Han Palace, Chui Gong Hall.
Zhang Yong came in holding a stack of memorials and respectfully presented them to Emperor Liu for review.
"What has the prince been busy with recently?" Emperor Liu looked through the books calmly and asked casually.
Upon hearing the question, Zhang Yong cupped his hands and responded: "Your Highness is meeting with Prime Minister Wang and Prime Minister Shen to deal with the tax increase this autumn and the stabilization of salt prices."
"How much tax is expected to be collected by the Finance Secretary this fall?" Emperor Liu asked.
Zhang Yong was obviously familiar with these matters and answered without hesitation: "According to the tax amount set by the Ministry of Household Affairs at the beginning of autumn, all autumn taxes in all prefectures are totaled, about 29 million yuan. Even if there is any discrepancy, it should be There’s a huge difference!”
Hearing this, Emperor Liu was slightly surprised and said: "There are so many. I still remember that the national autumn tax in the seventh year of Kaibao only collected 36 million yuan. This year, a large number of Daozhou implemented tax exemptions across the country. How can there be so many policies?”
Zhang Yong calmly explained to Emperor Liu: "Your Majesty, thanks to the good governance of the imperial court, the farming season is correct in various places this year. The southern Daozhou has been less affected by the Northern Expedition, and the tax amount has increased. Furthermore, the imperial government Due to the tax system reform, commercial tax and salt tax have increased significantly, so overall, the autumn tax is still nearly 30 million yuan!"
"It seems that the imperial court's fiscal and tax reform has finally achieved results!" Emperor Liu said, "If it goes as planned, then the imperial court's financial difficulties will be alleviated!"
"I firmly believe that the next year will get better and better every year!" Zhang Yong replied affirmatively.
Twenty-nine million yuan is definitely a huge tax, but for the entire empire, it is nothing. The big man's stall is spread too wide. Even if it is restrained, what has been spread cannot be taken back, and energy must be spent to maintain it.
The Han Dynasty's annual finances and taxes were basically spent on the salaries of officials, the army, the titles and salaries of the nobles, as well as the administrative costs of the internal and external governments at all levels.
It is somewhat difficult to fully maintain this year's finances and taxes, and we have to continue to fill the deficit caused by the Northern Expedition. The construction of military defenses in the north, as well as the considerable military operations forces that still need to be maintained in Mobei and Northeast China, are all swallowing up. In addition to the imperial court's finances, in addition, the internal funds still need to be repaid by the treasury...
Therefore, although the Han Dynasty's finances are constantly recovering, they are far from being wealthy. Although the military expansion and the Northern Expedition did not last too long, more time was needed to recover from the scars caused by the war.
"The current price of salt in Beijing is already forty cents per dou!" Emperor Liu said with some caution in his tone.
When Emperor Liu asked, Zhang Yong's face became more solemn and he said, "Your Majesty, so far, the price of salt in Beijing is fifty-two cents per dou!"
Subconsciously raising his voice, Emperor Liu frowned and said, "It's indeed a bit high!"
To put it simply, the reform of salt production in the Han Dynasty was to relax controls, open up the market, reduce the role of the government in it, and let merchants assume the role of circulation and sales. The government is only responsible for production, and delegates transportation and sales to qualified salt merchants. At the same time, it also does a good job of supervision.
The direct reason for such a policy change lies in the financial problems of the imperial court, which is a way to open up financial resources. After all, everyone knows that salt profits are huge, and it is indeed a pity to maintain a low level of salt prices in the past.
Through this method, while reducing the burden of operation and maintenance, the imperial court was able to obtain visible benefits. From the sale of salt certificates alone, it could obtain a one-time income of three million guan.
From the spring decision, preparation to implementation, it took more than half a year, and the results were immediately apparent. The most intuitive change is the sharp rise in salt prices, which has even gone crazy.
Even during the Northern Expedition last year, due to the pressure of material supply, the price of salt in Luoyang increased, but it was only about 20 cents per bucket. After the beginning of the new year, it even fell back to the normal level of 17 cents.
However, since the imperial court launched the salt-making reform, in just over half a year, the price of this bucket of salt has more than doubled, almost three times as much as in the spring.
Such a rise was somewhat exaggerated and caused great criticism. Although the capital was a prosperous place, people were gradually complaining about the crazy rise in salt prices.
Of course, officials in the imperial court were well aware of the rise in salt prices, especially Wang Pu, who was mainly responsible for this matter. He was always paying attention to it.
However, we have not intervened casually, but have calmly sat back and watched its development. After all, there were expectations before the policy was implemented, and the rise in salt prices was even more expected. It can even be said that the imperial court played a leading role in promoting the increase in salt prices.
The ninth year of Kaibao has not yet ended, but the court's income from salt profits is already very considerable. This income can be regarded as additional income, which greatly supplements the finances. At the same time, it can also be used to benefit salt workers and salt people everywhere.
In the past, when the imperial court maintained a low salt price, the people who were most squeezed were naturally the salt farmers everywhere. With the implementation of the reform of salt affairs, the government has become richer, the treatment of salt people has improved, and the merchants involved can also have enough to eat. However, it is the people across the country who pay the bill.
Of course, although salt is a necessity for people's livelihood, it is not like staple foods such as rice and noodles. The demand is rigid, but the amount required by each family can be adjusted. Therefore, even if prices rise a little, the impact on people's livelihoods will not be too serious.
If it were possible to float like a frog boiled in warm water, the reaction would not be that strong. However, the problem is that the rise is too fast and too crazy, leaving people without enough time to react and adapt.
It is also conceivable that in the past it only cost twenty coins, but now it costs three times the price. Anyone would be dissatisfied and complain. It would be fine if they had not experienced it, but the people of Han Dynasty had enjoyed it for almost twenty years. Cheap salt.
You must know that in Xijing, the average monthly income of a strong laborer is only three hundred cash. Therefore, fifty cash per bucket of salt is definitely expensive for the common people.
Therefore, when public resentment accumulates to a certain extent, the court can no longer turn a blind eye. In fact, the rise in salt prices was certainly due to the promotion of imperial policies, and merchants obviously played a huge role in promoting it. In this public complaint, "profiteers" also shouldered a lot of infamy on behalf of the imperial court.
Any reform, while solving old troubles, is often accompanied by the emergence of new problems. The Han Dynasty has gone through so many changes since Emperor Liu came to power. Emperor Liu and his ministers all had a very clear understanding of this issue. with enough experience.
So far, the benefits of the salt reform have been obvious, and the imperial court has begun to enjoy its benefits. Therefore, when problems began to emerge, as experts in political management, Zhao Pu and Wang Pu did not have any impatience and tried to solve them. If it cannot be solved, then alleviate it.
"Don't look at the small price of salt, but it is the livelihood of the people of Li. Now the price of salt has risen, which is a bit excessive. The problem is caused by the court's policies. Since it has caused public resentment, the court must start to solve it to relieve the public's resentment and calm people's hearts. !" Emperor Liu thought for a while and said.
Of course, it was just an indication of attitude. Emperor Liu still plans to hand over specific matters to the Political Affairs Hall and the Financial Secretary. He only cares about asking about specific matters. He only looks at the results. Now Emperor Liu has completely entered a state of governing from the top down.
"Feeling the boiling public resentment, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has personally supervised the resolution of this matter. I think the Financial Secretary will come up with some practical and effective measures as soon as possible!" Zhang Yong said.
"I can rest assured that Wang Pu and Shen Yilun are doing things!" Emperor Liu said, looked at Zhang Yong, and ordered: "You should also keep an eye on this matter!"
"yes!"
In fact, no matter how much changes are made, it is impossible to really change course, and the rising salt prices cannot really fall. At least the various classes and collectives that have made huge profits from it will not allow it. First of all, the Financial Secretary will Firmly adhere to this policy.
Even if some means are imposed, some regulations are added, and the price of salt is slightly suppressed and caused to fall due to public sentiment, it will no longer be possible to maintain it at an extremely low level as in the past.
After all, the price of salt is not as high as the price of grain. If there are such crazy changes in food prices, then there is no doubt that the court will hit hard and crack down hard, because this is something that can really affect people's livelihood and social issues.
The Han Empire was still a country based on agriculture. After so many years of development, in addition to the people in the towns, ordinary farmers had some surplus grain at home, and the demand for grain was also very stable. Unless there was some disaster, the price of grain was very high. It is difficult to have an exaggerated increase.
The price of salt is too high, but the people can tolerate it and get used to it over time. If they can't afford to eat, they may rebel, and the harm caused will be great.
Therefore, without any results, Emperor Liu already knew that the price of salt would remain at a relatively high level in the future until the people accepted it and got used to it.
