Xiao Ruxun had never treated these assistants who had been tamed harshly.
In fact, in order to make these tamed officials work honestly, Xiao Ruxun even restored the salary of the officials to almost one-fifth of the Song Dynasty's.
The higher the official position, the higher the salary, but even a ninth-rank official would not be starved because of the salary.
Zhu Yuanzhang was born in a poor family. He felt that the officials should be able to eat their fill like him. The salary was given according to the basic physiological needs of people. They could eat their fill, but they could not eat too much. Besides eating, they had no money to do anything else.
He hoped that all his subjects were workaholics like him. As long as they worked, they would be satisfied. However, people were different. In addition to work, people also needed leisure and entertainment to relax their nerves. Zhu Yuanzhang did not consider this kind of consumer demand.
So no matter how many corrupt officials were killed, they could not kill all of them. Of course, this was because of the emperor's schemes and the financial difficulties of the court. But with such a low salary and no corresponding benefits, the officials did not have a good life.
Xiao Ruxun considered this, so after taming the officials, he gave them good treatment.
As an official of the Daqin, they did not have to worry about food, drink, or clothing. As long as they worked honestly, they could live a good life. Although there were only a few hundred or a thousand mu of land in their hometown, they still had to pay taxes, but at least they lived a good life.
For example, Wang Xijue, the Prime Minister of the Cabinet and the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, had a monthly salary of 60 taels of silver. This was purely a monthly salary and did not include the benefits of maintaining honesty. There were also various other miscellaneous rewards, such as rewards during festivals, summer benefits, winter benefits, and so on.
While at work, Wang Xijue's meals and drinks were taken care of, and his family would send him silk, oiled rice, and fish. As long as he didn't take the initiative to spend money, he could live a life in the capital without any expenses. Moreover, Wang Xijue's money was pure silver, not adulterated.
In the summer, the emperor gave them ice and cold drinks. In the winter, the emperor gave them silver and cotton clothes. When it was hot in the palace in the summer, there was ice to relieve the heat. When it was cold in the palace in the winter, there was charcoal to keep them warm.
Some small and cramped government offices in the capital were also demolished and rebuilt. They were bright and ventilated. The working environment of the officials was also greatly improved.
In addition to his monthly salary of sixty taels, Wang Xijue could also receive other benefits, which were about twice his monthly salary.
In other words, his monthly income was around two hundred taels of silver. It was not a problem for him to support a family, and it was more than enough for him to do some entertainment.
This was the highest level of bureaucratic treatment. Even a seventh-ranked county magistrate would have a monthly salary of ten taels of silver, and his treatment would be around twenty taels of silver. He would not have to worry about food and drink, and he would be able to support his family and satisfy all kinds of needs.
The lowest salary for the village head and the various low-level officials was at least three taels of silver, and they had more than double the benefits. No matter what, they wouldn't starve to death, and their lives were better than those of ordinary commoners.
When the objective environment for corruption doesn't exist, the problems that arise can be simply uprooted.
Only by relieving the officials of their worries would they be able to work honestly and be more resistant to bribery.
If everyone was like Zhu Yuanzhang, apart from eating, all they did was work. That kind of social state that was close to idealism was really ideal.
Therefore, although Zhu Yuanzhang used killing corrupt officials as a pretext to stabilize his power and position, and took the opportunity to eliminate dissidents, after killing so many people, he probably had doubts in his heart.
Of course, it was impossible to completely eradicate corruption.
There was no limit to human greed. The salaries of the officials in the Song Dynasty were so high, but they were still corrupt. At the same time, corruption was also a card in the hands of the Emperor. The anti-corruption card was always a good one, and it was always politically correct.
But as the officials of the Daqin, their salaries were much higher than when they were officials in the previous Ming Dynasty. Although they only received money, cash, or other property, such as silk and satin, precious jade, and delicacies, they could not even think about land.
They could only rely on the salaries allocated by the central government, and had no other income. Family members were not allowed to do business. If a large amount of money was found between relatives, regardless of whether it was subjective or not, they would be immediately dismissed, and then other matters could be discussed.
As for using their authority to help local relatives accumulate wealth, and then enjoy it in the local area after retirement, they had to ask the officials of the Investigation Department what they did for a living.
The Black King of Hell was not a joke. If they had something on you, the authority held by the Black King of Hell was not a joke. Those thousands of heads were not so easily chopped off.
They were defeated by the Emperor.
The officials were well aware of this, but they did not have the ability or the will to resist.
In this state, they had no chance of successfully resisting. Their days were not bad, so what else was there to think about?
In any case, Wang Xijue had no other thoughts. He only wanted to complete his mission and then spend his remaining years in peace.
So seeing the officials so restrained, Xiao Ruxun smiled and asked, "Was the food to your liking?"
Wang Xijue hurriedly put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, "The food was very delicious. We thank Your Majesty for your kindness."
After saying this, the four of them put down their bowls and chopsticks and were about to stand up to express their thanks. Xiao Ruxun reached out and held Wang Xijue down, then told the other three to sit down and not stand up.
"All right, all right, don't stand up so easily. Eat. People are made of iron and rice is made of steel. If you miss a meal, you will be very hungry. No matter how busy you are, you can't forget to eat."
After the four of them sat down again, Xiao Ruxun began to talk. "Eating is the most important thing in the world. Skipping a meal is a great torture for people. Even in this world, who knows how many people are still struggling in hunger. Every time I think of this, I can't help but feel pain in my heart.
But just now, when the Crown Prince was eating, there was still some rice left. I'm so angry. That brat has never suffered since he was young. I'm fighting a bloody battle outside, and he's hiding at home, eating and drinking well. In the future, I'll teach him a lesson. "
The four of them heard that something was wrong.
This... is the Emperor chatting with us?
The four of them communicated with each other with their eyes.
Wang Xijue's reaction was unprecedentedly fast.
"Your Majesty is right. This old official's grandchildren are also like this. They have been raised in luxury since they were young and do not know the suffering of the common people. They have the appearance of eating minced meat. This old official is also very anxious about this, but those children are very stubborn. Other than reprimanding them, I don't know how to teach them."
Wang Xijue had made a good start. Then, the other three also poured out their family troubles to the Emperor, and the atmosphere became harmonious.
"Every family has its own difficulties. No wonder the common people often say that even upright officials find it difficult to resolve family disputes. I finally understand. Even my family of four has troubles, let alone those big families. Alas, only when you raise a child will you know the kindness of your parents!"
Xiao Ruxun shook his head and seemed to sigh.
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