Zhao Pu listened carefully, and until Zhao Chengzong finished speaking, his old face did not change much, but his sharp eyes still revealed a little deep thinking.
Zhao Chengzong, who had a dry mouth, couldn't help but take a sip of tea, looked at his father carefully, and gradually fell silent. In fact, Zhao Pu had long been aware of some local chaos when he was still in office.
However, at that time, the situation was still good, Zhao Pu also focused on maintaining stability, and tax payments were normal, so it was inevitable that he would be more lenient in supervision. He only targeted the key points and did not carry out any profound reforms.
In the past two years in Jiangyin, I have quietly observed and studied the governance, land, and taxation of counties and townships. I have gone deep into the grassroots level and have a deeper understanding. The biggest feeling is that the government's bullying of superiors and subordinates, and the situation of subverting the truth is much better than it was back then. A little more serious. Perhaps it is because of the constant turmoil in the Han Dynasty in recent years, and external conflicts have led to internal conflicts, or perhaps it is just that conflicts that were hidden in the past are gradually coming to the surface.
Especially when it comes to taxation policies, there are too many unscrupulous officials. If Chuzhou is as Zhao Chengzong said, there is still some bottom line and sense of propriety. However, the land south of the Yangtze River is already rich and is an important financial and taxation center of the Han Dynasty. It often attracts the attention of the court. The local bureaucrats did not dare to go too far and could barely maintain the situation.
However, what about other states? What is the appearance of those remote counties and remote counties? It is obviously not optimistic. You must know that most of the local bureaucrats dealt with in the past who acted recklessly, preyed on the people, and abused businessmen and the people were in poor, remote, and backward areas.
Poor mountains and rivers produce unruly people, and they also produce unruly officials and cruel officials. Bureaucrats in economically developed areas can still maintain some dignity, and there are more resources available for them to seize. The people under their control are also more able to withstand and resist risks. Only in this way can a relative balance be achieved.
The rectification of officialdom and the fight against corruption and evil that started last year have not only caused the chaos that has already occurred, but the positive side has also been reflected. A large number of corrupt officials have been eliminated and a lot of local bugs have been eliminated. It is very good. The earthquake shocked both inside and outside the country and alleviated class conflicts to a certain extent.
However, Zhao Pu also realized that today's local status quo needs to be changed. Local bureaucrats must be restricted and cannot be allowed to exploit and exploit unscrupulously or even "lawfully". With the current social development trend, problems will sooner or later of.
At present, the affluent areas can still be appeased, but if we continue to let things go, it won't be long before even these wealthy towns will be made angry by the greedy dignitaries, bureaucrats, and landowners.
The key issue is how to manage. The traditional methods of combating corruption, eradicating evil, and censorship supervision are bound to have limited effects. A campaign-style purge like the one that just happened obviously cannot be used as a routine method.
After thinking about it, even if there are still some shortcomings, it is a good solution to change the system, eliminate the old drawbacks, improve the system loopholes, restrain the powerful through regulations, limit the power of the bureaucracy, and protect the farmers.
The current social productivity of the Han Dynasty has made great progress compared with previous dynasties. Whether it is agricultural, animal husbandry, fishery production, or commercial development, its vitality far exceeds that of previous dynasties.
Smelting, textile, and agricultural and animal husbandry technologies have also improved significantly. Even though food and clothing are still a big problem that has long plagued the Han people, the possibility of survival has indeed improved, and the opportunities available to the people at the bottom are relatively more. , no matter what happens, there is still the way to go to the sea to explore the Southeast Asia.
However, with the rapid development of society, the rate of decline of the powerful people who occupy the main dominant positions is also beyond imagination, almost synchronizing with the speed of social development and progress.
Under such circumstances, even if it is to extend the country for the sake of governance, reform is imperative. There are some things that the subordinates can compromise and muddle through, but the emperor cannot.
After pondering for a long time, Zhao Pu suddenly gained some understanding and understanding of Emperor Liu's restructuring measures that were very popular in Beijing. Emperor Liu is old, so why should he carry out fiscal and taxation reforms despite the pressure of nobles and bureaucrats, risking offending the powerful landlords all over the world? Defects must be improved.
In the past, we didn't move because it wasn't serious enough and we could just get by. But now we have to make a big move, so we have to change. To this day, even if we do not let it go, even if we maintain the status quo, as time goes by, its drawbacks, harms, and contradictions will only gradually deepen and worsen until it cannot be suppressed and completely shaken the rule of the imperial court.
On the other hand, only Emperor Liu had the ability and prestige to promote reforms regarding these matters. If the problems were left to future generations, it would be too difficult to change them.
Not to mention that it is too far away, even the prince who has been thirty years old will find it difficult to achieve anything. In Zhao Pu's eyes, the prince is a leader who can follow the rules and regulations, follow the current policies and systems, and move forward along the existing track. However, it is difficult for him to make major changes.
Emperor Liu's original intention of reform was for the sake of the country, the country, and future generations. How much of it was truly considerate and caring for the people needs to be put in a big question mark.
While thinking, Zhao Pu gradually formed some ideas in his mind. Although many of them were his personal judgment, he already had a preliminary plan in mind. The rest has to be done after returning to Beijing and talking to Emperor Liu.
In the past, Emperor Liu was so elusive. Now, after two years, Emperor Liu and the court have not seen any major changes. It is not something that can be fully understood by staying in Jiangyin and receiving some news. You must be cautious.
Of course, from the beginning to the end, Zhao Pu believed that Emperor Liu called him back to the capital to entrust him with a heavy responsibility, otherwise he would be so full that he would be summoned from thousands of miles away to torture his old bones.
"Approximately how much fiscal and taxation do you have at your disposal in Chuzhou each year?" After a long time, Zhao Pu came back to his senses and asked again.
After hearing the question, Zhao Chengzong hesitated a little, but still told the truth: "About three hundred thousand guan."
"Haha!" Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu couldn't help but smile with emotion: "The tax amount set by the imperial Taoist priest for you is only 310,000 yuan! Isn't this tax system changed?"
Hearing this, Zhao Chengzong was silent. In fact, local revenue comes from a wide range of sources. In addition to the two taxes and formal taxes, the increasingly prosperous commercial tax also accounts for a large part. In addition to the output of job fields, some government-run industries such as salt and iron, tea, cotton, sugar, etc. Even if a large chunk is cut off by the Financial Secretary, the rest will be enough to eat and drink.
In terms of local finance and taxation, there are too many areas that are not transparent, and there are too many cases of corruption and corruption. But here in Chuzhou, at least there is no such thing as some places that use clever tricks to get money and food. Even if it is extra apportionment, there is a limit.
However, even so, this situation is somewhat difficult to accept for Zhao Pu, who has served as prime minister for a long time. His position is naturally at the center. He wants to maintain the authority of the imperial court. In the past, he may have made some conservative compromises in administrative supervision, but this also has a limit. Once the bottom line is exceeded, it will not be tolerated.
Raising his hand and tapping it in the air, Zhao Pu wanted to reprimand him, but when the words reached his throat, he didn't know what to say. It's not because Zhao Chengzong is his son, it would be the same for other state officials.
After thinking about it, Zhao Pu said seriously: "You have to be prepared for two things. First, straighten out Chuzhou's past financial and tax accounts, and immediately ban those things that are not legal and legal; secondly, Chuzhou has The land must be clarified, whether it is cultivated land, cotton fields, or fruit trees, it must be recorded in detail!"
Upon hearing Zhao Pu's instructions, Zhao Chengzong's expression immediately became solemn. He looked at Zhao Pu, hesitated to speak, and finally said: "Father, there is something I have always wanted to ask!"
After looking at him, Zhao Pu said, "You want to ask why I was recalled to Beijing?"
Zhao Chengzong nodded: "Exactly! Could it be?"
"You guessed it right!" Zhao Pu nodded simply: "If nothing happens, Your Majesty will probably re-enable me!"
Zhao Chengzong's expression changed slightly, and he said with some worry: "I have heard about what happened in the capital. If we go ahead with it, I'm afraid it will be very difficult and make people hostile!"
Facing Zhao Chengzong's concerned gaze, Zhao Pu smiled faintly: "In my life, I have been criticized, criticized and slandered a lot. Now that I am over sixty years old, I have already looked down on worldly affairs and am afraid of some secular disturbances! Furthermore, if I am here, I am an unknown person in Jiangyin, and that is all for the rest of my life. Now that Your Majesty has called me, but there is a mission, can I still refuse?"
(End of chapter)
