Chapter 1826: Coercion and inducement, trying to make a fool of yourself
Hearing Changsun Wuji say "the remnants of the south of the Yangtze River", Xiao Yu's beard and eyebrows twitched, but he remained silent.
This sounds unpleasant, but his position is the same as that of Changsun Wuji. Commercial taxes and other such things must not be collected. Huating Town has already made the Jiangnan family complain endlessly, and a large amount of profits are wasted every year. If all businesses pay taxes...
...then there is no way to live.
Cen Wenwen and Changsun Wuji were at loggerheads.
In fact, no one can do anything about this kind of dispute, and everyone can make a point.
The most fundamental truth is that all the merchants and goods in the world are in the hands of the aristocratic families, and the aristocratic families are the foundation of the empire's stability. Therefore, no matter how powerful the emperor is, he cannot ignore the stability of the country and forcefully seize the benefits from the aristocratic families.
Even Emperor Sui Yang, who was arrogant and domineering and considered himself the best in the world, did not dare to do this. Even if he did not do it, the country would be destroyed...
Watching the two people arguing indifferently, His Majesty Li Er remained silent and sipped the tea slowly. When the two of them were so dry and exhausted from the argument that no one could do anything, His Majesty Li Er knocked on the table and said slowly: "
Fang Jun obtained the right to open a trading port in Japan, has everyone heard about this?"
Seeing that the emperor changed the subject, Changsun Wuji and Cen Wenwen stopped arguing. They took a breath and sat silently.
The prince showed his face and said: "Fang Jun is really capable in doing things. He was very good at attacking things in the east and west. There was a turmoil in Goguryeo and he hid his navy, but Fang Jun turned around and ran to the Japanese country to occupy an island.
Gold mines were discovered, and then troops were sent to quell the Japanese civil strife, and they were given the right to open trading ports. From now on, when Tang goods were sold to the Japanese country, they only had to pay taxes in accordance with the regulations of the Japanese country, and immediately enjoyed the same treatment as Japanese merchants. Think about it.
It is absolutely impossible to impose heavy taxes on the goods of the Tang Dynasty as in the past."
Ma Zhou also said: "Marquis Huating's utilitarian achievements will last forever, and your majesty should reward him."
His Majesty Li Er nodded slowly.
Changsun Wuji, Xiao Yu, and Zhang Xingcheng also agreed. After all, they were all beneficiaries of the opening of the Japanese trade route. Of course, the biggest benefit was the court, because all goods entering the Japanese country must go through the Shipping Department and have their bones and marrow sucked out.
It's inevitable...
But even so, Japan's huge market is enough for everyone to make a lot of money.
Then, Ma Zhou slowly said: "Your Majesty, although opening the Japanese trade route is a good thing for the country and the people, merchants are short-sighted and only pursue profit. If they all rush to the Japanese country like a swarm of swarms, their own people will inevitably follow them.
The competition between our own people was in vain, and the Japanese benefited in vain. In the opinion of a humble minister, why not ask the city shipping department to determine quotas, screen merchants, and issue licenses. Only those with licenses can go to the Japanese country to do business? In this way, a
All merchants are under the control of the shipping department, and the pricing and sales of goods can be coordinated and coordinated. Those who bully the market with random prices will be severely punished by revoking their licenses!"
As soon as these words came out, Changsun Wuji and the other three people almost jumped up and cursed!
Although the Japanese country is not as large as the Tang Dynasty, with a territory of thousands of miles and hundreds of millions of people, it is still a giant compared to those small countries. Once you get the right to trade, you can still make money even if you bring a boatload of rocks across. Such a vast market
, means massive wealth, naturally whoever has the ability will earn it.
But if we really screen merchants and distribute licenses, it would be like strangling the merchants by the neck!
At that time, if the Municipal Bureau of Transport asks you to go east, you will not dare to go west; if it asks you to chase dogs, you will not dare to catch chickens... If you don't accept it? If you don't accept it, your license will be revoked and you can go home and play with your eggs!
This was not over yet. The prince added another sentence on the side: "Mafu Yin's advice is indeed very high-level. It can make the merchants of the Tang Dynasty less competitive and more cooperative. Everyone can unite with each other instead of fighting openly and secretly. Naturally, the interests can be maximized." .Father, I think that the countries in Southeast Asia can also enact this law."
Xiao Yu's face turned green.
All the merchants in the world are in the hands of aristocratic families, but for Nanyang, it is obvious that the Jiangnan gentry took advantage of the geographical advantage. Since ancient times, wealthy merchants from Jiangnan have sailed on the sea to sell goods and products in Nanyang. They are deeply rooted, so the profits are greater, and for Guanlong For nobles, it is dispensable.
He wanted to say something, but he seemed to be too popular. Just when he was hesitating, His Majesty Li Er said slowly: "Dear sirs, it is urgent to collect business taxes, and so are merchants. People of the Tang Dynasty, common people need to pay taxes when farming, but merchants do not pay taxes when doing business, how unfair is it? It is natural to take business taxes to make up for the country's shortfall."
This is Qian Gang’s arbitrary decision. Regardless of whether you agree or not, I will go my own way!
Where can this be done?
Changsun Wuji, Xiao Yu, and Zhang Xingcheng were all dumbfounded.
Although the emperor was somewhat arrogant and stubborn, he was still able to listen to advice. Could it be that Wei Zheng died and he had no natural enemies and no worries anymore?
The three of them were organizing their words silently in their minds, and then they heard the emperor say quietly: "The transportation of goods from Fujian and Guangdong to Huating Town has to go through the mountains of Wuyue, among which Yandang is steep. Although the mountain road has been dug by the company, it is still difficult to pass, and there are many passengers coming and going. I couldn't bear to have a disaster happen while traveling. If I were to ship it out to sea, I would have to go north along the coast. When I arrived at Huating Town, I would have to unload the tea and search for any prohibited items, which would be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, I plan to ship in Fujian and Guangdong. Select a place along the coast of the country and set up a municipal shipping department. All the regulations will be modeled on the Huating Town Municipal Shipping Department. What do you think?"
Xiao Yu immediately swallowed back the words that came to his lips.
Who is the fattest official in the Tang Dynasty?
Not the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, not the Chief Craftsman of the General Supervisory Committee, not even the head of the Ministry of Works, not even the official responsible for making coins, but the head of the Shipping Department!
How many goods are shipped in and out of Huating Town Shipping Company every day?
Without internal account books, it is difficult for outsiders to know the details, but according to estimates by knowledgeable people, at least the goods that appear on the accounts of the Shipping Department every day will definitely not be less than 300,000 yuan!
This is just one day!
How much does it cost in one year?
One hundred million...
Although it is just the valuation of the goods on the book, it is not even counted as turnover, but you must know that commercial tax is collected according to the cost! The shipping company does not care how much you sell or how much you make, and the tax rate is one for every ten It's the real deal.
The commercial tax collected by a Huating Town shipping company in a year is as high as 10 million yuan, which is more than the total national tax last year and three times the national tax in the early years of Wude...
It’s no wonder that the emperor is obsessed with collecting commercial taxes from all over the country. It’s so satisfying to collect this money!
This means that Fang Jun is worth billions and is as rich as the country. He doesn't have to use greedy means to collect money. Otherwise, the entire Huating Town Shipping Department is his people, inside and outside. How much money can he want to be greedy for?
Of course, it was precisely for this reason that the emperor gave Fang Jun the single-handed control of this extremely fat job...
Now the question arises, Fujian and Guangdong have added a shipping department. Who is in charge?
Naturally, it is impossible for Fang Jun to be the head of both the Northern and Southern Shipping Departments, so the new one must be chosen from within the court.
If anyone can hold this position in his hands, it will be difficult for him not to develop!
You don't even need to embezzle public funds, you just need to relax your hands a little, and the wealth flowing out in a year is enough to be worth the income of a top family...
Xiao Yu suppressed his heartbeat and his mind raced rapidly.
Of course, he knew that the emperor would never hand over the head of the Shipping Department to anyone of any high status easily, but he knew better that today the emperor and the prince were singing together, and there were Ma Zhou and Cen Wen next to them.
It is by no means as simple as requiring localities to build social schools and add new shipping companies.
Changsun Wuji and Zhang Xingcheng were equally suspicious, and both were considering the emperor's true intentions.
His Majesty Li Er was not a very well-educated person. After going around in circles, he was already a little impatient, wondering when did Fang Jun learn to be so hypocritical and cunning? Thinking about the detailed advice in the report.
After saying that, I felt a little unhappy in my heart.
Compared with these roundabout calculations of first laying the ground, then throwing bait, and finally using a big stick and a sweet date, he actually felt that the guy's straightforward style of doing things was more refreshing...
Of course, he also knew that business taxation was a major matter and he had to be cautious. No amount of roundabout planning would be too much. Once it was completed, the court would benefit forever, and the money would be taken out of the pockets of the famous families to supplement the state.
As he grows older, the power of the family will naturally weaken.
It can even be said that the importance of commercial tax is only a little lower than that of the imperial examination...
His Majesty Li Er felt that the bait and sweet dates were almost given, and the coercion and inducement were used. It was time to take out the big stick and give these wealthy families a good beating.
So, he coughed lightly and said in a deep voice: "There are thousands of social studies in the world, which are the foundation for recruiting talents for the country. Therefore, I decided to use money from internal funds to build school buildings, subsidize students, and recruit students."
Teacher! At the same time, merchants all over the world will pay commercial taxes at the rate of one out of ten taxes, which will be permanently imposed! The tax revenue will be used for city repairs, road maintenance, and subsidies for state and county hospitals!"
Then, he straightened his back, looked around, and asked one by one: "Who...does the ministers have any objections?"
He looked majestic and solemn, but in fact he was murmuring in his heart: It's a good thing he didn't say what Fang Er, the mallet teacher, said, otherwise it would be too embarrassing.
What "Your Majesty was sitting on the throne at that time, looking around with angry eyes, and said sternly: Who is in favor and who is against? Then the ministers in the hall must be trembling, frightened, and bowing their heads."...
Mother!
Is that what an emperor can do?
It's just like the knights in the market gathering and dividing the stolen goods, which loses the status of an emperor.