The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 91: Annual Salary Three People Retreat
Originally, there were eighteen levels of officials in the Ming Dynasty, plus those who were not in the mainstream.

From high to low, the annual salary is 1,044 dan for the first rank, and 36 dan for the bottom rank.

Nowadays, it is worth about four to five hundred taels, or fifteen to sixteen taels of silver.

The actual salary that most officials can get is only a little more than half.

Sometimes less than half.

After Zhu Houzhao understood this, he was very generous.

Under the current plan, annual salaries will more than double.

It will no longer be replaced by treasure notes or other items.

Just like Emperor Wu’s Dragon Riders, all of them were paid out in real silver.

(In the martial arts world, don’t worry about whether there is enough silver. In history, by the middle of the Ming Dynasty, silver was not in short supply.)
As a result, the annual salary of officials from the first rank to the lowest rank was one thousand and forty-four taels, eight hundred and eighty-eight taels...sixty taels, and thirty-six taels of silver.

This is real money, without any other messy discounts.

If this salary were truly distributed to officials at all levels, there would no longer be many people saying that the salaries of Ming Dynasty officials are too low.

Not only that, Zhu Houzhao also decided that annual salary was just the basis.

If you have good performance, you will be rewarded.

"Your Majesty, if the salaries are paid at this rate, the court will need to pay nearly 10 million taels of silver per year, not counting military pay.

The court doesn't have so much silver and money!" Ye Qi, the Minister of Revenue, was horrified and had to speak.

The court's annual revenue last year and this year, converted into silver, was less than 20 million taels of silver.

The officials’ salaries were nearly 10 million taels of silver. How did the imperial court survive?
How can he be the Minister of Revenue?
There's no way to be that person.

"What are you worried about? How could the Ming Dynasty be without money?

Obviously, there is plenty of silver." Zhu Houzhao consoled her nonchalantly.

It was this sentence that made Liu Jian, Ye Qi and others tremble involuntarily.

Because they heard the strong murderous intent in these words.

Your Majesty is determined to kill all corrupt officials!
However, according to the salary payment situation, there is also the military cabinet's military reorganization.

If we don’t kill a lot of people next year, or if we don’t kill enough people, I’m afraid the court will really not be able to survive.

But they all knew that the late emperor had spent almost all of his treasury to support Emperor Wu's Dragon Cavalry.

Both the imperial court and the treasury were short of money.

"Okay, let's make it like this. Before the New Year, we will announce the new salary increase and inform all Ming officials.

It will also allow the officials of the Ming Dynasty to have a happy New Year." Zhu Houzhao said happily.

Have a happy new year, and then slaughter after the New Year.

Liu Jian and others sighed in their hearts.

"Oh, right, the imperial court doesn't have much cash right now, and neither do the other places.

It will be really difficult to pay salaries in January next year.

However, the gold, silver and treasures I obtained from the Jiannu will be brought to the capital tomorrow.

There were about 200,000 taels of gold and 16,0 ... taels of silver.

Half of the gold and silver was given to the Ministry of Revenue and sent to various places to be distributed as salaries to officials.

The cabinet and the Ministry of Revenue should handle the corresponding matters." Zhu Houzhao said something that made Liu Jian and others happy.

With this money, many things will be easier.

At the same time, they once again deeply felt His Majesty's determination to do great things and he didn't even care about money.

Half of it was directly distributed to the Ministry of Revenue.

As expected, many of the other half will enter the military cabinet.

There is also the issue of salary.

None of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, not even Taizu and Taizong, had such a thing.

Your Majesty is not afraid of failure, nor is he afraid of what to do if the money runs out.

He wanted the Ming Dynasty to become even more powerful.

This kind of fearless spirit and dedication to the country could not help but move even those who had experienced the ups and downs of officialdom for a long time.

This is also one of the reasons why they did not resist too much and cooperated wholeheartedly in the face of various radical edicts from the emperor.

No matter what, those who can get to this point all have a heart that cares about the world to some extent.

The imperial edict regarding salaries was soon officially issued.

In the capital, the officialdom, which had been shrouded in fear for more than half a month, began to rejoice.

Many resentments towards the emperor disappeared.

December 22nd.

The final plan of the Cabinet, the Censorate, and the Six Ministries on reviewing the performance of officials was also presented to Zhu Houzhao.

According to this plan, the Censorate would immediately increase the number of officials on a large scale.

The six departments will also need to add a lot of officials.

After all, this requires an annual review of the performance of all civil servants in the Ming Dynasty, and it would not work without sufficient manpower.

The assessment of officials is divided into several aspects for comprehensive evaluation.

Finally, give three evaluations of the officials.

There are three levels: upper, middle and lower. Simple and direct.

The lightest punishment is demotion, and all circumstances will be investigated to see if there has been any corruption, bribery, or abuse of power.

If the rating is medium for three consecutive years, it will be downgraded at best.

Priority will be given to promotion and annual salary will be doubled.

Zhu Houzhao read it carefully, although he felt some parts were complicated.

But he still felt it was good and could be implemented.

It doesn’t matter if you have some problems, any physical condition can be improved slowly.

"Let's do it this way. Let the Ministry of Personnel quickly arrange officials.

All officials of the Censorate must leave for their respective places before April next year," said Zhu Houzhao.

"Yes." The Left and Right Censors of the Censorate Li Hui and Wang Zongyi, as well as several Chief Secretaries of the six departments, were all shocked.

This amazing power was in their hands. They were eager to do something about it right away.

“The power has been given to you, but are you doing it well? Are you being corrupt or abusive?

It depends on you.

I am warning you, and I will send people to keep an eye on you at all times.

Whether the officials you review are worthy of their titles is also a matter of great concern to you.

Do you understand?" Zhu Houzhao said seriously.

To ordinary people, it still sounds like they are not being given any face.

But the ministers had long been accustomed to and accepted it.

Your Majesty has this kind of personality and treats everyone the same.

They don't care about face or not.

Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all military grace.

The Cabinet, the Censorate and others left to get busy.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and felt a lot more relaxed.

The beginning of the new policy, including the Military Cabinet, the Two Factories and One Guard, the Censorate, and officials' salaries, has all been completed.

All that remains is to wait for its official implementation next year.

I can finally relax a little.

Zhu Houzhao was happy and expectant, and remembered something.

"How is Liu Banban and the two Cao Banban's retreat going?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

"Your Majesty, the power of heaven and earth is boiling in the place where Eunuch Liu and Eunuch Cao are in seclusion, but there is no movement elsewhere." Liu Xi said immediately.

Three days ago, Liu Jin and Cao Zhengchun from the Imperial Household Department and the Eastern Depot, who had sorted out the situation, went into seclusion almost at the same time.

I have made up my mind to achieve a breakthrough before the New Year and give Your Majesty a gift.

It also strengthened the prestige of the Imperial Household Department and the Eastern Depot.

There is a huge difference between being a grandmaster or not.

"It's so slow. I remember it only took me less than one night to recover." Zhu Houzhao frowned.

"Your Majesty has a noble appearance and is unrivaled in the world. No one else can compare to you." Liu Xi complimented sincerely.

Facing such an emperor who is at the pinnacle of grandmaster level.

Eunuchs like him had already surrendered wholeheartedly, with all respect and admiration.

"Where is Da Cao's partner? Did he say when he would have a breakthrough in seclusion?" Zhu Houzhao asked again.

"Eunuch Cao hasn't said anything yet." Liu Xi said truthfully.

"Don't put any pressure on Da Cao Banban. Tell him not to worry and just take it slow." Zhu Houzhao said with concern.

"Yes, I'll go right away." Liu Xi said.

West Factory.

When Liu Xi told Zhu Houzhao what he had said, Cao Youxiang was moved and said, "Your Majesty, I really don't know how to repay you for your concern and kindness.

Eunuch Liu, please report to His Majesty on my behalf and tell him that I will never let His Majesty down."

Although I don't like this godson of Liu Jin.

But considering that he follows His Majesty, he deserves to be called eunuch.

"Yes, I will definitely bring it there." Liu Xi lowered his head and said in a humble manner.

After all, he was one of the three most trusted eunuchs of the emperor, and his status was not enough to qualify him to be on equal terms.

Of course, it is much better than before. At least I don’t have to call myself “little one” anymore.

As soon as Liu Xi left, Cao Youxiang's face became extremely serious.

He was full of dissatisfaction towards Liu Jin and Cao Zhengchun.

"Yu Huatian and Xichang, you just watch and develop according to the plan. Our factory will be in seclusion." Cao Youxiang looked at Yu Huatian on the side and said firmly.

"Are you sure, Mr. Factory? We can't just fight for a moment." Yu Huatian said calmly and coolly.

"Oh, how could our factory master be weaker than those two guys Liu Jin and Cao Zhengchun?
Although Your Majesty comforted me and told me not to worry, how could I let Your Majesty down?

Moreover, your majesty’s imperial power is now second only to that of Taizu and Taizong.

Their trust in us far exceeds that of Taizu and Taizong.

The Western Factory is not necessarily weaker than the Eastern Factory.

It’s enough for our family.” Cao Youxiang said with a confident smile.

"That's good." Yu Huatian felt relieved. After a moment's hesitation, he said with a cold and arrogant calmness, "Those with great power are bound to have omissions. The next actions of Jinyiwei and Dongchang will definitely have many flaws.

The Western Factory supervises the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Factory, and it may not be impossible for it to surpass the Eastern Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard in power.

Only those with short-sightedness would think that the West Factory is inferior to the East Factory.

As long as the factory owner understands, that’s good.”

"Hahaha, well said.

Yu Huatian, you are indeed smarter than Cao Shaoqin. "Cao Youxiang praised.

Yu Huatian did not respond, as if he agreed or was too disdainful to say anything.

It's just that he is too cold and arrogant.

Cao Youxiang snorted in his heart, feeling a little dissatisfied, but there was nothing he could do.

Yu Huatian and Cao Shaoqin have both followed Your Majesty for several years and are both trusted by Your Majesty.

As the deputy supervisor of the East and West Factories, given His Majesty's character, this is not to monitor and check him and Cao Zhengchun.

More to help them.

The key is that His Majesty trusts these two people, and they have a relationship with the ancestor.

As a result, neither he nor Cao Zhengchun could treat their other subordinates the same way.

He can only be regarded as a real deputy.

Anyway, given their age and strength, it would take time for them to threaten him and Cao Zhengchun.

After arranging other matters, Cao Youxiang asked Yu Huatian to inform His Majesty while he went into seclusion.

(Please subscribe and give monthly tickets, thank you for your support.)
······
(End of this chapter)