Wang Anshi had been in the officialdom for many years and witnessed the embarrassment of the Qingli New Deal. He didn't know how many obstacles the reform would encounter. But because of this, he also understood that if he didn't make up his mind and fight, it would be like the Qingli New Deal. Everyone would be in vain. Too much work is not worth the loss.
But everything must be done step by step.
Historically, he would also throw out the average loss method first in the next year, that is, the second year of Xining, and then the young crop method, instead of just throwing bombshells directly.
Of course, his gradual progress was only a few months apart, which in Sima Guang's view was also very radical.
But now, Zhang Fei gave him a gift.
He thought that he could use this small bill on housing tax to explore the way and see the court's reaction. If it went well, he would use it to start his national reform.
This was what really impressed him, because this bill was very consistent with his idea of reform, but its scope was relatively narrow. Even in Bianjing, he could personally take charge.
It can be said that he is ready to initiate reforms.
After talking to Lu Huiqing, he immediately took the bill and presented it to Song Shenzong.
This bill is already very detailed, and there is no need to amend anything. The key is that it involves many calculations, and it is difficult for ordinary people to amend it.
When Song Shenzong saw this memorial, he was very surprised, because he discussed state affairs with Wang Anshi almost every day, but Wang Anshi never mentioned housing loans.
After asking, I found out that it was from Zhang Fei.
"This Erbi man is really extraordinary!" Song Shenzong said with a happy smile.
Wang Anshi nodded and said: "It is indeed extraordinary. I also think that this son's talent can be put to great use if he is cultivated."
In fact, he just wanted to hint that Zhang Fei could be allowed to serve as an official in the court.
Little did he know that the emperor had known Zhang Fei earlier than he did.
Song Shenzong smiled and nodded, and then said: "This policy will benefit the country and the people, and I very much agree with it. However, it involves many taxes in Bianjing City, so it can only be decided after court discussion."
...
Shenzong immediately held a political meeting.
When the ministers heard about this interest rate, they were immediately dumbfounded.
Seven percent annual interest rate?
There's no mistake, right?
I can’t believe it!
When Song Shenzong saw that all the ministers were confused, he felt secretly proud and asked with a smile: "What do you think?"
Many ministers looked strange, because some of them also lend money. If you offer such a low interest rate, isn't that malicious competition?
Sima Guang was the first to speak: "If businessmen are willing to lend money at such low interest rates, the imperial court can certainly guarantee it."
This interest rate is really irresistible!
Seven cents, divided into ten years.
Where can I find it?
Immediately, Sima Guang said again: "But are those businessmen really willing to do this?"
Wang Anshi replied: "Businessmen will not do business at a loss. Although the interest rate is low, there is a mortgage on the house. As long as the court can legislate to guarantee this, it will be a sure profit without losing money. Of course the merchants are willing."
"I see."
Sima Guang nodded slightly. He immediately understood the stakes involved and couldn't help but secretly exclaimed, what a wonderful idea!
Many honest and upright ministers also nodded.
Nowadays, it is not ordinary people who are troubled by buying houses, but officials like them. Such low interest rates are actually very helpful for officials like them. Whether to buy or not is another matter. At least there is a choice.
Wang Anshi struck again while the iron was hot: "As for the dangers of private debt, I believe I don't need to say more. If this matter can be accomplished, it may be a good start and curb high private interest rates."
When Sima Guang heard this, he couldn't help but look sideways at Wang Anshi. Has this old boy changed his gender? That's a really good thing!
He also raised the dangers of private usury, but he did not agree with Wang Anshi's radical approach. His philosophy coincided with this bill. Change it gently. The court should not end up personally competing for profits with the people. This He agreed. He nodded and said, "That makes sense!"
When Song Shenzong saw Sima Guang nodding, he couldn't help but secretly rejoiced that the matter was settled.
But just as this idea came to his mind, Wang Wenshan suddenly said: "It is certainly a good thing that businessmen are willing to lend money at low interest rates, but it seems that there is more than just this, and it also includes the reform of housing taxes."
Wang Anshi immediately said: "The citizens of Bianjing often complain about the excessive levies and excessive miscellaneous taxes. At the same time, some officials use this to exploit the citizens and consolidate it into housing taxes. This reduces the burden on the citizens and ensures that there will no longer be officials who exploit the people under clever names. This is not Okay?"
It depends on who is good for you! Wang Wenshan secretly glanced at Sima Guang, but the latter was stroking his beard and saying nothing.
Censor Chen Jian said: "Now our government's finances are unable to make ends meet. Will tax cuts at this time increase the financial burden?"
Wang Anshi smiled and said: "You haven't looked carefully, but these two suggestions are actually related. The first one is to increase housing transactions and increase leasing. So after calculation, the court's income will be more than before, and the people will also benefit from it. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.”
But in fact, excluding the benefits brought by the mortgage, taxes have still increased, because many wealthy families cannot evade taxes and have to collect more than before.
It's just that Wang Anshi didn't explain it clearly.
Privy Councilor Chen Shengzhi suddenly said: "This is a wonderful strategy!"
Sima Guang glanced at Chen Shengzhi, then stood up and said, "I also agree."
The privy envoy is a veritable prime minister. When the ministers saw that the prime minister and Sima Guang nodded, they naturally couldn't say anything more.
Song Shenzong was immediately overjoyed. It was the first time he had reformed, and he was still a little nervous. Seeing how smooth it was, he felt unhappy, but at the same time his confidence was greatly increased, and he said: "Then it's decided."
After saying that, he looked at Wang Anshi again and said, "It's your fault for this."
Wang Anshi immediately said: "With your Majesty's trust, I will do my best."
After coming out of the main hall, Sima Guang quietly pulled Wang Anshi aside and exclaimed: "Jiefu! You have finally figured it out."
Wang Anshi asked in astonishment: "How can you say this?"
Sima Guang smiled and said: "Reforms should be carried out step by step. This method is very appropriate. It not only hides wealth for the people, but also serves as an example and will not cause fierce resistance. It is not bad."
Wang Anshi was very upset when he heard this, but he said with a smile: "It's not me who figured it out, but it's you, Sima Junshi, who finally woke up. It's really a blessing for me!"
Sima Guang looked at him doubtfully.
What the hell?
Wang Anshi said: "You see, with this decree, the people can be exempted from taxes and the country can be spared."
Sima Guang waved his hand and said: "That's wrong. Looking at this strategy, the merchants get the benefits first, and then the state collects taxes and adjusts the house tax. They are all about hiding wealth among the people and distributing it reasonably, not Wealth has increased.”
His philosophy is that "there is only this amount of wealth and goods produced by heaven and earth. If it is not with the people, it is with the officials."
There is only so much wealth, the trick is how to distribute it. He advocates hiding wealth among the people, letting businessmen do it, and the court is responsible for supervision. This is very consistent with his philosophy of governing the country.
Wang Anshi believed that this would not work at all. Only by making the cake bigger would the contradictions be eliminated. Otherwise, the problem would not be solved.
One is cutting expenditures, the other is increasing revenue, but we can't talk about it together.
It’s absolutely amazing.
"No! No!"
Wang Anshi said: "When the imperial court issues this decree, private housing transactions will definitely increase, and tax revenue will increase. This is not an increase in wealth, so what?"
Sima Guang shook his head and said: "No, no, although the country will receive an additional income, the wealth will not increase. It will only be used to buy a house."
Wang Anshi snorted: "The tax income that was not there before has become available, but you say that this is not an increase in wealth. It is really unreasonable. I am too lazy to argue with you. I have other things to be busy with."
After that, he left.
"If you lend money to buy wine another day, the wine tax will also increase and your wealth will increase? It's really unreasonable."
Sima Guang snorted. After a while, he calmed down and suddenly frowned and said, "No! This idea doesn't look like his handiwork."
.....
Wang Anshi didn't just run away. He had never lost or won when fighting with Sima Guang. He really had something to do this time and was in no mood to argue with Sima Guang.
After returning, Wang Anshi immediately sent someone to find Zhang Fei and told him that the court had agreed and asked him to quickly send the contract template. Now he was missing this contract.
The core of the entire reform is the contract.
But Zhang Fei rushed to Ma Jia immediately to inform Ma Tianhao of the news.
The court did not give an explanation, and Ma Tianhao did not dare to make too many moves.
"Good boy, you are really good at it. You got it done so quickly."
Upon hearing the news, Ma Tianhao stood up excitedly.
This really shocked him.
But no Erbi person has ever been able to turn his contract into the legal provisions of the court.
And it’s so fast.
It’s really unbelievable!
Fortunately, some people still say that Zhang Fei offended the entire court.
This is simply nonsense!
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "I've taken care of the court, how about your side?"
Ma Tianhao immediately said: "Don't worry, I have something to gain here, and I have persuaded Xiangguo Temple to join us."
Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, "Xiangguo Temple?"
Ma Tianhao said: "Don't you know that Xiangguo Temple is our biggest creditor in Bianjing?"
"Yeah?"
"If you don't believe it, just ask someone."
It turns out that this temple has many tax-free privileges, which led many big landowners to allocate their fields to Xiangguo Temple. Xiangguo Temple was just lying around to make money, but its ambitions were endless. Xiangguo Temple developed its own business, such as lending money to external parties, and therefore merged with it. A lot of land.
At the same time, Xiangguo Temple also has real estate investments, and there are quite a lot of them.
Ma Tianhao is also a very shrewd businessman. Xiangguo Temple is strong and has a lot of spare money. He does not pursue quick money, but cares more about long-term development. This plan is very suitable for Xiangguo Temple. In addition, he also has connections in Xiangguo Temple. , so the first thing he found was Xiangguo Temple.
Xiangguosi said that if the court really agreed, they would be willing to give it a try.
Zhang Fei asked: "Executive member, do you think it is more difficult to be the abbot of Xiangguo Temple or to be an official?"
"Of course it's difficult to be the host of Xiangguo Temple!" Ma Tianhao said without hesitation.
Zhang Fei touched his thick hair and thought, forget it, wait until he gets old and loses his luster! Be handsome for decades first. Suddenly he said to Ma Tianhao: "By the way! I have a small request."
Ma Tianhao asked: "What's the request?"
Zhang Fei said: "I heard that in your business, if there are disputes or contracts, you almost always cooperate with Fan's Bookstore."
Ma Tianhao was stunned for a moment and nodded.
Zhang Fei asked: "Does Yuan Wai have a good relationship with the Fan family?"
Ma Tianhao said: "It's just business dealings, not much friendship. You should know that the eight tea eaters have their own division of labor."
Zhang Fei said: "My request is that from now on, you will immediately choose another company to cooperate with, and you will no longer have any contact with Fan's Bookstore."
Ma Tianhao asked: "Why is this?"
Zhang Fei said: "Because Zhang Fei died in the hands of that surnamed Fan."
"...?"
Ma Tianhao looked at Zhang Fei in astonishment.
"Zhang Yide."
"Zhang...Zhang Yide?"
Ma Tianhao has not yet reacted.
Ma Xiaoyi happened to come into the house and upon hearing Zhang Yide's name, he immediately became energetic and asked hurriedly: "Third brother, are you talking about Zhang Yide from the Three Kingdoms period?"
Zhang Fei nodded.
Ma Tianhao suddenly realized it and asked: "Is Zhang Yide your ancestor?"
"no."
"Why is that?"
"The name is homophonic."
"...?"
Ma Xiaoyi said thoughtfully: "But if you kill Zhang Yide and you still have Zhang Da, does that mean you can't associate with anyone named Zhang?"
Wow! For such a domineering reason, you still have to struggle with logic for me? Zhang Fei asked: "Xiao Ma also watches the Three Kingdoms?"
"I haven't read it." Ma Xiaoyi shook his head, but said very excitedly: "But I have heard many stories about the Three Kingdoms, and I like Guan Er Ge the most. Third Brother, what about you?"
"Xiao Qiao."
