Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 81 I, Ma Wenxiang, have a method

Back in the palace, less than two hours later, after settling Su Qing'er and Sun Miaoran in, Ma Wenxiang reappeared outside the Wuying Hall, pacing back and forth.

They waited for most of the day until Zhu Yuanzhang left.

Only then did he hear Zhu Biao's voice from inside the hall: "Why is the Empress Dowager here again? Has something happened this time?"

Upon seeing Ma Wenxiang again, Zhu Biao naturally thought of many things.

After all, the timing of the Empress Dowager's arrival was too coincidental. The first time could be said to be a coincidence, but the second and third times could only be described as premeditated.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Ma Wenxiang gave an awkward laugh, then handed over the medicinal food he had personally prepared. "Your Highness, these are some ordinary, delicious snacks that are good for the stomach and intestines and very beneficial to the body."

"Your Highness, why don't you take a bite first? It's sweet, crisp, soft, and crunchy. You don't have to do anything. Just enjoy a little bit whenever you have free time, and you'll benefit greatly."

"He who takes a bribe is bound to be obligated to serve it."

"If Mother doesn't explain things clearly, how dare I eat and drink so casually? This is a lesson Mother taught me before: never eat anything given by strangers, otherwise it could be very dangerous."

"Your Highness, have I said these words before?"

Ma Wenxiang weakly pointed to himself.

Zhu Biao glanced at him, and Ma Wenxiang gave an embarrassed smile again: "I might have really said that."

"However, Your Highness, this time, it is truly an urgent and important matter. I would never dare to deceive Your Highness in the slightest, and it is very likely a matter of national importance in the court."

Ma Wenxiang described the situation as serious enough, hoping to get Zhu Biao to take it seriously at this moment.

While processing the memorials, Zhu Biao made a gesture of agreement, which reassured Ma Wenxiang, who then continued speaking.

Then.

He then slowly explained the matter of the imperial court's taxes.

Zhu Biao, upon hearing this, showed not the slightest surprise, as if it were all perfectly natural.

"The increase in taxes was indeed the work of the imperial court, and no one was profiting from it privately. Your Majesty should know that many things have been done this year."

"After the investiture ceremony, the imperial examination was held again, followed by the conferment of titles, and then the Northern Expedition."

"After the Northern Expedition, there are still various arrangements for those who have passed the imperial examinations and become officials. Every single one of these matters concerns the fate of the nation and can affect the destiny of our Great Ming Dynasty."

The national treasury was originally quite full, but it was spent like water, and after these major events, there was not much left.

If taxes are not increased, what is the solution?

Moreover, the tax burden had already been reduced to an extremely low level at the beginning of the dynasty, and the slight increase now is a move made out of necessity by the dynasty.

My mother previously went to the outskirts of the capital to hold the Naqing Silkworm Ceremony, which was also to encourage women in the countryside to make textiles, and it was also an act to fund the national treasury of our Great Ming Dynasty.

These matters and government affairs cannot be slowed down in the slightest, and they absolutely cannot be stopped.

Surely the Empress Dowager is aware of some part of this?

After listening, Ma Wenxiang opened his mouth, but really didn't know what to say.

If it were at the end of a dynasty, one could confiscate property to amass wealth and alleviate the burden on the national treasury.

But now, during the founding years of the nation, even among a group of ministers who followed the emperor.

They began to seize land to establish their families and businesses, and at least for the time being, under Zhu Yuanzhang's supervision, they were still quite restrained.

In addition, the Central Plains had long suffered from accumulated problems, and the South was only slightly stronger. Moreover, a large amount of wealth had already been plundered by the Northern Yuan Dynasty and taken directly back to the grasslands.

Therefore, the court's move was merely to replenish the national treasury and reclaim what belonged to the Central Plains, which seems to be unproven in any particular context.

Zhu Biao's statement was correct, and the court's actions were even more correct.

Ma Wenxiang felt a tightness in his chest. Not only were the common people suffering, but the officials were suffering as well. Even the Zhu family was not living a life of extravagance. It could be said that everyone in the world was suffering.

If the problem were not scarcity but inequality, Ma Wenxiang could offer some constructive suggestions. However, given the current situation, there is no solution whatsoever.

When the national treasury is short of money, the only solutions have always been to increase revenue and reduce expenditure.

Ma Wenxiang had originally intended to keep a low profile, but seeing the scene before him, it seemed there was no way to remain discreet. So he spoke up, "What if we could directly earn a large sum of money?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao paused slightly as he looked at the memorial.

Zhu Biao had some understanding of Ma Wenxiang's personality, another "empress dowager," and knew that she was not the kind of person who spoke carelessly.

So he glanced at him first, as if to see what he planned to do next and what kind of words he would use to persuade the Crown Prince.

"There has been a method for making refined salt since ancient times. I have a method to improve it further, so that it can be made into a royal product and sold throughout the world, thus reaping a large amount of silver."

"I first saw this method in an unnamed ancient book within the Ma family."

Ma Wenxiang made up an excuse on the spot.

Zhu Biao gave him a deep look, but didn't press the matter further. Instead, he nodded slightly and then said as if he believed him, "Then I will trouble Mother to reproduce this method."

"If it can be implemented within the palace, it will be better to promote it throughout the world. Having a name and a justification for it will be able to persuade the ministers in the court."

"What does Mother think?"

"Does His Highness the Crown Prince agree?"

"First, reveal the method for making this refined salt, then we can discuss the rest."

Zhu Biao's tone remained extremely calm, but Ma Wenxiang undoubtedly saw the hope in it, and immediately nodded vigorously.

Zhu Tianzi was a competent emperor.

Ma Wenxiang had never doubted this point, which was why he hadn't planned to reveal these ways of making money before.

After Empress Ma's body was changed, the situation changed to some extent, but Ma Wenxiang still planned to take things slowly and steadily.

Only with these methods of making money can something be considered valuable, and one method after another is gradually being introduced.

Only when his value is realized can sustainable development be achieved, rather than just a one-off transaction.

So many predecessors throughout history have already demonstrated Ma Wenxiang's abilities.

Good fighters have no illustrious feats.

Once you've lost your usefulness, even if you're a high-ranking official or a confidant of the emperor, you'll still meet a bad end when you leave.

Even among the meritorious officials from the founding years, some made mistakes and could be killed without consequence, while others were wiped out and their families exterminated simply because of changes in imperial power.

From the perspective of the Zhu family and the royal family, it is understandable, but Ma Wenxiang is not a member of the royal family.

He's just an ordinary citizen.