Whether Han Jiang or Lu Gongzhu, they are all veterans who are experienced in common government.
Only Zhao Xu has a clearer understanding of the transformation history of silkworm salt and its specific local situation.
Therefore, the two prime ministers looked at each other and bowed with their hands in hand: "Your Majesty, the matter of silkworm salt can affect the whole body..."
"Your Majesty Fuqi is aware of..."
Zhao Xu smiled and looked at the two prime ministers.
He was condescending in the palace and watched carefully.
While the two prime ministers were talking, their eyes couldn't help but glance at Fan Bailu's figure sitting in a corner of the hall behind the screen.
Obviously, they were afraid of the people present.
This is not possible!
Zhao Xu then decided to add some ingredients to them.
"I checked the documents in Chongwen Garden..." Zhao Xu said softly: "I have a little understanding of the origin of the corruption of silkworm salt money."
Zhao Xu smiled, looked at Han Jiang and Lu Gongzhu, and raised the corners of his mouth slightly: "If I remember correctly..."
He began to threaten: "The Silkworm Salt Law was corrupted, probably during the Jingyou reign of Renmiao..."
During the reign of Jingyou, many things happened.
First, the Yellow River burst in the first year of Jingyou's reign, ushering in the era of natural disasters in the Song Dynasty.
Since then, the Yellow River has continuously breached its mouth and changed its course, and continues to this day.
Then in the fourth year of Jingyou, Yuan Hao rebelled against Song Zili, starting the Song-Xia War that continues to this day.
With the combination of natural disasters and wars, the Song Dynasty's finances collapsed.
In order to save the financial crisis, the court at that time began to impose massive taxes!
After Jingyou, the annual income of the Song Dynasty began to increase sharply.
It once exceeded 10,000,000 yuan!
Behind the rising fiscal revenue are the lamentations of countless people around the world.
Because the government just barely took away the last morsel of food from their children's mouths.
The corruption of Silkworm Salt occurred under such a situation.
And behind these historical events, there are some devilish details.
For example, from Tiansheng to Jingyou, Lu Yijian served as Tongzhongshu's Pingzhangshi for a long time, and successively served as a bachelor of Jixian Palace and a bachelor of Zhaowen Palace.
He was the de facto prime minister in power at that time.
At the same time, in the fourth year of Jingyou's reign, Han Yi paid homage to the governor, entered Dongfu, and formed a team with Lu Yijian.
In other words...
The corruption of silkworm and salt money happened when Lu Yijian and Han Yi were in court.
And the Lu Yijian slips were written by Lu Gong.
Han Yi, Han Jiang’s father!
Therefore, as soon as Zhao Xu's words came out, both Han Jiang and Lu Gongzhu's expressions changed!
threaten!
A naked threat!
Zhao Xu looked at it and changed the topic at the right time, saying: "It has been decades since Jingyou..."
"I believe that this shortcoming must be eliminated..."
"So as not to cause harm to future generations, and to make future generations smile..."
This is threatening and at the same time beating.
You two husbands, do you hope that this matter will be left to future generations?
I am afraid that future generations will not keep tabs on the Venerable.
It may even be possible to put all the responsibility for this matter on the two parents.
Can the two husbands bear to see their father's reputation be tarnished? Or even be nailed to the pillar of shame in history?
Han Jiang and Lu Gongzhu naturally understood the meaning behind Zhao Xu's words.
Suddenly, the underwear of the two prime ministers became wet.
Little did they know that Silkworm Salt Money would perish along with the Song Dynasty.
They only know one fact now - the small official family wants to solve the long-standing disadvantages of silkworm and salt money.
Even if they stop it now.
When the officials grow up, they will definitely start to solve it.
But by that time, they will definitely not be the ones in charge in the court.
At worst, they might be their political opponents or even the descendants of their enemies.
These people will probably be very happy, and by using the excuse of clearing up the accumulated evils, they can boldly pour dirty water on their father's head, and blame all the problems of the past generations on their father.
The two prime ministers trembled all over just thinking about this possibility.
Then, he glanced at the young master who was still smiling with complicated eyes.
The two prime ministers immediately lowered their heads.
It’s about my father’s posthumous name and historical evaluation.
There is no reason for them to be careless.
Filial piety is the core value of scholar-bureaucrats.
After a long time, Han Jiang said with a trembling voice: "Your Majesty Sheng Ming Wu Guo..."
Lu Gongzhu also took a deep breath and bowed his head: "Your Majesty Sheng Ming Wu Guo..."
After convincing the two prime ministers, Zhao Xu nodded happily and said emotionally: "With the help of these two prime ministers, I think we can clear up the evils of silkworm salt!"
The two prime ministers moved their lips and said in their hearts: "Your Majesty, just move your mouth and stop using silkworm salt. It will be easier..."
"But what should the state and county officials do?"
As long-time officials, they know very well what will be the consequences once the silkworm and salt money is abandoned?
The consequence is that local governments will be unable to do things due to lack of money.
Because the overtaxed silkworm salt money and commercial taxes, as well as the surplus money increased by Wang Anshi's reform, are now the few freely disposable incomes of the states and counties in the Song Dynasty, and they are also the main funds for maintaining their own operations.
Of course, the imperial court could open its mouth and cancel the silkworm and salt money.
But there are many local things that can no longer be done.
Therefore, in order to do things, local governments can only impose temporary taxes.
Most temporary taxes will eventually evolve over time and become the source of exorbitant taxes.
This will instead increase the burden on the people!
This is the truth that silkworm salt money cannot be cancelled.
Under the Song Dynasty's national policy of strengthening the capital while weakening the weak, all tax revenue went to the central government.
The funds available at the local level are scarce.
Cutting off silkworm and salt money is equivalent to cutting off an arm of local finance.
Although they complained in their hearts, they could only obey with their mouths: "Your Majesty has a benevolent and holy heart, and extends grace to the world, benefiting all people, and I congratulate the world."
Okay, okay!
This world is yours.
Our arms cannot hold our thighs!
They understand too.
After all, the official is young, has a kindhearted nature, admires the way of the saint, wants to make decisions for the people, and wants to lighten the burden on the people.
that is good.
It's just that the world is too complicated.
It's not all black and white.
Sometimes, policies that are good in the eyes of those at the top end up killing countless people.
Even some policies that have responded well in the north may lead to the destruction of many families once they are moved to the south.
Officials are young, don't know these things, haven't learned any lessons, and have some naive ideas, which is normal.
When he suffers a loss, when he grows up, he will naturally understand the importance of it.
That's it... During this time, there will probably be a lot of innocent dead souls added to the world.
but……
There is no way!
They can only sacrifice themselves.
Both prime ministers sighed inwardly.
Then, they heard Xiaoguan's childish voice.
"In that case, I will share some of my thoughts with my two husbands..."
"If there are any shortcomings, please correct me and point them out promptly. Don't be hesitant because of my words!"
As he said that, Zhao Xu also looked at Fan Bailu behind the screen.
Naturally, he also cares about his own image.
pity!
He had no way to read the words in his own record in person.
We can only visit it quietly every now and then through Shi Deyi, Liu Weijian, Feng Jing and others.
Han Jiang and Lu Gongzhu both raised their heads after hearing this.
What's the meaning?
Don’t the officials want to abolish silkworm salt?
Is there a need for reform?!
Then he saw the junior official in the palace extending his hand to the minister Feng Jing beside him: "Feng Jing, please go and get the official seal certificate issued by the Fujian Observer Envoy to judge Cai Gong in Quanzhou."
"In addition, please bring to me this month's official seal certificates for Su Shi and Chen Mu for the Ming Prefecture."
"promise!"
Feng Jing took the order and left.
The two prime ministers listened and looked at each other.
Real seal?
Cai Que, Su Shi, and Chen Mu received official seals?
Moreover, it talks about silkworm salt money?
What comments did they make?
The two prime ministers became curious.
The mentality is also relaxed at this time.
Because they discovered that the petty officials didn't seem to want to just throw away the silkworm and salt money with just an edict.
He seems to want to reform silkworm salt money!
this……
The two prime ministers immediately became energetic.
If we could find a way to reform the shortcomings of silkworm and salt money and restore its function of helping the poor without affecting the tax revenue of local governments.
That is really a great kindness!
But the question is - is this possible?
Since ancient times, you can’t have your cake and eat it too!
Thinking like this, the big Diao Dang beside the official came to the hall with three letters.
"Show the seals of Mr. Cai and others with the two prime ministers!" the junior official ordered.
Therefore, the three sealed certificates were sent to the two prime ministers.
Han Jiang and Lu Gongzhu reached out to take it and began to circulate it.
Then, the two of them discovered that the actual seals of these three people did not mention anything about silkworm salt.
They were just reporting to the Emperor on what they were doing in their respective jurisdictions, and also reporting on the progress of the things they were doing in accordance with the Emperor's will.
And in their official complaint, they mentioned the same thing - Daao.
For example, Cai Que reported: Since Meng Guanjia Deyin gave me command and given the drawings of Da'ao, I have followed the decree to build Da'ao in Quanzhou to expand the number of ships. So far, more than a hundred ships have been built.
Then there's the size, size and price of these boats.
And Cai Que's method for dealing with these ships - according to the decree, the people who are willing to lend money will be interest-free for one year and the interest will be halved for two years.
So the people of Quanzhou shouted long live, thinking that "the Holy Emperor's merits are immeasurable" and so on.
Then came Chen Mu’s report.
Chen Mu also said that according to the decree, Meng Yin was given the great blueprints, so in accordance with the decree, he selected shipyard masters in Mingzhou who were skilled in ships, and each was given great arcane skills. He borrowed official money to implement them, and also gave them to him by imperial edict. Provide Mingzhou official ship building companies with the techniques and drawings they have stored over the years.
As a result, Mingzhou Shipyard flourished, and Mingzhou ships became more and more prosperous.
Su Shi, who was in Dengzhou, reported that since he followed Deyin and used Da'ao as a boat, more and more ships have arrived in Dengzhou, and more and more people have gone to sea. Now there are three thousand fishing boats and tens of thousands of employees, who are drying fish day and night. Only some Dried fish is not easy to sell, and fishermen may lose money.
Three ministers reported on the experience of using a so-called "Da'ao" in three places, as well as the different policies of the three places.
In Quanzhou, Cai Que presided over the application of Daao in the official shipbuilding workshop.
And popularized many technologies from the shipbuilding industry in Guangzhou, Mingzhou and other places.
What kind of watertight cabins, what kind of keel laying, sails, etc., just to name a few.
Then, Cai Que presided over the process of leasing the built ships to merchants and people who were willing to go to sea in the manner of Qin and Han officials.
Also offered preferential policies.
The first year is interest-free, the second year the interest is halved, and the full interest is charged in the third year.
Over in Mingzhou, under the leadership of Chen Mu, they began to support private and private shipyards.
And imparted a large number of government technologies to the owners of these shipyards.
At the same time, under the auspices of Chen Mu, the Mingzhou government seemed to have selected several well-known local shipbuilding owners, and the government provided them with high-quality, cheap, and low-interest loans to expand their operations and shipbuilding scale.
The government even issued a decree allowing the shipyards chosen by Chen Mu to enjoy tax-free treatment, allowing these people to expand their operations and increase the shipyard's output.
In Dengzhou, it is a different style of painting.
The fishing boats in Dengzhou seem to be mainly small and medium-sized fishing boats.
The ships produced were basically lent to landless people, allowing them to go fishing to repay their debts.
At the same time, Su Shi seems to have supported several gentry families in the local area, established large-scale fish drying grounds, and hired a large number of landless young people to dry fish.
So the people of Dengzhou went out to sea to fish one after another.
The two prime ministers frowned after reading it.
They don't quite know, what does this have to do with silkworm salt?
So Han Jiang put down the seal in his hand and looked up at the young official who was sitting on the mat again.
"His Majesty……"
"I am stupid and don't know what your Majesty means... I hope your Majesty will make it clear!"
Lu Gong also said: "I second the proposal, and I hope your Majesty will make it clear."
This petty official seems to have been famous for his clear thinking and out-of-the-box ideas since he came to the throne.
The two prime ministers felt that they really couldn't keep up with this His Majesty!
"Two gentlemen...do you still remember that I said before that I have read the documents and documents that have been discussed by silkworms and salts in the past dynasties?"
The two prime ministers nodded.
"Of course I know what the evil of silkworm salt is related to?"
The contradiction between the central government and the local government and the tax game.
The rise and fall of all dynasties revolved around these two main themes.
Even in modern times.
This kind of thing exists widely in both the East and the West.
Especially in the ugly country, there are many fights between the federal government and the states over the distribution of taxes.
At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, taxation was somewhat excessive.
There is too little left for local government, and the central government wants too much.
Partially born, even if Zhao Xu wanted to adjust, he would not be able to find a good entry point or opportunity for a while.
Because the impact is too great.
There are countless interested parties involved, and there are countless minefields buried in it.
A casual touch may cause big problems.
Zhao Xu has no choice!
The only option is to simply ignore it and wait until the fiscal and tax structure changes in the future, and then deal with it slowly.
Han Jiang and Lu Gong blushed after hearing what Zhao Xu said.
"It turns out that the officials have long known the importance of silkworm and salt money to the local government..."
This is really incredible.
You must know that even the late emperor may not have known the financial structure and difficulties of local government when he first ascended the throne.
And this young master was born in a deep palace and grew up with the hands of a woman.
However, by reading the memorials of the past dynasties and consulting the documents of Chongwen Hall, he was able to deduce the truth behind the texts of those memorials that the local financial revenue was tight and the silkworm salt money could not be abolished!
