I, the military god of the Tang Dynasty, have risen since I destroyed the Turks

Chapter 451: Eastern Palace Meeting
East Palace Hall.

"I'm sure you all know what was discussed in today's court meeting."

"I made a bet with my father." Li Zheng said with a smile as he looked at the dozen important officials from the six ministries.

"Your Highness."

"This bet is witnessed by the whole court."

"However, changing the commercial tax and emphasizing commerce is indeed a core part of the country's development."

"Of course, agriculture is also the foundation of our Tang Dynasty and cannot be abolished." Fang Xuanling said respectfully.

"I am not putting the cart before the horse."

"In the future, our Tang Dynasty will pay more attention to commerce in addition to agriculture, and both will be developed simultaneously."

"Nowadays, commerce is under the control of the Chief Secretary."

"Return to your highness."

"The Governor's Office is no longer an independent authority, but is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue." Qin Jiansheng said immediately.

"Fang Qing."

"The reform of commercial tax this time is of vital importance to our Tang Dynasty. Liu will personally take charge of the provincial government to implement the policy of emphasizing commerce on behalf of me and the Tang Dynasty, and at the same time reform the taxes on merchants." Li Zheng said seriously.

"May I ask your Highness?"

"How to reform merchants?" Fang Xuanling asked curiously.

Other important officials also looked at Li Zheng.

Naturally, they had no idea how Li Zheng was going to change his idea.

"How were taxes levied on merchants in the past?" Li Zheng asked with a smile.

"The imperial court has not paid too much attention to the collection of taxes from merchants. It has always been very lenient, with a tax rate of one in thirty. For example, if a merchant earns thirty taels of silver, the tax will be three taels."

"Moreover, the imperial court also exempted almost all shops and small vendors from tax."

"Commercial taxes have never been taken seriously."

"The main source of income for the Tang Dynasty's treasury is still taxes from farmers, as well as salt, minerals, and oil," Fang Xuanling said honestly.

"From now on, we will focus on collecting commercial taxes, which will be one tenth of the total tax."

"It will be implemented starting from Chang'an City."

“Once merchants pay their taxes in full throughout the year, they will be allowed to wear fine clothes, the harshness that was once imposed on merchants will be abolished, and business will be encouraged.”

"It's not just the sales income that is taxed. Merchants who open workshops, cloth shops, wine shops, etc., collect taxes on the profits from shipments, and the same 10% tax is also collected."

"of course."

“If merchants want to do business or open workshops, they must register with the Chief Secretary. If they fail to register with the Chief Secretary and intend to evade taxes, they will be severely punished.”

"Except."

"If a merchant opens a workshop and recruits more than 500 craftsmen, the tax can be appropriately reduced."

"If you are among the top 100 merchants who pay taxes in Fuyu, I will grant you an audience in the East Palace as a reward..."

After pondering for a moment, Li Zheng told Fang Xuanling about his various opinions on the tax reform for merchants.

Fang Xuanling just listened at first.

But as Li Zheng talked more and more.

Fang Xuanling stood up directly, not caring about being rude, and picked up a piece of paper and a pen from the side and wrote down everything Li Zheng said.

After a long time.

Li Zheng finished speaking.

Fang Xuanling filled several pages with writing.

"What I said will be tried out in Chang'an City."

"If it's possible."

“Then it will be implemented nationwide.”

"In the future, the Ministry of Revenue and the Provincial Government will have a new supervisory power, which is the power to supervise the collection of commercial taxes. If any merchants dare to evade taxes, they will be severely punished." Li Zheng warned Fang Xuanling.

"Your Highness, I think that's a good idea."

"I am sincerely convinced."

"After this is implemented, I have a feeling that in half a year the tax revenue in Chang'an City will be far more than ten times the original figure." Fang Xuanling said with admiration.

"Your Highness's proposal of tax reform and encouragement of business really amazed Lin Chen and others." "These proposals are something we have never heard of before."

"Yes."

"I also have a feeling that after Your Highness encourages commerce in the future, the Tang Dynasty will usher in its true prosperity." The ministers exclaimed in amazement.

Just now, it was Li Zheng who was talking about the commercial tax reform. Ou Wei and the others who were listening also felt a sudden and profound change.

"In our Tang Dynasty, are workshops like the Iron Cavalry directly managed by the imperial court, or are there also workshops among the people?" Li Zheng asked again.

"Return to your highness."

"The Iron Cavalry is the capital of the Tang Dynasty's weapons. In addition to the Ministry of Industry, there are also blacksmith workshops in the private sector to forge ordinary weapons, as well as various common items such as woodcutters and sickles. The Minister of Industry, Duan Lun, immediately replied.

"Yes." Li Zheng nodded, and then said: "The iron forging method of our Tang Dynasty is considered advanced in the whole world. Pass on the order that private blacksmith workshops must be registered with the government in the future, and ironware must not be allowed to flow out of the territory."

"Every piece of iron that comes out of the Tang Dynasty could become a sharp blade to kill the people of the Tang Dynasty."

"I will never allow it." Li Zheng said seriously.

"We obey your orders." The ministers nodded one after another.

"Except."

"I still need to go to the Ministry of Industry's Weaponry Workshop to see what kind of weapons they are making." Li Zheng said.

"The Ministry of Works welcomes His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Duan Lun said excitedly.

all the time.

Among the six ministries, the Ministry of Industry is in a marginalized position. After all, the development of Tang Dynasty's weapons is already powerful enough, and there have not been many breakthroughs for many years. Li Zheng's arrival at the Ministry of Industry will definitely bring great changes to the Ministry.

"How many imperial guards are there in the entire imperial city?"

How many Yulin troops are there in the entire Chang'an city?

Li Zheng looked at Chen Xuanli and Wang Hao again.

Now that he is in power and is in charge of the six ministries, military power is also of top priority. Li Zheng must figure this out.

Especially the military power of Chang'an City.

"Return to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Including those on leave, there are 40,000 imperial guards in the entire imperial city. They are outstanding soldiers selected from the army everywhere." Wang Hao replied immediately.

"There are 50,000 Yulin soldiers in Chang'an City, stationed in the camp outside the imperial city to protect the capital."

"They are all elite soldiers and brave generals." Chen Xuanli replied respectfully.

Li Zheng glanced at the two of them and nodded slightly.

"Elite soldiers and brave generals are not just words."

"I will give you half a month to eliminate all the unworthy people in the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Guards."

"In half a month, I will personally go to the Imperial Guards camp and the Imperial Guards camp for inspection."

"If there are still those who are trying to take advantage of the situation and stay in there without any ability but relying on power, I will hold you accountable." Li Zheng stared at the two of them and said with a warning.

The Imperial Guards and the Yulin Army are the key to the imperial city, and are the strongest armies of the Tang Dynasty recognized by people all over the world.

But even if Li Zheng just thought about it, he could guess that there must be countless useless people mixed in, including those who are dissolute, domineering, and useless.

Entering the Imperial Guards and Yulin Army to gain experience and gild one's skills is the basis for promotion.

before.

Li Zheng can't do anything about it, but he has to do it now.

Wang Hao and Chen Xuanli's faces changed, and they immediately stood up and knelt down, "I obey your command."

Li Zheng raised his hand and motioned for the two to stand up.

"The last thing we'll discuss today."

Then he looked at the ministers.

"Grandpa Zhou." Li Zheng shouted.

"Master."

Zhou Fusheng came out.

"From now on, all the properties of my county mansion will belong to the royal family."

"Lin's Restaurant, Lin's Vinegar Factory, and even various industries are all incorporated into the royal industry. You are still responsible for the management and expansion of these industries."

(End of this chapter)