"Your Majesty! You see, this dynasty has a land tax and a capitation tax. Why can't there be a tea tax?"
When the emperor heard this, he immediately became energetic and his eyes burst out with a captivating light.
"Tea tax? It has never happened in the previous dynasty. Please tell me in detail."
Gu Chengyu thought about what he was about to say in his mind, and then slowly said: "Wei Chen has not yet thought of the detailed steps for implementation, so he can only give a rough outline to the emperor."
Gu Chengyu frowned slightly. This tea tax regulation must be clearly explained and the interests of tea farmers and merchants must be guaranteed to the greatest extent.
If the new tax law is implemented and used by those officials to make money, it would be his fault.
However, if it is used well, not only the court will benefit, but also the tea farmers and merchants will benefit a lot.
Besides, if a dynasty wants to prosper, it cannot impose excessive taxes, but appropriate taxes are still necessary.
"Then tell me what you have already thought of." The emperor was very interested in the tea tax mentioned by Gu Chengyu. As for the details of the tea tax, he can slowly add it later.
"Your Majesty, when it comes to the tea tax, I think the tax should not be too heavy. After all, it is not a necessity of life. If it is too heavy, tea farmers and merchants will have little profit, and no one will be willing to spend this energy."
Gu Chengyu said this because he was afraid that if the emperor really wanted to impose a tea tax to replenish the national treasury, those courtiers would extend their claws to the new tax law for their own selfish interests.
"That's natural. Although the tea culture is popular in our Dayan Dynasty, they are all families with some extra money. And those poor people can't afford good tea. Too heavy a tea tax is not a good thing."
As the king of a country, how could the emperor not know these truths? If those merchants were unprofitable, who would sell tea?
"Your Majesty! The tea tax cannot be monopolized by the government, and tea monopoly certificates can be initiated."
"Chayin? Gu Aiqing, come quickly."
The emperor was extremely excited. He could already predict that this tea introduction would bring great benefits to the court, and solving the emptiness of the treasury would no longer be a problem.
"For example, every tea farmer is registered in a register, and merchants receive tea guides from the government when selling tea. Merchants must also show tea guides when buying tea. If there is no tea guide, they are selling tea privately. In this way, from tea production to tea selling
All under the strict supervision of the government, it is called the tea making system."
"Then how do you know that no one will trade privately? Those merchants negotiated with the tea farmers and kept it secret. How did the government know?"
The emperor felt that this tea guide was indeed an important part of the tea tax, but the point he just raised was the biggest obstacle to the tea tax.
Even if the government explicitly prohibits it, there are still many people selling it privately. Who can resist the temptation to get rich by taking risks?
Gu Chengyu had been thinking about this issue before. At this moment, he only thought of a few points. In such a short period of time, even he couldn't think of it more thoroughly.
After all, the implementation of a new tax will encounter many difficulties and obstacles.
All new systems have loopholes when they are first implemented. Most of them are gradually improved after they have been implemented for a long time.
"To report to the Emperor, this humble minister can only think of three points for the time being. First, government tax cards can be set up at the transportation fortresses where tea is sold. All tea merchants must use tea cards as proof of travel."
After Gu Chengyu finished speaking, he pondered for a while, and then added: "Second, set up yamen in large tea gardens and tea farms to deal with tea taxes. If tea merchants go to buy tea, they should use the tea tax as proof."
"Third, if a tea merchant fails to pay the tea import tax after the expiration date, the government has its own archives and can send officials to recover the tax. This is just Wei Chen's humble opinion. As for the details, Wei Chen has not thought about it yet."
In fact, Gu Chengyu had more than that in his mind, but he didn't intend to say it all.
He just picked three of them that were beneficial to the government. The interests of tea merchants must be protected, and he also had a few ideas in mind.
The implementation of the tea tax could promote economic development for the Dayan Dynasty.
Not only did it benefit the court a lot, but it also benefited tea merchants and farmers a lot.
Not to mention other things, there is no doubt about the safety of this transaction, which is closely watched by the government.
In ancient times, bandits were rampant. Those tea merchants, like the merchants who sold goods, could not guarantee their personal safety.
Unless you can afford to hire guards and pay the passing money required by the bandits, not only will all the tea you sell be robbed, but your own life will be at risk.
But how could those small tea merchants give up?
The emperor couldn't help but sigh that Gu Chengyu was able to think of such a good idea in just one hour.
I even thought of some of the details and couldn't help but be very satisfied.
"Your idea is very good. I think this tax law is very feasible."
The emperor felt excited whenever he thought that this method could fill the treasury.
"Xia Aiqing! I order you to draw up a memorial and write down the details of the tea tax in detail. I will give you two days. Is that feasible?"
Gu Chengyu was a little stunned. The previous preface was regarded as a reform of the book, and the emperor only praised it verbally.
He knew that even if he wanted to give a favor, it would have to wait until the compilation of the Huidian started or was completed before it could be given to him.
Unexpectedly, the emperor asked him to write a memorial regarding the tea tax.
He couldn't help but feel excited. If this method started to be implemented, his participation would be inevitable in the follow-up.
As long as he sees results, he is not far away from being promoted.
Gu Chengyu quickly knelt down and accepted the order, "I obey the order!"
Although two days were too short, Gu Chengyu did not dare to bargain with the emperor.
After all, the emperor was so serious about money that he had trouble sleeping and eating.
Besides, he already had a rough outline in his mind, he just needed to organize them carefully.
"Okay! Then I'll wait for the good news! Hahaha!"
The emperor was very satisfied with Gu Chengyu's understanding this time. He thought that Gu Chengyu would feel that the time was too short, but he did not expect that Gu Chengyu agreed happily.
The emperor originally planned to mention Gu Chengyu's rank after the compilation of the ceremony began, but the seat of the Imperial Academy's Attendant was vacant.
But Gu Chengyu gave him a huge surprise now.
As long as Gu Chengyu can draw up a detailed outline of the tea tax this time and promote him, those officials will no longer have any objections.
After all, he had just entered the court less than a month ago, so it would be too soon to be promoted.
"Gu Aiqing will bring the memorial to me for review in two days. If I think it is feasible, then you will have to participate in the discussion of affairs at the court meeting on the third day."
The emperor was impatient to argue with those veteran ministers, so he felt that Gu Chengyu was fully qualified for such a job.
Besides, he proposed the tea tax, and he was the only one who knew the details best. If the courtiers raised questions, they would naturally have to be answered by Gu Chengyu.
Gu Chengyu suppressed the ecstasy in his heart. He didn't expect that he would be able to go to court from the sixth rank official position. How could this make him not excited?