On September 13th, Li Zhi led his officers to receive the emperor's imperial edict at the General Military Mansion, his face was ashen.
The emperor's imperial edict was very concise, with only seven words in its core part: "Li Qing shall not impose commercial taxes."
After announcing the edict, the eunuch who delivered the edict kindly reminded Li Zhi: "Master Governor, this time, in order to collect or not collect commercial taxes, hundreds of officials at the court gathered together to force the emperor to go to the palace. The momentum was awesome! The same goes for our family.
The first time we met, our family kindly advised the Governor to be cautious in everything and don’t do it too harshly or lose your backup plan!”
Li Zhi didn't say much, stuffed dozens of taels of silver into the eunuch and sent him away.
After sending the eunuch away, Li Zhi's men were a little uneasy.
Li Zhi looked at the python robe he was wearing unhappily and said coldly: "It's okay if you don't wear this python robe!"
Li Xing asked in panic: "Brother, what should we do now? This time the emperor won't help us, how can we deal with those civil servants?"
Zheng Kaicheng was a little panicked and said: "Sir, if we stop collecting business taxes now, will those civil servants still call us traitors?"
Zheng Hui also lost his way and asked: "Sir, what should we do?"
Li Laosi bit his thumb and frowned in silence. Only Zhong Feng had the most relaxed expression, smiling and drinking tea, as if he was watching the excitement and was not afraid of big trouble.
Li Zhi sat on the chair, sighed and said: "The emperor is still afraid of civil servants and gentry! Originally I thought that after collecting commercial taxes, I could give more to the emperor, but now it seems that it is not necessary."
When Li Zhi's subordinates heard what Li Zhi meant, it seemed that they still wanted to tax, so they couldn't help but look at each other with surprise in their eyes.
Li Zhi looked at his officials and said: "Continue with the original plan and send two thousand cavalrymen from the Selected Front Regiment to convey the policy to merchants in various towns. Tell the merchants to file taxes first and report their turnover next month.
We will then calculate the tax rate based on the specific tax rate. If you fail to file your tax return by the due date this month, your store will be searched and your property will be confiscated!"
"The tax audit accountants have also been sent to protect them. Originally, there were fifty soldiers in each county to protect the accountants. Now it seems that this is not enough, so the number has been increased to 200. Anyone who dares to attack the tax audit accountants will be shot to death!"
Hearing Li Zhi's arrogant words, Li Zhi's men were silent for a while.
After a long while, Li Xing said: "Brother, now that the emperor has asked us not to collect business taxes, we force them to collect them. This is rebellion and robbery!"
Li Zhi said: "I just robbed it, so what?"
Zheng Kaicheng asked: "Sir, what should we do if the civil servants send someone to obstruct it?"
"Anyone who dares to obstruct will be arrested and tortured, and who is the instigator will be interrogated in detail. I will send people to arrest the instigator. I want to see who dares to compete with me, Li Zhi, in this three-thirds of an acre of Tianjin.
Competition?"
Hearing Li Zhi's murderous words, Li Zhi's men's faces turned pale. After a long while, Li Xingcai said: "Okay, brother, I will go to the front selection team to pass the order again and let them arrest the obstructionist."
Zheng Kaicheng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said: "I will send more soldiers to protect the accountant."
Li Zhi nodded and said no more.
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Li Zhi gave an order, and the Tiger Guards all dispatched to notify the merchants, to notify the merchants, to protect the accountants, to implement Li Zhi's determination to collect business taxes.
Li Zhi's accountant usually rents a yard in the downtown area of Gezhou County as a tax collection point. Originally, each tax collection point was protected by fifty Tiger Soldiers, but now an additional 200 soldiers were temporarily assigned to protect it. The tax accountant is at the door.
There is a big sign saying "Commercial Tax Collection Point" and no one dares to cause trouble.
Among the government officials in various states and counties, Li Zhi's soldiers could kill five of them each, and they did not dare to find trouble at the tax collection points.
Under the busy work of the cavalry of the Selection Regiment, merchants in towns in the first prefecture, two prefectures and twenty counties of Tianjin received the news that the general was going to levy commercial taxes. When the merchants saw the menacing soldiers of the Selection Regiment, they were a little scared. No.
The young merchants did not dare to confront the general who defeated the Tatars, so they went to tax collection points in various states and counties to file their taxes early. But some brave ones were still waiting to see if the situation would develop.
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In the Tianjin Governor's Yamen, the civil servants were all rejoicing and were still happy about their side's victory in the court.
Yu Tao, a soldier on the Lower East Road in Tianjin, said loudly: "Now the emperor has expressed his attitude in front of all the officials. Even if Li Zhi impeaches us, the emperor will not dare to deal with it! We can justifiably confront Li Zhi. I think he
How can we collect commercial taxes!"
The magistrate of Jinghai County said: "That day in the General Military Mansion, Li Zhi was wearing a python robe and was very arrogant. It was Mr. Yu who was the first to speak up and knock him down. Mr. Yu is a true hero!"
The magistrate of Baodi County also echoed: "If we can successfully prevent Li Zhi from collecting commercial taxes this time, I will take the first credit!"
Yu Tao laughed loudly and said: "We are just civil servants who work for the country and are worried about the country. It doesn't matter whether we get the credit or not. The key is not to let the treacherous minister Li Zhi plunder the people! If we really want to discuss the merits, let everyone jointly submit a memorial.
The emperor’s governor is the first to do the work!”
After hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement and turned around to flatter Cha Denbei.
"The governor struck a snake and caught Li Zhi's lifeline. The emperor has said that commercial taxes will not be levied. How dare Li Zhi rebel? If we win this time, it will all depend on the governor's planning!"
"Without the command of the governor, we would have been defeated by Li Zhi one by one, and he would have turned the business tax into a profit!"
Chadenbei touched the two beards on his lips and said with a smile: "Then Li Zhi won a few battles, and then he became so domineering. Our Ming Dynasty uses civility to control military affairs, so what does he mean as a military attaché? Tianjin has his own
We are waiting for civil servants to sit in charge, how can it be that a few Qiu Ba have the final say on taxation matters? If Li Zhi's prestige is not dampened, he won't even know his surname!"
After hearing this, all the civil servants burst into laughter and fell back and forth with laughter.
The officials were complimenting each other there, when suddenly three aides from Zha Dengbei ran outside the door. As soon as the three entered the lobby, they fell to the ground and shouted: "It's not good, sir. Not only did Li Zhi continue to send soldiers to inform the merchants,
When filing taxes, additional soldiers were sent to protect the tax accountants. He is trying to resist the decree and collect taxes!"
Hearing what this staff member said, the civil servants present were stunned and speechless.
The lobby, which was noisy and lively just now, suddenly fell into a very awkward silence. At this time, you could hear a pin drop on the ground.
The civil servants who were laughing just now suddenly stopped their smiles and their faces became a little stiff.
This Li Zhi is too courageous. The emperor has already issued an edict not to levy commercial taxes, and the civil and military officials of the entire court have come out to oppose it. How dare he disobey the edict and risk the disdain of the world to impose commercial taxes?
Is this an open robbery? In Li Zhi's eyes, he really has no royal skills at all!
The civil servants were stunned for a moment and looked at each other for a while, but no one said anything.
