Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 575 What do you want me to do!

"Undeveloped commerce and unreasonable distribution are the crux of Daming?" Zhu Yijun frowned, and said in deep thought: "But I heard that private commerce and commerce are quite developed now, let alone Jiangnan. Since then, even the trade in Tumochuan, which connects to the north, is said to be quite good. I have seen many places in Xuanda, and they all say that the two towns of Xuanfu and Datong will soon become Jiangnan in the north. Also, your Jinghua Trading Company Isn't it also doing business with Tu Mochuan to make money?"

"Your majesty thinks that this can be called 'developed'?" Gao Yushi sighed, "Your majesty, since you mentioned Chenna Jinghua Trading Company, I am open-minded, and I would like to have a good talk with the emperor about this issue."

Zhu Yijun showed an interested look, looked around, happened to have a few big rocks in front of him, and said: "Okay, let's go over there and sit and talk."

Gao Wushi knew that Zhu Yijun lacked exercise, and although he was young, he couldn't walk much, so he smiled and said, "Okay."

The two went forward to the pile of big rocks. Chen Ju and Cao Ke hurriedly cleaned the rocks as clean as possible for Zhu Yijun and Gao Wushi.

Zhu Yijun looked around with some guilty conscience. Fortunately, it was already night, and a large number of people were near the Huangzhuang Bieyuan. There were only occasional patrolling guards passing by in this outer circle, but they sat here without moving. The guards didn't care about the appearance of the two scholars.

Seeing that it would not be embarrassing to wear clothes, Zhu Yijun felt relieved and said, "Okay, tell me, I also want to hear about your money-making methods."

Gao Wushi smiled and said: "Almost ten years ago, the Jinghua Commercial Company was still called the Jinghua Caravan. At that time, because they could get horses from the Mongols and sell them to the Xuanda Frontier Army, they could export them (meaning going out of customs) , and by the way, do some cloth and silk business, um... and some scumbags and the like, who can earn about 5 taels of silver a year."

Jinghua Trading Co., Ltd. started out as a thieves who surrendered from Gao Yushi. Zhu Yijun knew about it. In order to get some war horses, the Xuanda Frontier Army quietly allowed some caravans to go out to trade with the Mongols. Zhu Yijun also knew about it, so he knew about it. Not surprised, what surprised him was the amount of 5 taels of silver.

Zhu Yijun opened his eyes wide: "Before paying the tribute, they could earn 5 taels a year? Do you know that when Yue Hong Kong was opened, the tariff was only 2 taels a year for the first two years?"

The term tariff has actually been around for a long time, but Gao Pragmatic is very fond of using it, and even Zhu Yijun is used to it now.

Gao Wushi shook his head with a smile, and said, "Does the emperor know how much gross profit they made in promoting this line last year?"

Of course Zhu Yijun didn't know, so he just shook his head.

"The gross profit is about 43 taels, and the net profit is a little over 36 taels." Gao Yushi said calmly.

Zhu Yijun's eyes almost popped out, his voice changed: "How much? Net profit 36 taels?!"

Gao Wushi nodded and emphasized: "It's just the two lines of Xuanfu and Datong."

Zhu Yijun suddenly stood up: "Shanxi province can't pay 36 taels of tax a year!"

That's for sure. The annual income of the country is only 510 million taels, of which almost 100 million taels come from the four major ports. After deducting the business tax that has gradually increased in the country over the past few years, and the tax increase on Qingzhang acres, in fact, the basic It's only 300 million taels.

And Zhu Yijun's "tax of a province in Shanxi" must have just mentioned the land tax.How many fields are there in Shanxi?Speaking of it, there are 4000 to 10,000 million mu, but Shanxi is so mountainous, there are very few farms there, and there are many thieves in the fields, how much tax can you pay?In other words, it would be a blessing to have a land tax of [-]+ taels.

Therefore, Jinghua Commercial Co., Ltd.'s income from the two lines of Xuanfu and Datong alone is twice as much as that of the land tax of a province in Shanxi.As the emperor, Zhu Yijun just "suddenly stood up" after hearing the news, instead of jumping up directly, this is considered very steady...

"That's why people like me are the ones who should pay taxes the most." Gao Yushi sighed and said, "Your Majesty, you might as well think about it. Just me, Jinghua Trading Co., Ltd., can earn so much money in Shanxi in one year. There is no need to pay taxes, so what will the money be used for? If it is another house, it will probably have to buy land or repair a garden." Gao Wushi also stood up when he said this, after all, the emperor was standing, and he Can't sit still.

Zhu Yijun's eyes wandered, and he thought about it, wondering: "But, you are a Jinshi, you should not pay taxes, the country should hide wealth from the people..."

"If it is said that wealth is hidden from the people, don't the people pay taxes?" Gao Yushi chuckled: "Your Majesty, this is hiding wealth from scholars."

"This is also the ancestral system..." Zhu Yijun sighed, and then he was a little surprised, as if he just met Gao Yushi today: "Pragmatic, what do you mean by what you said just now, it sounds like you want to pay taxes?"

Gao Wushi laughed and said, "Your Majesty, if all Jinshi in the world pay taxes, I am willing to be the first to pay, but if other Jinshi don't pay taxes, I can't do it alone."

"Cut!" Zhu Yijun rolled his eyes at him: "I thought you saw that I was desperately poor and wanted to help me."

Gao Wushi shook his head and said: "I don't really care about the money paid for taxes, but your majesty, do you really think that paying a single tax can solve the problem of the court's lack of money? I think it can't, even if I pay it 100 million a year. A tax of two can't really solve the problem—forgive me for being rude, the problem now is that your majesty is begging for food with a golden rice bowl."

This is indeed a bit rude. To others, Zhu Yijun must be "upper angry", or even "upper angry", but Gao Yushi is not someone else. He is Zhu Yijun's childhood friend and classmate for ten years, and he may even Some friends mean.

So Zhu Yijun just kept his face down, suppressed his anger, and asked: "I know what you mean, what you mean is that Daming is not short of money, at least the scholars and some people related to the scholars are not short of money. The only ones who get the money are those ordinary people and the Emperor!"

"The emperor is wise." Gao Wushi guessed that the emperor would not be angry with him because of this. After all, Zhu Yijun had been with him for ten years, and many of his thoughts had been influenced by Gao Yushi. He knew what Gao Wushi said was true, so Gao Wushi said : "But that's only half the story."

"Half?" Zhu Yijun rolled his eyes, his face darkened by three points, snorted, and said, "Do you want to say that the other half is the hidden land of Huangzhuang, Wangzhuang, the clan of the vassals, and even the noble relatives?" ?”

Gao Wushi smiled and said, "The emperor is wise."

"Don't just be 'the emperor is wise'!" Zhu Yijun gradually became angry, glaring at Gao Wushi and said: "Don't I know that they have a lot of hidden land in their hands? Don't I know that these properties are amazing when added together, and it takes Occupying the fields that many people should have? But, what do you ask me to do? Give preferential treatment to the clan, nobles, and scholars. These are all the laws of the ancestors. ?”

(End of this chapter)