"All taxes are paid to the officials and the people in the world. One in thirty will be taken, and all the silk will be lost to Chang'an." Eastern Han Dynasty Conference
On the way to the palace, the great minister Liu He happened to meet the charioteer of the young master Zhang Chang.
"Da Nong, can we share the ride?" Zhang Chang's weathered face showed a bit of a smile.
Liu He hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded in agreement. As a junior, he took the initiative to get out of his car and got into Zhang Chang's car.
The interior of Zhang Chang's carriage was a little cramped. Liu He was sitting on his knees opposite Zhang Chang, and their knees were almost touching.
This was a bit like a secret conversation. Liu He was a little confused and listened quietly with bated breath.
"Your Majesty is in charge of everything and works hard to govern. We, our ministers, have been greatly blessed by Your Majesty. Even if we are foolish, dirty and have faulty talents, we are not afraid of destroying our bodies and heads in order to repay Your Majesty's kindness." Zhang Chang.
Slowly uttered a commonplace opening statement, and then got to the point: "It's just that the world is not at peace. I am in charge of paying taxes to the court and restricting money, but these accounts always make me worried."
Liu He couldn't figure out what the other party meant. Although Zhang Chang and Zhang Chang were both close to the emperor, they had no contact with each other. This relationship was as unreliable as Zhao Wen's relationship with Dong Cheng. He didn't think much about it and just followed it.
The other party continued: "What Mr. Zhang said is true. Nowadays, the imperial court rules the world in name, but in fact it can only control the Guanzhong, Bingzhou and other trivial places. The rest of the states and counties are mostly stolen from the hands of powerful ministers and powerful families. We are responsible for today's affairs."
The annual rent and taxes are not good, the accounts are not good, and our face is not good."
After saying that, Liu He looked at Zhang Chang's deep smile and suddenly asked: "I don't know, kid, are there any big events recently?"
It seems that father and son share the same temperament, and Liu He's temperament is as honest and honest as his father's, or even more so. If it weren't for the emperor's blessing, how could he be in this position? Zhang Chang sighed softly in his heart, and then he had a profound meaning.
He said: "It's not a big deal, but there is a person in Chengming Hall who has made a big splash recently."
After pointing out the direction, it was not difficult for Liu He to think of it. He suddenly said: "Sikong Zhao Gong?"
Zhang Chang twirled his long beard with his hand, nodded and said: "It is Zhao Sikong. This man is very capable. No matter what your majesty wants to say, he will be the first to agree. Although your majesty has many good policies in his heart, he is like a jade in the rough."
, how can it be released to the world if it is not refined and perfected? Zhao Sikong’s administration would be unimportant."
Liu He smiled politely. Zhang Chang himself was an expert in the so-called jealousy of colleagues and how well he understood the emperor's temperament. He had close contacts with the Wang family. Wasn't that what he meant?
How familiar is Zhao Wen with the emperor, and can he glean his intentions from the emperor's words? Now that there is someone better than him, who can understand the emperor's thoughts in a timely manner, and quickly propose a response plan, Zhao Wen will naturally be a little dissatisfied and jealous.
.
Zhang Chang saw Liu He but smiled and said nothing. He pondered for a moment and looked troubled: "Now the only ones who can pay taxes to the imperial court are Guanzhong, Bingzhou, Yongliang and several counties in Yuzhou. Among them, the only one in Yuzhou is Yingchuan.
Runan is newly attached to two counties. The two counties have suffered from repeated military revolts and political affairs are in chaos. The chief has only been in office for a short time. I am afraid that this year's taxes will not be expected. The same is true for Hanoi County. As for Yongliang, there have been natural disasters for many years, and thieves and Qiang bandits are rampant in counties and counties. Some
Not only do localities have to ask the imperial court to provide them with tax exemptions, but they also have to ask the imperial court to give them money and food. It’s difficult, it’s difficult!”
"The outside world says that the imperial court is revitalized and Guanzhong is stable. How many people understand Yan and Sang's difficulties?" Zhang Chang sighed and meant something.
Yan refers to Fan Li's teacher Ji Yan, and Sang refers to Sang Hongyang, a minister of the Xiaowu Emperor. Both of them were good at managing money. Zhang Chang compared them, as if he wanted to elevate each other.
Just now we were talking about state affairs, and in the middle there was Sikong Zhao Wen. What is the connection between the two? Liu He has always chosen to be taciturn about things that are temporarily unclear. Sure enough, just as he was driving away from the palace gate, he was still some distance away.
, when the two were about to get out of the car, Zhang Chang said: "This year, the imperial court sent troops to Hedong to carry out river construction and repair post roads. It spent money on many places together. Although the imperial court basically relied on the savings of San Fu over the years, Dong Zhuo's family wealth and the confiscated income from Hedong.
, barely enough. But the court is spending more and more money, and I’m afraid this little amount of money won’t last long.”
Liu He couldn't help but wonder: "Although I don't know about Zhang Gong's young manor, after the salt and iron franchise returned to the young man's manor, I guess the expenses will not be embarrassing. Here at Sinong, since the imperial court established military and civilian farming, this year
But a lot of extra taxes have been levied.”
Zhang Chang took a deep look at Liu He: "There are more than 2 million people in Sili, Bingzhou, Yongliang and other places. After your Majesty's decree, the people were reduced and Li was exempted from the tax calculation. After the oral tax, this year only 3350 people were collected.
120,000 yuan. As for the tax on salt and iron, because Yanchi in Hedong experienced a great turmoil, it has not yet seen any results. Business travel in Guanzhong has not yet flourished, so including industrial and commercial taxes, the total is only 40 to 50 million yuan. A big farmer can
Don’t underestimate these tens of millions of dollars, all the salaries of the imperial ministers and officials will come from this.”
In fact, Zhang Chang also underestimated two incomes of the Shaofu, one was the coinage from Shuihengjian, and the other was the income from Yuanhutianchi. It was just that the former was minted not long after it was established, and millions of coins were minted, so it has not yet exerted its real effect.
The reason is that because the imperial court moved westward, many gardens in Luoyang were abandoned, and places such as Shanglin Garden in Chang'an were used by the emperor as public land and lent to the refugees, so the income from these two items was minimal.
"I remember that the annual income of the Shaofu alone was at least one billion yuan." Speaking of his duties, Liu He sighed: "Today we are going to the palace to pay an audience and report the annual income of the imperial court. According to Zu
The land rent is thirty to one tax. This year, including the farm output, we have collected a total of 4.13 million shi of grain. Compared with the tens of millions of shi in the past, I really have no shame to mention it in front of His Majesty."
"Now there are more than 25,000 soldiers and horses such as General Xu Rong in Bingzhou, more than 10,000 generals such as Zhang Ji and Yang Ru in Yongliang, and 20,000 soldiers under the former general of Henan. Including the north and south forbidden troops, there are a total of 90,000 soldiers and horses." Zhang
Chang said slowly: "If nothing happens in peacetime and the tribesmen stay in the camp, each person will consume 27 shi of food per year, which means 2.43 million shi of food and grass will be consumed a year. In wartime, each person will consume 2.43 million shi of food and grass.
We need to eat three kilo of rice per month. Counting the expenses of civilians and transshipment, the figure is probably even higher. This does not even include the military pay, the purchase of armor and clothing, etc. If we do, if His Majesty had not set up farming, just with the
How can Guanzhong support an army of nearly 100,000 people?"
Liu He was silent for a moment. If he wanted to revive the Han Dynasty, he must use force to conquer the princes of various states, but the prerequisite is to develop armaments. But once this happens, it will inevitably have an impact on the economic recovery of Guanzhong. The annual income of the imperial court will decrease, and there will be
In turn, it affected the process of reviving the Han Dynasty.
This seems to be an unsolvable cycle.
Zhang Chang twirled his beard until Liu He's expression became clear, and then he said: "Liu Jun must have noticed the recent news. His Majesty is preparing to conquer the rebel Qiang and Wuhan Song Jian in Wudu. Infantry Colonel Xu Huang
It is just a forward, and the Northern Army will definitely be sent forward later. At that time, the food and grass will go first, and the transportation will be difficult. It will probably be ten times or even one time, and it will cost hundreds of thousands of dan at least a month. And how can it be more than a month to rebel against the Qiang?
To seek peace? The war continues, and it will take several months to achieve success."
Liu He waited for Zhang Chang to continue talking, but he didn't hear anything for a long time. When he looked up, he saw that the other person had an unfathomable look on his face, as if he was waiting for him to think about it.