Ming Dynasty: Tanks blocked the door and you said to me, "Long live Ming Dynasty"

Thinking about what he had talked about with Wang Chengen in the ditch outside the city, Guo Yunhou gritted his teeth and then asked someone to call in the left and right assistant ministers and a group of people in charge.

Xu Guangqi, the left minister, was the first to ask, "I wonder if you have anything to tell me when you summoned me here?"

Guo Yunhou glanced at everyone and asked in a heavy tone.

"Do you know how much grain the Ministry of Revenue owes the Western Factory?"

Hearing this question, Xu Guangqi stepped aside. His main job now was to supervise the production of firearms. Although he was the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he was actually doing the work of the Ministry of Works.

So, this matter has nothing to do with him!

Right Vice Minister Fang Yuegong stepped forward, pondered for a moment, and then answered frankly: "If I remember correctly, it should be 18 million taels of silver."

"No!" Guo Yunhou shook his head vigorously, "Now we have an additional three million dan of grain!"

Then he told everyone what had just happened.

After hearing this, Fang Yuegong immediately frowned and said, "Sir, I think the West Factory has gone too far!"

"Shanxi and Shaanxi are in urgent need of food relief, but Eunuch Wang took the opportunity to ask you to sign this IOU. It seems like he is taking advantage of the situation!"

"Therefore, I think that I should write a letter to Your Majesty to impeach the Western Factory!"

"That IOU should also be voided!"

According to the official history, Fang Yuegong should have been the prefect of Songjiang at that time. However, Zhu Youxiao dealt with 70% of the officials of the six ministries, so he got the opportunity and was promoted to the right vice-minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

His words are in line with the thoughts of the literati of that era.

But after listening to it, Xu Guangqi couldn't help but stand up without waiting for Guo Yunhou to express his opinion.

"No!"

"I think that the West Factory's approach is not only not problematic, but Minister Fang's view is biased!"

Chapter 311: Go in, start from here

Guo Yunhou knew very well that Wang Chengen's visit at this time was definitely Zhu Youxiao's intention.

Therefore, he did not express any opinion on the disagreement between Xu Guangqi and Fang Yuegong.

Fang Yuegong said to Xu Guangqi unconvincedly: "Since Minister Xu said that my statement is biased, then I would like to ask Minister Xu for advice."

"The Western Factory belongs to your Majesty, and the Ming Dynasty also belongs to your Majesty. When it comes to disaster relief, shouldn't the people be put first?"

"But the West Factory took advantage of this opportunity and asked for 5% interest, and it's compound interest!"

"I am being very polite when I say they are taking advantage of the country's misfortune. If I were not being polite, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the Western Factory is profiting from the country's misfortune!"

Xu Guangqi's face darkened: "You mean, Your Majesty wants to make money from the national disaster?"

Fang Yuegong stiffened his neck and looked at him with a flushed face: "You are talking nonsense! What I said is that the Western Factory is making money from the national crisis! Your Majesty must not know about this!"

However, Xu Guangqi did not give him any face and immediately retorted.

"Let's not talk about whether the Western Factory lent the grain to the Ministry of Revenue at this time with the instruction of Your Majesty. Even if not, I think that in this matter, the Western Factory only helped the Ministry of Revenue in its time of need, and had no intention of taking advantage of the fire to rob it!"

"The West Factory was reopened to help His Majesty manage finances, not to clean up the mess for the Ministry of Revenue!"

"I have heard that nowadays in Shanxi and Shaanxi, one stone of brown rice costs three taels of silver!"

"You said that the Western Factory took advantage of the situation to rob people. Then let me ask you, is this 50% interest more reasonable, or will you make more money by selling grain to the people?"

Fang Yuegong was speechless, but still said with a look of dissatisfaction: "If your majesty knew, you would definitely not charge such a high interest rate!"

"Before, the interest rate for borrowing money was only 3%, but now it has become 5%!"

"This must be the work of the Western Factory!"

Xu Guangqi looked at him and smiled contemptuously: "From you and me to the clerks, thousands of people in the Ministry of Revenue are busy day and night, but what is the situation now?"

"inability!"

"In the face of a disaster, we can't even raise enough money for disaster relief, and yet we still have the energy to think about that little bit of interest?"

"Minister Fang, listen to my advice. If you have the time, you might as well think about how to increase revenue for the country!"

"okay!"

Guo Yunhou interrupted their argument, took out a booklet from the drawer and placed it on the table.

"Minister Xu is right. The most urgent thing is to open up new sources of income!"

"Some time ago, this official and Eunuch Wang talked about this matter, and he also gave some suggestions."

"I think it's feasible, so I've compiled them all into this booklet."

"Minister Xu has his own things to do, so let's leave this matter to Minister Fang."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yuegong stepped forward and took the booklet.

As he flipped through the contents, his expression began to change gradually.

Commercial tax!

This booklet sets different tax rates for transactions ranging from agricultural products to handicrafts, livestock, houses, and land.

The most important thing is that it is clearly stated here that no matter who does business, they must pay taxes!

Even the families of scholars and officials are no exception!

He looked at Guo Yunhou with an embarrassed look on his face: "Sir, I'm afraid this move is difficult to implement!"

Guo Yunhou frowned and said, "Of course I know it's difficult to execute!"

"But the situation is pressing. If we don't change, I'm afraid you and I will have to borrow money from the West Factory to pay our salaries in the future!"

Fang Yuegong was still a little worried: "Sir, how about you discuss this with the other ministers and Elder Wen first?"

"If I act so rashly, I'm afraid I'll cause trouble!"

"Trouble?" Guo Yunhou sneered.

"Your Majesty just won a great victory in the north, and destroyed the Jiannu in one battle!"

"Who dares to cause trouble at this time?!"

"This move will start with Northern Zhili, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan!"

"If you can do it well, I will personally recommend you to His Majesty. If something goes wrong, you can take off your clothes and go home to plant sweet potatoes!"

Fang Yuegong wants to cry!

Because he knew very well that this was an offensive job.

If something goes wrong, you may not be able to rest in peace even after death!

Seeing him like this, Xu Guangqi walked over, patted him on the shoulder twice, and spoke earnestly.

"Minister Fang, please think about the starving people in Shanxi and Shaanxi!"

"Natural disasters have become common in recent years. This time, the West Factory was able to provide food for emergency relief, but what about next time?"

"Can you guarantee that the West Factory can lend grain to the Ministry of Revenue every time?"

"I hope you can live up to the official uniform you wear and your own conscience!"

After saying this, he bowed to Guo Yunhou.

"Sir, I have some things to do, so I'll take my leave now!"

Looking at his departing back, Fang Yuegong was silent for a long time.

Perhaps Xu Guangqi's words woke him up, and finally he bowed deeply to Guo Yunhou.

"Your Excellency is thoughtful and far-sighted. I feel deeply ashamed!"

"I will take this job!"

Afterwards, he also left the Ministry of Revenue lobby with his chief subordinate.

Guo Yunhou sat there and fell into deep thought.

I don’t know whether what I did was right or wrong.

He did not ask Zhu Youxiao for instructions on the matter of strictly investigating commercial taxes.

He was not a fool. From last year to this year, he had roughly guessed the purpose of those IOUs.

This is forcing myself to open up new sources for the Ming Dynasty!

Where does it come from?

Agricultural taxes are exempted, only commercial taxes are left!

So he knew very well that Zhu Youxiao would definitely agree to this matter!

As for the other departments, including Wen Tiren and Zhu Youjian...

Do their opinions matter?

Damn it, they’re not the ones who owe the debt, so of course they’re not in a hurry!

He took out a jar of Shaodaozi from under the table and drank a full gulp of it.

The spicy taste instantly made his whole body hot.

No!

For this matter, Fang Yuegong and the officials from the Ministry of Revenue alone are not enough!

We have to think of a way and find some help!

He stood up, strode out, left the Ministry of Revenue, and headed straight for the West Factory.

The Western Factory is the creditor of the Ministry of Revenue, so Wang Chengen will surely not be stingy with his manpower when it comes to collecting money to repay the debt!

The next morning.

The people in Beijing discovered that a large group of officials from the Ministry of Revenue, accompanied by Western Factory guards holding scimitars, frequently entered and exited various shops in the city.

Fang Yuegong also personally led a team of people and appeared on Chaoyangmen Street.

On this street, the first house from west to east, which is close to the imperial city, is a temple called Longfu Temple.

Longfu Temple was first built in the third year of Jingtai reign, that is, in 1452, and has a history of years. It is the only temple in the capital where both Fan (Lamas) and Chan (monks) reside.

Standing at the door, Fang Yuegong stared at the plaque of Longfu Temple for a long time.

When the people entering and leaving the temple saw this scene, they consciously stayed away from it, for fear of getting themselves into trouble.

After a long time, Fang Yuegong gritted his teeth and pointed at the gate of Longfu Temple.

"Get in!"

“Start checking the accounts from here!”

Chapter 312: Asking for % right away, what’s the difference between this and robbery!

"Amitabha!"

"May I ask whether you are offering incense or fulfilling a vow?"

As soon as I entered the door, two little monks came to greet me.

Faced with such a large team, they were not nervous at all. Instead, they had excited smiles on their faces.

This was a temple within the imperial city, and they had seen many more than this.

Which of those officials and wealthy businessmen came to worship with a large group of followers?

Fang Yuegong stopped and sneered at the two little monks.

"I am the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. I am not here to burn incense or fulfill a vow, but to check the accounts!"

Check the accounts?

When these words were spoken, the two young monks were stunned on the spot.

One of them asked in confusion: "Did the donor come to the wrong place? Why would you come to the temple to check the accounts?"

"Stop talking nonsense to me and go call your abbot!"

Fang Yuegong was too lazy to pay attention to him. He pushed the novice monk away and shouted at the clerks and Western Factory guards behind him.