"Don't forget that Your Majesty used to do business, do you mean to classify Your Majesty as a cheap businessman?"

"Don't change your head secretly, everything Your Majesty does is a great thing for the country and the people, and a little profit is obtained from it, how can it be confused with the treacherous giant of the cheap businessmen?"

"Alright!" Li Xingchen's majestic voice sounded, making the noisy court like a vegetable market instantly quiet.

"I'm here for you to express your opinions, not for you to quarrel."

"Your Majesty, the merchants of Chenjue are lowly, and their behavior lowers the atmosphere, and the ministers suggest that the descendants of merchants should not participate in the imperial examination and not enter the court as officials."

"Your Majesty, the minister is still as I just said, I can drive the economic development of various places, trade with each other, and exist for the country and the people."

"The minister thinks that businessmen are not lowly, but they are very enviable, and they can make a lot of money with their mouths."

The ministers expressed their opinions one after another, and when they had anything to say, they tore each other with their necks when they had different political opinions, and tried every means to persuade each other.

The last person to speak attracted Li Xingchen's attention, and following the prestige, he found that it was the Ministry of Rites.

"Everyone, be quiet."

Li Xingchen waved his hand.

"Say what you just said, say it again."

The Ministry of Rites was stunned for a moment, and muttered casually, Your Majesty's ears are too good.

The Ministry of Rites Shangshu came out and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, the minister just said that the status of the mountain people is not low, but it is very enviable.

The minister thinks that they can make a lot of money by playing tricks and cunning, and there are groups of wives and concubines at home, and there are a bunch of wild flowers outside, which is the life that men want to live. ”

How does that sound sour? Li Xingchen sighed twice.

"What do you Aiqing think of what Lord Liu said?"

Everyone was silent for a moment, and they all looked at the Ministry of Rites.

These words are the real words in everyone's hearts, and they are all voices from the bottom of their hearts, but if they are said on the surface, are they not afraid that the emperor will blame?

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks that what Lord Liu said is exaggerated. There are businessmen who are cunning outside, wives and concubines are in love, and there are countless wildflowers, but they are all a minority. The official retorted.

The Ministry of Rites sneered, "Lord Zhang's words are not a few, according to my statistics, those businessmen who make money account for at least eighty percent of this situation."

If I don't have statistics, can I still talk nonsense?

Rich businessmen, even if they grovel in front of people, are behind them are groups of big fish, big meat, wives and concubines. One set on the surface, one set on the back. Got it?

To put it mildly, as long as they tear off the camouflage in front of them and have a thicker skin, life is definitely under one person and above tens of thousands of people. ”

The words of the Ministry of Rites shocked all the ministers, under one person, above ten thousand people, isn't this just saying that the lives of those merchants are second only to the emperor?

Since Li Xingchen took the throne, the three provinces and six ministries have actually expressed their opinions relatively rarely, because Li Xingchen has done a good job, and it is useless to express it.

The most crooked, that is, those officials below the third grade, but whenever something happens, in order to show a sense of existence, the dispute is more intense than anyone else.

However, this time, the Ministry of Rites Shangshu was very dissatisfied with the life of the merchants, and intended to let Li Xingchen rule strictly.

After a moment of silence, Li Xingchen smiled and said, "I have a doubt, although most of you Aiqing look down on businessmen, their lives are nourishing.

Why is it that in this case, the tax paid is the lowest of all jobs? Is there something greasy here? ”

Li Xingchen said this with a smile, but the language was sharp and straight to the core.

Just now, dozens of ministers expressed their opinions on merchants, but only the Ministry of Rites Shangshu said the core.

The status of the merchant is low, but he is better off than the ministers, but the tax is the lowest, and there is no cat in it, and no one believes it.

"Your Majesty, businessmen are profit-heavy and do not produce, ranking at the end of the Shinong industry and commerce, ranking the lowest, and the tax revenue is naturally the lowest." An official came out and started haha.

Li Xingchen chuckled, "If that's the case, then increase the tax!" ”

"Your Majesty, this must not be done!" The prime minister hurriedly advised, "This is the foundation of the country, and taxes must not be raised." ”

Someone immediately chimed in, "Yes, if the tax on merchants is raised, then the people will feel that they will make money in business, and they will lose their farm work and join the ranks of business, and the people's customs will be extremely collapsed."

It is one thing for businessmen to make money, and it is another thing to raise taxes.

If the common people in the world know that they are specifically raising the taxes of merchants, then the smart farmers will definitely want to engage in business.

Throughout the dynasties, the status of merchants was lowly, and the improvement of the status of peasants was nothing more than to stabilize the country and ensure that the land had sufficient grain. ”

"Your Majesty, tax increases are absolutely unacceptable!" Many ministers at the scene seconded the proposal.

Li Xingchen smiled, "Is that really the case?" ”

"If a merchant travels around the major cities, if he does not have a good relationship with the officials below, I am afraid that the exchange will not be so convenient.

The tax has not been raised, and the benefits should not be less, but it is nothing more than a change of the tax that should be paid in the treasury to the ministers. ”

These words exploded like a thunderbolt in the main hall.

Some of the ministers turned pale.

Due to the low status of merchants, the imperial court did not have a clear law on doing business, so when merchants interacted with each other, it was easy for local officials to find trouble.

The purpose of looking for things is nothing more than money, and a tacit relationship has been formed when you come and go, you come to give me money, and I will give you convenience.

However, once the imperial court increased taxes, the loss of part of the agricultural land was secondary, and the most important thing was to increase taxes, which represented the imperial court to attach importance to merchants, and then it was inevitable to issue travel-related laws.

Once the laws on trade are perfected, it will be difficult for the local government to take money from the merchants, and they will not be able to get the money, so they will not have the money to bribe the officials who go up to them.

"Times are different now." Li Xingchen spoke again, "The hybrid rice and sweet potatoes I invented can be grown all year round. ”

"You don't have to face the loess with your back to the sky like before, work hard, and only get meager food."

Grain is a stable guarantee, hybrid rice yields are vigorous, and grain is sufficient.

With sufficient food security, there will be no rebellion in the world because the people are starving.

"Your Majesty's words are true, but farming is still the foundation of the country." The prime minister said in a deep voice.

He also felt that businessmen should not raise their taxes, and once they did, it would mean that their status would also increase.

Now the merchants have earned a lot of money, and because of the status problem, they can still pretend to be a grandson in front of them, but after the status is raised, I am afraid that the court will have to pretend to be a grandson for them.