Chapter seven hundred and seventy-eight meat cutting
"Abolish the head tax and collect taxes based on land..."
This is just a simple sentence, but if the imperial court really implements this method, I don't know how many people will die and how much the price will be paid because of this sentence. The Ministry of Revenue cannot bear the blame.
Qian Shuo stood up and secretly cursed Tang Ning and Huai Wang, these two little foxes. He didn't want to cause trouble, so he threw the blame on Hu Bu. But he couldn't afford to offend either of these two people...
He took the envelope and walked around the hall. After a long time, he gritted his teeth and strode out of the household department.
After a while, Shangshu was saved.
Qian Shuo handed a letter to the Prime Minister and said: "Marquis Dingguo and King Huai have sent a letter, which needs the Prime Minister's signature and security."
Wang Xiang was checking the memorial. Hearing this, he put down the memorial in his hand, picked up the envelope, and picked up the seal habitually. When he was about to stamp it on the envelope, he suddenly stopped, picked up the envelope, and read it carefully.
stand up.
After a while, he took back the seal, handed it back to Qian Shuo, and said, "This is a matter for the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry of Revenue can make the decision on its own. There is no need for Shangshu to use the seal."
Qian Shuo secretly cursed "old fox" in his heart, but a smile appeared on his face and said: "This matter... I'm afraid it's not easy for the household department to make the decision."
Wang Xiang stood up and said: "I suddenly remembered that there are still some things to deal with. Since the Ministry of Revenue cannot make a decision, why don't Lord Qian go and ask His Majesty directly..."
Watching Wang Xiang hurriedly walk out of Shangshu Province, Qian Shuo sighed. Neither the little fox nor the old fox wanted to get involved in this matter, and Hu Bu did not bear the blame for nothing. He picked up the seal again, walked out of Shangshu Province, and asked Yu.
Walk in the direction of the study.
Not long after, in the imperial study room, Chen Huang held the envelope in his hand, with a hint of emotion on his face.
If taxes were levied based on land, the money collected by the treasury every year would be dozens or hundreds of times more than in the past. I am afraid it would be overflowing. Even he could not imagine such a scene.
But he also knew in his heart that this was just his fantasy.
If we say that streamlining the tax system is plucking the hair out of the gentry and wealthy families, subverting the tax system is cutting the flesh off their bodies. They will pay dozens or hundreds of times more tax money every year, which will lead to chaos in the world.
This is a more serious matter than the Jiangnan Rebellion and the Northwest Rebellion. If you are not careful, the Chen Kingdom will completely become history.
He put down the memorial and said, "Summon Tang Ning and Prince Huai into the palace."
"See Father."
"See Your Majesty."
Tang Ning and King Huai walked into the imperial study and bowed to Emperor Chen at the same time.
Emperor Chen shook the memorial in his hand and asked: "Which of you had this idea?"
King Huai glanced at Tang Ning and said, "It was Mr. Tang's idea."
Chen Huang looked down and asked: "Whose idea was it to have the Ministry of Household Affairs announce this?"
Tang Ning looked at King Huai and said, "This is His Highness King Huai."
"You two have a good plan." Huang Chen glanced at them and said, "Are you planning to use this trick to scare them first, and then each take a step back to encourage them to accept the streamlined tax system?"
"Your Majesty is aware of everything."
"Father, his eyes are as bright as a torch."
…
"It's a good idea." Chen Huang looked at them and said, "But you also know that this matter is very sensitive and the matter is serious. If you are not careful, it will cause a big disaster."
Tang Ning clasped her fists and said, "Wealth is gained through danger. If this can be done, the national treasury will receive a large amount of additional income every year, and the annual tax collection will also be reduced by more than half. The process will be reduced by more than half. It is really the best of both worlds."
King Huai cupped his hands and said: "If you don't enter the tiger's den, you won't be able to catch tiger cubs. The complexity and ambiguity of the tax system have already made some people complain. If things go on like this, great conflicts will break out between the people and the court. By then, just streamlining the tax system will probably no longer be effective."
It works.”
Chen Huang did not speak again, but carefully thought about what the two people said.
As an emperor, he must strike a balance between the people and the gentry and the powerful. While ensuring the interests of the court, he can neither make the people dissatisfied nor make the gentry resentful, and the two are contradictory to each other.
Nowadays, the State of Chen is relatively stable, and the conflict between the common people and the gentry is not fierce. Although the court does not need to be afraid of these gentry and wealthy families, there is no need to offend them to death. The joint proposal of Tang Ning and King Huai is a just right compromise.
After a moment, he looked at the two of them and said, "I agree to this. You two will cooperate with each other, pay attention to the scale, and go on."
"I excuse myself."
"My son, please retire."
…
Seeing Tang Ning and King Huai walking out, Chen Huang had a strange look on his face and said, "They really won't disappoint me..."
As the younger generation in the court, Tang Ning and King Huai had always done things without leakage. Tang Ning often went out of the capital to carry out secret missions. During his absence, some things that he was not sure to leave to others were left to King Huai.
Neither King Huai nor Tangning ever let him down.
The cooperation between the two of them was flawless. This matter was very important. If you were not careful, it would cause a big mess. Only when they worked together could he feel at ease.
…
In the third year of Dingyuan, one day in October, people who got up early unexpectedly discovered a notice posted in front of the palace.
Generally speaking, things that are widely advertised on the walls of the palace must be major events, such as King Kang being deposed, the crown prince ascending the throne, or the court promulgating another law related to the national economy and people's livelihood. Today's notice,
I don’t know what else I wrote.
Someone came closer to watch the fun, but did not know what was written on it. He hurriedly asked a passing Confucian scholar. After asking, he found out that the imperial court was collecting opinions on a tax law. People could submit their opinions on this law and
It is recommended to write it down on paper and put it in the big box under the city wall. It doesn't matter if you are illiterate and can't write. There are more than ten clerks under the city wall who can write for you.
After learning about the contents of the tax law, many people were immediately shocked and speechless.
According to the rules of capitation tax collection, it has not changed since ancient times. Many common people are tenants and have to pay taxes even if they have no land. However, those gentry and dignitaries who hold large amounts of land in their hands do not have to pay much. In addition to paying rent, common people also have to pay taxes.
In addition to the government's taxes, the situation is not bad in good years. However, once there is a disaster, it will be difficult to make ends meet and life will be difficult to survive.
If this tax law can be implemented, the burden on the common people will be reduced by at least half. Correspondingly, the gentry and wealthy families who own large amounts of land will have to endure unprecedented pain.
For a time, some people in the capital were happy and some were sad. In a very short period of time, the situation was completely boiling.
In the West Market of the capital, Tang Qi looked at the notice posted on the street and said in disbelief: "Is the imperial court crazy? Does it want to make enemies of the gentry and wealthy families in the world?"
Tang Zhao shook his head and said: "Your Majesty is not stupid. He increased taxes on those people for no reason. If you think about it a little, you will know that his purpose is not here."
Tang Qi asked doubtfully: "If it's not here, then where is it?"
Tang Zhaodao: "Didn't the imperial court clamor a few days ago to streamline the tax laws and eliminate redundant taxes? There has suddenly been no movement these days. Your Majesty's purpose may be here."
Tang Qi frowned and said, "Speak clearly."
Tang Zhao looked at him, shook his head helplessly, and said: "For example, apples on the street sell for ten cents per catty. If you want to buy them for five cents, you can first bid one cent for the apple vendor.
I definitely disagree, but maybe they will lower the price to nine cents for you. If you increase the price by two cents, he will lower it to eight cents. In this way, in the end, you may buy apples for five cents per catty, even though it is your first time.
You bid a penny, but you never thought it would be sold at that price."
Tang Qi looked at him and said: "You mean, His Majesty knows that these people will not agree, he just wants to take a step back and make them agree to streamline the tax law..."
"That's pretty much what it means." Tang Zhao nodded, looked at the apple vendor, and asked, "How do you sell these apples?"
The hawker said: "Ten coins a pound."
Tang Zhao asked: "Can I sell it for a penny?"
The hawker glanced at him and said, "Get out!"
Rong Xiaorong says
Recently, I have developed the habit of coding in the afternoon. In the morning, I usually read books, look up information, and come up with ideas. I may not be able to change it in a short time. I have something to do tomorrow, so I won’t update it too early.
