Episode 38
Since the beginning of the year, the issue of official salaries owed by the Ministry of Revenue has not been properly resolved and has become a huge problem hanging in the minds of many court officials.In May, the imperial court confiscated the property of several corrupt officials of the Yan Party. It originally hoped that the ill-gotten gains could be used to repay the salaries owed in the first half of the year. However, in order to rush to build the Emperor's Wanshou Palace, Yongshou Palace, Chaotian Palace, etc.After the completion of the Guan and Xuandu Guan, these funds were misappropriated in large quantities, resulting in less than half of the salary arrears being repaid.
Entering July, the situation was even worse.Thirteen provinces across the country suffered from disasters in many places, and there was no hope for the autumn harvest. The silver and grain transported by water could not be turned over to the Ministry of Household Affairs in the scheduled amount.This made the problem of salary arrears even worse. By the end of the year, the salary arrears of many officials in the capital had accumulated to more than half of the annual salary.
Against this background, the treasury was empty and the lives of officials became extremely difficult.Even in such difficult times, each official could only receive two buckets of rice, two liters of pepper and ten slings of copper coins at the end of the year as New Year's greetings.These meager supplies and currency are far from meeting the basic living needs of officials, let alone maintaining the normal functioning of their families.
In such a predicament, the gate of Guangyingku has become the focus of attention of all officials.Once this door is opened, you can imagine the disappointment and anger in the hearts of officials.They are looking forward to getting some substantial help from here to alleviate their current life difficulties.
The reality is cruel.The officials of the Thirteenth Cleaning Bureau shouldered a huge responsibility. They had to persuade everyone to understand the difficulties of the court, live in poverty and abide by the law, and live a peaceful year without worrying about the world.This is not only a political requirement, but also a moral responsibility.
Against this background, Li Qingyuan, the director of the Imperial College, led hundreds of officials to create a riot in the Guangying Treasury, which went all the way to the Ministry of Household Affairs and became a focus of attention both inside and outside the imperial court.Although Li Qingyuan's behavior was radical, it also reflected the officials' helplessness about the difficulties in life and their disappointment with the court.
And Hai Rui, an official known for his integrity, lived an extremely miserable life.His wife was less than three months pregnant, but Hai Rui had to sell the cloth her mother had knitted on the street in exchange for a meager income to support the family's basic expenses.
