"Boshen, Dunfu, Qiunong, why do you propose to abolish the 20% discount proposal? The teacher also has many contacts with Mr. Chen of Huguang. Listening to his words, the 20% discount proposal actually has many merits.

?" Ruan Yuan also asked the three of them.

"Teacher, from the student's point of view, this proposal to accept the 20% discount on the canal is just like the British Prime Minister's comprehensive investigation of bad regulations. It is actually a bad government?" Tang Jinzhao also asked Ruan Yuan: "The old rule of the country is to never increase taxes.

In order to cultivate vitality and relieve the people's strength. This 20% discount on water transportation actually increased the water transportation tribute by a quarter. As a result, the taxes on the people will only become increasingly heavy. The early words of not increasing taxes

, wouldn’t it become a piece of paper?”

"Dunfu, maybe you have never been a governor and don't know the difficulties of the place. In fact, the 20% reduction in the tax rate seems to be an increase, but in fact it is not necessarily true?" Ruan Yuan also explained to Tang Jinzhao: "Now there is a Caozhi Province.

, most of them have difficulty making ends meet. If the taxes are collected completely according to the old system, even the daily expenses of the gangs and transporters will not be enough. Therefore, many provinces have the disadvantage of floating taxes, and some direct provinces have serious floating taxes.

, calculated based on depletion, even reaching 50% off, but why have the provinces never been able to check the floating revenue? It is also because if there is no floating revenue, Caobang, and transporters earn according to the old system in one year, it is not enough to support their families, then they still have to

How to transport grain from the Cao Gang? But on the other hand, if the provinces allow floating collection, how much of the floating grain will be used to subsidize the families of the Cao Gang transporters, and how much will become money for local officials to line their own pockets, but it is also said that

I don’t know. It is because of President Sun and President Chen that they decided on the 20% discount on the canal harvest. On the one hand, they would collect an extra quarter of the canal grain to supplement the daily needs of the Caobang Banners. On the other hand, they could also

Begin to strictly investigate the excess revenue, so that they have no reason to use it for personal gain. Although this method has shortcomings, it is also the most reliable method nowadays, right?"

"Teacher, but from the student's point of view, this approach is just wishful thinking?" Tang Jinzhao also had his own opinions, saying: "Teacher, I think that collecting more grain can supplement the daily needs of the flag sailors, and then let them lose the excuse of pretending to be public. From then on,

If the provinces strictly inspect the floating collection, it will naturally happen naturally. But how can the teacher ensure that all provinces can carry out the matter in an orderly manner? If the 20% discount proposal is combined, the people's official income will be increased by one-fourth, which is equivalent to

At the same time, the floating collection of money and food has been banned repeatedly, but what to do? Didn’t Emperor Renzong severely reprimand the provinces when he was in power and let each province try to ban floating collecting? But in the past few years, none of the provinces could ban it.

What about the floating harvest? What the provinces were unable to do before, they just collected an additional portion of the grain according to the new regulations. Will they be able to do it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? "

"Dunfu, most of the governors in the world are capable people. If we strictly investigate and deal with them, it may not be effective?" Ruan Yuan continued to persuade.

"Teacher, students also think that it is difficult to accomplish this matter just by relying on the governors of each province." Wang Yinzhi also added: "Students have been in academic administration in several direct provinces, and they still know what the governors can do.

Yes. Even if the governor gets someone, there are prefectures and counties below him. Even the bad officials in prefectures and counties have been laid off most of them. There are still officials below. When it comes to collecting grain, it is always done by the officials and the canton gang. Even if it is the prefecture and county.

He rarely intervenes directly. In this way, just because the governor of the world is effective, how can we eliminate all the abuses of the subordinates? The students also know that the teacher is diligent in checking officials, is proficient in calculations, and is not easily deceived by his subordinates, but this rule

From the student’s point of view, there are only one or two people in the world who can equal the teacher in terms of the ability of officials to bring peace to the people.”

"Yes, teacher, even if we increase the allowances for the provincial cao gang transporters, will it stop them from having other ideas?" Yao Wentian said to Ruan Yuan on the side: "Students have checked the old records of Renzong Dynasty, Renzong

The emperor once believed that the many disadvantages of water transportation were due to the fact that the sailors could not make ends meet, so he once issued an edict that each canal gang would pay an additional 300 taels of silver for transporting grain. However, over the years, the 300 taels of subsidy for this gang was actually paid.

What has become of it? After repeated investigations, the students found that the subsidy given to Caobang by some prefectures and counties was actually not enough 300 taels at all! In addition, there were indeed some prefectures and counties that gave Caobang enough 300 taels, but Caobang still received too much.

It's the same, because many Caobang said that these three hundred taels are not enough for use! In this case, no matter how much subsidies are added to Caobang, how much should the subsidy be increased to make them satisfied, I'm afraid there will be no

That day? Then what’s the point of Sun Zhongtang and the others trying to use the 20% discount to increase the allowance?”

"That's what students mean. There have been many edicts in the past asking all provinces to strictly investigate the bad rules on tax collection, but almost none of the provinces can follow the edicts. So what guarantee can Sun Zhongtang and Mr. Chen give? This 20% off collection

As long as it is done, can the disadvantages of floating income be eliminated?" Tang Jinzhao also continued to question.

"Well, after all, you are all officials of the capital. If you could also think about it from the position of governor, you might understand." Ruan Yuan naturally knew that several students objected to the 20% discount, so he had to explain to everyone.

: "Do you think Sun Zhongtang and President Chen are people who only pursue personal interests and do not care about the livelihood of the people? Maybe they have been away from home for a long time and have seen the real situation in the province in more detail than you. The teacher also supported the Qing Dynasty back then.

You should also remember the reform of the bank system, right? What's more, whether it is a 20% discount on the collection or the clearing of the bank, it is originally traceable. Emperor Sejong died and returned to the throne, right? You should remember this? This fire consumes Caoxian

In the eyes of people at the time, it was also a bad rule. But after Hu Xian returned to the government, the disadvantages of floating income did not disappear for more than 30 years? Doesn't this also prove that some of the ideas of Sun Zhongtang and Mr. Chen may be

Is it feasible?”

"Teacher, you said that the governor may agree to the 20% discount proposal, but the students have also heard that Shuai Chengying, Shuai Zhongcheng, who was willing to implement this proposal last year, has now changed his mind?" Wang Yinzhi told Ruan Yuan:

"In a recent memorial by Shuai Zhongcheng, he also mentioned the disadvantages of floating harvest. It was caused by the intrusion of fishermen by the tenants and the control by Diao Jin. Therefore, the prefectures and counties should strictly investigate Diao Jin and prevent the government from asking for it. This is

That's the right way. If legislation is enacted because of disadvantages, then the disadvantages will also arise because of the law. The 80% argument will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause, right?"

"Yes, teacher, Emperor Sejong did make a law for the return of waste to the public, but now, there are still problems with government officials being unable to make ends meet. So now, as long as the law for the return of waste to the public is renamed and an additional tax is added,

Can the problem really be solved? Ten or twenty years later, if other reasons arise and the government once again cannot make ends meet, will it be necessary to engage in a third round of public expenditure? Over time, won’t the burden on the people be the same?

?" Tang Jinzhao also doesn't believe that the way of thinking of "returning envy to the public" can really solve the problem.

"Then... do you think there are other solutions to the current water transportation problem? If... you are not willing to accept all the possible ways to increase taxes?" At this time, Ruan Yuan gradually became clear about the 20% discount.

Regardless of the pros and cons, it is ultimately a proposal that cannot gain consensus, but even I really can't find a better way.

"Teacher, the student feels that no matter what, the laws should be used to teach the world. If we directly follow these eight-fold proposal, it will not be equivalent to making it clear to the world. The court is a court that only seeks profit. We, as officials, have spent half our lives cultivating

Isn't it true that the sages and sages have so many words of love for the people, but in the end it is useless?" Tang Jinzhao sighed without realizing it.

"Yes, Ruan Gongbao, Xiaguan has always been fond of Sinology. He believes that the way of Sinology is closest to the original intention of the sage. Xiaguan has been diligent in studying for more than ten years, but he has nothing to do with the sage's words.

Even if we are to increase taxes, it is impossible for the sages to know that a new system has major drawbacks and yet still implement this new system? Or...have we learned the sages' ways in the past few decades in vain?

"Cheng Enze is the youngest among everyone, but he is the most persistent in learning. When he said this, his heart was full of unwillingness.

"Teacher, although Chunhai's words are a bit fierce, they are also what many young students are thinking today." Wang Yinzhi also explained to Ruan Yuan: "Don't talk about teachers, they are my own students. Many of them just now

When they were officials, they were still full of enthusiasm, thinking about being a good official in various prefectures and counties and benefiting people's livelihood. But after a while, they often found that subordinate officials always levied extra money and food.

But if they don't do this, the government won't have enough money to hire these officials. In the end, either they, as county magistrates, will impose bad rules themselves, which will allow the officials to make less money, or... they will have to let the officials go.

Just do what you want. Over time, even some of my students lost their jobs because they could not become magistrates. But what problem can this solve? The teacher is proficient in arithmetic. He was in Zhejiang back then and now in Guangzhou.

The money of the court can be used where it should be used, and the officials will not feel resentful. But how many people in the world can match the teacher's talent for counting and checking officials?"

"In this way, it seems that I know too little about the affairs of later generations?" Ruan Yuan naturally knew that his disciples were very upright and would not deny Sun Yuting and Yinghe's reform proposals because of their own selfish interests and grudges.

.But if this is the case, then it means that the problems in the world today are far more complicated and difficult than the shortcomings of past dynasties mentioned in classics and history.

"Yes, in today's world, where do all these problems come from?" Yao Wentian also asked everyone: "The country has the most detailed legislation to punish the old abuses of the past dynasties. In today's world, there are endless soldiers.

The emperor has no ministers who can control the sky with one hand. He supervises and regulates one party, but there is no disaster in the vassal town of Li and Tang. The relatives, eunuchs, and harem are all quiet. They can only make comments but cannot influence the government. The country and the dynasty have settled all the borders. The border troubles of the past dynasties

, we are all gone. But why do we still have so many new problems after we have prevented all the old evils?"

"Qiunong, maybe it is because of the completeness of the country's laws that we can pay attention to these issues now." Ruan Yuan also comforted Yao Wentian: "In fact, I think the root cause of these problems today is that the household registration is increasing day by day, and the price of goods is

The taxes set in the old days are rising day by day, and now they are no longer enough. What's more, during Renzong's reign, floods and droughts were frequent with no end, so the state expenditures naturally increased. Last year, I heard that there was an outbreak in the capital.

Is it a plague? Brother Pei Xun and President Fang also... In fact, I think the previous dynasties did not have these problems, but in the previous dynasties, when these problems often appeared, as Qiunong said, there were other gatherings.

Powerful ministers, eunuchs, and vassal towns were troubled by all kinds of big things, so obvious that they covered up other problems. So before the ancients could figure out how to solve these problems, the country declined. As for us, we no longer have these old problems.

Therefore, many problems that were not taken seriously by predecessors in the past have become very obvious today. In this way, although we have solved all the old problems, there are still many new problems waiting for us to find new solutions.

." The plague Ruan Yuan mentioned refers to a great epidemic that suddenly appeared in the capital in the first year of Daoguang. It is said that this epidemic was cholera, an overseas infectious disease introduced to the mainland from Guangzhou, and many direct provinces were also affected. Great epidemic

Later, the former classmate of Ruan Yuan, Liu Ruizhi, the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, passed away due to physical weakness. At the beginning of this year, the former Governor of Zhili, Fang Shouchou, who had received a banquet from Jiaqing with Ruan Yuan and others, also passed away. So Ruan Yuan talked about the previous year.

The pandemic also brings sadness from it.

Everyone listened to Ruan Yuan's words and fell silent for a while, not knowing what to do. After a long while, Wang Yinzhi comforted everyone and said: "I think what the teacher said is right, but there is an old saying among the people, there is always something under the sun.

There is nothing new. In fact, it is not that there is no new idea at all, but all new things always have to be introduced from the old classics. If the old meaning is not clear, then the new things will be rootless duckweeds and will not last long.

.Isn’t it that we devote ourselves to studying to discover the unknown essence of the sages, reshape the world’s scholars, and then complete the great task of cultivating Qi and Zhiping? Therefore, I still believe that as long as we continue on this road, we will still be able to

Can you find a reliable way to govern the world?"

Everyone had no objections to Wang Yinzhi's words, and all praised Wang Yinzhi for his profound knowledge. But even so, at this time, everyone had an ominous thought in their mind.
Chapter completed!