Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning
Chapter 450: The First National Census
Chapter 450: The First National Census (Special thanks to book friend fire00 for 2 monthly tickets!)
However, Chai Zongxun had always been busy with state affairs and only went to sleep in the bedrooms of different empresses, concubines and princesses at night, so he was not deeply concerned about the crowded conditions in the imperial palace.
The two queens, Fu Zhenzhen and Diwu Chaolu, were both virtuous and put the country of Great Zhou first in all matters. Unless there was really no room for them, they would not give any advice to Chai Zongxun.
The New Year holiday from the first day of the Lunar New Year to the Lantern Festival passed quickly as princes and ministers went to the palace to pay New Year's greetings.
On the sixth and twelfth days of the first lunar month, Chai Zongxun took advantage of his free time during the holiday and secretly went to the "Bao'en Temple" twice in the afternoon to have a tryst with Mo Zang Liuyun, which was extremely exciting and enjoyable.
However, he had already promised the two queens and Concubine Jialuo that he would not stay overnight outside the palace, so shortly after Chai Zongxun had dinner with Mo Zang Liuyun, he set out for the palace.
Every time they parted, Mo Zang Liuyun would see him off with affectionate eyes. The affection and confidence in her eyes made Chai Zongxun realize that Mo Zang Liuyun was an extremely intelligent woman.
On the 16th day of the first month of the 33rd year of Kaixi, there was an early morning court session.
The cabinet and the ministers of the six ministries came out one after another and reported to Emperor Chai Zongxun a summary of the administration of the previous year.
Minister of Revenue Wang Dan came out and said:
“Your Majesty, with the development over the past five or six years, the economies of the newly acquired Karakhan and Liao territories have been thriving, and the tax revenues of the court in these two areas have gone from 5 million taels and million taels per year in the first three years of the recovery to a surplus in the th year of Kaixi.
As of the end of last year, tax revenue from Liao was able to contribute 8 million taels per year, and from Karakhanid Khanate 6 million taels per year.
As for the two newly acquired territories of Goryeo and Dali, after the widespread implementation of the new policies in the past few years, the local agriculture, industry and commerce have developed rapidly. The two places no longer needed financial subsidies last year, and the government's tax revenue has turned positive, reaching 1.8 million taels and 1.6 million taels respectively.
Your Majesty, among the newly acquired territories, only the Tibetan area needs annual financial subsidies from the court because it is located on a plateau and has harsh climatic conditions. Last year, it was five million taels.
Chai Zongxun nodded slightly and said:
“The most important thing about these newly acquired territories is to establish and promote the new policies and systems of agriculture, industry and commerce of our Great Zhou from the very beginning.
As long as the system is reasonable, the burden on the people will be greatly reduced and the local economy will develop.
As for Tubo, it does not have an inherent geographical advantage, so all it needs to do is encourage the local people to reclaim farmland for growing barley, develop more Tibetan medicine and cattle and sheep breeding, and ensure that the people have enough food and clothing.
The millions of taels of silver that the imperial court subsidizes Tubo every year are insignificant. In the next few decades, as the trade between Tubo and the mainland develops, the people will eventually become wealthy. "
Wang Dan said:
"Your Majesty, Holy Ming!
Last year, the country's agriculture, industry and commerce developed steadily, and tax revenue exceeded 700 million taels of silver.
As maritime trade with India, the Arab world and Misir became increasingly prosperous, the court's maritime trade revenue increased greatly, exceeding 300 million taels last year.
The total domestic and foreign tax revenue has reached 1.2 billion taels. I believe that with a good development trend, it is expected to exceed 1.1 billion taels within two years.
The two huge projects of 20 million immigrants to Central and West Asia and 5 million to Khitan will be completed before May this year, and the expenditure of silver in the national treasury will be reduced immediately.
Chai Zongxun pondered for a moment and said:
"The last time the imperial court conducted a comprehensive census of the country's land, population, and farmland was in the 10th year of Kaixi, when Li Xiang was in power.
Over the years, our Great Zhou has expanded its territory and its population has increased greatly. The numbers of farmland and population in many prefectures are mostly pieced together from various sources and are not comprehensive and accurate. "
Chai Zongxun picked up the tea bowl on the imperial desk and took a few sips, then continued:
"I intend to spend half a year this year to conduct a comprehensive survey of the country's territory, population, farmland, shops, workshops, and businesses, so as to understand the current national strength and formulate future national policies."
Twenty-three years have passed since the tenth year of Kaixi to the thirty-third year of Kaixi. Many national conditions have undergone significant changes. It is very necessary to conduct another comprehensive statistics on people's livelihood.
All the ministers in the palace naturally expressed their support. Chai Zongxun said:
“This national census must not cause any panic among the people, and the officials who carry out the census must record the data truthfully and must not engage in any extortion or bribery.
Violators will be severely punished!
I think the presiding official should be Mr. Ding, who is good at accounting."
Ding Wei entered the government as the top scorer in the literature exam in the middle of last year and was appointed a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue. Judging from his qualifications, they were not enough for him to be in charge of national economic statistics.
Therefore, Chai Zongxun did not confirm it, but asked the ministers in the Chuigong Hall.
After a while of discussion among the ministers, most of them recognized Ding Wei's talent in accounting. However, to be in charge of national statistics, he had to travel to various states and there was not much money to be made, so few officials wanted to go.
Seeing that no one had any objections, Chai Zongxun immediately decided that Ding Wei would preside over the national economic census.
Ding Wei was overjoyed, knowing that the emperor had given him a rare opportunity to show his abilities. If he could do this well, he might gain Chai Zongxun's trust and rise to prominence.
Ding Wei immediately stepped out from the last row of ministers to express his gratitude.
Chai Zongxun looked at the new Minister of Works Guo Zhi and said:
"Lord Guo, how is the construction of the Great Zhou Straight Road going now?"
Guo Zhi, courtesy name Zhongyi, was a native of Xiangyi County, capital city. He was born in the second year of Qingtai in the Later Tang Dynasty (935).
In the seventh year of Kaixi (966), he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. He was promoted to Zuo Zuolang, You Zanshan Dafu, and concurrently served as a lecturer to the emperor's sons.
At the beginning of the 32nd year of Kaixi, after Chai Zongxun implemented the "term system" and "retirement system", Guo Zhi was promoted to the Minister of Works after his political achievements were evaluated.
Guo Zhi came out of the class and said:
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Great Zhou Straight Road has been under construction since the 23rd year of Kaixi, and this year marks the tenth year.
The "national highways" were all completed at the beginning of the 29th year of Kaixi. Now the construction period has entered the year when the "state highways" across the country are about to be completed.
Next year, the Ministry of Works will start the construction of the third phase of "county roads" across the country as scheduled. Due to the significant reduction in the amount of work, the court's use of silver will be greatly reduced from 30 million taels per year to 18 million taels. "
Chai Zongxun nodded slightly and said:
“Since the national treasury’s tax revenue has increased again, and the war between Central and West Asia and the countries of the Star Religion world, as well as the construction of the Straight Road project, have entered the final stage, the annual expenditure will also be greatly reduced.
It has been thirty-three years since the city of Bianjing was expanded in the fifth year of Emperor Xian De (958).
Over the years, our Great Zhou has enjoyed a stable political system and a prosperous economy. The population of Bianliang has grown from nearly 500,000 when I first ascended the throne to 3.2 million today, and there are many shops and workshops.
Although Bianjing was large, it also felt cramped.
Therefore, I decided to expand Bianjing City again!"
Grand Tutor Zhang Qixian said:
"Your Majesty, Holy Ming!
Over the years, the population of Bianliang has grown too fast, and I have long felt that Bianliang should be expanded again.
It’s just that a few years ago, our Great Zhou was engaged in a fierce war with the Star Sect, and the whole country’s strength was concentrated here, so I did not make any suggestions to Your Majesty.”
(End of this chapter)
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