Tibet

Li Dai continued slowly: "Everyone knows what the regent is going to do next. Can he take the throne? It shouldn't be a big problem, but he has a biggest weakness. He is not ruthless enough and is too lenient to others. Although everyone likes this weakness, it is not a good thing for an emperor. Senior is a wise man, so I don't need to explain it to you!"

Wei Jiansu nodded silently. He could fully understand what Li Dai meant. The emperor was not a good man, especially the regent who was not orthodox. If he was too lenient, he would be seen as weak in the eyes of others, which would make the people below look down on him, and it would definitely affect his promotion in the end.

Li Dai continued, "I am his father. My presidency of the Political Affairs Hall will hinder him and make it difficult for him to implement many major policies. For example, tax reform has been called for since last year, but it is already February and there is no movement. Why?

Because the abolition of household tax affects the vital interests of many people. Many people do not say it, but they are secretly resisting. If this tax reform fails, it will seriously undermine the prestige of the Regent.

If it is forcibly promoted, it will inevitably arouse stronger resistance. At this time, a more experienced and senior minister is needed to sit in the Political Affairs Hall to solve the crisis faced by the Regent and push him up. This person is the predecessor!"

Wei Jiansu then understood Li Dai's good intentions, hoping to push the Regent to the position.

After a moment of silence, Wei Jiansu slowly said: "In fact, I think the regent is a bit too hasty in implementing tax reform. He abolished the household tax to increase the population. I understand his feelings, but he can't be impatient. His position is not stable yet. If he takes too big a step, he will easily fall. Don't worry, Jingwen! I will find a chance to persuade him."

"That's good. It's useless for me to persuade him. Maybe he will listen to my advice."

After leaving the restaurant, Wei Jiansu took a carriage back to the Political Affairs Hall. He pondered for a long time and sent someone to invite Li Mi.

Soon, Li Mi came over quickly, clasped his fists and said with a smile: "Congratulations to Minister Wei for his promotion to the right prime minister!"

"Thank you! Please take a seat, Minister Li."

The two sat down as host and guest, and Wei Jiansu said slowly: "I found something strange. When I was in Longyou before, the Helong Jiedufu implemented the salt and iron monopoly, so Bashu should also implement it! Why is the tax reform being piloted in Bashu again this time?"

Li Mi smiled and said: "The tax reform this time is different from the salt and iron monopoly in Helong. The salt and iron monopoly in Helong does not involve other taxes, but this time it involves various other taxes, so Bashu has to pilot it again."

Wei Jiansu nodded, "Do you think it is reasonable to abolish household tax, commercial tax and other miscellaneous taxes, Minister Li? In addition, rural people have to collect land tax, but urban people have to abolish household tax. Do you think it is fair?"

Li Mi smiled bitterly and said: "There are indeed some unreasonable things here, such as commercial tax. Perhaps your highness's original intention is to reduce To reduce the burden on merchants and promote business, the business tax was abolished in Helong at the beginning, and the effect was very good. Maybe Your Highness did not consider the interests of local officials. The household tax is also the same. Local officials have profit sharing. Once the household tax is abolished, it will inevitably affect the interests of local officials, and the local officials cannot get the salt and iron tax, which will cause conflicts between local officials and the court. "

Pause, Li Mi asked again: "Does Prime Minister Wei have a good plan?"

Wei Jiansu said slowly: "My idea is very simple, to achieve the purpose of the regent, but not to affect local interests, and at the same time to reduce the burden on the people. "

"It's not easy to kill three birds with one stone!"

Wei Jiansu whispered a few words to Li Mi, Li Mi nodded repeatedly, and smiled: "Ginger is worthy of being old and spicy, you can give it a try!"

"If Minister Li agrees with my plan, we will go and talk to Your Highness together."

Otherwise, how can you say that Wei Jiansu is a Taoist master? He knew that it would be difficult to convince the regent by himself, but if Li Mi was added, Li Ye would be easily convinced.

Soon, Wei Jiansu and Li Mi appeared in Li Ye's official room.

Wei Jiansu bowed and said: "I understand your Highness's intention to withdraw from the tax reform. The world is about to be unified, so it is natural to reduce the burden on the people and implement recuperation. However, if the reform is too hasty, it will directly affect the interests of local governments and will inevitably be resisted by local governments.

Just like Cui Yuan, your Highness also knows that he is not greedy for money to indulge his children. He is actually destroying the tax reform implemented in Bashu. If your Highness does not consider this issue, I am worried that there will be countless Cui Yuans in the world. At the same time, private salt is rampant everywhere in the world. How much energy does the inner guard have to investigate?"

Before Wei Jiansu was not the right prime minister, he never raised these issues. Now that he is the right prime minister, he has responsibilities, so he has to make these words clear.

Li Ye was silent for a moment and said, "But when I inspected Jiangnan and Fujian, I realized that the tax burden was too heavy for the local government to bear. I believe that the local government welcomes tax reform."

"No! The tax reform that the local government welcomes is the reform that does not affect their interests, otherwise there would not be so many officials supporting Cui Yuan. Don't these officials know that Cui Yuan's son is selling private salt? They know, but they are condoning it. It's not that they have a good personal relationship with Cui Yuan, but they are using their support for Cui Yuan to resist tax reform."

Li Mi also said, "Your Highness, it is easy to change the Longyou area, but the world is too complicated and involves the interests of too many people. Your Highness's foundation is not solid, and I also suggest caution!"

Li Ye is more likely to listen to Li Mi's advice. Since Li Mi also persuaded him to be cautious, he must patiently talk to Wei Jiansu.

"What good ideas does Wei Xiangguo have?"

"My first suggestion is to reduce the tax surcharge. Your Highness may not know that the biggest part that has caused public outrage in the southern states is the military expenditure sharing. Specifically, at the implementation level, it is the tax surcharge. All taxes are increased by 30%, which makes the people overwhelmed and the local government is also very dissatisfied.

So first of all, remove the surcharge, because the local government cannot get this surcharge, they will definitely cooperate, which will greatly reduce the burden on the people.

Second, change the salt and iron monopoly to the salt, iron and wine monopoly, and the wine part belongs to the local government.

Third, count the land, and take the unowned land back to the government. The local government can rent it out to increase income.

Fourth, continue to collect commercial taxes, uniformly set at 5 cents of the value of the goods, and this part of the tax still belongs to the local government. In order to avoid intercepting merchants in various places to collect taxes, it is necessary to strictly implement the rules of entering the city to collect taxes. The world has unified rules and breaks the monsters. Rules must be severely punished.

When the local government has these three additional revenues, it is enough to make up for their share from the household tax. At this time, Your Highness will adjust the household tax and land tax, and the resistance of the local government will not be so fierce. "

Beside him, Li Mi smiled and said, "Your Highness often told us in the past that we should implement the carrot and stick policy. This time, Your Highness only uses the stick and does not give carrots. Of course, the local government will resist."

Wei Jiansu also smiled and said, "Carrot and stick, this method is good. One hand is hard and the other hand is soft. The kingly way."

Li Ye nodded, "Tell me how to adjust the household tax and land tax?"

Wei Jiansu continued, "My principle is to make taxes fair. Your Highness cannot only abolish the household tax and retain the land tax. This is unfair to the farmers. The local government is dissatisfied and the farmers will also resent it. Once instigated, the farmers will resist the tax and rebel."

"That makes sense. Keep talking!"