The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 90 You can't love the court while living off a guaranteed salary.
What is bond issuance?
Issuing bonds is essentially borrowing money!

Under normal circumstances, few people are willing to lend money to the imperial court.

Because everyone was afraid the imperial court wouldn't return the goods!
Faced with a powerful imperial court, most methods of debt collection were ineffective.

The imperial court rarely used collateral when borrowing money.

Therefore, Yunzhen, who was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, thought of raising grain in Jiangnan for this disaster relief. However, he did not expect that his good second brother would actually let the powerful and the scholars buy disaster relief bonds.

"Your Highness, what if someone objects?" Yunzhen asked in a low voice.

Shen Ye shrugged and said, "When the imperial court encounters difficulties, issuing national bonds is a way of borrowing money."

"The so-called loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, if officials and the powerful cannot even do this much."

"Why should the imperial court give you preferential treatment? And why should you be exempted from corvée labor and taxes?"

"We can tell these people that they can't only love the court when they're living off a guaranteed salary!"

At this point, Shen Ye patted Yunzhen on the shoulder and said, "The court is only borrowing money; it's not like they won't pay it back."

"The salt tax will be paid back next year, plus interest."

"Moreover, since all the property rights have been purchased by the nobles and gentry, there is no need to worry about the imperial court not repaying the money."

"Therefore, most officials will not object."

Yunzhen thought about it carefully and found it to be very reasonable.

This method is not only more peaceful than confiscating property, but it also seems to generate income faster.

At this point, Shen Ye turned to Yun Zhen and said, "By the way, you can add another clause to the sale of these disaster relief bonds: if you don't want to exchange these bonds for silver, you can use them to offset the salt tax next year."

“People who are in urgent need of money can sell these government bonds to salt merchants.”

"Furthermore, we should categorize officials and the powerful into different classes. For example, an ordinary scholar only needs to purchase ten taels of silver worth of disaster relief bonds."

"As for a first-rank official, given their abilities, I don't think ten thousand taels is a big deal."

Yunzhen didn't think it was a big deal to ask a high-ranking official to come up with 10,000 taels of silver.

After all, truly clear-headed and insightful big shots are rare indeed.

"Your subject obeys." After careful consideration, Yunzhen felt that the Crown Prince had indeed come up with a highly feasible plan.

Firstly, this disaster relief method is not so cruel; it's just lending money, not defaulting, and there's even interest.

If you need it urgently, you can try to cash it in with the salt merchants.

After all, it can offset the salt tax.

Secondly, high-ranking officials and scholars dared not refuse to buy it.

If you don't buy it, then we'll take away your tax exemption right. I'm asking you, are you scared?
As for the third method, it involves purchasing in tiers based on official rank, with higher-ranking officials buying more and lower-ranking officials buying less.

The main selling point is that it's affordable for everyone.

This is a complete plan, a plan to use next year's money to do things this year.

"Your Highness, I will go back and arrange this matter immediately, and issue the disaster relief bonds as soon as possible." Ma Qi had figured out the key point and had even more respect for the Crown Prince.

As the saying goes, it's hard to manage a poor household, and Ma Qi, the Minister of Revenue, encountered just such a situation.

Although the Ministry of Revenue had a considerable annual income, it spent even more.

Not to mention Emperor Qianxi's continuous military campaigns, the annual rewards he spent were also considerable.

There are also the salaries of officials at all levels, and relief funds for various natural and man-made disasters...

It can be said that the Ministry of Revenue was also in dire straits, constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul.

This time, the Yellow River flood was truly distressing for him, because he no longer even had the ability to dismantle the wall!

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince came up with this idea.

Although this method is somewhat difficult to implement, it is at least feasible. Shen Ye nodded and said, "Lord Ma, your Ministry of Revenue should complete this matter as soon as possible."

"By the way, when you send people to print these government bonds, you must make sure to keep accurate accounts."

"Also, print eight characters on the back of every single government bond."

"Provide disaster relief and save the people; be loyal to the emperor and love the country!"

Yunzhen was practically begging on his knees as he listened to Shen Ye's instructions. This second brother of the Crown Prince was getting more and more cunning, like a hornet's nest! He'd even taken lending money to a whole new level.

Just based on these eight words, not buying it would be a huge sin!
Ma Qi clasped his hands and said, "Your Highness is wise!"

Seeing that he had said enough, Shen Ye picked up his teacup and said, "Lord Ma, although His Majesty entrusted me with the lead in this matter, the Ministry of Revenue is still in charge of the actual handling."

"I hope that Lord Ma can live up to the Emperor's expectations and collect the national debt as soon as possible."

"By the way, if anyone objects, Lord Ma, please tell Father that sometimes we don't need to be so polite to those who are disloyal to the emperor and unpatriotic!"

Ma Qi was speechless upon hearing this.

You were appointed by His Majesty to be in charge, and now you're just dumping all the work on me so easily. Who can I complain to?

Unfortunately, the higher the rank, the more powerful one can exert influence, so he had no choice but to obediently agree.

After seeing Ma Qi and Yunzhen off, Shen Ye, having nothing else to do, had someone bring him a map of the inner city.

In his view, with the introduction of disaster relief bonds, the two million taels of silver could be raised quickly.

Of course, this two million taels of silver won't be used all at once, so it shouldn't cause any delays.

It's time to choose a location for my own house!
Just as he was pondering which place would be more livable, Shi Jingrong walked in with a happy expression, wearing a pair of gilded bracelets on her wrist.

Shen Ye had never seen these bracelets before, but they made his eyes light up.

Because the gold bracelet is also inlaid with several gemstones.

"Where did you come from?" Shen Ye asked casually.

Shi Jingrong smiled and said, "Today I went to the Empress Dowager's place to deliver the mahjong tiles you mentioned, and I also played a few rounds with her."

"The Empress Dowager was in a good mood and rewarded me with these bracelets."

"I heard from the Empress Dowager that this was a gift from the Grand Empress Dowager to her back then."

Looking at the pair of bracelets and thinking about the ivory mahjong tiles he had acquired with money from the Imperial Household Department, Shen Ye suddenly realized that this was still the fastest way to make money.

"By the way, the Empress Dowager said to find an auspicious day to let Consort Nian enter the palace first," Shi Jingrong said. "Then we will arrange Consort Cao's entry ceremony."

Nian Xinyue is a beauty, but her rank is not high, so there is no need to hold any ceremony for her.

Cao was different; she was a concubine appointed by Emperor Qianxi, and a formal ceremony was to be held for her.

When Shen Ye heard Shi Jingrong mention Nian Xinyue, he couldn't help but think of those captivating eyes. His heart warmed, and he blurted out, "Tomorrow is a good day!"

Shi Jingrong, who was happily fiddling with her bracelet, suddenly felt a little reluctant to speak.

Your Highness, are you really something? Are you thinking that the bolder the person, the more productive the land will be? Is your emotional forest so eager for peach blossoms to bloom?
She stared intently at the Crown Prince, a pang of sadness welling up inside her.

However, remembering that she was the Crown Princess, she silently reminded herself that she could not be jealous.

In the past, when there were many beauties in the Crown Prince's palace, she was not particularly jealous.

But what's wrong with me now?
Just as she was feeling a little upset, Shen Ye had already reacted and immediately said with a smile, "Even if tomorrow is a good day, we can't let Nian Xinyue come over."

"When she comes to Yuqing Palace is up to Jingrong."

As they spoke, Shen Ye pointed to the map and said, "Father has agreed to let us move out of the palace. Take a look and see where our mansion will be built."

Although Shi Jingrong knew that the Crown Prince was changing the subject, she was still pleasantly surprised to hear that she could leave the palace to live.

　The second update for today is here! Please support me, everyone!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)