As soon as the emperor saw the tax arrears, he got a headache.
Since the early Ming Dynasty, the tax revenue in the Jiangnan region has far exceeded the national average. The three prefectures of Su, Song and Chang alone accounted for 10% of the world's money and food, and Southern Zhili accounted for 20%.
The per capita burden is heavy, which naturally leads to psychological imbalance. The common people cannot escape, and the gentry class owes as much tax as possible.
Historically, in the 17th year of Shunzhi, a memorial case broke out. The Jiangnan area owed more than 5 million taels of taxes. In the end, the Manchu Qing Dynasty expelled more than 13,000 gentry from their titles, but only recovered 50,000 taels.
By the seventh year of Yongzheng's reign, the scale of tax arrears reached more than 16 million taels. This was despite continuous exemptions in the last years of Kangxi's reign.
The Qing Dynasty continued to struggle due to tax arrears until the Jiaqing period, when it was temporarily over.
If it were a cool article, Zhu Yixi could have used troops to force the gentry to pay back the taxes they owed and ruin their lives, but the reality here is that it would be very difficult.
Soon, Zhao Shu came calmly.
"His Majesty!"
After working as the first assistant for a while, Zhao Shu's temperament became more and more extraordinary.
"Sit!" the emperor said calmly.
"What is the cabinet's charter for those who owe taxes?"
As the first problem he encountered after taking the throne, the emperor seemed very calm.
This is not his problem alone, but the plight of the entire court.
"Your Majesty, from the early years of Chongzhen to the present, the tax arrears in Southern Zhili have reached tens of millions of taels."
Zhao Shu frowned and said helplessly: "This is the result of decades of continuous accumulation. If we insist on asking for it at all costs, 90% of the officials in the court and local areas will be wiped out."
"So, indifferent?" The emperor's expression remained unchanged, but his tone was not right.
Zhao Shu deliberately said: "Your Majesty, the enemy is facing us now. If we insist on this matter, we may reverse the priorities and harm the country."
Zhu Yixi fell silent.
This is the main contradiction and the secondary contradiction. Before the united front, everything must be tolerated.
"If you continue to indulge me, how can there be any food left in the household department?"
Zhu Yixi said angrily.
Feeling the emperor's dissatisfaction, Zhao Shu felt happy: "You are right, the whole cabinet is equally indignant."
In the cabinet, Zhao Shu was from Shanxi, Zhang Shenyan was also from Shanxi, and Yan Chongxin was from Shaanxi. Of course, he couldn't stand the Jiangnan gentry.
"So?" The emperor suddenly realized that this was a test by the cabinet, and he straightened his posture.
"Your Majesty, it's time for the gentry in Southern Zhili to learn a lesson."
Zhao Shu said calmly, looking a little excited: "Your Majesty, the favor in the provincial examination is a reward, but there must be a punishment to make those scholar-bureaucrats surrender and pay taxes willingly."
"This is not only the radiance of your majesty, but also the appearance of the imperial court."
"how do you want to do it?"
The emperor thought for a while and said softly.
"Your Majesty, didn't you arrest a group of nobles and Donglin Party members?"
Zhao Shu smiled and said: "It's time to take advantage of them. Let's start with the tax arrears -"
"good!"
Zhu Yixi said in a deep voice, with a hint of joy on his face.
This big move to avoid tax arrears really comes at the right time.
"Let's kill the chicken first to scare the monkeys, and then see the effects!"
The monarch and his ministers looked at each other and said nothing.
…
Soon, the emperor's approval was obtained, and the efficiency of the cabinet's actions was greatly improved. After a while, the Ministry of Revenue received the news.
The Minister of Hubu is Jiang Yueguang.
Because he has always been honest, and has gradually launched the Donglin Party, he is a suitable candidate because of his seniority.
At this time, he was shocked when he heard that the cabinet was clearing up tax arrears.
Just as I was about to ask about the situation, I suddenly learned that the matter had been handed over to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Revenue had no right to participate.
"Is the imperial court going to take action against Jiangnan?"
Jiang Yueguang sighed.
After thinking about it, he decided not to care anymore, lest he become a human being inside and out.
In comparison, the mood inside the Metropolitan Procuratorate was extremely exciting.
Compared with the Metropolitan Procuratorate in Beijing, the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate is extremely shabby.
Whether it is household registration or review, it is not their turn. The final main responsibility of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is to be the admiral Cao Jiang and be responsible for the shore defense of the Yangtze River.
"It's just that we don't have that many manpower!"
"Don't worry, these people will join you."
Immediately, a line of royal guards showed big smiles.
Hundreds of Jin Yiwei participated as errand boys.
Soon, various dignitaries' mansions began to make a fuss.
Concealed land is difficult to check, but tax arrears are written down in black and white, so you can check them accurately.
The whole city of Nanjing suddenly became lively.
Countless people pawned treasures and bought and sold land.
In Qianzhai, we were in the same situation at this time.
Liu Rushi raised his eyebrows, hugged his daughter, and said resolutely: "How has my family ever owed taxes?"
"Madam, the Qian family has thousands of acres of fertile land, countless shops and houses, and such things as tax arrears, who would have thought that this would happen to your family?"
The leader shook his head and said with a wry smile: "According to records over the years, the Qian family has owed more than thirteen thousand taels in taxes over the years."
Liu Rushi wanted to say something else, but he saw the soldiers on the side, each with fierce eyes, like hungry tigers, waiting for an opportunity to eat.
"In two days, I will return it to you."
"That's all, I'll come back the day after tomorrow. I hope Madam won't disappoint me!"
After all, the Metropolitan Procuratorate was a scholar, so he could only speak bravely out of concern for his face.
Liu Rushi finally breathed a sigh of relief, but suddenly the servant beside him stopped talking.
"What's wrong?"
Holding her daughter in hand, Liu Rushi said with an ugly expression.
"Reporting to Madam, there is news from the court that if you want to rescue the master, you must pay 30,000 taels of silver before you can leave the imperial prison."
"What? Why do you want so much money?"
Liu Rushi was shocked.
After a long time, she called the housekeeper to discuss countermeasures.
The housekeeper said helplessly: "Madam, more than 40,000 taels of silver is not a small sum. We have to sell 80% of our family's land."
"Can't we sell the calligraphy, paintings and antiques at home?"
"Madam, there are calligraphy and painting dealers everywhere in Nanjing now. These are not worth anything. It is better to wait for a while and then sell them."
"Sell--" Liu Rushi gritted her teeth and said, "As long as we can save the master, no matter how much property we have, we have to sell it."
The next day, when Liu Rushi was extremely busy, the three sisters from the nunnery also ran over and presented them with their personal money.
"Although it's not much, it's still a little bit of our thoughts."
Bian Yujing came with his chest trembling and said softly.
"How dare you bother the sisters."
Liu Rushi wiped away her tears and said with red eyes: "Sister Kou, I'm afraid your Duke's Mansion is also uneasy!"
"Alas!" Kou Baimen sighed, with half regret and half anger on his fair face: "They actually want to sell me to raise money."
"Fortunately I left early, otherwise I would have been poisoned long ago."
Seeing Qian's house where their family was almost destroyed, the sisters felt desolate again.