Population is very important to a country in any era. After learning that some people actually chose to drown their babies because of the Dingkou tax, Wang Lin immediately decided to abolish the Dingkou tax.
Tax reform is very difficult because it affects the interests of underlying managers, but if the system is not reformed, the problem will become more and more serious.
At any time, the country's tax revenue is crucial. Now Wang Linnian is rich, famous and powerful, and he can subdue the nobles in the country. If he does not reform because of difficulties, it will be even more difficult for his son or grandson.
More importantly, he doesn't know whether his son or grandson will be more courageous and prestigious than him and can promote tax reform. So he did not intend to leave this matter to future generations.
After hearing that Gong Yangjie had changed all taxes to collect grain and cloth, another minister next to him immediately stepped forward to object.
"Your Majesty, Gongyang Shangqing's restructuring is indeed very good, but there is a very important shortcoming in it. I suggest that it be postponed."
"If Yu Qing thinks there is something wrong, you can speak up!" Wang Lin said.
"Your Majesty, Gongyang Shangqing said that taxes are complicated and it is difficult to collect and store various physical objects and transport them. This is indeed a problem, but it is also a last resort.
Collecting all grain and cloth has indeed reduced the difficulty of tax collection and made it more convenient for the people. However, collecting physical goods is because the country needs it. The country has needs for goods such as Sokcho, salt, horses, etc., so it chooses to collect taxes and let the people Pay, if we no longer collect these, what will happen when the state uses them? Therefore, I suggest that the tax reform be postponed. "
After Yu Qing finished speaking and bowed to Wang Lin, he stepped back. Then the old god knelt down and sat aside, and there was silence in the hall.
Wang Lin took a deep look at Yu Qing. This Yu Qing was not simple. With just a few words, he abolished the tax reform from a national strategic level.
What Yu Qing just said is very correct. The state’s collection of physical objects such as Sokcho, salt, cattle, horses, and large trees plays an important role. Although Sokcho looks inconspicuous, it is indispensable. Sokcho can be used as food for cattle and horses. , there are other places where it is also needed. Big wood is needed for the country to build palaces or ships and chariots. Needless to say, cattle and horses are necessary for war. Horns and animal sinews are used for making bows and arrows.
All these things are basically strategic storage and require a large amount of storage every year. If they are not collected, once the war breaks out, there will be no time to collect them.
These people wanted to use this method to block Wang Lin's tax reform, but unfortunately they made the wrong calculation. Wang Lin knew that Gongyang Jie had already thought of a countermeasure.
"Qing Gongyang, do you have a solution to the problem Yu Qing mentioned?" Wang Lin asked.
Gongyang stood up and straightened his clothes, then came to the main hall, saluted Wang Lin first, and then said: "Your Majesty, I have already considered Yu Qing's problem. It is necessary to collect materials such as bunch grass, big wood, horns, and tendons." Reserves for war are indispensable.”
"Since it is indispensable, why does Mr. Gongyang want to abolish these physical taxes?" Another noble next to him couldn't help but ask.
"Zhang Qing, please don't talk nonsense!" Wei Ping snorted coldly.
Zhang Qing reacted immediately and hurriedly complained to Wang Lin: "I am worried about the national policy and have been disrespectful to you. I hope you will forgive me!"
Wang Lin waved his hand and said: "Forget it, I'll deduct thirty fiefdoms and win the title next time!" Hearing this, the minister suddenly broke into sweat.
Wang Lin told them very clearly that he knew your little thoughts and this time it was just a warning.
"Your Majesty, these in-kind taxes are collected for war reserves. I think it is better to purchase them directly." Gongyang explained.
"Your Majesty, I think this method is absolutely impossible!" Yu Qing stood up again and said.
"Why does Yu Qing think it's not possible?" Wang Lin asked.
"If the country uses money to purchase these materials, the price will be high, which will be detrimental to the finances and a waste of financial resources. It should not be done." Yu Qing said.
"I'm afraid not necessarily!" Gongyang said with a smile.
"What do you think, Lord Gongyang?" Yu Qing looked at him angrily and asked.
"It is true that the state spends a lot of money purchasing these things from the people, but it is not a waste. The people are poor and do not have much food in their hands. If the state allows the people to gain benefits through purchases, what will these people do if they have money?
In the past, people were poor, and many goods were necessities of life. Even if they wanted to buy them, they had no money. But if they had money, people would naturally buy them. This is human nature.
When people buy goods, merchants naturally have to sell them. Merchants sell goods from various places, and workshops in various places need to make them. The more goods are sold, the more money the workshops make. At the same time, the merchants make more money, so they will naturally pay taxes. That’s more.
The state purchases Sokcho, big trees, animal sinews, horns and other items from the people. It seems that it spends a lot of extra money, but in fact it is made up for it from other taxes. In this way, the people can benefit, business will prosper, workshops will prosper, and the country will naturally benefit. "
"From this point of view, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages."
Gongyang Jie's words were simple and straightforward, but the content stunned everyone. It was the first time for these ministers to hear such an analysis.
Yu Qing felt that her mind was in confusion. She wanted to stop it but didn't know where to start.
"This...the wealth and goods produced in this world are only limited to this amount. It is not in the people, but in the officials! If the people take one share, the country will lose one share. Is this so?" Another minister said.
"This is a fallacy. The growth of wealth depends on production. People have opened up wasteland, cultivated over the years, mined gold and iron, and developed salt fields. Is it a certain number? It has been a hundred years since the Huai State was founded. Is the wealth of a hundred years ago the same as today?" Gongyang explained. He scolded sharply.
The ministers who argued with him turned pale, and Nuonuo did not dare to speak.
"Cai!" Wang Lin said loudly and happily.
He had read Gong Yangjie's petition before and understood the operation. If it could be implemented, the national strength of Huai State would definitely be greatly improved.
He also knows too much about whether the world's wealth is limited or growing. The books in his office clearly record that the world's wealth is growing. And with his intelligence, he didn't know what the minister just said that he didn't finish.
The wealth is not only for officials and people, but also for nobles. Don’t they know that the world’s wealth is increasing? I definitely know, they just want to get more.
Wang Lin snorted coldly and stopped arguing with them.
Reforming the tax law also has another benefit, that is, the life of the Chinese people is much easier, which is also good for them.
...
The Gongyang Reform had a far-reaching impact in history. Through the reform, the military, economy, politics and other aspects were reorganized, especially the development of commodity economy was promoted, the government finances were enriched, the military strength was improved, and the centralization of power was strengthened. , making Huaiguo rapidly prosperous and powerful. ——"Global History·Chinese History·Western Zhou Dynasty"
