When Chongzhen became the emperor, it was a bit of a rush. When he was young, Chongzhen did not receive an orthodox imperial education, and he himself never thought about being an emperor.
But Zhu Youxiao's death forced Zhu Youjian to take on this responsibility. Zhu Youjian was an ambitious man. Since he became the emperor, he must be a good emperor and build Ming Dynasty into a peaceful and prosperous age.
This is what he thought and did. For the sake of Liaodong and the northwest, he scrimped on food and clothing, not even leaving a penny in his internal funds.
Two years ago, he was very high-spirited and thought that as long as he worked hard, he would be able to become the emperor. But now, Chongzhen was a little confused. With so much effort and intention, the Ming Dynasty became even more precarious.
When the imperial brother was alive, it seemed that he was not very diligent, but every time there was a major disaster, the imperial court could always come up with disaster relief money. Even if there was any, enough money and food could be obtained in time. But when it came to me, it was obvious that
You are much more diligent than your royal brother, but why can’t you get any money?
Did the mighty Ming Dynasty really reach the point where it couldn’t get out any money? No, the Ming Dynasty had money, food from Shandong, and money from Jiangnan and Shanxi.
Chongzhen knew nothing, at least he knew that the Ming Dynasty had money and food. Chongzhen made up his mind to get money and food no matter what tomorrow, otherwise Shaanxi's disaster relief would be empty talk.
The next day, there was another emergency court meeting. Civil and military officials gathered in the main hall, all with downcast faces, looking worried about state affairs.
Seeing that no one made any suggestions, Chongzhen raised his voice and said: "Now our Ming Dynasty is suffering from internal and external troubles, but the court has no money and food to use. Shaanxi is anxiously waiting for food. I thought for a long time last night and came up with a way.
Dear friends, you may wish to listen to it and see if it is feasible."
"I have learned that Jiangnan and Shanxi have developed commerce and trade, especially in the Jiangnan area, where rich businessmen gather and have a lot of money, but they only need to pay a small amount of tax every year. I think this needs to be changed, in order to cope with the current difficulties.
Bureau, we might as well increase the business tax to one out of ten taxes, and increase the grain tax on Shandong gentry. In this way, a batch of money and grain can be raised in a short time to meet the urgent needs of the court."
It was not easy for Chongzhen to come up with this idea. Last night, he specially called the emperor's sister-in-law to talk about business taxes. He felt that it was feasible, so he brought it to the court for discussion.
He thought he was doing well, but what Chongzhen didn't expect was that as soon as he said these words, the expressions of Qian Longxi and others in the front changed drastically. However, Qian Longxi and others did not speak, but the people standing behind could not wait.
stood up.
Cui Wenguan, a member of the Ministry of Revenue, shouted with a serious look: "Your Majesty, this must not be done. This will harm the country."
Chongzhen was a little confused. If it wasn't just the increase in commercial tax and grain tax, how could it hurt the national system? Being slapped with such a big label, Chongzhen's face naturally looked a little ugly. He frowned and said with an unhappy expression: "
Cui Aiqing, what’s really wrong?”
Everyone could tell that Chongzhen's tone was unkind, but Cui Wenguan was not afraid at all. He stiffened his neck and replied, "May I ask, Your Majesty, who set the rules for thirty-one taxes?"
"Of course it's Emperor Taizu!"
"Then your Majesty, does your Majesty know why Emperor Taizu set taxes like this back then? This was Emperor Taizu's praise for the knowledgeable people in our dynasty. Now that Your Majesty wants to increase commercial taxes, doesn't it go against Emperor Taizu's original intention? Isn't it true?
The ancestral system and tampering with taxation will be detrimental to the country. Jiangnan is the foundation of our Ming Dynasty. Half of the tax money and food comes from Jiangnan. If there is chaos in Jiangnan, our Ming Dynasty will never have peace. Please think twice, your Majesty. Could it be that you have forgotten
During the reign of the late emperor, the tax resistance of Yan Peiwei and others in Suzhou? The article "Tombstones of Five People" is still in my ears!"
After Cui Wenguan finished speaking, other officials such as the Ministry of Civil Affairs stood up and echoed. At this time, Chongzhen was a little bit in trouble.
Yan Peiwei's tax resistance was a big commotion in Suzhou and Hangzhou at that time. This was also the reason why Chongzhen hated the eunuchs. Chongzhen felt that what Cui Wenguan said was not necessarily correct, but he didn't know how to refute it.
The ancestral emperors plus the ancestral system were enough to give Chongzhen a headache, plus Suzhou's tax resistance. If commercial taxes were imposed and Jiangnan really rioted to resist taxes, what would it do? Chongzhen didn't want the chaos in the northwest to be suppressed, Jiangnan Big chaos arose again.
"This won't work, that won't work, then you can tell me what to do now?" Chongzhen frowned and looked at the civil and military ministers in the palace.
At this time, an official from the Ministry of Revenue stood up and suggested: "Your Majesty, Jiangnan is the foundation of our Ming Dynasty and should not be touched lightly. However, Shanxi merchants have been connected to Mongolia in recent years, and even colluded with Hou Jin to make a lot of money. Man. At this moment, when it is time for them to contribute their efforts, I believe that the Shaanxi merchants have made a lot of bad money, so they should tax more. In addition, the Central Plains is rich and there is a lot of food surplus, so it is better to increase the food tax to meet the urgent needs of the court."
Chongzhen is no longer the emperor now, and he can see some things clearly. In the past two years, the Jiangnan gentry has not done well in donating blood, but Shanxi merchants have continued to donate blood to the court. The last time Jizhou was in trouble, if Shanxi merchants had not contributed, It is estimated that the imperial court has had a difficult time in recent years.
Later, Shanxi merchants went to Shaanxi to provide disaster relief, and under the banner of Chongzhen, they earned a lot of face for Chongzhen. Looking at all this, how could Chongzhen have the nerve to levy more taxes from Shanxi merchants?
Chongzhen didn't want to, but the officials from the six cabinet departments agreed in unison, making Chongzhen even more embarrassed.
A court meeting ended unhappily, and Chongzhen's head was a little buzzing. He obviously wanted to get more money from wealthy merchants in the south of the Yangtze River, but how did it end up causing the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty to impose taxes on Shanxi merchants? Naturally, Chongzhen couldn't. Agreed, but with the inner leader and support from most officials in the Sixth Department, this proposal could not be blocked. Returning to the Wenhua Palace, the more Chongzhen thought about it, the more he felt that he could not stand up to Tie Mo.
To this day, Chongzhen also regrets his original actions. Sweeping the eunuchs and suppressing Shanxi merchants was a stupid move.
But what happened has become a foregone conclusion, and he can't make up for it even if he wants to. At this moment, Chongzhen felt that he was very frustrated as an emperor. He couldn't do what he wanted to do, and what he didn't want to do happened one by one in front of his eyes. .
...
In mid-September of the second year of Chongzhen, when the war in Shaanxi was in full swing, a fire was also burning in northern Shanxi. Suddenly, an official document was sent from the court, ordering officials from all over Shanxi to impose additional commercial and agricultural taxes on the local gentry. This autumn tax was higher than in previous years. Twice more.
Now the whole land of Sanjin is in trouble. Why should the commercial tax be doubled this year? It would be fine if the imperial court treats everyone equally, but if I ask someone, the commercial tax in Jiangnan will remain unchanged.
Oh, the tax rate for the richest merchants in Jiangnan will remain unchanged, but the Shanxi merchants who live a relatively difficult life will have to double it. Why? I have seen bullies, but I have never seen bullies like this. Do you bully no one in our court?
At the same time, Tie Mo also received a letter from Zhang Yan.