"Huh?" Guan Zhuofan saw that there was no one to speak, and then looked at the expressions on the faces of several people, and frowned dissatisfiedly, "What, can't you move?" ”

Several of them were people who knew the situation well, and knew that this could not be done now, but everyone was worried that whoever spoke out against it at this time would inevitably be suspicious, as if they had some connection with the salt merchants.

"It can't be said that it can't be moved," Qian Dingming, who is a staff member, has a relatively detached status, looking left and right, he can't help but speak, "However, the salt tax is a national tax, and salt affairs are in the exclusive management of the imperial court. Now that the marshal is about to make a big deal with the new policy, if he uses thunderous means to investigate and deal with it on a large scale, not to mention how many people he has offended, in terms of time alone, the entanglement and connection cannot be done all at once. ”

This sentence is said in principle, and it means for his sake. Guan Zhuofan silently weighed it for a while, knowing that he wanted to be left, and at the beginning of his tenure, it was not a smart thing to use salt to operate. If we get caught up in this matter endlessly, I am afraid that even the opening of the new deal will be greatly affected.

In the end, he is only the governor of a province, and he has not yet reached the point where he can do whatever he wants.

"Okay, Mr. Dingfang's words, Benfu has been taught a lot!" Guan Zhuofan deliberately wanted to ease the atmosphere, and said with a smile, "Then the income from salt affairs will be counted as 300,000 yuan for the time being, and the meat on the legs of mosquitoes is also meat!" ”

"The mosquito that the marshal said is really a big mosquito," Qian Yunqiu returned to his color and smiled, "After a little cleaning and rectification, I received 400,000 yuan." It's always possible. ”

Thereupon. There are four traditional subjects: land tax, salt tax, miscellaneous tax, and donation. Combined, it is an income of 4.6 million taels.

"The war in Jiangsu has just been calmed down, and it all depends on the strength of the Xuan army under the command of the marshal." Qian Yunqiu ignored Li Hongzhang's credit, "The collection of two seasons a year, now that the busy work has passed, I want to catch up." Big is not easy. With the figure of 4.6 million, it will only be collected next year. However, I will say a heart-wrenching word, Li Xiucheng has been quite attentive to his 'Sufu Province', so although Jiangsu Province has been ravaged by war, the foundation has not been broken. ”

"This is a fair statement, although Li Xiucheng is a rebel chieftain, he is still not quite the same as the others in the long hair." Guan Zhuofan finished speaking. turned his gaze to Jin Yulin: "Old Jin, listen to you!" ”

Taxes and duties. It is considered two emerging sources of taxation, and it is also where his hope lies. In comparison, the tariff is greater than the tax, so he left the customs matter to Zuihou.

Taxation is also a daily income and gold subject, Xuanhuai and the two armies, both to support. Now that the Huai army is going to Anhui, the centicard of Jiangsu Tong Province naturally all fell into the hands of Jin Yulin, the "General Office of the General Administration of Jiangsu Donations".

"Jiangsu's centi-donation was started in Songjiang in April last year, and later the centika outside Songjiang was handed over to the Huai army. Although it has been taken back, the centika in the Zhenjiang area of Changzhou has not yet been set up completely, and the centika on the water in this section of the river is still being discussed with the sailor Yamen of General Ding. Jin Yulin first made a report on the general situation, "As for the regulations on donations, they are also slightly different from the beginning, according to the instructions of the marshal, the cents will be slightly reduced, and the levy will be increased, only the cigarette tax has not changed, and it is still worth 500 percent." ”

The line is the tax drawn on the circulation of goods on the centi card, also called "live centi", which is drawn from the merchants; The plate is a transaction tax, which is levied at the place of origin or sale, and is drawn from the merchants, so it is also called "sitting centi".

The tobacco tax, specifically referring to foreign cigarettes, is also called "foreign medicine", to put it bluntly, opium. This is something that Guan Zhuofan hated very much, and the two British and French invasions were caused by opium, so they are called the first and second "Opium Wars". By inference, he almost died under the muzzle of the cannon at Bali Bridge, all thanks to opium.

However, hatred is hatred, and there is no liliang to completely ban this drug that will poison the Chinese for more than a hundred years. I can only take a few dollars from it and talk about my anger.

"Now we can collect 65,000 taels of tax every month, and when the centicard is complete and the waterway is unblocked, then at least 100,000 yuan per month can be kept."

100,000 per month, that is, at least 1.2 million taels per year, the messenger of the Golden Rainforest is not bad.

"Okay, do the math, it's 5.8 million now." Guan Zhuofan had a smile on his face and looked at Yang Fang, "Qi Weng, there is only customs left, I think you also have a good letter for me." ”

The seat where Yang Fang sits is "Sub-patrol Su Song Taichang and other places to prepare for the road", referred to as Shanghai Road. As can be seen from the name, its duties are not only customs, but due to the increasing customs affairs and the increasing income of customs and silver, it has gradually become the most important one in the duties of Shanghai Dao.

The general customs department of the imperial court was an Englishman, Hurd, so most of the customs and excise departments in various places were British, and they were the ones who really dealt with the merchants who managed the import affairs. The Shanghai Provincial Yamen, on the other hand, is responsible for the taxation of exported goods, the so-called "Changguan", as well as verifying accounts with the customs, verifying taxes and money, and coordinating regulations and disputes.

But in any case, the money ended up in the treasury of Shanghai Road. This position was snatched from under Li Hongzhang's tiger mouth by Guan Zhuofan after racking his brains and plotting in many ways, and he put Yang Fang here as a confidant, for what everyone knows - Guan Yin is the foundation of Xuanjun's beginnings, and it is also Guan Zhuofan's lifeline. Now that I'm talking about it in zuihou, it's naturally the highest expectation.

Yang Fang knows this.

"Wu Zirun has already given his handover, and when I handed him over, the monthly customs silver was about 420,000 taels." Yang Fang said, "But at that time, he also said to me, saying that the marshal attaches great importance to the customs road, which is really a wise move, and the customs silver of the Jiang Customs will definitely increase in the future." ”

It turns out that Wu Xu has said this? Thinking about Wu Xu, who had already returned to his hometown in Yanling, there was really a "honeymoon period" between him and himself, and Guan Zhuofan felt a little sorry in his heart. However, in the sea of eunuchs, the position is the most important, since Wu Xu is on Xue Huan's side, whether it is Li Hongzhang or Guan Zhuofan, they naturally have to go and hurry up, which is not to blame.

"After taking over Shanghai Dao, there was also a little tidying up, and the war gradually subsided, and now the monthly Guan Yin can already receive more than 500,000 yuan. In the future, if the whole territory is peaceful, then the import and export business will naturally flourish, and the growth of the customs and silver alone may not be able to be speculated by common sense, even if the annual income exceeds 10 million taels, it may not be impossible. ”

It is certain that it can exceed 10 million, but that is in the future. At present, Guan Yin can collect 6 million taels a year, plus the previous 5.8 million, it is already close to 12 million, and if the silver dollar can be minted smoothly, there will be an additional income. In this way, compared with the total annual income of the imperial court, Jiangsu Province alone accounts for more than 20%.

"Okay, good," Master Guan, who was smiling, slapped the case and said in a loud voice, "This is all your credit, it seems that things are promising, promising." ”

Several people present said that this is a compliment from the marshal's leadership and dare not be a marshal, and at the same time, everyone is thinking in their hearts, when the input is counted, the marshal is naturally happy, I don't know if he will lose his temper when he counts the expenditure for a while?

At this point, Guan Zhuofan, who had been a feudal platform, naturally did not have countless hearts in his heart, and after being happy, he opened his mouth.

"I'm tired of you, let's calculate the item."

There is also a principle that must be declared in advance.

"Sir, in the Hongyang Rebellion over the years, the money and food that should be relieved of Beijing have never been sufficient. Now that the war in Soviet Province has calmed down, it will not be so easy for the localities to intercept it as they did in the past. Qian Yunqiu said.

It's something you want to get. When the war is calmed, the local income can certainly be increased, but the amount of money demanded by the imperial court will naturally increase, especially the piece of Guan Yin, and then try to hold it as it used as it used to be, and it may not be possible.

"I'll take care of it, and I'll have to share the profits." Guan Zhuofan said calmly, "Let's check the number first, and then take out a charter, and I will go to the capital to fight with the household department." ”

With this sentence setting the tone, everyone let it go. The bulk of local expenditures are the maintenance of officials, public expenses, river work, relief, and military expenditures, and as for small items, dozens or hundreds, they cannot be counted here one by one, as long as they come up with an approximate number.

It is easy to say that there are several other items, only military affairs, depending on Guan Zhuofan's meaning.

"Shuai Shuai, on the original provincial domain, 60,000 yuan per month was to be paid to Governor Zeng's battalion," Qian Yunqiu said, "Later, Li Shaoquan's Huai army was ordered to transfer to Anhui, and the marshal also agreed to Governor Zeng to send another 60,000 silver to Anhui every month." These two pieces are 1.44 million taels in a year. Please ask the marshal, will it still be paid as usual in the future? ”

This is a large amount, but for Guan Zhuofan, this is a move for him to maintain his relationship with the Xianghuai Shili, and it cannot be withdrawn yet.

"Nature is interpreted. However, now that Jiangning has finished fighting, I guess that the Hunan army may not still retain so many people, and the salary of the former commander in the provinces must be reduced, so the 60,000 yuan given to Jiangning may as well be reduced by half, and it will be calculated according to 30,000 taels. ”

The implication is that the Hunan army may be reduced. When everyone heard this, they didn't believe it in their hearts, but since the marshal said this, they could only listen to it.

After half a day's calculation, after removing the local expenses, the Beijing salary and grain that should be relieved of Beijing, the assistance of the Hunan army and the Huai army, and the share of the customs to the household department, there will always be a surplus of more than 4 million yuan in a year.

What remains is that the military expenditure of Jiangsu Province will be removed. Guan Zhuofan calculated in his heart for a while and took out a number.

"The more than 20,000 green battalions in Jiangsu Province must be rectified right now, and the number of actual personnel after the establishment will not exceed 15,000. Coupled with the garrison of Xuan Army led by Ding Shijie, the annual military expenditure is about 1.5 million taels. He said firmly, "In this way, there will be three million to use for the new deal, which is also considerable." ”

"This ......" Qian Yunqiu felt that he had to remind him, "Sir, Wall's Songjiang Legion, you haven't counted it yet." ”

"Yes, yes," Guan Zhuofan tapped his two fingers lightly on the case, and smiled slightly, "I forgot." ”

*(To be continued......)