Follow Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the country

Chapter 75: Civil servants and aides began to flatter Zhang Cheng even more
  After Zhang Mian said that, he looked at Li Shanchang.

Feng Guoyong also looked at Li Shanchang at this time.

Even Li Menggeng and Guo Jingxiang also looked at Li Shanchang.

They all now feel that Li Shanchang is obviously the person who has the most thorough understanding of Mr. Zhang, so they all want to hear Li Shanchang's opinion.

When Li Shanchang saw these colleagues, they all looked at him with burning eyes. He couldn't help stroking his beard, and stood facing the wind and said:

"This kind of situation, in fact, happens all the time."

"Always, there will always be a few great gentlemen in the world who truly believe in the words of saints and truly want the world to be fair."

"There are even many who are far stronger than Mr. Zhang in terms of power, strategy and intelligence, and even in terms of eloquence and eloquence."

"But have you discovered that the world has become unified?"

"Aren't we still scholars, farmers, industry and merchants, with scholars as the leaders of the four peoples?"

"Take mercantile as an example. Throughout the dynasties, there were many people who emphasized commerce, or who did not suppress commerce. There are many clear examples!"

"But what's the result?"

"No, it hasn't shaken the ethical order of the world at all?"

After Li Shanchang asked this question, all the scribes and staff nodded in agreement.

"That's right!"

"Thinking about it this way, I'm not afraid of Mr. Zhang anymore."

Zhang Mian suddenly realized.

At this time, Li Menggen couldn't help but interjected: "Having said that, it is really uncomfortable for Mr. Zhang to influence the superiors like this!"

As Li Menggeng said this, he couldn't help but remember that he and Guo Jingxiang had to take the initiative to ask for the division of their fields in order to save their lives, and therefore gave Guo Jingxiang an angry look.

because.

All this is because Guo Jingxiang is too afraid of death! He gave in too completely! He actually asked to divide the fields! He had to follow the rules in terms of compromise and submission.

Guo Jingxiang was also distressed by the fact that he took the initiative to ask for a share of his land to save his life, and said: "Yes, Mr. Zhang understands that people want the world to be public, but in the end he is just a counselor like us, but The superior is a rebel hero with a sword. If a rebel hero with a sword is allowed to enlighten his mind and the world is for the common good, then I can’t imagine the consequences!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Mian and others were also worried and echoed.

"That's actually okay!"

Du Li Shanchang still disagrees.

"Since ancient times, there have been many heroes who came from Guizhou and later developed great wisdom."

"But how many of them can really stand in the way of the pleasure of having power over the world, being on top of tens of millions of people, and controlling the lives and deaths of others?"

"It doesn't matter if you're in a higher position."

"It might as well be Mr. Zhang."

"The reason why they are still so sincerely serving the people is because they have not yet experienced the sense of accomplishment of being able to control other people's life and death rights."

Li Shanchang said with a smile.

Feng Guoyong then added: "This is exactly the reason!"

"Right now, the first thing we should do is let Mr. Zhang experience the sense of accomplishment of being above everyone else."

"Only in this way can Mr. Zhang know that compared to the unity of the world, worshiping the rites and the Mingtong is actually more in line with heaven!"

"Fortunately, Ming Gong reminded me."

"Now that I think about it, the most important thing we should do is to really treat Mr. Zhang as a superior benefactor. That is the most important thing to do at the moment. We should even respect him more than the superior for the sake of propriety and the country. That’s good!”

Zhang Mian also cupped his hands to Li Shanchang.

Li Menggeng and Guo Jingxiang also nodded in agreement and said, "Yes!"

then.

Li Menggeng smiled shamefully and said: "I was really wrong in the past! I was angry because Mr. Zhang selected us and made us suspected of asking him to be an official! Now it seems that I really lost my reason."

"I shouldn't have been angry with Mr. Zhang because of this!"

"Now that I think about it, the consequences I have now are entirely due to my lack of understanding and peace of mind. Fortunately, Mr. Li gave me some advice today, and I suddenly realized it!"

Guo Jingxiang started talking.

Li Shanchang just smiled.

Because of Li Shanchang's guidance, although the civil servants and staff did not agree with Zhang Cheng's ideas, they did not think about how to stumbling Zhang Cheng or embarrass Zhang Cheng. They only began to think about how to let Zhang Cheng, his superior, Feel the joy of riding on someone else's head.

As for Zhang Cheng, because Zhu Yuanzhang agreed to encourage business, on the second day, Cheng Renmo and other merchants who took the initiative to ask him, the governor of the state, to determine the business rules, went to the governor's Yamen and began to discuss business taxation and commerce. The establishment of the system. Zhu Yuanzhang also made a special trip to Zhizhou Yamen to attend the meeting and listen in person to the opinions on the formulation of commercial taxation and commercial systems.

Zhu Yuanzhang's staff also came here to give Zhu Yuanzhang ideas.

"Mr. Zhang, thank you for your hard work!"

"Mr. Zhang, be careful. It just rained and the road is slippery!"

"Mr. Zhang, do you like antiques? I have recently acquired a new treasure. I think only a virtuous person like you can take care of it, so I would like to present it to you. I wonder if you can come to my house to take a look at it when you have time?"

And Zhang Cheng found that for some reason, other civil servants and staff were much more humble and respectful to him than before.

But Zhang Cheng didn't dig deeper into the reason, and just presided over the current meeting to discuss business affairs.

"Business tax must be levied, and the tax rate cannot be low."

Zhang Cheng first set the basic tone at the meeting.

After Zhang Cheng said this, Zhang Mian and other scribes and staff learned the lesson and did not rush to refute, so they just frowned.

As a representative of merchants, Cheng Renmo couldn't help but said with a smile:

"Master Zhou Mu, please, it's okay for us merchants to bear more taxes, but the problem is that once the tax rate is too high, it will be the common people who will bear the burden of the tax."

"After all, the increased tax rate must be reflected in the price of commercial goods, whether it is grain, salt, iron, tea, or cloth. Once the price is high, it will burden the people. Therefore, the tax rate should not be too high."

"Yes, what's more, now that the people in the world are not rich and the tax rate is too high, they will not be able to afford commercial goods. At that time, the prosperity of the entire business road and the imperial court's commercial tax will be affected."

Zhai Guangsen echoed.

"You businessmen are still dishonest!"

"How many people are actually selling and bartering these days?"

Zhang Cheng said this directly at this time, and then asked Cheng Renmo and other merchants.

Cheng Renmo and other merchants looked embarrassed for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Zhang Cheng did not blame these merchants, but continued:

"Not to mention that in troubled times, it is difficult for ordinary people to even fill their stomachs. Even in a peaceful era, most people are self-sufficient. There are indeed not many business transactions involved in a year."

"It can be said."

"Basically, those who can buy and sell goods are not ordinary people. Therefore, the increase in tax rates will lead to an increase in the price of goods. It will not have a big impact on the wealthy people who are actually buying goods."

"Because of this, as far as I know, although Hu Yuan's current tax rate is not high due to the tax package system, the selling prices of the goods in your hands are actually not cheap. Only recently, because there are profiteers speculating Low food prices allow many people to afford food."

"Most of the time, the food you sell is so expensive that only wealthy families can afford it."

After that.

Zhang Cheng looked at Zhu Yuanzhang: "The higher-ups must also know this. Except for those who live in the city, how many of the majority of villagers go to buy and sell things instead of being self-sufficient?"

"This is true."

"The villagers rarely buy anything."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and answered, but then looked at Zhang Cheng and said, "Although people don't have much time to buy things, they basically buy things that they must buy, such as salt, oil, farm tools, etc. They really need commercial tax." If the tax rate is too high, will it still have a great impact on the people?"

Zhang Cheng nodded: "That's what the superior said."

Zhang Cheng continued: "So the commercial tax rate cannot be too low, but some goods need to be set lower, and some need to be set much higher."

"For example, the tax on trading grain can be set much lower, but the tax on silk, gold and silver jewelry should be set higher, because these are luxury items that can easily damage people's minds."

"Just like what Tongzhi once said about Zhu Xi's views."

Zhang Cheng pointed at Li Shanchang at this time and said: "It is natural for people to want to eat, wear clothes and get married, but once they go too far and pursue excessive gorgeous clothes and too much beauty, it is human desire, and human desire should be destroyed, so In order to eliminate people's desires, we should try our best to restrain the luxury things in the world to avoid excessive. If you are really wealthy, buying luxury things is like buying ordinary things. Although it is not excessive, think about it. Such a family must be extremely wealthy, so spending more money to buy luxury things is nothing, and it can also contribute more to the peace of the world."

"Ascend!"

"The subordinates believe that Mr. Zhang's sincerity is a true insight. Extravagant goods should be heavily taxed to restrain people's desires."

"As for the things that the people need, taxation should be light and not based on profit, but only on peace of the people."

Li Shanchang followed.

Zhang Mian also followed suit: "The superiors and subordinates also seconded the proposal!"

"Business taxation should allow wealthy families to bear more of the tax burden, so that the tax amount can be increased without burdening the common people."

"Even the increase in commercial taxes can be used to feed the people. For example, a certain amount of land tax can be reduced when necessary."

Feng Guoyong and others also agreed, expressing their willingness to impose high tax rates on luxury goods and low tax rates on daily necessities for the common people.

Zhang Cheng was quite surprised by this. He did not expect that these civil servants and staff would be so surprisingly unanimous and unanimously support his ideas.

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  (End of this chapter)