Since the first emperor, the merchants of all dynasties have not had a status, and Taizu even listed the merchants as the fourth class. For more than 1,000 years, there has never been a precedent for collecting taxes from merchants, and countless silver taels have been lost in vain.

What a great fortune!

Yang Rong sighed, if Zhang Ning didn't propose to collect taxes from merchants, under the inertial thinking, who would realize that this was an immeasurable wealth? Half of the amount is a lot, and the silver is filled into the treasury, and there is no need to worry about the emptiness of the treasury in the future.

After four dynasties and countless ups and downs, how could Yang Rong not understand that Zhang Ning collected taxes from merchants for military salaries at the cost of improving the status of merchants? He quickly made a decision, opened the door and came out, came to the Zhaoren Palace, and said, "Your Majesty, according to Lord Zhang, half of the military salary will be allocated, and the other half will be charged to the treasury. ”

There is always not enough money in the treasury.

Zhu Qizhen was very happy and said, "That's it." ”

As long as there is money in the treasury, it doesn't matter how to use it.

Zhang Ning seemed to have expected that he would agree, and said with a smile: "Lord Yang, don't worry, as long as you collect ten years of commercial taxes, I'm afraid that the ropes of the copper plates in the treasury will be broken and no one will re-string them." ”

Historical records record that during the reign of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, this phenomenon did exist in the treasury. What an era of affluence this was? Zhu Qizhen and Yang Rong yearned for it, and laughed lightly, and Zhu Qizhen said: "If this is the case, it is all Zhang Qing's work, and I should be the marquis." ”

Yang Rong reminded: "Your Majesty, Lord Zhang and the Empress Dowager have a three-year appointment. Besides, ten years later, Lord Zhang and Lord Anding are not young anymore. ”

Zhang Ning's heart felt like he had been pricked by a needle, and he smiled reluctantly: "As long as you collect business taxes for one year, Your Majesty will know how huge the amount is." It's just that the yamen that collects taxes must be independent. Well, there has to be a system in place to ensure that tax collectors are not corrupt. These people's salaries must also be set higher. ”

This is the second time that Zhang Ning has proposed to set up a separate tax collection yamen. Yang Rong pondered: "Why do you have to set up another yamen? ”

The agricultural tax is collected by the local yamen, and officials at all levels have the task of collecting taxes, and every year in the spring and autumn harvests, the fields can always see the officials who collect taxes.

"To prevent corruption. Although the shops did not pay taxes, they did not pay less filial piety to the officials on weekdays, and it was very likely that they would form a cooperative relationship, which was not conducive to tax collection. Zhang Ning said that modern laws and regulations have their own reasons for taxpayers to pay taxes at the tax bureau, and it is absolutely right to use this set of methods.

Yang Rong said: "Lord Zhang, why didn't the yamen collude with the businessmen to evade taxes after the establishment of another yamen?" ”

When they get acquainted, they will form a cooperative relationship, right? How can you be sure that they don't put their tax money in their pockets?

"Let them go to the yamen to file and pay taxes on their own." Zhang Ning is obviously confident.

You're dreaming, aren't you? How are they willing to take the initiative to file their taxes every month? Yang Rong just shook his head and said, "Master Zhang, it's not that the old man relies on the old man to sell the old, you are still too young." ”

Zhu Qizhen was also disappointed, Zhou Ping came to collect taxes, and became the target of public criticism, let them pay their own taxes, how could it be?

Zhang Ning said with a smile: "They don't have to pay it, as long as they are found out by the Jinyi Guard, they will be punished with fifty rods at the least, and they will be beheaded in the autumn." This is a light and heavy punishment, and there are all the adults of the Labor and Criminal Department. ”

Arrested by Jinyiwei, tax evaders are sentenced to death? Yang Rong's eyes lit up, slapped his thigh, and said, "Sure enough, the hero is a teenager." The wisdom of Lord Zhang, the old man and others are not as good as others. Lord Zhang, please bow to the old man. He stood up and saluted.

Zhang Ning hurriedly got up to help him, and said with a smile: "Master Ge, you praise me so much, how can I stand it?" ”

"Boast! Boast! Yang Rong stroked his beard and smiled so much that he couldn't see the seams, and said: "Your Majesty has this talent, which is the blessing of the court and the people." ”

But it is the misfortune of the merchants. Zhang Ning silently added a sentence to him. Although this move can improve the status of businessmen, not every businessman appreciates it, and some people may only love money, regardless of social status.

Zhu Qizhen couldn't sit still for a long time, so which businessman dared not take the initiative to pay taxes, and which official dared to be corrupt? It is foreseeable that in the years to come, silver will continue to flow into the treasury as if it had grown legs. He said: "Zhang Qing is really talented, I foresaw it early. ”

Are you praising me or yourself? Zhang Ning smiled and said: "This tax collection yamen, can be called tax or tax office, the official must know how to keep accounts, and it is best to be filled by the account offices of each shop." You can post notices in various yamen to recruit people, and select the best through the examination. ”

"What else?" Yang Rongdao, only felt that Zhang Ning's words opened a new door for him, these, he, an old minister who had gone through four dynasties, never thought that young people have active thinking, have ideas, and dare to practice, which is rare in the world.

"Audited annually. It is not realistic for the capital to send people to various places for audit, it is better for the state government to send people to audit, and the capital will send people to audit the personnel of the state government, and once these personnel are found to be corrupt, they will be investigated again. It's a bit tedious, but it's efficient. ”

In the case of inconvenient transportation, if the Ministry of Household Affairs sends people to audit the taxes of various localities every year, these auditors may not be able to return to Beijing until they die.

"It's up to you, it's all up to you." Yang Rong laughed, and only after finishing reading did he remember that he should ask Zhu Qizhen's opinion, and added: "What does Your Majesty think?" ”

"I'm right." Zhu Qizhen smiled very happily and said, "Just do what Zhang Qing said." Is it just that this tax office, whether it should be built separately, and there are two yamen in one place, will it make the people misunderstand? ”

"Of course it has to be built separately. It is advisable to draw drawings by the Ministry of Industry, and the states and counties will build according to the drawings. No matter where it is, the tax office is exactly the same, which makes it clear at a glance. The cost of building a government office is not small, you can first work in the yamen, collect a year and half a year of commercial tax, and then use the silver received to build a tax office. ”

In this way, the tax office can be built without the appropriation of funds from the imperial court.

Can it be like this? Yang Rong no longer knew how to exaggerate Ning and set up a new yamen, but he didn't need to increase the responsibility of the imperial court, and he could ensure that a copper plate would pay a lot of taxes. What wisdom is that?

Zhu Qizhen said: "Quick, Yang Qing will write down what Zhang Qing said, and then act according to the law." ”

Are you worried that Yang Rong will not do a good job? Zhang Ning was in a good mood when he saw that the emperor trusted him so much.

The emperor uses a red pen, how dare the courtiers borrow it? Yang Rong said: "Your Majesty, rest assured, what Lord Zhang said is all in the minister's mind, if the minister does not understand something, or forgets something, he should consult Lord Yang again." ”

"That's fine." Zhu Qizhen sighed: "With Zhang Qing's methods, why worry about the emptiness of the treasury." "Asked the little eunuch to go to the Ministry of Propaganda and the Ministry of Household to enter the palace to discuss the matter.

Zhang Ning said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, the matter of your lordship's impeachment of Zhou Ping has not yet been resolved. ”

Having said all this, it is just a vision, and to realize it, it has to be done step by step.