Xia Yuanji looked at the seven boxes filled with money, feeling vaguely suspicious and uneasy.
After hesitating for a long time, he continued: "Your Highness, I cannot accept this tax money!"
After finishing speaking, Xia Yuanji puffed up his chest and looked determined to fight to the death.
He had just been recognized by His Majesty this year and was promoted from Imperial College to Head of the Household Department. He didn't want to be driven back to the Imperial College to study just because he had collected tax money from the Prince of Huaiyou County.
Zhu Yunxi was anxious.
Paying your own taxes is more difficult than asking for money.
He glared: "Brother Wei Zhe, you have to take the seven hundred taels of tax money today, whether you want to or not!"
This is the first step towards reforming the tax system in the future. If it is not implemented properly, how will it be turned into a sharp weapon for tax reform in the future?
Xia Yuanji gritted his teeth and stopped in front of Zhu Yunxi: "Your Highness, if you really want to pay the 700 taels of tax money today, you must give the official a reason to accept the tax money!"
At this moment, Xia Yuanji felt such a ridiculous feeling for the first time in his life.
The Ministry of Household Affairs is obviously responsible for collecting taxes from all over the world and regulating the economy of the Ming Dynasty. On weekdays, he racked his brains, thinking of collecting a few more taels of tax money from the local government to cover the bottomless pit-like expenses of the Ming Dynasty.
But today, the Prince of Huaiyou County came over with 700 taels of tax money. In Xia Yuanji's eyes, this money became like a hot potato, and he had no idea of daring to subordinate him.
He had already thought clearly that if Zhu Yunxi could not give him a reasonable explanation, he would try his best to offend the young emperor's grandson and reject the 700 taels of tax money without taking any of it.
Zhu Yunxi looked at the 700 taels of tax silver like a fierce tiger and wild beast, loyal and unyielding, and he suddenly laughed out loud.
He waved his hands and said: "Mr. Xia, let me ask you, has the country promulgated laws on the payment of commercial taxes?"
Xia Yuanji nodded: "Your Highness, yes."
Zhu Yunxi clapped his hands: "Since there is, then I sell ice food and ice jade jelly, but I am doing business? Since I am doing business, I naturally have to pay taxes."
Xia Yuanji's cheeks twitched: "But there is no rule that the clan needs to pay business tax..."
"Can't we pay it if there are no regulations?" Zhu Yunxi asked back, and then said: "Brother Wei Zhe, you are now the head of the Department of Cleaning and Officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs. I heard that you have many opinions on tax matters. How can you be so complacent? ? Since I am a businessman, I have to pay the tax like others. It is true that the prince breaks the law and the common people are guilty, so how can I stay out of it? "
He just made the deduction correctly. He was engaged in business and had to pay taxes after making profits.
Xia Yuanji sighed, looked at the seven boxes, and said feebly: "But this is too much..."
Zhu Yunxi hummed and said quietly: "Similarly, the court didn't say you can't pay more taxes."
At this time, Xia Yuanji was completely speechless.
If it were any other merchant in Yingtian City who came to pay the excess tax money, he would definitely think that the other merchant was crazy.
But Prince Huaiyou is definitely not crazy.
Xia Yuanji sighed, looked at Zhu Yunxi and said solemnly: "Okay! Since His Highness wants to pay this tax, I will accept it today..."
Zhu Yunxi nodded with satisfaction: "That's great!"
Xia Yuanji immediately said: "However, His Highness must leave the certificate, so that our household department can safely accept this tax money."
It was written in black and white that this tax money was voluntarily sent to the Ministry of Revenue by the Prince of Huaiyou County and had nothing to do with Xia Yuanji.
Zhu Yunxi followed the good example and agreed.
Xia Yuanji here has already asked the clerk to get paper and pen.
He glanced at Zhu Yunxi, then leaned over to write.
'In the summer of the 24th year of Hongwu, the king of Huaiyou County sent 700 taels of tax silver, which was 10% of the profit from selling iced food, to the Ministry of Household Affairs. This voucher was made and kept in the Ministry of Household Affairs. '
With just a few strokes, Xia Yuanji put the cause and effect of the matter on paper.
Finally, he dried the ink and sent the ink pen to Zhu Yunxi.
Zhu Yunxi looked at the handwriting on the paper, but he was very satisfied.
Sure enough, Xia Yuanji helped me!
The three characters "Zhu Yunxi" were written by him one stroke at a time.
Xia Yuanji, who saw Zhu Yunxi leaving his name, finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was freed from this incident. Whatever happened afterwards had nothing to do with him.
However, at this time, Zhu Yunxi suddenly said: "Mr. Xia, since I left my name, should your household department also leave a voucher on this paper so that it can be archived?"
Xia Yuanji had no choice but to ask someone to get the official seal of the Department of Household Clearance and stamp it on the voucher.
After that, he held up the certificate and looked at Zhu Yunxi: "Does His Highness have any objection to this?"
Zhu Yunxi laughed and patted Xia Yuanji on the shoulder: "I'll leave the money here and my things are done. Brother Wei Zhe, do you want to give it to me?"
Hearing the Duke of Huaiyou call his name again, Xia Yuanji's mouth twitched, and he handed the certificate to the clerk for filing, and then bowed in front of Zhu Yunxi: "I respectfully send you to Your Highness."
After completing this matter with no apparent problems at present, Zhu Yunxi stepped out of Xia Yuanji's cell with satisfaction.
The two walked in front, with Xia Yuanji half a step behind.
Sun Cheng and others followed at the back.
Xia Yuanji, who was half a step behind, was completely confused at this time.
He didn't understand at all why Prince Huaiyou did such a thing today.
and……
It was only the first time that he met him, and the prince addressed him in such a...affectionate manner.
Why is this?
Xia Yuanji, who followed Zhu Yunxi with his head lowered, kept thinking in his heart.
Suddenly, Zhu Yunxi in front spoke in a low voice: "Brother Wei Zhe, what do you think of the Ming Dynasty's tax system?"
Xia Yuanji, who was thinking about why Prince Huaiyou treated him so intimately, stopped immediately when he heard this.
He raised his head blankly and looked at Prince Huaiyou who had turned around and stared at him at some point.
This is a big problem.
Seeing that Zhu Yunxi didn't want to be in a hurry, Xia Yuanji began to think deeply.
After a while, he sorted it out before he spoke slowly: "The taxation system of our Ming Dynasty has clear regulations, simple subjects, and many benefits to the people."
Zhu Yunxi nodded, Xia Yuanji's words were true.
In the Ming Dynasty, because of the old man's background, when taxes were formulated at the beginning of the country, everything was based on the people's perspective, focusing on simplicity and convenience, and it also benefited the people with benevolent governance.
"But..." Xia Yuanji hesitated for a moment, and after seeing that Zhu Yunxi had no unusual expressions, he continued: "If there is no benevolent government in the country, if there is no clear and bright court and government, and without the performance of local officials, the tax revenue of future generations of our Ming Dynasty will be It’s extremely difficult!”
When he said these words, Xia Yuanji's heart almost rose to his throat.
This is a bold speculation and deduction on his part, but it definitely echoes his own expectations.
Zhu Yunxi was also stunned for a moment, and then said in a deep voice: "Brother Wei Zhe, it is a blessing for the Ministry of Finance to have you!"
