Chapter 648
Official salaries were mostly determined at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
The economic fluctuations in the feudal era would not be as great as those in modern society, because silver and gold were used as hard currency, so economic characteristics such as inflation and deflation occurred very rarely and in small magnitudes.
Therefore, it is rare for any political power to adjust officials' salaries, and even if they do, it is only by a small amount.
Because the amount of official salaries will directly affect the court's financial expenditures, and it will account for a huge proportion.
Take the Great Qin court as an example. Last year, the national salary distribution totaled 45 million taels. What was the tax revenue of Great Qin for the whole year last year?
Only twenty million taels.
This leads to large-scale wage arrears.
Even in good times, the salaries of officials across the country were a heavy expense for the court.
What's more, changing the salary means changing the ancestral system.
A single move can affect the whole body. This is related to the overall situation in the country. It cannot be changed by simply changing it.
The financial pressure alone was enough to bring down the imperial court.
This is also the reason why He Kun didn't dare to bring it up easily.
Li Chen looked at He Kun and said calmly: "Did you know that once the salary is increased, each official will only receive an increase of 10%. For the court, it will cost millions of taels of extra money every year. This money
, where did it come from?”
He Kun swallowed again, and with a sudden heart, he said: "Open shipping, encourage commerce, and impose commercial taxes!"
After saying these ten words, He Kun lay tightly on the ground, not daring to breathe.
The sea ban is a national policy of the Qin Dynasty. The rules set by our ancestors have been implemented for more than three hundred years. No one dares to propose opening the sea ban.
Even today, fishermen in coastal cities more or less secretly go to sea to find a living, such as those in Weihaiwei. The government turns a blind eye to this, but no one has the guts to seriously propose lifting the sea ban.
.
Even the emperor can't.
Once you bring it up, you are risking the disdain of the world and will be scolded by the royal family members until you don't know what to do.
Moreover, once the maritime ban is lifted and commerce is encouraged, this is tantamount to challenging the moral bottom line that has been implemented throughout the Central Plains for thousands of years.
People have always been agricultural, industrial and commercial, and commerce is the cheapest.
How can business be encouraged?
This is to make our ancestors so angry that they jump out of their graves.
It is impossible for the literati in the world to pass this test.
He Kun knew that any of his ten words was enough to kill him, but he had no choice but to risk his life.
Even Chen Tong admired that this guy really had a right way to commit suicide.
This is not how you seek death.
The warehouse was quiet, Li Chen didn't speak, and He Kun and Chen Tong didn't dare to say anything.
Even breathing was suppressed.
Afraid of making some noise.
He Kun felt even more tormented, and the seconds seemed like years.
With his forehead touching the ground, his sweat dripped onto the floor and gathered into a ball in the blink of an eye, but he didn't dare to wipe it or even move.
I don't know how much time passed, but just when He Kun's heart was gradually sinking to the bottom, Li Chen's voice finally floated from above his head.
"From today on, you will be the prince's companion, and you will be on errands in the East Palace. Your first errand is to collect gifts from all the officials in this palace. Who gave how much and when, record everything in detail.
The palace is useful, and it’s all thanks to you that we can get more.”
Hearing these words, He Kun suddenly felt as if he was flying up to the nine heavens, and his whole body relaxed.
Chapter completed!