I'm a big dick

Chapter 275 Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, Shaoying Academy
And around the mind of the Holy One, everyone in the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce has conducted research and discussions for several days, and they haven't had a good time for years.

"Although the thirty-one tax was set by the Taizu, the Holy Majesty seems to intend to change it. The increase is certain, but I don't know how much it will be added?"

"This is exactly the embarrassment. If you talk too much, you may lose money in the future; if you talk too little, Longyan will be unhappy, and the consequences will be serious."

Tang Mo put down his teacup, and said helplessly, "Just talk about the levy increase, not the specific amount, and wait for the final decision by the Holy Majesty."

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, and nodded with wry smiles, expressing that they could be fooled like this first.

In fact, the levy is certain, but Zhu Youxiao really won't levy too much.Because the business tax in the middle and late Ming Dynasty was too little, and the relationship with the Thirty Taxes was not as great as expected.

What should be levied is not levied, and tax evasion is serious, which is the biggest problem.This is similar to the fact that the gentry and landlords concealed money and food, and the ordinary people bore the heavy burden.

Of course, there are also big problems with the commercial policies formulated by Taizu, or they are outdated and not suitable for the current social and economic conditions.

At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, commercial activities suffered from wars and were very depressed.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang took protective measures for commerce and merchants, set a merchant tax of "thirty taxes and one tax", and also stipulated that books, pens, ink, farm implements, boats, carts, silk cloth, etc. are all tax-free, and ordered the abolition of 364 tax bureaus to make the merchant tax easier. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, it was greatly simplified.

In the early Ming Dynasty, such a policy did promote the development of commerce.

But in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, industry and commerce had prospered, and imperial power (including eunuchs, harem, vassal kings), official power, and gentry power also intervened one after another, and the loss of tax revenue became a big problem.

In the eyes of later generations, blocking tolls always has a hint of extortion and bully.But when you look at the commercial tax revenue of the entire Ming Dynasty and the number of tax collection points, you will feel that it is too little, too little.

For example, there are tax bureaus in provinces, cities, counties, and even districts in later generations. How many are there? Anyway, there are many, many.

But in the Ming Dynasty, there were more than 400 tax bureaus in the early days, but only 110 or two remained in the early seventeenth century.

Why is there less in the first place, and then less and less?The reason is also very simple, not to mention that there is no profit to be made, and the court has to pay for it.

For example, in the second year of Longqing in the Ming Dynasty, the Ministry of Household Affairs reported that a certain tax department patrolled and inspected the annual salary, grain, work and food expenses of no less than 110 taels, while the collection of banknotes was only [-] taels.

Let's see, what kind of cards are there, and what taxes are charged?The money collected is not enough for the tax collectors to eat, so closing it early can save some money.

Daming is very weird, so weird, Zhu Youxiao felt more and more like this when he saw these data.

Let's collect a tax, and you can still lose more and more money. Isn't this too ridiculous?
What is the reason? Is it because commerce is underdeveloped, or merchants have changed to air transport instead of land or water?
Of course not. In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, commerce was very developed, and there were many merchants selling goods, but the key was the tax collectors and the tax-exempt groups.

Take the simplest, or rather absurd, example.

In the 37th year of Wanli, the commercial tax in Fenyang County, Shanxi was more than 600 taels, which is quite a good figure; while in the sixth year of Wanli, the commercial tax in Jinhua County, Zhejiang was less than [-] taels, which is the same as confiscation.

Regardless of the difference in age, we can see the imbalance in the collection of commercial taxes among the Ming regions.In developed and prosperous areas, business taxes are lower, especially in economically developed areas.

In addition to the delay in setting up tax collection cards, what is more important is the laxness or even resistance of officials to the collection of commercial taxes.

During the Zhengde period, when He Xun was in charge of the tax department in Shashi, once the quota was completed, he reduced the tax collection for merchants;

After Shao Jingbang of the Jiajing Dynasty took Hei Xun's post, he completed the quota within three months, and in the remaining few months of this year, he opened the customs and served as a businessman.

Yang Qiaoshi, who was also in the Jiajing Dynasty, asked the wood merchants to collect their own income for tax assessment when discussing taxes in Hangzhou.

What's so special is that the famous official who was highly praised in the history books, generous with the country's generosity to gain fame for himself, probably also received the benefits of merchants.Otherwise, how could he so intimately seek benefits for the merchant group?
If the tax collection standards of these three "famous ministers" are followed, let alone one tax for thirty, even one tax for one hundred will not be able to reach it!As for the quota, it is just a figure that can be seen in the past compared with the past.

Yang Qiaoshi, the big bastard, went even further, taking the country's salary to collect taxes, and you let the businessmen watch and pay.To do charity, or to send beggars?
Therefore, the low tax rate is not the biggest problem. If it can be collected in a real way, the income will definitely be much higher than it is now.

Of course, since there is a need for reform, Zhu Youxiao is ready to do it in one step.Although this involves all aspects of the problem, the road must always go on, eliminate difficulties, solve problems, and it will never get worse.

And the people in the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce would definitely not understand the emperor's far-reaching considerations. They felt that the tax increase was certain, and the emperor needed money!
Whether it's plundering or oppression, as long as it doesn't suck the bones and suck the marrow, as long as there is still money to be made, it can only be endured.

But among the high-level figures of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, there are those who have a more sensitive sense of smell and think more far-reaching.

"Everyone, in my opinion, it is certain to increase the tax rate, but it may not be very high."

Xia Zhongshi stroked his beard and said, "Look at the "Da Ming Forum". The last two issues are all about officials. Shao Jingbang and Yang Qiaoshi are the negative examples of officials.

He has a small head, sparse eyebrows, and a thin body, but his dark face always reveals deep and cold thoughts.This is the middle of summer, when you don't usually show the mountains and the dew, but you often have amazing ideas.

In the middle of summer, being able to rank among the upper echelons of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce was the appreciation and strong recommendation of his fellow villager Tang Mo.Because he went to a private school when he was young in the middle of summer, he was famous in the village for "knowing the classics and Shi Dayi at the age of ten".

If his father and elder brother hadn't passed away one after another, he would not have "dropped out of Confucianism".Maybe, he has already been named on the gold list and became an official.

Others may not like Xia Zhongshi, and he also doesn't like greedy and vulgar merchants, but Tang Mo values ​​it very much, and said with a smile: "Old Xia, if you speak more clearly, you can rest assured."

Xia Zhongshi took a sip of tea unhurriedly, and said slowly: "Shao Jingbang and Yang Qiaoshi paid Gu En's name, and they are responsible for the court. As tax officials, but they don't fulfill their duties, what kind of officials are they?"

Tang Mo pondered for a long while, then guessed: "You mean that the imperial court wants to rectify the officialdom, not just targeting Jiangnan merchants?"

Xia Zhongshi chuckled and said, "I don't need to say that you all know that with the current government's execution power, even if the tax rate is increased several times, how much can the commercial tax be increased, and how much more can the court collect?"

Contemptuously scanning the crowd, Xia Zhongshi continued: "Landlords and gentry conceal their arrears, merchants evade taxes, these are all superficial problems. When the imperial court suppressed evil gentry and landlords, they did not forget to deal with local officials, right? Just saw the essence."

"Businessmen are responsible for tax evasion, but they can't help it. Just analyze it to the Holy One. If Long Live wants the chamber of commerce to self-examine and correct itself, then set up a charter. Anyone who dares to do anything wrong will be cleared out of the chamber of commerce immediately."

"In order to ensure that the Chamber of Commerce will not be implicated by individual greedy and unscrupulous individuals, a certain thought that a threshold for membership could be set. Those who join the Chamber of Commerce must pay a deposit. If there is any illegal behavior such as tax evasion, the deposit will be confiscated and they will be expelled from the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce."

Everyone was thinking, frowning, or looking at Xia Zhongshi with displeasure.In the end, the eyes focused on Tang Mo, waiting for the president's decision.

Tang Mo thought for a while, nodded slightly, and said: "Old Xia is right. We will abide by the law regardless of whether the tax we pay can be used as income for the court in the future. If you pay a deposit, offenders will be confiscated and their membership in the chamber of commerce will be revoked. This is to appease Wanzai's anger, and someone thought it could be written in the proposal submitted."

"President—" a middle-aged businessman said with some doubts: "It's not a big problem to pay taxes in full, but how to deal with it? I used to take care of the head, but now I take care of the two sides. I'm afraid I will lose money!"

"Then don't do it." Xia Zhongshi replied simply for Tang Mo, "Don't forget, if the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce has the right to submit letters like the Maritime Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and has its own master, what are you afraid of?"

"Lao Xia is right." A businessman nodded in agreement, and said, "Last year, I saw that the Holy Majesty dealt with officials who broke the law very severely, which is quite like the Taizu. Pursuing his salary to pay the merchant..."

"The Maritime Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce rely on this, and the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce also came here for the appreciation of the Holy One." Another person echoed: "If it is not for this, whoever celebrates the New Year will not go home."

Tang Mo smiled and nodded, knowing that the main tone of the letter had been settled.

This is not surprising. When you come here, you are prepared to pay a heavy price and get the same treatment as the Maritime Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Looking at it now, the Holy Majesty probably didn't mean that, and didn't intend to take it by force, so there is nothing to be afraid of.Obey the law, there is always a restraint, don't be like those gentry students who were beheaded, and they still complained of being wronged until they died!
.....................

"Long Live Lord, New Year's Day is very auspicious, and everything goes well." Wu Yuehuan yelled and ran over, knelt down and kowtowed, saying New Year's greetings smoothly.

Zhao Dabao was stupid, he dawdled over, under Wu Yue's urging and reminder, he knelt down and kowtowed, just to pay his respects to Long Live, but it was far less sweet than Wu Yue's small mouth.

Zhu Youxiao liked this little cutie from the bottom of his heart, stepped forward to pull it up, pinched the girl's little cheek, and said with a smile: "May, what are you eating today?"

Wu Yue grinned and grinned, knowing that the emperor was teasing her, and said crisply, "I don't know about the pork rice and vermicelli soup for lunch at night!"

Zhao Dabao laughed twice, he didn't know if he was making fun of Wu Yue, or he thought it was just ridiculous.

Zhu Youxiao touched the girl's head, and asked a little strangely: "What a coincidence, you are the first one to see me coming again."

Wuyue blinked her big eyes and said with a smile: "It's not a coincidence, I've been busy building a snowman here for a long time!"

Snowman?Zhu Youxiao looked at a strange snowdrift that was not round or square on the side of Yong Road, and felt that his imagination was a little lacking, so he didn't realize that it was a snowman.

Wu Yue didn't have this awareness, and was still saying: "Wu Yue knew that Long Live would come sooner or later, so he built a snowman to welcome you."

Saying that, she turned her head and glared at Zhao Dabao: "If you don't let you follow Feifollow, it's not as fast as if I piled it up by myself, and it's so ugly."

Zhao Dabao scratched his head, and said, "Isn't it finished yet? Let's make a big pile first, then chop it up and repair it, just like a person! You didn't say it was for Long Live, otherwise, I can pile it up." Faster and better."

May pursed her lips, looking very disgusted.

Zhu Youxiao was very relieved that what the child said was the most sincere, not a compliment, but from the heart.

Li Chengcheng handed two boxes of candy to Wuyue and Zhao Dabao, and said, "Little Wuyue, and you, this is a reward for you."

Wuyue took it happily, and said, "Long live, I will continue to make snowmen, and you will be able to see them when you go back."

"Don't freeze." Zhu Youxiao instructed, "Go back to the house to rest when it's cold, and I will come to see when it's piled up."

Wu Yue readily agreed, put the candies on the stone table next to him, picked up the small shovel, and called Zhao Dabao, "Hurry up, what are you doing so stupidly?"

Hey, Zhao Dabao responded happily, no matter how Wu Yue looked like his lost little sister, she didn't complain at all when she was sent around.

Accompanying the emperor to continue walking forward, Li Chengcheng asked cautiously beside him: "My lord, when the children of the Shaoying Academy grow up, will they be officials or do something else—"

"Work." Zhu Youxiao added to Li Chengcheng. This simple word was not popular in ancient times. More generally, it should be called yingsheng, which means managing life.

Turning his head and glanced at Li Chengcheng, Zhu Youxiao said with a smile: "You don't have to be an official to be successful. I am trying to change this concept. You don't have to be an official to be an official. This is what I want to change."

Oh, Li Chengcheng nodded with a vague understanding.She has a young brother, but she wants to send her to the Shaoying Academy. She thinks that the emperor values ​​him so much, so he must have a future.

Zhu Youxiao also knew that it was difficult to change his ideas, so he valued Shaoying College.

These children are cultivated from an early age, and learn various majors according to his vision, just like a blank sheet of paper, which can be swayed by him to draw the most hopeful and beautiful picture of life.

Of course, new learning is also his hope.It's just that it is not so easy to make those scholars give up their dream of becoming an official and engage in other careers with peace of mind.

What about Sun Yuanhua? He still believes in foreign religions, but he is still proud of being awarded an official position.

Originally, Zhu Youxiao wanted to get the rank of technical officials and let them wear official uniforms different from traditional civil servants, but in the end he gave up.

Because he figured it out, this is tantamount to artificially creating a classification of officials.Technical officials in different official uniforms are likely to be discriminated against, and they may even feel inferior.

It is a very common way of thinking to be proud of being born in the right way.In the imperial examination, there are differences between Jinshi, Jinshi's background and the same Jinshi's background, let alone technical officials with irregular backgrounds?
(End of this chapter)