Chapter 1580 From Bottom to Top
“The tax that the emperor wants to collect is posted everywhere in the capital. It is obviously only three cents more silver per acre of land, why do you have to charge two cents more? "
"The emperor said that taxes are only levied on those who own land. Why does the land clearly belong to Mr. Liu's family, but his family does not collect it, but instead collects taxes from the tenant farmers? "
" Mr. Liu? There is only one scholar in the family, and only one person can be exempted from the corvee. Why should he be exempted from all taxes? "
The measurement of silver in the Yan Dynasty was that 1 tael was equal to 10 qian, which was equal to 100 cents, which was equal to 1000 cents.
Somewhere in the Central Plains, a young man spoke righteously to a tax collector.
What greeted him was a whip!
"Let you misinterpret the holy will, what we say is the king's law!" the tax collector said harshly.
The boy was beaten until he rolled all over the floor.
If there weren't so many people around, many people would look at the tax collector fiercely, and it would be normal to beat him to death.
"Let me tell you, the emperor stipulates a regular tax on royal grain, and what we charge is extra money. We build roads and embankments every year, so why don't we pay money? How can you eat and drink if you don't charge extra money?"
" Why won’t Liu’s family accept it? It’s because Liu’s family donated money to the county. Did you donate?” How to fool.
The boy was helped up, gritting his teeth to keep from crying.
He can't cry. Teacher Shengu has taught him that men don't shed tears when they bleed. Tears only flow at home.
Although he only studied for a few months, he gained far more in those months than in a lifetime.
He learned arithmetic, learned a lot of common sense, gained a lot of knowledge, and could understand how the tax collectors acted.
Liu Yuanwai bribed the officials and assigned his land to the poor peasants. The fish scale book recorded that the land belonged to the poor peasants, but he had a clear title deed in his hand. It would definitely be a lawsuit. Can't win.
What's more, how can people go to the county to file a lawsuit?
There are two layers of skin like this. When taxes are paid, the land suddenly changes and becomes the poor peasants; when rent is collected, the land changes again and becomes Liu Yuanwai's.
He heard from Teacher Shenquan that this is called "Schrödinger's Land". Whose land it is can only be determined when the box is opened.
"I'll give you one more day to pay this year's debts! Otherwise, I'll drag you all to stand in the cage!" The fierce tax collector said to everyone.
…………
At night, in the village ancestral hall.
The boy was sitting with a group of adults.
"I have been dreaming these days and have seen the northwest. The officials there dare not yell at the common people like this because they really dare to rebel!" A strong man said bitterly.
"But they still rebelled, because there has been drought there for years. Even if they don't pay the royal rations, they can't survive. Not to mention the common people, even the officials can't survive." Another person said.
"We still have some food to eat here, but they know that we don't dare to rebel, so they bully us hard!"
"Damn it, let's rebel too!" everyone said.
At this moment, a voice sounded: "You don't want to be squeezed by the officials, and I don't want to be deceived by the officials. Are you willing to work for me?"
This is the emperor's voice.
He thought for a long time, and finally thought that only the common people, and only by relying on the common people, could the officials dare not deceive him.
His city is still deep enough, which can be seen from the fact that he strengthened the factory guards after he took office.
He has never trusted courtiers.
He understands the balance of power and has never had a powerful minister under his command.
It was only as rebellions grew that military lords began to emerge.
"Are you the emperor?" Everyone immediately knelt down.
Including teenagers.
The plays and storytellers that everyone has watched since childhood all show that the emperor was wise and did bad things because he was bewitched by his ministers.
How else could there be such a thing as "Qingjun side"?
Everyone believed that if a person was seriously wronged, he could just complain to the emperor and the emperor would get justice. "It's me, you're right. I pity my people, so how could I charge such high taxes? The government's decrees are good, but it's these corrupt officials who have their hands in them, making you suffer..." < br>
…………
With the help of Xiawang, the emperor spent a month establishing a new tax system in the Zhili area surrounding the imperial city.
The original tax collection officials were cut off, and the county magistrate was no longer responsible for tax collection. Instead, ordinary people paid taxes directly in their dreams, and then paid taxes in designated warehouses in reality.
He should be thankful that he had firm control over the factory guards and a few powerful troops who listened to him.
Without these, his measures would not be implemented at all. I am afraid that he would die of a sudden illness in the palace.
He would like to thank the factory guards left by his ancestors for helping him fight against the ministers. After the founding of Dayan, there have been no powerful ministers.
No matter how powerful a powerful minister is, he can win it with just one edict.
It’s because the factory guards only listen to the emperor.
Two months later, the first tax payment came.
Compared with the same period in previous years, there was a total increase of one million taels of silver!
You must know that at this time in previous years, only two hundred thousand taels of silver were paid.
Five times more!
At the same time, the burden on the people has been greatly reduced, and the small and medium-sized landowners are also very happy.
Because they are also the main targets of allocation.
Only big landowners and big country gentry are eligible for tax exemption and transfer of burdens.
Where did the extra money come from?
Come from the mouths of officials.
The emperor thought of another important place, the salt tax!
The salt tax is only 2 million taels per year. If it is increased five times, it will collect an additional 10 million taels!
This will cancel the three rates!
The emperor decided to take action on the salt tax.
But the salt tax is not easy to deal with.
Because there are many major martial arts sects that rely on salt tax, such as the Caoshui sect and the famous Jianmen...
They are all sects that make a living by selling salt. They have extremely high martial arts skills. Even those with low martial arts skills dare not eat this bowl of rice. They are robbed on the road.
Coupled with the salt merchants and big officials in the middle, it was a mess.
In the past, it was impossible to sort it out clearly. Just thinking about it would make people give up the idea of rectification.
But it’s different now. With Xiawang, the emperor can clearly see the stakes, how many people there are, and who takes the lead.
Which faction can be won over and which faction can be attacked can be seen from Xiawang.
For example, you can win over famous people. Their appetites are not too big, and they also have to take care of their face. They still respect the court and the emperor.
Although it is only superficial awe, it is enough.
First attack the salt merchants. Although they have some masters and servants, after all, they do not have deep knowledge and are fat.
Then there are the government officials.
The main force is the kitchen households and small businessmen selling salt. They have suffered too much and are the most capable of fighting.
In the past, the emperor would not dare to use them.
But with Xiawang, the emperor understood that they were the people who supported the emperor the most.
Because the emperor is far away from them, distance creates beauty.
The people they hate the most are the salt merchants and officials around them.
(End of this chapter)