Chapter 310: Sharpening the Knife to Kill Pigs and Sheep

This...

The officials present looked at each other in bewilderment. It was not that they did not want to contribute to the empire, but that this was a problem that was almost impossible to solve.

Ridiculous, not going to give up!

When the Minister of Punishment He Shixin saw that Zhu Youtang still wanted to increase fiscal revenue, he laughed in his heart.

"Your Majesty, do you still remember what I told Your Majesty about light taxes when we were in the residence?" Zhou Jing, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, glanced at the people around him with contempt, and looked at Zhu Youtang in the attic as if everyone was drunk but I was sober.

Zhou Jing was a Jinshi in the fourth year of Tianshun. At a young age, he entered the Hanlin Academy as a Shujishi, served as Hanlin Shidu, Zhongyun, and once entered the East Palace as a daily lecturer, that is, the nominal emperor's teacher.

Because Liu Jian made a political mistake this year and was dismissed by the court, Qiu Jun, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, took over Liu Jian's position, and Zhou Jing became the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites.

After all, it is impossible for every upright person to be born to sing against the emperor. Zhou Jing also wanted to show his knowledge in the face of this opportunity to show himself.

Huh?

Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, and other officials felt that Zhou Jing was full of confidence at this time. They looked at each other in surprise, and then turned their heads to look at Zhang Jing in confusion.

Zhu Youtang actually had no impression, and asked calmly: "Master Zhang, isn't the 30% tax set by Taizu not a light tax?"

"Your Majesty, the saint advocates light taxation, and takes the tax of one tenth as the standard of light taxation! Taizu was born in a poor family, so when he was in power, he thought about the hardships of people's livelihood, so he set the tax of 30% as the standard. However, since the beginning of the country, the people have been recuperating for more than a hundred years. Now Huangzhi is in a hurry to govern the water, and Jianzhou should build a granary in the northeast. The expenses of all things are related to the prosperity of the country, so I think that we can collect one or two more taxes from the people, so that the national treasury can be filled!" Zhou Jing quoted the standard of Confucius and proposed in a literary way.

This is a tax increase!

After listening for a long time, officials such as Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, finally reacted.

Zhou Jing talked about this for a long time. The so-called solution to the Ming Dynasty's finances is actually to increase taxes. This is to follow the example of the imperial court to bleed the people at the bottom.

As soon as the voice fell, Jia Jun, the Minister of Works, took the lead in standing up to oppose the powers: "The 30% tax is the ancestral system, and now the people are far from rich. Even if the court needs money, it cannot be levied on the people! Once the tax is increased, it will inevitably lead to local unrest in the Ming Dynasty. This policy is absolutely not allowed!"

"It is also the ancestral system that no piece of wood goes to sea, but the facts have proved that since the opening of the port, the current dynasty has benefited a lot. It is a good policy to adapt to the times, and now the country is in order to develop better, what's wrong with increasing one or two taxes?" Zhou Jing, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, has a good eloquence and immediately argued.

This...

Officials such as Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, originally wanted to join the battle, but after hearing Zhou Jing's arguments, they had to seriously think about the pros and cons.

Unlike the previous dynasties that simply pursued financial problems, this time the court was trying to control the Yellow River and develop the northeastern granary of Jianzhou. If the people were levied or taxed more, it would indeed solve the current financial problems.

"The issue of levying more taxes should not be mentioned again in the future. As long as I am in office, I will never increase taxes!" Zhu Youtang's face became serious and he openly stated his attitude.

In fact, he knew that levying more taxes could indeed solve the current financial problems. Even if half a tael of silver was collected from each citizen, it would be a terrifying number.

Why do many historians always believe that "Ming fell in Jiajing"? It was because Jiajing continued to levy more taxes on the lower-class people in order to build Chengtian Palace and other buildings, thus slowly losing the foundation of the group.

For those in power, half a tael of silver is insignificant, but this half a tael of silver may be the life-saving money of many people, or it may directly take the lives of some people.

In this era, the lower-class people live very humble lives. A dose of medicine can save a person, or a few coins can keep a person alive.

Although it seems that the reason for this levy is very sufficient, after all, it is for the development of the country!

If Jianzhou is built into a granary in the northeast, it can not only solve the food problem of the capital and the border troops, but also abolish the annual grain transport that consumes one million taels.

However, this still cannot be a reason for additional levies.

Zhu Youtang's original intention was to lead China to prosperity, not to persecute the lower-class people in order to become prosperous. This approach is undoubtedly putting the cart before the horse.

That's right, no matter how high-sounding Zhou Jing said, his original intention did not waver at all.

"Your Majesty is wise!" The officials such as the Minister of Personnel heard Zhu Youtang's firm statement of his position, and they also bowed respectfully and said loudly.

This is not the first time they have heard Zhu Youtang express his position, but now they still have a faint touch of emotion. Today's emperor does care about the people in accordance with his words and deeds.

With such an emperor, how can the Ming Dynasty not prosper?

How could this be?

Zhou Jing, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, frowned slightly, and suddenly found that his suddenly smart student seemed pedantic again, and did not intend to adopt his good solution to solve the financial problem.

It was obvious that increasing taxes by 10% or 20% would solve the problem, but the result was simply a woman's kindness.

Zhu Youtang knew that he could not let these officials play freely, so he said seriously: "You are all important officials of the country and the most intelligent scholars in the Ming Dynasty. Now the finances of the country are stretched to the limit, do you really only know how to ask for help from the people at the bottom?"

This was very impolite, and it was like putting a hat of inaction on the important officials present.

"I know my crime!" Jia Jun, the Minister of Works, and other officials bowed their heads in a proper attitude in the face of this accusation.

If you say that you didn't understand the emperor's intention just now, but now the emperor's attitude is very clear, that is, he will never increase taxes on ordinary people.

In fact, whether they are scholars or important officials of the Ming Dynasty, they have a growing sense of belonging to this country, and they are actually opposed to increasing taxes and levies on the people.

But... they really don't have any good solutions. The grain tax and salt tax, which account for the largest proportion of the fiscal revenue, have already been done to the best.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say!" Dong Shan, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, took a deep breath and stood up.

Zhu Youtang had no hope for the usually taciturn Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, so he picked up the teacup that had just been delivered and said, "Speak!"

"There are still people in the country who are not well-dressed, but the rich wear silk and satin, travel in sedan chairs with four bearers, and ride in carriages with tall horses when traveling far away, so it is not surprising that the locals exceed the limit! They live in mansions and spend thousands of gold on a meal, so I think we can impose a luxury tax on these extravagant people!" The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Dong Shan, knew that he, who was promoted from a ministerial position, was going to show something, so he boldly pointed to the rich group in the country.

Luxury tax?

The eyes of Jia Jun, the Minister of Works, and others lit up slightly, as if they had opened up new ideas.

Zhu Youtang found that his ministers were indeed not lacking in talent, at least now the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel dared to think, so he took a sip of hot tea: "Mr. Dong, how should the luxury tax be levied?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the life of a person is nothing more than food, clothing, housing and transportation. Clothing is silk and satin, and the tax is 12%; food is the banquets in the big restaurants in each city, and the tax is 12%; housing is a house worth a thousand taels, and the tax is 13%; travel is a carriage and a sedan chair, and the tax is 14%. "The right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Dong Shan, felt the mission he was shouldering, and he no longer hesitated to speak out his plan.

In fact, it was related to his own experience. Since he was born in a wealthy family, although he saw many people in the fields who were not covered by clothes, he also saw the extravagant style of local officials and gentry early.

After his observation of the emperor during this period of time, he knew that the emperor did not value the behavior of local rich households exceeding the rules, and he always cared about the people.

If the imperial court legalizes the use of sedan chairs and carriages, even if a 40% tax is imposed on these wealthy families, they will probably still be happy to accept it.

Food, clothing, housing and transportation?

After listening to what Dong Shan said about the luxury tax, officials such as Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, also showed a solemn expression on their faces.

In fact, the first thing they thought of was themselves. The capital is a place where every inch of land is worth a lot of money. Even the houses in the north of the city cost thousands of taels, not to mention the southern area of ​​the city.

Once they get serious, maybe they will also need to pay taxes to the court.

However, the people present quickly gave up this narrow idea, but seriously thought about the feasibility of the luxury tax.

Zhu Youtang gently put down the teacup in his hand, but stood up directly from the chair, came to the guardrail and looked down at the important officials present.

Wan An and other officials realized that the emperor had appeared, and immediately lowered their heads silently, appearing to be sitting upright. Now the emperor has already become the object of their complete submission.

Dong Shan was promoted from the position of Langzhong of the Ministry of Literature. Since this position is low-ranking and powerful, it takes a longer time to accumulate experience, so he is already a middle-aged man in his forties.

Perhaps because he has seen too many ups and downs in the officialdom, Dong Shan is more likely to seek benefits and avoid harm.

Zhu Youtang looked at the middle-aged man who had always had a weak presence, and asked seriously: "Mr. Dong, the luxury tax is so detailed, didn't you just think of it?"

Huh?

Officials such as Jia Jun, the Minister of Works, also reacted and turned their heads to look at Dong Shan.

"I dare not deceive your majesty, this strategy has indeed been thought of earlier!" Dong Shan, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, straightened his face and answered very honestly.

Zhu Youtang's face was solemn, but he looked deeply at Dong Shan: "Why did you only start now?"

This...

Officials such as Jia Jun, the Minister of Works, felt a chill on their backs, and turned their heads to look at Dong Shan sympathetically.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty! This policy is to levy taxes on the rich. I am afraid of retaliation, so I dare not submit it immediately!" The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel panicked and explained frankly.

Zhu Youtang knew that this should be Dong Shan's true feelings, so he asked seriously: "Why do you bring it up now?"

"Your Majesty is wise and loves the people. The country is prosperous. I dare not avoid it because of my personal misfortune!" Dong Shan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, raised his head bravely and said very honestly.

Zhu Youtang seemed to see the transformation of a slippery minister to a good minister, and he also sighed: "What a good one who lives and dies for the benefit of the court, why should he avoid it because of misfortune!"

"Ah?... I didn't say that, but... it's really insightful!" The psychological activities of Dong Shan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, are very complicated.

Zhu Youtang did not intend to pursue Dong Shan's crime of delaying reporting, so he began to ask in a probing manner: "How should the tax be levied on a house worth 1,000 taels?"

"The house is based on the transaction price. All houses that are purchased for more than 1,000 taels or sold for 1,000 taels in the future will be taxed at 30%! Just to make the rich households cooperate in paying taxes, I have another unwelcome request!" The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel answered seriously immediately.

Zhu Youtang found that this property tax could indeed increase fiscal revenue, so he asked calmly: "What is it?"

"I think it is necessary to add a special clause! If it is not for treason and house seizure, this house will not be included in the list of confiscations!" Dong Shan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, raised his head slightly and said seriously.

Ah?

The eyes of officials such as Jia Jun, the Minister of Works, lit up slightly, and then looked at Dong Shan with shock on their faces.

Not to mention those wealthy families, even I am tempted. After all, I only need to cooperate with the tax payment, so my house is insured, but it allows my descendants to live in the house for generations.

Zhu Youtang found that the wisdom of the ancients should not be underestimated, but he asked without rushing to express his opinion: "My dear ministers, do you have any objections?"

"I have no objection!" Officials such as Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, knew that the luxury tax was indeed a good solution to the current financial situation, and they said respectfully.

If the Chongwen tariff just now was a glass of water, the current luxury tax was like opening a Pandora's box, but it dug a new well.

Whether it is the current collection of existing real estate or the continuous real estate transactions, it can bring a steady stream of luxury tax revenue to the country.

In particular, the turmoil of building the outer city of the north city last year triggered a wave of price cuts in the capital, but then the plan for the outer city of Beijing was shelved. In particular, the tight financial situation of the Ming Dynasty can no longer support the court to build the outer city of Beijing, so the houses in the capital have seen another wave of rising prices this year.

This is true in any era. Once there is an expectation of rising prices, the transaction will naturally be very active, and many speculative funds will participate.

If it were in the past, the housing prices in the capital would naturally be a game for the powerful circles in the capital, but now the emperor has reached out here, and it seems to be a fair share.

When Zhu Youtang saw that the luxury tax was passed smoothly, he made a final decision: "If so, then this matter is settled! The Ministry of Revenue will listen carefully to the opinions of Minister Dong, issue corresponding detailed rules, and submit them to the cabinet for review!"

"Ministers obey your order!" Li Si, the Minister of Revenue, and other officials said respectfully immediately.

Dong Shan was also excited. Although he was destined to be hated by the rich, his proposal was passed, and he was doing a good thing that would benefit the country and the people and go down in history.

Since the methods that should be thought of had been almost thought of, there were no particularly valuable proposals in the next meeting.

Zhu Youtang inherited a rich family fortune from Emperor Chenghua and made a lot of money. Last year, he had a budget of 3 million taels to squander at will, but this year he was short of money.

However, he believed that the road was tortuous, but the future was bright.

As long as he survived this difficult year, the finances next year would be very abundant. At that time, he might have a budget of tens of millions, and the railway could be put on the agenda.

After the financial budget meeting of the Supreme Council ended, the capital began to have holidays, so everyone put aside all government affairs and prepared to welcome the Spring Festival.