The Ming Dynasty did have a tradition of using the small to control the big, but as far as the central court was concerned, using the big to control the small was also a tradition that must be adhered to. Gao's pragmatic move is undoubtedly to use "the big to control the small" to suppress "the small to control the big".
Why can this be done? Because in the process of doing things, we must always pay attention to the issue of "who is responsible".
This is just like how no matter how much you emphasize the importance of "using small to make big", when important matters arise in the court, it is often inevitable to set up a temporary manager to take charge of everything.
The current situation is very similar: since you want to participate in supervising the investigation of Yikun Palace, and it is in parallel with Dongchang, then there must be someone who can compete with the Dongchang Admiral in terms of authority to preside over it, so as to ensure that the outer court does not In turn, he will become Dongchang's little follower.
Although the two section chiefs of the Sixth Section can use the small to make the big big, this is only at the supervisory level after all. They will definitely not be able to compete with the East Factory Admiral for the right to speak. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the "investigation team" of the outer court. Headed by the censor of Zuodu. As one of the Seven Qings, Zuodu Yushi is a high-ranking official of the second rank, and with the support of the cabinet behind him, he can stand upright and speak in front of the factory governor.
In recent years, the Ming Dynasty has been victorious in foreign wars one after another, and these victories are obviously the result of the Outer Court. Therefore, the Outer Court today will never tolerate its own voice being inferior to that of the Inner Court, so it is inferred that the Zuodu Yushi will be the one of the Outer Court in the investigation. Representation is very necessary.
At the same time, since Zuodu Yushi is here to represent the entire outer court, naturally the two section chiefs cannot - at least they should not go against him. From this, Xiao Daheng, the censor of Zuodu, has the rationality to "use the big to control the small", and at this time, the priority of "using the big to control the small" will inevitably override "using the small to control the big".
Xiao Daheng is an official of the Real School, and Zhong Zhaodou is a disciple of Zhao Zhigao who has just abandoned the dark side and turned to the bright side. Both parties must be in the same trench at least on this matter, so what kind of trouble can the remaining Qian Menggao make?
It’s true that you are the section chief, and it’s true that the Sixth Section has a special status, but Zhong Zhaodou is also the section chief. If your opinion is opposed by Zhong Zhaodou, and the two sides are tied one to one, who has the final say at this time? Of course it’s Tycoon Xiao.
As a result, Gao Pragmatic completed the actual control of the investigative power of the foreign court. Shen always had a gloomy expression, but he couldn't think of any good countermeasures for the moment. He finally felt a hint of despair at this moment.
Gao Pragmatic is indeed young, and he is eyeing to be the first minister, but he is not yet forty years old. However, his power in the court is really too terrifying. It is really like a tree with deep roots and luxuriant branches. There are his people everywhere.
For a moment, Shen Yiguan suddenly felt as if he was against the entire court, which made him even feel a kind of suffocating pressure. It is not roaring like an overwhelming mountain, but it is like placing a person under the sea of thousands of feet. No matter what kind of shouts and roars one makes, the response to oneself will always be deep silence and pouring water.
Even a person like Shen Yiguan would inevitably have some regrets at this time. Is it true that as Zhao Zhigao hinted, we should not take the road to death?
However, you, Zhao Zhigao, are old and sick and pose no threat to Gao pragmatism. Therefore, if you raise a white flag and seek refuge with him, he may indeed let you go. However, can I, Shen Yiguan, do the same?
No way! I, Shen, have always been in good health, and have long been recognized by many people as the only candidate in the Xin School who can compete with Gao Pragmatism. How could I vote for him? Even if I agree, he won’t accept it!
Of all the arrangements I had made before, he was very pragmatic and knew all of them, at least he had already noticed most of them. At this time, I went to him and told him that the previous things were all a joke and told him not to take it seriously. Not even a three-year-old child would believe this, let alone being highly pragmatic.
In addition to these, Shen Yiguan also has a more fundamental principle that he cannot abandon: Gao Pragmatic's understanding of the imperial finance is absolutely unacceptable to him - not only him, it should be said that the entire Jiangnan Chaebol Group cannot accept it.
Gao Pragmatic has controlled financial power for so many years, and his most basic financial management idea is actually "everyone pays taxes." However, for Shen Yiguan and his likes, "everyone pays taxes" is unacceptable, not to mention the highly pragmatic "everyone pays taxes" is not "everyone pays the same tax."
This issue has been discussed a lot before, so I won’t go into details. In short, the high pragmatic idea is: everyone pays taxes, but the poor pay less and the rich pay more.
This is completely the opposite of people like Shen Yiguan, and they are irreconcilable. In the eyes of people like them, whether we study or serve as officials, aren't we just to benefit the whole family and be kind to our descendants? Our most basic right is not to pay taxes, or at least to pay less. How come you are doing the opposite?
If I have to pay more taxes, then why should I study and become an official? To rule the country and bring peace to the world? Are you kidding? This country is not my country, and this world is not my world!
Oh, I help the emperor govern the country and help him bring peace to the world. After that, I have to pay more taxes. Why? Just because I have nothing to do and eat enough to keep me going?
As Gao Jingshi knew before the reform, this kind of thinking is difficult to change, because the rule of Jia Tianxia can hardly inspire internal unity.
Emperors, officials, gentry, common people, etc., all have their own classes. They are inherently unequal, and everyone thinks that this inequality itself is not a problem because it "has existed since ancient times."
As a result, people at the top of society strive desperately to ensure that they stay at the top forever, while people at the bottom of society desperately strive to rise to the top. When they are unable to reach the upper echelon, they usually become numb, but if they find that while they are unable to reach the upper echelon, their lives and even their survival are threatened, then what are they waiting for? We had no choice but to do the opposite.
So, what is upper level? If you throw away the complicated definitions, it can be said that in feudal dynasties like the Ming Dynasty, those who can oppress and exploit other people are actually at the top.
It goes without saying that the emperor is the upper echelon among the upper echelons. The emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats share the world, so the "scholar-bureaucrats" are also the upper class, and the local gentry are often extensions of the scholar-bureaucrats, so they are also considered the upper class. Since they are at the top, they naturally believe that they are inherently nobler than those at the bottom, and oppressing the bottom is their natural logic.
The ancients often used the word "mu" to describe the relationship between the emperor and the people. In fact, this is very intuitive. The emperor's herdsmen - the people are nothing more than cattle and sheep. They are wealth for the emperor and his subjects to enjoy. But it's better now. We are obviously subordinates. You are so pragmatic and you actually treat us like cattle and sheep?
Although highly pragmatic tax reforms almost always bleed themselves first and harvest their own industries, the Jiangnan chaebols do not think that this is highly pragmatic and selfless. On the contrary, their mentality can be compared to a famous movie line in later generations: the money of the wealthy gentry will be returned in full, and the money of the common people will be divided into 30 and 70.
Of course, here they regard themselves as common people and officials of the highly pragmatic and pragmatic school as gentry.
In their view, although Gao Pragmatic was the first to pay taxes every time, he won the emperor's trust for this. In essence, it was just an exchange of interests. How could it be considered selfless? After all, as long as he has the emperor's trust, he will have more power to make more money. This is "repaying everything in full."
But they are different. Not only did they not get more holy favors, but they also had to pay more taxes than before. It was not cost-effective in any way, so naturally they were not willing to accept it.
It’s okay if you can’t compare to being high-minded and pragmatic. Who is to say that someone is the emperor’s childhood classmate? But why can other officials of the Practical School and the nobles in the capital be called "gentry"? Is it because they got on Gao Pragmatic's boat early?
There is no love without reason in the world, and there is no hate without reason. Hatred often arises from the uneven distribution of benefits.
Shen Yiguan walked out of the meeting hall silently after the meeting. Zhao Zhigao came out from behind. Shen Yiguan looked back at him and said calmly: "Do you think Duke Liyang loves the scenery of Shenjing so much that he forgets the soil and water of his hometown?"
Brother Shuyang has become Duke Shuyang, and the sense of alienation is palpable. Zhao Zhigao could also hear what he meant, which was that he was greedy for power and even forgot his origin.
Zhao Zhigao didn't want to quarrel, so he smiled sadly and sighed: "The husband of the expedition has a long journey, and the wanderer loves his hometown. How can Zhigao dare to forget his roots?"
"Really?" Shen Yiguan curled his lips and smiled: "I think I was stupid and didn't notice it."
Zhao Zhigao was about to speak but stopped, and after a moment of silence he said: "Do you dare to ask Brother Jiaomen to come and check in with me?"
Shen Yiguan originally planned to refuse outright, but thinking about the current situation, he finally swallowed the words that came to his lips and nodded silently with a cold face.
So the two pavilion elders came to Zhao Zhigao's room, and after waiting for the Jinshi Guanzheng to serve them tea, they sat facing each other in east and west. Shen Yiguan didn't speak, only waiting for Zhao Zhigao to explain.
Zhao Zhigao sighed and said: "Brother Jiaomen, a foolish man can bend and stretch..."
"Hold on." Shen Yiguan only listened to the beginning and then stretched out his hand to stop him, saying calmly: "Although Yi Guan is stupid, he doesn't bother Duke Shuyang to teach him these principles. Otherwise, Yi Guan will have to use the words 'A gentleman does something and doesn't do something'." I came in return."
Zhao Zhigao took a breath and planned to talk from another angle, so he said: "Brother Jiaomen mentioned his hometown just now, but Zhigao has a question: Since Gao Rixin has been responsible for finance, have the people in Zhejiang become rich or poor?"
Shen Yiguan frowned slightly, paused and then said: "Youdao is 'Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times', Zhejiang is rich, what does it have to do with Gao Rixin?"
"Is it true?" Zhao Zhigao shook his head and said: "I know that all the people in Xiangzi think that commercial tax is an evil tax, but the poem about Liu Sanbian that Brother Jiaomen just recited came from the Song Dynasty... I want to ask about the Song Dynasty How about business tax?”
Shen Yiguan was stunned for a moment, then fell silent.
Well, if we talk about the commercial tax of the Song Dynasty, it would be a bit of a slap in the face.
Commercial tax revenue was an important source of finance for the Song Dynasty. During the two to three hundred years of the Song Dynasty, commercial tax collection increased day by day, which not only affected social and economic development, but also caused major changes in the country's fiscal structure. During this process, the Song Dynasty seriously established and improved its own commercial tax system.
At the beginning of the founding of the Song Dynasty, commercial tax collection was attached great importance and commercial tax regulations were formulated. Chen Fuliang once said: "When my ancestor was founded, he first established the commercial tax regulations, and from then on he followed the rules of the family."
The "rules" here are the regulations and provisions on taxation of commercial activities. It broke the local business taxation system of various countries in the era of separatism and replaced it with national and unified business taxation regulations. The regulations to a certain extent Promote the circulation of goods, limit tax collection, and protect business travel.
Of course, the specific implementation situation must be carefully analyzed, as the contents of the Commercial Tax Regulations have also changed before and after.
The regulations formulated in the fifth year of Chunhua (994) of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty stated: "All silk utensils, incense, treasures, sheep and hogs, folk pawnshops, shop houses, horses, cattle, donkeys, mules, camels, and merchants and traders Take it all with salt.”
It can be seen from this that the first example only lists the names of taxable goods. In terms of specific tax rates, the overtax is calculated at 2% of the price of the goods and the housing tax is calculated at 3%, but there is no amount of tax on various goods.
In order to promote the implementation of commercial tax regulations, the Song Dynasty government also adopted the method of posting lists and making them public, and ordered governments at all levels to write the names of taxable commodities on the walls of taxation offices, government offices, and transportation thoroughfares. There is an analysis by the Secretary, and it is promulgated to the world. It is posted on the board and placed on the wall of the official house to observe it."
This system has a certain positive effect in restricting local governments from privately increasing excessive taxes and protecting the interests of businessmen.
After that, in the fifth year of Chongning (1106), the content of the regulations was updated, adding the amounts of various goods taxes to avoid private tax increases, and it was also stipulated that the regulations should be updated every ten years to ensure that property taxes consistent.
By the Southern Song Dynasty, due to frequent wars and high prices, it was difficult to fix taxes. In the fifth year of Shaoxing (1135), the imperial court ordered the two Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces to transfer to various transportation departments, "obtain the regulations for taxable goods on this road, take into account the increase and loss of market prices, and order appropriate orders", and began to A one-time revision of the commercial tax regulations, and also stipulates that the tax regulations will be adjusted every six months.
After several revisions of commercial tax regulations in the Southern Song Dynasty, in fact, taxes continued to increase, private tax increases became increasingly common, and tax items became increasingly detailed. Merchants were exploited at all levels.
I just mentioned taxes and residence taxes. In fact, commercial taxes in the Song Dynasty were mainly divided into these two categories. Overtax is a tax levied on merchants who resell goods, and is levied at 2% of the price of the goods. When merchants who open shops sell goods locally, or merchants sell goods when they arrive at the place where they live and sell, the local tax is 3% of the price. This is called residence tax. Residential tax holders also include craftsmen and merchants who produce goods and some farmers who also run cottage industries.
In addition to these two categories, the Song Dynasty also had some special forms of commercial taxes, such as turning taxes. The so-called turning tax refers to the turning tax. For example, the Changyin used by Lianghuai tea merchants states that "the waterway is not allowed to pass through Gaoyou County, and the land route is not allowed to pass through Tianchang County."
After the change, those who are willing to go to Chuzhou and Xuyi will be paid ten guans and five hundred coins for every twenty-three or twenty-six guans. This kind of payment for changing the place where the goods are sold is called "turning money."
This type of money transfer mainly exists in the tea business. The "bank note turning corridor" in Yanyan is quite similar to this kind of money transfer, and it is also a special form of commercial tax.
In addition to these types of tax items that were officially recognized, repeatedly revised, and exploited as they became increasingly heavy, Song Dynasty officials also violated commercial tax regulations and created new and miscellaneous tax items at will.
To give a few examples, one is Lishengqian, which is a tax levied on ships according to their size. Originally, there was cargo in the ship, so there was an excuse to collect power to win money, but if there was nothing in the ship, taxation was still required. In some places, as long as the ship docks, you have to collect money, which is called "landed money".
The second is the city's regular money, which was created during Wang Anshi's reform period. After collecting the official tax, an additional money tax was levied on merchants on cheap items such as ramie and mountain bean root. The regular tax is often the same as the city's regular tax, which is equivalent to twice the tax. Although it has been exempted later, the city's regular tax must be charged on goods worth more than 300 yuan, and it becomes a custom-made item.
Third, to fight against money, merchants had to pay a tax every time they went through the business within a road. From one road to another, the same tax was levied again and again. After all the efforts, the government's commercial taxes have increased, but after the goods arrive at the destination, only by raising the selling price can the merchants make up for the shipping costs. In the end, it is ordinary consumers who suffer.
The above are just simple examples, there are many others, so I won’t go into details here. In short, it can be seen from these miscellaneous taxes that although the Song Dynasty had unified business tax rules, there were exceptions and there were many cases of creating new names to tax business.
This actually shows that before a unified national market was formed, the feudal and local characteristics of local markets always existed. Even in the Song and Song Dynasties, when the commodity economy was developed and national tax regulations were formulated, the arbitrariness of business collection could not be avoided. sex.
Relatively speaking, the problem of Ming Dynasty is that the previous business tax seemed to be playing house. Take Zhejiang, the hometown of Zhao Zhigao and Shen Guanyi, as an example. Before the highly pragmatic tax reform, the tea tax paid by the entire province in Zhejiang was only 27 taels of silver a year - you might as well not pay it at all, in such a wealthy province. , less than thirty taels of silver a year, how can you fool a ghost?
And even after the highly pragmatic tax reform, because he focused on collecting taxes from wealthy businessmen and relaxed small taxes on ordinary people, the overall tax collection ratio was actually not high. At least compared to the Song Dynasty, it was still completely It's all a light corvee and a low endowment.
When Zhao Zhigao asked, Shen Yiguan was naturally speechless.
But Shen Yiguan was obviously not willing to be passive, so he simply did not answer the question. Instead, he changed the topic and pointed to the core: "Mr. Liyang, if a wise man doesn't tell secrets, I will ask: Does Mr. Liyang think that your son's future depends on it?" Gao Rixin in a moment of thought?"
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(End of chapter)
