Zheng Xingyang recorded all the key points raised by Zhu Jingyuan.
When he first started writing, Zheng Xingyang felt a little happy, but after writing, he started to worry.
After writing down all the key points, Zheng Xingyang asked again uncertainly:
"Your Highness, do you really want to do this?
“Students believe that private loans and capital flows should indeed be investigated, but when it comes to implementation methods, should we be more... cautious?
“The composition of the remediation team covers everything from taxation to legislation and justice to law enforcement.
“Theoretically, this group can rectify any manufacturer or owner in the name of verifying loans and funds.
“With such great power, the relevant persons in charge may take the opportunity to line their own pockets, criticize political opponents, and use the same party to defeat dissidents...
“Finally, the student is worried that regardless of whether His Highness is prepared to collect income tax on gifts between immediate family members, the investigation you finally proposed regarding child support and alimony, if really launched, is likely to make the public think this way.
"The matter of immediate family members receiving income tax, let alone being decided and implemented, even if the relevant discussions are made public, it will definitely cause an uproar throughout the Ming Dynasty...
"Especially in the past two years, this is your most critical moment. The student feels that His Highness should be more cautious..."
Zhu Jingyuan understood that Zheng Xingyang was worried that he would cause public outrage, so he smiled and waved his hand and said:
“This kind of thing has a huge impact, so it’s not something I can directly decide on my own right now.
“Now I am just explaining the situation to my father and the court and putting forward my suggestions.
"Whether it is to be implemented and how it is to be implemented will definitely have to be discussed and decided by my father and the senior gentlemen of the court.
"If my father thinks it's inappropriate, just don't approve my suggestion.
“As for the impact of releasing the news, I think the news should be released.
“Let everyone below understand that the imperial court is aware of the typical tax evasion methods they are using.
“My father, the court, and myself are rightly angry when we discover this situation.
“Then it is natural that we should punish them for this kind of behavior.
“We want to use this kind of public opinion to frighten and suppress them!
"Personally, I support the imposition of income tax on any form of income other than court rewards."
Zhu Jingyuan actually didn't say a few words.
I am actually using the most typical roof-lifting strategy now.
Let the news out first to raise the panic and psychological tolerance threshold of the target group.
Then release a compromise plan and force all parties to accept it.
The results of these days' research made Zhu Jingyuan understand that income tax must be levied on gifts received by relatives.
To do otherwise is to leave a huge tax loophole unaddressed.
The question is just to what extent.
Zheng Xingyang could vaguely understand the meaning that Zhu Jingyuan did not express clearly, so he did not continue to persuade.
He honestly edited the telegram and sent it to the capital of the Ming Dynasty.
Of course there is a dedicated telephone line between Yingtian Mansion and Shuntian Mansion.
However, relatively formal notifications and applications still have to be sent by telegram.
This can be put directly on paper, so it is more formal and convenient for discussion, copying, and archiving.
The notice written by Lin Zexu was also sent in the form of a telegram, requiring the heads of relevant agencies such as taxation, prisons, and banks in Jianghuai Province to come to Yingtian for a meeting on the third day of March to discuss the income tax collection reform plan.
Zhu Jingyuan knew that neither his emperor nor the Ming court would decide immediately on his application to form a rectification team for tax evasion, and it was impossible for him to receive an immediate response.
Therefore, Zhu Jingyuan made preparations as a matter of course, and used this time to hold a meeting with relevant local JAC agency personnel to discuss a relatively reasonable response plan, and finally implemented it simultaneously with the comprehensive crackdown on tax evasion.
The remediation team is tasked with checking for vulnerabilities from past years, and the response plan is formalized for the future.
Of course, the premise is that my father and the court agree to the remediation team's application.
Then, just one night later, at around ten o'clock the next morning, when he was beginning to conceive and prepare the tax reform plan, Lin Zexu suddenly came over and reported very solemnly:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty has called a dedicated phone number and requires you to answer it immediately."
"Father's phone number..."
When Zhu Jingyuan heard the news, he subconsciously thought that he wanted to ask him for more details, as well as his thoughts and suggestions on combating tax evasion.
While sorting out his words in his mind, Zhu Jingyuan quickly walked to the special communicator, got the special phone from his secretary, and said hello to his father who was far away in the capital:
"Is Father okay?"
Zhu Jianyan's rather serious voice came from the microphone:
"I'm fine. Your grandfather is going to inspect the south. The first stop will be directly to Yingtian Mansion.
“Departure at 10 a.m. on February 30th, arriving at 8 a.m. the next day, and getting off at 9 a.m.
"As the local administrative officer, you should organize the reception and reception, and other work will be suspended for now."
Zhu Jingyuan was stunned when he heard these words.
I just suppressed all the words I had just prepared:
"I understand, but father, grandpa suddenly wants to come to Yingtian Mansion now? Is there something special going on?"
Zhu Jianyan on the opposite side was silent for a second, and then reminded:
"It has to do with the things you are applying for and planning to get involved in. I will tell you the details in person after your grandfather arrives. Anyway, it only takes a few days..."
Zhu Jianyan gave a few more serious instructions, mainly to remind Zhu Jingyuan to take good care of the old man.
The Supreme Emperor Zhu Zhongliang is seventy-six years old this year. He is already seventy-seven in actual age. He is definitely an advanced age in this era.
Emperor Zhu Jianyan sincerely hopes that his father, the Supreme Emperor, can continue to live in good health.
Dad has completely delegated his powers long ago and will not interfere with his own rights at all.
However, he can give himself a platform when necessary, give advice that ordinary ministers cannot give, and discuss special topics with himself that ministers cannot participate in.
Zhu Jianyan sincerely hopes that his old father can live a long life.
After listening to his father's explanation, Zhu Jingyuan realized that he might have oversimplified things this time.
The impact of collecting income tax from relatives on Ming society may be more significant than one imagines.
His grandfather was seventy-seven years old, and he had to come out to discuss it with him.
It's also possible that his grandfather didn't want him to take charge of this matter and didn't want him to take the blame...
Zhu Jingyuan told Lin Zexu with some helplessness and expectation:
"Immediately send a notice that the Supreme Emperor will inspect Yingtian Mansion in the south and ask the staff of the Ministry of Etiquette to prepare for the reception.
"At the same time, in accordance with the usual practice, people from all walks of life who are qualified to meet are summoned to Yingtian Mansion to greet and meet."
Lin Zexu is actually not particularly good at this kind of thing.
Among Zhu Jingyuan's two most trusted staff, Lin Zexu was more proficient in practical matters and specific government affairs, while Niu Jian was better at internal affairs and organizational activities.
However, Niu Jian is still in Taixi and has not returned. Now the highest-ranking staff member around Zhu Jingyuan is Lin Zexu, so it is natural that he should be the organizer.
No matter what Lin Zexu was thinking, this was the only thing he should do now.
The Supreme Emperor will be coming in five days, and this time is really stressful.
If the Ming Dynasty's administrative efficiency was not high enough and there were trains, telephones, airplanes and other facilities, the preparations for the Emperor's trip and inspection would not have been completed in these few days.
This is the result of Emperor Shizu's personal practice and greatly simplifying the pomp and etiquette of royal travels.
Lin Zexu first went to send a notice and contacted the people in charge to start preparations immediately.
As for the people in charge of taxation, prisons, and banks that Zhu Jingyuan originally called, they are all qualified and required to participate in this kind of reception and worship activities.
Just add a message to ask them to come in advance and pay homage to the Supreme Emperor first before talking about other things.
Zhu Jingyuan himself, while giving various approvals and decisions from time to time, was thinking about what he wanted to discuss with his grandfather.
Then, in the days when Zhu Jingyuan and Lin Zexu were preparing for the welcoming ceremony, various public news continued to spread.
The Ming Dynasty's major official and private newspapers, as well as the initially established broadcasting system, publicized and reported on this southern tour before the Emperor officially left.
Various media have publicly stated that the purpose of the Emperor's southern tour is to inspect the industrial and commercial development status of the Jianghuai area.
However, some private newspapers analyzed that the timing of the Emperor's southern tour was too close to the time when Zhu Jingyuan arrived in Yingtian and began to supervise the entire southern region.
Therefore, the real situation is actually that the old man misses his favorite grandson...
According to feedback from the public, everyone from officials to businessmen and civilians are more willing to believe the analysis of private newspapers.
When Zhu Jingyuan was busy reading these reports in the newspaper, he was always confused.
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the purpose of the Supreme Emperor’s southern tour, nor is he too concerned about the so-called real reason.
Instead, Zhu Jingyuan discovered that the matter of his old man going south seemed to be deliberately hyped up too much.
Even more than ten years ago, when the old man went to Mount Tai to enshrine the Zen, he only started reporting on it when the event started.
After the event, there will be official and private analysis and evaluation.
This time, the old man started before he left, as if he wanted to make this matter known to the whole world.
Ordinary people may not think of it, but Zhu Jingyuan, who came from a later generation, was very sensitive to changes in public opinion trends.
Zhu Jingyuan absolutely does not believe that there is no one behind the spread of this kind of news.
Zhu Jingyuan secretly speculated that the promoter might be the Supreme Emperor himself.
Otherwise, the major official mouthpieces would not be so cooperative...
They don't dare to talk randomly...
Looking back, Zhu Jingyuan felt that something was a little abnormal starting from his father's phone call.
My father especially told me to be well prepared and complete, and to consider all aspects.
The main local officials and shopkeepers of Jianghuai were also required to greet him.
This is actually not in line with the Emperor's habits...
In fact, he is accustomed to doing things he wants to do quietly and quietly, and does not like to make a big splash.
Therefore, Zhu Jingyuan felt that his grandfather and father must have some plans that he had not explained to him.
In such a strange atmosphere, the time finally came to the first day of March.
The royal train that the Supreme Emperor Zhu Zhongliang took arrived at the special station of Yingtianfu Imperial City smoothly.
Zhu Jingyuan brought the main officials of Jianghuai Province, the main leaders of the royal consortium and Huangzhuang, as well as a small number of local private scholars and businessmen to greet him under the platform.
After the car door opened, the aging Emperor Zhu Zhongliang walked out of the car on crutches.
He was not supported by anyone and was not in a wheelchair.
"Greetings to His Majesty..."
The greeters headed by Zhu Jingyuan were obviously a little surprised while saluting and saying hello.
For the truly powerful and wealthy upper-class people of the Ming Dynasty, when they reach Zhu Zhongliang's age, even if their bodies are still strong, they will rarely be able to walk on their own.
If you want to live a long and healthy life, exercise is more important than recuperation when you are young and middle-aged. But when you are over seventy, recuperation is obviously more important than exercise.
They usually take a short walk in a safe environment and rarely walk to and from the car outdoors.
Although the Renwu Dynasty will no longer be able to use sedan chairs, everyone can use wheelchairs.
In most places, servants push them, and they have to be lifted up and down the stairs.
Zhu Jingyuan and many officials subconsciously felt that the Emperor might want to show a tough image.
But no one was too worried, because the Emperor seemed very happy, with a very obvious smile on his face.
He scanned the scene and waved slightly to everyone:
"I don't have anything to do here, so you don't need to stay here. Go and do your own things."
Then the Supreme Emperor turned directly to Zhu Jingyuan and greeted with a smile:
"Grandson Jingyuan, come here and let grandpa take a look..."
Zhu Jingyuan didn't know what the old man had in mind, but now he could only cooperate honestly.
Zhu Jingyuan hurried over and held Zhu Zhongliang's arm, and got into the special car prepared for him with him.
Zhu Jingyuan was originally going to ask the old man the specific reason for his visit, but the other party didn't give him a chance to ask questions at all.
He asked the parents about short and personal topics one after another.
Are you still used to living in Xi'an these past few years? How many more children have you given birth to? How is living in Yingtianfu, etc.
In this way, we chatted all the way to the Renshou Palace in the Forbidden City.
Zhu Jingyuan helped Zhu Zhongliang get out of the car again, and together they entered the living room prepared for the Supreme Emperor.
Zhu Zhongliang took Zhu Jingyuan's hand and sat on the couch, waving the other servants to leave.
Seeing them close the door, the smile on Zhu Zhongliang's face obviously faded a little, and then he said with a solemn expression:
"You kid, how come you are eyeing something big as soon as you get here?"
Zhu Jingyuan was already mentally prepared and asked directly:
"Has grandpa long known about Jiangnan businessmen evading taxes through marriage?"
Zhu Zhongliang nodded lightly:
"Your father and I have heard a little bit about it, but we haven't investigated it as clearly as you.
“Of course, it should also be because it wasn’t this serious in the early years.
“In recent years, there has been more private money, and the situation has intensified.
"Now it's really time for some rectification."
Zhu Jingyuan immediately asked:
"So grandpa, do you and my father support my suggestion?"
Zhu Zhongliang did not answer directly, but continued to ask:
"What are you going to do? Are you going to levy income tax on all the money parents give to their children and the money children pay to honor their parents?
"With your brain, you should know that this is definitely something that is outrageous in the world, right?
"It's very possible that... no one will support you at all..."
Zhu Jingyuan immediately explained his thoughts:
“I know it’s hard to do, but I really have to do it and I know I have to do it.
"This loophole is really too big...
“Nowadays, not only are businessmen using this loophole to evade taxes when their children get married, but there are also people who marry multiple times to transfer assets.
“My current idea is to publicly shout out a very high goal through various channels to create pressure from public opinion.
“For example, inheritance tax will start to be levied, and inheritance of family inheritance will also have to pay tax.
“Start at 10 percent and go up to 60 percent.
“The reason is that only with the protection of the Ming Dynasty’s army can your family business be passed down safely.
“It is the endorsement of the Ming Dynasty, which provides proof and protection for the inheritance of your family business.
“Therefore, when passing on a family business, it is natural for the court to collect some taxes.
“This kind of goal will definitely be opposed by the vast majority of people, so I will come up with a relatively compromise plan.
“There is no inheritance tax, but there is income tax on assets donated from relatives at the same rate as gifts from strangers.
“But at the same time, parents can take the initiative to pass on assets to their children during their lifetime under the witness of the court’s impartial institutions.
“When going through the inheritance procedure, you only need to pay stamp duty, deed tax and various handling fees, but no income tax.
“But this inheritance is one-way and can only be passed from parents to children.
“Or if the elder brother has no children, you can choose to pass the assets to your younger brother or nephew.
“Unless a child, brother, or nephew dies, there is no adverse inheritance.
“It cannot be passed down directly to collateral relatives.
“This ensures the normal inheritance of family property and avoids tax avoidance through marriage and gifts.
“The daily expenses of supporting parents do not reach the amount required to pay income tax.
“If you use a large amount of assets for your parents’ retirement, you don’t actually need to transfer the assets directly to your parents’ names.
“Let parents directly use the assets in their children’s names without paying taxes.
“At the same time, any marriage-related loans are prohibited.
“At the same time, the levels of betrothal gifts, dowry, and wedding ceremonies are stipulated, and any overstepping is completely prohibited in name.
“But in terms of punishment, it is not arrest and trial, but pure fines.
“Anyone who exceeds the fame and title they have can use betrothal gifts, dowries, and the scale of the ceremony will be fined.
“For example, if a private betrothal gift exceeds the amount of the prince’s betrothal gift, a fine of 60% of the amount involved will be imposed.
"This is actually allowing private citizens to use princely standards at weddings.
“But there are high bride price taxes, dowry taxes, and wedding taxes.
"Of course, this does not include the use of formal attire and ceremonies that are officially stipulated by the imperial court and can only be used by those with titles and official positions.
“Relevant behaviors are still handled in accordance with the general transgressive standards of traditional laws.
“In other words, if you hold a wedding according to the expenses and pomp of the princes and nobles, you will only face a huge fine.
"But if a person without official title or title wears an official uniform or aristocratic dress of grade nine or above, he will be thrown into jail according to the level of trespassing if found.
"The ninth-grade official uniform is originally the groom's uniform, and civilians can still wear it when they get married."
Zhu Zhongliang nodded slightly after hearing this:
“The idea sounds good, but it may be difficult to implement.
“However…the direct purpose of these new laws is to provide relevant agencies with a basis for verification and punishment.
“So it needs to be determined, perfected and announced as soon as possible.
“Whether it can be implemented in the future, and to what extent it can be implemented, depends on the ability of subsequent generations and bureaucrats.
"But now is not the right time, and it is even more inappropriate for you to take the lead...
“Even if you come up with a roof-lifting strategy and finally come up with a compromise plan, people will still hate you.
"So let me handle it..."
Zhu Jingyuan basically understood the old man's intention:
"So... Grandpa, you deliberately made a grand tour to the south just to take the blame for your grandson?"
The term "taking the blame" became popular during the time of Emperor Sejo.
Zhu Jingyuan had no problem speaking it, and Zhu Zhongliang could also understand it very intuitively.
When Zhu Zhongliang heard this, he couldn't help laughing, then he patted Zhu Jingyuan's hand and said:
"No, I also came to see you. I haven't seen you for a few years. Grandpa misses you very much...
"That little boy back then has finally grown into an adult..."
(End of chapter)
