The entire Fujian province no longer has to pay customs duties?
Lu Sanyuan, Tang Dabang, He Sifang and other businessmen were surprised.
There are two main taxes for merchants, one is the store tax, which is the transaction tax, and the other is the customs tax, also called the pass tax.
The court has clearly stated the transaction tax, which is one tax per thirty. It is clear how much money was sold and how much tax was paid. Generally, there will be no problems. But the customs tax is not necessarily the same. The customs tax can be said to be different from place to place, and this thing is more severe than the transaction tax of 30 to 1 tax. The transaction tax is mostly money, while the customs tax is mostly free of money. Cargo, pump out as much cargo as you want and let you pass.
Many businessmen are unwilling to go far. In the final analysis, they are worried about customs and taxes. If a hundred kilograms of spices are transported from Jinling to Chengdu, if they are lucky, they will still have eighty or ninety kilograms left. If they are not lucky, they will probably only have fifty or sixty kilograms left. .
The luck here mainly depends on whether the people guarding Guanjin are seeking benefits secretly.
He Sifang clearly remembers this incident:
A merchant from Nanxiong shipped a batch of goods to Jinling for sale. When they arrived at Changhuaiguan, they were left behind by officials to pay taxes. The merchants from Nanxiong paid the customs tax, but the officials still felt that the payment was too little. The merchant was ignorant. The goods were impounded for several months.
In desperation, the businessman reported the official to the Ministry of Punishment. The Ministry of Punishment thought that it would be better to warn the official, but the businessman had nothing good to offer.
After the emperor found out about the incident, he issued an order to punish the officials. At the same time, the officials' salaries were recovered and compensated to the merchants, and the goods were returned to the merchants. The emperor's attitude was obvious: businessmen paid taxes, and when it was time to pass, they were allowed to pass. If they were stopped and refused to pass, this would be a violation of law and discipline.
When things got serious, someone took care of it, but what about the place where no one took care of it?
Customs and taxes are harmful to business.
If Gu Zhengchen can really cancel the customs and taxes in the entire Fujian province, it will be a great convenience for businessmen. After all, Zhejiang is just beyond Fujian, and it is not that far to Jinling in the north.
Just, is it possible?
Gu Zhengchen was only the prefect of Quanzhou and did not participate in provincial affairs.
Even if the provinces participate in politics, they would not dare to do this. In the final analysis, customs, taxes and duties still belong to the imperial court. If the Ministry of Revenue does not agree, the Zhongshu does not nod, and the emperor does not speak, who dares to do it?
Wang Ge stood up and asked, "What Magistrate Gu wants to say is to exempt Quanzhou Prefecture from customs duties?"
Gu Zhengchen looked at Wang Ge and said with a smile: "Master Wang's family doesn't need to find a way for me. I said these words to you on this occasion. Naturally, I have thought deeply and there is no mistake in my words. What I said is that the relationship between the entire Fujian Province All subsidies and taxes will be abolished for overseas trade.”
The businessmen looked at each other, still full of doubts.
Huang Ruyu stood up and asked, "I'm sorry, it seems that Magistrate Gu can't control all the Guanjin areas in Fujian Province..."
Gu Zhengchen waved his hand and said solemnly: "Huang Dongjia, please sit down and say, I won't say whether I have the authority to take charge of this, but I can promise you that as long as you obtain the cargo documents reported by the Shipping Department, you will be Ship it to Fujian Province according to the quantity. Someone will collect your customs tax and ask them to issue a customs tax document. Take the customs tax document to the Quanzhou government office. The government office will compensate you in advance for the amount of customs tax paid so that you will not be subject to customs tax. suffering."
"really?"
Wan Yuan, Lu Sanyuan and other merchants shouted in unison.
Gu Zhengchen stood up, looked at everyone and said: "I can still keep my word. As for the date of sailing, I think it will be set in August. You have four months to prepare. Regarding the ship rental, it can be Let’s discuss it directly with the Shipping Department. Do you have any other questions?”
"No."
"Congratulations to Magistrate Gu."
The businessmen stood up to see him off.
Gu Zhengchen led the people out of the tower. Gu Cheng walked at the end and paid all the money for the meal.
This made Chen Yanxuan full of emotions. Thinking about how many restaurant officials would come over to take credit, saying it was credit and putting it on the account, but they might not be able to pay it back in a few years. But Gu Zhengchen was different. As a prefect, he behaved himself and set an example.
Fuzhou, provincial government office.
Chen Tai, Gao Hui, and Lu Zongyi were sitting together and discussing the issue of treasure banknotes.
Suddenly, the official from the Chengfa House hurried over and delivered a document.
Chen Tai wanted to continue the discussion, but when he saw that the document was sent by Gu Zhengchen, the prefect of Quanzhou, he couldn't help but stop the discussion. He took out the document first, looked at it for a few times, his beard did not move in the wind, and shouted angrily: "This Gu Zhengchen , a mere prefect dares to command the provincial government office?"
Lu Zongyi asked: "What happened?"
Gao Hui sneered: "Gu Zhengchen? I'm afraid this brave man has done something shocking again. I don't know why the emperor would rely on such people and let them rule Quanzhou Mansion. Sooner or later, big trouble will happen." .”
Lu Zongyi glanced at Gao Hui and said in a deep voice: "Gu Zhengchen's style in Quanzhou Prefecture is indeed amazing, but Gao Shenzhen's political achievements cannot be denied. The people are peaceful, the people's hearts are stable, and the people's resentment has been eliminated. This is his contribution."
Gao Hui looked at Lu Zongyi sternly and shouted: "He dares to bully Shenzhen even if he is a prefect. If he joins politics, wouldn't he not even look down on the six ministers? He has become a Zhongshu, and he still doesn't step on it. On the emperor’s head?”
"Be careful!"
Chen Tai scolded sternly, and then handed the document to Lu Zongyi: "Gu Zhengchen is going to ask the Shipping Department to issue specific documents to the merchants on voyages. Whether the merchants are heading towards Quanzhou Port or the merchants are leaving from Quanzhou Port, as long as there is a market According to the documents issued by the Shipping Department, all customs in the province shall not block or collect taxes.”
Lu Zongyi took the document and looked at it carefully. He couldn't help but take a deep breath. This guy is so brave!
After Gao Hui heard this, he held a tea bowl and said angrily: "Look, some people spoil him and protect him, and the result is that he becomes more arrogant! He is not the Prime Minister of Zhongshu, nor the Minister of Hubu, how dare he To say such words directly to the province does not take the three of us seriously at all."
Chen Taiming got angry and shouted: "What does he think of us who are participating in politics? Are we subordinates of his Quanzhou Prefecture? No! No! Gu Zhengchen personally pulled the goods and passed the customs. Collect the tax once! The Guanjin tax is set by the imperial court, why should he not collect it even if he says he won't?"
Lu Zongyi looked at the document carefully and stared at one of the sentences: "Under heavy taxes, tax burdens cannot be imposed. There are many barriers to entry and exit of merchants, and it is not conducive to navigation and trade." He said to Chen Tai and Gao Hui: "He mentioned the reason here, Shi Ship The company adopted a heavy tax of five taxes and one tax, so we made concessions on customs duties."
Snapped!
Chen Tai slapped the case and shouted: "He, Gu Zhengchen, collected heavy taxes in the Municipal Shipping Department and increased commercial taxes. He gained face and achieved political achievements, but it was the customs and taxes of the entire province and the political achievements of other governments that were damaged! He did this for himself. interests, completely disregarding the interests of other prefectures and counties! If you do this nonsense, we will write a letter of impeachment!"
Gao Hui agreed with Chen Tai: "I would like to sign my name!"
When Lu Zongyi saw Gao Hui and Chen Tai looking at him, he put down the documents and shook his head: "What Gu Zhengchen did may have damaged customs and taxes in other prefectures and counties, but don't forget that Quanzhou Prefecture is a branch of Fujian Province." The Quanzhou Prefecture of the province, the commercial tax of Quanzhou Prefecture, is also the commercial tax of Fujian Province."
"He set a heavy tax of five to one for the Municipal Shipping Department. The income in one year is probably more than the customs tax income of the entire province in eight years! From the perspective of the province, I don't think what Gu Zhengchen did was wrong. We are participating in provincial affairs as a province, so we cannot afford to lose big for small things.”
Chen Tai shook his head: "The most important thing about provincial participation in politics is to coordinate different prefectures and counties and treat them fairly, instead of hurting so many prefectures and counties to make one Quanzhou Prefecture! If you don't want to impeach, we will impeach you."
Lu Zongyi was very helpless.
Chen Tai and Gao Hui were filled with indignation and convicted Gu Zhengchen of three crimes:
One: the following command the superiors and intimidate the superiors.
Second: Interfering in customs and taxes in various places to benefit oneself and enrich oneself.
Third: The intention is to use Quanzhou Prefecture as the master and other prefectures as slaves, which is suspected of disturbing the local area.
The document was written, and Chen Tai and Gao Hui were very satisfied. After checking, there were no typos. This style was so impressive and the curses were sharp. The emperor would need to consider the impact if he protected Gu Zhengchen again.
Just when Chen Tai was about to call someone to send the documents out, the Yamen servant hurriedly came over and announced: "The prince-in-law Wang Kegong and the Marquis of Jinghai Wu Zhen are here."
Chen Tai and Gao Hui were very surprised. Why did these two guys come to the provincial government office when they had nothing to do?
The corner of Lu Zongyi's mouth moved, showing an expression of "Sure enough,".
Wang Kegong and Wu Zhen came hand in hand. Chen Tai and others did not dare to slack off and went out of the government office gate to greet them.
After some pleasantries, they were invited into the second hall.
Wu Zhen sat down, picked up the tea bowl, and sighed: "I haven't been feeling well lately, so I haven't talked much. Prince Consort, you can do the talking."
Wang Kegong knew that Wu Zhen was ill, so he nodded, looked at Chen Tai, Gao Hui, and Lu Zongyi, and said seriously: "I think you must have received the customs and tax documents from Gu Zhengchen, the prefect of Quanzhou, right?"
Chen Tai, Gao Hui and others were surprised.
Gao Hui frowned and asked: "We just received the document not long ago, why did you know about this?"
Chen Tai's face was gloomy and he gritted his teeth and said, "Could it be that Gu Zhengchen also conveyed local official documents to you?"
Wang Kegong waved his hand and said calmly: "We can't see local official documents, but Gu Zhengchen did write a letter to the two of us, clarifying the reasons for the customs and tax-related matters. I dare to ask the three political parties, How are you going to proceed?"
Chen Tai stood up suddenly: "It's not the Guard's turn to intervene in provincial affairs. If you ask, it's already transgression! If we go to the Fuzhou Guard or the Navy Barracks to ask about deployment and training, how will you reply? "
How to reply?
Naturally, he was captured and sent to Jinling.
only--
Wang Kegong said to Chen Tai, who had a tough attitude: "Since you are not allowed to ask, we will not ask. But we need to remind the next three people that Gu Zhengchen said that all customs and taxes for voyage traders in Fujian Province will be exempted. The provincial government offices had better comply."
Chen Tai laughed angrily and asked, "If we don't do it, what can you do?"
Wu Zhen spit out a piece of tea, placed the tea bowl heavily on the table, and said in a deep voice: "If you don't do it, then let the navy sergeant and the Fujian Guard sergeant do it for you!"
