Han Shizu

Chapter 1388 Look at the money

The Zhengshitang under the leadership of Zhao Pu has strict rules and strict rules. The high-ranking bureaucrats occupy their positions and manage their own affairs. They are busy but not chaotic, giving people a sense of efficiency and order.

Emperor Liu came out of nowhere, walked through the corridor, passed through the office rooms, and went straight to the back hall. Along the way, he saw this orderly appearance, and his eyes showed a hint of satisfaction.

Today's Emperor Liu pays more attention to rules, and looks more and more like a serious and rigid feudal master.In the past few years when Zhao Pu was prime minister, he has also established rules and political style with his distinctive style.

In the hall, several ministers were sitting safely, each according to a case, discussing state affairs.Emperor Liu's arrival obviously caught everyone by surprise, and they hurriedly stood up to salute, but they were not too nervous or surprised. In recent days, Emperor Liu visited the Political Affairs Hall more frequently.

"Everyone sit down! Everyone sit down!" Emperor Liu waved his hands, sat down gracefully, and looked around at several people: "It's almost time for dinner, I'm here to taste the dine-in food at Zhengshitang, it's not easy for you gentlemen to work hard for a big man , if the dine-in food is hard to swallow, I will punish the cook!"

A small joke made the atmosphere in the hall much more relaxed. Zhao Pu and the others also smiled and said, "It is my honor to eat with Your Majesty."

It's rare for people to be tidy today. The main ministers of the Zhengshitang, except Li Ye, are all there.Of course, there is also a new face, Wang Pu, who was transferred from Tokyo and has just taken up the post. Now, he is the number two person in real power, and Uncle Li Guo is always the third child.

"Qiwu, you also stayed in Zhengshitang, but what's the difference between Xijing and Tokyo?" Emperor Liu asked Wang Pu with a smile.

Probably because of being in Tokyo for the past few years, there is inevitably some estrangement between Emperor Liu and Wang Pu. Wang Pu was also a little more cautious, and he cupped his hands and said, "Returning to your majesty, the importance of a prime minister is not where he is, but the responsibility of assisting the king and governing life." Whether it is Xijing or Tokyo, I only feel that the responsibility is heavy, and it is like a weight on my shoulders."

Hearing Wang Pu's answer of a panacea, Emperor Liu smiled and continued to ask: "There should be nothing uncomfortable!"

Upon hearing the question, Wang Pu immediately replied humbly: "Thank you for your majesty's concern, fortunately, thanks to your majesty's kindness and promotion, all the gentlemen have supported me, and the matter went smoothly!"

Looking around Zhao Pu and Wang Pu, Emperor Liu suppressed his smile and sighed softly at Wang Pu: "Since I returned to Beijing, what I have heard the most is that the national treasury is empty and the court's finances are in short supply. It’s time to start a cocoon. Qiwu, you can manage the money bag of a big man now, it’s not easy, and it’s even more difficult to manage it well, and you need to work harder!”

"Where is the duty, how dare I not try my best?" Wang Pu expressed his position immediately, with a look of gratitude for the kindness of knowing him.

Under the auspices of Zhao Pu, it was carried out in accordance with the general policy of recuperation, and improving the financial system and improving the bad financial situation was one of the focuses. Many current tasks of the imperial court were also carried out around this matter.

The prime ministers of the big Han have now formed a division of work. Prime Minister Zhao Pu, while directly controlling the Ministry of Officials, is also responsible for investigating everything.Wang Pu, who returned to the government, was directly in charge of the financial secretary. He also had this experience when he was the chancellor in Kaifeng.Like the uncle Li Ye, he is responsible for the guidance of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Industry
Emperor Liu has always admired and trusted Wang Pu's attitude and ability. He nodded, looked at Zhao Pu, and said, "I have read the several reform measures proposed by the Financial Secretary, and we can implement them to improve the country's finances. The method is nothing more than increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.

In terms of throttling, there is not much that can be done at present, so we should find ways to open source!However, salt, tea, grain and cloth are related to the national economy and the people's livelihood, especially the reform of salt affairs. I know that this is an important source of income for the imperial court, but don't be fooled by huge profits. No matter what time it is, meeting the needs of the people will always come first."

In the past few months, the imperial court has been working hard on finance and taxation. It has been discussed and deliberated for a long time, and finally some specific measures have been taken, and the salt matter is one of the relatively big actions.

Salt profit is always the main source of Dahan's annual income. However, the imperial court has always been very strict in its control. From production, transshipment to sales, the government occupies an absolute dominant position.And a salt law was specially formulated to crack down on illegal salt and salt crimes with extremely severe penalties.The price of salt has also been suppressed at an extremely low level. In the past ten years, the price of grain has fluctuated repeatedly with changes in the current situation, but only the price of salt has remained stable.

This time, one of the measures taken by the Financial Secretary is to make a fuss about salt interests, and the core gist of the specific measures proposed is to relax restrictions on salt matters. From now on, the government will be mainly responsible for production, while transportation, For sales, some channels are opened to merchants.

Emperor Liu did not have any guidance or interference in this discussion, and it was entirely brought up by the Financial Secretary himself.And this, I have to say, is a big move.

Although it was just an opening, once the opening was opened, the impact on the court, merchants, and common people would increase with time.Allowing more merchants to participate will help the development of the salt industry and reduce the burden on the court. At the same time, it will also create greater benefits. The court eats meat and merchants drink soup, but what is more significant will be an increase in the price of salt , it is not so friendly to the common people who eat salt and use salt.

Therefore, Emperor Liu's words seemed high-sounding, but it was hard not to be tempted by the obvious benefits right in front of his eyes.Furthermore, the people of the Han Dynasty have been eating cheap salt for more than ten years, and now every family is getting richer. A slight increase in the price of salt will not really affect the standard of living of the people. After all, salt is still not as expensive as food.

In the eyes of many people, the Dahan salt matter should have been changed long ago. In the past, there was a huge cornucopia, but it was always suppressed. It is also a good strategy to improve the financial distress of the Dahan through salt benefits.You must know that in the Tang Dynasty, the income from salt profits accounted for almost half of the annual court revenue, but the current big man is just sitting on the treasure mountain.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, the Financial Secretary has formulated a comprehensive set of reform measures and strengthened supervision measures!" Wang Pu replied: "And, it is not done overnight, but gradually relaxed. The court will always pay attention to the price of salt. Once If there is any problem, it will be adjusted in time!"

"As long as you don't act too hastily, I believe you will give me and the common people a satisfactory answer! I believe in your abilities!" Emperor Liu said.

And through such a conversation, this matter has basically been settled. It is conceivable that around the major interest chain of salt profit, there will be another carnival among the big men, even if it is just a piece of meat from the government, it is enough to attract people. Everyone is scrambling for food, and ordinary merchants may not even have the qualifications to participate.

Of course, there are also hidden worries. After opening this opening, it will not be so easy to get it back, and it will only get bigger and bigger, and the rise in salt prices is almost irreversible.When merchants occupy enough voice in sales, will there be countermeasures?

According to common sense, it is almost impossible. The Financial Secretary's reform of the salt industry has guaranteed a bottom line, that is, the most basic salt production is always in the hands of the imperial court, and the salt supervisors in various places are responsible.

However, when new interest chains are formed, consolidated, and strengthened, these systems will inevitably not be eroded. Someone will always be responsible, and someone may be corrupt.

Of course, everything has its pros and cons, and Emperor Liu is not one to blame everything.At least for now, he is supportive of the reform of the salt affairs. At the same time, this is also an attempt to support commercial development.

This is the case with salt. If it succeeds, then wine, tea, cotton, etc. can follow the example and carry out reasonable and appropriate reforms.

"In addition, regarding the business tax issue, don't just think about tax increases!" Emperor Liu instructed: "Tax increases can directly increase the income of the imperial court, but they are too simple and rude, unsustainable, and easy to dampen the enthusiasm of merchants. It is a way to exhaust the pond and fish.

Take the salt reform as an example. Under the heavy taxation, how many people are willing to participate. Even if they participate, in the end, for the sake of sufficient benefits, the salt price will be raised arbitrarily, and it will be the common people who will suffer.

I know that some of you will regard those merchants who raise the price of salt as profiteers, and the imperial court can also crack down on them and set a clear price for salt.But then, what's the point of reform?If that is the case, it is better to maintain the status quo and directly raise the price of salt.

Therefore, above the business affairs of merchants, the imperial court should also try to formulate more reasonable laws, regulate and restrain merchants' behavior, support those who obey the control and pay taxes according to law, and crack down on illegal merchants who evade taxes, so that the government and merchants can reciprocate and benefit each other. , is the long way.”

Over the past few years, Dahan's commerce has indeed been booming, and the commodity economy has begun to take shape, but the imperial court is still at a preliminary stage in terms of guidance and regulation.

In terms of ideology and culture, the imperial court, the government and the people all have certain prejudices against merchants and commerce, and scholars, farmers, commerce and industry are still the mainstream.

If it hadn't been for the emperor Liu's attitude towards merchants all the time, the merchants of the Han Dynasty might not have such a relatively relaxed business environment.

Even so, there have been twists and turns. In the past, there have been several acts of cutting leeks.This time, the Financial Secretary has come up with a set of commercial and tax reform plans, which are simple and crude, which is to increase taxes on commercial and trade activities.

Emperor Liu did not object to tax increases, because in terms of the current situation of the Han Dynasty, the collection of commercial taxes is not in place, and the court cannot be too meticulous. After all, there is not so much energy and manpower .

Therefore, in recent years, Dahan's business has been booming, and business taxes have been increasing every year, but compared with the benefits of merchants, it is only a small head.Therefore, Emperor Liu was also happy to cut a wave of leeks at the right time.

But as far as the plan proposed by the Financial Secretary is concerned, there is nothing wrong with describing it as robbery. The food looks too ugly, and Emperor Liu feels that this is a blow to suppress the development of commerce.

Even, it was more like an act of revenge. The country was struggling financially, but some merchants were very rich, which directly attracted the court's hungry eyes to them.And during the Northern Expedition last year, many businessmen in food, timber, shipping, and various handicraft industries made a lot of money from the imperial court's military expenditures.

In the eyes of some Financial Secretary officials, the money of the imperial court is all the fat and anointing of the people. How can a group of merchants earn it?

As for the last solution, raising taxes and imposing heavy taxes is all-round.Of course, Emperor Liu has to give some guidance on this.
(End of this chapter)