Sign a Lu Fengxian at the beginning

Chapter 245 Your Majesty, you must not

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen frowned as he looked at the measurements and statistics of land in various places submitted by Xun Yu.

The landowners of the aristocratic families have annexed so much land and have the right not to pay additional taxes. This has also led to the tax revenue of Da Zhou declining year by year.

Of course, Dazhou's taxation is not only land, but also other aspects of taxation.

However, land occupies the majority.

To solve the problem of land taxation, the only way is to abolish the right of landowners of aristocratic families not to pay taxes.

If Zhou Chen abolishes the tax-free privileges of aristocratic landowners and collects taxes per mu, he will pay as much tax as he has land...

In this way, no matter how much land the aristocratic landowners annex, they cannot evade taxes and can only pay taxes in accordance with the regulations of the court.

In this way, the court's tax revenue will be restored.

Zhou Chen put down the memorial in his hand and looked at Xun Yu; "Wen Ruo, you are the one who measures and counts the land in various places. You should have the deepest experience in this."

"What good solution do you have for the land tax issue?"

Zhou Chen looked at Xun Yu and asked.

"Your Majesty, land annexation is serious nowadays. Common people own less than 20% of the land, but aristocratic families occupy 80%, and they also have the right not to pay taxes."

"So, if we want to solve the problem of land taxation, we can only first abolish the tax-free privilege of landowners from aristocratic families who do not pay taxes."

Xun Yu's words made Zhou Chen's eyes flicker inexplicably.

This coincides with Zhou Chen's thoughts.

However, as an emperor, Zhou Chen could not easily abolish rules like this passed down from his ancestors.

But Xun Yu happened to express what Zhou Chen was thinking.

Zhou Chen pondered for a moment, but did not express his thoughts. Instead, he looked at Cao Zhengchun, who was standing next to him. "Cao Zhengchun, please immediately tell Xiao He, Fang Xuanling and other ministers to enter the palace."

Such matters as land annexation and taxation were major matters for the imperial court.

Before, Zhou Chen had asked Xiao He and others to discuss the issue of land taxation first.

Now that Xun Yu is back, Zhou Chen should also summon Xiao He and several other important officials in the court to discuss it together.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun bowed, immediately turned around and walked out of the Yangxin Palace, and sent someone to tell Xiao He, Fang Xuanling and others that they had entered the palace.

After Cao Zhengchun left, Zhou Chen asked Xun Yu about other things in the place.

You know, Xun Yu was ordered to measure the land of the world this time, which was not just as simple as going to various places to measure and count the land.

Xun Yu was also the temporary eye of Emperor Zhou Chen. He looked at the situation of the people in various places on behalf of Emperor Zhou Chen.

Xun Yu described some situations in various places, and Zhou Chen listened carefully.

Zhou Chen now has no time to go to the people to understand the people's sentiments, so he can only understand the people's sufferings and sufferings through this method.

…

Half an hour later.

Xiao He, Fang Xuanling and other important officials in the court all entered the palace.

"I have met His Majesty."

After entering the Yangxin Hall, Xiao He and the others bowed respectfully to Zhou Chen who was sitting on the dragon throne.

"Everyone is free of charge!"

Zhou Chen waved his hand, looked up at Xiao He and the others and said, "Because of the year-by-year decline in tax revenue in the Great Zhou Dynasty, I asked Xun Yu to take the Ministry of Households to measure and make statistics of the land in the world."

"Now, the Ministry of Finance has fulfilled my will."

"This is Xun Shangshu's measurement and statistics of land in various places. Take a look at it!"

Zhou Chen expressionlessly handed the memorial on the dragon case to Cao Zhengchun who was standing next to him.

Cao Zhengchun held this thick memorial that recorded the situation of the world's land and sent it to Xiao He and others.

Xiao He and Fang Xuanling took turns looking at the land situation in various places in the memorial.

After everyone read it, they couldn't help but raise their eyebrows.

Especially the three ministers, the Minister of Punishment, the Minister of War, and the Eight Sages Wang Zhou Xian, felt like their eyelids were twitching.

They all knew that the land annexation in Dazhou was serious, but they did not expect that it would be so serious.

Landlords from aristocratic families actually occupy 80% of the land in the Great Zhou Dynasty. This figure is somewhat shocking!

Zhou Chen saw Xiao He and others taking turns to read Xun Yu's memorial, and said, "You have also seen the situation of the land in various places in the world."

"I didn't expect that the degree of land annexation in Dazhou would be so serious."

"Eighty percent of the land is in the hands of aristocratic landlords, and less than 20% is in the hands of the common people."

"No wonder my taxes are declining every year."

Zhou Chen glanced at the six ministers and Xiao He and the others; "I summoned you to the palace to discuss this matter."

"Eighty percent of the land is in the hands of aristocratic landlords, and they also enjoy the right not to pay taxes."

"If this continues, Dazhou's tax revenue may one day not even be able to collect even half of the tax revenue."

"How do you think this matter should be resolved?"

Speaking of this, Zhou Chen looked at Xiao He.

"Xiao Xiang, I asked you to discuss land-related issues with Fang Xuanling and the others before. Did you come up with a result?"

Xiao He heard this, raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty, land annexation is serious and tax revenue has been declining year by year. The reason is that landowners from aristocratic families have the right not to pay additional taxes."

"The minister, Fang Shangshu and several other ministers believe that in order to solve the land tax problem, the first thing to do is to abolish the tax-free right of landlords from aristocratic families."

Xiao He's words caused the expressions of the Eight Sages Wang Zhou Xian, the Minister of War and the Minister of Punishment to change involuntarily.

Abolish the tax exemption rights of aristocratic landowners.

This is no small matter.

You must know that the privileges enjoyed by landlords from aristocratic families are regulations handed down from the Great Zhou Dynasty.

If you want to abolish it, you are breaking the rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty for thousands of years.

This is not good, but it will cause great turmoil.

Zhou Chen's eyes flickered.

Unexpectedly, Xiao He and others wanted to go together with Xun Yu, and they all thought of abolishing the privileges of wealthy families.

"That's right, Your Majesty."

"Abolition of the tax-free rights of wealthy families will not only restore tax revenue, but also inhibit land annexation."

"The reason why wealthy families annex land unscrupulously is because they think they don't need to pay taxes if they have too much land."

"As long as Your Majesty abolishes the tax-free rights of wealthy families, the land owned by wealthy families will also have to pay taxes in the future."

"Moreover, the more land there is, the more taxes will be doubled."

"In this way, if a wealthy family wants to continue to annex land, they have to think about how much tax they will pay."

Fang Xuanling also stood up and said.

Fang Xuanling's words made the Eight Sages King Zhou Xian, the Minister of War and the Minister of Punishment take a breath of air.

If Xiao He's words were to weaken the power of the wealthy family, then Fang Xuanling's words were to undermine the foundation of the wealthy family.

Not only do wealthy families have to pay taxes, but they also have to double the amount of land they own?

Isn’t this an attempt to dig into the family’s strong foundation?

You know, the wealthy families now occupy 80% of the land in the Great Zhou Dynasty. If this is according to Fang Xuanling's wishes, the taxes will double as the amount of land grows.

Some landowners from aristocratic families may be able to wipe out their entire wealth.

"Your Majesty, it's more than that."

"Your Majesty should also decree that those landlords from aristocratic families who seize and annex people's land by force should be dealt with separately according to the seriousness of the crime."

"If the crime is small, let them double the tax revenue for the land they have occupied, and return the occupied land to the people."

"Those who are guilty of serious crimes will have their homes confiscated and their families exterminated to serve as a warning to others."

Du Ruhui and Liu Ye also stood up and said.

The problem of land taxation is a stubborn problem.

Strong medicine is needed to cure it.

This requires both killing and caressing.

It takes hardness and softness at the same time.

Zhou Chen nodded silently in his heart. Xiao He, Fang Xuanling and the others almost explained 70% to 80% of what Zhou Chen was thinking at the moment.

As an emperor with two generations of memories, even if Zhou Chen is not proficient in state affairs, he has insights and ideas about land taxation that go beyond historical limitations.

"Your Majesty, you must not do this."

After hearing what Xiao He, Fang Xuanling and others said, Li Yuan, Minister of the Ministry of War, immediately stood up.

"Your Majesty, land annexation is serious. There is no problem in checking the land."

"But it is absolutely impossible to abolish the tax-free rights of aristocratic landowners."

"Since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty, Taizu has issued such a decree that landlords from aristocratic families enjoy tax exemption rights."

"Furthermore, the tax exemption rights of aristocratic landowners have been passed down to this day and have formed regulations."

"If Your Majesty rashly abolishes the tax-free rights of landlords from aristocratic families, he will be opposed by landlords from aristocratic families all over the world."

The Minister of War said anxiously.

He didn't want to see Dazhou lose everything in one fell swoop after finally reaching today's situation.

Abolition of the tax-free rights of aristocratic landowners will not only deal with one or a few wealthy families, but also all wealthy aristocratic landlords in the world.

The Minister of War admitted that today’s Great Zhou Dynasty is no longer the same as before.

Even in the face of the four great clans, the Zhou court was not afraid.

But the combined strength of the world's aristocratic families, landlords and wealthy families cannot be matched by the four clans.

Once all the wealthy, aristocratic, landlord and wealthy families in the world unite, it is possible to overthrow the entire Zhou Dynasty.

"Yes! Your Majesty."

"Abolition of the tax exemption rights of landlords of aristocratic families is a violation of the etiquette and law regulations that have been established for many years in the Zhou Dynasty. It is absolutely impossible."

"In the matter of land annexation, the court can order an investigation of the landowners of the aristocratic families."

"But we cannot break the rules and abolish the tax-free rights of family landlords."

The Minister of Punishment also stood up and objected.

The Minister of Punishment himself was from an aristocratic family, but he was also conscientious in his duties to Zhou Dynasty.

In the view of the Minister of Punishment, it is not feasible for the aristocratic landowners or the current court to abolish the tax exemption rights of the aristocratic landowners.

Therefore, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice followed closely the Minister of the Ministry of War and opposed the abolition of the tax exemption rights of the landlords of aristocratic families.

"Your Majesty, I also object to it."

The Eight Sages King Zhou Xian stood up and raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the right of tax exemption for this wealthy family has always been my rule."

"If Your Majesty rashly abolishes it, you will be breaking the rules I have established for many years."

"This rule was set by Taizu. Once it is broken, it will have a huge impact on my royal family."

"Your Majesty, please think again."

The Eight Sages King Zhou Xian didn't say much, he believed Zhou Chen understood what he meant.

This regulation has existed since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty.

It was also set by Emperor Taizu of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

As a descendant of the next generation, if the prescribed etiquette and laws set by Taizu were rashly abolished, the impact on the royal family would be considerable.

Zhou Chen heard the objections from the Minister of War and the three others, but his expression remained unchanged.

Zhou Chen knew that not everyone would agree to abolish the tax exemption rights of landlords of aristocratic families.

However, what surprised Zhou Chen was that Zhou Xian, the Eight Sages King, also opposed this matter.

Zhou Chen looked at the three of them, Minister of War, and said calmly, "I just want to ask you one question: Will abolishing the tax exemption rights of landlords of aristocratic families bring more benefits than disadvantages to Great Zhou, or will the disadvantages outweigh the benefits?"

The Minister of War, the Minister of Punishment, and the Eight Sages Wang Zhou Xian looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.

It's obvious.

Abolition of the tax exemption rights of aristocratic landowners would do more good than harm to the Zhou Dynasty.

"It seems that you all have the answer in your mind, so I don't need to say more."

Zhou Chen glanced at the Minister of War and the three of them and said.

"I don't care about any regulations, nor do I care about ancestral etiquette, nor do I care about the objections of aristocratic landowners."

"As long as it is beneficial to Dazhou, I will do it."

"Previously, Shangshu Xun has also made suggestions to me to abolish the tax exemption rights of aristocratic landlords."

"I think the proposal to abolish the tax exemption rights of aristocratic landlords is a good one."

Zhou Chen's words had already sealed the result.

No amount of opposition is of any use.

Because the emperor's will is the court's will, and opposition is useless.

After hearing Zhou Chen's words, Xiao He and Fang Xuanling glanced at Xun Yu.

They did not expect that before them, Xun Yu had already suggested to Zhou Chen the idea of ​​abolishing the rights of the landlords of the aristocratic families.

After hearing Zhou Chen's words, the three of them, the Minister of War, Zhou Xian, the Eight Sages, and the Minister of Punishment, wanted to say something, but in the end they held it back.

Although the three of them still opposed this matter in their hearts, they knew that once Zhou Chen made the decision, it would be meaningless for them to object.

"However, the abolition of the tax exemption rights of aristocratic landowners cannot be cut off with a single blow."

"Those who have done meritorious service to the Zhou Dynasty and have not taken anything by force or occupied other people's fields can be given some preferential treatment."

"In addition, there are other taxes, such as salt tax and tariffs, which must also be resolved."

Having said this, Zhou Chen picked up a memorial on the dragon table and handed it to Cao Zhengchun, who was standing next to him. "These are some of my thoughts on land and taxation. You can all take a look."

"You are all talented people. I don't have the talent like you, but you can refer to some of my ideas."

These are some thoughts Zhou Chen wrote in advance about the issues of land and taxation, combined with the memories of two generations.

Zhou Chen knew that these ideas could not be completely applied to today's Da Zhou.

Therefore, Zhou Chen asked Xiao He and Fang Xuanling to refer to it.

Xiao He and Fang Xuanling are all outstanding people. Zhou Chen believes that with the talents of Xiao He and Fang Xuanling and after referring to some of his ideas, they will be able to come up with a strategy suitable for today's Zhou Dynasty.

Cao Zhengchun took the memorial handed over by Zhou Chen and sent it to Xiao He and the others.

Xiao He and Fang Xuanling also curiously opened the memorial and read it.

They wanted to see what Emperor Zhou Chen thought about land and taxation.

When Xiao He, Fang Xuanling and others saw the thoughts written by Zhou Chen in the memorial, they all frowned.

The ideas Zhou Chen wrote about land and taxation can be said to be very novel and fascinating.

The most important thing is that there are some ideas that even Xiao He and Fang Xuanling find incredible.

For example, cancel tariffs, encourage business, and increase business taxes.

There is also land tax per mu and reform of land tax.

This was beyond the imagination of Xiao He and Fang Xuanling.

(End of chapter)