When Song Yinzi ascended the throne and succeeded to the throne, the first thing he faced was two major problems, one was the emptiness of the national treasury, and the other was the vacancy in the army.

In fact, there is still a connection between the two, and if the army wants to recruit troops, it needs to pay money from the treasury. The treasury is empty, and naturally there is no money to recruit troops.

Therefore, the root of this lies in money, and with money, there is no need to worry about the vacancy of the army.

Song Yinzi thought about it, and finally thought of Xiao Ding one night, so the next day he asked the eunuch to call Xiao Ding to the imperial study of the palace.

Xiao Ding heard Song Yinzi say that he had something important to discuss with him, so he asked, "I don't know what Your Majesty has?" To put it bluntly, yes! ”

Song Yinzi sighed and told the difficulties faced by the imperial court today. After finishing speaking, he looked at Xiao Ding with hopeful eyes.

When Xiao Ding heard this, he also frowned, for this kind of imperial court affairs, in fact, he knew very little, most of the relevant knowledge he knew was learned through the textbooks when he went to school before the crossing, but the content in the textbooks was passed by most of the time, and he would not go into detail.

According to Song Yinzi, the main source of the Great Song State's treasury at present still comes from agricultural taxes and local taxes. However, the land tax of this era still mainly refers to the land tax of agricultural land.

Generally speaking, the Great Song State still used to support the treasury of thousands of peasants across the country. Other taxes, such as commercial taxes, do have some, but they account for a very small proportion. Compared with the agricultural tax, it is only a drop in the barrel.

But as a traveler, Xiao Ding knew that in the later generations of large eastern countries, agricultural taxes had already been reduced or reduced, and the country's main source of income was transferred to commercial taxes and tariffs on some foreign trade.

Song Yinzi ascended the throne, in order to collect the hearts of the people, he publicly issued an announcement to reduce or exempt Yicheng agricultural tax, which is also one of the important reasons why the state treasury cannot make ends meet.

The Ministry of Household has calculated that if the 10 percent agricultural tax is subtracted this year, the state treasury will face tremendous difficulties in its revenue next year.

So in order to fill this vacancy, it is necessary to solve this problem in advance.

Since ancient times, the solution to the emptiness of the treasury has been nothing more than two types: open source and throttling. Nowadays, open source has not yet been opened, but there are countless gaps in throttling. First of all, the gap in the military is huge, serious, and imminent.

Needless to say, the strength of the Jiangzhou border defense there is simply not enough to defend the border. Due to the continuous attacks of several countries along the northern route, the consumption of troops is also very serious. If it cannot be made up in time, if the northern countries attack again, the border defense will be left without troops to defend.

Xiao Ding knew that this was a big problem. However, as a traverser, he lowered his head and thought about it, and then he already had an idea. He doesn't know much about national politics, but he has a flexible mind and a lot of ghost ideas, and he immediately thought of the policies of future generations from the current situation, although he can't completely copy them, but they can also be used for reference!

So Xiao Ding raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, what is the main source of our Great Song State treasury?" Not a tax yet? Since the treasury is empty, then increase taxes? ”

Song Yinzi thought that Xiao Ding would come up with some brilliant plan, but when he heard Xiao Ding say this, he couldn't help but feel a little frustrated, and said: "I just issued an announcement saying that I want to reduce or reduce the agricultural tax of one percent, and now you ask me to increase the tax, isn't this a reversal?" As the king of a country, how can I do such a thing? ”

Xiao Ding shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I asked you to collect taxes, but didn't you say that you should increase agricultural taxes?" Tens of millions of peasants and people in our Great Song Kingdom, they already live at the bottom of the society, they work hard every day, but they still often have no clothes and food, and even in the famine year, they will sell their sons and daughters in order to survive. Wouldn't it be the same as asking for their lives if we continued to raise agricultural taxes? ”

"What kind of tax is Brother Tian talking about?" Song Yinzi asked suspiciously.

"Of course, it's an increase in business tax! Although our Great Song Kingdom has also collected commercial taxes, it is much less than agricultural taxes. Moreover, the profits of businessmen, in some cases, can even be worth the income of farmers in a year. And the commercial tax we collect now is less than one-tenth of the agricultural tax. Therefore, the increase in the collection of commercial taxes will make the national treasury immediately abundant. Xiao Ding Kankan said.

When Song Yinzi heard this, his eyes lit up at first, and then his eyes dimmed again, and he said, "I'm afraid this is a bit difficult to execute!" ”

"Why?" Xiao Ding asked.

"Because, in my Great Song Dynasty, many wealthy businessmen are related to officials, and some are even family members of officials in the court, and they collude with officials and businessmen, so they seek benefits more quickly. If the commercial tax is raised, it will inevitably damage the interests of many officials, and those wealthy businessmen who are related to the officials will also seek help from the relatives of the officials as soon as possible. Therefore, if they want to implement this decree, the officials of the Great Song Kingdom will definitely stand up and oppose it as soon as possible. Song Yinzi said.

When Xiao Ding heard this, he secretly thought, this is indeed a big problem, from ancient times to the present, the collusion between officials and businessmen is a "hurdle" that cannot be bypassed. Most of the businessmen have the umbrella of the officials, so they can make a lot of money in the process of doing business. And the officials will not provide a protective umbrella to the businessmen in vain, and they will also share a profit from the businessmen.

In fact, this kind of thing has been common in all dynasties and dynasties in history, and it is not surprising that it can appear in the Great Song Kingdom. Where there is interest, there will be people who go to the camp.

If we want to solve this problem, the only way is to use thunderous means and enforce it forcefully, and if anyone dares to come out to oppose it, all of them will be arrested and punished.

So Xiao Ding said: "That's fine, Your Majesty just took this opportunity to send officials from the Imperial Historical Observatory to all parts of the country to investigate and deal with those corrupt and bribe-taking officials, directly raid their homes, and confiscate all their belongings, thus adding another revenue to the treasury." ”

The Imperial History Observatory of the Great Song Dynasty is equivalent to the Discipline Inspection Commission of later generations and belongs to the country's supervisory body. Most of the people who can be selected as officials in the Imperial Historical Observatory are upright and upright people. They have no bad deeds of their own, so they will not be criticized by others in the process of picketing officials, impeaching officials, and enforcing discipline.

Song Yinzi heard Xiao Ding say that he could increase another state treasury revenue, his eyes lit up again, and he immediately squinted his eyes and said, "Brother Tian, you are really resourceful, okay, I will issue a holy decree to carry out this matter later." ”

At this time, Xiao Ding suddenly asked again: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I don't know how much business tax you plan to charge?" ”

Song Yinzi hesitated and asked, "Is it still important to add how much?" ”

Xiao Ding nodded and said, "Of course." His Majesty only needs to add 10% of the commercial tax on the original basis. ”

Song Yinzi grinned and said: "Brother Tian, an additional one percent is just a drop in the bucket, and it can't solve many problems?" ”

Xiao Ding smiled mysteriously, and then said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, if you increase too much at one time, it will inevitably cause the collective disgust of the merchants. So, for the time being, you can add 10% to the top of the ocean, and this 10% is just a drop in the ocean for those businessmen, and the little money they peek out of their fingers is enough for this percentage of taxes. Because of the small amount of income, many of them naturally have no need to stand up and confront the imperial court. ”

Song Yinzi also nodded after hearing this, and said: "What Brother Tian said is very true, and what he said is reasonable, then, do we only charge such a small tax?" ”

Xiao Ding shook his head and said, "No, no, after two or three months, Your Majesty will issue a decree and continue to increase the income by one percent." Adding it little by little is like boiling a frog in warm water, and if you put the frog in warm water, it will feel very comfortable and will not run away. You just need to heat the water slowly and you can cook the frog. If you put a frog directly into hot water, it will jump out immediately and will not wait for you to cook it. ”

Song Yinzi lives in the Great Song Kingdom, how have he ever heard of the theory of boiling frogs, he was very happy by Xiao Ding's words, and he extended his thumb to praise Xiao Ding, and said: "Brother Tian is really high-minded, what a way to boil frogs in warm water!" Brother Tian is really good at governing the country! If you don't become the prime minister, you'll waste all your talents! Later, I will do what Brother Tian says. ”

Xiao Ding heard Song Yinzi praise him and said that he had the talent of the prime minister, so he waved his hand again and again and said: "I can just think of a few bad ideas, and the prime minister can't do it." Your Majesty can call me at any time if you have something, but don't let me be the prime minister, the captain or the other kind of official, then I will be worse than dead. ”

Song Yinzi saw that Xiao Ding had once again pushed off the matter of being an official, so he asked strangely: "Brother Tian has refused to enter the court as an official three times and five times, why is this?" ”

When Xiao Ding heard this, he said in his heart, this question is really not easy to answer, he can't tell the emperor directly, because he is lazy, he doesn't want to worry about state affairs, and he doesn't want to be with other officials.

So he had to make an excuse again and said: "Your subordinates are only shallow in their studies and don't understand state affairs, where can they have the talent to govern the country?" Moreover, the ambition of the subordinates is not to enter the court and become officials, what the subordinates are pursuing is the way to immortality, and now they have seen some ways, so most of the time of the subordinates is spent on cultivation. ”

Song Yinzi also knows a little about Xiao Ding's cultivation, before on the battlefield in Jiaozhou, they had been in contact with each other for so long, and he also knew some of Xiao Ding's cultivation secrets, such as Xiao Ding could take out weapons out of thin air. Therefore, Song Yinzi was convinced of what Xiao Ding said.

So, he cast an envious glance at Xiao Ding, and then said: "Since Brother Tian knows the immortal art of immortality, I can't force Brother Tian to be an official for me. However, I don't know if Brother Tian's immortal art can be taught to me? I also want to learn your immortal arts. ”

When Xiao Ding heard this, he hurriedly said: "I'm afraid this won't work, first of all, Your Majesty, as the king of a country, works hard every day on state affairs, where does he have time to calm down and cultivate?" Secondly, I won't pass on this practice easily. For the rules of the Jianghu sect, His Majesty must have heard a little. Coveting the exercises of other sects is a taboo on the rivers and lakes. However, for some exercises to strengthen the body and prolong life, it is okay for me to teach you some, but it also requires His Majesty to practice more hard work. ”

Song Yinzi has also learned martial arts with martial artists since he was a child, but as a prince, he has been accustomed to brocade clothes and jade food since he was a child, and after experiencing the hard work of practicing martial arts, he is no longer willing to persevere, and gradually lost interest, but has a strong interest in reading.

Therefore, although he usually travels with a sword, most of the time the sword is used as a decoration. At this time, when he heard that Xiao Ding was going to teach him martial arts again, he immediately remembered the hard work of learning martial arts, and immediately retreated.

Hurriedly said: "Since Brother Tian's immortal art is not passed on, then forget it, I don't think I have time to learn other exercises." If Brother Tian is successful in cultivating in the future, if he can practice some elixir, he can send me some to taste. ”

When Xiao Ding heard Song Yinzi say this, he immediately understood that Song Yinzi was unwilling to endure hardship, so he replied: "There is no problem with this, but Your Majesty's body is now so thin, it is best to ask the imperial doctor to help you prescribe a few prescriptions first, and it is better to recuperate." ”

Song Yinzi laughed when he heard this, and said: "The reason why I lost weight like this is all because the treasury is empty, and other things can't be progressed, and it is caused by exhausting every day. ”

Xiao Ding saw that Song Yinzi didn't care, so he didn't continue to persuade, but continued the previous topic and said: "The method I thought of for Your Majesty was only partially said just now, and there are other ways that have not been said!" ”

When Song Yinzi heard this, his spirit immediately lifted again, he was already very satisfied with this method just now, Xiao Ding actually had other methods, this is a bit surprising!

So, Song Yinzi hurriedly asked, "What kind of high opinion does Brother Tian have, tell me quickly!" ”

Xiao Ding was not in a hurry, and said: "Although Your Majesty has increased the commercial tax, but the early collection is small, and the effect is not great, if you want to really achieve results, it will take at least a year or two later, when the commercial tax is raised to a level similar to that of the agricultural tax, it will have a greater effect." ”

"That's true, could it be that Brother Tian will have a more effective method?" Song Yinzi responded and said.

"Of course, I have other options." Xiao Ding said indifferently.