Chapter 58: The Sound of Frogs Talks about the Harvest Year (2)
Zhao Si continued: "It seems that many people have understood what I mean. Yes. Everyone must eat salt, the old must eat it, the young must eat it, men must eat it, and women must eat it too.
The poor people living in thatched huts and bamboo shacks have to eat, and the wealthy people in high-end and deep courtyards also have to eat. The small ones eat less, the big ones eat more. But they must all be eaten."
"So we add the birth fee to the salt. No matter where he lives, how old he is, whether he is a boy or a woman, as long as he buys salt, it is equivalent to paying the birth fee."
There was a bang below and couldn't help but start talking in low voices.
Zhang Dun stood up, looked around the crowd majestically, and said loudly: "Everyone, don't be disrespectful in front of the emperor!"
The hall immediately became silent.
Zhao Si smiled and said: "I've almost finished my talk. Have a drink of water and take a break. You can discuss it. If you have any questions later, just raise your hands."
The students discussed quietly among themselves, with different expressions. Most of them were surprised and happy. They felt that they had benefited a lot from this official "lecture". These people who were selected to participate in this study class must have accepted Zhao Si.
New Deal, I have a certain degree of acceptance of what he proposed.
If you haven't changed your mind, what qualifications do you have to get the chance to rise to the top?
Zhao Si took the warm water from Li Fang and sipped it while looking at the expressions of the students. He drank a few sips, put down the water glass, and slowly walked over to Zhang Dun.
"Your Majesty, today it is an eye-opener for me and all of you to know that there are so many articles about the Tax Division Meeting," Zhang Dun said with cupped hands. His words represented the aspirations of the ministers behind him.
Especially Lu Huiqing, Cai Jing and others who are known as capable officials in the Xining New Party can't hide their resentment on their faces. Officials are more capable and knowledgeable than us ministers. This pressure,
It's really hard to explain clearly.
"Taxation is not about taking away the people's wealth, but it is about gathering people's power to make the people rich and the country strong. Therefore, the first problem is that we cannot put the cart before the horse."
"I will keep your Majesty's teachings in mind." Zhang Dun and others responded honestly with their hands raised.
Zhao Si looked at the ministers, smiled and nodded.
After several rounds of screening, he felt relatively reassured about the ministers currently staying in the center.
There is nothing to be afraid of if you have a keen mind and ambition.
Who doesn't want to make progress as an official? In addition to political achievements, if you want to make progress, you must also fight your competitors, or don't let your competitors shadow you. Can you do it without a narrow mind?
As long as you can stick to your intentions and control your ambitions and internal strife within allowable limits, you can accept it.
Zhao Si returned to the front and stood in front of the big blackboard.
"Let's continue. Everyone has discussed it. If you have any questions now, you can raise your hands."
A group of arms are raised in the air, like wheat seedlings growing vigorously in the field.
"Lu Yihao, what's your problem?"
"Your Majesty, ever since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty made salt and iron official business, the debate on the pros and cons of salt and iron management has lasted for thousands of years. During this tax reform debate, many representatives strongly demanded that the salt and iron franchise be completely liberalized. But what Your Majesty just said
If the salt camp still plays such an important role, can we not let go of the salt and iron franchise?"
Zhao Si nodded and pointed at Li Guang.
This one stood up immediately.
"Your Majesty, we specialize in salt and iron, so private salt and iron sales are unavoidable. Although private salt is illegal, it can provide low-priced salt to the people and ease their burden. If we severely crack down on private salt, will we compete with the people for profit?
"
It seems that these two issues are the ones on which students’ opinions are relatively concentrated.
Zhao Si nodded, "Okay, let's start with salt and iron, plus government-run tea, wine, and sugar."
Seeing the surprised look below, Zhao Si smiled and said, "Yes, it's candy."
"Sugar cane sugar production is very popular in Minhai, Nanhai and other counties. However, after boiling, it is mostly brown sugar like black residue, with only some brown sugar and rock sugar. The Institute of Agricultural Sciences of the Gewu Academy improved the methods of sugar cane cultivation and sugar production, and invented
The method of producing yellow mud and wearing color can produce white sugar in large quantities."
"Starting this year, the three counties of Minhai, Nanhai, and Yulin will vigorously promote sugarcane cultivation and implement new methods of sugar production. In addition, Qinchuan County, Hexi, Longyou and other places will also promote the best varieties of sugar beet, which can also be used for sugar production.
"Don't you know about sugar beet? In the early years of the Chinese dynasty, it was introduced from the Western Regions. I heard it was spread from the West and Persia, and it is also a good material for making sugar."
"From now on, sugar will also become a good product that the people of our dynasty can enjoy every day. The Ministry of Secretariat has requested that sugar be included in the exclusive scope from tribute."
After explaining the ins and outs of sugar being included in the franchise, Zhao Si continued the topic, but he raised another question.
"First of all, a question: Is salt, iron, tea, wine, and sugar a good franchise? What are the advantages and disadvantages?"
Everyone was silent, but judging from their expressions, many people had serious objections to the franchise system.
It seems that no one dares to raise this objection. Because the salt and iron wine franchise brings huge tax revenue to the court, no one dares to say that it is not good.
"In my opinion, this kind of monopoly is not good. It is an act of drinking poison to quench thirst. It has indeed obtained a large amount of tax revenue in a short period of time, but it is killing the goose that lays eggs. Monopoly has led to more and more salt and iron wine smugglers. Why? Because of this
There are huge profits, and of course some people are willing to take risks."
"There are more and more smugglers, and the salt and iron wine franchise tax received by the court is decreasing day by day, so it can only increase taxes to make up for the gap. The more taxes are added, the more rampant the smugglers are. This has brought the entire salt and iron wine industry into a very
Unfavorable condition."
Speaking of this, Zhao Si couldn't help but laugh when he looked at everyone's expressions, especially the looks on Zhang Dun, Lu Huiqing, Cai Jing and others' faces.
"You see, our Dazai, Pu She and Ji Xiang are all anxious. They can't help but not be anxious. This accounts for a large part of the tax revenue. If we completely liberalize it, how can the court still collect taxes? How can there be such a big hole?
fill?"
When Zhao Si said this, he said meaningfully: "Why do those people from Yuanyou Yili Sect make Brother Huang and me angry? Because these people can only touch their upper lips and lower lips. Don't compete with the people for this.
No need to do that; that one should be lenient to the people and not be taken back. But such a big country needs to be maintained, and so many officials and soldiers need to eat."
"Where does the money and food come from? I don't know, and I don't care. Anyway, my salary cannot be less than a penny!"
Having said this, Zhao Si let out a long sigh and said, "When you are not a family member, you don't know how expensive firewood, rice, oil and salt are. You are all officials on the divisional front and have served in the central and local areas for a period of time, so you know the complexity and hardship involved."
"It's just that those bookworms never know these complexities and hardships. They use some sage principles they read from books to accuse the East and complain about the West. However, he is a good problem-finder and can come up with a solution to the problem, but he has nothing to do with it.
Forget about it, do we, a noble person like me, need to take action on such a trivial matter?"
Having said this, Zhao Si couldn't help but sneered, "You are such a straight woman, you can't do such a small thing well, yet you still manage to rule the country and bring peace to the world!"
Zhang Dun stood up tremblingly, with tears in his turbid triangular eyes. He cupped his hands and said with a cry: "Your Majesty can understand the hardships of my ministers and others. If the minister saves everyone, even if he dies from exhaustion for the country, it will be worth it."
"
"Xiang Zhang, I'm sorry for you who have worked so hard to do practical things! You are the Optimus Prime of my Song Dynasty!" Zhao Si stepped forward to support him and said with a sigh.
"To be able to obtain His Majesty's words, I feel that no matter how much hardship I endure, it is worth it."
Watching the conversation between the two, everyone looked at each other intently. Many people felt the same way, and tears welled up in the corners of their eyes. Li Gang, Zhu Shengfei, Li Guang and others, who were still young and full of emotions, could not help but shed tears on their faces.
Lu Huiqing, Huang Fu, Cai Jing and others wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes in cooperation, but secretly sighed that the monarch and his ministers were working together more and more tacitly.
"Everyone, why are you making such a ridiculous joke? Because these people think that true knowledge comes from yellowed ancient books. Wrong, true knowledge comes from practice. Without practice, what is the use of your knowledge? Books
Who knows whether the knowledge learned from the teacher is right or wrong without practice?"
Everyone nodded. Li Guang and Zhang Yi were shocked and looked at each other.
This statement has a strong meaning to the Mingzhou School's knowledge and deeds. It seems that the rumors that the Mingzhou School was secretly supported by officials are not groundless.
After the interlude, Zhao Si returned to the topic.
You are a genius, remember in one second: Red Oasis: This chapter has been completed!
