After my soul traveled to ancient times, I don't want to be cannon fodder

The lofty ambition he had felt when he passed the imperial examination and was paraded through the streets on horseback was awakened at this moment. Chong Jingxiu took two steps forward and then knelt directly.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully serve Her Royal Highness the Princess and all living beings in this world. Even if my head and body are torn apart, I will shine like a summer flower and benefit the people of this land!"

"Okay!" Zhong Ning raised the corner of his lips in satisfaction, then turned to Emperor Yong, "Father, I want someone from you. You won't object, will you?"

Emperor Yong:.......

Everyone present:........

No, what just happened?

Shouldn't Chong Jingxiu from the Hanlin Academy stand on their side and denounce Princess Zhaohua together?

How could he side with the enemy in just a few words?

The Minister of Personnel Li Chuping was so angry that he fell backwards, and his eyes were blazing with anger as he looked in the direction of Chong Jingxiu.

Emperor Yong fell silent. At this moment, he had to admit that his daughter was truly terrifying when it came to inciting people.

Even he himself was almost affected just now.

"Zhaohua, what do you want him to do?" Emperor Yong asked this deliberately in order to make it clear what Zhong Ning was going to do.

"Father, I recently ordered a pilot reform in Qinghe. Over the past few months, the results have been quite significant. Therefore, I would like to open a few more pilot projects and gradually expand them."

Zhong Ning's words caused the expressions of the several adults present to change. The Minister of Personnel, Li Chuping, no longer concealed his feelings and asked directly, "I wonder what the evidence is for Princess Zhaohua's so-called remarkable achievements?"

Zhong Ning smiled and said slowly, "The most feasible way to measure the effectiveness of a region's development is naturally tax revenue!"

"Then I wonder how much tax silver Qinghe can earn?" Li Chuping said in a slightly cold voice. "If Qinghe is truly so successful, why hasn't Yizhou Prefecture reported anything?"

"Father, last year, Qinghe postponed its tax payments due to a pilot reform program. This was also permitted by you, who specifically ordered that they be paid after stability is achieved after the new year."

"I know your Majesty also wants to know how the three-month pilot program differs from previous ones, so I have specially ordered Liu Ben to send troops directly to deliver the tax silver to the capital for the first time. Liu Ben is now waiting for your order outside the palace!"

"If the emperor wishes to know the truth, he can summon him to the palace for an audience!"

Zhong Ning's voice was steady, but it was like a bomb thrown into boiling water, immediately causing dissatisfaction among many ministers in the court.

"Princess Zhaohua, although His Majesty has allowed you to be regent and start pilot reforms, how can you arrange the payment of taxes on your own?" Minister of Revenue Zhuo Sen was a little unhappy. He didn't like anything extra to happen.

If he had obtained the information earlier and known the actual tax details of Qinghe, he would not have stood here and let Princess Zhaohua publicly announce that the scope of the pilot reform would be expanded.

If the policy is expanded further and all gentry are required to pay taxes together, then these families will have to pay a huge amount of money in taxes every year from now on.

He felt sad when he saw the blood.

Zhong Ning did not want to argue with him. After all, Emperor Yong was the one who really made the final decision!

"Father, the first pilot reform campaign will yield results. Don't you want to see what they are?"

Emperor Yong's face was solemn. He ignored the extremely unpleasant expressions of his ministers and said directly: "Call Liu Ben!"

Su Qi immediately understood, and his high-pitched voice echoed throughout the palace: "Your Majesty has ordered that Liu Ben be summoned to the throne!"

The eunuch guarding the palace gate immediately announced, "Your Majesty has ordered Liu Ben to appear before you!"

One after another, Liu Ben, who was waiting at the reception desk at the palace gate, received the summons. He immediately straightened his clothes, straightened his expression, and walked towards the Qinzheng Hall with a figure eight step.

"Your Majesty, I, Liu Ben, the Magistrate of Qinghe County, pay my respects to the Emperor, His Majesty, and to Her Royal Highness the Princess, and to all the Excellencies!"

Liu Ben knelt on the ground and read aloud the audience words that he had recited in his mind countless times, then bowed his head to the ground with the utmost respect.

"Stand up!" Emperor Yong raised his hand lightly. Liu Ben immediately stood up slowly, but he bowed his body and did not dare to look directly at the emperor.

"I heard from Zhaohua that you personally led the team to escort the Qinghe tax silver... all the way to Kyoto. I wonder how much the tax silver was?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ben took out an account book from his sleeve and presented it respectfully. Su Qi took the account book and presented it to the emperor.

Emperor Yong flipped through the account book. The first few pages were fine and everything was normal. However, since the reform pilot began at the end of the year, the amounts in the account book have increased exponentially!

Liu Ben said, "Your Majesty, the tax revenue collected by Qinghe County in previous years was only 83,000 strings of cash, which included commercial taxes, head taxes, land taxes, etc."

"This year, I, following Your Majesty's orders, will survey the land and property, check the population and household numbers, and abolish the "headcount system"..."

"It was discovered that the hidden farmland was 4,865 mu more than previously reported, and the population had increased by 1,800 households. Later, the farmland owned by the Cui family of Qinghe was rented out to tenants in the name of the imperial court. All gentry and landlords were required to pay taxes together..."

"Therefore, the tax silver paid this year is approximately 366,600 strings of cash. In addition to the tax silver, there is also 100,000 dan of land rent and grain."

"The Qinghe granary was already full, and I took the initiative to sell the excess grain to merchants, earning approximately 73,000 strings of silver."

"As for the salt mines, they are also managed by people sent by the court according to your majesty's order. The details will be reported separately by Lord Su."

"All items are detailed in the accounts. Your Majesty, please review them!"

After these words were spoken, silence fell in the hall.

After a long while, Minister of Revenue Zhuo Sen finally said, "You just said, how much is the income tax this year?"

"My lord, the annual tax silver paid is approximately 366,600 strings of cash. This is the tax silver that must be paid to the court after deducting the local expenses in Qinghe!" Liu Ben explained.

Zhuo Sen's face turned pale, and he then looked towards Emperor Yong. Although Emperor Yong's expression did not change, the upturned corners of his lips showed that he was in a good mood at the moment!

"Excellent!" Emperor Yong closed the account book and exclaimed, "This county alone has received such high tax revenues. This shows that the reforms are indeed effective!"

"Congratulations, father! If this promotion continues, our Great Yong will surely have sufficient money and food, and the unification of the world is just around the corner!" Zhong Ning immediately saluted and congratulated.

"What Zhaohua said is very much to my liking!" Emperor Yong laughed heartily, not concealing his admiration for Zhong Ning.

"As you said, practice is the only criterion for testing truth. After this pilot project, I know that this is the truth of the world. You are not deceiving me!"

The pilot results are so obvious, which shows that the land annexation mentioned by Wen Renye in the article is indeed serious.

However, given the current national conditions, it is unlikely that these people will give up the occupied land.

But if you change your mindset and implement the unified tax payment system for all gentry, the more land you have, the more taxes you will have to pay.