After the Hongmen Banquet, the dignitaries in the court just symbolically sold out all the food in the grain store, and then chose to close the shop, assuming a posture of fighting to the end.
It’s not illegal if you don’t sell it!
Isn't it just warehouse tax? I just pay it. What the hell!
After that, only food stores that cooperate with WFP will be open.
However, only after more than two months, some grain shops in the city began to open their doors for business one after another, with prices set at thirty-eight cents.
At the same time, Cai Jing raised the price of grain to 40 cents.
This is not to say that he is showing great kindness, but because the food of the imperial court is indeed useful and can only be used in emergencies at critical times.
In this way, those people who are forced to make a living and participate in the work-for-relief program naturally choose to go to these grain stores to buy food, which is two cents cheaper after all.
But it's just them.
Most people still don't buy it.
That's it?
There is no sincerity.
They believe that grain prices will fall again, and even if they want to buy, they will only buy in one or two days.
Everyone knows that there is still a lot of food that has not been released.
This is really a good reincarnation, no one will be spared by heaven.
The more times this happened in the past, the more these big landowners would hold back on selling their grain, and unless they sucked up all the people's land at the lowest price, they would never sell it.
But this time, that time.
Don’t you love hoarding food?
Just stock up.
We would rather have porridge every day than buy it.
Don't tell me, some people really think so, and they try their best to persuade others not to buy it.
However, as these small and medium-sized owners began to sell grain to outsiders, the large landowners gradually became unable to bear the burden.
They were really starting to get anxious.
Because they know that if this continues, the imperial court will definitely be able to survive until the beginning of autumn. The key is that it does not trigger a panic and grab food, and everyone is still rushing to buy.
Any store!
"It's over! It's all over!"
Liu Ping looked at the newly opened grain stores downstairs, and immediately became discouraged and collapsed on his chair, his eyes gradually becoming dull.
Cao Huaidao: "Brother Liu, the higher-ups...what did the higher-ups say?"
"above?"
Liu Ping glanced at him and said, "Above, haha, I wanted to ask yesterday, but they scolded me. Now they can get angry at me."
Chen Xiang said: "What should we do now? In the year of famine, the price of grain was only thirty-eight cents. It was not as good as when there was a recession. It was too low. We were asked to sell grain, but we couldn't do it like this!"
Cao Huaixin asked: "Otherwise, we spend a lot of money to buy all the grain from the small and medium-sized households?"
Liu Ping and Chen Xiang looked at him at the same time.
It seems to say, do you buy it?
In fact, those small and medium-sized landowners have hinted before that they are willing to sell grain to them. If you don't buy it, then we will sell it to others, but we can't hold it anymore.
But they are not stupid. The current situation is very unfavorable to them. At this time, they have to buy grain on a large scale. As long as the court waits until the beginning of autumn, it will really cost them both their wives and their troops.
These powerful people are all very snobbish. How could they be willing to help these small and medium-sized households take risks?
...
Royal Palace.
"Madam, there are people coming from the Wang family and the Li family again."
Empress Dowager Gao carefully spoke to Empress Dowager Cao who was lying on the collapse.
Empress Dowager Cao slowly sat up with the support of her maid, "What's the matter?"
Empress Dowager Gao said sarcastically: "It's still about the warehouse tax. They hope that the officials can be accommodating."
Empress Dowager Cao said: "I have also heard about the warehouse tax. This is not to rob their food, but to let them sell the food. Can their family eat so much food?"
Empress Dowager Gao said: "But they said that the time is too tight and they can't be sold out at all."
Empress Dowager Cao said: "Then you go ask them, how do you want me to tell the officials that our relatives in the Song Dynasty all have hundreds of thousands of stones of grain in their homes, and they can't even sell them all? Can you please give them some accommodation?
If an official asks me why my relatives keep so much food, how do you want me to answer?"
Empress Dowager Gao added: "But there are also many complaints from the clan?"
Empress Dowager Cao waved her hands and said indifferently: "It doesn't matter, they only complain about this moment. After all, the officials are not trying to rob them of their food, nor are they trying to give them less food, but let them give it to them."
If you change it into money, you will gradually get used to it."
After a pause, she added: "Also, go and tell King Chang that this is a disaster and a war. The official has not had a good sleep for several days, so he must not bring trouble to his brother.
trouble."
The implication is to let Chang Wang Zhao Hao lead by example.
"yes."
...
Zhao Mansion.
"Zhao Zongzheng."
When all the officials saw Zhao Wenzheng coming in, they all stood up and looked at him eagerly.
Zhao Wenzheng sat down, let out a long sigh, and said, "Don't hold out hope in this palace. The Empress Dowager has already said that both the clan and relatives must abide by the warehouse tax."
"ah?"
All the officials couldn't help but look at each other.
Meng Qiansheng said: "But the clan is under the jurisdiction of the clan and should not be restricted by the Legislative Council."
When relatives of the clan break the law, they are usually not handed over to the judicial authorities, but are tried by Zongzheng Temple. This is what Zhao Wenzheng did.
But when it comes to investigation, it’s still the judiciary.
Suppose the procuratorate finds that Zhao Hao has violated the law, but generally it will not be handed over to the imperial court for trial. Zhao Xu's previous restructuring did not involve Zongzheng Temple, which means that this point has not changed.
Zhao Wenzheng said: "Having said that, don't forget that the reason for this warehouse tax is to worry about others' rebellion. Even the prince of the clan cannot bear this crime!"
Dali Temple and Kaifeng Prefecture have also tried cases involving clan members, mainly rebellion cases. Once a rebellion case is involved, the emperor will not hand it over to Zongzheng Temple for trial.
The reason why you are so panicked this time is because of the definition of warehouse tax. Once the tax department finds out, if the amount is shocking, then there will be suspicion of rebellion, and it will definitely be investigated, and Zongzheng Temple will not necessarily be responsible for it.
.
The key point is that Zhao Xu is not good to the clan, because when his father was still alive, he was often oppressed by the clan, and he has been reducing the clan since he came to the throne, so they did not have much hope for Zhao Xu.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! This is why the relatives of the clan went to ask Empress Dowager Cao, hoping to give them a clear message, although as far as the system is concerned, the imperial court has no control over them.
But it might involve rebellion, which frightened them.
However, the empress dowagers of the two palaces were not vegetarians. They knew very well that this natural disaster would have an impact on the emperor's reputation, and the warehouse tax was conducive to stabilizing the imperial power.
The key point is that this warehouse tax is designed in an interesting way. It is exempt from commercial tax and encourages everyone to make money. Don't hoard it. If the food is not sold for money, it will be used for rebellion.
...
After learning this result, the officials sitting here couldn't help but feel a little desperate.
“But how can we sell food at this current price?”
"We still don't know how long this disaster will last. If all the food is sold, what will we eat then?"
Zhao Wenzheng said: "If you are afraid of disaster, then pay the warehouse tax. Anyway, you will only collect half of it. If you are afraid of losses, then sell it. Don't come to me about this matter. I have a headache now."
"
...
This was unreliable, and they began to reason again.
A dozen well-known squires in the capital went to the Legislative Assembly and asked Fu Bi how to calculate the Yizhuang?
Hope to get immunity through Yizhuang.
Although Yizhuang was Fan Zhongyan's masterpiece, and Fu Bi respected Fan Zhongyan the most in his life, Fu Bi did not give Fan Zhongyan any dignity in this matter and decisively rejected it.
The reason is very simple. If you really want to take care of the clans in your village, you can deposit the money in exchange for grain into Yi Zhuang, and they can use it to buy grain.
In addition, you can send food directly to them.
According to the warehouse tax, if you give all the 100,000 shi of food at home to the villagers, you will not have to pay tax and will not be afraid of being fined.
Because it was made very clear at the hearing.
The tax department mainly looks at the right to use the grain and the direction of the ultimate benefits. It is okay for you to give it to others to avoid the penalty tax, but as long as the tax department finds out that the final benefits of the grain you give away will fall into the
Your purse, or if you use this food, you will be fined.
What’s more, these two bills have now become a symbol of the Legislative Council’s authority, and Fu Bi will not let go easily.
...
Now that things have happened, the powerful people know that there is no way to save the situation, so more and more households are selling their grain.
In the evening, as the sun sets, crows crow on the old trees in the Chai family compound, adding a touch of sadness to the wailing coming from the courtyard.
But I saw a gray-haired old man, looking at the granary as neat as a chessboard in front of him, crying loudly, "Food! My food! Ah---!"
As he shouted, his thin body was swaying in the evening wind.
"Daddy!"
"grandfather!"
Several young people behind him immediately rushed forward and helped the old man.
"Dad, if the food is gone, it will be gone. We have fields! As long as the fields are not lost, it will be fine."
"Grandpa, what father said is true. We can keep the green hills without fear of running out of firewood."
.....
After being cheered by several younger generations, the old man suddenly stood up straight and said, "You're right, we have fields! Tens of thousands of hectares of land, can we get it back in just one year? What are we afraid of?"
"Yes! What are we afraid of? And no one can say a word about how much land we will buy in the future."
"Well said! Mere grains don't matter. Let's exchange grains for money, and then use the money to buy fields. Our family's grains will only become more and more... Wuwuwu, grains... I have to live like this.
At this age, this granary is always full and never empty, I am ashamed of my ancestors!"
...
finally!
These powerful men gave up their struggle completely and took out all the food in the warehouse.
They don't dare to bet that the tax department won't find out, because the price is too high. Once found, it may be more than just a fine. If they are charged with treason, the entire family will die.
This was also the first time in history that landowners began to empty their granaries.
As a result, a grand event appeared on the outskirts of the capital.
It wasn't raining, but the roads were piled with grain as far as the eye could see.
This amount of food is really mind-numbing!
Even the powerful themselves were frightened.
The ministers of the DPRK and China also ran to the suburbs to watch this grand event.
It can be seen that under this natural disaster, there must be human disaster.
Zhang Fei also took his wife to the outskirts for an inspection. Looking at the endless grain teams on the road, he couldn't help but sigh: "Sometimes, I really don't understand. They have so much grain saved and they don't sell it for money. Why do they keep it?"
?”
Xu Zhiqian said: "Maybe it's because I like it."
"like?"
Zhang Fei turned his head and looked at Xu Zhiqian.
Xu Zhiqian nodded and said: "When my father was an official in Xuzhou, I knew that there was a big landowner there. He would go to the granary every day when he had nothing to do. All of his more than 40 granaries were full, and only the extra ones could be used."
He will take it out and sell it. It is said that if the granary is not full, he will not be able to sleep."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "That's it."
Food is the top priority for this people.
The ancients have always had a lofty belief in food, and many people even have a fetish for food.
They hold back the food and don't sell it. It's really not that they all hoard it, or they just like it.
But thinking that I would be fined 50% in vain, I might as well sell it.
As I was walking, I suddenly met Cai Jing under a tea shed.
"Teacher, teacher's wife."
Cai Jing hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.
"Cai Jing, why are you here?"
Xu Zhiqian asked curiously.
Cai Jingdao: "I just finished negotiating business with some landowners."
"Business?"
Xu Zhiqian looked at Cai Jing doubtfully.
Cai Jingdao: "They will sell half of the grain to our WFP at a price of thirty-five cents, but our WFP must ensure that the price of food is stable at thirty-eight to forty cents."
After Xu Zhiqian heard this, she immediately said in anger: "These people are really hateful. They would rather take advantage of the government than the people. You didn't agree to them, did you?"
According to the budget of Bianjing Law Firm, the price of grain will fall to less than 25 cents. The main reason is that they have too much grain in stock. But if the dignitaries first sell half of the grain to the WFP, and at the same time let the WFP
If they don't release grain, they will have the confidence to stabilize grain prices.
Cai Jing immediately sent a signal for help to Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "You can't say that. If the landlord sells it to the outside world for thirty-five cents, the people will not buy it and will definitely wait. The price of food will only fall further, but the price of food cannot be too low."
, if this is too low, who will grow food? Landowners also have costs to grow food, and both parties will lose. This is why the WFP must ensure that the price of food is not lower than 35 cents."
Xu Zhiqian pouted and said disdainfully: "How come no one told me these truths when the price of food was soared to seventy or eighty cents."
Zhang Fei laughed a few times and glanced at Cai Jing.
Cai Jing immediately made an excuse and ran away.
Not long after Cai Jing left, he met Hou Donglai again.
"Lao Hou, why are you here?" Zhang Fei asked curiously.
Hou Donglai said: "Oh, I'll go to the coal yard to discuss business."
Zhang Fei hurriedly asked: "What's going on?"
Hou Donglai said: "Coal prices have risen sharply recently, and the cost of our movable type workshop has been increasing."
Xu Zhiqian wondered: "Why will the price of coal rise in this period?"
Hou Donglai said: "Madam, haven't you noticed that there have been dozens of new iron workshops in the suburbs recently? As more people buy coal, the price of coal has risen."
Xu Zhiqian asked again: "Why are so many iron workshops added?"
Hou Donglai said: "It has something to do with these projects, which require a lot of engineering tools. In addition, many people do not farm, but come to work on construction sites. The wages are not low. The business of this tea shop and tavern has improved a lot, and consumption has also increased."
A lot of coal."
At this moment, two young men walked over from the opposite side. One of them said: "Brother, I want to stay in Chengdu to work and don't want to go back to farming."
The elder asked in surprise: "Why?"
"With the few acres of land we have at home, we can barely survive. We can work in the city and save some money without worrying about natural disasters. Isn't that good?"
"You're stupid! This work will be finished one day, and no one will ask you by then, so you won't starve to death."
"Let's learn some skills now, but we can't find anything to do."
...
After the two brothers left, Xu Zhiqian said: "This looks very much like the Hezhong Mansion back then."
Zhang Fei just smiled and nodded.
...
As the powerful released food, the turbulent situation finally settled down, but the people were full of complaints.
Because they already know that the powerful sell half of their food directly to the WFP, the low food prices they long for are already gradually going away.
Can they stop scolding the landlords?
You'd rather sell it to the WFP at a low price than give it to us. It's them who punish you, not us. You're really a cheap person.
A bunch of bullies who bully the weak and fear the strong.
But the people had no choice but to scold them. They still had to buy the food. The key was that more and more people were buying food.
The price of food rose again, and finally stabilized at 40 cents. Of course, this was also required by the WFP.
...
The happiest person among them is the emperor.
He can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being. After all, things have stabilized internally.
"Haha, a small warehouse tax has solved this eternal problem. It's amazing, it's amazing! Come on, come on, I'll give you a toast."
"Wait a minute."
Zhang Fei picked up the cup, but did not drink it. Instead, he said: "Your Majesty, we will clearly get the credit for this."
Zhao Xu asked: "How?"
Zhang Fei said: "The real solution to the problem is not the warehouse tax, but His Majesty's determination. Your Majesty should take the first credit."
Zhao Xu smiled and said: "Stop flattering me. The first penalty will be waived. As long as I am not considered the number one sinner, then I will be satisfied. Come on, come on, do it."
"I respect your Majesty."
After a glass of wine, Zhao Xu suddenly said: "When I discussed the matter with the Third Secretary yesterday, the Third Secretary said that as long as the drought does not last until the beginning of autumn, this year's tax revenue may not be reduced. The reason is that there are more people.
There are many shops here.”
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "Because the people have come to work, they are no longer self-sufficient and need to spend money to buy. In addition, the ban imposed by the imperial court a few days ago has caused the number of small workshops to increase, and business taxes will increase rapidly.
Increase, I predict that this year’s fiscal revenue will be much higher than last year.”
"How much more?" Zhao Xu asked: "But the money the people received was also given to them by the imperial court. Could it be that as the three envoys said at the beginning, these one thousand guan can leverage thousands of guan?"
"There is a reason for this, but it is not the main reason."
"Then what's the main reason?"
"It's just money."
Zhang Fei said: "Landlords released a lot of grain, but they also got enough money, but they didn't have much place to spend money. I predict that there will be a shortage of money in the market at the end of the year.
To pay taxes this year, the people will definitely pay taxes in kind rather than in currency, including tax coins issued by the court. As long as these tax coins are not collected, the court will make millions of dollars this year, and then next year and the year after,
The tax coins will be slowly handed over to the court, but it is not necessarily the case. It also depends on the situation of the coins on the market. If industry and commerce develop rapidly, the tax coins may be delayed, which is the case in Hezhong Prefecture."
"That's it, that's it."
Zhao Xu was extremely excited after hearing this. He couldn't help but look at the sky again and thought to himself, God, you must make it rain!
If it rains, it will really turn everything into something magical.
If the drought continues, even if the gods come, they won’t be able to save it!
Zhang Fei seemed to understand what he was thinking and said: "Your Majesty is so kind and righteous for the people, God will definitely be moved."
Zhao Xu did not have much confidence and said: "I hope so."
But Zhang Fei was very confident because he knew that the drought would not last for a whole year, so they dared to do this.
If there was a drought for two years, he might become a sinner.
Zhao Xu suddenly said: "By the way, the third commander also gave me an idea."
Zhang Fei asked: "What do you think?"
Zhao Xu said: "He hopes to expand the city and allow more merchants to build shops, so as to provide livelihood for more people. It just so happens that I also want to expand the imperial city.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! He said that as long as the court plans the land first and then sells it to merchants to build shops, even if it spends money to buy houses and shops on the edge of the imperial city, the court will still
There is money to be made, and business taxes will increase a lot."
Zhang Fei understood as soon as he heard that this was about playing real estate, demolishing here and building over there. Of course it was profitable, but this was also very similar to Xue Xiang's style. He also played like this in Hezhong Mansion, but over there
Playing with salt money, Cha Ma said: "Of course this is possible, but we don't wait until after the disaster."
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "Of course."
Expanding the city, that's fine. The key is to expand the imperial city. Haha, those ministers are full of complaints and have nowhere to complain. If you want to expand the imperial city at this time, if you don't scold you, you will be bloody. Then there is something wrong.
Zhang Fei added: "In addition, the imperial city can be expanded, but there is no need to expand the city."
Zhao Xu asked: "Why is this?"
Zhang Fei said: "Because I don't think anyone will be able to invade the capital in two or three years. Just build it outside the city. There is no need to expand the city wall and waste money. Anyway, our government does not impose a curfew."
Zhao Xu was very happy to hear this and laughed out loud.
At this moment, a chamberlain came over and whispered a few words in Zhao Xu's ear.
Zhao Xu frowned when he heard this, and punched the table hard, "This is unreasonable."
Zhang Fei asked: "Your Majesty, what happened?"
Zhao Xu glanced at Zhang Fei and said with lingering fear: "I was really lucky that I listened to you and didn't start a war with Xixia."
After Zhang Fei heard this, he asked: "Is it possible that the Liao Kingdom is taking action?"
Zhao Xu nodded and said: "Just now news came from Chanzhou that the Liao Kingdom plans to send a special envoy to the capital."
After hearing this, Zhang Fei breathed a sigh of relief. He thought the Liao Kingdom had sent troops and asked, "Could it be because of something else?"
"It's very unlikely."
Zhao Xu shook his head and said: "Because the Liao Kingdom rarely sends envoys to the capital. Usually there are problems and they are negotiated in the border states. Therefore, nine times out of ten, it is because the Xihe River expanded the border. During the Qing Dynasty, our court and Xixia Gang
When the war started, they came to take advantage of the situation and raised the annual currency. This time they will definitely use their same tactics to take advantage of the situation and at the same time hinder our use of troops against Xixia."