I, the Ming Dynasty, can still save me

Chapter 356 Sun Chuanting’s new mission

"Before I went south, I heard that His Majesty praised you two very much. When I saw you today, you are really young and talented, hahaha... I didn't expect to be reused so quickly. The young man has a bright future."

Yuan Keli, who was sitting next to Bi Ziyan, nodded and praised him. When he was in the capital, he heard the emperor himself mention these two people.

"It's all the cultivation and love of His Majesty and the Governor. I don't dare to take credit for my humble position."

Seeing Yuan Keli stroking his beard and praising him, Hong and Sun quickly stood up and bowed in humility.Bi Ziyan laughed when he saw this, and then waved his hand so that they didn't have to do this.

"You two don't have to be self-effacing. Both of you were personally selected by His Majesty. He once told me that your abilities and character are both first-rate. At first, I thought that His Majesty was the one who appointed you to me." The words are a bit exaggerated, but after more than half a year of working together, I feel that what Your Majesty said is true."

Listening to Bi Ziyan's praise, Hong and Sun could only stand and listen with their hands bowed, not daring to say anything else.

Bi Ziyan didn't care about them, just looked at them and said:

"But calling you two here today is not just about praising you. In addition to the appointment of Yanyan (Hong Chengchou's name) today, there is also something to be entrusted to Boya (Sun Chuanting's name)."

Upon hearing this, Sun Chuanting immediately stood up, cupped his hands and said:

"Please give me the Governor's permission."

When Bi Ziyan saw this, he glanced at Yuan Keli who was standing aside. Yuan Keli coughed lightly and said to Sun Chuanting:
"It's like this. When I went south this time to take up the post of Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, His Majesty summoned me many times and asked me to take charge of a very important matter in Fujian and Zhejiang, which is to determine tariffs and set up customs at each port. Collect taxes.”

Setting up customs to collect taxes?

Sun Chuanting knew about this. Since the opening of the sea ban last year, the ports in the southeastern provinces have allowed ships to enter and exit the sea. Customs and taxes have also been set up in various local ports. The amount of tax is collected according to the size of the ship. He has also heard a lot about the income. Woolen cloth.

"My Lord Governor, I am a little confused. Customs duties are already being collected at various ports. Why should we set up customs duties again?"

Hearing Sun Chuanting's doubts, Yuan Keli laughed, shook his head and said:

"No, you misunderstood. The focus of our work this time is not to set up customs to collect taxes, but to determine tariffs. The power to collect tariffs is vested in the Ministry of Accounts, which is under the unified jurisdiction of the collection, and then allocates the tariff money. Do you understand that it is allocated to local officials and the imperial court?"

After many discussions with the emperor, Yuan Keli also understood the key to this matter. In fact, it was to firmly control the power of customs duties and centralize power in the hands of the central court to prevent local officials from intervening in the matter and deceiving the superiors and the inferiors.

After hearing Yuan Keli's explanation, Sun Chuanting immediately understood the meaning, which was to fully ensure that the court could control the money. He also understood the reason why Bi Ziyan asked him to come.

He has been working in the Ministry of Household Affairs in Nanjing and is also serving as the Censor of the Grain Road. He has a good understanding of the financial and tax matters in Nanzhili, so it is indeed more appropriate to find him.

"Understandable."

Yuan Keli nodded when he heard this and looked at Sun Chuanting to continue explaining.

"Well, so this time I will follow my official to go south, and there will also be officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs in Beijing. They will assist us in piloting customs ports in the southeastern provinces, set up customs offices, and re-select officials so that the Ministry of Household Affairs can directly take charge of customs duties. .

But after all, I am not familiar with the place where I am working in Jiangnan, so Governor Bi recommended you to me. Firstly, you are currently working in the Nanjing Household Department. You are very familiar with finance and tax matters and you have your own team. Secondly, I respect you for being vigorous and resolute in your work. , not afraid of the powerful, very capable.As for the determination of customs duties at the ports in the south of the Yangtze River, which must be put back under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue, this will inevitably be hindered by the local yamen and other local forces below. Therefore, you are just the right one. What do you think? "

When Sun Chuanting heard this, he immediately bowed and swore:
"Don't dare to resign from a humble position. Last year, I followed Yushi Hong and Governor Bi to come south here and did something that ordinary people would not dare to do. Is helping Governor Yuan to negotiate tariffs more difficult than this? Chuan Ting will not be afraid! "

"Okay, he is really motivated and responsible. I knew Governor Bi was right."

When Yuan Keli heard this, he immediately clapped his hands and praised Sun Chuanting. Bi Ziyan, the governor of Southern Zhili on the side, also stroked his beard with satisfaction.

"The issue of tariffs is of great significance, even more important than recovering arrears. Since the Longqing switch, our country has set up a coastal defense museum in Haichengyue Port, Fujian, to collect tariffs, with an annual income of 3 taels.

Although this amount satisfied the Ministry of Accounts at the time, in my opinion this amount was far from enough.Every year, there are a large number of ships that do not go to Yue Harbor, and there is also an endless stream of ships that are smuggled into the country, and tens of thousands of taxes are evaded.

Furthermore, now that the sea ban has been enacted, setting customs duties at each port will be of great benefit to the court. It can achieve no increase in taxes for the people, and the court will have sufficient expenses, so it must be treated with caution.

I just discussed with Governor Yuan that if this matter is to be implemented, it must be implemented by Southern Zhili and Fujian and Zhejiang together, and you will be responsible for determining tariffs and setting up customs and collecting taxes in Southern Zhili. "

Sun Chuanting nodded immediately after hearing this.

"I humbly obey my orders. Governor Bi and Governor Yuan please rest assured."

"That's very good. Sit down."

At this time, Yuan Keli also returned to his seat, took a sip of tea from the tea cup in his hand, and casually asked Sun Chuanting and Hong Chengchou to take their seats.

"This tariff matter must be done both quickly and slowly. When I left the capital, His Majesty gave me instructions to determine the tariff. There are two things that must be done to set up customs and collect taxes."

Everyone immediately looked curious after hearing this.

"The first one is to crack down on pirates and pirates and catch smugglers. Therefore, it is necessary to form a well-trained standing navy to patrol the sea regularly. This can reassure merchants going out to sea that their trade will not be disturbed, and they can also inspect sea goods at any time. Is there smuggling?”

When Bi Ziyan heard this, he nodded and said yes. The Ming Dynasty has always been invaded by Japanese pirates, although there have been a lot fewer Japanese pirates in recent years.

But as soon as the maritime ban was lifted, the "Japanese pirates" and pirates at sea were also ready to take action. During this period, he received more than ten reports, so it was very necessary to establish a navy.

"I submitted a petition to the imperial court in May to build a navy. Although the imperial court agreed, it will inevitably take time to build naval warships, and it will also take time to train additional personnel. However, I heard that the Fujian navy is fully equipped, with more than [-] large and small warships. According to what I see, it can be used as a basis for expansion. "

Yuan Keli nodded in agreement when he heard this.

"Brother Bi is right, Your Majesty thinks so too. Your Majesty has repeatedly told us to expand based on the Fujian Navy, and even learn Western shipbuilding methods to expand the strength of our army.

Thinking about the increasing number and frequency of Western countries coming to our dynasty, the Franji people have repeatedly invaded our waters before, so we need to prepare early to prevent Western invasions in the future. "

(End of this chapter)