I, the Ming Dynasty, can still save me

Chapter 475 Tianqi’s second-year income budget
Although Zhu Youxiao knew the importance of solving Jianlu, he also understood that this was a long-term project and he must not rush it.

He would not be so stupid as to think that he could get rid of Jianlu in just one battle or in a few months.

And he also knew in his heart that with the start of the Liaodong war next year, it would definitely not be enough for the court to just pay Liao wages.At that time, we will continue to throw money at Liaodong until we can completely eliminate the Jianlu.

However, he is also prepared for a protracted war. Half a year is not enough for one year, one year is not enough for two years, and two years is not enough for three years.

Anyway, now that the internal hidden dangers have been resolved, whether it is the White Lotus Sect or the She'an rebellion, he has enough time and energy to deal with Jianlu.

From now on, we will keep an eye on Jianlu, attack them steadily, and implement them slowly, and we will not believe that they will not be defeated until they are killed.

Now he not only has time, but also plenty of money.

The expenditure on Liao's salary and Nine Border Army's salary just now was only the fiscal surplus of the Ministry of Household Affairs in the first year of Tianqi. Next year's budget for the second year of Tianqi has not been touched yet.

Thinking of this, he continued to look at the standing Wang Yingjiao, and slowly asked:

"Wang Aiqing, I am a little surprised by the surplus of the Household Department this year. I will keep this credit in mind. However, the Household Department should also calculate the financial budget for the second year of Tianqi. I thought it should not be as good as this year, but compared with previous years, It shouldn’t be too high.”

The main reason why this year's income is so high is the income from the salt merchant's deposit of 1000 million taels, but the deposit is paid every five years, so the next payment will be made in Wanli for six years.

This is a loss of 1000 million taels for no reason.Of course, there are other incomes, such as debts from corruption and fugitives, which are all gone this year.

Therefore, Wang Yingjiao was still a little worried just now, fearing that the emperor would be dissatisfied with him after he revealed the budget.

But now that he heard that the emperor had prepared his psychological expectations, Wang Yingjiao felt relieved.

"What your Majesty said is absolutely true. The Ministry of Revenue has already prepared a budget for the court's revenue for next year. However, the new policies implemented at the beginning of this year, such as new tariffs, mineral taxes, etc., are still being implemented. Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue can only make rough estimates. Please forgive me, Your Majesty and all your ministers."

After getting vaccinated, Wang Yingjiao took out a booklet from his sleeve, opened it in front of everyone, and read it slowly to Zhu Youxiao.

"Your Majesty, according to the calculations of various departments of the Ministry of Household Affairs, the normal annual income of the imperial court in the second year of Tianqi was 6209 million taels. This includes three additional payments of 560 million taels. The additional commercial and miscellaneous taxes levied last year this year It can be increased to 180 million taels. This year’s customs duty is 200 million taels, mining tax is 120 million taels, minting revenue is 140 million taels, etc.”

Two thousand sixty-two million taels!
Zhu Youxiao murmured to himself as soon as he heard this number. This number was somewhat beyond his expectation.Compared with last year's amount, it was only 200 million taels less, but last year there was a 1000 million tael salt merchant's deposit.

But he still had some questions about some of the numbers inside.

"Wang Aiqing, I remember that the imperial court's commercial taxes and miscellaneous taxes have also increased this year, but they have collected a total of [-] million taels. Why does the Ministry of Revenue predict that there will be so much next year." "Your Majesty, this is all thanks to the previous cabinet. After the introduction of the "Commercial Tax Protection Regulations", which prohibited yamen from seizing merchants' goods and required payment of prices for all items used, the scholars and merchants were all happy.

Although after the introduction, there are still many yamen subordinates who act recklessly, they have somewhat restrained themselves and do not dare to act recklessly again.In addition, the imperial court abolished the maritime ban and encouraged commerce, which led to a boom in commerce. According to estimates by ministers, if things continue like this, the amount of commercial taxes will probably be higher in the future. "

Hearing Wang Yingjiao's words, not only Zhu Youxiao, but also everyone present nodded.

Many people in the Donglin Party are from Jiangnan, and some people are not opposed to merchants or commerce, such as Ye Xianggao, Zhao Nanxing and others.

When they were at Donglin Academy.I advocate that scholars, farmers, industry and commerce are all equal, and merchants should not be discriminated against. We should vigorously develop commerce. I also suggest that the court collect commercial taxes.

Therefore, this situation was what they wanted to see. Now that the commercial tax amount was very high, Zhao Nanxing, the Minister of Civil Affairs, immediately stepped forward.

"What Wang Shangshu said is true. His Majesty made a wise decision. After he came to the throne, he implemented the commercial tax regulations and vigorously promoted maritime trade. According to my opinion, in the long run, the revenue from commercial taxes and even customs duties will be higher, and will account for a huge proportion of the court's tax revenue in the future. "

"This is indeed true, but commercial taxes and customs duties rely on merchants to travel around the world and sell goods overseas. Although there is profit, there is also a lot of suffering."

Ye Xianggao also agreed upon hearing this. He looked around at the people around him as he spoke, then looked at Zhu Youxiao and said solemnly:
"Your Majesty, the current total of commercial taxes and customs duties is 380 million taels. With such a profit, there will definitely be many subordinate officials who take advantage of the profits and exploit them wantonly. Therefore, the imperial court must issue an edict or send people to inspect the local areas. Local officials must not be allowed to violate the rules. Exploiting merchants wantonly will not only bring the people back home, but also further increase our business tax revenue."

Zhu Youxiao, as a later generation, naturally knows the truth behind what Ye Xianggao said to Zhao Nanxing.

Agricultural taxes are fixed, and the amount of the tax depends on God.But commercial taxes and tariffs are different. The more developed the economy is and the more prosperous commerce and trade are, the higher the revenue from these two taxes will be. This has been proven in the Song Dynasty.

However, since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, merchants have not been valued or protected, and they have been suppressed arbitrarily.This is especially true for commercial taxes and customs duties, which are not only ignored but also subject to maritime bans. Zhu Youxiao felt heartbroken every time he thought about how much income he had lost over the past 200 years, so he had long made up his mind to change this situation.

"Finance and taxation, finance and taxation, only with wealth can there be taxes. Nowadays, the affairs of the imperial court are complicated, and there are many thieves where money is spent. These commercial taxes and customs duties are a source of revenue that I and your ministers have worked hard to develop, so they will not be exhausted. "

Zhu Youxiao thought for a while and then spoke to support the remarks made by Ye Xianggao and Zhao Nanxing just now. While speaking, he looked at Ye Xianggao.

"What Mr. Ye Ge said just now is also correct. If the persecution and exploitation of merchants happen frequently, how can the commercial tax be collected? The cabinet can discuss this matter and send censors to inspect local areas regularly, and at the same time order various places to deploy The Secretary of State shall act in accordance with the commercial and tax regulations and shall not exceed them.

As for tariffs, I have already discussed with Bi Ziyan. We must build a navy, combat smuggling and piracy, and protect maritime trade. We will not let such a good situation be destroyed. "

Seeing the emperor say this, Ye Xianggao and others nodded repeatedly, secretly saying that the emperor was sensible and immediately bowed his head in agreement.

(End of this chapter)