As a cabinet deputy assistant, I am used to being high, when did I feel aggrieved and vulnerable?
This is the time.The second assistant is always the second assistant, and even if he wants to speak, he has to wait for the person who is in the top position to finish, so he will fall behind as soon as he comes.Dong Ge Lao is also a decisive person, he knows what others are afraid of, since everyone dare not say it directly, then let him find out, so he arched his hand and said: Back to Lord Shoufu, the following officials' understanding of Jiangnan and other places, whether it is the autumn tax or the lack of food for the people, there is only one root cause for all problems.That is, since the end of the previous dynasty, the land annexation in Jiangnan and other places has been serious, and there are too many hidden fields and hidden households, if these can be completely solved, then all the problems will no longer be a problem.Kong Ge Lao squinted his eyes and looked back faintly, heh, didn't you ask the old man for an answer?
The answer is this, but who doesn't know anyone who has a little knowledge?!
But who would dare to really conduct a thorough investigation?!
The old man will put it on the table for you today, but I want to see who can really take this errand?
Dong Ge Lao thought that he had replied to Kong Ge Lao for a problem, so he no longer spoke, but he didn't know that his problem was thrown to many people at the same time, including the saint who was sitting behind the imperial case and watching.Just as Dong Ge Lao thought, most of the people present did not dare to speak easily after listening to his words.Just when everyone seemed to be stumped by this problem, Yang Yan, the imperial historian of Zuodu, stood up, arched his hand to the elders, and said solemnly: Xia Guan thinks that Dong Ge Lao has summed it up very well, Jiangnan is the land of fish and rice, and it is not trampled by Mengnu iron horses like the northern provinces, but only in the first eight years of Hongwu, the annual taxes and grains paid are slightly higher than those of the northern provinces, and the gap is gradually decreasing, and it is only flat in the past few years, heh!
I really refuse to pay an extra pill!
The border city wall has not been repaired, the Yangtze River flood has not been treated, the household department is crying poor every day, and where the money has gone, it has all been dug up to their homes by those national beetles!
After Yang Yan finished speaking, he stepped forward a few steps, knelt in front of the emperor's imperial case, and pleaded loudly: For the prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people, the minister asked to go to Jiangnan to re-measure the registered acres of land and thoroughly investigate the hidden fields and hidden households!
When Yang Yan stood up, Kong Ge Lao half-squinted his eyes and stopped talking, allowing others to look at him, Zhao Songtao and other Jiangnan officials were already a little anxious at this time, and they all secretly glanced at the leaders of their factions, but their leaders didn't have time to care about them at this time.After listening to Yang Yan's remarks, Dong Ge Lao was a little surprised, this Kong Lao'er was planning to come with his real guns?
Or is it the same way that you are testing the attitude of the saints?
When Lin Fangxu heard this, he felt that he had a new understanding of the two elders, in his previous life, he had a case of smuggling at sea, and he guessed with Darong before taking poison, Kong Ge Lao was afraid that he was going to make a bad move, and now it seems that at that time, at that time, maybe the deer will die in the end?
It's a pity that I didn't have a chance to see the results at that time.However, at this time, he saw the results of the two parties testing the attitude of the saint, from the displeasure in the eyes of the saint after Dong Ge Lao finished speaking, to the calm eyes at this time, there seemed to be a trace of relief, Lin Fangxu felt that no matter what the saint's attitude towards Jiangnan was, he was definitely dissatisfied with Dong Ge Lao.Chapter 70 The autumn tiger has already passed, and the weather has already turned cold, but at this time, the Qianqing Palace is a little stuffy, Lord Yang is impassioned, and after he finished speaking, the emperor did not respond, his eyes closed slightly, as if he was thinking about something, and he played with a jade Ruyi in his hand, and knocked on the imperial case again and again, as if knocking on the hearts of everyone in the palace.When everyone's hearts were about to be knocked out, the emperor opened his eyes and said with a look of surprise: Why don't you continue?
Or did you come up with a plan?
Now that there is a way, then Kong Ge Lao will talk about what to do, right?
Kong and Dong saw that Yang Yan, who was kneeling in the middle, was completely ignored by the saint, and finally breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts, and finally tested the attitude of the saint, fortunately, the saint had no intention of completely clearing it, so everything would be easy.Kong Ge Lao was named by the Shengshang, even if they didn't actually discuss any feasible results, he still had to conclude by himself: the former Emperor Yang was extravagant, the treasury was empty, and the Mengnu committed crimes again, because of the military expenditure problem, the taxes and forced labor were increased several times, and the people were overwhelmed, and most of the land was donated to the name of the official eunuchs, and the family became tenants, and by the time the Great Wei Dynasty was established, it had become a scale.When the first emperor was still there, he also planned for this matter, but thinking that after all, it was the evil cause planted in the previous dynasty that caused today's evil results, and the first emperor couldn't bear it, so he has been delaying it until now.Lin Fangxu felt that the old Kong Pavilion would really avoid the important and light, and the heavy taxes imposed by the previous dynasty would become the reason for land annexation, and the tenant rents paid by the people who took refuge in those official eunuchs and wealthy families were not necessarily much lower than the taxes.Obviously, this statement can't make the emperor buy it, and even the crown prince Zhu Xianzong couldn't help but retort: Kong Ge Lao's evil cause seems to be too high-sounding, right?
Besides, if it is really only because of the heavy taxes of the previous dynasty that there are so many hidden land hermits, then the Great Wei Dynasty has been established for so many years, and the taxes are less than one-tenth of the previous dynasty, and there is no decrease in the hidden land hermits, but it will increase a lot every year, what is the reason for this?
Kong Ge Lao was stunned by the future heir, and he still looked unscrupulous, as if he was waiting for someone to say this, and took the words of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and continued: Indeed, as His Royal Highness said, the number of hidden fields in Hongwu in the past few years did not have much impact, and later those greedy people saw that the first emperor was benevolent, and they were unscrupulous, which led to the current situation!
Therefore, the minister thought that the hidden field and the hidden household should be checked!
, but there needs to be a standard.After Lin Fangxu listened, he gave a thumbs up in his heart, high!
It's really high!
Having said so much, the last criterion is the most important, the meaning of the old saying, to put it bluntly, is to hope that the emperor will set a scale.He is in favor of cutting meat from the Jiangnan family, but how much to cut and how much to keep, you have to make it clear, and used the reason that the previous dynasty paid too much tax to set a bottom line for the emperor, which means that the land occupied by the previous dynasty should not be studied further, otherwise I am afraid of causing a backlash.Indeed, after Elder Kong Ge finished speaking, Zhao Songtao and the others' mood that had been heavily suppressed actually relaxed a little, indicating that the land that had been occupied by the previous dynasty was their bottom line.It's a pity that Kong Ge Lao guessed the emperor's attitude correctly this time, but he didn't guess his bottom line.Emperor Jianwen remembered the days when the previous dynasty was hostage in the capital, and the former emperor who was empty and ambitious, but cowardly and bullied.He also wanted to defend against the Mongnu, but unfortunately the treasury was empty, and he couldn't even make up the military expenses, so no one listened to him.I still remember that even the heavy supplies of the army led by my father at that time were directly borrowed from the families of those wealthy nobles, and at that time, the money and grain and grass lent by any family were worth half of the national treasury.When Emperor Jianwen thought of this, he sneered in his heart, heh, the previous dynasty was emptied by you, so he couldn't afford a little wind and rain, and now he still wants to dig the foundation of the Great Wei Dynasty?
Seeing that the emperor didn't answer for a long time, everyone's hearts began to go up and down again, among which the officials of the old faction of Dong Ge were the most worried, after all, it was related to their own interests, and it was naturally best to cut less.In fact, the invasion of the field is serious, it should be the first emperor who was seriously ill for a few years, if the saint can check according to the fish scale book in the first year of Jianwen, it would be better.The officials in Jiangnan knew it, and Emperor Jianwen naturally knew better, and said to Yang Yan, who was still kneeling: Lord Yang will calm down first, since everyone thinks that it is necessary to investigate the hidden field, then Lord Yang will be fully responsible for this matter.Yang Yan's face was happy, and he promised with his hand: Yes, the minister must do his best and live up to the holy order.Emperor Jianwen said lightly: Well, in the last years of the previous dynasty, there were natural disasters due to wars and natural disasters, and a lot of books and classics were lost.Yang Yan smiled and obeyed, Hongwu has been in the past three years, the north and the south have just been unified, and those Zinan people are honest when they are honest, if they are according to this standard, it is very good, very good!
When Yang Yan was ready to make a big move, Dong Ge Lao and the others were also a little relieved.Fortunately, the saint didn't really catch them all, at least it proves that he still has some scruples, and the game between the cabinet and the emperor ended with the emperor's concession and compromise, which is really rare.Just when everyone thought that this should be the end, they hurriedly left, and in private, the good emperor took out a scroll from the drawer on the side of the table, and said to Lin Fangxu, who was sitting first in the back row: Dongsheng, come here.I saw him open the scroll, take it in his hand and look at it, and then continued: "During the palace examination, I asked you, what is the way to make it beneficial to the funds at the top, and without harm and cultivation at the bottom?
Do you remember how you answered?
Finally came, Lin Fangxu settled down and replied: The minister naturally remembers.Emperor Jianwen leaned back in his chair and said casually: From the first year of Jianwen to the present, the household department has been crying poor every year, and the treasury has always been in and out of the front foot.Since the time of the first emperor, the military department said that it was necessary to repair the border pass of the city wall, but it has not been completed until now.When Emperor Jianwen said this, he looked at Zhu Xuan, the eldest brother of the emperor, and said: Speaking of which, my nephew has been at the border for five years, and I don't know how they fought against Mengnu behind the tattered city.Zhu Xuan only said one sentence, this year is the sixth year.and he spoke no more.Emperor Jianwen didn't ask any more, but just sighed: In the final analysis, it is the imperial court that is short of money to make trouble, I let the cabinet and the six ministers find a way every year, but every year there is no effect, I think maybe you young people have a way, sure enough, young people sometimes have to be more flexible!
Dongsheng, you should first tell you your views and let these seniors give you detailed references.Lin Fangxu should be standing in the middle, and he didn't look at everyone's expressions too much, but arched his hands to the left and right, and said slowly: The saint asked, the lower officials are shallow, and I also ask you for advice.Kong Ge Lao smiled at this time: Dongsheng has learned people, you don't have to be so modest, the old man is old, and sometimes he feels a little rigid in his thinking, listen to your young people's opinions, if you can open it up, the old man has to thank you.Lin Fangxu didn't even dare to say it, and bowed his hand to Kong Ge Lao before continuing: As we all know, the source of funds for the imperial court is mainly agricultural taxes in summer and autumn, but not to mention the hidden fields and hidden households, that is, the agricultural mulberry itself has developed to the limit.Lin Fangxu said this, the others didn't have any expressions, but Kong Ge Lao and Dong Ge Lao both looked at him with complicated eyes, probably guessing what he was going to say next.I only heard Lin Fangxu take a breath, and said sincerely: The minister has been farming with his parents since he was a child, and he knows that it is not easy for farmers to rush to plant in the spring and harvest in the autumn, and there are also worries about natural disasters due to insect pests.The others were confused, since this is the case, then what are we discussing before, is it possible that the saint will not be able to see the good offspring at this level?
These are naturally not what Lin Fangxu mainly wants to express, but he continued: During the reign of Emperor Yang of the previous dynasty, there was no place in the country where the land was not serious, and the treasury deficit was even worse.Emperor Yang thought of a way to maintain his extravagant life, and sent his henchmen eunuchs to Ningbo, Zhejiang Province to open a city division.During the reign of the first emperor, agriculture was encouraged in the first few years, and after the people gradually recovered, they did not say that they would suppress commerce and control business.Nowadays, Zhejiang, Fujian and other coastal provinces are taking advantage of sea ships to buy silk and porcelain overseas, but at the time of this commercial boom, the imperial court's commercial tax is lower than the agricultural tax, and even less than one-third of the amount of the annual revenue is received, not to mention the prevalence of smuggling and tax evasion, which eventually leads to the fact that the commercial tax has existed in name only.At this time, including Shang Tan and Kong Jue, these young people had already guessed what he was going to say, and Shang Tan was even more cold in a cold sweat, Dongsheng, Dongsheng, you are really the biggest stab caught by the hornet!
Jiangnan Yintian is just offending the southern scholars, you are going to offend the scholars of the whole Great Wei!
Famous Zhejiang merchants, Jin merchants, Hui merchants, etc., which is not and the court officials You have me, I have yours.Dongsheng, don't talk about it!
Shang Tan's worries did not reach his good brother's heart through his thoughts, but he continued: The minister believes that reorganizing commercial taxes and severely punishing smuggling and tax evasion is the most effective means to solve the imperial court expenses!
Lin Fangxu's words were not impassioned, let alone heartbroken, and even plain as if he was expressing some humble opinions, humbly waiting for the advice of his seniors.However, just such words made Li Gelao, who was usually kind and amiable, reprimanded with a gloomy face: Lin Liushou has read so many sage books, why don't he have the character of a scholar at all, and he is actually a little traitor who competes with the people for profit!
Chapter 71 People who usually don't fight or grab, the first time they reacted so much, I don't know how much I think it's really a good thing, but it's a pity that they are all people in a circle, who doesn't know who?
Even Shang Tan complained in his heart at this time, when he didn't touch his own interests, it didn't matter how noisy others were, but when it came to himself, his reaction was bigger than anyone else.Every time Lin Fangxu went to Wenyuan Pavilion, Li Ge Lao's sense of existence was the weakest, all day long as he looked like what you said was right, I supported it, focused on the mud, and played a round game, which made Lin Fangxu once amazed, it turned out that the Pavilion elders were not all working hard for the country, and there were also people who were messing around.However, it is such a person who you think is a mess, but behind them stands the entire huge Shanxi Jin Shang Group, one of the most powerful businessmen in the Great Wei Dynasty, with strong financial resources and very united, and at the same time vigorously supports the career of Shanxi Erlang's imperial examination.Shanxi Erlang Li Mo, is the largest spokesperson of the Jin merchants in the court, the former Li clan is also the representative of the west exit, and later Mengnu went south, after the defeat and retreat, the border pass is still tightly guarded, the west exit is not possible, and the Jin merchants have turned south.Many salt merchants and maritime merchants in various parts of the south of the Yangtze River, the Jin people accounted for almost one-third, and the rest such as Zhejiang merchants, Fujian merchants, Hui merchants, etc., watched the people make money day by day, but they were helpless, without him, the land in Shanxi was barren, and the people who were forced to leave their homes were extremely tenacious and united.Lin Fangxu didn't want to confront such a person, but everyone pointed their noses and scolded you for being a traitor, so why can't you just admit it!
Lin Fangxu's face was fearless, and he sneered: Commercial tax began in the Western Zhou Dynasty and has lasted for thousands of years.Heh, according to the meaning of the elder pavilion, could it be that the first emperor is also competing with the people for profit?!
Lin Fangxu's hat was buttoned too big, and Li Ge Lao didn't dare to recognize it, so angry that he said: Huangkou Xiaoer!
You have cultivated out nothing and slandered the old man!
If everyone goes to do business, who will cultivate the fields, you are digging the foundation of my Great Wei!
Dong Ge Lao said slowly at this time: Li Ge Lao does not need to be angry, young people have just entered the court, and their ideas are inevitably a little unrealistic, just make it clear.Zhao Songtao also said on the side: Yes, yes, the starting point of the Linshe people is much higher than that of others, and they stayed in the capital directly, and they have not been to the place to practice, which is indeed a little too taken for granted.Zhu Xianzong looked at a few people, you sing with a white face, I sing with a red face, and he belittled Lin Fangxu to nothing, as if he was going to be deposed from Beijing after the court discussion, and the others were either gloating or had nothing to do with themselves.Looking at the young man who was looking at everything coldly, he was a little unbearable, and he just wanted to say something to help, but the young man standing in the middle of the hall suddenly laughed.Zhu Xianzong was surprised: Why do the people of Linshe laugh?
But what's interesting in mind?
Lin Fangxu arched his hand at the prince and said: Back to Your Highness, the minister is indeed thinking of some things, which is not very interesting, but it is also worth laughing at!
Zhu Xianzong originally intended to help him, so he naturally cooperated at this time: Oh, what's ridiculous?
I see that you are also bored at this time, so you can tell me and let everyone listen to it.Lin Fangxu smiled and said in a relaxed tone: The reason why the minister laughed is because Lord Li has forgotten the original intention of this court meeting?
The adults gathered here to solve the problem of taxation in Jiangnan, and Confucius finally concluded that the root cause of the problem of taxation in Jiangnan is the serious annexation of land.Speaking of this, Lin Fangxu glanced at Li Ge Lao, and continued: Master Li thinks that collecting business taxes is to encourage business, and in the end it will lead to no one cultivating the land, but as far as the officials can see, there is no arable land for farmers!
Leaving aside other places for the time being, just talking about the hometown of the minister, many landless people rely on serving as tenants to spend the day, if the owner is unwilling to rent one day, the family can only look for chores everywhere to earn rations.Oh, whether the collection of business taxes will lead to everyone doing business, the minister is indeed not sure, but the land is uncultivated.