Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 197 Lao Zhu’s experiences and news!

It is more than four hundred miles from Jinling to Suzhou.

Lao Zhu and his group walked at a leisurely pace.

"This cement road is really well built."

Sitting in the carriage, Lao Zhu sighed: "I have never sat in such a comfortable carriage in my life. I didn't even dare to think about it before!"

Even if the road is paved with stone slabs, the surface is not polished smooth and is still bumpy.

In addition, the original carriage did not have any shock absorbers, so it was naturally very bumpy.

"It's all thanks to your wisdom, sir, that our Ming Dynasty has such good roads and such good carriages!" Yoshigaki greeted him.

Old Zhu laughed and scolded, "Stop talking nonsense all day long. This road was built by our grandson, and the carriage was also built by our grandson's manufacturing bureau. What does it have to do with us?"

Yoshigaki smiled and said, "Master is a virtuous man, God has given you a grandson like this."

"I am able to achieve what I have today thanks to the master's protection and teaching."

"So, in the end, isn't it all thanks to the master's wisdom?"

Old Zhu glared at him and scolded him, "You only know how to say nice things to make me happy all day long. Do you know that this is a treacherous act recorded in the book?"

Yoshigaki just kept smiling and didn't say anything.

The corners of Lao Zhu's mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

It seems that although he called Yoshigaki a "treacherous villain", he was actually very happy in his heart.

The carriage stopped near the post station. Old Zhu got off with the help of Ji Yuan, and saw someone coming forward to greet him.

"May I ask if you would like to have a quick meal or stay in a hotel?"

Jiang Li looked at the visitor with a flickering gaze.

Old Zhu walked over and asked, "Can your post station still provide a place for merchants to rest?"

The man laughed and said, "It was not possible before. The post station only provided food, lodging and horse changes to officials passing through along the way."

"Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took over the government, he has reformed the system."

"It is said that the post station only receives passing officials and is idle most of the time."

"Postmen are unable to do other work, which is a waste."

"So all post stations in the world were allowed to receive passing merchants."

"First, it will ensure that the buildings and personnel of the post station will not be left idle and wasted."

"Secondly, it is also an income for us."

"In the past, the imperial court had to allocate money to the post station every month. Now, not only does it not need to, but our post station, in addition to the expenses of receiving officials, can also make a sum of money and hand it over to the imperial court."

"Everyone is happy too, after all, they can all get a share of the profits."

"Don't worry, our prices are absolutely fair and we will not cheat anyone."

"However, we must also make it clear in advance that the post station has the obligation to provide services to officials first."

"If any officials come and there are not enough rooms, you and your guests will have to give them up."

"We will return all the money you paid for the room."

"If not, then you can just rest assured."

Old Zhu was slightly stunned.

This is a good idea.

In this way, the imperial court saved the expenses of maintaining post stations, and the food, lodging and horse changes of officials along the way were also solved.

The people at the post station would not be idle most of the time, and traveling merchants would also be guaranteed food and lodging during the journey.

After all, the post stations were deep into the official roads of the imperial court, and there were clear regulations on the distances between them.

But there are no such things in private inns.

If there is no inn for dozens of miles ahead, the merchants can only rest in the wild.

This is also something that traveling businessmen often encounter.

Our grandson is really smart and kills two birds with one stone.

Old Zhu then went on to ask the postman other questions, and the man was also very talkative.

"This cement road goes directly from Jinling to Suzhou, and then to Songjiang Prefecture, Jiaxing Prefecture, and then south to Hangzhou Prefecture, Shaoxing Prefecture, and Ningbo Prefecture."

"The road is wide and flat, and the carriage can run on it without any bumps at all."

"Sir, you came here by carriage, so I'm sure you have deep feelings about this. I won't say more."

"Since this road was built, there has been an endless stream of merchants passing by along the way!"

"The scale of our post station has also been expanding again and again."

"If it were in the past, we really wouldn't be able to accommodate so many people at once."

While talking, he led Lao Zhu to the lobby of the post station and sat him down at an octagonal table.

The guards patrolled everywhere vigilantly.

There was an obvious hint of surprise in the postman's eyes.

Looking at the postures of these people, one always feels that they are guards protecting some high-ranking official on his travels, rather than merchants doing business.

But the other party did not show any identification documents.

The postman suddenly remembered that he had not asked any questions. He just judged that they were traveling merchants based on their clothes.

At this time, he hurriedly asked, "Sir, are you an official? If so, please take out your official badge and verify the records before I can provide accommodation for you."

Old Zhu shook his head and smiled, "That's not the case. We are just merchants doing business."

He gave a look, and Jiang Yu quickly took out a stack of money from his pocket. They were all new banknotes of 100 wen each, tied in bundles of 100 each, and there were five bundles in total.

It was enough for the one or two hundred people to eat and stay tonight. The postman took the money with a bright smile, and his original suspicion disappeared.

If the other party was really an official, there would be no reason for him to pay himself and not allow the post station to provide free food and accommodation.

He must be a traveling merchant without a doubt.

He was so alert, probably because he was used to staying in private inns.

I looked around to avoid encountering any shady shops.

But this is the official post station of the imperial court, what could go wrong?

"Sir, please have a good rest. I will ask the kitchen to prepare some wine and food." The postman was about to leave when he was stopped by Old Zhu again.

"You just said that the scale of the post station has been expanding again and again. What's going on?"

"I remember that except for a few government officials, the rest of the postmen who came to work at the post station were conscripted civilian laborers."

"If the post station is expanded, won't the number of laborers to be recruited increase greatly?"

The postman smiled and said, "Of course the number of people will increase, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has reformed the system of corvées. From now on, there will be no unpaid corvées in the government offices, and the same applies to our post station."

"Those who come to work at the post station are all wealthy."

"To be honest, this is a lucrative job, and everyone is scrambling to get it."

Old Zhu was surprised.

He left after Zhu Yunhuan returned to Nanjing and was unaware of the subsequent policy changes.

In Lao Zhu's opinion, the number of officials in various government offices added together is quite large.

We can clearly conscript the people to do labor and work for the government for free, so why do we have to spend money to hire them?
In this case, wouldn’t the imperial court be bleeding profusely?

Although the imperial treasury is now full due to the collection of commercial taxes, this is not the way to spend money!

Old Zhu felt a little heartbroken.

But on second thought, according to what he just said, the post station was not losing money, but making a profit.

If this is the case, it can be barely acceptable.

As they were talking, several people in official uniforms came in, showed their badges, and said, "Tax Commissioner, checking taxes. Do you have any tax receipts?"

Old Zhu winked at Yoshigaki, who understood and immediately asked someone to take out a thick stack of money and handed it over.

Unexpectedly, before he could say anything, the tax officer's face suddenly changed and he shouted angrily: "What? Are you trying to bribe the tax officer? Do you know what crime this is?"

A flash of appreciation flashed across Old Zhu's eyes, which disappeared in an instant. He smiled and said, "This is for the officers to drink."

"No need for that!" The tax officer said sternly, "If you don't collect it, I will immediately arrest you for bribing an official."

Old Zhu motioned for Ji Yuan to put the money away, and said, "Sir, you are honest and dedicated to your duties. I admire you very much."

"There is no one in our tax department who is corrupt or accepts bribes." The tax department official said proudly, "Why don't you show us your tax payment receipts and open all the goods on the carriage for our inspection."

Old Zhu smiled and said, "What the officer said is absolutely right. Xiao Jiang, take a few officers with you."

Jiang Lin hurried over and pulled the officers led by the Commissioner of Taxation to an empty corner outside, then took out the badge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and shook it.

The officer's eyes widened and he almost cried out.

Fortunately, Jiang Li was quick to cover his mouth and said, "Jinyiwei is on a secret mission and must not disclose secrets."

The officer nodded vigorously, then quickly took the other officers and left.

Jiang Li quickly returned to the room and bowed, saying, "Master, it's done."

Old Zhu nodded slightly.

The postman laughed and said, "These tax officials are incredible. They are all ruthless and don't give face to anyone. I don't know how many conflicts have arisen because of this during this period. If they continue like this, I'm afraid there will be a big mess sooner or later."

Old Zhu asked: "How do you know this?"

The postman sneered: "Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has opened up business licenses, anyone can do business as long as they pay taxes legally. This is actually a good thing."

"But, gentlemen, think about it, the merchants who did business in the past were all powerful figures in various places, the best of the best."

"People like you are able to do business outside, such as traveling around the country, and doing business. They must be capable people and can handle all kinds of relationships."

"If you have the ability, you can certainly make a lot of money."

"Now the tax department needs to make things fair. No matter who you are, you have to pay taxes legally."

"As long as you pay taxes, you can do business."

"The local gentry will see others coming to take over their business and pay the same taxes. Will they agree?"

"If everything is leveled, there will be no more profit to be made. Will the clerks in the government offices of various places agree to this?"

"We are all smart people. We all know that this is definitely not possible."

"Your Highness has good intentions."

"We are all citizens of the Ming Dynasty, and we should be treated equally."

"That's the truth, that's right."

"But things in this world are not completely reasonable."

"If the gentry and clerks are not satisfied, they will cause chaos."

"In my opinion, the Ming Dynasty's tax bureau will be abolished sooner or later."

Old Zhu laughed and said, "Could it be that His Majesty, the great Ming Crown Prince, would be afraid of local gentry and mere clerks?"

The postman shook his head and said, "Of course I am afraid, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to govern the Ming Dynasty and keep the world stable. He can't just sit there and watch the world fall into chaos."

"To be honest, sir, I have a piece of news. I wonder if you have heard it?"

His voice gradually faded away.

……

(End of this chapter)