Sign in: The female supporting character in the book disrupted the heroine's glory

Chapter 590: Killing the donkey

Prime Minister Lin Juhui couldn't help but smile meaningfully when he saw Luo Chengyi's scene.

He looked at Jiang Youzhen, and Jiang Youzhen happened to glance at him inadvertently and met his gaze.

Jiang Youzhen was surprised to see the smile in Lin Juhui's eyes. She naturally had no friendship with the Prime Minister, but she didn't expect that the other party would show kindness to her.

Jiang Youzhen quickly bowed again. Among all the people present, except for the newly-minted Jinshi, whose official position could she compare with? Naturally, she had to keep her tail between her legs. It never hurt to bow more.

Lin Juhui nodded, his expression still gentle. Someone nearby noticed the exchange of glances between the two and couldn't help but feel moved.

This Prime Minister is usually not easy to get along with, why does he seem to look at Jiang Youzhen differently today? Is he trying to win him over?

Especially Luo Chengyi, his eyes narrowed slightly. Could it be that the Prime Minister also had that idea?

He quickly racked his brains to think about the women in the Prime Minister's house and felt that there should be no girls of the right age!

Could it be the eleven-year-old old girl? But she is the legitimate daughter! And she is still young!

Luo Chengyi was already thinking countless thoughts in his mind, but the Prime Minister over there just spoke.

"The champion is not only a brilliant writer, but also has a good understanding of current affairs. The tea promotion policy was proposed by the champion, but it has only benefited a small number of people so far. However, it has achieved initial results and has increased the tax revenue of the Ministry of Revenue of the imperial court."

Everyone immediately stopped talking and reminiscing about the past, and the Qionglin Garden suddenly became much quieter. They all sat upright and pricked up their ears.

The newly-appointed Jinshi have not yet entered the court, but they must understand current affairs.

Jiang Youzhen was just a scholar at the time, but he had come up with such a good idea, which caused an uproar among the scholars.

There were many different opinions at the time, but in the end they were divided into three factions.

The conservative faction believes that Jiang Youzhen is not qualified to interfere in state affairs. If he interferes in state affairs, it may cause new problems, so it is better to maintain the status quo.

The radicals believed that Jiang Youzhen's proposal was feasible and that it was not a bad idea for the court to try it out. Sticking to the old ways was not an option and the court needed a new policy.

Finally, there are the neutral factions, who think that Jiang Youzhen’s approach is feasible, but it also has drawbacks. That is, the problem is not the lack of income but the inequality, and they are afraid of causing dissatisfaction among other merchants.

The court debated this for a long time, but the emperor overpowered his ministers and insisted on having his own way. The final result showed that this strategy was feasible.

From the moment the new policy was promulgated, everyone from officers and nobles to common people and merchants engaged in heated discussions, because this policy was closely related to people's livelihood.

Everyone, including Jiang Youzhen, was confused about what the Prime Minister meant. Was he trying to praise her? However, the Prime Minister's next words made everyone nervous.

"There are enough new docks opened by the court now, and the dock tax revenue is also tending to be stable. Are the merchants who have made profits almost all the same? So, Mr. Zhuangyuan, do you think it is feasible to relax the tea quotation policy in the future?"

This? Isn't this killing the donkey after it has done its job? Those merchants have just tasted the sweetness, and the merchants who raised funds later probably just barely made back their investment, and you want to loosen the tea quota? Will those merchants agree?

Everyone thought of this immediately. The policy of using tea to attract merchants to donate and build a new wharf and wharf commercial street was proposed by Jiang Youzhen, so it was natural that Jiang Youzhen could not have failed to think of this.

If the government really releases the power, it will inevitably lead to dissatisfaction among the merchants. Will they let Jiang Youzhen go? The other merchants will naturally be happy and will only be grateful to the court. What does it have to do with Jiang Youzhen?

Moreover, many of the donations proposed by Jiang Youzhen did not meet the requirements, and the merchants who were stopped outside had long been jealous of those merchants who made money. However, at that time, money was the only thing that mattered, and even if they were dissatisfied, they did not dare to speak nonsense about the court and the emperor, and at most they would curse Jiang Youzhen.

Now that they have been let go, they are still scolding Jiang Youzhen. Isn't this making them the target of public criticism and a nobody?

Jiang Youzhen stepped out again, bowed, and then shook his head affirmatively, "Not feasible for now!"

"Oh? Why?" asked the Prime Minister.

Of course not, you're going to get scolded? Let them come and kill you! She still wants to save her life!

Of course, that's not the way to say it. In a split second, Jiang Youzhen had already thought of his excuse.

"How dare I discuss state affairs?" Jiang Youzhen was a little embarrassed.

"Everyone present here today is a court official, and it is your duty to offer advice to the court. Why do you speak nonsense? You can speak freely!" The Prime Minister stroked his beard, waved his hand, and said.

"Then I will venture to speak."

Jiang Youzhen said directly: "Of course it is because the border trade has not been opened yet. Although the court has strictly prohibited border trade, there will always be fish that slip through the net. As a great country like us, we can't bear to watch the people outside the border suffer, so we are willing to let them go."

She paused and said, "Many people are willing to take risks just for a small profit, not to mention that many daily necessities such as tea are in short supply, so the profits are even greater.

However, if they want to get it outside the border, they have to exchange it for a lot of money. It is not easy to get, and it can also cost them a lot of financial resources. But once it is released, everyone will be sent to the border, and the supply will exceed the demand, and their minds will be more unstable. "

Everyone nodded when they heard this. Once all the goods were released and the goods inside the pass were saturated, the merchants would focus on the goods outside the pass. At that time, the goods outside the pass would only need a small amount of money to buy them because they were no longer rare.

"But wouldn't this be more conducive to the stability of the border? If the needs outside the border are met, they won't be concerned about the interior. If the people outside the border live a prosperous life, they won't have any ambitions."

At this time, the newly-appointed Jinshi Shang Yinsheng raised a question, which was also the question shared by everyone present.

"They have satisfied their demand for tea, but what about salt? What about other commodities? They want them all. Should we release all of them? This goes back to why we cannot open up trade."

Jiang Youzhen was so excited talking that he forgot where he was at the moment.

"Everyone, all the countries and tribes outside the Great Wall are very jealous of our Great Fortune Country. Why? Because their land is barren, the climate is bad, and supplies are extremely scarce.

They are a nation on horseback, all of them are brave and good at fighting. They have been indoctrinated since childhood to covet our country. They are jealous to the core, and even if they have supplies, they cannot easily change. "

Jiang Youzhen spoke passionately, especially about the Northern Ming Kingdom, which was completely full of wolfish ambitions.

Everyone nodded, and the Prime Minister agreed, "That's right! They have been harassing the border frequently in recent years, that's why!"

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Following a shout, a bright yellow figure walked over, followed by eunuchs, palace maids, and guards, a large group of people.

A bright yellow canopy followed closely behind, and the man in the lead was full of vigor.

Jiang Youzhen and others quickly stopped talking, and without taking a closer look, she followed the others out to pay her respects.

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

"Everyone loves you!"

His voice was like a loud bell, his tone was smiling, and he sounded like he was in a good mood.

"Everyone, please take your seats!" The emperor sat down at the top, taking in everyone below.