The most arrogant in history

Chapter 630 Interest groups are formed.

The Minister of Personnel laughed and said, "That's why some county magistrates resigned and went into business. Because these days, it's easy for businessmen to make money."

Ye Kun shook his head and said with a smile: "Then, should we increase the salaries of grassroots officials? Or should we double the amount of food?"

Wu Qiong shook his head: "After the emperor introduced sweet potatoes and potatoes, grains were piled up everywhere, and the price plummeted. Even if the salary doubled, it would not be enough to cover the daily expenses of officials."

In the past two years, total grain output has increased too rapidly.

Because the country is stable and farmers live and work in peace and contentment, a large amount of previously barren land has been reclaimed. The promotion of new agricultural tools and scientific farming has also improved efficiency and increased per-acre yield.

So there was a surplus of food.

Sang Buyi smiled and said, "The Emperor said that the government should constantly change according to the situation. I think the salaries of officials should also be changed now."

Ye Kun asked: "Do you mean to give out money directly?"

In the past few years, the salaries of grassroots officials below the county magistrate, including the county magistrate, have been directly distributed in the form of grain. After the local grain is collected, the salaries of officials at all levels are directly deducted. The remaining amount is then sent to the local government warehouse.

If grassroots officials had more food than they could eat from their salaries, they would take them to the market and sell them for money.

In this way, the court would save transportation costs.

Only officials above the rank of county magistrate were paid in cash based on the discount on grain.

This is still following the practice of the previous dynasty, where the salary is a certain amount of shi...

In fact, a county magistrate could earn 20,000 kilograms of rice or wheat every year, which was not a low amount in ancient times.

It’s just that the price of grain has plummeted, and when converted into silver, it’s a bit... horrible.

Sang Buyi smiled and said, "I think it would be better to just give the money directly."

Wu Qiong and the Minister of Personnel have the same meaning.

Ye Kun asked: "If we give money directly, taking the county magistrate as an example, how much should we give?"

The Minister of Personnel whispered: "I think two taels of silver per month is more appropriate..."

Ye Kun's eyes widened: "Two taels per month, twenty-four taels per year, isn't that a twenty-four-fold increase?"

The Minister of Personnel sighed, "We don't have that much. I'm afraid it won't be enough. The county magistrate also has to support his family. Some grassroots officials really have a miserable life and can only rely on their family and children to do some small business to make a living."

Ye Kun asked calmly: "As the saying goes, nine out of ten officials are corrupt. Aren't these grassroots officials corrupt? Isn't there anyone to treat them to a meal and a drink?"

The Minister of Personnel whispered, "Your Majesty, Mohist disciples are all over the country, and there are people in all walks of life, keeping an eye on grassroots officials. Any corruption will be investigated. The current administration is very clean, and there are very few people who dare to commit corruption.

There are also secret investigation teams and financial audit teams sent out by the court, so that grassroots officials have no money to be corrupt and no courage to be corrupt. "

Sang Buyi also proved a point: "In the past six months, we have strengthened the administration of officials. We have investigated and punished more than 3,000 grassroots officials across the country. The deterrent effect is very strong. Indeed, no one dares to take bribes and pervert the law."

Wu Qiong added: "Half of today's grassroots officials are junior officers who have retired from the army. These people are able to endure hardships and are very motivated. They have no complaints about this salary. However, such a low salary cannot last long."

Ye Kun thought about it and sighed, “That being said, it is still too outrageous to increase the salaries of grassroots officials by more than twenty times all at once.

How about this: the salaries of grassroots officials will still be calculated based on the amount of grain, but doubled. They will also be given three catties of brown sugar, five catties of refined salt, ten catties of sesame oil, and twenty catties of pork every month as an additional living allowance. "

By this calculation, it means 40,000 kilograms of grain, 36 kilograms of brown sugar, 60 kilograms of refined salt, 120 kilograms of sesame oil, and 200 kilograms of pork every year.

It is enough to cover the basic expenses of a county magistrate's family.

As a county magistrate, no matter how honest he was, there would always be some benefits, such as entertaining local gentry, eating and drinking at official receptions, and wasted grain...

The Minister of Personnel smiled flatteringly and said, "Your Majesty is kind and cares about grassroots officials, but this little money, I'm afraid..."

Ye Kun waved his hand to interrupt:

"I think this is enough. If anyone else wants to resign, let them resign. There are a large number of retired officers in the army and a large number of college students in schools, waiting to become officials!"

Even if grassroots officials don't make money, they are still better than ordinary people.

You have status and face, and you don’t have to do physical work.

Therefore, Ye Kun is not worried about no one becoming an official.

The Minister of Personnel dared not say anything more and nodded in acceptance of the order.

Wu Qiong said, "Your Majesty, the salaries of grassroots officials have been increased. What about officials above the rank of county magistrate?"

Ye Kun asked back: "Master Wu, every time I start a project, you cry poor. So now I am increasing the salaries of officials, do you have the money? Can it continue?

You have to know that when you increase salaries, everyone is grateful. But once finances become tight and you reduce the salaries of officials, they will curse you. "

"Your Majesty is right. I have considered this as well."

Wu Qiong nodded: "But the finances are abundant now, and it is expected that they will increase in the future, so it is still possible to increase the salaries of officials appropriately."

Ye Kun asked Sang Buyi what he meant.

Sang Buyi said, "You can increase it a little bit, otherwise, the salary of the county magistrate will exceed that of the county governor. It is hard to justify that the son is older than the father."

Ye Kun sighed: "Then let's increase the salary step by step, but the increase cannot exceed double! And make it clear that the grain will be converted into silver. If the court is out of money in the future, we can just give out grain."

When it comes to increasing officials' salaries and benefits, these old guys are surprisingly unanimous!

This vested interest group has already been formed.

Sang Buyi smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise. Let's go back and study it and come up with a plan. Please make your decision."

Ye Kun nodded and saw the guest off.

The palace is busy preparing for another Spring Festival.

Ye Kun took Jiang Yourong, Xie Baochan, Liu Yuejuan and others to check around, urging everyone to do it themselves, clean up, or make some handmade paper-cuts to decorate the festive atmosphere.

Yu Lian Chunhua was the most diligent and even brewed wine herself to drink during the New Year.

Dai Xi took the palace maids and made new clothes and new shoes for the princes and princesses.

Jiao Nu was very busy. She was doing year-end inventory and checking the financial statements of daily chemical department stores in various places. She also hired a professional accountant under Wen Axiu.

Wen Axiu and Liu Hongyu are also very busy, participating in the planning of the Grand Theater's New Year's Eve Party.

Wei Caiqin is in charge of women's work across the country, as well as work at orphanages and nursing homes, and is also very busy.

Only Madam Hongyun was idle, playing mahjong and shouting all day long.

Seeing Ye Kun, Madam Hongyun stood up and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, come and play for a while, I'm going to the toilet."

Ye Kun was very troubled. He sat down to take his place and said to the maids at the same table, "Your Madam plays cards every day. Has she won any money from you?"

The maid smiled and said, "It's all the reward from the Queen. She deliberately lets us lose every time. If we lose, the Queen doesn't want any money."

Ye Kun nodded and said with a smile: "That's fine, as long as you can make the queen happy."

After playing a few rounds, Madam Hongyun came back after washing her hands and sighed:

"Your Majesty, I'm actually tired of playing cards. I just have nothing to do and want to kill time. How about you let me go for a walk, or assign me some errands?"