Fu Song

Chapter 638 Slapping Face and Stealing Money

Cen Zhong laughed so hard that he could hardly breathe.

The so-called beating the dog in the water is what Xiao Cheng looks like now.

After catching up with the opponent, he beat him relentlessly for a while, vowing to squeeze out all the benefits of this matter before giving up.

"If you separate the taxation from the Ministry of Households, it means that you have taken away the backbone of the Ministry of Households and deprived them of most of their power. I am afraid that Xu Xiangqi will not let it go, and Si Junchao and the others will definitely think about it. There is no way to stop this matter." Cen Zhong said: "I think you are pushing too hard."

"It's better to chase Yu Kou bravely, and don't need to be famous to learn to be a king!" Xiao Cheng said, "Am I in a hurry? Not at all. Look, didn't I still put the tax office in the household department and accept Xu Xiangqi's leadership? If they really don't want to, well, let's not be polite, I will hand over to Zheng Qi all the evidence of collusion, misappropriation and corruption of tax by the Ministry of Households over the past few years, and let them Overwatch Council come to check it out. check."

"After all, I'm still afraid of their dogs jumping over the wall!" Cen Zhong sighed: "If it were in the southwest, these corrupt people would have been used as coolies to dig mines."

"No way, pull one and mobilize the whole body!" Xiao Cheng also had no choice but to stroke the veins inside, and you will find that they are going around, and finally they are going around these people. Now I can only cut Its branches and leaves cannot cut down its roots."

"Take your time, now we still have to bear with each other for the sake of the country, and when the foundation is solid, we will have capital!" Cen Zhong said. "At present, the capital is too thin to withstand the toss."

Both shook their heads.

Don't look at the frontline victories one after another, making Xiao Cheng's prestige soaring, in fact, they themselves know that this is just a mansion on top of gravel, as long as they encounter a defeat, their situation will immediately become difficult stand up.

Regardless of whether it is the Xingyuan in the middle or the Xingyuan in the east, it is the soldiers and horses in the southwest that play the backbone role.

But such elite soldiers and horses are limited in number.

These soldiers and horses are in the southwest. When they dealt with Dali and the small countries around them, they naturally looked majestic and fearless.

But now facing the largest country in the world, the Liao Kingdom, it naturally seems powerless.

It seems that the Liao people haven't ended up serious yet!

Qu Zhen and Liu Yu who appeared on the stage are just their dog legs.

To Xiao Cheng, every day is precious.

Laying a solid foundation and then building Da Song's house firmly is the most important thing for him right now.

Therefore, most of the time, he can only swallow his anger and deal with certain people. Even if he holds evidence that can kill the other party, it can only be used as a reason to threaten the other party to cooperate with him.

Rat thrower!
He couldn't mess up the whole Jiangnan in order to get rid of these people.

If there wasn't the great enemy of the Liao people watching from one side, Xiao Cheng would have swiped his knife at these people and hacked at them.

"The tax law of our Great Song Dynasty is actually quite complete, but in the process of implementation, it is too flexible!" He patted the pile of files in front of him. This is the taxation order issued by the Great Song Dynasty since the founding of the country. As well as a bound edition of some imperial edicts of the officials of the past dynasties.

"There is no special organization, and some tax supervisors are hired to take charge of this stall. Whether the result is good or bad, it often depends on whether this person is competent and knowledgeable." Xiao Cheng shook his head and said: "And these tax supervisors, Except for the eunuchs in the palace, most of them are relegated officials. The eunuchs are better, those relegated officials, when they do this kind of professional work, some people are really in a mess, and they always say that they don’t want to fight with the people He took advantage of the imperial court's interests as his own favor. He gained a great reputation, but threw the imperial court on the dry slope, which is really tolerable!"

Cen Zhong laughed loudly: "You are not wrong, I also went to supervise the liquor tax, such a thing, I still did it."

"So, we need a special and professional organization to take charge of this matter. Taxes are collected according to the law. Even if it is exempted, it is the grace of the court. You, a tax supervisor, dare to do such a thing, what kind of memory do you have? thought?"

"If it's an eunuch, it must be for money. If it's a relegated official, it's just for fame!" Cen Chong said cheerfully, not ashamed that he had done this before.

"The so-called competing for profits with the people is probably not competing for profits with wealthy gentry and bureaucrats?" Xiao Cheng sneered: "This kind of thing must never happen again in the future, so a professional tax agency is a must."

"Who will be the director of the tax office? If you can't win this position, all your hard work will be in vain!"

"Originally, Tian Yi is very suitable, but his elder brother Tian Chou has just served as the Governor of Jiangning, so it seems inappropriate to let him come. Let Lu Ze come."

"I think Lu Ze is more suitable than Tian Yi." Cen Zhong's mind came up with information about this person. "He is an official from Qianzhou. He has your brand on his body. He can't wash it off wherever he goes. He can only hug your thigh tightly. Second, this person has been an official in Guizhou for many years. , is very clear about taxation. Thirdly, this person has a certain ability. Although he will not make any innovations, but fortunately he will complete the tasks assigned to Shangfeng without compromise. Fourthly, Based on his current position, he was transferred to be a tax director. From the level of level, there is no short cut. Although Tian Yi is more familiar with finance, he is currently only a sixth rank, and he will be promoted to a fifth rank in a short time. You can't help but get sick of your position. Don't forget, about Lu Wan's matter, you were at the court meeting, but you were chased and beaten by the little debater."

"You know Lu Ze so well?"

"Of course, knowing that you have this plan, I'm thinking about which person is suitable, and I've been picking and picking. This person is not bad, and you don't know that there is another wonderful thing." Cen Zhong laughed.

"Where is the magic?"

"This Lu Ze is actually a relative of the Jiang family."

"The Jiang family?"

"Who else could it be? A relative of Jiang Zhihe, Governor of the Two Lakes, Lu Ze's wife is also surnamed Jiang."

"I haven't heard Jiang Zhihe say that even if they are relatives, I'm afraid they are distant relatives who have been out of Wufu, I don't know how far away?" Xiao Cheng laughed.

Cen Zhong looked at Xiao Cheng with great interest, and said, "Believe it or not, as long as Lu Ze becomes the director, they will immediately become very close relatives. Before Lu Ze could not please, now Jiang Zhihe I'm afraid they will take the initiative to come to the door. Don't look at this as a fifth-rank position, but the power is really great. And if you go one step further, you can be promoted to the assistant minister. You don't deal with it, and Lu Ze is your confidant."

Xiao Cheng laughed loudly: "So, if they oppose Lu Ze as a candidate, they will offend Jiang Zhihe again!"

"Who says it's not?" Cen Zhong said with a smile.

"Since that's the case, the candidate has been decided, and you will nominate the next court meeting!" Xiao Cheng said.

"Okay, Jiang Zhihe will remember this favor!" Cen Zhong said. "By the way, apart from this matter today, didn't you say that there are a few other things to discuss with me?"

"That's right, a few very important things!" Xiao Cheng stood up, walked over to the desk, fumbled for a while, and took out some manuscripts: "These are the few things I'm going to promote next, come and see .”

"One after another, what policy are you planning to introduce?" Cen Zhong laughed and watched.

immunity law.

In addition to taxes, the people of the Song Dynasty had another extremely heavy burden, that is corvee.

There is no wages for corvee, it is the obligation of every citizen of the Song Dynasty, and the people in one place take turns to serve.When it's your turn, prepare your own bedding and food and go to the service site. There are many people who broke their homes because of the heavy corvee burden.

On Guizhou Road, Xiao Cheng abolished the corvee system and changed the government to pay for it and recruit people to do it.

Now, Xiao Cheng is going to implement him on the territory controlled by the entire Jiangning court.

Each family, according to the level of wealth, to delineate the share of the money.The upper, middle and lower classes are divided into three classes, one hundred Wen for the upper household, eighty Wen for the middle household, and fifty Wen for the lower household.

As long as the money is paid in full, corvee can be exempted, and the people can be freed from heavy corvee, allowing them to have more time to make money, guarantee working time, and promote the development of production.

In the second year of the Tiansong Dynasty, the statistics of the world's Dingkou were made. Now the entire area under the control of the Xin Song Dynasty has more than [-] million households and a population of [-] million. This Dingkou only counts adult males.

If everything is collected, this is a considerable amount of money, and there are millions of dollars in income a year.If the imperial court makes up some more, many large-scale projects can be started at the same time.

Moreover, this can also allow many homeless refugees and urban unemployed people to have a job to earn money to support their families, which can be regarded as killing two birds with one stone.

Take it from the people, use it for the people.

"Yes, yes, but the money collectors here have included all the scholar-officials. Do you really want to collect their money as well?" Cen flicked the paper in his hand and asked.

"Is one hundred Wen more?" The so-called scholar-bureaucrats are naturally households.

"It's not much, but face is very important!" Cen Chong said: "They will think you are slapping him in the face and treat them as the same as Guishou."

Xiao Cheng sneered: "If anyone has any objections, I can send him to the Five Kingdoms City in Liao Kingdom to see the so-called noble families who herd sheep and horses there. I don’t want to tell them the truth again.”

"That's what you said!" Cen Zhong shook his head: "Well, although they will be slapped in the face, I think they can still accept it."

The second one is the young crop method.

Seeing the specific content inside, the smile on Cen Zhong's face gradually disappeared.

Every year when there is a shortage of money, the government can give loans and grain to the people, with an annual interest of one cent, which will be returned during the two taxes in summer and autumn.

This interest rate is ridiculously low.

Cen Zhong knows that most of the interest rates for lending in the market today are five cents, and even six cents or more.

The faces of these beating literati are different. Xiao Cheng's move is really cutting off many people's money.

Don't be ashamed, but you can bear it. If you cut off people's money, wouldn't it mean murder for money?
Can those who can afford loans be ordinary people?
"Usury money, one repayment three, one lifetime, it won't end!" Xiao Cheng said: "These people are using this method to slowly rob the people of their lands and houses, turning the people into their slaves step by step. For thousands of miles, they are digging the foundation of the country. According to statistics, there are only [-] million people, but do you know how many people have not been counted in Jiangning alone? Because these people have become hermits and servants .”

"The government comes to lend money, and there are many hidden dangers!"

"I know that if one is not good, this policy will become a tool for some people to make money." Xiao Cheng said: "So, I am not prepared to let the government do this."

"Then who will do it?" Cen Zhong blurted out and asked back, but immediately reacted: "You mean United Bank?"

"Yes, United Bank!" Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "United Bank has the shares of the imperial court, but most of them are owned by those big businessmen, and behind these big businessmen, how many of them are not backed by powerful people? So I recommend this time Too much is just to cut some of their interests. If the young crop law is successful, the scale of lending will definitely expand, with small profits and high sales, and profits will still be there. What we have to do is to formulate rules and make everything within the rules Just run."

"Anyway, some people will object, such as those temples?" Cen Zhong said: "Their Xiangji Kitchen is a big lender! And their reputation is still good! At least it is much better than some wealthy gentry!"

"When I mention these monks, I will get angry!" Xiao Cheng said angrily: "Jumping out of the world of mortals, not in the five elements, I bah, they amass money to make people angry, all of them are fat and big ears, you make him happy Donate a little money to add more weapons to the army. They are shy and say they don’t want to kill. Just wait, one day, I will scrape off the gold powder from those Buddhas. Isn’t the Buddha all empty? The mud body And the golden body, the Buddha must not care about it."

Cen Zhong laughed loudly: "I heard that you don't have a cold for monks, it seems really good. But most people in the south believe in Buddhism, so you can just pretend, don't say these things outside."

"That's natural!" Xiao Cheng said: "The Zhiqiu Academy has now mastered some of the monastery's dirty tricks, such things as loan sharks are still out of the question, and there are even more sinister and immoral ones. I'm waiting for an opportunity. Ha, the four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasty, when the time comes, I will pay them a big fortune, and if each temple does not give me tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of coins, I will not let them go!"

"Tsk tsk, I think you are planning to exterminate yourself from the scholars, and then from Buddhism!" Cen Zhong said.

"As long as the political and military reforms are completed, I have nothing to fear!" Xiao Cheng lowered his voice. "To put it bluntly, everything, in the end, it still depends on whose knife is sharper!"

Cen Zhong had nothing to say.

Xiao Cheng, who looks gentle and gentle, is the guy who is the best at compromising with others in the government. In fact, his favorite activity is domineering. As long as he catches the opportunity, this guy will definitely wield the butcher's knife more neatly than anyone else.

This point has been verified on the land in the southwest.

It's a pity that almost everyone in the land of Jiangnan hasn't realized the true face of this guy.

But when they realize it, it's probably when Xiao Cheng loses their heads.

(End of this chapter)