"I have decided that from now on the country will never increase taxes."
"The people in Shaanxi will not be taxed for three years."
All the ministers were confused by Chongzhen's proposal. They were completely confused.
Even if he learned about the drought and civil commotion in Shaanxi in the morning, the students' revolt against the emperor's abolition of the ancestral system, and the appointment of Yuan Keli to the cabinet, he was still not shocked at this moment.
What did all the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty rely on to operate? It was money.
Where do the monthly salaries of the 600,000 talented people across the country come from? It’s money.
…
The millions of soldiers of the nine frontier armies fought bloody battles on the front line. The only reason they have the confidence is money.
Where does the money come from? Of course it comes from taxes, which make up the bulk of it.
Now that the entire Ming Dynasty is operating at a deficit, it can be said that it is okay not to increase taxes. After all, not only taxes, but also three rates have been increased, and the burden on the people is already heavy.
But what does it mean to not collect taxes within these three years?
The expression on the face of Guo Yunhou, Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, seemed to change. First he was pleased, then worried, and then confused.
What is gratifying is that the court will not increase taxes, so that the people's lives will be stable and more hopeful, unlike now when they are eating today's food and worrying about whether there will be more taxes tomorrow.
As long as you can grit your teeth and persevere, and encounter a good year, life will be much better in the future.
The worry is that now that the imperial court is running a deficit, why are there deserters? It's because they are in arrears with wages. If we don't increase taxes now and don't collect taxes for three years, how can we operate without money?
To dissuade is to cut off the livelihood of the people. If he does not dissuade and has no money to maintain operations, Guo Yunhou is full of sorrow.
"Your Majesty, I think this is inappropriate!"
The ministers were shocked again. They didn't expect Guo Yunhou to be so stubborn.
The ministers who were close friends with Guo Yunhou had anxious expressions on their faces, but in view of the fact that they were in the court, they could only keep hinting with their eyes, but they did not dare to make the slightest move out loud.
"Your Majesty, the total annual tax in the country fluctuates between 26 million taels, of which tax is 22.5 million taels and taxes are 3.4 million taels.
Although our Ming Dynasty has a vast territory, many places do not collect taxes, such as Nurgan Dusi outside the Great Wall, Usi Zangdu Si in the southwest, etc.
Only the two Beijing and thirteen provinces actually pay taxes. The three provinces of Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangxi collect very little due to their geographical environment and ethnic minorities. Therefore, only the two Beijing and ten provinces actually pay taxes.
Shaanxi's tax accounts for 15% of the country's total, which translates to 3.38 million taels. This year's annual budget for the nine frontier armies is only 3.27 million taels.
If taxes are not collected, the court will not be able to make up for this gap. This... Your Majesty, please take back your order of not collecting taxes for three years! "
As the Minister of Household Affairs, he had a thorough knowledge of the country's taxes.
"Master Guo, as the Minister of Household Affairs of the imperial court and the God of Wealth among the people, your Majesty's move is to stabilize the people and allow them to live..."
"Shut up."
Guo Yunhou turned around and looked at the minister who spoke out, and shouted angrily: "Think about it carefully. Instead of defecting the border troops, weakening the combat power, and being massacred by the invasion of foreign enemies, it doesn't matter if the people suffer a little more."
"you you……"
Da Da's face turned red as he spoke out. He didn't know whether he was angry at Guo Yunhou or humiliated.
All the ministers were silent as they listened to Guo Yunhou's calculation. This was the truth.
Chongzhen sighed in his heart and said in a deep voice: "Guo Aiqing, I know all your worries. Solve the current problem first, and I will find a solution for the missing money."
The ministers looked at Chongzhen with disbelief. If you think of a way, what can you think of?
This is not just a few taels. You can get it by just saving a little bit. This is millions of taels. Can you change it or what?
Chongzhen looked at the doubts of the officials and did not explain. He couldn't say that I was going to start ransacking your homes.
Besides, most of the land in the country is in the hands of the gentry and clans, and they don't pay taxes. What's the use of just relying on the little in the hands of the common people?
Not imposing taxes now is just the first step. When the situation stabilizes, he will not impose taxes. Finally, there will be subsidies for farming. The premise is that he has to wipe out Houjin, Wala, Tubo, etc., otherwise he wants to complete the campaign every year. These are impossible.
"Okay, this matter has been settled. The cabinet will send the decree to Dongnuan Pavilion."
"I will see the imperial edict tonight, and I will send it out in the evening. Within half a month, I want all the people to see this edict."
Chongzhen added.
If he didn't emphasize it, it would be considered fast if this imperial edict could be delivered to Dongnuan Pavilion within three days.
It's not that the cabinet is inefficient, it's that the imperial edict is too troublesome.
There are at least twenty or thirty review procedures from drafting the decree to sending it to Dongnuang Pavilion. Even a sentence that is deemed inappropriate may be rejected and rewritten.
"Okay, let's all disperse. The Ministry of Household Affairs is responsible for food distribution, and the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Rites are responsible for the affairs of the Imperial College students.
The Ministry of War is responsible for figuring out the affairs of post stations and troop deployments across the country, the Ministry of Personnel and the Supervisory Yuan are responsible for the problem of officials deceiving superiors and subordinates in Shaanxi, and the Ministry of Industry is responsible for road construction, lake reclamation and the emperor's mausoleum.
Except for the necessary ones who stayed behind in Kyoto, the Jinyiwei and Dongchang people were all sent out to investigate the external enemy situation, as well as the officials and grain merchants in Shaanxi.
The Supervisory Censor of the Supervisory Yuan took action and reported the situation truthfully. The General Affairs Department delivered all official documents in a timely manner, and all ministries sent their plans to Dongnuang Pavilion before noon tomorrow at the latest. "
"I remind you that Jin Yiwei will supervise the whole process. If there is any bullying, corruption or embezzlement again, I will ignore it and directly confiscate the family and exterminate the clan."
"Retreat!"
"Also, I won't go to court tomorrow, so please hurry up."
After Chongzhen finished speaking, he got off the nine-story platform and left the Huangji Hall without waiting for the officials to kneel down.
The ministers looked at each other, sighed, and then slowly exited the Huangji Palace.
After leaving the Huangji Palace, the ministers began to run. They couldn't do it without running. The emperor was urging them. If they couldn't finish, they would really lose their heads.
After returning to Dongnuan Pavilion, Wang Chengen came in before his buttocks were still hot: "Your Majesty, Mr. Guo, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, wants to see you."
Chongzhen sighed: "Let him come in."
"Your Majesty, Guo Yunhou, is attending."
"Guo Aiqing is dead!"
Chongzhen raised his hand: "My dear companion, please give me a seat and tea!"
After Guo Yunhou thanked you, Chongzhen said: "Guo Aiqing, I know your purpose of coming. Trust me, I will not make fun of my fate in the Ming Dynasty."
Guo Yunhou looked at the serious-faced Chongzhen without saying a word very rudely, as if he could see something from the young emperor's face.
After a while, Wang Chengen coughed lightly and whispered: "Master Guo, you must not be rude in front of His Majesty."
Guo Yunhou, who was awakened, immediately knelt down and worshiped, but was stopped by Chongzhen: "Guo Aiqing, just worry about adjusting the food."
"I understand!"
Guo Yunhou bowed and retreated toward the door. When he was about to go out, Chongzhen said calmly: "Guo Aiqing, don't participate in party disputes."
Guo Yunhou was shocked, a light flashed in his eyes, and then he left silently.
Chongzhen remembered that the stain in the life of this minister of the Ministry of Finance, who cared about the sufferings of the people and worked hard to enrich the people and strengthen the country, was that he was forced to participate in party struggles in the seventh year of the Apocalypse, and he was not deeply involved now.
This Lord, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, is an important candidate to become the King of Fortune in the future, and he cannot be involved in party disputes.
After Guo Yunhou left, Chongzhen sat in front of the dragon case and pondered for a while before writing a letter to Yuan Keli.
Then he said: "Fang Zhenghua, find an apprentice to come in."
After a while, Fang Wen came in: "You leave the palace secretly, travel day and night to Shangqiu, Henan, and meet Yuan Keli before the people who have signed the imperial decree. When you see him, tell him these six words."
After saying that, he picked up his pen and wrote six words.
Wang Chengen and Fang Zhenghua on the side were shocked when they looked at the handwriting, their faces full of shock.
