If you want to explain that in the early world, in addition to the emperor, who cared about the people the most, it must be this group of scholars and doctors who claimed to be the country and the people.

They have backbone, ambition, and dedication to the country and the people!

Just like Xu Lao, he has studied science all his life, but because of the people, he turned to Zhu Chen to humbly ask for the concept of mental learning, isn't this a kind of patriotism?

It is precisely because of patriotism that they will be heartbroken after they understand the situation.

Xu Lao sighed and said: "I, Daming, have fallen into this kind of dead end, during the period of the great grandfather, the tax-free privileges were promulgated just to recruit scholars to become officials." ”

Zhu Chen smiled.

The human heart is sinister, who has no interests?

"That's true, but now, do you dare to cut off their tax-exempt privileges?" Zhu Chen said with a smile.

Xu Lao hesitated.

The great Confucians of the Hanlin Academy also hesitated.

If their tax-exempt privileges were removed, wouldn't they be waiting for this group of people to deal with the imperial court?

You must know how many landlords all over the country, although the imperial court is not afraid of them, but once the tax-free privileges are cut, it will inevitably lead to national turmoil and even collapse.

The wheels of history are rolling by, and there is no turning back.

Xu Lao shook his head and said, "At this time, you can't cut it." ”

"Cut it down, and the country will be in chaos."

Zhu Chen bowed his head with satisfaction: "That's right." ”

Xu Lao raised his head, looked at Zhu Chen, and said humbly: "Is there a way for Zhu to be the head of the case?" ”

Zhu Chen bowed: "Yes!" Reform the commercial tax, raise the commercial tax, and reduce the agricultural tax! ”

Xu Lao sighed: "Even if the business tax is raised, are those businessmen willing to pay?" The imperial court wants to dig out their money bags, where will they let us pay it with peace of mind, and they must find all kinds of ways to avoid it. ”

Hearing the meaning of this, the old man was a little shaken.

It seems that he also somewhat agrees with the reform of commercial taxes.

Zhu Chen smiled: "Has Old Xu only woken up now?" But aren't you resolute in not raising business taxes? ”

When Xu Lao heard this, his old face was slightly red, and he was a little embarrassed.

Behind him, those great Confucians also pretended that nothing had happened, turned their heads to the side, and pretended not to hear.

In fact, they were embarrassed.

Silently, they met Zhu Chen's eyes, and they all suddenly became blushing and thick.

"Little brother, we were ignorant and ignorant before, too complacent and conformist." A great Confucian sighed.

Another beat his chest and paused: "Alas, I can't sleep well in the past few days, I feel like a sinner of the country." ”

"Yes, we keep saying that we are for the country and the people, and we regard the four quatrains as our life's wish, but we have harmed the people of the world."

The Confucians gradually couldn't hold back and regretted it one by one.

They were dejected, and there was still half a point of arrogance in front of Zhu Chen.

This group of rotten Confucians is very arrogant on weekdays, not only the prince, but also Zhu Di dares to scare, but now they bow to Zhu Chen.

Xu Lao sighed: "Mind science can indeed greatly make up for the lack of science, and the little brother created mind science, which is really the science of saving the country." ”

"Before, it was indeed the old man who was preconceived, thinking that the study of the mind was just a small way, but he thought that your sword was going off the rails, but now the old man has repented, hey......"

"As long as it is good for the country and the people, we will do our best."

When the words fell, Elder Xu and the great Confucians of the Hanlin Academy showed a look of determination in their eyes.

His words made Zhu Chen's heart warm.

The Chinese clan has never lacked literati with lofty ideals who sacrificed their lives to die, and there has never been a shortage of this kind of top-down patriotic spirit!

Even the corrupt Confucianism in front of him, for the sake of the country and the people, is willing to admit his mistakes and face up to his shortcomings.

They are the ones who really change if there is something and encourage them if they don't!

Zhu Chen thought for a while and said with a smile: "It's not that there is no way, the commercial tax is raised, and the merchants will definitely complain and resent the court." ”

"But if they pay more taxes, the dynasty will elevate their status, spend money to buy status, buy dignity, they should be happy, right?"

Shinong Industry and Commerce, this level was formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang and inherited from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Zhu Yuanzhang believes that the reason why the Song Dynasty died was that commerce was too developed, so it led to a lack of attention to the army and armament.

In addition, Zhu Yuanzhang himself is a farmer, so he hates these treacherous businessmen even more.

Therefore, the status of merchants was the lowest in the Ming Dynasty.

But if the merchant uses it well, it will be of great use!

Xu Lao pondered for a moment: "Merchants have no status since the beginning of the Li Kingdom, and like the eunuchs in the palace, they want to be respected by others. ”

"Let them spend money to buy status, maybe it will do."

The great Confucians of the Hanlin Academy glanced at each other.

"Makes sense."

"Feasible."

"They have been looked down upon for decades, and now that they have earned enough money, their status is gone, and it is not impossible to spend some money to buy status."

Zhu Chen's words were unanimously agreed by the Confucians.

Living in this day and age, who doesn't want to be respected, who wants to be a lowly businessman?

Zhu Chen smiled faintly: "It's not good yet, it's far from it." ”

"This alone is just the first step."

"Businessmen are treacherous and cunning, even if they can spend money to buy status, they also feel sorry for money."

"But what if the dynasty raised the commercial tax and developed commerce at the same time?"

Commerce, in the Ming Dynasty there were many acts that were forbidden.

For example, smuggling and so on are not legal.

But if these are made legal, from the prohibition of commerce to the development of commerce, not only can the dynasty receive more taxes, but the behavior of raising commercial taxes will also be easy for merchants to agree.

This is mutual benefit.

Anyway, it's useless to ban business, what should be smuggled is still smuggling, it is better to make it above board, and the court can collect more taxes.

Zhu Chen's words made the elders fall into deep thought.

Their eyes lit up one by one.

Xu Lao nodded and said: "To develop business, businessmen can make more money, so naturally they don't care about these taxes, this is a win-win thing." ”

After saying that, Xu Lao glanced up at Zhu Chen and said with emotion: "The hero is a young man." ”

Such a profound and subtle plan was actually proposed by a young man.

easily resolved these problems, so that Xu Lao had to admire.

Zhu Chen smiled: "Old Xu is polite, I am still inferior to you in terms of knowledge." ”

Xu Lao smiled peacefully, turned to look at the big Confucians behind him, and said, "What do you think?" ”

The Confucians bowed their heads one after another, thinking that this plan was very good.

It's just, developing a business, is this really possible?

The ban on commerce has always been the national policy of the Ming Dynasty.

After all, Taizu didn't like merchants, but now they advocated the development of commerce, wouldn't this be against their ancestors?

This was a great sin in ancient times, a sin that should be spurned for all eternity.

Even the Yongle Emperor Ming Chengzu was afraid that he would be charged with killing his nephew and disobeying his ancestors.