Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 369 Fighting Tax Arrears
"Let Zhao Shu come over."

When the emperor saw the tax arrears, he had a headache.

Since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the taxation in the Jiangnan area has far exceeded the national average level. The three prefectures of Su, Song and Chang alone accounted for [-]% of the world's money and food, and Nanzhili accounted for [-]% of the world.

The per capita burden is heavy, and it is naturally psychologically unbalanced. The common people cannot escape, and the gentry owes taxes as much as possible.

Historically, the cancellation case broke out in the 17th year of Shunzhi. The Jiangnan area owed more than 500 million taels of tax. In the end, the Manchu Qing expelled 3000 more than 50,000 gentry, but only recovered [-] taels.

In the seventh year of Yongzheng, the scale of tax arrears reached more than [-] million taels, which was the case of continuous exemptions in the last years of Kangxi.

The Qing Dynasty was tossed until the Jiaqing period because of tax arrears, and it was considered a temporary end.

If it is a cool article, Zhu Yixi can use soldiers to force the gentry to pay back the taxes owed, so that the family will be ruined, but the reality is here, it is very difficult.

Soon, Zhao Shu came calmly.

"His Majesty!"

After being the first assistant for a while, Zhao Shu's temperament became more and more extraordinary.

"Sit!" The emperor said lightly.

"What is the cabinet's charter for those who owe taxes?"

As the first problem encountered after ascending the throne, the emperor seemed very calm.

This is not his own business, but the plight of the entire court.

"Your Majesty, from the early years of Chongzhen to the present, Nanzhili's tax arrears have reached tens of millions of taels."

Zhao Shu frowned, and said helplessly: "This is the cumulative result of decades. If you ask for it recklessly, [-]% of the officials in the court and the local area will be wiped out."

"So, indifferent?" The emperor's face remained unchanged, but his tone was not right.

Zhao Shu deliberately said: "Your Majesty, if the enemy is now in front of us, if we pay close attention to this matter, I am afraid that the priority will be reversed and the country will be hindered."

Zhu Yixi was silent.

This is the main contradiction and the secondary contradiction. Before the united front, everything has to be tolerated.

"If you continue to indulge, how can there be food in the household department?"

Zhu Yixi said angrily.

Feeling the emperor's dissatisfaction, Zhao Shu was overjoyed: "You are right, the whole cabinet is equally indignant."

In the cabinet, Zhao Shu is from Shanxi, Zhang Shenyan is also from Shanxi, and Yan Chongxin is from Shaanxi. Of course, they are not used to the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River.

"So?" The emperor suddenly realized that this was the cabinet's temptation to him, and his sitting posture was corrected.

"Your Majesty, it's time for the gentry in Nanzhili to learn a lesson."

Zhao Shu said calmly, looking a little excited: "Your Majesty, the favor of the provincial examination is a reward, and there must be a punishment to make those scholar-bureaucrats submit and pay taxes willingly."

"This is not only the radiation of your majesty, but also the appearance of the imperial court."

"how do you want to do it?"

The emperor thought about it and said softly.

"Your Majesty, didn't you arrest a group of nobles and members of the Donglin Party?"

Zhao Shu laughed and said, "It's a good time to take advantage of them, starting with tax arrears—"

"it is good!"

Zhu Yixi said in a deep voice, with a trace of joy on his face.

The big move of tax arrears is really at the right time.

"Let's kill the chickens and monkeys with one trick first, so as to see the effect later!"

The two monarchs and ministers looked at each other, everything was silent.

……

Soon, with the approval of the emperor, the efficiency of the cabinet's actions improved instantly, and after a while, the household department got the news.

The Minister of the Household Department is Jiang Yueguang.

Because he has always been clean and honest, and gradually launched the Donglin Party, he is a suitable candidate because of his seniority.

At this time, he was shocked to hear that the cabinet had cleared up tax arrears.

Just as I was about to ask about the situation, I suddenly learned that the matter had been handed over to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Household Department had no right to participate.

"Is the imperial court going to attack Jiangnan?"

Jiang Yueguang sighed.

After thinking about it, he decided not to care about it after all, so as not to be a person inside and out.

In comparison, the people in the Metropolitan Procuratorate can be described as excited.

Compared with Beijing's Metropolitan Procuratorate, Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate is extremely shabby.

Whether it's household registration or inspection, it's not their turn. The Metropolitan Procuratorate is good, and the final main duty is to admiral Cao Jiang, responsible for the coastal defense of the Yangtze River.

"It's just that we don't have that many people!"

"Don't worry, these people will join you."

Immediately, a row of royal guards showed big smiles.

Hundreds of Jinyiwei participated in it as errand runners.

Soon, various noble mansions began to make noise.

It is difficult to check the concealed land, but the tax arrears are written in black and white, and one check will be accurate.

The whole city of Nanjing suddenly became lively.

There are countless people who pawn treasures and buy and sell land.

And in Qian Zhai, he was in the same situation at this time.

Liu Rushi raised her eyebrows, hugged her daughter, and said resolutely, "Why did my family ever owe taxes?"

"Madam, the Qian family has tens of thousands of acres of fertile land, countless shops and houses, and tax arrears. Who would have thought that such things would happen to your family?"

The leader shook his head and said with a wry smile: "According to the records over the years, the Qian family has owed more than [-] taels of taxes over the years."

Liu Rushi wanted to say something more, but he saw the soldiers on the side with fierce eyes, like hungry tigers, waiting for an opportunity to eat.

"In two days, I will return it to you."

"Forget it, I'll come back the day after tomorrow, I hope Madam won't let me down!"

After all, the Metropolitan Procuratorate is a literati, so out of consideration for face, he could only bite the bullet and say.

Only then did Liu Rushi breathe a sigh of relief, but suddenly the servant beside him hesitated to speak.

"what happened?"

Holding her daughter by the hand, Liu Rushi said with an ugly face.

"Reporting to Madam, there is news from the imperial court that if you want to rescue the master, you must pay 30,000 taels of silver before you can leave the imperial prison."

"What? Why so much money?"

Liu Ru was stunned.

After a long time, she called the butler to discuss the countermeasures.

The butler said helplessly: "Madam, more than 40,000 taels of silver, this is not a small amount, and we have to sell [-]% of the family's land."

"Calligraphy, paintings and antiques at home, can't they be sold?"

"Madam, calligraphy and paintings are sold everywhere in Nanjing. These are not worth much. It's better to wait for a while before selling them off."

"Sell—" Liu Rushi gritted his teeth and said, "As long as the master can be saved, no amount of family property will be sold."

The next day, when Liu Rushi was overwhelmed with work, the three sisters from the nunnery also ran over and gave her their private money.

"Although it's not much, it's also a little bit of our heart."

Bian Yujing approached tremblingly, and said softly.

"How dare you bother the sisters."

Liu Rushi wiped away tears, and said with red eyes: "Sister Kou, your Duke's Mansion may be uneasy!"

"Ah!" Kou Baimen sighed, his fair face was half regretful, half resentful: "They actually want to sell me to make money."

"Fortunately, I left early, otherwise I would have been murdered."

Seeing the almost dilapidated Qian Zhai, the sisters felt desolate again.

(End of this chapter)