Ming Dynasty: Abandoned baby at the beginning, Zhu let me be the emperor

The court just wants to allocate money for disaster relief.

To form an alliance with Japan, we need to send a large army to support it and also need money.

The national debt that was issued to finance Lan Yu and his army's expedition is about to expire.

Each and every one of these things required money to be taken from the national treasury.

But now, where can I find so much silver?

"A penny can make a hero fall."

Zhu Yuanzhang said this and sighed again.

This person was in such a difficult situation that he was almost as poor as being a beggar in Fengyang.

"There will be a solution tomorrow."

Zhu Ming raised his head and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, realizing that he had finally arrived.

The land survey has been carried out for some time, and the people should have some money in their hands.

"What can my dear grandson do?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Ming and asked seriously.

After several exchanges, he had already acknowledged his grandson's ability to govern the country.

He might actually have a way to solve the problem of the empty treasury.

"Grandpa Emperor, your grandson wants to reform the tax system."

Zhu Ming looked at Zhu Yuanzhang affirmatively. He had always thought that in this era, there were too many people who were exempt from tax.

Landlords are exempt from taxes, temples and Taoist temples are exempt from taxes, and scholars are also exempt from taxes.

These rich people don't pay, so in the end the tax still has to come from the people.

How could the little money the people had be enough to support such a huge empire?

“Tax reform?”

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Ming with some surprise. He had never thought about this.

He has already thought about all the taxes that can be collected.

If we increase taxes again, it will become onerous levies and miscellaneous taxes, making people's lives miserable. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?

"But people's lives are already difficult. If we increase taxes, how can they survive?"

He touched Zhu Ming's head earnestly and said that no matter how much he loved his grandson, raising taxes was absolutely not feasible.

As an emperor, you must never treat the people as less than human beings.

Otherwise, if the people rise up in rebellion, they will all be killed without a burial place.

He also wanted to train Zhu Ming to become a wise ruler throughout history.

"Who said that taxes on the people will be increased tomorrow?"

Zhu Ming looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and didn't even say a word.

How come, in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, I am the kind of person who exploits the people?

"So what do you mean, grandson?"

After hearing what Zhu Ming said, Zhu Yuanzhang was a little confused.

If we don't increase taxes, what other ways are there to solve the problem of an empty treasury?

He is so worried because it is too difficult to replenish the national treasury without increasing taxes.

"Taxes will be increased, but the people's taxes will not be increased tomorrow."

Zhu Ming looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and spoke proudly.

Open your eyes. Those who do not have to pay taxes have a lot of silver in their hands. If we collect some of it from them, there will be silver in the national treasury.

"If you don't raise taxes on the people, then who do you want to raise taxes on, my dear grandson?"

The more Zhu Yuanzhang listened, the more confused he became. Where else could taxes be increased?

"Whoever has money will be taxed."

Zhu Ming raised his head proudly and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang. Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang hadn't thought it through, he simply said, "For example, temples and Taoist temples."

"Well, temples and Taoist temples?"

After hearing what Zhu Ming said, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly brightened.

He was no stranger to temples.

He had been desperate at first, and he had let the monk go for a while, but that was not a memory worth recalling.

The good places to beg for alms were all taken away by the senior brothers, leaving only some poor places for themselves to beg for some porridge.

These monks are no different from ordinary people, and their level of intrigue is even more intense.

Moreover, throughout the dynasties, taxes were rarely collected from temples.

How could my dear grandson think of this?

"Yes, Ming'er remembers that when Grandpa Huang became rich, he was a monk for a period of time."

Zhu Ming nodded naively, and even showed an admiring look when talking about Zhu Yuanzhang's past.

This worship is not fake.

No matter from which era, Zhu Yuanzhang's experience of making a fortune can be called legendary.

He starts with a bowl and instantly becomes the supreme ruler, an emperor overnight.

Everyone on the RMB has said that the Han and Ming dynasties were the most legitimate dynasties.

"Those monks and Taoists don't farm or work, but they collect so much money from incense offerings. There is a lot of money stored in the temples."

Fearing that Zhu Yuanzhang would disagree, Zhu Ming earnestly explained to him the reason why he asked them to pay him.

"That's true."

Zhu Yuanzhang also nodded, thinking that what Zhu Ming said made some sense.

However, he still had some concerns in his heart: "If we accept money from the temple, will those Buddhists accept it?"

There are more and more Buddhists and Taoists in the world. If I collect money from temples and Taoist temples and they start causing trouble, it will be difficult to resolve the situation.

"Confucius once said, 'I don't talk about strange things, supernatural powers, or gods.'"

In order to convince Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Ming even brought up Confucius.

No matter how powerful a god or Buddha you are, in this land, you are not as effective as Confucius.

Confucius said, if you don't talk about supernatural things, then you are the supernatural one.

"The people are starving, but the temples are occupying large tracts of land. Isn't it ironic that the Buddha's golden statue is so huge?"

Zhu Ming originally looked down on these Buddhas.

"If the Buddha is in heaven, he will also sympathize with the suffering people."

Aren’t you, the Buddha, known for saving all living beings? You can’t have any objection to this money being used to help the people.

"If these monks are unwilling to take out silver to save all living beings, it means that these monks have no hearts for the people and are evil monks who deceive the world and steal the reputation."

Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhu Ming's words and nodded repeatedly.

What Zhu Ming said makes sense. If the Buddha is unwilling to take out money to help the people, how can it be said that he is saving all living beings?

"If the temple doesn't have enough money, those merchants and scholars also have a lot of money."

After hearing what Zhu Ming said, Zhu Yuanzhang finally reacted.

Collecting taxes from monks was just the beginning. What Zhu Ming wanted to collect was the money from those who did not have to pay taxes before.

Whoever has money should pay taxes.

"I've already thought about it tomorrow. The more silver you have, the more taxes we'll ask for."

"The common people will be taxed one tenth, those with a fortune of 10,000 taels of silver will be taxed one fifth, those with a fortune of 100,000 taels of silver will be taxed three tenths, and those with a fortune of 1 million taels will be taxed four tenths."

Zhu Ming had already thought of the reason for collecting these taxes: "These people have never paid taxes on weekdays, and now they are paying off their debts."

"That does make some sense."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. The proportion of money Zhu Ming collected was quite reasonable.

These people still make money, just a little less than before.

"This way, the national treasury will be enriched a lot."

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was moved, Zhu Ming grinned and smiled innocently at Zhu Yuanzhang as if to seek credit.

"That's a good idea, indeed."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, but this matter was not as simple as Zhu Ming thought.

The ministers in the court may not agree to do this.

Even after becoming emperor, the court was no longer a one-man show for the Zhu family.