Chapter 372 It seems like an old friend is coming (Part 2)
After going to court, Chen Ke learned the news that Zhao Zonghan secretly went to Qizhou, and immediately said worriedly: "It must be for my father!"
Song Duanping, Chen Yu, and Chen You were on the side. They were also worried when they heard this: "If we send Zhao Zonghui, it may be a trick, but if Zhao Zonghan goes, I'm afraid he will be ruthless!"
"No!" Chen Ke gritted his teeth and said, "I have to go to Qizhou!"
"You still have errands to do!" Chen Yu stopped him: "Besides, how many pairs of eyes are staring at you, can you get away?"
"I'll go." Song Duanping stood up, looked at Chen Ke and said, "What's that look in your eyes? I'm better at martial arts than you, I'm more considerate than you, and I care about Uncle Chen as much as you do. What's wrong with you?"
Relieved?"
"Don't worry..." Chen Ke thought for a moment and nodded: "Then I leave my old man's safety to you!"
"Yes." Song Duanping nodded and said, "Without further delay, I'll set off right now!"
"Be careful!" There was no courtesy between the brothers. The Chen brothers sent him to the door, and Song Duanping rode away.
The next day, Chen Ke went north to meet the Liao envoy. After February 2, the east wind blowing on his face was warm and pleasant, and the weeping poplars on both sides of the Bianhe River turned yellow and tender, like a lover's little hand caressing the emerald.
The spring waves irrigate the endless North China Plain with verdant green.
Countless unknown flowers decorate this green plain into brocade, birds sing spring songs picturesquely, cows and horses ride in the spring light like wine, such charming spring scenery, how can it not make people relaxed and happy?
Therefore, the entire team of officers and soldiers enjoyed this business trip very much. Only Chen Ke kept a gloomy face and walked very slowly, which made the subordinates unhappy.
After walking like this for a few days, Chen Ke suddenly received a secret report before crossing the Yellow River. After reading it, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and sighed: "It shows that God is not blind yet!" So his mood improved.
.The marching speed also accelerated a lot, and they arrived at Xiongzhou City a few days later.
Further ahead is the border, where envoys from the Song Dynasty always greet envoys from the Liao Dynasty.
Chen Ke arrived in Xiongzhou in mid-February. He waited until the beginning of March before the envoy from the Liao Kingdom came belatedly... It can't be said that he arrived late. After all, it was not rude to have the host arrive early to greet him. The Song Dynasty regarded itself as a state of etiquette.
, I have always valued this.
However, Chen Ke was not idle in Xiongzhou. As an important border town in the Song Dynasty, Xiongzhou's border trade was extremely developed. The important stronghold of Sihai Trading Company was located here, and several fast horses traveled between Xiongzhou and Bianjing every day.
In between, the latest information was passed to him and his instructions were sent back.
During the half month he left Beijing, there were many stories in Bianjing City. First, the King of Qi took the lead in investigating the "Cuju Field Bombing" and arrested all the soldiers who were guarding the field at that time. They were interrogated strictly. Then the Kaifeng Mansion
On suspicion of inciting the people, the Xiaoshitan Seal Publishing House, which printed and distributed the "Cuju Newspaper", was closed down. Then news came from Qizhou. After several months of searching by the prefect Chen Xiliang, he obtained 3,300 testimonies from people in various counties, proving that the refugee husband died in the Ergu River.
The quantity far exceeds the official figures!
However, Chen Xiliang's memorial was directly retained by Zhao Zhen. After taking a look at the two large boxes of testimony that arrived in Beijing, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty was silent for a long time. He decided to give someone one last chance.
After the dynasty was dismissed that day, Zhao Zhen moved to the Chui Gong Hall, accompanied by eight princes from the two palaces, three chief and deputy envoys, and all the princes to discuss matters. In fact, the dynasty just now did not discuss many matters, and focused more on rituals.
Many military and state affairs were decided at the small court meeting in the Chui Gong Hall.
After the classes were settled, all the ministers saw the two eye-catching boxes, but Zhao Zhen didn't say what they were, so they couldn't ask. Zhao Zhen was a little tired, so he leaned behind the curtain and Han Qi presided over the meeting.
In fact, the great national troubles of the Song Dynasty, and the nonsense between Zhao Zongshi and Zhao Shu, although they will determine the future of the Song Dynasty, are really not worth mentioning in the face of more important military and national affairs... Today's topic is not an explosion.
, it is not about whether Cuju newspapers should be closed down, but about the reform of Jiangxi Salt Law.
Salt and iron are important to the national economy and people's livelihood, especially the salt law, which has always been criticized for "competing with the people", but the imperial court was never willing to give up this piece of fat.
This is the case in Jiangxi. Jiangxi itself does not produce salt. The imperial court required the Caoshan government to transport Huai salt to Jiangxi and sell it exclusively. However, the quality of the official salt was poor and the price was extremely high.
However, at the same time, in Guangdong, a neighboring province of Jiangxi, most people along the coast were engaged in cooking salt. Private salt dealers in Jiangxi smuggled Guangdong salt to Jiangxi for sale. The quality was better than official salt and the price was much cheaper, so the people did not buy official salt.
Salt, buy private salt secretly.
The strong demand brought huge profits, and also made the activities of smuggling salt more and more rampant. Most of these smugglers were scoundrels, and when the government hunted them down, they took risks and rebelled. Zhao Shu put down Dai Xiaoba's rebellion in Jiangxi.
, this is the situation.
At that time, in order to dismantle the rebellion, Zhao Shu carefully studied Jiangxi's Salt Law and Salt Policy. After returning to Beijing, he wrote a letter requesting that Jiangxi's Salt Law be reformed, the government monopoly be abolished, and private imports of Guangdong salt from Guangnan East Road be no longer prohibited.
Salt merchants levy commercial tax.
In fact, this proposal is not a pioneering work, because the Salt Law has long been abolished in the Song Dynasty, and salt cooking has become popular among the people in coastal areas. Jingdong Road, Zhejiang and Guangxi have long been forced to cancel the salt monopoly. However, the imperial court has always prohibited the flow of salt along the coast.
Inland, they still want to enjoy the benefits of exclusive sales in the mainland.
However, after Zhao Shu's investigation, he believed that changing the monopoly to collecting commercial taxes would bring more revenue to the court and help the people to relieve their difficulties, so he proposed to cancel the salt monopoly in Jiangxi.
All the ministers were monkey spirits, and they knew that this was His Highness the King of Qi's first move to show his talent and kindness to the government and the public. Naturally, they did not want to be regarded as this evil person, but this matter was closely related, because after the salt ban was lifted on Jingdong Road,
In just two years, all along the coast have abolished their monopoly. If this happens again in Jiangxi, I am afraid that within two years, the Song Dynasty will no longer have a salt tax!
That’s 20 million yuan, accounting for 20% of the annual income! If we can’t guarantee that the business tax will also increase by this much, then the fun will be great!
But everyone knows that this is good governance. Even if the princes are not catering to Zhao Shu, they will study it seriously.
Then Zhao Bian, the envoy of the Third Secretary, said: "Everyone is just worried that the increased commercial tax will not be as much as the revenue from the monopoly. But I don't think there is any need to worry, because the cancellation of the monopoly will inevitably lead to lower prices, and lower prices will lead to an increase in sales, and commercial tax
It will also grow in the same way. In fact, Xue Xiang, the Shaanxi road transshipment envoy, has also published a similar memorial. He said that after the price of Jieyan salt dropped, sales increased by up to ten times. We take a middle number and calculate it as a five-fold increase.
Well, then the commercial tax revenue will greatly exceed the losses."
"Xiang Xiang's idea is good, but what if the monopoly is also cancelled, and the commercial tax is also confiscated?" Wu Kui shook his head.
"Didn't I say that we would try it out in Jiangxi first?" Zhao Bian said, "If it works in Jiangxi, we can then promote it nationwide."
"It's feasible in Jiangxi, but it may not be feasible elsewhere. Are there many examples of Nanju and Beizhi?" Wu Kui still shook his head. The two of them each had their own reasons, and their faces turned red.
‘Ahem’, Zhao Zhen finally couldn’t bear it anymore and coughed lightly to stop them from arguing anymore, “What do you think, Mr. Han?”
"Reporting to Your Majesty," Han Qi said, "Since ancient times, it is easier to exempt taxes than to increase taxes. When the imperial court said to cancel the salt monopoly, the people naturally welcomed it with both hands. But if you want to impose commercial taxes again, the salt merchants will not be happy, and they will still sell illicit salt.
Because you don’t have to pay taxes on private salt. So I’m afraid that as Wu Shenzheng said, you’ll lose both ways.”
"Yes, yes." Wu Kui nodded repeatedly, "That's what I mean."
Everyone stared blankly. If you really knew, why would the Prime Minister explain it to you?
"What the veteran means is that the salt tax is related to the foundation of the country and must not be touched lightly. His Highness King Qi's desire to serve the country is commendable, but he still needs to consider it carefully." Han Qi will not give up suppressing Zhao Shu until the end.
Zhao Shu couldn't help but blush when he heard that he was insinuating himself, Meng Lang. But after all, he was no longer the same as before. He just smiled and said calmly: "My husband taught me a lesson, but how can we stop eating because of choking? I think as long as we strictly tax according to the place of production, we can put an end to it."
Private salt.”
"Haha..." Han Qi narrowed his eyes and smiled and said: "Your Highness is still young. If you can be a shepherd in the future, you will naturally understand the local style of doing things that are both positive and negative. No matter how good the sutra is, it cannot be stopped by a monk with a crooked mouth."
"Prime Minister Han is worrying too much." Seeing that Zhao Shu could not do anything to Old Fox Han, Wen Yanbo quickly stood up for him and said: "Besides, it is a trial run. If it is true as Prime Minister said, just stop it."
"What's the harm in worrying more?" Han Qi said calmly: "Besides, you just said it would be a trial run? Jiangxi's people are stubborn. If there are no more increases in the future, it will be even harder to deal with the consequences! So just don't do it right from the beginning.
.”
"The words of Prime Minister Han are out of standard." Wen Yanbo said calmly: "According to this, the court should not change anything. It would be great if we go home directly to have our grandson."
The two old prime ministers were equally matched, and they could not tell the result for three days and three nights. Zhao Zhen had other things on his mind, so he took advantage of the two of them to take a breather and said: "Shu'er, listen to you two
Who is right, sir?"
Zhao Shu bowed and replied: "I think it sounds reasonable to me. Although Wen Xianggong and I coincide with each other, Han Xianggong is an old man who upholds the country's words, so he must listen carefully." After a pause, he said: "According to this.
In my humble opinion, I should issue an edict to the people of Jiangxi to express the court's sincere intention to love the people. As long as we say it first and say that it will be tried for three years, if the effect is not good, the old law will still be implemented. The common people are not unreasonable. Not only will they not object, they will
Consciously uphold the new law. If no effect is seen after three years and the court re-implements the old law, it will not cause a shock."
Everyone's hearts lit up when they heard this! King Qi's method was the best of both worlds, and it also took care of Han Qi's face. It seemed very decent. Fortunately, he could think so carefully in an instant.
"Well, this is a very good idea." Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "You go back and write a statement. Then the political affairs hall will discuss it again and it will be enacted."