After Li Zhen finished speaking to Zhu Yuanzhang, Li Shanchang, who had been silent for a long time, swayed and stood up. As the earliest member of the ruling family, Li Shanchang had been watching the changes in the court for some time.
So many people think that Lao Li is just a decoration on the shrine, occupying an empty position and having no effect. Looking at the future Ming Dynasty, it will be a world dominated by young people. But today Li Shanchang is going to tell everyone why Jiang is old.
hot.
Lao Li has been observing for a long time and has heard Zhang Ximeng say it several times, so he has already become confident.
"My superior, I believe that since the Qin and Han dynasties, the taxation of countries in all dynasties has been based on agriculture. Whether it is Ding tax or land tax, the word "Ren Ding" cannot be avoided. Only in Zhao and Song Dynasty, the amount of commercial tax was quite large, exceeding
The land tax was obtained, but Zhao and Song spent a huge amount of money, which is not worth mentioning."
"Why did the past dynasties only collect agricultural taxes and not commercial taxes? The veteran thinks it's because we can only collect agricultural taxes but not commercial taxes... If you don't believe it, take a look at the court. In addition to the Ministry of Household Affairs, are there any other yamen responsible for this?
No!"
Li Shanchang said with a smile: "Prime Minister Zhang, you should be aware of this. With your support, we set up a branch office and separated a tax department. But even so, I think it's not enough."
Zhang Ximeng nodded with a smile, "I would like to listen to Prime Minister Li's opinion."
Li Shanchang smiled and said: "Before the Ministry of Household Affairs collected land tax, it was the local government, which compiled households and people, established a yellow book, cleared the land, and determined the fish scale book. These two books were used to collect land tax. How does the tax department collect taxes? Now the tax department
Tax cards were set up in various waterways of the Yangtze River, canals, and Ganjiang River. Officials were also arranged in various cities and major markets. Then there were the shipping companies and salt fields, which received a lot of commercial taxes. However, merchants operated and bought and sold.
There are still too many links in our dealings that are not managed.”
"If the imperial court can't control it, the merchants will have to do whatever they want, but the Ming Dynasty doesn't allow them to do whatever they want, so these people miss the Yuan Dynasty. Especially in Peiping and Datong, they have frequent exchanges with the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty, so there are so many letters.
Contact...Zhang Xiang, how do you think I can solve it?"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Xianggong Li shines thousands of miles away, and he can see clearly. His long-term neglect and vague treatment of the case will cost us a huge price, so we must be cautious."
Li Shanchang nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, the case that was supposed to be handled as smuggling grain and rice and endangering the security of the Ming Dynasty turned into rebellion. Although it was still murder, the warning to the world was completely different."
Li Shanchang paused and then said: "Prime Minister Zhang, if I remember correctly, you have advocated the establishment of a Ministry of Commerce a long time ago. Do you have this idea?"
Zhang Ximeng said: "Indeed, it was just that everything was waiting for improvement and the entire Ming Dynasty had not yet turned around. I thought the time was not right yet."
Li Shanchang said with a smile: "Up to now, Zongzheng Temple has been very effective in managing the royal industry. The tax department has been running for many years, and the situation has been very clear. The division of provinces has begun to take shape... I thought we should be prepared. Please
Superior Holy Judgment!"
Zhang Ximeng nodded, and then he and Li Shanchang faced Lao Zhu together. At this moment, Li Zhen also stood up, and then Zhu Sheng actually joined him. The four veterans bowed together to plead.
At this time, Prince Zhu Biao, who was standing next to Zhu Yuanzhang to observe the government, actually stood up.
"Father, although I don't understand government affairs, I think that our Ming Dynasty is to introduce the old and bring forth the new, to wipe out thousands of years of accumulated abuses, and to revitalize China. There should be changes. The original six-ministry structure is no longer applicable, and there have been many reforms in recent years.
Today, it is time to obey nature and people and completely reform the Ming Dynasty!"
Li Shanchang, Zhang Ximeng and others were startled and said together: "I second my opinion!"
Before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Wang Guangyang, Luo Furen, Mao Gui, Hu Weiyong, and even Yang Xian, etc., all bowed together and saluted.
"I second the proposal!"
Good guy!
Up and down, everything is the same view.
Even Zhu Yuanzhang could only say nothing.
This is why the emperor hates his ministers forming cliques for personal gain.
Zhang Ximeng and Li Shanchang, they got together, they looked at each other, they had the same opinion, and they basically made an 80% decision. The reason is very simple, even Lao Zhu couldn't slap two people in the mouth at the same time.
And this time Zhang Ximeng also invited Li Zhen, Zhu Sheng, and even Zhu Biao to join in the fun.
With this lineup, Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to agree or not.
Hu Weiyong, Yang Xian and others also understand this truth. If they don't follow the flag and shout, they still want to eat shit!
Things have come to this day, Zhang Ximeng made little plans, and finally pulled Lao Zhu into the ditch. After the royal family invested in industry and commerce, the entire Ming court finally had a share of business in terms of official structure design.
In fact, many people are resentful of the ancient obsession with agricultural taxes and neglect of commercial taxes.
He felt that the depletion of finances and taxes was an important reason for the fall of the Ming Dynasty. Correspondingly, he felt that the gentry and merchants colluded together and committed heinous crimes that were unforgivable. It would be better if no one was left alive...
It’s just that there is the most basic and simple common sense in this issue... If you want to collect commercial taxes, you must have this yamen, with corresponding talents, collection methods, tax quotas, and national laws and regulations... There is no such thing
If you want to tax the whole thing fairly and reasonably, it is simply impossible.
In fact, it's not that merchants don't pay taxes, it's just that they don't pay the taxes to the treasury.
Local tycoons, officials at all levels, feudal princes and clans, guarding eunuchs... everyone reached out to get money, take benefits from businessmen, or simply let their own family members go into business.
And if they can get benefits, they will naturally let go. Businessmen can do whatever they want, even if they smuggle food to the enemy and thieves, they will not hesitate.
Therefore, this story is always incomplete simply from the perspective of the "Eight Imperial Merchants". In fact, this was a flaw in the design from the beginning, which eventually developed into an uncontrollable situation, even swallowing up a country.
If you ask Tianqi to collect commercial taxes or Chongzhen to do this, it would be easier to kill them.
It simply can't be done. The ancestral system is there, from top to bottom, and there are so many people who have benefited from it. Who is willing to do this for you?
If you have to force him to do it hard, there is no other way but to let the dragon return to the sea and the emperor to go into the water...
In fact, this flaw was exposed from the beginning, but Lao Zhu didn't understand it!
For example, when Zhu Yuanzhang in history dealt with Hu Weiyong and Li Shanchang's case, he mentioned one crime... Trouble with Japanese!
Many people think it is ridiculous, and many historians have also verified that it is a completely false accusation. It was just to eliminate Li Shanchang and others.
It seems that it makes sense to say so.
There is no doubt that Zhu Yuanzhang became a tyrant with a cold nature. In order to kill heroes, he did not hesitate to fabricate charges and frame them up.
But if I say a few more words and mention the issue of smuggling, it seems to be different.
Did Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong's men smuggle goods to Beiyuan and Japan? Did they profit from it?
There should be!
After all, at the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there were many wastes waiting to be renovated and supplies were extremely scarce. At this time, smuggling would definitely gain huge benefits. Whether it was Hu Weiyong or Li Shanchang, if they did not do it, they would not be able to stop the people below.
How should I be convicted at this time?
smuggling?
Maybe it’s not strong enough!
Look at the national law...it's not really a serious crime!
Then let’s go to Japan!
Calculate it as rebellion!
With things going so smoothly, there seems to be another reason.
Li Shanchang switched sides in time this time and sided with Zhang Ximeng, even resolving his own future. As long as nothing unexpected happens, the old man may enjoy his old age in peace.
According to the common opinions of Li Shanchang and Zhang Ximeng, Ming Dynasty will add a Ministry of Commerce.
In this way, the fiscal and taxation structure of the Ming Dynasty will be completely changed.
First of all, the Ministry of Household Affairs is in charge of the household registration of land and acres and has overall responsibility for civil affairs.
Under the Ministry of Household Affairs, there is a whole system of envoys, prefects, state prefects, and county magistrates in various places to manage people and land.
Then there is the Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry of Commerce is responsible for all economic activities other than agriculture. From large businesses to workshops to small shops to storefronts, all must be registered and approved by the Ministry of Commerce.
The Ministry of Commerce is also connected to the chief envoys and local government offices at all levels. At this time, it is necessary to add officials in charge of commerce to the local government offices and implement it at all levels.
In addition to the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce, there is the Taxation Department... All land taxes, commercial taxes, customs duties, and salt taxes are all attributed to the Taxation Department, which is responsible for collecting and paying them into the national treasury.
According to the current rules of the Ming Dynasty, the national treasury is still under the Ministry of Revenue. In other words, although the Ministry of Revenue is no longer responsible for tax collection, the Ministry of Revenue can manage the national treasury and still has amazing power. It is in a dominant position among the finance and taxation ministries.
If you want to continue the reform, you need to add a Ministry of Finance to be in charge of spending money, and transfer the treasury to the bank... But it is not needed at the moment. After all, Li Shanchang is in charge of Zhongshu Province, and there are several people who are involved in political affairs. These can be done
Take responsibility for things.
In other words, Li Shanchang benefited the most from this adjustment. He not only consolidated his position, but also successfully expanded the scope of his management, and finally regained a little dignity belonging to the left prime minister.
It can be seen with the naked eye that Lao Li has become younger.
Faced with this result, even if he is as strong as Lao Zhu, he can only do nothing.
Once the ministers have reached a consensus, Emperor Hongwu will act as a decoration. There is no way, you alone cannot defeat so many of us.
But how could Lao Zhu give up so easily? He said solemnly: "Mr. Li, Mr. Zhang, of course we agree with what you said... But we don't understand what crime should be punished for selling rice to the enemy and betraying military intelligence."
How can we be reckoned with? Officials are corrupt and smuggle goods. How should we be reckoned with?"
At this time, Zhang Ximeng bowed and said: "Replying to Your Majesty, corruption, bending the law, smuggling and tax avoidance will naturally be severely punished. The most severe punishment must be compared. If smuggling to fund the enemy reaches a certain amount, the Yi tribe will be punished! I thought this amount
It’s ten thousand guan!”
Li Shanchang was a little startled, "Xiang Zhang, is it too much?"
Zhang Ximeng said: "Prime Minister Li, one of our soldiers, from head to toe, including weapons and tents, is less than fifty guan. Ten thousand guan is enough to equip two hundred enemy soldiers!"
Li Shanchang was stunned and nodded silently.
Zhu Yuanzhang said flatly: "This conviction is very fair! It will be written into the imperial edict and will be customized forever!"