Daming: From the Son of Heaven to the Leader of Comprehensive Martial Arts

In the eighth year of orthodoxy, Zhu Qizhen has just been in charge.

When the emperor had just issued a decree to adjust the taxation, many ministers in the court advised the emperor: "The taxation system of the Ming Dynasty should not be moved lightly, otherwise it will disrupt the foundation of the country."

Among them, Xu Jie was naturally included.

However, Zhu Qizhen still resisted all opinions and decreed to carry out the reform of the tax law, and asked Yan Song, the chief assistant of the cabinet, Zhang Juzheng, the cabinet member, and Yuhuatian, the governor of Xichang, to promote the reform of measuring the fertile land in the world.

At the beginning, Zhang Juzheng, a famous minister of reform, encountered great resistance.

However, Zhu Qizhen made a decisive decision and granted Yu Huatian the sword of the Son of Heaven, let him patrol the sky on behalf of the sky, and started killing a large number of officials and aristocratic families.

The progress of measuring fertile land in the world has just been accelerated.

The aristocratic family is undoubtedly afraid of imperial power, and they know how to avoid it.

And those vassal kings, relying on them being the royal family, secretly made obstacles to resist the government.

However, when Zhu Qi suppressed the White Lotus Sect and blatantly slaughtered 5 people, shocking the world, the vassal kings took the initiative to go to the government to inform the government of all the land deeds in their homes.

Measuring the speed of the world's fields and soils has made rapid progress from now on!

Only when he saw the supreme power of the emperor and his ruthlessness, the vassal king was moved and chose to surrender.

The new tax system is one stone per household and one bucket per mu.

Although this is just a change from the "household" system to the "mu" system, it makes it impossible for the aristocratic and wealthy families to avoid taxes, and they have to pay taxes for as many mu as there is fertile land.

In the first month of the ninth year of orthodoxy this year, 400 million shi of agricultural taxes were collected!

Last year, when Zhu Qizhen had just been in charge, the tax for the whole year was only 800 million shi, and the average monthly amount was less than 70 shi.

Xu Jie never imagined that the emperor's restructuring would increase the tax revenue of the Ming Empire by nearly six times!

Moreover, the taxes of ordinary people in the world were greatly reduced at the same time, while the taxes of the Ming Empire skyrocketed!

The cabinet deputy Xu Jie stared at the agricultural tax report with an excited expression, because the success of the tax system reform meant that the Ming Empire would no longer be short of food from now on.

Xu Jie felt deeply ashamed when he thought of what he said to the emperor at that time.

At that time, he thought that His Majesty was young and didn't know the importance of taxation to the country, so he said: "The taxation system of the Ming Dynasty should not be moved lightly, otherwise it will disrupt the foundation of the country."

Now it seems that although His Majesty is young, he not only knows the importance of taxation to the country, but also knows how to reform the taxation system.

"Young hero, you have far-sighted plans, Your Majesty is really far-sighted!"

. . . . . .

Chapter 35 Daming Qianzhuang Beyond the Cognition of the Times

However, what shocked Xu Jie the most was not the agricultural tax, but the commercial tax!

A hundred dollars is taxed at ten dollars, and the tax rate is [-]%.

This seems to be an insignificant commercial tax, but it pervades every aspect of the Ming Empire and affects every household.

In January of the ninth year of Zhengtong, the commercial tax revenue reached 600 million taels!

In the capital, many businessmen complained of misery.

The sudden increase in business tax made them miserable.

Huizhou merchants in the south of the Yangtze River sold tea ceramics to the north. If they sold 1 taels of silver tea or porcelain at a time, they had to pay 1000 taels of tax.

Merchants in the Shu region sold Shu brocade to various state capitals. They also had to pay a tax of 1 taels for the Shu brocade sold for 1000 taels of silver at a time.

In the eyes of businessmen, commercial tax is like a mountain, overwhelming them.

The cabinet deputy Xu Jie has already calculated that if the commercial tax is so heavy, by the end of the year, the treasury will be able to collect more than [-] million taels of silver!

Nearly ten years of tax revenue from the Ming Empire!

But Xu Jie was very worried, because he investigated the prices all over the country, and they were all skyrocketing.

Take Beijing as an example.

In just one month.

Tea has risen from two taels of silver per catty to five taels.

Rice, twenty Wen a catty, skyrocketed to sixty Wen a catty.

Wheat noodles, thirty yuan a catty, skyrocketed to seventy yuan a catty.

There are also various daily necessities such as vegetables and meat, and the prices have skyrocketed to varying degrees.

Moreover, if the commercial tax is not adjusted in time, there is no doubt that various prices will continue to skyrocket. This heavy tax will definitely crush all industries in the Ming Empire.

The consequences are undoubtedly unimaginably terrible!

People also feel the price rise.

There was cold sweat on Xu Jie's forehead, the commercial tax was so heavy that it was unbearable for businessmen!

If the business of the Ming Empire suffers, I am afraid that the economy of the Ming Empire will collapse, and the world will be in chaos.

Xu Jie wrote a memorial.

He must tell Emperor Xiaoming about this matter.

He was ready to face His Majesty's wrath.

Although he didn't want to offend Tianwei, the heavy commercial tax had reached an unbearable level. Such a heavy tax must be suppressed.

Even if His Majesty is offended, even if he is decapitated, he will try his best to persuade him!

The commercial tax can be collected, but the tax must be reduced to three pennies for a hundred renminbi, or even one penny for a hundred renminbi.

The Ming Empire doesn't need so much silver now, and it can't use up its resources!

Moreover, in history, compared with the courtiers of other dynasties, the courtiers of the Ming Dynasty have always been famous for their tough bones.

They are famous for their outspoken admonitions, and they are proud of dying for their admonitions.

Xu Jie, one of the leaders of the four major Qingliu parties, has always been picky, very good at finding faults with the emperor and ministers, even small flaws.

When Zhu Qizhen came to Qianqing Palace, Xu Jie, the second assistant of the cabinet, hurriedly bowed down.

"Minister Xu Jie sees Your Majesty!"

"Excuse me, Mr. Xu Ge hastily entered the palace, is there something urgent?"

Zhu Qizhen asked.

Xu Jie presented the memorial to Zhu Qizhen, and said with a solemn expression: "Your Majesty, please take a look at it. These are the statistics of various taxes in January this year, as well as the growth of prices in the capital in January."

After Zhu Qizhen opened the memorial, he saw the agricultural tax. The agricultural tax has indeed increased. From now on, the Ming Empire will no longer be short of food.

"The business tax for January is 600 million taels!"

Zhu Qizhen's eyes lit up, and he was also taken aback when he saw this number.

You know, the revenue of the treasury last year was only 800 million taels, but now it is only commercial tax, which is only 600 million taels a month!

He also did not expect that the commercial activities of the Ming Empire had become so common, which meant that the Ming Empire had 6000 million taels of silver in circulation every month.

After reading the report on soaring prices and seeing Xu Jie's frowning face, Zhu Qizhen smiled slightly.

"Old Xu Ge, how do you think I will deal with these taxes?"

"Various taxes have always been deposited into the national treasury."

Xu Jie showed a puzzled expression. Could it be that His Majesty wants to use it for other purposes?

Building large-scale construction and repairing the palace?

To collect famous calligraphy and paintings from all over the world as a hobby?

"Probably not. Judging from His Majesty's performance over the past year, although His Majesty is young, he is definitely not a senseless and foolish king who only knows how to enjoy himself."

Xu Jie was full of curiosity.

What does the emperor want to use the money for?

"Using these silver taels, I not only want to stabilize prices, but also make money to make money."

Zhu Qizhen said with a smile: "Mr. Xu Ge, commercial tax is different from agricultural tax. After the agricultural tax comes up, it must be deposited into the national treasury, but after the commercial tax comes up, it must be returned to the people."

"If you just collect and don't return, of course the prices will skyrocket."

"Your Majesty, forgive me for your stupidity. I don't know what good strategy your Majesty has to stabilize prices and make money from money. Please clear the clouds and mist for me and answer your questions."

Xu Jie looked even more confused and humbled.

"Xu Jie, the second assistant of the cabinet, received the order."

Zhu Qizhen smiled lightly.

"I respectfully listen to your majesty's hadith."

Xu Jie bowed his waist and cupped his hands.

"I entrust you now to set up the Daming Bank full-time!"

"Remember, Daming Bank is the only official bank in Daming!"

"All commercial tax revenues are deposited in the bank, and the funds are reserved. Whether it is court officials or merchants, people can borrow silver taels from the bank, with an annual interest of one hundred yuan and five coins."

"Furthermore, no matter whether it is an imperial court official or a businessman, as long as he is a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, he can also deposit money in the bank of the Ming Dynasty, with an annual interest of [-] yuan per penny."

"Every county, every county, set up at least one Daming bank to ensure the turnover between banknotes and cash. People hold government banknotes and can exchange them for cash in Daming counties."

"Under the Daming Bank, there are also grain banks and commercial banks to be established to stabilize prices and markets. The main economic lifeline of the Ming Empire must be in the hands of the imperial court!"

"Whenever there is a natural disaster, if there are unscrupulous merchants who maliciously drive up prices, kill them!"

Zhu Qizhen was very organized and came together one by one.

Hearing the emperor's words, Xu Jie, the second assistant to the cabinet, was shocked on the spot, and his eyes became brighter and brighter.

This... This is simply cognition beyond the times!

"As expected of the emperor, the person to whom the destiny belongs must be inspired by the heavens, so that your majesty can think of such an exquisite method?"

Xu Jie looked excited and admired again and again in his heart.

As the second assistant of the cabinet, and he supervises the household department, he is naturally well-educated, and he naturally knows how far-reaching the Ming Dynasty bank that the emperor will establish will have a profound impact on the country and society.

"Your Majesty is wise, your Majesty's words will make the old minister better than ten years of study!"

Suddenly, Xu Jie, who had suddenly realized, fell to the ground with tears in his eyes.

"Old Xu Ge should know how to carry out this matter."

Zhu Qizhen said: "This matter is a century-old plan, and it is not weaker than the construction of the Ming Dynasty Navy. It still needs a lot of attention from Mr. Xu Ge. It's getting late, you can step back and rest."

"Your Majesty's words enlightened the old minister and benefited a lot. The old minister will do it now. If this matter is not done, the old minister will not die."

Xu Jie, who was nearly [-] years old, withdrew from the Qianqing Palace, weeping, and knelt down to worship the heaven and the earth.

"Heaven has eyes! The Ming Dynasty has finally ushered in the Holy King, and it will surely create a prosperous and prosperous world! The fortune of the Ming Dynasty! The fortune of the country! The fortune of the common people!"

In terms of flattering skills, ten Xu Jies are not as good as one Cao Zhengchun.

However, if a person who has never been a flatterer suddenly starts to flatter someone, it is because he is convinced by that person.

Xu Jie has always been upright, only looking for the emperor's flaws, never flattering the emperor, but now, he is kneeling outside the Qianqing Palace with tears streaming down his face.

"Heavenly Lord, God Bless Daming."

Wei Zhongxian walked to Xu Jie's side and helped him up: "Old Xu Ge, get up quickly, Your Majesty wants you to take care of yourself."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern!"

"For Daming, this veteran is willing to do his best, and die!"

Xu Jie stood up tremblingly, took a sedan chair to go to the cabinet first, then to the Ministry of Household Affairs, and summoned the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs overnight to discuss how to establish the Daming Bank and various commercial firms.

The household officials were all surprised.

Before Xu Ge entered the palace, he had a sad face and a lot of thoughts. Why did he come out of the palace now with red eye circles and bright eyes?

How strange!

What panacea is there in the palace?

How could he make the cabinet minister, who had always been serious and unsmiling, so happy and energetic?