Zhumen Hangui

Chapter 388 What to do if the national treasury is empty?
Su Yizhao was a little surprised, today was the grand ceremony of passing on a group of people, originally it was just a face-to-face sage, after receiving some encouragement, he went out of the palace according to the procedure, rode on a tall horse, and paraded through the streets with the champion big red flower on his shoulders.

Why is the process different today than in the past?

Not only Su Yizhao was puzzled, but even Baiguan and other examinees were very puzzled, why did they take the exam on the spot?
"Accessing the imperial examination to become an official is to share the worries of the court and to benefit the common people. How can it be so easy to be an official?"

The emperor's expression was very kind, but there was majesty in his eyes.

"I'm going to test you today, you don't have to be nervous, just speak freely."

Ha ha!In front of all the officials, there are still so many candidates, you just take the test as soon as you say, and you don't give much time to think, are you sure you are not embarrassing me?

Su Yizhao slandered in her heart, but how could she dare to refuse?I can only bite the bullet.

Su Jinxun was so anxious that sweat came out on his forehead, what does the emperor mean?It seems to be dissatisfied with the previous things.

"I respectfully obey the orders." Su Yizhao quickly replied respectfully.

"There was corruption and tyranny in the late Wu Dynasty, which caused the people to live in poverty. Emperor Gaozu stepped forward and created the Dayun Dynasty."

At the beginning of the emperor's narration, all the officials were speechless.

Su Yizhao even broke out in a cold sweat instantly, why does this sound a bit wrong at the beginning!
No matter how bad the previous dynasty was, the royal family of later dynasties generally would not discuss it in public, this is the face reserved for the royal family of the previous dynasty.

It has been so many years, and the emperor still took the last emperor of the previous dynasty to whip the corpse. I have to say, it made everyone a little embarrassed.

Sweat came out from his back, Su Yizhao didn't even dare to lift his head.

"However, in the late Wu Dynasty, the corruption in the court was too serious, which caused the treasury to be empty for a long time. Coupled with the subsequent years of wars, the treasury was empty since the Dayun Dynasty opened."

Um?Su Yizhao was a little surprised, this direction was unexpected.

"Even after recuperating for many years, the national treasury of this dynasty still cannot be filled." The emperor sighed heavily, making the officials of the household department feel ashamed.

The household department is the imperial court's money bag. After so many years, there has been no good way to increase the imperial court's income.

"We discuss tax increases every year, but it still hasn't passed. I don't want to use this to fill the treasury and make people's lives even more poor."

Su Yizhao still admires this point. I heard Su Jinxun mentioned that the emperor is actually very frugal most of the time.

Previously, the imperial court discussed several times to increase tax revenue, but the emperor suppressed it.

Unlike previous dynasties, who built other palaces, gardens and palaces, unless it was the birthday of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, the emperor would not entertain his officials with extravagant banquets.

Even on the emperor's birthday last year, he advocated frugality and did not hold a big banquet.Of course, the gift is still accepted.

"Zhuangyuan Lang, let me ask you, is it feasible to increase taxes?"

The emperor's tone suddenly became severe, and Su Yizhao was miserable.

You have discussed it for so many years without any results. She has just become the number one scholar. Isn't it too much for you to take the school exam like this?
Su Jinxun secretly hates, what does Qin Tianjian think of the Huangli?Why do you have to choose today?

When the emperor asked this question, it was obvious that he was embarrassing.None of the ministers have an idea, you ask a child whose hair hasn't even grown.

E Chongming, who was standing at the top of the line, glanced at the emperor unexpectedly. Does the emperor think so highly of Su Yizhao?Ask a child about such a major political event?
"I have the audacity to ask the emperor, are you referring to increased taxation, commercial tax, or common people's land tax? Or both?"

Su Yizhao's composure made the emperor a little surprised, he raised his eyebrows and said, "How about the commercial tax? What about the common people's land tax?"

"If it is a per capita land tax for the common people, it will not work. Many of the common people do not have enough food and clothing. This dynasty already has a lot of per capita tax and land tax, so it is not possible to increase the burden on the common people."

"Oh! Then you mean, it is feasible to increase business tax?" the emperor asked again.

"It's not feasible!" Su Yizhao shook his head, "It's like fighting on the battlefield, you must be famous. In what name will you raise taxes? After merchants collect taxes for nothing, how can they appease the complaints in their hearts?"

This matter was related to the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Zhu Hongchang, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, felt that this son was talking nonsense.

He immediately stepped out and retorted: "Then according to what you said, you can't raise taxes?"

"The lower official said just now that the increase in taxes must be justified, otherwise how can merchants be convinced?"

"Is it the king's land in the whole world!" Zhu Hongchang saluted the emperor, and then said: "This is a law formulated by the imperial court. Don't they dare to resist? Besides, so many taxes are taken from the people and used for them. Yu Min, what right do they have to object?"

Zhu Hongchang thinks this is a joke, this is imperial power, this is power.

Scholars, farmers, businessmen, and merchants are at the bottom, which is a lowly existence.

Zhu Hongchang is Fu Guogong, his eldest daughter is Concubine Rong, and his grandson is the Fourth Prince.

The fourth prince had praised Su Yizhao several times in front of him before, so he was deeply impressed by this son.

When I saw him today, he admitted that he still had some guts, but it was inevitable that children would be rampant.

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. Even merchants are part of the entire country. If they can be mutually beneficial, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?"

Su Yizhao's words made Zhu Hongchang sneer, "The best of both worlds? Then tell me, how can you get the best of both worlds?"

Su Yizhao sighed inwardly, some things cannot be said too much.

She is not an official yet!If everyone's interests are touched and everyone is dissatisfied with her, then this official will not last long.

It is really difficult to find a way to fill the treasury without offending the officials!

"Zhuangyuan Lang, as I said just now, speak freely."

Beads of sweat from Su Jinxun's forehead had already dripped onto the floor tiles, he hoped that Su Yizhao would take it easy, this is the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Increasing revenue and reducing expenditure is the primary condition for filling the national treasury. But I think that reducing expenditure will not make the treasury full, and we still have to work hard on increasing revenue."

The emperor nodded, he is very frugal every day, and the concubines in the palace are not allowed to be extravagant and wasteful, but what is the use of that?
"Open the sea market!" As soon as Su Yizhao said this, there was an uproar in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Your Majesty, this matter must never happen! In the middle of the Wu Dynasty, when it was still a peaceful and prosperous age, there was a proposal to reopen the sea market, but this proposal was not passed. It can be seen that the Wu Dynasty knew at that time that the disadvantages of opening the sea market outweighed the benefits."

Zhu Hongchang strongly objected to this proposal early on, and he was very excited before Su Yizhao finished speaking.

"Those small countries are already eyeing me covetously. If they open up a sea market, they will definitely be in trouble."

"Second minister!" Chief Assistant E Chongming immediately came out, his face was stern, and his words were sharp.

"If the sea market is opened, it will be difficult for the imperial court to control it. Those merchants on the coast have tasted the sweetness, and their desire will grow. The merchants' power will grow stronger, which is not good for the imperial court and the country."

(End of this chapter)