to go further," Gong Shangwei said.

Jiao Fang was almost shocked when she heard this sentence. She wondered why Gong Shangwei suddenly betrayed his master's sect and came to him directly. But on the surface, Jiao Fang still pretended to be calm and said, "Tell me if you have something to do."

"Yes! Lord Son-Subs should understand that the Royal Bank run by His Majesty is actually a harm to the people. Merchants and even gentry in the capital are all resentful. The ministers in the court are more angry. Even Lord Son-Subs, your money house is deeply affected?

Therefore, the officials dared to make suggestions. If the assistant minister was willing to come forward and advise His Majesty to stop the Royal Bank, the people of the world would definitely respect you. At that time, the officials would join forces with a few colleagues to impeach the prime minister of the dynasty for inaction. Wouldn't you become the prime minister?"
Chapter completed!