back to ancient times to be emperor

Chapter 18 Tax Reform
"Zhi said: Xu Chongguang, Minister of the Household Department, has been conscientious since he took charge of the Household Department. He has been self-denying and devoted to the public. Handle state affairs with heart, lead the cabinet, and live up to my high expectations... Lin Zhenzhong, the former servant of the Shangshu, is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and he will be promoted to the Minister of the Household Department as soon as he writes it.

With this imperial decree, Chang'an City and even the whole country were in an uproar.Everyone knows that the little old man Xu Chongguang has really soared into the sky.Although the chief minister of the cabinet is not as powerful as Zaifu, but in the Hong Xiang years when Lu Chengqi was so powerful, to be the chief minister of the cabinet that was no different from Zaifu was already an extremely human minister. above people.After Xu Chongguang received the imperial decree, his always serious face showed no expression. He knew that this was Lu Chengqi's trust in him, and it was also a test. The real difficulty lay in the responsibility of leading the cabinet.Xu Chongguang has been in the officialdom for more than [-] years, how can he not know what Lu Chengqi is thinking?The cabinet ministers he promoted were all talents, learning, and temperament...all of them were superior. Xu Chongguang was able to lead them, but he took advantage of the old and sold the old.But what Lu Chengqi valued was his qualifications and prestige, and his talent and learning came second.

After all, the cabinet is different from the previous prime ministers. It is an era of one person. The cabinet ministers must vote more than two-thirds of the country's major affairs to pass. Even the chief minister cannot have the power to manipulate the cabinet.Because the real power lies with Lu Chengqi.

Once Lu Chengqi made a decision, they could only raise objections based on their authority, but they had no right to change the final decision.In other words, once Lu Chengqi made a decision, no one in the Dashun Dynasty could defy his will.

The cabinet system is the ultimate magic weapon for Lu Chengqi to strengthen the imperial power, and it is also the embodiment of the peak of the imperial power.Although this cabinet system was born out of the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty, its status is equivalent to that of the Military Aircraft Department of the Qing Dynasty, or a combination of the two.

In the Chui Gong Hall, Lu Chengqi summoned the twelve new ministers of the cabinet, as well as the six ministers. It can be said that the most powerful people in the Shun Dynasty are all concentrated in the Chui Gong Hall at the moment.Although the courtiers were standing, all the ministers felt a little coercion towards Lu Chengqi who was sitting.

Lu Chengqi was taking on the role of the emperor more and more, which also made his face not angry and majestic, and when he was silent, all the officials were ashamed and did not dare to make any sound.

Seeing that almost everyone was here, Lu Chengqi said, "Look at the seats!"

After all the ministers sat down, Lu Chengqi said: "The Taizu started his business as a businessman, and you gentlemen, why do you want to suppress businessmen now? Tell me about it."

All the ministers looked at each other in blank dismay, they never expected that Lu Chengqi came to them for this.After they got acquainted with Lu Chengqi's style, they knew that the little emperor's style was vigorous and vigorous. Generally speaking, when they were summoned to discuss matters in the Chui Gong Palace, they would directly cut to the chase without any scheming.But today I don't know why he is so hesitant. Could it be that the little emperor is going to make some big moves?

Now the courtiers are headed by Xu Chongguang, I saw the little old man ponder for a while, and then said: "Your Majesty, although the Taizu started his business as a merchant, he was afraid of the merchants. When he was dying, he issued a will to prohibit merchants from participating in science and technology for life." Examination. In Wenzong's first dynasty, although he wanted to reform the system, it was hindered by the ancestral system. In the next two dynasties, they all inherited the ancestral system and did not dare to go beyond it. Furthermore, merchants were chasing profits, and they did not hesitate to sell their country for petty profits. Yi Most of the iron wares are smuggled by them, and they have repeatedly banned them."

Lu Chengqi frowned. He didn't expect the inferiority of businessmen to be revealed in this era.He didn't talk too much, and said directly: "The chief minister's remarks are biased. This is a stick that kills a boatload of people, and there is a suspicion of giving up food because of choking. I have studied the taxation of the previous dynasty and the economy of the previous dynasty. It’s not as prosperous as it is now, but their tax revenue can actually bring in 8000 million guan. And my court’s maximum is only 5000 million guan, so what’s the point?”

None of the ministers here have thought about this question. If Lu Chengqi hadn't come from later generations, how would he know the prosperity that business brings to society?He never underestimated the potential of business. What he has to do is to lead the business on the right track, so that it can bloom the most beautiful flowers in this different time and space of China.

Xu Chongguang pondered for a while, and suddenly his eyes lit up: "Is Your Majesty going to let go of business?"

Lu Chengqi didn't answer him, but asked instead: "How many people and how much land was there at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China? How many people and land are there now? I pay three out of ten agricultural taxes, which is much higher than the previous dynasty. How can the farmers have no complaints? Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. Everyone knows this truth, but before it came, who took it seriously?"

Xu Chongguang said: "Your Majesty, at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic, the population of the land was less than one-third of what it is now. Now the population has more than tripled, but the land has not changed much."

Lu Chengqi said solemnly: "Yes, Taizu's concern is that the foundation is not stable; but at this moment and at that moment, we can't look at the current things with the old eyes. Now the land can't afford such a heavy population, but he doesn't want to change. Isn't it the way of self-destruction? You have to remember that times are changing, and the world is changing all the time. If you can't jump out of the cage, you must be arrogant and self-destruction. Come on, write this sentence into In my instructions: look at the world, because the world is changing every moment."

Who among the ministers here has heard words such as "time" and "world"?But they were knowledgeable and talented, and they had understood Lu Chengqi's meaning from the context, so they couldn't help but nodded.

Lu Chengqi said in his heart: "It's a joke, this is a philosophical culture that has been condensed for thousands of years. I just stood on the shoulders of giants and picked up the wisdom of others. If I can't scare you stubborn old men, wouldn't my time travel be in vain? ?”

Lu Chengqi continued: "Some time ago, I conducted a survey in the market, and found that the business tax in this dynasty is almost non-existent. Governing the country is like governing the water. It is better to avoid it than to block it. It is absolutely not advisable to waste food because of choking. Therefore, I have a draft in my heart. A commercial tax will be levied, and complex taxes such as city entry tax and poll tax will be cancelled.”

Xu Chongguang couldn't help being surprised. He was the Minister of the Household Department. Once these exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes are cancelled, can the court be supported by relying solely on agricultural and commercial taxes?He hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, this matter cannot be rushed!"

Lu Chengqi was just when he was excited. After hearing this, he immediately calmed down, pondered for a while, and said in his heart: "That's right, the ancients didn't accept new things so quickly, there must be a process. Anyway, that's the only way to go." .”

(End of this chapter)