And around the mind of the saint, the people of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce have been studying and discussing for several days, and they have not had a good year.

"Although the thirty taxes are set by Taizu, the saint seems to have deliberately changed it. The levy is for sure, but I don't know how much to add? ”

"That's where the difficulty lies. If you talk too much, I am afraid that you will lose money in the future; If you say less, Long Yan will be displeased, and the consequences will be serious. ”

Tang Mo put down the teacup and said a little helplessly: "I only say the levy, not the specific amount, and wait for the final decision of the saint." ”

Everyone looked at each other and nodded with a wry smile, indicating that they could be so fooled first.

Actually, the levy is certain, but Zhu Youxiao really won't levy too much. Because, in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the commercial tax was too small, and the relationship with the thirty tax was not as big as thought.

The biggest problem is that it should not be levied and that tax evasion is serious. This is similar to the fact that the gentry and landlords leaked money and grain, and the small people of Shengdou bear heavy burdens.

Of course, the commercial policy set by Taizu is also very problematic, or it is said that it has changed in time and is not suitable for the current social and economic situation.

At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, commercial activities were in a state of depression due to war.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang took protective measures against commerce and merchants, set a commercial tax of '30 taxes and 1', and also stipulated that books, pen and ink, farm tools, boats, cars, silk cloth, etc. were exempt from taxes, and ordered the abolition of 364 tax bureaus, making the commercial tax much simpler than that at the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

In the early Ming Dynasty, such a policy did promote the development of commerce.

However, by the middle and late Ming Dynasty, industry and commerce had prospered, and the imperial power (including eunuchs, harems, and vassal kings), official power, and gentry power had also intervened, and the loss of tax revenue became a big problem.

In the eyes of later generations, the toll on the road always has a bit of a bullying sense of extortion. But when you look at the commercial tax income of the entire Ming Dynasty, as well as the number of tax collection checkpoints, you will feel that it is too little, too little.

For example, in later generations, provinces, cities, counties, and even districts had tax bureaus, and there were many of them, anyway, many, many.

However, in the early Ming Dynasty, there were more than 400 tax bureaus, but by the early 17th century only 112 remained.

Why is it that there was less in the first place, and then there are fewer and more less? The reason is also very simple, not to mention that it is unprofitable, and it has to be upside down by the court.

For example, in the second year of Longqing in the Ming Dynasty, the household department reported that a certain tax department inspected no less than 400 taels of grain, labor, and food every year, and its collection of banknotes was only 110 taels.

Look, what kind of cards are set up and what taxes are charged? The silver collected is not enough for the tax collectors to eat, and they can save some money by closing it as soon as possible.

Daming is very strange, it's so weird, Zhu Youxiao saw these data and felt more and more like this.

Collect a tax, and the more you collect, the more you lose money, this is too, right?

What is the reason, is it that commerce is underdeveloped, or that businessmen do not take land and water routes, but change to air transportation?

Of course not, commerce was very developed in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, and there were many merchants and sellers, but the key was the people who collected taxes and the groups that were exempt from taxes.

Let's take the simplest, or somewhat ridiculous, example.

In the thirty-seventh year of Wanli, the commercial tax in Fenyang County, Shanxi Province was more than 6,600 taels, which is quite a good number; In the sixth year of Wanli, the commercial tax in Jinhua County, Zhejiang Province was less than seven taels, which was the same as confiscation.

Regardless of the difference in age, it can be seen that there is an imbalance in the collection of commercial taxes between the Ming regions. In developed and prosperous areas, there are fewer commercial taxes, especially in economically developed areas.

In addition to the lag in the collection of taxes and cards, the main thing is the slackness and even resistance of officials to the collection of commercial taxes.

During the Zhengde period, when He Xun was managing the Shashi Tax Envoy, once the quota was completed, he reduced the tax on the merchants;

Shao Jingbang of the Jiajing Dynasty completed the quota within three months after taking over the post of any son, and the rest of the year began to be used as a merchant in a few months.

Yang Qiaoshi, who was also in the Jiajing Dynasty, was taxed in Hangzhou, and ordered the wood merchants to conduct tax assessments on their own income.

This is a famous minister who has been praised in the history books, and he is generous to the country to sell his reputation for himself, and it is estimated that he will not receive less benefits from businessmen. Otherwise, how could it be so intimate to seek benefits for Shangjia Group?

If you follow the tax collection standards of these three "famous ministers", let alone 30 taxes and 1, even 100 taxes will not be reached! As for the quota, it is just a figure that can be seen compared to the past.

Yang Qiaoshi, the big bastard, is even more excessive, leading the country's Yulu to collect taxes, and you let the businessmen watch it. Do charity, or do you beg for food?

Therefore, the fact that the tax rate is very low is not the biggest problem, and if it can be really collected, the income will definitely be much higher than it is now.

Of course, since reform is going to be carried out, Zhu Youxiao is ready to do it in one step. Although this involves all aspects of the problem, the road must always go on, eliminate difficulties, solve problems, and never get worse.

And the people of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce will definitely not understand the emperor's far-reaching considerations, they think that the tax increase is certain, and the emperor needs money!

Whether it is plundering or squeezing, as long as it is not knocking on the bone and sucking the marrow, as long as there is still money, you can only endure it.

But among the high-level figures of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, there are those who have a more sensitive sense of smell and think more far-reaching.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in my opinion, the increase in the tax rate is certain, but it may not be very high."

In the middle of the summer, he stroked his beard and said: "Look at the "Daming Forum", the last two issues are talking about the problems of officials. Shao Jingbang and Yang Qiaoshi are both negative examples of officials, and they are villains who sell their reputations. ”

The head is not large, the eyebrows are sparse, and the body is thin, but the slightly dark face always reveals deep and cold thoughts. This is the middle of summer, usually inconspicuous, but often surprising ideas.

And being able to rank among the upper echelons of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce in the middle of the summer is the appreciation and strong recommendation of fellow villager Tang Mo. Because he entered a private school in the middle of the summer, he was famous in the township for "being ten years old through the history of righteousness".

If it weren't for the death of his father and eldest brother one after another, he would be the only man in the family to support the burden, and he would not have "dropped out". Perhaps, he has already been named on the gold list and has become an official.

Others may not like Xia Zhongshi, and he doesn't like greedy and unliterate businessmen, but Tang Mo values it very much, and said with a smile: "Old Xia, if you say it more clearly, let everyone rest assured." ”

In the middle of the summer, he took a sip of tea unhurriedly and said slowly: "Shao Jingbang and Yang Qiaoshi bought their names and failed the court. As a tax official, but he does not fulfill his duties, what kind of official should he be? ”

Tang Mo pondered for a long time, and guessed: "You mean that the imperial court also wants to rectify the officialdom, and it is not just aimed at Jiangnan businessmen?" ”

Xia Zhongshi smiled and said: "I don't say that you also know in your hearts that according to the execution of the current government, even if the tax rate is increased several times, how much can the commercial tax increase, and how much more can the imperial court charge?" ”

Glancing at everyone with a little contempt, Xia Zhongshi continued: "The landlords and gentry are in arrears, and the merchants are evading taxes, these are all superficial problems. When the imperial court suppressed the inferior gentry and landlords, it did not forget to deal with local officials, this is to see the essence. ”

"Businessmen are responsible for tax evasion, but they can't help themselves, and they just need to analyze and understand to the saints. Long live the chamber of commerce to self-examine and self-correct, then draw out the charter, whoever dares to have lawlessness, immediately clear out the chamber of commerce. ”

"In order to ensure that the chamber of commerce is not implicated by individual people who are greedy for money and forget their righteousness, it is thought that a threshold for membership can be set. If there is any illegal behavior such as tax evasion, the deposit will be confiscated and expelled from the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce. ”

The crowd was either pensive, frowning, or looking at the middle of the summer with displeasure. In the end, his eyes were focused on Tang Mo, waiting for his decision as the president.

Tang Mo thought for a while, bowed his head slightly, and said, "Lao Xia is reasonable. In the future, regardless of whether the taxes we pay can be collected by the imperial court, we must all abide by the law. Pay the security deposit, the offender will be confiscated and disqualified from the Chamber of Commerce, which is to let Banzai calm the anger and extinguish the fire, and a certain thought can be written in the proposal submitted. ”

"President—" A middle-aged businessman said with some doubts, "It's not a big problem to pay taxes in full, but how to deal with it?" I used to take care of one head, but now I take care of both sides, I'm afraid I will lose money! ”

"Then don't do it." In the middle of the summer, he answered for Tang Mo very simply, "Don't forget, if the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce is like the maritime merchant and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce has the right to write and has its own saint as the master, what are you afraid of?" ”

"Lao Xia is right." A businessman nodded in agreement and said, "Last year, it was seen that the Holy Lord's punishment of illegal officials was extremely severe, and it was quite Taizu's style. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Taizu had a corrupt cane and chased him to pay for the merchants......"

"The Maritime Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce are relying on this, and the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce is also here for the appreciation of the saints." Someone else chimed in: "If it is not for this, who will not go home for the New Year." ”

Tang Mo smiled and bowed his head, knowing that the main tone of the book had been set.

This is not surprising, when he came, he was ready to pay a heavy price and get the same treatment as the Maritime Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Now it seems that the Holy Lord may not mean this, and does not intend to take it by force, so there is nothing to fear. Obey the law, there is always a constraint, but don't be like those gentry who were beheaded, they will still be aggrieved until death!

…………………

"Long live the New Year's Day, all the best." May screamed and ran over, knelt down and kowtowed, and the New Year's greetings were smooth.

Zhao Dabao was stupid, grinding over with a sigh, and under the urging and reminder of May, he knelt down and kowtowed, just to meet Long live, but it was far from being as sweet as May's little mouth.

Zhu Youxiao liked this little cutie in his heart, stepped forward and pulled it up, pinched the girl's little face, and said with a smile: "May, what did you eat today?" ”

May grinned and smiled, knowing that the emperor was teasing her, and said crisply: "The pork rice and fine powder soup I ate at noon didn't know it at night!" ”

Zhao Dabao laughed twice, I don't know if he was laughing at May, or if he thought it was ridiculous.

Zhu Youxiao touched the girl's head and asked a little strangely: "What a coincidence, it's the first time you saw me coming." ”

May blinked her big eyes and said with a smile: "It's not a coincidence, I've been building a snowman here and I've been busy for a while!" ”

Snowman? Zhu Youxiao looked at a strange snowdrift on the side of the road, and felt that his imagination was a little poor, and he didn't see that it was a snowman.

May didn't have this awareness, and was still saying: "May knows that Banzai will come sooner or later, so she will build a snowman to greet you." ”

As she spoke, she turned her head and glared at Zhao Dabao and said, "Don't let you follow, it's better for me to pile up quickly, it's so ugly." ”

Zhao Dabao scratched his head and said, "Isn't it not finished yet, first push a big pile, and then cut it and repair it, just like a person!" You didn't say it was for Banzai, or I could have piled it up faster and better. ”

May pouted, looking very disgusted.

Zhu Youxiao was very pleased, what came out of the child's mouth was the most sincere, not a compliment, but from the heart.

Li Chengcheng handed two boxes of candy to May and Zhao Dabao, and said, "Little May, and you, this is a reward for you." ”

May happily took it and said, "Hooray, I'm going to continue building a snowman, and you'll be able to see it when you go back." ”

"Don't freeze." Zhu Youxiao instructed, "When it's cold, go back to the house to rest, and when it's ready, I'll come to see it." ”

May happily agreed, put the candy on the stone table next to her, picked up the small shovel, and beckoned Zhao Dabao, "Hurry up, what are you doing stupidly?" ”

Hey, Zhao Dabao responded happily, how do you look at May like his lost little sister, and he didn't complain at all when he was turned around.

Accompanying the emperor to continue to walk forward, Li Chengcheng asked cautiously beside him: "Emperor, when the children of Shaoying Academy grow up, will they be officials, or do they do something else-"

"Work." Zhu Youxiao added to Li Chengcheng, this simple word was not popular in ancient times, and it should be more commonly called the meaning of making a living and running a life.

Turning his head to look at Li Chengcheng, Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "It's not that you can be an official to be successful, and I am trying to change this concept." It's not that you can be an official from the imperial examination, and this is what I want to change. ”

Oh, Li Chengcheng nodded as if he didn't understand. She has a younger brother, but she wants to be sent to Shaoying Academy, and she thinks that the emperor values it so much, and she must have a future.

Zhu Youxiao also knows that it is difficult to change the concept, so he values the Shaoying Academy.

These children have been cultivated since childhood, and they plan to study various majors according to his vision, like a blank sheet of paper, which can be swayed by him to draw the most hopeful and beautiful picture of life.

Of course, new learning is also his hope. It's just that it is not so easy to make those scholars give up their dreams of entering the profession and engage in other industries with peace of mind.

What about Sun Yuanhua, who still believes in foreign religions, but he is still happy that he has been awarded an official position.

Originally, Zhu Youxiao wanted to get the rank of a technical official and let them wear official uniforms that were different from traditional civil officials, but in the end he gave up.

Because he figured it out, this is tantamount to artificially creating a classification of officials. Technocrats in different uniforms are likely to be discriminated against, and they may even feel inferior.

Coming from the right path and being proud of it is a very common way of thinking. In the imperial examination, there is also the difference between Jinshi, Jinshi and Tongjinshi, not to mention the technical officials who are not from the right path?