"Your Majesty, the income tax for opening seas is indeed unexpected, and the income this year is expected to be much higher than last year." Wen Tiren met Emperor Chongzhen in Wenhua Hall after the military meeting, holding a memorial in both hands, "I have compiled the statistics on salt tax. If private salt can be eliminated, the court can at least double the salt tax. However, the situation is a bit complicated, please check it out!"

As soon as the rotating eunuch Gao Shiyue saw it, she walked over and took the memorial with both hands and submitted it to Emperor Chongzhen.

Wen Tiren had no memorial in his hand, looked at Emperor Chongzhen, and immediately replied: "There are those who sell private salt, some desperate salt merchants, some princes and nobles, officials and powerful officials, etc. It is very difficult for the court to ban private salt! However, no matter how difficult it is, the ministers are determined to collect all the salt tax..."

For the Ming Dynasty, the salt tax was one of the largest sources of financial resources for the national treasury. If it could be doubled, the amount should not be underestimated. Wen Tiren said in the court that one of the measures to increase financial income in analogy to the Song system was to innovate the salt tax. Now, it is his commitment to be elected as the chief minister.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he glanced at him and did not speak. Then he picked up the memorial presented by Gao Shiyue and opened it and read it.

"This salt tax reform is a major event for the court!" Wen Tiren continued, "and the salt tax reform has damaged the vested interests of countless people. Compared with the sea ban in the previous two years, it is still better. I am ready to face the opposition of these people, and I am fearless!"

After all, opening the sea mainly affects the southeast coast of the Ming Dynasty, and at most it goes to the south of the Yangtze River. However, the salt tax reform involves the entire empire. Whether north or south, east or west, there are vested interests. If they cause trouble, they will not be able to compete with the sea when opening the sea.

When Wen Tiren said this, he saw Emperor Chongzhen looking up at him, and he looked at him seriously and said seriously: "Now that I am about to start attacking the salt tax, but Your Majesty wants to take charge in person. I am really worried that if Your Majesty is in charge of the capital, the salt tax reform may have to be postponed in the future. After a long time, there will be rumors, and there will be many changes."

Wen Tiren has been busy with the reform of the salt tax. Now it is almost time to come. He originally thought that he could reform the salt tax. However, the emperor suddenly started to personally enlist in Liaodong in advance, which immediately destroyed his plan. Therefore, after the military discussion ended, he came to Emperor Chongzhen to ask for an explanation on this matter.

The cabinet has many people, and even if there are confidentiality regulations, the matter of the salt tax reform involves the interests of many people. Therefore, this matter cannot be concealed for too long. If the new policy has not been implemented, the outside world will already know in advance. The so-called "the upper policy has policies and the lower policy has countermeasures. If one is not done well, the new policy will become a bad policy, and the result will be broken.

Emperor Chongzhen had already read the memorial at this time. After hearing Wen Tiren's words with some complaints, he smiled, picked up the memorial and weighed it, and threw it back to the imperial table before asking: "Wen Qing summarized the disadvantages of salt administration in detail. It can be said that salt administration is something that penetrates the bone marrow of the Ming Dynasty, and has it in all aspects and people of all kinds. Once the new policy harms the interests of these people, even I am afraid I have to consider it."

Speaking of this, he laughed at himself and said: "At the time before, I have never urged Wen Qing about the salt tax. In fact, I have a lot of concerns. If the implementation of the new policy is unstable, it will cause internal strife in the Ming Dynasty. Whether it is party struggles or local troubles, it is something I don't want to see..."

Wen Tiren couldn't help but realize this. He had always been a little surprised that the emperor asked and explained the matter of opening the sea again and again, but he had never mentioned the salt tax. It turned out that the emperor knew the importance of this matter.

"... As Wen Qing said, this salt involves thousands of households, and the salt guild was rewarded by the previous emperors of all dynasties, including royal family, hereditary princes, etc. Not to mention Wen Qing, even I think it is very difficult, especially for a few years since I ascended the throne. "Emperor Chongzhen said this, suddenly his face was serious and smiled, "But after I personally marched to the army and recovered Liaodong, I believe that it can shock many ghosts and monsters. Whoever dares to jump out and cause trouble, at that time, I don't mind letting my new army start a massacre..."

Wen Tiren couldn't help but feel a little hesitant when he heard this. At the end of the emperor's words, he was majestic and murderous intent, and his tone seemed even more firm. However, when he came to his senses, he was immediately a little happy.

He understood what the emperor meant.

Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne from a vassal king. Without being a crown prince, he would not have the old people from the crown prince's mansion, that is, he would not have his own imperial team. He became emperor at the age of seventeen, and he had no prestige in the eyes of civil and military officials in the court.

Although Wei Zhongxian was eliminated later, Wen Tiren understood that it was better to say that it was not so much that Emperor Chongzhen defeated Wei Zhongxian, but rather that Wei Zhongxian's foundation for gaining power was lost. In this case, any emperor could drive Wei Zhongxian off the stage. This matter would only make all civil and military officials verbally praise it. If you really admire him, there are probably not many people.

However, later, Emperor Chongzhen used his body as bait and eventually forced Jianlu to withdraw from the capital early, and then he made arbitrary decision, trained a new army, promoted Lu Xiangsheng, won one victory after another in the war against Jianlu, wiped out bandits, drew the Hetao as the territory of the Ming Dynasty, etc. These things made the emperor's power increase day by day. If it were ordinary things, the emperor's prestige at this time could indeed shock the ghosts and monsters.

But the salt tax is different, it really involves all kinds of people in the Ming Dynasty. Even in the army, such as Zu Dashou, in the court, in various ministers, etc., there may be interests involved. After all, the emperor is not the founding emperor, and his prestige is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, so he lifted the butcher's knife. If there is no prestige, there is no confidant whom he cultivated from scratch, I don’t know who will fall on him when he lifted the butcher's knife!

However, as the emperor said, the emperor personally fought for the land lost in the Wanli period, and eliminated the arrogant Jianlu, and made great achievements. Although the emperor's martial arts were not as good as Emperor Gaozu Chengzu, they were much stronger than other ancestors. With the other deeds, the emperor's power would be as powerful as the emperor. Moreover, in this battle to destroy the country, the emperor would definitely be able to promote a large number of legitimate upstarts in the Ming Dynasty. With these upstarts, even if the royal family and hereditary dukes and marquises, who would dare to rebel against the king?

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren's eyes lit up!

Emperor Chongzhen noticed his change and smiled slightly in his heart, knowing that Wen Tiren finally understood the importance of the imperial commander in person. If he was just like later generations, threatening several factory guard leaders and then allowing people to kill and kill to establish their authority, this emperor would be very easy to be.

In fact, being an emperor is definitely the most difficult science in the world. If one is not good, several of the previous emperors of the Ming Dynasty died strangely, which is an example. Emperor Chongzhen was careful about matters involving great interests, especially for the salt administration. He decided to take action after regaining Liaodong, and he would be more sure at that time.

These thoughts flashed through Emperor Chongzhen's mind, and then he saw Wen Tiren smiled confidently and said: "I have made a decision on the salt administration. When I come back from the imperial army in person, I will implement the new policy. I don't have to worry about the troubles of all kinds of people. One-size-fits-all approach will definitely make them unable to oppose it, and the people of the Ming Dynasty can truly enjoy the benefits of the new policy, and the treasury revenue will also increase greatly!"

Wen Tiren was stunned when he heard this, and then he felt ten thousand disbeliefs in his heart. You know, after he investigated the situation of the Salt Administration, his head was so painful that it was so painful. This situation was too complicated. He not only needed to implement the new policy to increase the treasury revenue, but also to reduce the obstacles to innovation as much as possible. To be honest, he had insomnia thinking about this for many nights.

But for Emperor Chongzhen, he said that one-size-fits-all approach would make everyone unanimous. Not only would the treasury revenue increase significantly, but the people of the Ming Dynasty could also enjoy the benefits of the new policy. Is there such a way?

Wen Tiren thought about this, and he couldn't believe it, but when he looked at Emperor Chongzhen and saw that he was full of confidence, he couldn't help but be very curious. He didn't know what ideas the emperor had come up with in a strange mind.

He felt that there was no such good solution, so he wanted to ask the emperor, what kind of new policy has so many benefits?

However, the emperor did not say that it was because the new policy could not be said in advance. After all, it would take several months to wait for His Majesty to return in person. If the news was leaked in advance, it would be bad.

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren held back his curiosity and did not ask questions. He immediately bowed and said, "Since Your Majesty has made a decision, I will prepare to personally enlist in Liaodong for all matters."

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he smiled and nodded. That's the best!

After Wen Tiren left, he also left Wenhua Hall and went to the Military Bureau and the Military Weapon Bureau to check the construction of flintlock guns and artillery, as well as the configuration and reserve of gunpowder. He personally checked and examined all these things.

Although Emperor Chongzhen had a chat group system and was suspected to be the protagonist, he was the emperor in person after all, and it was related to his own life. He was only allowed to succeed and not fail. This logistical matter cannot be ignored.

On the other side of the Beijing camp, the third batch of new troops were mainly flintlock spearmen and artillery battalions, and they had almost been trained. On this day, Mao Yuanyi, the general instructor of the new army, rushed to Wuying Hall to meet him.

As soon as the ceremony was finished, Emperor Chongzhen asked him with a smile: "According to the plan, the third batch of new troops will be subject to an assessment tomorrow, right?"

"Your Majesty, it's tomorrow's assessment. Those who meet the standards can fight the Qing Dynasty!" Mao Yuanyi hurriedly replied.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded after hearing this, and said, "Okay, then I will go to watch the assessment myself tomorrow!"

After hearing this, Mao Yuanyi looked a little hesitant. Seeing the emperor as if he was smiling, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I have been in the capital for a long time. If I continue like this, my body will be decayed. I am willing to lead this group of new troops to fight against Liaodong to repay you with kindness!"

Listening to the new army he trained to win wars again and again. He understood that Jianlu was at the end of his strength. If he did not go to Liaodong to make achievements, he would probably have no chance in the future. Therefore, he took this opportunity to ask Emperor Chongzhen for a fight.

The matter of the imperial commander's in-person expedition scheduled for next month has not spread yet, and Emperor Chongzhen naturally understood that Mao Yuanyi didn't know, so he smiled and said, "Okay, Mao Qing is ready and set off with me at the beginning of next month."

Mao Yuanyi was stunned at first, and then realized that the emperor decided to personally conquer Liaodong at the beginning of next month and he could go there with him. He was overjoyed and quickly responded.

As the preparations for the imperial army were carried out in person, the matter of his personal expedition of Liaodong finally spread in the capital. Then, Rong Zudashou, the general general of the capital camp, asked for a visit. Like Mao Yuanyi, he made a request to go to Liaodong with him.

Regarding Zu Dashou's request, Emperor Chongzhen shook his head and refused: "I have no intention of taking away the Jingying camp this time. Zu Qing is the general army of the Jingying camp, and the capital cannot leave."

The meaning was very clear. Zu Dashou had to stay in the capital, which disappointed him, so he proposed to resign from the position of general Rong in the capital camp. Even if he was a soldier, he was willing to fight for the emperor on the battlefield.

However, Emperor Chongzhen still refused. Zu Dashou was enough to stay in the capital.

What Emperor Chongzhen did not expect was that after sending Zu Dashou away, military generals and nobles came to ask for battle. They all expressed their passionate statements to sacrifice their lives for the emperor and the Ming Dynasty, shed their blood, and bravely kill the enemy, and return in a horse and a corpse.

This time, Emperor Chongzhen became surprised.

Back then, when Jianlu attacked the capital and surrounded the capital, few of these military generals and nobles were as passionate as they are today. Many of them were unwilling to pay for money, and they had to use the factory guards. Even so, some people instigated Empress Zhou’s father to cause trouble. Why have they all changed their temperaments and are so "the generals are not afraid of death"?

If victory can affect people's hearts, Emperor Chongzhen believed that at least the Ming soldiers in Liaodong were no longer afraid of the Qing soldiers and no longer had the fear of the past.

But Emperor Chongzhen would not believe that this victory could also affect the courage of these generals and nobles in the capital. These wastes that he used to enjoy in the capital, although they were named as military generals, but they had never even been on the battlefield, and they were still wearing corpses. This is a joke!

However, the fact is right in front of you. Many of these generals and nobles really have never been to the battlefield. Among these people, there are not only hereditary lords over 60 years old, but also half-boys who have just taken over the position of general, or playboys who are famous in the fireworks of the capital. Why do these people want to go to the Liaodong battlefield one by one?

Seeing Emperor Chongzhen's a little confused look, Fang Zhenghua, who had been with him, reminded the emperor about the intentions of these military generals and nobles.

Thanks to Ziqing Yurong for her reward!
Chapter completed!