Fortunate Young Gentleman

"Abolish the poll 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 Finance cannot bear the blame.

Qian Shuo stood up and secretly cursed Tang Ning and Huai Wang, these two little foxes. They didn't want to cause trouble, so they 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."

Wang Xiang was checking the memorial. Hearing the words, 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 to Qian Shuo again, 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 would 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 Tangning and Prince Huai into the palace."

"See Father."

"See Your Majesty."

Tang Ning and King Huai walked into the imperial study and saluted 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 Revenue announce this?"

Tang Ning looked at King Huai and said, "It's 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, your 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 get into 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." to effect.”

Chen Huang did not speak again, but carefully thought about what the two said.

As the emperor, he had to strike a balance between the people and the gentry and the powerful. While ensuring the interests of the court, he could neither make the people dissatisfied nor make the gentry resentful, and the two were contradictory.

Nowadays, Chen State 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 is even more flawless. This matter is very important, and a big mistake will cause a big mess. Only when they work together can he feel completely 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 which law the court has promulgated that is related to the national economy and people's livelihood. Today's notice, I don’t know what else I wrote.

Some people came closer to watch the excitement, but they didn't know what was written on it. They hurriedly pulled a passing Confucian scholar to ask. After asking, they found out that the court was collecting opinions on a tax law. People could write their opinions and suggestions on this law on paper and throw them into the big box under the city wall. It didn't matter if they couldn't read or write. There were more than ten clerks under the city wall who could write for them.

After learning the content of the tax law, many people were shocked and speechless.

According to the rule of collecting taxes per head, it has never changed from ancient times to the present. Many people are tenants and have to pay taxes even if they don't have land. However, those gentry and dignitaries who control a large amount of land do not have to pay much. In addition to paying rent, the people also have to pay taxes from the government. In good years, it's okay, but once there is a disaster, they will definitely not be able to make ends meet and their lives will be difficult to sustain.

If this tax law can be implemented, the burden on the people will be at least half lighter. Correspondingly, the gentry and dignitaries who own a large amount of land will have to endure unprecedented pain of cutting flesh.

For a while, some people in the capital were happy and some were sad. In a very short time, the situation was completely boiling.

In the West Market of the capital, Tang Qi looked at the notices posted on the street and said in disbelief: "Is the court crazy? Does it want to be enemies with all the gentry and nobles in the world?"

Tang Zhao shook his head and said: "Your Majesty is not stupid. He raised taxes on those people for no reason. If you think about it, you will know that his purpose is not here."

Tang Qi doubted: "If not here, then where?"

Tang Zhao said: "Didn't the court clamor for streamlining the tax law and removing unnecessary taxes a few days ago? Suddenly, there is no movement these days. Your Majesty's purpose may be here."

Tang Qi frowned and said: "Explain clearly."

Tang Zhao looked at him, shook his head helplessly, and said: "For example, apples on the street are sold for ten cents a pound. If you want five cents, If you want to buy apples with money, you can offer one cent first. The apple vendor will definitely not agree, but he may reduce the price to nine cents. You raise the price by two cents, and he will reduce it. In the end, you may buy apples at a price of five cents per catty. Although you offer one cent for the first time, you never thought that you would get the deal at this price. "

Tang Qi looked at him and said, "You mean, His Majesty knows that these people will not agree, and he just wants to compromise and let them agree to streamline the tax law..."

"That's about it." Tang Zhao nodded, looked at the apple vendor, and asked, "How much do these apples cost?"

The vendor said, "Ten cents per catty."

Tang Zhao asked, "Will you sell it for one cent?"

The vendor glanced at him and said, "Get lost!"