However, his smile did not last long, and he heard Li Shimin continue to say:
"So I plan to set up a new agency in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, called the Price Supervision Bureau, to supervise market prices in various places and stabilize prices in profiteering industries..."
Dr. Zuo Jianyi's face turned pale. This price supervision bureau was even more terrifying than the commercial tax collection just now.
You must know that at this time, many industries are monopolized by major aristocratic families. Since it is a monopoly, then they have pricing power. However, if this pricing power is deprived, then they will lose more than 30% of the profits. One.
Just like they can sell ten guan items for 100 guan now, and they can make a gross profit of 90 guan. Even with a tax of 30 guan, they only hand over three guan, and there is at least a gross profit of 87 guan.
But if this price supervision bureau is established and directly cuts the selling price to 60 or 50 yuan, then they might as well pay commercial tax.
So before Li Shimin finished speaking, he shouted: "Your Majesty, you can't!"
Even Wang Yuanwailang, Zheng Shilang and several other ministers who started to oppose together also shouted at the same time: "Your Majesty's move is absolutely forbidden!"
"Oh? Why not?" Li Shimin looked at them with interest: "Didn't you just say that? We can't increase the burden on the people. This locust plague, in some places, one stone of grain has been sold for more than a stone!"
When Li Shimin said this, Dr. Lu Zuojianyi's face paled slightly. Although Li Shimin didn't say who it was, he stared at him fiercely.
And their main business, the Fanyang Lu family, is food.
"I established the Price Supervision Bureau to stabilize prices in profiteering industries. Isn't this a move that benefits the country and the people?"
A minister immediately stood up and objected: "Your Majesty, although... although merchants are a lowly industry, we still have to rely on them to ensure circulation. If such a regulatory bureau is established, it will definitely dampen the enthusiasm of merchants to do business, and it will also affect commerce in various places. There will be some impact.”
"Oh? Can those adults explain to me why this is the case? I just keep prices at normal levels, not so that they have no money to make. Everyone knows that businessmen pursue profit. Since it is beneficial, how can they not Can’t make money?”
These ministers were all dumbfounded. Where did your Majesty learn the art of sophistry today?
Normally when encountering such a decision, as long as they move out the people and speak righteously, His Majesty will most likely compromise.
But today, His Majesty actually stumped them with their own words.
Li Shimin looked at the group of ministers representing aristocratic families looking at each other in disbelief, and felt secretly happy.
I didn't care about these things with you in the past, because the time has not come yet.
When the Tang Dynasty was first established, its footing was not yet stable.
After finally gaining a foothold in the Central Plains, the Turks invaded Chang'an again, followed by another locust plague.
Li Shimin has been unable to use his time to develop his ambitions.
Now, although this year's agricultural tax revenue is not satisfactory, Datang's emptied treasury has bought a lot of food from surrounding countries.
Now the Tang Dynasty is not short of food, but it is short of money.
If Li Shimin wanted to launch a war against the Turks, only food and grass would not be enough. He also had to have money to pay the army and make weapons, armor and other equipment.
When the cannon goes off, gold is no joke.
To increase fiscal revenue in a short period of time, commercial taxation is imperative.
Just when the two parties refused to give in, Fang Xuanling stood up.
"Your Majesty, I also feel that this move is slightly inappropriate."
The officials from the aristocratic families all turned to look at Fang Xuanling. They knew that he was a die-hard supporter of Li Shimin, but now he was on their side. They themselves didn't believe it.
"Oh, why don't you tell me, Prime Minister?" Li Shimin stared at him with murderous intent in his eyes.
A group of ministers were shocked to see this.
Fang Xuanling, on the other hand, didn't realize it at all and said: "Once your Majesty's price bureau comes out, if the selling prices abroad are higher than those in the Tang Dynasty, won't these merchants all sell their goods abroad? There are also taxes, merchants' trading Items are also available from dawn to dusk, and the tax of thirty to one is indeed a bit high."
"Yeah!"
"What the Prime Minister said makes sense!"
"I second the proposal!"
After hearing what Fang Xuanling said, the group of ministers all agreed.
As a result, Fang Xuanling continued: "I think it is still necessary to establish the Price Supervision Bureau, but its role is to ensure that market prices cannot exceed those of neighboring countries, and prices cannot be raised at will on the existing basis!"
The group of ministers were immediately stuck, but thinking about what Fang Xuanling said, it was to ensure that market prices could not be raised at will on the current basis, nor should they exceed the prices of surrounding countries. It seemed that it was not unacceptable. It was better than what Your Majesty just said. Said much better.
"And this tax rate, thirty tax per one is indeed a bit high. I think fifty tax per one is about the same."
What else do these ministers have to say at this time? Of course I agree with Fang Xuanling.
"I also think that fifty to one tax is more appropriate."
"Businessmen doing business in the Tang Dynasty should indeed pay taxes. It is natural for them to pay a tax of fifty to one."
Fang Xuanling and Li Shimin looked at each other and said nothing.
I went to Xihe Lou for dinner a few days ago and talked to Tang Ping about the business tax. Tang Ping told them a story.
One person thought a house was too dark and wanted to open a window, but many people in the house objected.
This man entered a dark house again, and this time he directly said that he wanted to lift the roof. Of course, the people in that house were against it, but they all agreed that a window could be opened in the house.
So of the two people today, Li Shimin is the one who wants to lift the roof, and Fang Xuanling is the one who wants to open the window.
Now that these ministers from aristocratic families don't want the roof to be lifted off, they can only compromise and open a window.
"In this case, the Ministry of Civil Affairs should establish the Price Supervision Bureau as soon as possible. Is there anyone who has a good candidate for the first director?"
"I have a man!" Dai Zhou, Minister of Civil Affairs, came up.
The Price Supervision Bureau is established under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, so there is nothing wrong with it being recommended by him.
Although many ministers from aristocratic families want to win this position, looking at today's situation, it is probably difficult.
"I recommend the prince Li Chengqian. The prince studied arithmetic at the New Academy and is very proficient. I think he is suitable for this position."
Li Chengqian was originally the oldest student in the new school. This year he would have reached adulthood and could participate in government affairs and start his internship.
Obviously, this position is an internship position prepared for Prince Li Chengqian.
No one raised any objections to this. This position must belong to His Majesty anyway. It doesn't matter whether he is the prince or not.
And the prince is young, so if it were him, it might be better.
