If you are a foolish king, it will naturally be easier. But whenever you think about being a promising king, it is not only tiring but also laborious. The most important thing is that he has to face the calculations of almost everyone. I am just a businessman, and what I do is just hard work, and my life is very free. And if you are willing, no one will care how you corrupt the money and silk. But being an emperor is a tiring and laborious job. I really don’t know why those people have been desperately fighting for this position since ancient times.
Look in front of you, this tired young guy with dark circles under his eyes. This is only the area of the former Bei Liao. If you add in the pile of things in Daqi, you will see so many twists and turns every day, if not exhausted to death, I am afraid I will be bored to death. Thinking of this, Ying Hao lamented that if it were him, he might not have such patience. But before he had enough emotion, Huang Ruifeng took out a few booklets and said: "These booklets are not related to military affairs, they are just a bunch of trivial matters. Second brother can read them first to relieve his boredom."
Seeing Huang Ruifeng hand over the fold, Yinghao was slightly stunned. He hesitated for a moment before taking it, and at Huang Ruifeng's signal, he opened it and started reading. Looking at this document, the newly appointed governor of a certain state in Zhongkyo Province has fixed taxes. The prefecture has a population of more than 10,000, mainly engaged in farming, with only a small number of Khitan people still nomadic. The magistrate suggested that the taxes for next year should be collected in kind according to the standards and types of taxation in Northern Liao and converted into money. Liquor and salt taxes were exempted, and the sale of ironware was restricted. After three years, taxes will be levied according to Daqi's tax rates and types.
At least, replenish the empty state coffers first. But when I looked at Huang Ruifeng's instructions, it only said that next year's taxes would be collected according to Daqi's customization. Moreover, they will all be levied in kind. The salt tax can be temporarily exempted for three years. The wine tax is not only not exempt, but also collected according to the standards of the former Northern Liao Dynasty. People are encouraged to use grain, cattle and sheep as tax deductions, and horses are not accepted as tax deductions. Looking at Huang Ruifeng's instructions, Yinghao couldn't help but be confused. I quickly read the booklet and looked at my brother who had finally approved the last one with a tired look on his face.
Yinghao pointed to the comment on the fold and said: "The taxation in Northern Liao has always been based on physical taxes. Moreover, there are not many coins minted in Northern Liao. Most of them use money made by Qi State, even those left over from the former Tang Dynasty. Money-making. As far as I know, money-making in Daqi has basically been replaced by banknotes. Especially large-value banknotes have basically replaced large-scale money-making. And in Beiliao, those who use money-making are basically in Tokyo. Dao, Han people inhabited areas. In other places, barter is still the main method. Not only is there no place to find money to collect money. "
"Moreover, it is not very convenient. The most important thing is that even if you collect money to make money, you will not be able to use it when you return it to Daqi. What's more, if you collect a lot of money made from the former Tang and Northern Liao Dynasties, it will be taken back It's useless. If taxes in kind are levied, the collected goods can also be sent directly to the army. This state is the main farming area of Bei Liao in Zhongjing Road, and the annual grain output is still okay. Even if the people are not killed to feed the army, the food can be fed Five thousand military horses are enough. Also, why can’t the horses be used as tax? Horses are produced here.”
Regarding this second brother's words, Huang Ruifeng shook his head. This second brother of his was really a businessman, and everything was based on profit. What he said was actually correct. He did collect a lot of money from the former Tang Dynasty and Northern Liao Dynasty, as well as money systems that had been eliminated by Da Qi. Not only was a large amount of finance and taxation wasted, but it was also of no use at all. But this matter cannot only be looked at on the surface, but also viewed from an overall perspective. It's also that making money is of no use, so we can only pull it back and turn it into a cannon. But it's better than triggering a series of follow-up questions.
Thinking of this, Huang Ruifeng said: "The purpose of the imperial court's Northern Expedition to destroy the Liao Dynasty was to expand the territory and completely solve the border troubles that have existed in the north since the founding of the country. The most important thing is that now, as the father and the emperor spread their families, and The policy of never increasing taxes. In a few years, the number of Dingkou is bound to increase. Nowadays, land annexation is becoming increasingly serious. Although the father has adopted various methods, it still cannot be completely changed. Rich people and The family of powerful officials, relying on the power and wealth in their hands, annexed them."
"What my father often said to me is that our Han people are the most honest. As long as they can have enough to eat, no one will risk losing their head, but if the people don't have enough to eat, they will really Rebellious. Since the general trend of land annexation cannot be changed, we can only find another way. The second brother knows that although the climate in Beiliao, Tokyo Road, is extremely cold, the land is extremely fertile. Once the seeds are sown, there is no need to fertilize. The most important thing is What’s more, it’s a vast area and sparsely populated, if there were a lot of immigrants like here.”
"At least for more than a hundred years, there is no need to worry about too drastic land annexation. Moreover, there are various tribes here, and they are not yet civilized. Whoever is stronger will obey. And the surrounding Korea and even Japan are thinking about this A piece of land. If we don't move a large number of Han people, I'm afraid that when the Central Plains declines, I don't know who will occupy this place. If we want a long-term solution, we can't engage in expropriation and expropriation. What the court wants is to recover these newly recovered state capitals as soon as possible , stabilize it as soon as possible to create conditions for immigration."
"I don't collect in-kind taxes. One of them is that I'm worried about those officials who, in the name of collecting in-kind taxes, will try their best to make money. Second brother, some officials have a wide variety of ways to make money. . Far from what these Northern Liao officials can compare with. Three years of clearing the prefecture and one hundred thousand snowflakes of silver. I really can't give too much trust to the integrity of those officials. Especially now that their subordinate officials have not been matched. Supervision The order has not yet been established, resulting in the excessive power of these officials."
"The imperial court stipulated that one stone of grain should be collected, and they dared to collect three stone. This is a place with strong folk customs, and the people are also brave people. In addition, the remnants of the Northern Liao Dynasty must be secretly instigating it. If it is really because of their wealth that a civil uprising is caused, it will not We know how much food is needed to heal the problem. The collection of copper coins can be avoided as much as possible. They levy and extort money under the banner of the court. After all, the number of copper coins is still limited. In addition, they take the opportunity to collect copper coins from the private sector for future promotion. Daqi Yinqiao is ready."
"It's not that you can't have copper coins at all. Daqi also mints some copper coins every year and uses them as auxiliary currency, but as the second brother said, they are not used as large-value currency. As for not accepting tax deductions for horses, they only accept cattle. Sheep are taxed. That is to encourage the nomadic Khitan people to herd cattle and sheep, and not to encourage them to raise horses. If those nomadic people really rebel, they will rely on the large number of horses they graze. Not encouraging them to raise horses is being slow. Slowly, bit by bit, completely dismantle their ability to rebel."
Listening to Huang Ruifeng's short one-line comment, there are actually so many plans and so many ways behind it. Yinghao said helplessly: "Behind a criticism, there are so many things hidden, and so many thoughts. Aren't you tired of thinking about so many things every day? There are so many twists and turns every day, It’s bad enough just thinking about it. It’s better for me to do business, and we’ll close the deal if the price is right. If it doesn’t work, we’ll just find another way. Where can there be so many messy things?”
Speaking of this, I think of Huang Ruifeng's experience in the past few days, waking up earlier than a chicken and going to bed earlier than a dog. Yinghao shook his head and said: "Although they are all scheming, the people they face are different. Think about it, you either have to face a group of ministers who are like wolves and tigers, or you have to face big things. If I make a wrong decision, the most I can do is lose money or the business will be over if I don’t do that business. But if you make a wrong decision, I’m afraid it will be a big mistake. Your life is really tiring. .”
"I wouldn't be able to survive your life. I'm used to being wild, so it's easier to deal with those merchants and tribes. I can draw so many Taoisms in one excerpt, and a tax collection There are so many follow-ups. If you don't have the ability to guess people's hearts, it will be a mess. I don't want to make my life so tiring. There are so many tricks, so I might as well spend more time with my wife and children. I It’s better to stick to my current situation, and I’m quite content with my wife and children being on the hot bed.”
Ying Hao's words seemed casual, but in fact they were also expressing some of his thoughts. Huang Ruifeng smiled: "Second brother lives a carefree life. I have long understood this. I am also more willing to believe that under Aunt Ying's training, second brother's mind is broader than this desert grassland. . As for the things that the second brother mentioned, your brother and I were also pushed to the shelves. This was not forced on us by our father. I am really tired of doing these things. Forget it, I won’t mention it. Go drink."
After that, he dragged Yinghao to a small hall next to him. Several side dishes prepared by Yun Niang were already placed on the table. After pouring the wine for Yinghao, Huang Ruifeng picked up the glass and said: "Second brother, since Yun Niang came to my place. It must have been a long time since I had eaten the side dishes prepared by Yun Niang. This morning, I specially I told Yun Niang to cook some of the side dishes that Second Brother likes on weekdays. We are brothers, so we don’t want to deal with nonsense. I am still the same person who had a big bowl of wine with Second Brother a few years ago."
"The brother who followed my second brother, riding horses and hunting in the white mountains and black waters together. I have never changed, and I have never thought about changing. I know that my second brother has never changed either. He is still the same. The second brother who has always taken good care of me and always protected me. Second brother, I hope you can come here to drink and talk with me when you are free. Whether we are brothers or a father , brothers who break bones and connect tendons, brothers who can drink wine and eat meat together in a big bowl."
Huang Ruifeng's words also expressed his feelings, and he knew that his little brother had seen through his thoughts. Therefore, after saying these words to comfort himself, Ying Hao's pretty face couldn't help but blush slightly. Huang Ruifeng's words were almost very straightforward, telling him that no matter how everyone's status changes in the future, he would still be his younger brother, and he would always remember certain things. I also hope that he can give up the estrangement and wariness in his heart caused by the changes in everyone's status.
Yinghao is also a person who has seen the world, and he is impressed by the sincerity in his younger brother's tone and the look of expectation on his face. Even if he knew that this younger brother's intentions and skills were not with him. Now I don't need to protect myself, but when I think of the past scenes after the two people first met, I still raise my glass with a proud look and say: "It's my brother, I overthink it. Today, my brother is here to make amends with you. You You're right, we are brothers, brothers who have broken bones and connected tendons. There should be nothing to be wary of between us brothers."
After that, he drained the wine in the glass in one sip. Seeing Ying Hao drink the wine from the glass, Huang Ruifeng also happily drank the wine from the glass. Next, the two of them drank with each other, drinking quite happily. But this time, Yinghao didn't pretend to be drunk anymore, he was really drunk.
