The news that a river in Hebei burst its banks again quickly reached the capital. Although thanks to the efforts of the Water Conservancy Institute and the Public Security Bureau, the damage was not huge and only affected hundreds of households. When Zhao Xu heard the news, he immediately felt physically and mentally.

All tired.

what to do?

The frequency of flood control in the Song Dynasty and the amount of manpower and material resources it expended truly surpassed that of previous dynasties, but the more it was controlled, the more confused it became.

When efforts and results are completely opposite, it is very demoralizing.

Although the two prime ministers at the time, Wang Anshi and Wen Yanbo, still had strategic considerations, hoping to maintain the eastward flow and prevent the Liao people from causing trouble at the border, especially recently.

But Zhao Xu was tired, and he didn't want to bother anymore, but he didn't say clearly whether it was the east flow or the north flow. He just said that the Institute of Water Conservancy had failed in preventing floods, and would continue to maintain the decision made in the last discussion, leaving full power to the Institute of Water Conservancy.

Rely on academics to govern.

This scholarship definitely does not include strategy. In fact, it is a compromise to Xiang Beiliu.

His confidence in doing this is that he is now retreating, mainly because the western front has shifted from offensive to defensive stage. The Song Dynasty will have enough power to defend the Liao Kingdom and will not be completely dominated by the Liao Kingdom.

At the same time, Zhao Xu promoted Su Song, who was well versed in geography and diplomacy, to the rank of Shaoqing of Honglu Temple. He established a diplomatic mission and stationed himself in Taiyuan Prefecture to deal with the matter of border demarcation with the Liao State. He still had to use this matter to entangle the Liao State.

The country's focus still lies in its internal affairs.

In fact, Zhao Xu is also more obsessed with internal affairs now, because it is difficult to make breakthroughs in external affairs and there are more bad things, but internal affairs are now shining brightly.

In fact, these people are all the same. Only when they can achieve results will they be more motivated.

If tax coins are issued, the results will be immediate.

The entire market has become very prosperous, and people's enthusiasm has also been greatly improved.

This is fun to do.

Today Sima Guang, Fan Chunren, and Su Shi came to the market to inspect.

I saw the uncles and aunties selling vegetables pushing empty carts and carrying empty baskets, counting the tax coins they earned, and happily leaving the market.

They had mixed feelings, after all, they did not agree with the issuance of this tax coin.

But the facts are before their eyes, and they have to admit it!

Sima Guang said: "You have to pay more attention recently, because whether tax coins or salt banknotes are issued on Jingdong East Road in the future will be decided by the three departments, and the public prosecutor and law cannot stop it."

Su Shi sighed: "I feel uncomfortable thinking about Zhang Zihou showing off his power in front of me regarding this matter in the future!"

Fan Chunren said: "Actually, it's just an extra tax coin in the middle. I didn't expect it would lead to such a huge change."

As soon as I finished speaking, I heard a laugh: "You will never understand."

The three of them turned their heads and saw Wang Anshi walking over.

What bad luck!

Wang Anshi said: "According to the estimates of the Department of Taxation, the fiscal revenue of Gyeonggi Province will increase a lot this year. This means that the people do not increase taxes but the state uses money."

Sima Guang frowned and was about to refute, but Su Shi spoke first: "What does this have to do with Wang Xianggong?"

Wang Anshi glanced at him coldly, "Is it related to you?"

"If you don't have talent, you will have to do your best if you are a low-ranking official."

Su Shi said: "Not only the finance of Gyeonggi Province is growing, but the finance of Jingdong East Road is also growing, but as Brother Fan said just now, in fact, the overall wealth of the country has not increased.

At present, the country's wealth growth mainly comes from three points. First, it saves losses and expenses. Second, political clarity reduces corruption. Third, it collects taxes in accordance with the law. And these three points all stem from official governance.

What is Mr. Wang doing?"

Sima Guang nodded and said: "What Zizhan said is right. These are all brought about by the public security organs and the law, and your new policy is just a ride on the wind."

Wang Anshi frowned and suddenly called to a passing bearer, "Uncle, please stay."

Seeing the extraordinary popularity of these people, the bearer asked uneasily: "What's the matter with the officials?"

Wang Anshi asked with a smile: "What is uncle selling?"

The bearer replied: "I sell eggs."

Wang Anshi asked: "Have you always made a living selling eggs?"

The bearer said, "I make a living by farming."

Wang Anshi asked: "Now are you selling eggs instead?"

"no."

The bearer shook his head and added: "I still make a living by farming, but I have recently raised some chickens at home."

Wang Anshi asked: "Why didn't you raise it before?"

The bearer said sarcastically: "I used to raise them, but not many, just two or three. If I raised more in the past, I would have to go to the Yamen Service. Now I don't worry about how many I raise."

Wang Anshi asked: "So, you make much more money than before."

The bearer said happily: "It's more."

Wang Anshi said again: "But you have to pay more taxes!"

The bearer said: "Then we have to earn more before we pay more taxes. This is different from the past. In the past, when we earned more, we received less."

Wang Anshi smiled and nodded, then pointed to the empty load and said, "Have you sold all the eggs?"

The bearer nodded and said, "They are all sold out. The market has been good recently, so I plan to raise more chickens."

Wang Anshi cupped his hands and said, "Thank you uncle for informing me."

"Don't dare, don't dare! Then...that villain will leave first."

"Walk slowly."

After the bearer left, Wang Anshi turned around and said proudly: "Who said this wealth has not increased... people?"

Looking around, I saw the shadows of Sima Guang, Su Shi and Fan Chunren.

This made Wang Anshi furious.

You don’t have martial ethics!

Little did they know that in the small attic next to them, there were two young people watching them.

It was Zhao Xu and Zhang Fei.

Zhao Xu also quietly left the palace today to see if the prosperity of the market was really what the ministers said.

Back at the wine table, Zhao Xu asked Zhang Fei: "Who do you think is right in the argument they just had?"

"We are all."

Zhang Fei explained: “The current fiscal growth mainly comes from official administration, and the clear and bright official administration also nurtures taxation and administration.

After all, most of my land in the Song Dynasty is controlled by the big landowners. They didn't pay taxes before, but now they all have to pay taxes.

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! There is also the issue of corruption. Now that the public prosecutor and the law are so strong, who dares to take corruption and bribery? Ministerial expenditures have been greatly reduced, so the fiscal revenue has doubled.

This is also within reason.

But wealth has actually increased, and this is due to the enthusiasm of the people. In the past, rich people did not dare to make money, and even committed suicide to avoid government officials. Now they dare to make money. Secondly, before the money was earned, some people were used to it.

If the lower-level officials extort most of the money, they can only keep their mouths open, and there is no extra money to expand production. Now they can invest the money they earn into production, just like the old man selling eggs. If he has extra money, he can

Raised more chickens.

Although the wealth growth is not much, we will completely rely on this to promote fiscal growth in the future."

Zhao Xu asked: "How do you say this?"

Zhang Fei replied: "Because there is a limit to the benefits of official government. If everyone pays taxes in accordance with the law, there will be no room for fiscal growth. As long as the people earn more, the fiscal system can continue to grow."

Zhao Xu asked again: "How can we make people earn more?"

Zhang Fei said: "If a worker wants to do his job well, he must first sharpen his tools. This can only increase wealth by improving technology. For example, our dynasty's rice technology is far better than that of the Tang Dynasty. Farmers will receive more food and taxes will be reduced."

Pay more.”

Zhao Xu sighed: "But this is not easy."

"The world is bustling with people, all for their own benefit."

Zhang Fei said: "Motivated by interests, they will definitely try their best to increase their wealth, especially businessmen. They will definitely be the most radical group, but I think they still lack some wisdom, which may require help from the court."

Zhao Xu asked again: "How can the court help?"

Just as Zhang Fei opened his mouth, he suddenly thought of something, "By the way! Isn't His Majesty preparing for the reform of the official system recently?"

Zhao Xu nodded and asked, "What does this have to do with this matter?"

Zhang Fei said: "I have communicated with Inspector General Fan about the situation of the Qingzhou Business Administration before. According to him, the Qingzhou Business Agency is developing well. Many of its talented officials have improved the salt production technology, so that the production of Binzhou sea salt has increased.

At the same time, they also improved their smelting techniques, and most of these officials were bachelors.

But unfortunately, only Qingzhou is currently doing this, and this is caused by local debt restructuring."

Zhao Xu nodded, "Bachelor is a job title, which is different from official title. These bachelors are all Jinshi, and they all have talents. However, our dynasty is far better at recruiting scholars than the Tang Dynasty, but the positions are limited, so we can only arrange them in

The various pavilions serve as scholars."
To be continued...