Xu Shixing, in the historical time and space before time travel, he was the top scholar in high school in the 41st year of Jiajing. He was the adopted son of Xu Shangzhen, the prefect of Suzhou today. After he won the top prize, he changed his original surname "Shen". After that, his name was recorded in the history books The names are all Shen Shixing.
Shen Shixing was the first assistant to the Wanli Dynasty after Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Siwei. He had been in charge of the government for eight years.
Xu Guo was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Jiajing reign. Later, he joined the cabinet together with Shen Shixing and served as the second assistant of the cabinet.
Wang Xijue, like Shen Shixing, was a Huiyuan in the 41st year of Jiajing reign. He was slightly inferior to Shen Shixing in the palace examination and was the second best in that subject. He also served as a cabinet minister in Shen Shixing's cabinet.
Because the ministers in this cabinet all lived longer and were influential in the political arena during the Longqing and Wanli years, they were also called the "longevity cabinet."
Su Ze also didn't expect that he would meet three future pavilion elders just when he went out to have a meal.
However, at this time, Xu Shixing, Xu Guo and Wang Xijue had the same status as Su Ze, they were all supervisors of Nanjing Imperial College.
Su Ze showed his ID card of the Imperial College. Since they are all graduates of the Imperial College, they are also classmates. Xu Shixing stood up and said:
"Su Ze, Su Rulin, could it be Su Rulin who wrote "The Peony Pavilion"?"
Everyone looked at Su Ze. After seeing Su Ze nod, Wang Xijue and Xu Guo became even more enthusiastic.
As soon as Su Ze's "The Peony Pavilion" reached Suzhou Prefecture, it immediately caused a sensation in the whole city. The entire Suzhou Prefecture theater troupe was rehearsing "The Peony Pavilion" and it became very popular.
Nowadays, at family banquets in Suzhou, whenever there is an opera to add to the fun, "The Peony Pavilion" will almost be performed.
Su Ze revealed his identity and was quickly recognized by the three people. This is the benefit of fame.
Su Ze raised his hands and said, "Su just heard that the three brothers were discussing the banknote tariff law?"
Among them, the Taicang Wang family of the Wang Xijue family, a prominent Susong family like the Xu family of Songjiang, had the strongest views on banknote tariffs.
Wang Xijue said: "Brother Su, you don't know. This banknote customs law is the same evil law that competes with the people like Wang Anshi's Yifa! Ever since it was reported that the banknote customs duties were to be re-imposed, the officials and people of Suzhou Prefecture all denounced Fang Wanghai for his mistake. country!"
Xu Guo pushed Wang Xijue. Su Ze was from Yanping Prefecture, Fujian Province, and Fang Wanghai was also transferred from Yanping Prefecture, Fujian Province. The cautious Xu Guo had already guessed that Su Ze and Fang Wanghai might be related.
Xu Shixing did not express his position. Just when they denounced the Qianguan Law, Su Ze came over to talk. It was obvious that Su Ze wanted to participate in the discussion on this topic.
Xu Shixing was deeply taught by Xu Shangzhen. At such times, he always listened to what others said before expressing his stance.
Su Ze said: "This banknote tariff has some connection with Su."
Everyone was shocked, and Su Ze added: "When Su took part in the government examination, the policy paper he wrote was this banknote tax law. Later, after discussing it with the prefect Fang and perfecting it, the prefect Fang submitted the "Customers' Tax Law" to the court. "Ping Japanese Seven Things".
As soon as these words came out, Wang Xijue's face turned pale, Xu Guo lowered his head, and Xu Shixing looked at Su Ze.
Su Ze looked directly at Wang Xijue and said:
"Brother Wang, I disagree. The imperial court already has a commercial tax. The tax on banknotes just changes the tax that should be paid when doing business and doing business into paying when passing through banknote customs. The banknote customs law is not an additional tax. , how can we talk about competing with the people for profit?"
Wang Xijue was speechless. He couldn't say that because wealthy businessmen could evade taxes in the past, strict taxation on banknotes and tariffs was bad governance. After all, he was only in his twenties now and had not yet developed a thick skin in the officialdom.
Seeing his friend's embarrassed expression, Xu Guo still said:
"Brother Su, what you said is wrong. Mr. Fang set up a checkpoint in Huguan. Even if the banknote pass method is good, there must be subordinates exploiting it. Wang Anshi's intention of using the market change method is also good, but it cannot stand up to the officials and officials below. The subordinate officials have implemented a bad government that exploits businessmen!"
Su Ze glanced at Xu Guo and realized that scholars of this era should not be underestimated when it comes to talking nonsense.
Xu Guo will be able to serve as the second minister of the cabinet in the future, and his brain is quite good. This makes comparison with the Market Change Law, which really makes sense.
The so-called Market Change Law is one of the new laws proposed by Wang Anshi. The content is:
A city Yisi was set up in Bianjing, and a city Yisi or a city Yiwu was set up in border and important cities to purchase unsalable goods on the market at a fair price and sell them when the market was in short supply. Merchants were also allowed to make loans or goods on credit and charge interest in accordance with regulations.
This limits the control of the market by big businessmen, helps stabilize prices and commodity exchanges, and also increases the government's fiscal revenue.
However, during the implementation process, this set of market laws, which were originally used to calm price fluctuations and crack down on merchants' monopoly of the market, became evil laws for the government to monopolize the market.
Even if you want to do a small business, you have to go through several hurdles like government officials. As a result, large, medium and small businessmen all struggled, causing urban industry and commerce to begin to wither.
Xu Guo compared the banknote customs law with the market transaction law. This is actually a "heart-breaking" theory.
Not to mention how well your banknote customs law is implemented, if you label it as "competing with the people" and assume that the banknote customs law will definitely be exploited by subordinate officials, it negates the significance of the banknote customs law.
Su Ze sneered slightly in his heart, the scholars of the Ming Dynasty were indeed very capable in combat.
However, he did not panic and did not continue to debate the similarities and differences between the market transaction law and the banknote tax law.
Su Ze directly pushed away the topic and said, "I don't think it's about competing with the people for profit."
"The reason why the imperial court wants to open up tax sources is naturally because there are more places to spend money."
"Taxation is a matter of nature, taken from the people and used for the people."
"There is Ananda in the north, the earthquake in Guanzhong, and the Japanese pirates in the south. There are places to spend money everywhere. The court does not have enough money to spend, and this money cannot be created out of thin air. To raise troops and provide disaster relief, where does this money come from? Isn't it necessary to increase it? Exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes.”
"If the imperial court cannot implement the customs tax law, the money will be collected from ordinary people. If the money can be collected through the introduction of the customs tax law, then the increase for ordinary people will be less. How can this be said to be competing for benefits with the people? It cannot be done If you say that businessmen are the people, then farmers are not the people?”
This banner of "respecting farmers" was raised, and Xu State immediately retreated. In the Ming Dynasty's political outlook, the status of farmers was definitely higher than that of merchants.
Using the wealth of merchants to nourish farmers is the political correctness of feudal society, and there is no room for argument.
But in fact, Su Ze also knew that he was also sophistry.
How much of the money collected through the Qianguan Law can be used for disaster relief and fighting is something that no one present knows.
It can be seen from the fact that the Taojun emperor had no money for disaster relief after the Guanzhong earthquake and refused to stop repairing palaces and temples. It is estimated that the Chaoguan method will in all likelihood become a tool for the emperor to make money.
However, this must not be said. If it is taken from the people and used by the people, it will point out the regulatory tax attribute of banknotes and tariffs to rob the rich and help the poor. Everyone also feels that it cannot be said that taxes should be reduced for businessmen.
Wang Xijue and Xu Guo were both defeated.
Su Ze said: "Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, why do farmers never want to pay less land tax when farming, but businessmen always want to pay less tax?"
"Everyone in the world thinks that there is no businessman without treachery, and businessmen are ranked at the bottom of the four people. Emperor Hongwu suppressed businessmen, and it is precisely for this reason!"
Su Ze carried out Emperor Hongwu, and everyone became silent.
According to Zhu Yuanzhang's design, merchants had the lowest status. He stipulated that merchants were not allowed to wear silk and satin, nor were they allowed to live in big houses.
However, no one has followed this training for a long time. Nowadays, businessmen in Suzhou will only wear linen belts on their silk coats to show that they are still abiding by the training of Emperor Hongwu.
"I would say that paying taxes is something that benefits the country and the people! Paying taxes is the most glorious thing!"
"Tax revenue can be used to provide disaster relief, to raise troops, and to improve people's livelihood."
"More importantly, tax is a contract."
"Contract?" Xu Shixing asked.
Su Ze nodded and said: "In ancient times, during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, although there was no tax on money, everyone had to hunt together, and the gifts they caught were divided among the entire tribe. So there was no tax at that time, only selflessness!"
The three of them are not ordinary scholars. They are the son of a prefect and a son of a prominent family. Xu Guo also has a large land in Huizhou Prefecture and is a big landowner. Naturally, they have read history books.
"In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there were financial ministers like Guan Zhong. They used the wealth of Qi to strengthen the army, and only then did Qi achieve hegemony."
The three of them nodded again. Although Guan Zhong was not considered a Confucian sage, Confucian sages all spoke positively of him.
"I agree with Wang Jinggong's words: 'Because of the power of the world, we will generate the world's wealth, and we will take the world's wealth to provide for the world's expenses.'"
The three of them frowned. Wang Jinggong was Wang Anshi, and the Ming Dynasty did not think highly of Wang Anshi.
But there is nothing wrong with Wang Anshi's words. The wealth of the world is indeed taken from the people and used by the people.
But what does this have to do with the contract Su Ze mentioned?
Su Ze said: "In ancient times, there was no tax or no tax. The ancestors contributed all their income to the tribe to use it for war and development."
"In the Spring and Autumn Period, the people paid taxes to the monarch, and the monarch trained soldiers to protect the people."
"Without the support of the people, how can we have ministers in the court, and how can we have generals who can command battles?"
"If you ask me, a country can only exist if it is supported by thousands of people. When the people pay taxes, they sign a contract with the country. The taxes they pay are used to exchange for the safety of the military protection and the peace under the government's rule."
"The reason why businessmen are despised is because they have enjoyed the benefits of the government, but they are always unwilling to bear the contract and pay taxes honestly."
"The reason why scholar-bureaucrats hate merchants is because they have accumulated more wealth than peasants, but they always find ways to pay less than peasants. Their contracts are always unequal. This is what everyone in the world calls merchants. Cunning reasons.”
The three of them were stunned.
Xu Shixing couldn't find a reason to refute Su Ze.
But comparing tax payment to a contract made Xu Shixing vaguely feel that there was something wrong.
Since it's a contract, isn't it two-way?
The people pay taxes and sign a contract with the court. What if the court cannot pay its responsibilities?
For example, the great disaster in Guanzhong and the turmoil between the north and the south. What should the court do? What should the people who have signed the contract do?
Xu Shixing immediately stopped himself from continuing to think, because if he continued to think, it would be too rebellious!
It was Su Ze who interrupted Xu Shixing's deep thinking. He said to the three of them:
"Su plans to open a newspaper in Suzhou."
"File a report?"
Wang Xijue's family also has business in Fujian. He also saw "The Surprise" brought by the caravan from Fujian. He asked:
"Is it a newspaper like "The Surprise"?"
Su Ze nodded and said: "Suzhou Prefecture is a place where literary styles gather. Su is also afraid that he is not capable enough and will make people laugh. Can the three brothers serve as editors-in-chief of the newspaper and help Su review the manuscripts?"
Wang Xijue knew that Su Ze's "The Peony Pavilion" was first serialized in "Surprise", and he immediately asked: "Brother Su, have you got any new works?"
Su Ze nodded and said, "Except for my new play, all other pages are given to Jiangnan scholars for submission. Wouldn't it be nice for everyone to have a place where they can make friends through literature?"
Xu Shixing, who dislikes being in the limelight the most, was moved.
Su Ze's "The Peony Pavilion" became popular throughout Jiangnan. If he can have a new work that is similar to "The Peony Pavilion", then the new newspaper will definitely sell well.
Being able to serve as the editor-in-chief of such a newspaper will also be of great benefit to your reputation, not to mention that with the platform of the newspaper, you can also increase your knowledge through writing.
As expected by Su Ze, running a newspaper was too tempting for scholars. The most stable Xu Shixing was dragged into the trap, and Xu Guo and Wang Xijue naturally agreed.
Xu Shixing raised his hands and asked: "Brother Rulin, does this newspaper also want "Surprise"?"
Su Ze shook his head and said: "No, the new newspaper will be called "Warning Words", how about it?"
Xu Shixing murmured: "Writing to warn the world, good name, brother Rulin, this newspaper is to educate all living beings."
Su Ze said with a smile: "The ambition to educate all sentient beings is too great. Su just hopes that this newspaper can enlighten a few people in the world!"
Xu Shixing thought of Su Ze's tax contract theory again, and felt that his head was buzzing and about to explode.
Su Ze had already taken Lin Deyang and Fang Aizhu downstairs: "When the preparations are completed, Su will go to the Suzhou government office in person to visit Brother Xu, Brother Xu and Brother Wang, and I will also hand over the employment contract."
Until Su Ze left, the three of them felt like they were in a dream.
Xu Guo regretted why he didn't refuse Su Ze's invitation to run a newspaper just now.
Xu Shixing was silent for a long time and said to Wang Xijue: "Su Rulin is a talented person in the world. Mr. Fang has this person to help him. Brother Yuan Yu should persuade the family to pay the customs duties."
Wang Xijue nodded and said, "I think so too. I will go home today to explain the pros and cons."
Xu Shixing added: "Su Rulin's publishing of the newspaper is a blessing for the literary world in Suzhou Prefecture, and we should naturally participate in it."
Xu Guo understood what Xu Shixing meant. Su Ze wanted to run a newspaper. As long as he could write articles like "The Peony Pavilion", it would definitely become popular. Instead of worrying about Su Ze's purpose, it was better to participate in his newspaper.
Looking at the suddenly gloomy sky, Xu Shixing said: "The plum rain is coming."
(End of chapter)
