These days, thanks to Miss Hana's snake thorn incense, Gong Wanran has been able to sleep well every day. I slept well and looked much better. Although there are many opportunities for the day, it may be the effect of snake thorn incense to calm the nerves and nourish the qi, and Gong Wanran always feels that he has endless energy.

On this day, Dazai-sama Hakuai convened a council of ministers of all the ministries of the people, and the public knew that this person was the core figure of the aristocratic faction, and this was the first time he had seen Bo Ya himself, and he and many other ministers waited in Dazaifu for half an hour, but Bo Ya still did not appear.

Although Gong Wanran's position is important, because of his young qualifications, he can only sit in the second position on the far side, and the person sitting next to him is Cai Kuo, that is, Gusu Sikou, who previously caught human traffickers at the Lotus Lantern Festival and saved the little girl.

Cai Kuo looked at Gong Hui Ran on the side, then pushed Gong Hui Ran with his elbow and asked, "Are you Gong Hui Lord?" ”

Gong Wanran saluted and said: "It's right here, Lord Cai is good." ”

"Oh? You and I have not met, but you know me? "Cai Kuo is a little strange.

"Although I haven't talked to adults, I have heard of the prestige of adults."

"Where, where, where do I have any prestige, compared to these old ministers, I am just a little child." Cai Kuo pouted as he spoke, squinting behind him.

Gong Wanran smiled and said: "You and I are of the same age, and compared with the old ministers, we are both juniors. ”

"That's, that's."

At this time, Cai Kuo smelled a burst of fragrance, smelled it carefully, it was the smell of Gonghuiran's body, and said: "Lord Gonghui, you are so fragrant." ”

"Oh, I had a lot of work a while ago, which caused severe insomnia, so I used some soothing incense, maybe there was some smell on my clothes."

"Oh, you had a busy start to work, didn't you?"

"It's okay, it's okay, I've just started it, and many things are not smooth, so I still have to ask Lord Cai for more advice."

"Where, where, Lord Gonghui is too modest. Speaking of which, Lord Gonghui is talented, I heard that Zheng Dan Niangniang appreciates adults very much, and the people of our Gusu City know that Zheng Dan Niangniang is not only as beautiful as a fairy, but also ice and snow smart, Niangniang's chess skills are superb, and only Lord Gonghui can be compared with Niangniang in the entire Gusu City. ”

Gong Wanran waved his hand and said: "It's not Niangniang's opponent in the next place, but I can barely dismantle a few moves." ”

Cai Kuo was interested, smiled and continued to ask: "Eh, I heard that Niangniang played chess with you a few days ago, and rewarded you?" ”

The mother was happy, so she rewarded some. By the way, Lord Cai, I have a few civil cases involving bandits, which are no longer under my jurisdiction. I will transfer the file to you in the next two days, when do you think it will be convenient? Gong Wanran wanted to divert the topic.

"Oh, of course it's at any time, and I'll have to ask Gonghui for advice."

"Lord Cai, how are you doing on official business lately?"

"Hey, don't mention it, I'm dying. At the beginning of the year, I caught up with the tide of homeless people, as soon as the homeless people came, there would be chaos, and the local bandits and people alone were enough to annoy me, but no, there was a large group of homeless people, and if I wanted to say, the king should not let these homeless people in. ”

"That's really hard Lord Cai, over the years, the world has been in turmoil, the displaced people have lost their places, but fortunately, the political situation in our country is stable, for several years, the wind and rain have been smooth, and the grains have been abundant, so there will be an influx of displaced people into our country. However, the influx of displaced people is not all bad, as long as they are settled, it will take less than two or three years for them to become naturalized citizens. ”

"Hey, Lord Gonghui doesn't know anything, it's not easy to settle the homeless! The resettlement materials and funds allocated by the imperial court are not much, and there is chaos in the camp camps every day, but I am worried to death. ”

While the two were chatting, the guards outside suddenly shouted, "Dazai-sama has arrived!" ”

I saw that Bo Yao walked into the lobby from the outside with four guards, Bo Yao was dressed in a red brocade gown, surrounded by a gold silk thorn placket, the cuffs were decorated with velvet satin, his white head was covered with a gold-inlaid green hairpin, his feet were wearing jade cloud shoes, and a gold-inlaid jade belt was loosely wrapped around his waist. Bo Yao slowly moved his fat body, the horizontal flesh on his face and his fat belly trembled with his huge body, each tremor squeezed his thick lips, the already small eyes were squeezed into a slit, and the narrow eyes highlighted the wide nose.

Bo Yao sat down on the main seat and said to the ministers: "All the ministers are the pillars of the imperial court, and at the moment when the country is fighting abroad, the treasury is tight, and you are all ministers in charge of civil affairs, although you can't go into battle to kill the enemy, you should also do something." ”

The ministers said yes.

Bo Yao waved his hand, signaled everyone to be quiet, and continued: "Since everyone has the heart to serve the country, then you have to work hard, but don't let down the king's hard work. ”

Seeing that the ministers nodded one after another, Bo Yao continued: "Now that the treasury is very tight, what countermeasures do you have? ”

When I heard this, the ministers, you look at me, and I look at you, but they didn't say a word.

"Hmph, why don't you speak, didn't you just say it quite cheerful? Is there no way? Well?! There is no way, then find a way, this year's fiscal and tax revenue must reach 5,000 taels of gold! ”

As soon as Bo Ya's words fell, the ministers were like a fried pot, and there were many discussions.

"It's impossible!"

"Where are we going to get it?"

"Five thousand taels of gold! The total annual fiscal and tax income is only 60,000 taels! ”

The ministers muttered, turning heads to ears, but only the public was motionless and silent.

"Hmph, where did all the enthusiasm for serving the country go just now?!" Bo Yao's face was angry, and suddenly, he pointed at Cai Kuo and asked, "Cai Sikou, what do you think?" ”

When Cai Kuo heard Bo Yao's question, he immediately panicked, and said nervously: "Dazai-sama, I'm ...... I...... I really don't know what to do, I'm not in the finance and taxation department, and I don't have any income...... Moreover, five thousand taels of gold is not a small amount! Please forgive Dazai-sama! ”

Bo Yao smiled, pointed at Gong Hui Ran with his fat finger and said, "Gong Wan Simin, I think you are the only one who doesn't speak, are you confident?" In this case, it is better for you to first talk about the main sources of China's fiscal and tax revenues, so that everyone can review and review. ”

Gong Wan saluted Bo Yao and said: "There are three main parts of China's fiscal and tax revenue, civil tax, commercial tax, and government operation. First of all, the civil tax revenue, including agricultural tax, field tax, poll tax, etc., all the people have to pay the civil tax, which is the most important component of China's fiscal and tax revenue; The second is commercial tax income, which is paid by businessmen according to their business conditions, which accounts for less than 10%; Then there is the operating income of government-run industry and commerce, which accounts for less than 10%. ”

Bo Yao smiled and said, "Well, good, good. Which of these three parts are you responsible for? ”

"Our ministry is not a tax department, but because China's commercial trade is not active, the commercial tax revenue is small, so the affairs of collecting commercial tax have always been part-time by our department."

"Gonghui Si Min, although the business tax income is not much, but you manage the people and merchants in the entire Gusu City, if you manage the people and the merchants well, the civil tax and commercial tax will naturally be good, right?"

"The lower officials should do their best."

"Hehe, besides, Gusu City's civil tax revenue accounts for one-third of the country's total, and the commercial tax revenue accounts for more than half of the country's total commercial tax. In that case, what do you think about increasing income, Lord Gonghui? ”

Gong Wanran thought for a moment and replied, "Dazai-sama, civil taxation is not the duty of the lower officials, and the increase in commercial tax revenue cannot be seen immediately, so I plan to open a government-run industry and commerce to do business with neighboring countries, and then increase fiscal and tax revenues." ”

"Haha, good idea, in the final analysis, the people's tax is still to get rich from the people, and it is to take money from our own people, but to do business with other countries, it is to take money from others. Good! Very good! You should report to me as soon as possible about the establishment of a government-run industry and commerce, and I will approve it! What else do you need? ”

"I hope that the restrictions on business operations will be further relaxed, so that we can effectively enhance our trade capacity."

"Oh? How to open? ”

"Encourage merchants, relax entry and exit restrictions, open post stations, and provide assistance to merchants."

"Hehe, these are simple, what else do you want?"

"Another point, Xia Guan hopes that the adults can set a rule for paying taxes."

"What rules?"

"If the people can pay 300 copper coins a year, they can offset the grain tax for one person. In this way, the people can pay their taxes by participating in industrial and commercial trade. ”

Bo Yao thought for a while and replied: "This is simple, there is no problem, in the past two years, there have been many displaced people who have moved in, they have no land, but they still have to eat; In addition, there are still some people who are not good at farming, and after a year, they can't even pay the basic grain tax, so they may be of some use to do business with foreign countries. Okay, I agree to this one, is there anything else? ”

"Nope."

"Haha, okay, then, Lord Gonghui. I have agreed to these conditions, since the conditions have been proposed, I will also have to bear the corresponding responsibility, how much are you prepared to undertake the task of increasing the income of 5,000 taels of gold? ”

"Four thousand taels."

As soon as the words fell, the ministers began to talk like a fried pot, and Cai Kuo also quietly pulled down the corner of Gong's clothes and asked him if he was crazy.

Bo Yao was also very surprised, and asked, "How much?!" You repeat? ”

"Four thousand taels." Gong Wanran repeated again.

"I'm talking about gold, not copper."

Gong Wanran said firmly: "What Xia Guan said is gold, four thousand taels of gold, that is, forty million copper coins. ”

Bo Yao was stunned for a moment, took a deep breath, although he didn't know what kind of medicine was sold in the gourd, but the young man in front of him still made him very interested, he laughed and said, "Haha! Ha ha! Good! What a Gusu Simin! You alone dare to undertake eighty percent of the task of increasing income, amazing! It's amazing! However, we're not joking here, do you dare to make a statement? ”

"You can stand up."

"If you can't do it, you're going to lose your head!" Bo Yao said sharply.

"I know below." The face of the public does not change.

"Good! I will report to the king, and if you can do it, I will ask the king to reward you heavily." ”

Gong Wan didn't answer, but silently saluted Bo Yao.

Bo Yao pointed to the other ministers and reprimanded: "Look at it, look at it, a Gusu Simin who has just been in office for less than a year dares to say four thousand taels, there are so many of you, you don't even dare to let out a fart!" There's a thousand taels of work left, you guys divide it, who else has something to say?! ”

The other ministers, you look at me, I look at you, and they dare not speak.

"Let's go!" With a wave of his hand, Bo Yao took the lead in leaving the table.

Then, everyone left the table. Gong Wanran got up slowly and walked out of the hall in silence, and the other ministers bypassed him, all of them like a plague god, far away, for fear of having something to do with this guy who didn't know the height of the sky.

"Brother, are you crazy!" Cai Kuo patted Gong Wanran's shoulder from behind.

Gong smiled and did not answer.

"Four thousand taels of gold! Four thousand taels! How do you get it! Although I don't manage civil affairs and finance, I know some basic things. Last year, the national tax revenue was only 60,000 taels, and you dare to say 4,000 taels alone?! It's insane! It's insane! You! Aren't you tired and confused?! Don't die! It's terrible! ”

"If I die, at least your lives will be saved. Besides, it is not impossible to earn 4,000 taels, and I plan to start an industrial and commercial business to achieve it, and the income from the government-run industry and commerce is still very considerable. ”

"Government-run industry and commerce?! It's up to you? No matter what kind of business you open and how big you get, how much income can you make in the end? Compared with these four thousand taels, it is a drop in the bucket! Besides! You're just here! Dazai-sama, do you understand?! ”

"I'm meeting Dazai-sama for the first time today."

"See you for the first time? Then you dare to talk nonsense?! You! You really should go and see what other businesses are like?! ”

"Oh? What's the point? ”

Cai Kuo looked around and saw that there was no one around, so he whispered: "This official industry and commerce is so greasy!" The approval and review of government-run industries and industries are all decided by Dazai-sama alone! You dare to jump into this pit without knowing anything! ”

"Oh...... At this point, we can only face the difficulties. ”

"Huh!" Cai Kuo sighed, suddenly thought of something again, frowned and asked, "By the way, Lord Gonghui, do you remember that you are Gusu Simin?" ”

Gong Wan was puzzled and asked, "Huh? What does Lord Cai mean? ”

"If you manage the governance of the people in Gusu, you won't know how much food tax the people have to pay a year, right?"

"Of course I know, a total of about eighty catties of grain."

"Then let me ask you, how much does it cost to buy eighty catties of grain?"

"About two hundred and eighty copper coins."

Cai Kuo suddenly raised his voice, "That's right! Then why are you putting forward that stupid condition?! Pay 300 copper coins, which can be used to offset the grain tax, who is so stupid! Even if I had three hundred copper coins, I would take out two hundred and eighty copper coins and buy eighty catties of grain, and then pay the grain tax, so that I would have twenty left. ”

Gong Wan disagreed, "Well, you're right, the people will do the same." ”

"Then tell me, what kind of conditions are you mentioning, who would be stupid enough to pay copper coins?"

Gong Wanran smiled and said, "Hehe, maybe there will be." Forget it, since the work is already done, I can only bite the bullet in the future. ”

"Hey! I haven't seen a long life yet! You! Do it for yourself! Cai Kuo said, shook his hand and left.