The topic of the Qing Dynasty's father-in-law and his wife's land came to an end in the tacit smiles of Gao Pragmatic and Zhang Xueyan. Next, Wei Xuezeng would start to talk about his business.
Wei Xue was once the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, but when he opened his mouth, he said something that was still related to the Ministry of Revenue: "Yesterday, the Ministry of Revenue received an imperial edict saying that a whipping method has been implemented since the Jiajing period. The people said it was simple. However, all the services were redundant and expensive.
After going to actual existence, there are officials pursuing the conquest as before, and the people are suffering. Therefore, the emperor decided to relieve the people's hardship, and in accordance with the requests from various places, a total of more than 1.3 million taels of silver were approved."
Gao Pragmatic was startled: "How much is the reduction?"
Wei Xuezeng said with an expressionless face: "More than 1.3 million taels."
Gao Pragmatic opened his eyes wide: "Then the income growth of the Ministry of Household Affairs in recent years has been more than half filled in?"
Wei Xuezeng glanced at Zhang Xueyan, who smiled bitterly and said: "Mr.
The reason why things like border defense, river engineering, etc. are doing well is actually simply because of the full amount of the funds. As a result, this year because of this imperial edict, the actual increase is only about 800,000 taels. It is estimated that the income from border wages and river engineering
All payments will be reduced by more than half."
"Why?" Gao Pragmatic was puzzled: "It's not like the emperor doesn't know the importance of wealth, why would he make such a decision?"
Wei Xue once sighed: "This was caused by various local officials who complained about the local difficulties. In fact, they just wanted to say that the examination method was too strict and they could not collect so many commercial taxes."
Gao pragmatic frowned slightly, but before he spoke, Zhang Xueyan added helpfully: "Then Mr. Shen Ge came to the office and said that now that the national treasury revenue has increased significantly, there is more than enough to relieve people's poverty. He might as well pay various arrears from various places over the years.
Taxes and corvees can be reduced or exempted, so that the local government can restart calculations in the future and there will be no reason to default."
But Gao Pragmatic still frowned, thought for a while, then shook his head and said: "This is not right. The arrears over the years cannot be reduced, but there must be reasons for the reduction. For example, a certain place suffered a serious disaster this year, and the emperor was kind and exempted it.
There is no problem in reducing local land taxes and reducing or exempting local land taxes that have been arrears over the years as appropriate. But how is the fairness of such a nationwide reduction or exemption? - I mean, where is the fairness for those places where there is no arrears? That does not mean that,
Are they stupid to pay normally in the past? Anyway, if you delay it, it will be gone!"
Wei Xuezeng sighed: "To be honest, you are the only one who dares to say this. Do you know that as soon as Mr. Shen Ge handed over this memorandum, officials from all over the country applauded him, almost to the point of praising him?"
"Local officials? Of course I have to praise him!" Gao Pragmatic sneered: "Those local officials who have had their arrears reduced or reduced over the years have to praise them because they have lost a large amount of tasks; the local officials who have no arrears to be reduced or exempted also have to praise him.
You have to boast, because what if they also have to default on payment in the future?
So the only people who suffer are the common people who have paid taxes normally over the years! Unfortunately, these people may not know about this at all. Even if they know, they will still praise it, because when they hear that the emperor has reduced taxes elsewhere,
At that time, they would only feel that the emperor’s kindness is actually a blessing to all the people - they would not consider this matter from the perspective of the whole country!”
Zhang Xueyan and Wei Xuezeng looked at each other in surprise. Before, they only thought that Gao was pragmatic, shrewd and sophisticated, which was incompatible with his age. Now after hearing these words, they felt for the first time that this was really a high school mystery.
Heir to the mantle!
This is "taking the world as one's own responsibility"!
In these days, if you can consider your annual income for the imperial court, then you are already a great loyal and capable minister!
You mean Sheng Dou Xiaomin?
Don't be kidding, what does it have to do with the officials like them? Officials don't pay taxes!
Especially local officials have been called "Mushou Yifang" since ancient times. What is Mu Shou? What does shepherding mean? Sheep shepherding! Sheep provide wool when alive and meat when dead. In this case, it doesn't matter whether they are alive or dead.
!
Of course, the current examination method must be an "evil method" - how can I be required to provide wool and mutton while not allowing the sheep to rebel? There is no justice! Do I, a shepherd, still have to be responsible for raising sheep?
What? How can such a lowly and troublesome thing be handled by scholars like us who have studied hard for many years? It’s so polite!
Zhang Xueyan was shocked by Gao Pangshi's words and was speechless for a moment. Wei Xuezeng was the "Old Gao Party" who had been with Gao Gong for many years. Hearing this, he sighed: "The people can let it go, but they can't know it..."
Gao pragmatic interrupted: "If the people can do it, let it be done; if they can't do it, know it!"
Wei Xuezeng was startled: "What does this sentence read?"
Gao Pingshi said: "Does Wei Butang know Zun De Yi?"
Wei Xuezeng nodded.
Gao pragmatically said: "Then Wei Butang should know these two sentences: first, 'respecting virtue and righteousness, knowing the ethics of the people, can be a king; second,' benevolence is something that can be renewed (kinship), and righteousness is something that can be respected.
Loyalty is trustworthy, learning is beneficial, and teaching is imitable, is that right?”
Wei Xuezeng nodded again.
"So, isn't the truth obvious?" Gao Pingshi said: "In fact, Confucius also meant this: if the people know benevolence, justice and etiquette, they can govern according to the truth; if the people don't know, they must understand the truth. In short, governance
People cannot use force."
Wei Xuezeng opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say for a moment. Instead, Zhang Xueyan said: "Educating all peoples has been said in the past dynasties, but how can we actually educate them? I am the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, so I start with 'spending money'. Now every year
How much money can be spent on social studies, county schools, etc.? How many scholars have been educated? If we want to talk about all the people, where will the court collect so much money and food to educate all the people? If it wants to collect so much money, I'm afraid it won't have time yet.
With enlightenment, all peoples will...change unbearably."
The truth seems to be this. Compulsory education is of course good, but how can we afford compulsory education in today's Ming Dynasty! Even if all the children in the country only receive compulsory education for one year, I'm afraid the money and food needed will be astronomical, but there is no need for compulsory education.
Even before it started, "the whole world has turned against you"!
However, Gao Pragmatic did not change his tone at all. Instead, he said seriously: "That's why we must unswervingly implement the examination method! Why can't people who can afford taxes pay more taxes? Let's not talk about others first.
I am very pragmatic. As we all know, I make a lot of money every day, but I actually have no way to pay taxes! Except for the Jinghua Musket Factory and the Jinghua Artillery Factory, I need to pay taxes - but I proposed the idea to Sanbo myself, so it is considered a good idea.
I have set the tax amount for myself! In addition, I don’t have to pay taxes on so many properties, don’t you think this is ridiculous, Erbu Tang?”
Facing the two dumbfounded ministers, Gao pragmatic waved his arms and said: "What exactly is the problem with Ming Dynasty? In fact, it is not with the common people, but with people like us, especially with my superiors. Such a pragmatic person! I was born with official status, so I don’t have to pay taxes. I’m good at doing business, but... why don’t I have to pay taxes? Just because I was reincarnated well? Just because my family has been an official for generations. , everyone in the family studies, and generations of officials serve?”
Now, not to mention Zhang Xueyan, even Wei Xuezeng did not dare to answer the question. He swallowed, coughed, and changed the topic: "Well... let's get back to the business first and talk about the lack of income this year, shall we? That... …Due to insufficient annual income, Brother Xinzhai has already calculated that this year’s river construction allocation may be reduced by 60 to 70%. However, as a result, the major project of diversion of the Yellow River may not be completed as planned.”
He coughed dryly and said: "This matter involves Henan, so the headquarters here also wants to discuss with you Qiuzhen to see if there is any way... For example, whether the payment for the cement purchased by General Henan can be temporarily postponed One or two?”
