Chapter 61 Increase revenue and reduce expenditure
"My dear friends, what should we do now that the national treasury is becoming increasingly empty? Let's discuss it together."
I saw that Jia Sidao looked indifferent, with his eyes slightly closed. Perhaps he was watching what kind of magic I, the True Dragon Emperor, would do, or perhaps he was preparing to laugh at my jokes. In short, this attitude made me very unhappy.
Since Emperor Lizong, the economy of the Southern Song Dynasty has been declining. Paper currency has depreciated, prices have risen, and military expenditures are in short supply. The financial and tax revenue of the Southern Song Dynasty has reached the point of exhaustion. Although the public land law implemented in 1263 eased the pressure on military expenditures of the border troops, it still
It did not essentially curb the economic decline, and the supervision during the implementation process was extremely weak. Instead, it became a new source of social unrest.
Ma Tingluan and others are not familiar with this and do not dare to report it easily. Although the current economy is indeed in a state of devastation, these big bureaucrats and big landowners still live a life of ample food and clothing. The salaries paid by the court are not enough at all.
If we come up with another plan similar to the public land law, we will be shooting ourselves in the foot, and the gain will outweigh the loss.
Wen Tianxiang, Lu Xiufu and others were of low official rank and did not go out to perform in class.
For a moment, there was silence in the huge hall.
"Since everyone is silent, let me introduce some ideas." I said coldly, "When it comes to the treasury constraints, we cannot but mention the public land law. Let me talk about the public land law first."
Since I came to the throne, the ministers of the DPRK and China have been divided into two extreme groups and have been arguing about this. Although I have supported Jia Sidao in continuing to implement this law, I have never responded directly to the public land law. This time it should be me.
This emperor expressed his views on the public land law for the first time, so Jia Sidao, Ma Tingluan and others concentrated their attention.
"First of all, I want to express my position. I support the Public Land Law. The original intention of the Public Land Law is also desirable, and enough military pay was raised in the year when the Public Land Law was implemented." I said straight to the point, "The Public Land Law can be divided into two parts.
, one is the source of public land, and the other is the use of public land. The source of public land was from official land in the early days, but due to the increasing privatization of official land, the land was increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few people, resulting in serious poverty.
Wealth inequality led to the theory that the government would buy back the excess land from owners and turn it into public land. When the government owned public land, it would then resell it to farmers with insufficient land, or recruit farmers by establishing official villages (similar to state-owned farms)
, refugees and others rent farming, which can solve the unemployment problem of peasant refugees. From these, it can be seen that the public land law is just a process of redistributing land. This process has more advantages than disadvantages for most farmers.
But for the landlord class, there is a voice of opposition. Why? Because it involves their interests. I remember that if it had not been for the teacher and minister who took the lead in donating 10,000 acres of land in western Zhejiang as official land, silencing the mouths of those who opposed it.
, the late emperor might have canceled this method."
At this point, I suddenly raised my voice: "My dear friends, tell me, why do people who only account for one tenth of the population own nine tenths of land?"
Each of the ministers in the court had their own thoughts, but no one wanted to say it in public. They just thought that the emperor still supported the public land law. As for a few people owning large amounts of land, they thought it was natural and just.
I resumed my normal tone and continued: "There is nothing wrong with the Public Land Law itself. What is wrong is that the Public Land Law cannot be implemented in accordance with the instructions of the imperial court. I remember that Chen Zongli said the four major disadvantages of the Public Land Law during the court meeting last year. It is indeed true. But
These problems are not caused by the Public Land Law itself. Teachers and ministers are dedicated to serving the public good and only want to increase tax revenue for the national treasury to prepare for the ever-expanding military expenditure. However, they neglected supervision during the implementation process, resulting in several disadvantages mentioned by Chen Aiqing,
A few days ago, I asked my teacher and minister to formulate a supervision method, just to put an end to these shortcomings. Master, how is the progress?"
When Jia Sidao saw me calling his name, he had no choice but to reply: "Your Majesty, we are discussing with various ministries and we should be able to formulate it before the end of the month."
"Well, Sir, I have taken the trouble. Let's get back to the topic, how to solve the treasury problem."
When Wen Tianxiang saw that there was still no one to speak, he went out to the class and said: "My minister Wen Tianxiang believes that the principle should be to increase revenue and reduce expenditure."
Weng Yinglong said in a strange tone: "What Mr. Wen said is absolutely true. It's just that increasing revenue and reducing expenditure is simple to say, but it is far from easy to do. I wonder if Mr. Wen has any specific measures?"
I know that Weng Yinglong’s words were directed at me by Jia Sidao: “Today’s court meeting, dear ladies, no matter what you think, you can speak freely, even if it is a whimsical idea or an irrelevant statement, what is discussed in the court this ten days
Everything revolves around this point. Our government needs to revitalize. First of all, we must let the people live and work in peace and contentment. Only when the country is rich and the people are strong can we carry out other changes. As the ancients said, the people in the warehouse know the etiquette."
Someone took the initiative, and there was no need to discuss the public land law anymore, so the ministers began to get excited.
Ma Tingluan said: "My minister Ma Tingluan agrees with Lord Wen's words. I suggest that the solution to the treasury shortage should be discussed around the two aspects of increasing revenue and reducing expenditure."
Ye Mengding, the Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, followed: "I second the proposal. I propose to re-approval of officials at all levels, starting with officials, and merge and reduce unnecessary positions."
Chen Zongli, Zhu Pisun, Jiang Wanli and other members of the Queen Mother's party and the neutral faction all seconded the proposal.
When I saw everyone starting to speak, I said, "Let's talk about the cost-cutting issue first."
"I propose to reduce the number of local officials."
"I believe that the salaries of officials at all levels should be reduced."
"I suggest that the daily expenses of various ministries be controlled."
"I think the Xiang army can be reduced."
"minister......"
In this atmosphere, even people like Jia Sidao couldn't help but go out to the class to perform. It seems that not speaking means not giving the emperor face. Since the solar eclipse, such ministers have more or less treated me as the emperor.
I felt a little bit in awe.
I watched, listened, and thought.
According to what most of these courtiers said, they only made superficial savings, and most of them were aimed at others. These superficial savings only cost them a few copper coins less in salary.
The real losses are hidden in the dark, and corruption is the bulk of the hidden income of those in power.
Every change in history is very difficult. The reason is that these changes involve the interests of those in power, so more radical changes will attract strong pressure and even cost the blood of the changers.
The period from Shang Yang's Reform to the Hundred Days Reform was not bloody.
For thousands of years, China's feudal society has always been a society ruled by men. Even if there were sound laws, they were reduced to a piece of paper.
I interrupted and said, "What you all have said is true. I will think about it carefully and discuss this matter next."
Jiang Wanli first came out and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that the first thing to do about open source is agriculture. The foundation of our government is agriculture. The government should build water conservancy, increase crop harvests, and increase farmers' enthusiasm for farming; secondly, we must develop
Industry and commerce encourage different economic forms such as workshops and trade in various places as a supplement to agriculture, and the court can also tax according to their income."
"Jiang Wanli does have some insights." I thought to myself.
Ma Tingluan objected: "Our government's tax revenue mainly comes from agriculture, and income from industry and commerce is very small. Mr. Jiang cannot put the cart before the horse."
Jiang Wanli said: "Master Ma..."
I was afraid that the two of them would get into an argument and go off topic, so I hurriedly interrupted: "Jiang Aiqing, Ma Aiqing, today I only want to mention ideas, no identification is needed. As long as it is beneficial to increase the revenue of the national treasury, we can talk about it, regardless of whether it is feasible or not."
Hong Tianci continued: "Developing industry and commerce is a feasible way, as long as we enact laws and collect taxes. Firstly, it can increase the revenue of the national treasury, and secondly, it can resettle more and more refugees."
Chen Zongli said: "I think agriculture should be given priority, and the warehouses should be used for commerce."
Lu Xiufu saw that everyone had finished talking and said: "Your Majesty, when I first entered Yangzhou with Mr. Li, there were ruins and ruins everywhere. In addition to relocating farmers, Mr. Li also tried his best to support the salt industry in Yangzhou.
It took less than a year for Yangzhou City to take on a completely new look. I believe that on the premise of focusing on agriculture, the right way is for various localities to develop local diversified economies according to local conditions."
Jia Sidao glanced at Lu Xiufu and thought to himself, Li Tingzhi has talented people under his command. I should still persuade Liao Yingzhong to join the court as an official. Weng Yinglong and others are still a bit weak in the court.
Except for a few people such as Jiang Wanli and Hong Tianci, most courtiers proposed expanding agricultural investment and did not support supporting industry and commerce.
"My dear friends, after the court is over, each department will discuss it on its own, and we will make a final decision when the court comes." I looked at Jia Sidao when I announced my withdrawal from the court and said, "Master, please stay and follow me to the imperial study room for further discussion."