Chapter 1826 Commercial Tax Implementation
Do you have any objections?
This is a domineering question!
I know that behind the world's wealthy merchants are members of your family. Imposing business taxes is equivalent to carving out your flesh. You will definitely refuse to obey.
But so what?
Now let me tell you clearly that if you agree to levy commercial taxes, everyone will have a share in Japan's huge market, everyone will get rich, and the new shipping company in Fujian and Yue will be tilted towards you, and even the person in charge can be discussed. If you don’t agree, not only will Japan lose your share, but Nanyang will also not be able to think about it!
Moreover, as an emperor, he spent his internal funds to build academic societies and subsidize students. How many academic societies are there at the county level all over the world? There are 1,551 counties in the Tang Dynasty. Except for some remote mountainous areas and frontiers, most of them have established societies. This amount of money is simply an astronomical figure!
However, the emperor took out the money without even frowning.
How generous is it to use the royal family to support students all over the world?
Are you embarrassed to ask you to pay business tax and then complain?
This is moral coercion.
In terms of power coercion, it is even easier. Once the emperor made up his mind and ordered the Shipping Department of Huating Town to re-determine commercial taxes, screen merchants, and issue licenses to those who were qualified to go to sea for business, it would be equivalent to strangling the necks of the family members.
At that time, there were only two paths left for the nobles of the aristocratic families. They could either shrink back and become turtles and watch as wealth like sea water flowed into other people's homes, or they could grit their teeth and rebel...
Who dares to rebel?
If it was the time when the Tang Dynasty was first established, some people might really take the risk. However, now that the Tang Dynasty is strong and powerful, officials are governing the Qingming Dynasty. After experiencing the troubled times of the late Sui Dynasty and the early Tang Dynasty, the people are determined that if anyone raises the banner of rebellion at this time, I am afraid there will be no need for sixteen When Wei's army went to quell the rebellion, the local people chopped you up and fed you to the dogs...
It’s not impossible to be a turtle. The best thing for a family member is to be a grandson when the wind is against you and an ancestor when the wind is favorable. I don’t know how many emperors have to call the family member daddy. The tide rises and falls. The family member has never been placed In eyes.
But watching the money go into other people's pockets is something that the family will never tolerate...
So, after all is said and done, there is actually only one way.
Zhang Xingcheng sat upright and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty is wise and powerful. He is a holy king and master who is hard to find throughout the ages. He has a broad mind and unparalleled courage. It is truly an honor for me to follow you! Weichen was born in a small clan in Shandong. , but I also read classics and listened to the teachings of saints at a young age. I dare not say that I understand the righteousness, but I do understand the truth. Your Majesty's use of internal funds to establish schools will be praised by all the people. The merchants all over the world are also the people of the Tang Dynasty. How can they not be deeply inspired? I dare to say that if Your Majesty issued an edict to collect business taxes, the taxes collected would be used to build roads, water conservancy, and hospitals. The national economy and the people's livelihood, etc., businessmen all over the world will definitely look forward to the scenery! ”
It was not stated clearly, but these words already showed the attitude of the Shandong family.
It's just that the flattery was a bit too much. Even His Majesty Li Er got goosebumps after hearing it. He didn't realize that this Zhang Xingcheng, who was usually honest and boring, also had the potential of a sycophant like Fang Jun... But since his attitude is very good, Then His Majesty Li Er will not pursue the case.
Well, if you listen to these words when you are free, you will still feel extremely happy. Fortunately, that old guy Wei Zheng is dead, otherwise not only Zhang Xingcheng would not be able to survive, but the emperor would also have to be sprayed...
His Majesty Li Er looked at Changsun Wuji and Xiao Yu again, waiting for their replies.
Changsun Wuji lamented in his heart, seeing the emperor's determination to collect commercial taxes, the most powerful thing was the method of using a knife in one hand and sweet dates in the other. He followed the emperor to eat dates, and if he didn't follow, he would be knifed. Where was there any choice? Gone are the days when aristocratic families made huge profits from merchants and goods...
Besides, Zhang Xingcheng is too shameless. Aren’t your Shandong aristocratic families always living alone in the world and showing off their aloofness?
Where is the face?
Taking a deep breath, Changsun Wuji said helplessly: "Your Majesty is wise, and I have no objections."
His Majesty Li Er suddenly felt relieved. His throne came from the support of the Guanlong nobles, so among the world's aristocratic families, he was the only one who could not go too far, otherwise he would inevitably be suspected of "killing the donkey". After all, Guanlong is now The power of the nobles in the court was still huge, far beyond the comparison of the Jiangnan gentry and Shandong aristocratic families. If they were treated too harshly, there was no guarantee that they would not create waves and shake the foundation of the empire.
As long as Changsun Wuji nods, the biggest obstacle to the collection of commercial taxes will be eliminated...
He looked at Xiao Yu. He was a smart man and didn't have much ambition. The people who were most restricted by the Shipping Department were the Jiangnan nobles who were proficient in cargo farming.
Sure enough, Xiao Yu had no expression on his face and said calmly: "Your Majesty is the Holy Judge, and I have my full support."
What he saw was not only the unstoppable imposition of commercial taxes, but also the deep shadow of Fang Jun behind every word and deed of the emperor.
Being able to influence the emperor and the prince to such an extent that they can even be said to "obey their words", what kind of influence does this have?
Even though His Majesty Li Er has such a tough character, when he becomes the future Crown Prince, with His Majesty’s gentle and gentle temperament, it is almost certain that Fang Jun will be able to control the wind and rain and cover the sky with one hand...
His face was calm and relaxed, but in his heart Xiao Yu was wondering if he should not wait for Fang Jun to come back from Japan, and simply send Shu'er to Fang's house tonight, so as to create an established fact...
"Hahaha!"
His Majesty Li Er raised his head and burst into laughter, looking very happy.
He couldn't help but feel unhappy. Although commercial taxes have existed since ancient times, they have always been just a general concept, mostly referring to tariffs. However, there has never been a nationwide measure to determine taxes based on selling prices. It's not that the rulers didn't want to There are really many obstacles and weak intentions.
The implementation of commercial tax not only means that the national treasury will become increasingly abundant, but more importantly, it also represents the court's control over the world.
Without a high degree of centralization, how can we collect business taxes?
Who among the emperors doesn’t want to stick to their word, and no one in the world would dare to say it smells bad when they fart...
"Everything in the world is the land of the king, and the shores of the land are the ministers of the king." I don't know how many emperors there were in ancient times, but who can really do this?
Therefore, rather than saying that His Majesty Li Er's happiness comes from the sufficient treasury in the future, it is better to say that it comes from the affirmation brought by the world.
"My beloved ministers understand the great righteousness, and I am very relieved. In the near future, the central government will issue an imperial decree and issue it to the world. You still need to remind all the prefectures and counties to strictly guard against rumors, and do your duty to explain and enlighten merchants so that they understand the business affairs. It is the responsibility of every merchant to collect taxes from businesses and use them to the people. If any merchants cause trouble due to dissatisfaction with the collection of commercial taxes, they will be severely punished. ”
The last four words were said with murderous intent, and everyone's hearts suddenly froze.
The emperor is warning a few people. Don't go against the rules in disguise. Just say what you say well in front of me, and then go back and instigate your own merchants to cause trouble...
"I obey the decree!"
Several people stood up quickly and bowed to receive the order.
But he was secretly complaining in his heart, thinking about how to explain and persuade the family elders after returning, so that they could see the current situation clearly, instead of clinging to the old obsession, taking out a copper plate would be like cutting off the flesh to death. Live...
But what is certain is that once the commercial tax is implemented, such a rare change in the ages will shake the world.
When walking out of the Dragon Palace, Changsun Wuji, Xiao Yu, and Zhang Xingcheng stopped at the foot of the steps with a tacit understanding and turned to glance at the majestic and majestic roof of the Tai Chi Palace in the distance.
The current situation is unpredictable.
In the past, even when dynasties changed, after the emperor changed, all the officials followed the rules and lived by the rules. Everything remained the same for decades without any changes. Whenever the imperial court introduces a new policy, no matter whether it is good or bad, it will definitely make the world panic and everyone will be anxious.
However, in the Tang Dynasty now, the implementation of government decrees is almost routine, everything is changing too fast...
For example, in the way of cultivating goods, everyone used to do business. The bulk trade for hundreds of years was selling ceramics and silk. It was okay at home, but if it was sold abroad, it would be a long voyage once a year. You would be happy to make money back, and then wait until next year to do it again. Go to sea.
What now?
There are countless merchant ships parked on the seashore, and goods from all over the country are gathered by water and land, and they are loaded day and night. As soon as this ship is loaded and leaves the dock, another ship has already docked. In the past, due to the monsoon restrictions, you would go to sea once a year, and every time you would take a huge risk. Two or three times out of ten, you would lose both people and goods. Now, as long as you have cargo and a ship, you can go to sea every day, and the new sailboats are stable and durable. Quickly, the pirates who made the merchants pale after hearing this have already been driven to the country of Zhapo...
The annual profit is dozens of times higher than before. (End of chapter)