"Your Majesty, regarding the tea tax, Wei Chen has another suggestion, that is, the proportion of the tax. Wei Chen thinks it is better to use one of the ten taxes. Tea is valued in three grades. This tax is not harsh and can be
Alleviating the crisis in the treasury. Of course, this is just a small suggestion from Wei Chen. How to do it specifically, the emperor and the adults here must be more measured than Wei Chen."
This is all Gu Chengyu can do. If the emperor is not satisfied with the tax ratio, then there is nothing he can do. He has tried his best to lower the tea tax ratio, and then it will depend on the emperor's wishes.
Although he proposed a tea tax, which caused losses to the interests of tea merchants and tea farmers, he had a clear conscience.
The tea tax will definitely become one of the important taxes of the Dayan Dynasty in the future. The national treasury has been empty for a long time. If there is a sudden war at the border, which of the food, grass, military pay, horses, weapons, etc. does not need the support of money?
And all the tax money collected by the imperial court every year has been used for the imperial court's expenses, and not a tenth of it is saved. Moreover, every two years, the imperial court will strengthen the embankments of the rivers in the region. These are big projects and a huge amount of money.
expenditures.
Gu Chengyu certainly had selfish motives for doing this, but he also wanted to consolidate the country and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. He was born in Dayan, so naturally he couldn't stay out of it.
As the saying goes, there are still eggs under the cover of the nest.
"Gu Xiuzhuan, how to collect the tax cannot be based on your own words. Of course, this will be made after the relevant yamen understand the situation. Your Majesty, I think that the tea tax should not be taken too hastily, and it needs to be worked out slowly.
."
Xia Qing thought for a moment before speaking. Although he said this out of selfishness, it was reasonable.
The emperor didn't say anything, he just narrowed his eyes slightly, not knowing what he was thinking.
The courtiers did not dare to whisper. Of course they could see that the emperor was interested in the implementation of the tea tax, and they probably had already made plans in their hearts.
Gu Chengyu looked at the three princes in front of him and saw that the eldest prince and the second prince should agree.
The attitude of the third prince is unclear, and he is afraid that he has benefited a lot from the tea merchants. However, as a prince of the Dayan Dynasty, although he has ambitions for the throne, he cannot waste his time on Dayan just for such a small profit.
Treasury crisis.
As for the other officials, can't they still understand the emperor's intention? If anyone doesn't even have this kind of discernment, I'm afraid he won't be able to sit in the seat under his butt for long.
After a long time, the emperor finally spoke.
"Where is Shen Shikang, Minister of Household Affairs?"
Shen Shikang quickly came out of the queue and said, "I'm here!"
"The Ministry of Household Affairs should keep detailed records of the tea gardens and tea farm properties to find out their details. How much is produced each year, how much the tea is priced at, and a detailed account book should be drawn up. The issue of tea introduction should also be carried out at the same time. As for the establishment of tea
The tax yamen will be implemented after the tea introduction is made."
The emperor didn't know very well how much profit tea could make every year. Since he had to collect a tea tax, of course he had to be aware of it.
Otherwise, if those people below deceived him, wouldn't the tea tax become a good means for the officials below to make money? And whether the tea tax should be one of the ten taxes as Gu Chengyu said, the emperor has not yet made a decision in his mind.
"I obey the decree!" Although this matter is somewhat difficult, it is only because of the profit of tea. As for tea introduction, Gu Chengyu has already made it very clear, and there is basically no need to add anything. This is not a difficult task.
The emperor nodded, and then said something that made Shen Shikang jump.
"I'll give you one month, is it possible?" The emperor glanced at Shen Shikang and felt that one month was too much.
Shen Shikang quickly shouted, "Your Majesty, one month is too short. We have countless large and small tea farms and tea gardens in the Dayan Dynasty. If we only give you one month, I'm afraid it won't be enough to spend on the road, and I won't be able to make it in time!" "
He grimaced, he would definitely not be able to do it in a month.
The emperor's face darkened a little, "Am I telling you to record every tea garden? Use your brain."
Shen Shikang breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the emperor's words. Of course he couldn't find them one by one, but if the emperor didn't say anything, how could he dare to make any claims?
If he got the right word now, he would naturally use chicken feathers as command arrows. When the time comes, if it is too late, delay for a while, or check a few less companies, then even if the emperor blames him, he can still cry a few words.
"I obey the decree!"
Gu Chengyu cleared his throat, and then said: "Your Majesty! I have one more thing to do. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Gu Chengyu's words made all the officials present frown. Is this still over?
The tea tax was delayed for more than an hour. At this time, some ministers were feeling hungry. Originally, the court should have dispersed when things got to this point, but who would have thought that Gu Chengyu would cause trouble again.
The emperor couldn't help but feel a little interested, "But it doesn't matter!"
"Your Majesty! Wei Chen thinks that the salt tax of this dynasty can be the same as that of tea. By using salt tax, the phenomenon of selling private salt will be much less than before."
Gu Chengyu also thought of it just now. If salt tax could be introduced, and salt merchants could buy it with gold and silver, get the support of the government, and sell it to various places, wouldn't it be much simpler than the current salt tax?
After hearing this, the emperor also sat up straight and began to think about the feasibility of this matter.
Shen Shikang was also thinking about it. He thought that if the salt introduction and the tea introduction were implemented at the same time, it would save a lot of trouble for their officials. And in this way, the salt merchants could drive up the court's salt tax for their own benefit. This would It's called mutual benefit.
The third prince had to look at Gu Chengyu again. He couldn't believe it. How could there be such a smart and shrewd person in the world?
Could it be that someone behind Gu Chengyu was giving him advice? He couldn't believe that Gu Chengyu could think of tax law reform one after another.
Xia Qing frowned. Gu Chengyu has been in the limelight today. After today's court meeting, he may have gained the emperor's respect. If he wants to stumble Gu Chengyu again, it won't be that easy.
"Father! I think this is feasible. If the tea introduction is implemented, it will achieve great results. Then after the salt tax reform, the benefits will not be less."
The third prince had an idea in his mind at this moment. This man was so smart. If he could become his faction, wouldn't he be even more powerful?
Just the tea tax and tea-horse trade proposed by Gu Chengyu today are enough to make him look at him with suspicion. Not to mention Yan Yin, he feels that this person is really a rare talent.
Therefore, he decided to help him in front of his father and give Gu Chengyu a favor.
The third prince was not the only one who had such thoughts. Even the eldest prince, with his arrogant temperament, looked at Gu Chengyu with admiration and looked at him several times.
He had always heard from his fourth brother that Gu Chengyu had good literary talent, but he didn't know that Gu Chengyu was also very good at government affairs, which made him want to recruit him.