Zhao Pu listened carefully, and until Zhao Chengzong finished speaking, his old face did not change much, but his sharp eyes still showed a little deep thinking.
Zhao Chengzong, whose mouth was dry, couldn't help but take a sip of tea, looked at his old father carefully, and gradually fell silent. In fact, Zhao Pu had already noticed some of the chaos in the local area when he was still in office.
However, at that time, the situation was still good, Zhao Pu was also focusing on maintaining stability, and tax payments were normal, so it was inevitable that he would be a little more lenient in supervision. He only targeted the key points and did not carry out any profound reforms.
In the past two years in Jiangyin, I have quietly observed and studied the governance, land, and taxation of counties and townships. I have gone deep into the grassroots and have a deeper understanding. The biggest feeling is that the government deceives the superiors and conceals the truth, and the situation is different from that of the past.
It's a little more serious. Perhaps it's because the Han Dynasty has been in constant turmoil in the past few years, and external conflicts have triggered internal conflicts, or maybe it's just that conflicts that were hidden in the past gradually surfaced...
Especially when it comes to taxation policies, there are too many unscrupulous officials. If Chuzhou is as Zhao Chengzong said, there is still some bottom line and propriety. And the land south of the Yangtze River is already rich and is an important financial and taxation center of the Han Dynasty. It often attracts the attention of the court.
The local bureaucrats did not dare to go too far and could barely maintain the situation.
However, what about other states? What is the situation like in those remote states and counties with poor mountains and rivers? It is obviously not optimistic. You must know that most of the local bureaucrats who dealt with them in the past were wanton, preyed on the people, and abused businessmen and the people.
Belongs to poor, remote and backward areas.
Poor mountains and rivers produce unruly people, and they also produce unruly officials and ruthless officials. Bureaucrats in economically developed areas can still maintain some dignity, and there are more resources available for them to seize. The people under their control are more tolerant and more risk-resistant.
Only in this way can a relative balance be achieved.
The rectification of officialdom and the fight against corruption and evil that started last year have not only caused the chaos that has already occurred, but the positive side has also been reflected. A large number of corrupt officials have been eliminated and a lot of local bugs have been eliminated. It is very good.
The earthquake shocked both inside and outside the country and alleviated class conflicts to a certain extent.
However, Zhao Pu also realized that today's local status quo needs to be changed. Local bureaucrats must be restricted and cannot be allowed to exploit and exploit unscrupulously or even "lawfully". With the current social development trend, problems will arise sooner or later.
of.
At present, the affluent areas can still be appeased, but if we continue to let things go, I am afraid that it will not be long before even these wealthy towns will be made angry by the greedy powerful nobles, bureaucrats, and landlords.
The key issue is how to manage. The traditional methods of combating corruption, eradicating evil, and censorship supervision are bound to have limited effects. A campaign-style purge like the one that just happened obviously cannot be used as a routine method.
After thinking about it, even if there are still some shortcomings, it is a good solution to change the system, eliminate the old drawbacks, improve the system loopholes, restrain the powerful through regulations, limit the power of the bureaucracy, and protect the farmers.
The social productivity of the Han Dynasty today has made great progress compared with previous dynasties. Whether it is agricultural, animal husbandry, fishery production, or commercial development, its vitality far exceeds that of previous dynasties.
Smelting, textile, and agricultural and animal husbandry technologies have also improved significantly. Even though food and clothing are still a big problem that has long plagued the Han people, the possibility of survival has indeed improved, and the opportunities available to the bottom-class people have also become relatively better.
If there are too many, no matter how difficult it is, there is still the way to go to sea and explore the Southeast Asia.
However, with the rapid development of society, the rate of decline of the powerful people who occupy the main dominant positions is also beyond imagination, almost synchronizing with the speed of social development and progress.
Under such circumstances, even if the government needs to be extended for the sake of governance, reform is inevitable. There are some things that the subordinates can compromise and muddle through, but the emperor cannot.
After pondering for a long time, Zhao Pu suddenly gained some understanding and understanding of Emperor Liu's restructuring measures that were very popular in Beijing. Why did Emperor Liu still have to bear the pressure of those nobles and bureaucrats and risk offending the powerful landlords in the world when he was old?
We must carry out fiscal and taxation reforms. In the final analysis, we still don’t want to allow local governments to act recklessly. The obvious flaws in the current system of Dahan must be improved.
In the past, we didn't move because it wasn't serious enough and we could still get by. Now, if we want to go to war, we have to change. Nowadays, even if we don't let it go, even if we maintain the status quo, as time goes by, its disadvantages have become more and more obvious.
Disasters and conflicts will only gradually deepen and intensify until they can no longer be suppressed and completely shaken the rule of the imperial court.
On the other hand, only Emperor Liu had the ability and prestige to promote reforms regarding these matters. If the problems were left to future generations, it would be too difficult to change them.
Not to mention if it is too far away, even the prince who has been in power for thirty years would be hard-pressed to achieve anything. In Zhao Pu's eyes, the prince is a leader who can follow the rules and regulations, follow the current policies and systems, and follow the existing track.
Although we are moving forward, it will be difficult for him to make major changes.
Emperor Liu's original intention of reform was for the sake of the country, the country, and future generations. How much of it was truly considerate and caring for the people? This needs to be a big question mark.
While thinking, Zhao Pu gradually formed some ideas in his mind. Although many of them were his personal judgment, he already had a preliminary plan in mind. The rest must be made after returning to Beijing and talking with Emperor Liu.
District office.
In the past, Emperor Liu was so elusive. Now, after two years, Emperor Liu and the court have not seen any major changes. It cannot be fully understood by staying in Jiangyin and receiving some news. You must be cautious.
Of course, from the beginning to the end, Zhao Pu believed that Emperor Liu had called him back to the capital to entrust him with a heavy responsibility, otherwise he would have been so full that he would be summoned from thousands of miles away to torture his old bones.
"Approximately how much fiscal and taxation do you have at your disposal in Chuzhou each year?" After a long time, Zhao Pu came back to his senses and asked again.
After hearing the question, Zhao Chengzong hesitated a little, but still told the truth: "About 300,000 yuan..."
"Haha!" Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu couldn't help but smile with emotion: "The tax amount set by the imperial Taoist priest for you is only 310,000 yuan! Isn't this tax system changed?"
Hearing this, Zhao Chengzong was silent. In fact, local income comes from a wide range of sources. In addition to the two taxes and regular taxes, the increasingly prosperous commercial tax also accounts for a large part. In addition to the output of job fields, some industries operated by the government such as salt, iron, and tea
, cotton, sugar, etc., even if a large chunk is cut off by the Financial Secretary, the rest is enough to eat and drink.
In terms of local finance and taxation, there are too many opaque places, and there are too many cases of corruption and corruption. But here in Chuzhou, at least there is no such thing as some places that cleverly create names and find ways to get money and food, even through extra apportionment.
There is also a limit.
However, even so, such a situation is somewhat difficult to accept for Zhao Pu, who has served as prime minister for a long time. His position is naturally at the center. He wants to maintain the authority of the imperial court. In the past, he may have been somewhat conservative in administrative supervision.
compromise, but there is a limit, and once the bottom line is exceeded, it will not be tolerated.
Raising his hand and nodding in the air, Zhao Pu wanted to reprimand him, but when the words reached his throat, he didn't know what to say. It was not because Zhao Chengzong was his son, nor would it be the same for any other state official.
After thinking about it, Zhao Pu said seriously: "You have to be prepared for two things. First, straighten out Chuzhou's past financial and tax accounts, and immediately ban those affairs that are not in compliance with regulations and laws; secondly, Chuzhou has
The land must be clarified, whether it is cultivated land, cotton fields, or fruit trees, it must be recorded in detail!"
Upon hearing Zhao Pu's instructions, Zhao Chengzong's expression immediately became solemn. He looked at Zhao Pu, hesitated to speak, and finally said: "Father, there is something I have always wanted to ask!"
Looking at him, Zhao Pu said: "You want to ask why I was recalled to Beijing?"
Zhao Chengzong nodded: "Exactly! Could it be..."
"You guessed it right!" Zhao Pu nodded simply: "If nothing happens, Your Majesty will probably re-enable me!"
Zhao Chengzong's expression changed slightly, and he said with some worry: "I have also heard about what happened in Beijing. If we go ahead with it, I'm afraid it will be very difficult and make people hostile!"
Facing Zhao Chengzong's concerned gaze, Zhao Pu smiled faintly: "In my life, I have been targeted, hostile, criticized and slandered, haven't I? Now that I am over sixty years old, I have long been indifferent to worldly affairs, and I am afraid of some secular disturbances! Furthermore, if
I'm unknown in Jiangyin, and that's it for the rest of my life. Now that His Majesty has called me, but there is a mission, can I still refuse?"