The new salt law has been enacted, and the next step is the new cotton law.

Wenyuan Pavilion.

Mao Ji put his hands in his sleeves and muttered: "This is the ancestral system, if it is changed, will it have to be discussed by the court?" ”

Wang Yuan said: "At the time of Taizu, how did you know that there would be more cotton fields than grain fields in the place? It's okay for the court to deliberate, but I'll change my words and don't say a word. ”

"Then change it." Yang Tinghe is as good as a stream.

The development of the cotton textile industry is too fast, and the bigwigs of the DPRK and China have not yet participated too deeply. And the biggest vested interest is Wang Yuan, Wang Yuan himself said to change, how could others oppose it?

As for the "ancestral system" mentioned by Mao Ji, it is a decree set by Zhu Yuanzhang himself to persuade mulberry, cotton, and hemp.

In order to popularize cash crops, Zhu Yuanzhang personally formulated the following regulations: If peasants have five to ten acres of land, they must plant half an acre of mulberry, hemp, and cotton. There are more than 10 acres doubled, and more than 20 acres are added up. Fields that are replanted with these three types of cash crops will not be taxed for the first three years. If you don't plant a mulberry tree, you will be fined a piece of silk; Whoever does not plant hemp shall be fined a piece of linen; If you don't plant cotton, you will be fined a piece of cotton cloth. ”

This stipulation directly caused the landlords and peasants to frantically change the grain fields into cotton fields after the introduction of the steam engine. Because according to Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestral system, the fields that are replanted with cotton (there is a time limit, and they cannot be changed back and forth) can be tax-free for four years!

The new cotton law, first of all, must cancel the preferential cotton field policy!

Yang Yiqing said: "How to increase the field endowment of cotton fields, and how to increase the taxes on cotton, cotton yarn and cotton cloth are the key points that should be discussed. ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "There is no need to add these. ”

"What kind of new cotton law are you talking about without adding it?" Jiang Mian was a little unhappy.

Wang Yuan explained: "The gentry can escape from the cotton fields, but the small farmers can't. If the cotton fields are added, the big landlords have no scruples and spread all the money on the heads of small farmers, and the new cotton law will become a law that harms the people! ”

Wang Qiong nodded and said: "That's the reason, the field endowment of cotton fields cannot be moved, and it is only necessary to cancel the ancestral system of exempting new cotton fields from endowment for four years." ”

Wang Yuan continued to explain: "The excessive taxes on cotton, cotton yarn, and cotton cloth cannot be increased at will. This will lead to the increase in the price of domestic cotton cloth, which will eventually be counted on the heads of the people who buy cloth, and it is better to directly increase the tariff on cotton cloth going to sea. ”

"Why should Wang Shangshu show favoritism?" Mao Ji sneered.

"How can I show favoritism?" Wang Yuan sneered, "The factories in Tianjin and Jiangyin are very close to the port, and they can be directly loaded and shipped away without even going through the inland river banknotes." What does it matter to me if I don't raise taxes? Because of this, the price of cotton has risen, and the price of my cotton cloth has risen accordingly, and I still don't have to worry about any sales. On the contrary, it is to increase the tariff on going to sea, which is really detrimental to me, and I suggest raising the tax on going to sea for personal gain? ”

Mao Ji was speechless, because Wang Yuan was indeed making a knife on himself, but he was protecting the businessmen in other links.

Yang Tinghe said: "Wang Shangshu, the price of cotton cloth in China is too low, and it is difficult for the weavers of small households to continue, and the tax should be doubled." ”

"Then double it." Wang Yuan immediately agreed, it was nothing more than asking for a sky-high price, and he just paid back the money on the ground.

Cotton cloth is a daily consumer product, and this kind of goods had the lowest tax rate in the Ming Dynasty, which was the standard thirty tax one. Books, pen and ink, farm tools, fruits and vegetables, livestock, weddings and funerals are more interesting, and they can be directly tax-exempt - the above are all banknote tolls, excluding the business tax of shops and warehouses.

Wood is terrible, 10% toll.

The toll of firewood and thatch is as high as 33%, which may be to restrict the export of firewood, because firewood is related to the local people's livelihood, and thatch is a strategic material.

The tolls for cotton, cotton yarn, and cotton cloth were doubled, and it was only thirty and two, and the traders could barely bear it.

Why can you barely hold it?

Because of the chaotic collection of taxes on banknotes, there are often two taxes on one thing, one of which is handed over to the treasury and the other is left in the small treasury.

There are also nobles, clans and eunuchs, who often set up private checkpoints, and pit merchants to death along the way. This phenomenon was very serious in the Hongzhi and Zhengde dynasties, and the Jiajing Dynasty was much better, but it took a sharp turn in the Wanli Dynasty, and the Wanli Dynasty belonged to the nightmare of merchants.

Wang Yuan also said: "At the customs of various places, the tax on cotton yarn and cotton cloth can be raised to one of six. It can't be higher, otherwise smuggling is rampant, and the court can't even collect taxes. ”

"So you can reduce the number of cotton fields?" Mao Ji questioned.

"No, everyone in the world is profit-seeking, unless the steam engine is banned, the cotton fields will not be reduced," Wang Yuan said, "The double of the tax and the increase in the value of the sea tax by six have greatly reduced the profit of cotton cloth." At the very least, farmers will not grow cotton in a swarm, and the number of grain fields will not dwindle rapidly. If you really want to benefit the people, it is better to spread the land into the acres. ”

"The tax will be doubled, and the sea tax will be drawn by one." Yang Tinghe didn't dare to discuss it again, for fear that he would be confused and turn to the apportionment.

The new cotton law was agreed in this way, and it was just a matter of canceling the preferential treatment and raising the tax rate, which was countless times simpler than the new salt law.

Wang Yuan paced out of Wenyuan Pavilion and came out of Donghua Gate, and had to go home in a big circle.

Passing by the Yamen of the Six Ministries, the officials along the way saw it and saluted Wang Yuan one after another, and most of them were sincere.

The three-level increase in income buys the official heart, and does not increase the financial burden, it can also increase the tax revenue of the central and local governments, and it will not even harm the common people, but just snatch the silver taels from the moths. This set of reform plans is too amazing, it has already convinced hundreds of officials, except for those whose interests have been damaged, who does not admire Wang Erlang's methods?

Especially young officials, who are likely to be released later. And Wang Yuan's reform this time is to increase the disposable income of the local government for them, and more directly, to give them a salary increase.

Those reformists and pragmatic officials even hoped that Wang Yuan would enter the cabinet as soon as possible, and that Yang Tinghe would go home as soon as possible.

If it is not empty, what should it be like the common people?

Tomorrow will be the Lantern Festival holiday, and there are already lanterns hanging on the street, and there are many lanterns inside and outside Wang Yuan's house.

The whole family is holding a Lantern Festival banquet. Huang E even gave a reward before the Chinese New Year, and the maids and servants at home, as well as the tenants of Zhuangtian, can have a good life this year.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, Wang Yuan took his wife, concubines and children, and the whole family went to the city to watch the lanterns.

The eldest son, Wang Ce, is fifteen years old, a handsome guy, and he is already half a head taller than his mother Song Ling'er. It's just that the skin is a little dark, and it looks very similar to Wang Yuan's youth. There are many matchmakers, and Song Linger has already picked her eyes, and she doesn't know which girl to choose.

Yang Wang Hui is eleven years old, combing her horns, and follows Xiangxiang all the way. She is fragrant and fragrant, and her appearance is quite delicate, but she is still some distance from her natural beauty.

The second son, Wang Su, is also eleven years old, his skin is much fairer than his eldest brother, he looks more like his mother Huang E, and he has a scholarly temperament.

The third son, Wang Che, has just turned seven years old, a little child, and was also born to Song Ling'er. Not very close to the eldest brother, after all, the age difference is too big, but I prefer the second half-brother.

The fourth son, Wang Qi, will be five years old in two months, and will be born to the concubine Xia Chan.

The fifth son, Wang Ji, was four and a half years old, born to the concubine Xiangxiang.

The sixth son, Wang Zheng, was eight months old and was born to Huang E.

The second queen Jue, the only biological daughter, was just half a year old and was born to the concubine Qiyun. The eyes are blue, the hair is slightly curly, and it is loved by everyone.

Children under the age of one did not go out tonight.

Wang Qi and Wang Ji, two boys, ran and frolicked all the way, scaring the servants so much that they followed closely.

Huang E took his son Wang Su to guess the lantern riddles, and Song Linger also brought his two sons to join in the fun, but Wang Ce was not interested in the lantern riddles.

Not long after, they bumped into Yang Yiqing's family, and the two sides saluted each other.

Yang Yiqing's continuation pulled Huang E and Song Ling'er to speak, and chatted with the lights along the way for a long time before leaving.

Wang Yuan asked, "What did you say?" ”

Song Ling'er said: "I didn't say anything, I was impatient to listen to a bunch of nonsense." ”

Huang E covered her mouth and smiled: "Silly sister, that Mrs. Yang, I want to marry my granddaughter to your son." ”

"Is there one?" Song Ling'er was a little confused, and muttered, "If you want to get married, just say it, go around in a big circle." ”

Huang E said with a smile: "How can this kind of thing be said clearly, if it is rejected, it will be faceless." ”

Wang Yuan shook his head: "Yang Yingning (Yang Yiqing) himself is good, but his sons are not troublesome. Among them, two sons have been impeached by the imperial history, both for corruption and perversion of the law, and for things in the country. His granddaughter, I'm afraid it's hard to talk about the tutor, marry into the door and don't teach the grandchildren. ”

Huang E said: "Having said that, Ce'er is already fifteen years old, and it is indeed time to talk about a family matter. ”

Wang Yuan beckoned to Wang Ce: "Ce'er, come here!" ”

"What did my father call me?" Wang Ce was still carrying a lamp in his hand.

Wang Yuan asked, "Do you have a favorite girl?" ”

Wang Ce suddenly blushed: "This ...... This...... Not really. ”

Huang E chirped: "How can you be a father like this, and treat your son as a disciple." ”

Song Ling'er said, "What's this? Ce'er, if you have something you like, tell Grandma, Grandma will help you propose. ”

Wang Ce blushed even more: "Grandma, there really isn't." ”

The younger siblings covered their mouths and snickered, the eldest brother had never been so embarrassed.

Song Ling'er pointed to the street: "Today's Lantern Festival, the girls in the boudoir have come out to enjoy the lanterns." You pay attention all the way, if there is a heartbeat, follow to see where the family lives, and grandma will send a matchmaker to the door tomorrow. ”

"That...... The son is in a hurry, and it is convenient to go first. Wang Ce didn't want to go down with his mother.

Wang Ce ran all the way, turning his head from time to time to look, and directly knocked people away at the corner of the street.

really flew out and was knocked into the crowd, fortunately there were passers-by watching the lanterns, otherwise it would have fallen not lightly.

"Ugh!"

The girl grabbed the hem of a passerby's clothes and managed to stand firm, but she sprained her ankle while balancing her body, and the veil fell off her face.

Her maid hurriedly held up: "Miss is it okay, right?" ”

A young man next to him became angry and grabbed Wang Ce's collar: "How did you walk?" ”

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Wang Ce knew that he was at a loss, and he didn't resist, and let the other party pull him.

The young man suddenly weakened, and asked carefully, "But...... Mr. Wang? ”

"I'm Wang Ce." Wang Ce's student status was borrowed from Shuntianfu School, and he obviously met a classmate.

The boy raised his eyes and looked over, and by the light of the lantern, he saw that the girl frowned in pain, and looked like I was pitiful and moving.

Love at first sight, bloody love.

It is estimated that the princess will be very sad to know about it, Zhu Xuanzhen is a little brother who likes to be a child.