"Your Majesty, this is a proposal to exempt this year's summer tax from Henan, Hebei, Hedong, Yanshan, and Shanyang prefectures!" Zhao Pu took out another document and presented it to Emperor Liu.
This is a common practice. In the past, when troops were mobilized to fight wars, after the war, the states and counties that recruited corvees would appropriately reduce or reduce taxes as compensation.
The same is true this time. This is also the most important point in implementing the policy of nourishing interest. It reduces the burden on the people and also reduces the burden on local governments. In the past, Emperor Liu often gave approval with a wave of his pen.
But this time, Emperor Liu unexpectedly showed some hesitation. After reviewing it carefully, he looked up at Zhao Pu, raised the note in his hand, and said directly: "It is the right thing to exempt summer taxes, but this time I have decided not to stick to the same example, but to make some distinctions. The above-mentioned Daozhou states all made great contributions to the Northern Expedition, but the number of people and efforts they contributed is also different, so it cannot be generalized!"
"What is your Majesty's wish?" Zhao Pu asked.
"The central government will reduce or reduce the amount based on the contributions of various states; the various governments will also set the tax amount based on the use of people's power by states and counties!" Emperor Liu's meaning was very clear.
In response to this, Zhao Pu couldn't help but frown, but after thinking about it for a moment, something strange suddenly appeared in his old eyes. This matter can once again involve the tax system of the Han Dynasty.
The two tax laws of the Han Dynasty were basically inherited from the Tang Dynasty. Although there were adjustments to suit the times, the core spirit did not change much. To put it simply, the imperial court sets a tax amount every year based on the fiscal revenue and expenditure of the past year, and then allocates it to local states, and then levies it based on the property of the people. Money is collected by households, and grain is paid by acres. The rich are more , the poor are less likely to be recruited.
But this is an ideal tax system after all. When implemented, it is often accompanied by various problems. The most obvious one is the gap between the rich and the poor.
It is difficult to determine the amount of property. In the early years, it was relatively fair. However, with the development of society, this contradiction has continued to accumulate. With the exchange of favors, power and money transactions, etc., Coupled with the exchanges of merchants and the flow of population, even relative fairness has been destroyed.
Each household pays money, but the result is that the rich do not pay more and the poor do not pay less. As private land transactions become more and more frequent, transaction taxes are somewhat unstoppable, and underreporting is even more common.
Emperor Liu was not unaware of these increasingly growing situations, but as far as the Han Dynasty was concerned, it was far from the point where serious changes were needed, so he did not seek changes.
It was because of the financial constraints caused by the Northern Expedition that Emperor Liu started to think about it again. He was originally a person of overthinking and worrying nature, and long-term worries were always with him.
This preferential tax reduction policy has aroused Emperor Liu's consideration of the fairness of the tax system. Of course, the most important thing is to consider the stability of national fiscal and tax revenue.
In terms of exemptions and reductions, perhaps more reasonable arrangements should be made between roads, states, counties, and households. This is Emperor Liu's idea.
However, it is not that simple to implement it properly. It requires close cooperation between the central government and local governments, and the supervision mechanism must be fully operational.
Of course, this can also be seen as an attempt and a foreshadowing. If this matter can be handled beautifully and properly, we will have more confidence when we actually take action on tax control in the future.
It has to be said that in Emperor Liu's mind, it would be more reasonable to pay taxes based on the amount of land, and it should also be a more viable tax system. In the past, he did not feel the urgency of this. He also had a muddling mentality and was unwilling to easily disrupt the country's stable and upward development.
After all, any changes to the tax system will inevitably offend a large number of interest groups. The noble class can still retain part of the tax-free land, but for most officials, businessmen, and landlords, there is no such preferential treatment. But it is conceivable that if their interests are really touched, they will never live in peace. .
It may be difficult for Zhao Pu to detect that Emperor Liu's thoughts have gone so far, but he can feel it to some extent. At the same time, Zhao Pu himself also had some ideas on the tax system of the Han Dynasty.
He is a promising man. When he is in office, he does not want to just be an Anping prime minister, but also wants to accomplish some political achievements that will truly leave a lasting impression on history. In a major event such as the Northern Expedition, the protagonist is naturally Emperor Liu, but as for other matters, Zhao Pu has been planning and making some sensational measures. The tax system is a place to start, which is beneficial to the country and the people. direction.
However, Zhao Pu did not show it at this time, but just responded: "I will work with my officials to come up with specific measures to supervise this matter!"
"Okay!" Emperor Liu nodded: "I can rest assured that Zhao Qing is doing the work!"
"Your Majesty's compliments are ridiculous, but I don't dare to accept them!" Zhao Pu responded politely and humbly.
"Your Majesty, this is the report from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. After the Northern Expedition, the list of official promotions and transfers in the northern states!" At this time, Song Qi also took out a memorial and presented it to Emperor Liu.
"The Northern Expedition has been protracted. The north, especially Shanyang and Liaodong Province, has suffered serious war disasters and is devastated. It is in urgent need of recovery. The first thing to do is to select and appoint capable officials. Only when officials are used well can we get twice the result with half the effort!" Emperor Liu immediately shouted. He cheered up and chuckled.
Emperor Liu read it over and found that the scale of the personnel transfer this time was somewhat large. In addition to Shanyang and Liaodong, which needed to continue to recruit officials, it also included normal promotions and demotions, as well as some officials who had made contributions during the Northern Expedition.
Emperor Liu naturally didn't have the energy to read the list involving hundreds of people. He browsed through the lists of officials in Shanyang and Liaodong, the two more important Daozhou states, then put it down and instructed Song Qi: "You have approved it." After that, if there are no problems, it will be handed over to the prince for review. If there is no objection, then the system will be reduced!"
"yes!"
Emperor Liu thought about it, looked at Song Qi, and said: "As for the candidate for Shanyang Road's chief envoy, why is there no selection? Chu Zhaofu is responsible for two posts. It is only a temporary measure and cannot last long. I will return to Beijing. I promised him before, but now that spring has begun, this matter cannot be delayed!"
"The post of pastoral guardian still needs to be appointed by His Majesty. I don't dare to make an arbitrary decision." Song Qi said.
Emperor Liu smiled slightly: "I have the right to decide, so you don't have any recommendation?"
"I think that I should be selected from among the chief officials of various ministries and bureaus, so that they have equal status!" Zhao Pu said.
Hearing this, Emperor Liu stood up slowly, walked a few steps, turned to look at Song Qi, and said, "Song Qing, are you willing to take up a post in Shanyang again?"
After saying this, the three ministers all had different expressions. Li Ye was greatly surprised and couldn't help but take a look at Emperor Liu. He naturally thought of his own advice when he was in Saibei. Has His Majesty adopted his own advice?
Zhao Pu frowned. In the political hall, any personnel transfer was worthy of consideration, let alone Song Qi, the junior prime minister. Although there are conflicts between Zhao Pu and Song Qi on certain matters, they have been working together for such a long time. Zhao Pu's sudden resignation is also unpredictable for Zhao Pu. Another person may not be more compatible with Song Qi. However, Zhao Pu changed his mind and said nothing. The emperor spoke and just sat back and watched for the time being.
Song Qi paused for a moment, faced Emperor Liu's slightly smiling and peaceful gaze, thought for a moment, bowed and said: "If your Majesty has any mission, I will die without mercy!"
"Song Qing is a true scholar of the country, a role model for mankind!" Emperor Liu was very impressed by his attitude, and said with a smile: "To be honest, I have been thinking about Shan Yang's appointment for a long time. The Han Dynasty has no shortage of talents for pastoral care, but Shan Yang Yang is special, after much thought, only Song Qing is the most suitable, and the one who can reassure me the most, and I will entrust him with Shan Yang!"
"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!" Hearing what Emperor Liu meant, it was obvious that he had already made up his mind, and Song Qi was not dissatisfied at all and responded with her hands.
"It's the festival, so there's no need to rush to your post. Take a rest in the capital and wait for the spring flowers to bloom before embarking on your journey again!" Emperor Liu's attitude became more and more kind: "At that time, I will personally see you off. This two-day governance of Shanyang will also It will be a good story in the official circles of the Han Dynasty!"