Ma Liang became the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and he was worried about money. Liu Cong used troops, built roads, schools, hospitals, got married, military parades, and imperial examinations...
Which item is free of charge? Ma Liang really worked hard to have such a master who knew how to spend money. Today, Pang Tong actually said that he would recruit 250,000 troops!
Sorry, I, the Minister of Revenue, was the first to disagree. Liu Cong’s soldiers and horses are trained every day and they don’t have to do farm work. How can we support so many pure soldiers?
Pang Tong was Zhongshu Ling, so he probably knew something about Jingchu's financial situation, "Ma Shangshu, I also know that Jingchu's finances are not optimistic. But to conquer Jiangdong and resist Cao's thieves, we must have a huge army."
Military power!"
"You also saw when Cao's army went south. Even if our army in Jingchu trains every day, it is not as elite as Cao's army who fights in the north and south and fights on the battlefield!"
"To put it bluntly, our army lacks fighting experience, so we can only use numbers to check and balance the advantage of Cao's army's powerful elite!"
Ma Liang continued to retort, "Then we have to recognize the current situation, right? Not to mention how much it costs to have such a large army, just the pensions for soldiers who retired after a war and died in battle are a very large expense!"
"Shang Shuling, you are responsible for executing the decree. Can you tell me whether Jingchu's finances can still allow the expansion of the army?"
Jiang Wan didn't expect Ma Liang to call him. As one of the chief officials of the three provinces and responsible for executing various government orders, how could he not understand Jingchu's finances?
"This?" Jiang Wan didn't know what to say for a while. Support Pang Tong. Jiang Wan knew that Jingchu's finances could not support it.
Support Ma Liang, right? Jiang Wan also knows that Jingchu's army is indeed inferior to Cao's army, and to attack Jiangdong, a huge military force is needed.
"Shang Shuling, why don't you speak? What do you think?" Ma Liang continued to threaten.
"Hahaha." Liu Cong looked at this scene and couldn't laugh or cry, "Okay, okay, Ji Chang, you don't have to force Gong Yan anymore!"
"I decided to agree to Shi Yuan's plan and recruit 250,000 troops!"
Ma Liang was very anxious after hearing this. He knelt down and kowtowed, "My lord, you can't. If we recruit soldiers and horses like this, we don't even need Cao Cao to attack. Jingchu himself will not be able to support it."
"Please, my lord, think twice!"
"Please, my lord, think twice!"
There are many people who support Ma Liang, but this is not because they deliberately embarrass Liu Cong, but because they know that Jingchu's finances are indeed unable to make ends meet.
Liu Cong smiled and said, "Ji Chang, don't worry, the future fiscal revenue will not only be from the people's agricultural taxes."
"Zizhong, what happened to the commercial tax collected by Gu's order?"
When Mi Zhu heard Liu Cong's inquiry, he immediately came out and said, "My lord, according to your requirements and the decree issued by Jingchu, since the imperial examination last year, we have collected 700,000 yuan in commercial taxes!"
"Because it has just been implemented, the tax collection process and merchants and merchants who pay taxes are not yet familiar with it. If things go on like this, the money will increase even more!"
"Seven hundred thousand!"
"How come there are so many taxes?"
"These businessmen are indeed rich!"
During the Western Zhou Dynasty, China had already begun to collect commercial taxes. However, until the Han Dynasty, agricultural development was still the main focus. Commercial taxes did not form an organized tax collection system.
It was not until the Song Dynasty that there were explicit regulations, and the collection of commercial taxes was on the right track!
Commercial taxes and agricultural taxes in the Song Dynasty went hand in hand, which led to the economic prosperity of the two Song Dynasties. Later, the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties all envied the economic development of the Song Dynasty.
However, these dynasties without exception emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, and did not carry out formal management of commercial activities. Therefore, even though the territory, population and comprehensive national strength were stronger than those of the two Song Dynasties, they did not have the economic prosperity of the two Song Dynasties.
Generally speaking, commercial taxes in the Song Dynasty did more harm than good. Commercial taxes were a double-edged sword. Commercial tax uniforms are like political systems. In politics, with the great power, greater temptations will follow.
Abuse of power will also gradually appear.
The same is true in terms of commercial taxes. Although commercial taxes in the Song Dynasty have been greatly improved, shortcomings still exist. Because of the huge market of commercial taxes, the management personnel include court officials and some local officials, a mixture of the two.
There will be many disadvantages when they are together.
After many discussions, Liu Cong and Mi Zhu decided on a specific tax collection system by first conducting pilot projects in Xiangyang and Jiangling. Regarding commercial tax, Liu Cong was determined to win and would never give up because of small drawbacks.
The collection of commercial taxes not only greatly improves the central government's finances, but also promotes commercial development. With the development of commercial taxes, agriculture, commerce, labor, and manufacturing will all develop simultaneously!
Mi Zhu ignored everyone's surprise and continued to report, "Master, now Xiangyang's night market can also try to open."
Night market! The commercial activities in Jingchu are actually the most prosperous in the world! The only one that can rival it is Jiangdong. After Liu Cong saw the prosperity of Xiangyang, he already had the idea of opening a night market.
Night markets appeared in the Tang Dynasty, and it was not until the Song Dynasty that the rulers issued regulations to allow the emergence of night markets. Liu Cong decided to open the night market with more thoughts on prospering the economy, developing and enriching people's livelihood.
"I immediately issued an order and announced that the night market will be opened in Xiangyang first. During the opening of the night market, the police station must arrange sufficient police personnel for patrols!"
The rulers of this era would take great measures to prevent people from gathering together, let alone people carrying out activities at night. No ruler would tolerate people gathering, which may affect the interests of the ruling class.
"All income tax collected by the Ministry of Commerce will be collected by the Ministry of Household Affairs, which will be managed by the Ministry of Household Affairs. In the future, commercial taxes will be collected in parallel with agricultural taxes. As long as Gu is still alive, they will not be abolished!"
Ma Liang calmed down and said, "If there is really so much tax revenue, I agree to expand the army and horses!"
After saying that, Ma Liang raised his hands to Pang Tong and said, "Zhongshu Ling, I have been reckless. Please Zhongshu Ling to atone for my sins."
Pang Tong chuckled and said, "Ma Shangshu's blunt advice is all for the sake of the lord. I admire him, so how can I blame him?"
"Hahaha." Pang Tong's words made Ma Liang laugh. However, there are always people who want to interrupt such a good atmosphere. Cai Mao said, "My lord, when collecting commercial taxes, is it... is it too much to compete with the people for profit?"
Already?"
The powerful families of the aristocratic families had many industries and caravans. Liu Cong had already taken over the land of the aristocratic family and liberated the hidden tenants of the aristocratic family. The business and trade industry was the final bottom line for the aristocratic family.
"General Cai, this move is not to compete with the people. I know that every family has an industry. What you are worried about is nothing more than Gu attacking your industry. You can rest assured that this will never happen. On the contrary
, Gu will no longer inhibit commercial development, and the commercial and trade industries of major aristocratic families can develop with confidence as long as they do not violate the law!"
Liu Cong should not force the noble family too much. Proper show of kindness would be more conducive to controlling people's hearts.
"Shi Yuan, recruit troops immediately, only 250,000, and intensify training. Within two years at the latest, I will use troops against Jiangdong!"