Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 103 I’m sorry, the emperor gave me too much
"In that case, the commercial tax will be collected at a rate of 60%."

In the Huagai Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang's seemingly casual words were like a bolt of thunder out of the blue.

The smiles on Fei Ju, Tang Shengzong, Wu Liang and others froze on their faces in an instant.

I can't laugh anymore.

It was as if all of a sudden, everyone grabbed my neck.

How many?

Six percent tax?!

Are you serious about what you said about being in a higher position?!
Are they the ones who haven't woken up yet, or are the ones in higher positions not awake yet?

How dare you say something like "10% tax and 6% tax"?

"Haha, the superiors are right, it should be 10% tax and 6% tax... What? 10% tax and 6% tax?"

Lu Zhongheng definitely didn't think that the emperor would cause trouble over this matter.

After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang speak, he habitually continued speaking along with what Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Typically the mouth is faster than the brain.

Only after he finished speaking did he realize what the emperor had just said.

Because the incident happened suddenly and reached an outrageous level that he had never expected.

So much so that the tone of the last words changed and the voice became several degrees higher.

It sounds like questioning the emperor.

Inside the Huagai Palace, you could hear a pin drop in an instant!

Lawrence Lu realized his own gaffe.

But the matter was of great importance at the moment, and he had no time to worry about these details.

Fei Ju, Tang Shengzong, Wu Liang and others also looked up at the emperor with expressions of disbelief.

Waiting for the emperor to give a definite answer.

They really didn't want to believe that what the emperor had just said about the six-tenth tax rate was true.

Not only them, but many other people in Huagai Palace were also stunned by this sudden news.

The shock in their hearts was no less than that of Lu Zhongheng and Fei Ju.

Everyone pricked up their ears, waiting for the emperor's next words.

"Yes, you heard it right, and I didn't say it wrong either. It's 10% tax and 6% tax."

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne with his horse and sword in hand, facing the gazes of Lu Zhongheng and others, without avoiding or dodging, and spoke very seriously.

The attitude is very firm.

The taxes collected in the Ming Dynasty were too low.

Not only agricultural taxes, but commercial taxes are also ridiculously low.

I have always underestimated the profits of business.

I feel that business is just a small matter and there is not much profit.

So much so that compared with previous dynasties, the commercial taxes in the Ming Dynasty were ridiculously low.

But it is equivalent to 3.3 percent.

Even these officials and gentry were dissatisfied and kept seeking to reduce taxes.

Later it was reduced to about 1.5%.

It’s outrageously low!
Even though the tax rate is already so low, there are still many people who try to evade taxes by any means possible.

In the early years of the Wanli reign, commercial taxes accounted for only 340 million taels out of the fiscal revenue of 2217 million taels.

Moreover, this 340 million taels also includes all commercial taxes and fees including tea tax, salt tax, customs duty, business tax, transit tax, etc.

The taxes on tea and salt have always been the bulk of tax revenue, especially the salt tax.

As a result, during the Wanli period, even after adding the taxes on tea and salt, the total amount was only 340 million taels.

Moreover, after more than two hundred years of the Ming Dynasty, its population was much larger than that in the Hongwu period when the country was founded.

With more people, the demand for salt will naturally increase.

Salt production will also increase.

However, the miraculous thing is that the production of Ming Dynasty salt did not increase.

How much salt was produced during the Hongwu period? More than two hundred years later, the salt production of the salt fields was still the same.

Correspondingly, there are various illegal salts in circulation...

He didn't know these things in his previous life, but if he started over again in this life, it would be strange if he didn't start raising commercial taxes.

It is difficult to change the agricultural tax now because it involves too many people from all walks of life.

But it is still possible to adjust business taxes.

Pick the softest persimmons first.

Take it step by step.

Although if you really count it, this business tax involves a lot of people and things.

Not that active.

But we still have to move.

This is all my own money!

"To be in a higher position, this... this is too high, right? This is competing with the people for profit!"

"This is really not an option. If you really do this, there will be no profit at all, and the merchants will have to pay for it themselves.

The mutual trade thing simply cannot be carried out."

After a brief moment of daze, Lawrence Lu and Fei Ju quickly spoke out in objection.

From their anxious expressions, it can be seen that this does not seem like acting at all.

The emperor's idea is too dangerous and must be abandoned.

It is impossible not to make money. Even if the emperor collects 60% of the tax, there is still some profit.

But how could they accept a tax rate of 6% when they were used to a tax rate of 30%?

This was all the money they earned through hard work. It was already very rare for them to pay a tax of 1% to the emperor. It was enough to repay the emperor and the country.

But the emperor was still not satisfied. He didn't know how to be grateful and didn't appreciate the kindness he and others had shown him.

They even asked for a tax of 10.6%.

Why doesn't he just go and rob?
It is impossible to have a tax rate of 60% to 100%.

If the tax rate really has to be 60%, the emperor might as well kill himself and others!
Even if I have to kill you, I still cannot agree to it!
“Your Majesty, a tax rate of 10.6% is indeed too high.

Now is the time for our Ming Dynasty to recuperate and reduce taxes and levies to ease the burden on the people.

As long as taxes and levies are reduced, the people are given a stable environment, and some good policies are implemented, the people will be able to live a prosperous life.

After experiencing the cruel rule of the Yuan Dynasty, people's minds became settled.

We have finally waited for the Ming Dynasty and such a wise and benevolent ruler as Your Majesty. If the commercial tax rate is changed to 10:6.

I'm afraid this thriving momentum will be dealt a severe blow..."

Not only the Huaixi nobles in the court reacted strongly.

Even many people in the civil service ranks could not help but advise the emperor to give up this dangerous idea.

His words were well-reasoned and sincere, and he completely stood on the side of the people, considering the people and the Ming Dynasty.

This matter must be curbed and we cannot let the emperor do what he wants.

Those who have subordinates or family businesses are not limited to the nobles of Huaixi.

Many civil officials also have sons, nephews, or some distant relatives who are engaged in business.

There is more or less profit.

Even some people who do not have any industries now will stand up to oppose this matter.

After all, just because there is nothing now doesn’t mean there won’t be anything in the future!

It doesn’t mean there are no descendants.

We can't just sit back and watch the emperor destroy our own future and the future generations!

The emperor tied performance bonuses and performance appraisals together, and introduced performance appraisals with the help of performance bonuses.

This kind of thing has to be accepted with a pinch of the nose.

But if you want to go a step further and increase the commercial tax to an astonishing 10:6, then I'm sorry.

There is no way I can agree to this.

You can't sell everything just for a little performance bonus.

“Sir, this… raising the commercial tax to 10% to 6% is indeed too high.

Compared with the previous tax of thirty, it increased by eighteen times.

This... is even more exaggerated than using strong medicine.

Or... should I improve it a little less?
Change to 25% tax?"

Prime Minister Hu Weiyong also spoke at this time and expressed his opinion on this matter.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, looking at the court which seemed a little chaotic, and the many people who stood up to express their opinions on this matter, but he did not speak immediately.

Let these people express their opinions.

There is no doubt that there are more opponents than supporters.

It can even be said that among those who stood up to speak, except for the increasingly invincible loyal minister Li Shanchang, Duke of Han, who clearly supported his own 10% tax reduction and scolded those people for being hypocritical and selfish, there was not a single supporter.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not surprised by this.

After all, money can move people's hearts.

Benefits are real things.

And this happened less than two months after the outbreak of the Empty Seal Case, and the Empty Seal Case had not yet been completely concluded.

I am still working in the business field, which is a very inconspicuous field compared to agriculture.

If we increase the agricultural tax, cancel all the miscellaneous taxes and levies, and require all officials and gentry to pay taxes together, won't these people be furious?

From this we can clearly see how difficult it will be to do these things in the future.

After waiting for a while, I saw that these people couldn't tell what the flowers were.

Zhu Yuanzhang stretched out his hand and pressed down.

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's action, the Huagai Hall suddenly became quiet.

Everyone was waiting to see what the emperor would say next.

Although Lu Zhongheng, Fei Ju, Tang Shengzong, Wu Liang and others had lowered their heads, they were still unwilling to accept it in their hearts.

The six percent tax is simply nonsense.

Now, the entire court is filled with voices of opposition. Let’s see how the emperor will end up!
How can we push this forward?

This time, they will definitely hold on and will not make any concessions.

What is the will of the people? This is what the will of the people is!
I just don't believe that Zhu Yuanzhang, an emperor who is drifting further and further away from me and others, would dare to risk the wrath of the world and force things forward.

If you really do this, there will be trouble!
"When we say 10% tax and 6% tax, we don't mean that all commercial taxes are 10% tax and 6% tax. We are referring specifically to the trade with the grasslands this time."

When it came to raising the commercial tax rate, Zhu Yuanzhang's original idea was to take small steps at a time.

Taking advantage of this opportunity of trade with the grassland, the tax on the trade was raised first.

However, when he spoke, he deliberately did not make his words clear first.

He deliberately created misunderstandings, saying that he wanted to increase all commercial taxes to 10.6%.

And see the reactions of the court officials.

If the many court officials did not react strongly, then he could become more assertive and make everyone's misunderstanding come true and get the matter done.

Although the possibility is very small, it does not prevent you from giving it a try.

What if the court officials are intimidated by me and actually accomplish this?
Wouldn’t that be a big profit?

Even if he wasn't fooled, he wouldn't have lost anything.

When it comes to doing things skillfully, you also need to be skillful.

If we don’t first prepare to tear down the roof, how can we open the windows?

It is the nature of many people to like to compromise.

As expected, after hearing the emperor's words, many court officials secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It is not about imposing taxes on all commercial goods nationwide, but only targeting the trade that is about to begin with the grasslands. That would be easy to do.

Although it is shocking, it is not unacceptable.

After all, the scope involved was very small and the knife did not hit his head.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was secretly paying attention to the movements in the court, could clearly feel the change in the atmosphere as he said this.

Master Lu is not lying. This window opening theory is very useful.

"As for competing with the people for profit..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression and tone became intriguing.

“Are those doing this business ordinary people?

Are they the people in our specific sense?

They have long transcended the scope of ordinary people.

They earn much more than ordinary people and live much better than ordinary people.

If you earn more, you should pay more taxes; if you earn less, you should pay less taxes.

The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Isn't the purpose of taxation to regulate income levels and narrow income gaps to a certain extent?

You even say that we are competing with the people for profit. How can you have the nerve to say that?

Do you really think that I don’t know what you mean by the people?
When we talk about competing with the people for profit, who are we competing with?
It's nothing more than entering you, and those business people below you will have less money in their pockets!"

Later, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes fell on the faces of Tang Shengzong, Fei Ju, Lu Zhongheng, Wu Liang and other Huaixi nobles.

Tang Shengzong and others felt particularly uncomfortable after hearing this.

It felt like the emperor had ripped off his fig leaf in front of all the civil and military officials.

Competing with the people for profits has always been a powerful weapon to counter the emperor's attempts to increase commercial taxes or to interfere in business.

Especially the current emperor, who is a person who likes to talk about caring for the people and being kind to the people.

Under such circumstances, the rhetoric of competing with the people for profits is extremely useful to the emperor today.

It has been tried and tested in the past.

But now, this trick suddenly doesn't work?
The emperor now uses a lot of words, and he directly distinguishes between businessmen and ordinary people.

That’s not all, but they actually said it directly in public, saying that there are close ties between them and those who do business.

Excessive!

That's too damn much!
Although this is the fact, you can't just say it like that!

"Sir, this... Although I say that, the tax rate of 10% and 6% is really too high. If the caravans participating in the trade are not careful, they will really lose money.

Money is a small matter. It is not worth it if you delay important things because of a little money.

How about... a 10% tax rate?"

At this critical juncture, Prime Minister Hu Weiyong spoke again, speaking on behalf of the Huaixi nobles.

He not only wanted to be the prime minister of civil officials, but also the prime minister of military generals.

He would not ignore or let go of such an extremely powerful force as the Huaixi nobles.

In the past, apart from the forces gathered around other dukes, the remaining Huaixi nobles all gathered around the old dog Li Shanchang.

Now that this old dog has broken his spine, he has not only drawn a line between himself and the civil officials, but has also gradually distanced himself from the military generals.

Isn’t this Hu Weiyong’s opportunity?
The power of the Huaixi nobles is really too strong.

Even if he only masters a part of it, it will be a powerful help to him.

Hearing Prime Minister Hu Weiyong speak at this time, Tang Shengzong and others couldn't help but feel happy.

I am grateful to Hu Weiyong.

"My Lord, it is not that we are deliberately not cooperating with you, but that we are going against you.

The tax rate of 10% and 6% is really too high.

If we can do as the Prime Minister said, and reduce the tax to one tenth, then it is not impossible."

"Yes, a 10% tax rate is fine. It can leave some profit for those who do business."

Lu Zhongheng, Tang Shengzong and others all spoke up to express their opinions.

Although the 10% tax rate is much higher than the previous 30% tax rate, it makes them feel painful.

It is absolutely unacceptable in normal times.

But compared with the emperor's six-tenths tax rate, it's not impossible.

“Is there really no profit at all if the tax is 10% and 6%?
Do you really think I know nothing about business?

There is a shortage of everything on the grassland nowadays, and many things in our Ming Dynasty are urgently needed by the grassland.

Things like iron pots and tea are the most popular items among the popular ones.

Exchanging an iron pot for two strong bulls is not a joke, but something that can really be achieved.

If you do business with them, you can easily make ten times the profit.

With such huge profits, what's wrong with charging 60% tax?
As for the rest, after deducting all costs and expenses, there is still profit.

And it’s not a small profit.

We have left enough profit!
If you still feel that the profit is not enough, you are not full and satisfied, then don't do it.

We have people here to do these things.

Since you feel you have to pay the money, then we will pay it."

Zhu Yuanzhang's words were even more impolite.

There is no room for negotiation on the 60% tax.

If he is really not satisfied, he really doesn't mind arranging people to do these things himself.

It is not impossible to set up a state-owned trading company specifically responsible for trade with the grasslands.

After Zhu Yuanzhang said this, Lu Zhongheng and others felt more uncomfortable and frightened than each other.

Is it so difficult to fool the emperor now?

Who leaked the secret to the emperor?

How could the emperor know all this so clearly?
Of course, Shishuliu doesn't want to do Shishuliu. This is more painful than killing them.

But it was not easy to speak now.

On the one hand, he heard the strong dissatisfaction in the emperor's words and did not want to continue to be tough and offend the emperor.

They were also afraid that the emperor would get so angry that he would leave them aside and set up a trading company to do this business.

If this really happens, losses will be incurred.

Not only is there no big piece of fat meat in the mutual trade, but even a drop of soup is not available.

More importantly, after tasting the sweetness of doing business, will the emperor become addicted to it and extend his hands to more areas?
For example, many businesses in the north were taken over by the emperor.

If they really do this, their losses will be too great.

Not only the interests of the present generation, but also the interests of future generations will have to be taken into account.

But they were really reluctant to agree to such an outrageously high tax rate of 10% to 6%.

Therefore, the Huagai Hall fell into silence for a while.

Many civil officials who had conflicts with the military generals were simply forced to watch the joke.

Before the Kongyin case happened, these soldiers were watching with joy.

Are you comfortable now?

Did the emperor's knife fall on these people's heads?

“My Lord, this… I still feel something is wrong.

The imperial court should not interfere too much in commercial matters.

Ten taxes and six is ​​unprecedented…”

At the critical moment, Prime Minister Hu Weiyong stood up again.

After Hu Weiyong spoke, some officials in the Secretariat and even many officials in the Six Ministries followed suit, using tactful words to persuade him.

Tang Shengzong and others were delighted.

He also became more grateful and respectful towards Prime Minister Hu Weiyong.

Prime Minister Hu Weiyong is really a good person. He really takes action when there is something to do!

"Of this 60% tax, 20% goes to the imperial treasury and 80% goes to the Taicang warehouse."

Zhu Yuanzhang did not directly answer the questions of Hu Weiyong and others, but said this lightly.

“Sir, I feel that this tax of six out of ten is not too high.

As the superior said, doing business with the grassland is extremely profitable and will definitely make a lot of money.

Even if the tax is 6% of the total, the remaining amount is enough for those people to eat their fill.

Moreover, this mutual trade was proposed by the superiors and is a new business.

It is only natural to charge more taxes on this.

Now that the country is in need of money, it would be a good thing for the court to have more money and grain, which would make the Ming Dynasty better."

After hearing that 80% of the collected taxes would go to Taicang, Hu Weiyong's attitude changed instantly.

The officials of the Secretariat and the six ministries also praised the emperor for his wisdom.

There is a huge difference between whether the money goes into the imperial treasury or into Taicang.

Since the emperor only took a small part and most of it belonged to Taicang, they had to agree.

Now, it was the turn of Tang Shengzong, Lu Zhongheng and others to be dumbfounded.

They had never expected that the emperor would have such a trick!
What was even more unexpected was that as soon as the emperor said this, the situation in the court changed so quickly!

Those who had just spoken up for him and others and opposed the emperor suddenly turned against him.

Not only that, some people have begun to appeal to their emotions and reason with them, asking them to quit while they are ahead.

The Minister of Personnel, Zhan Tong, even directly questioned them, asking why, as high-ranking officials of the court and founding marquises, they only cared about money and personal interests, and had no idea of ​​the overall situation.

Your Majesty, have you forgotten the dream you mentioned before?
Tang Shengzong was so angry that he wanted to beat someone on the spot.

“A ten-to-six tax rate is indeed very good and beneficial to all parties.

This is the best tax.

I was confused before and failed to figure out the reasoning behind this.

Fortunately, Your Excellency has awakened me."

Tang Shengzong said this to Zhu Yuanzhang with a sincere look on his face.

As he said this, his heart was bleeding and he felt extremely suffocated.

Lu Zhongheng, Fei Ju, Wu Liang and many others also expressed their opinions, saying that the six-tenths tax rate was very good and the emperor's consideration was very appropriate.

"Okay, since everyone agrees, then it's settled.

Let's be frank up front. Now that this matter has been agreed upon, we should proceed according to what has been agreed upon during the implementation process.

Don't think about being dishonest or doing anything tricky.

Once we catch them, no matter who they are, we will deal with them according to the rules!"

After the matter was settled, Zhu Yuanzhang gave the routine warning.

If it were any other emperor, if such warnings were given so often, the officials might become numb and just listen and forget about it.

But when they met an emperor like Zhu Yuanzhang, they really didn't dare to turn a deaf ear to him.

Because if the emperor said such words, then if something really happened next, the emperor would really kill people.

I will never show any mercy.

Li Shanchang stood here, watching the emperor handle things, and secretly sighed that the emperor's methods were becoming more and more powerful.

First, let all officials misunderstand that all commercial taxes will be increased to 10% and 6%.

Later on, it was only about this trade, which made many officials think they had gained a great advantage.

The spearhead was successfully directed at a small group of people including Tang Shengzong.

Later, it was said that 20% went into the imperial treasury and 80% went into the Taicang warehouse, which silenced the people in the Secretariat and the six ministries under it.

This task, which is usually not easy to do, was completed so easily.

And if you really talk about this matter, people like Tang Shengzong, Lu Zhongheng, Fei Ju and others actually didn't suffer any loss.

The original business is still there, and a new business has been added. Although I have to pay 10% tax and 6% tax, I can still make some profit.

It depends on what these people think and whether they can let it go.

Moreover, Li Shanchang always felt that the emperor's real purpose was not just to make money and the unspoken action against the Northern Yuan Dynasty court.

I'm afraid that raising the commercial tax to 10% and 6% is also a major purpose.

Although it is only a newly opened trade where the tax rate is 60%, with this breakthrough, it is not impossible to gradually increase the commercial taxes in other places in the future.

The emperor is becoming more and more powerful!
Not only have their methods of doing things become more sophisticated, but more importantly, their horizons seem to have broadened a lot.

Emperors in the past would not resort to raising commercial taxes, let alone use such means to deal with the Northern Yuan Dynasty.

Nor would he make up his mind to overturn the method of sitting back and collecting money that he had previously adhered to.

Many people speculated that it was Liu Bowen who gave the emperor advice behind the scenes.

But Li Shanchang always felt something was wrong.

Having fought against Liu Bowen and cooperated with him for many years, he knew Liu Bowen very well.

Liu Bowen couldn't do this. Some things were clearly beyond his ability.

All I can say is that this cowherd boy, who once worked as a monk and begged for food, has astonishing talent, intelligence, and growth rate that have surpassed everyone's imagination...

……

"How did things go?"

On Chongming Island, at the Navy Office for Preparing for Japanese Aggression, Wu Zhen, Marquis of Jinghai, was playing with two iron walnuts in his hands and asked aloud.

"Reporting to the Marquis, everything went smoothly, and the news has been delivered to the Grand Marquis.

It won’t be long before the large sea ship will be able to come out of the Longjiang Treasure Shipyard.

Come here along the river.

The Fangbu pirates have also been contacted.

I will settle the remaining money as soon as possible and get the boat away..."

"This matter must be made absolutely safe, as this is a 2,000-ton ocean vessel.

If the news leaks out, there will be consequences!"

As he spoke, Wu Zhen turned around, stopped spinning the iron ball in his hand, and stared at the man with a serious face, full of oppression.

(End of this chapter)