Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 316: The sharp kick
By the end of May, Emperor Hongzhi issued a decree to Liaodong. The Ming Emperor, mindful of the strong demand for horse trade among the three Jurchen tribes, specially opened a horse market in Liaodong, designating the 14th, 15th and 16th of each month as horse market open days. All relevant officials and the Governor of Liaodong were required to work together to ensure the safety and smooth flow of the horse market trade.

This decree from the Ming court made the three tribes of Liaodong ecstatic, but only the Aisin-Gioro family realized at this time how delicate the Ming emperor's mind was.

As a result, the Jurchens of the three tribes in Liaodong could only be grateful to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, not their Aisin Gioro family.

Chen Ce promised Zhu Houzhao that he would bring him to see the government collect taxes after the summer grain was collected this year.

When Zhu Houzhao saw the tax collectors from the government office kicking the rice baskets in the suburbs and the rice scattered all over the ground while the people did not dare to pick it up, he could not help but feel extremely angry.

"These government officials are going too far!"

Chen Ce smiled and explained to Zhu Houzhao: "If they don't do this, how will the local government support their salaries?"

In a government office, there were only two or three people who could actually receive salaries from the court, and the court had never considered the salary expenses of clerks and others outside the county government.

In other words, apart from the county officials registered with the Ministry of Personnel, the salaries of these non-staff personnel all need to be provided by the county government. Naturally, the county government has to find a way to get some extra income in order to pay the salaries to these people.

After listening to Chen Ce's explanation, Zhu Houzhao asked in confusion: "Why doesn't the court pay salaries to these people?"

Chen Ce shrugged and said, "The Ministry of Revenue's income is not enough. What else could it be?"

With the current annual income of the Ming Dynasty, it is barely enough to support the expenses of officials across the country. If the salaries of hundreds of thousands of clerks are added, the Ministry of Revenue will have a huge deficit, which will directly lead to financial collapse.

"Maybe one day when the country is very rich, we can realize what you said."

Zhu Houzhao asked: "Wouldn't the clerks at that time have bullied the peasants like this?"

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "Still not, but probably not so blatantly."

There were many shirtless children running around in the rice fields outside the city, with smiles on their faces. Zhu Houzhao asked curiously, "Why don't they go to enlightenment?"

Chen Ce said: "Without money, there are very few children in the Ming Dynasty who can truly be enlightened, and very few people in the Ming Dynasty can read and write."

The people Zhu Houzhao came into contact with were either rich or noble, so he had no idea about the situation at the bottom of the Ming Dynasty.

Around him, children of that age had the best time for enlightenment education, such as the grandson of Duke of England Zhang Mao and the grandson of Earl of Xinning Tan You.

The children of the powerful and wealthy can naturally enjoy top-notch educational resources.

But farmers’ children can only play and run around at this age. Is it because their parents don’t want them to learn to read and write?

No, because of poverty.

It is a blessing for a village to produce one or two scholars, so why is there always so much corruption in the Ming Dynasty?

In some remote villages, a village provides education for one child. When the child graduates from high school, can the village ignore his own relatives and help them build a fortune?
Zhu Houzhao seemed to be thinking about something. He sat on the ridge of the field and asked Chen Ce, "How can we make sure that they all get to read?"

"For thousands of years, it seems that only a small number of people can read and write."

Chen Ce said: "Yes, there are only a small number of people. If we want everyone to be able to read and write, the country needs to be richer."

"How can we become rich and powerful?"

Chen Ce looked up at the old farmers busy with farming in the distance and said to himself, "I'm helping you do these things."

Zhu Houzhao: “Ah?”

Chen Ce smiled and said, "You can't rely on farming."

“Let’s focus on both agriculture and commerce.”

Zhu Houzhao asked again: "Develop business? But this is difficult."

Chen Ce said: "Although it is difficult, we have to do it. In a country, there are always people who need to do these things."

"Then he will definitely be great!" said Zhu Houzhao.

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "He is just looking beyond this era to find out the shortcomings and fill the gaps of this era. He may fail. If he succeeds, he will be great. If he fails, he will still be despised by everyone."

"Then why does he still do it?" Zhu Houzhao didn't understand.

Chen Ce looked at Zhu Houzhao and said, "Young Master Zhu, remember, people should not be afraid of failure. As long as you think it is the right thing to do, you should always give it a try. Men should have the courage to forge ahead!" "For example... the eunuch Sanbao back then?"

Chen Ce thought about it and said, "Yes."

Zhu Houzhao: "But he is not a man."

Chen Ce: "You are just arguing!"

Zhu Houzhao chuckled, stood up and picked two large lotus leaves, put one on his head to block the sun, and gave the other to Chen Ce.

Chen Ce refused: "I won't wear it. I can't wear this green hat."

"What?"

Chen Ce said: "No reason, wear it yourself, it looks pretty good."

Zhu Houzhao pointed to the old farmers tending crops not far away and said to Chen Ce, "Little brother, they are all using farming racks. Those families without cattle can now cultivate the land efficiently."

"This is all due to your contribution to the Ming Dynasty."

"But they are grateful to the Ming Dynasty, not you. Don't you think it's unfair?"

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "I don't think so."

Not far away, the two brothers of the Zhang family, wearing two large lotus leaf hats, personally supervised the servants to collect taxes from the tenant farmers.

They also showed off to the people around them: "What's wrong with paying a little more grain? Your family was so poor before. If we two brothers hadn't invented the farming rack, wouldn't several men in your family be exhausted to death?"

"Aren't you grateful to us two brothers?!"

Zhu Houzhao was speechless and asked Chen Ce again: "Now, don't you think it's unfair?"

Chen Ce said: "A little bit."

He really didn't expect that the two brothers could use this method to motivate the farmers.

So since you invented the farming rack, you can ask more people to collect grain for you?

Zhu Houzhao chuckled and said, "I'll go and meet them!"

"go!"

Chen Ce followed Zhu Houzhao to the two uncles of the Zhang family who were bullying the people on the ridge of the field.

Ah? Prince?

Ah? Chen Ce?

These two guys are actually here too, it must be something bad, the Zhang brothers are very alert.

Zhu Houzhao bowed and said, "You two marquises have invented the farming frame for the country. I admire you very much."

Zhang brothers: "No problem."

What does this nephew mean? Is he here to help us become famous?
Zhu Houzhao said, "I wonder how the two Lords came up with the idea of ​​Dai Gengjia at that time?"

Zhang Heling put his hands behind his back, stared at the sky calmly, and said with a look of concern for the country and the people: "I can't bear to see the people suffer, so I racked my brains."

Zhu Houzhao said, "You two marquises have invented the farming frame. You must know how to farm, right? I want to see it."

Zhang Yanling looked fierce: "What are you looking at?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "Of course I'll watch you demonstrate farming yourself, otherwise what's there to watch? This thing is a magical tool invented by you that benefits the country and the people. You wouldn't... not be able to use it, right?"

The two brothers of the Zhang family: "..."

This nephew is nothing! He clearly has bad intentions!

(End of this chapter)