Daming 1805

Chapter 468 Investigation of Knowing the Results in Advance

Zhu Jingyuan fully understood Grandpa's purpose.

First of all, of course, you have to help yourself deal with the income tax on gifts to immediate family members, a policy that will definitely be resisted collectively.

But also really wanted to see for myself.

It's even hard for him to say which of these two things is more important to him.

Zhu Jingyuan excused himself with some embarrassment and said:
"Grandpa, you old man don't have to take the blame for me.

"As long as I have a good sense of proportion and set reasonable rules, the interests of most middle- and lower-class people will not be damaged.

"Even, they can use the relevant regulations in reverse to protect their family property inheritance.

"In this way, even if most nobles and businessmen are uncomfortable, they can only accept it in the end...

"Coupled with my special status, plus this kind of policy must have been formulated by the imperial court, and then implemented throughout the world.

"The vast majority of ordinary people will not count this matter on me."

Zhu Zhongliang said angrily when he heard this:

"Reduce your participation as much as possible..." "What's your name, brat? Even if people don't hate you, they will hate your father.

"Of course your father is your father, and also my son!"

Zhu Jingyuan's expression was weird. Although the old man's words were weird, it was true.

Zhu Jingyuan wanted to continue explaining something, but Zhu Zhongliang had already waved his hand to stop him.

Zhu Zhongliang took a breath and continued to explain his thoughts:
"Now with the telegraph and the telephone, information travels so fast.

"Businessmen are by far the most well-informed group.

"You came to the richest place in Ming Dynasty, and you investigated the local loan and financial related status.

“Then Daming started collecting income tax on gifts received by immediate family members.

"In addition, you have led so many unreasonable reform experiments in the past.

"If you really think about it a little bit, you will doubt it, this is probably another new policy made by you, the big food king!
"Even if I come and take the initiative to host the promotion, there will definitely be conspiracy theorists in the future who will suspect that the leader is still you.

"That's why I want to come here with as much fanfare as possible.

"Then try my best to express the tax loopholes I found myself, and then I actively asked for the loopholes to be filled.

"With our status like you and me, we can't care too much about feelings.

"Things should be considered as rationally as possible.

“Think about how you can make the best possible use of the resources available to you.

"Your grandfather is already at this age, I don't know how many years to live, and he doesn't care about the so-called Youyou's mouth for a long time.

"You have earned grandpa a great contribution to land expansion, and grandpa should also take as many responsibilities for you two as possible while he is still able to move.

"Even if I insist on raising the inheritance tax, the literati of later generations can only hold their noses and say that the merits outweigh the demerits.

"Grandpa is at least at the level of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

"It's also the best use of everything in a way."

Zhu Jingyuan finally had nothing to say, and could only nod with gratitude and emotion in agreement:

"Grandson understands, thank you grandpa for taking care of me..."

Zhu Zhongliang exhaled:
"I will be staying in the Forbidden City for the next two days. Let's figure it out, how can we make things more reasonable..."

Zhu Zhongliang, the Supreme Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, lived in the Forbidden City in Shuntian Prefecture.

In the morning of the next day, he received worship from the main officials of the Yamen in Jianghuai Province and the heads of the royal family and government-run institutions in the Wenhua Hall.

In public, Zhu Zhongliang has always been very happy, and has always been a cheerful old man.

Although the purpose of the southern tour was to learn about the development of industry and commerce in the south, the pilgrimage did not mention any serious business at all.

When it comes to private occasions, of course the mood is also very good, but it is a lot more serious.

After the pilgrimage was over, Zhu Zhongliang continued to live in the Forbidden City, and had no intention of continuing to "inspect" at all.

The main thing is to discuss and plan with Zhu Jingyuan, how to handle the income tax of immediate family members.

But in the eyes of ordinary officials, the Supreme Emperor came to see his grandson in the name of inspection.

Zhu Zhongliang lived in the Forbidden City for eight days before starting his real tour.

First, accompanied by Zhu Jingyuan, he went to inspect the main yamen of Jianghuai Province.

Go to the main government-run manufacturers in Jianghuai Province, the main manufacturers under the royal consortium, and the main banks to visit.

Zhu Zhongliang really wanted to look around and see the achievements of construction and development in the past few years.

Zhu Zhongliang is more concerned about those new factories, new engines, and research projects such as aircraft, tanks, and missiles.

Banks actually joined on purpose.

Zhu Jingyuan originally thought that it would be fine if Zhu Zhongliang came, even if he had to take the blame for himself, he would

Zhu Zhongliang also deliberately chatted with ordinary officials, and even directly chatted with the managers and employees of the manufacturers.

When I visited the bank, I deliberately recruited people who were doing business to chat.

This is also a tradition of the Ming Dynasty. Since the time of the Taizu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, the system for the emperor to meet with representatives of the people has been stipulated.

It's just that it became more and more formal.

In the Renwu Dynasty, this system was refreshed again by Emperor Shizu.

After Emperor Shizu became the Supreme Emperor, he often visited various places, and then he liked to call the local people to chat.

This system has also been continued in a more standardized manner.

After the Supreme Emperor inspected the provincial yamen and institutions, he went to inspect the yamen and institutions at the prefecture and county levels below.

First visited Yingtian Mansion, and then lived in Suzhou Mansion.

This order is completely natural, and all the accompanying personnel did not feel that there was anything wrong.

Yingtian is Nanjing, and Suzhou is the number one city in the world. Such an arrangement is very normal.

However, the Supreme Emperor dismissed Zhu Jingyuan and went to Suzhou with his entourage on the grounds that his inspection tour was a private matter, and that Zhu Jingyuan, the Jianghuai envoy, still had official duties and should continue to stay in Yingtian Mansion to handle his work.

After arriving in Suzhou, the Supreme Emperor seemed to be on a whim. After visiting the government-operated and royal bank branches, he inquired about the private bank of the world's first capital.

The largest bank in Suzhou Prefecture is of course the Gusu Bank that Zheng Xingyang investigated.

The reception and accompanying personnel immediately took out this proposed goal.

So the Supreme Emperor really went directly to the Gusu Bank.

Gusu Bank is a joint venture established by a large number of private owners in Suzhou, and there is no major owner who can fully control it.

The big treasurer of the bank is also a specially hired professional treasurer named Qian Feng.

The visit of the Supreme Emperor can be said to be the biggest event in the history of Qianzhuang.

The main shareholders of Qianzhuang followed the shopkeeper to pay a respectful visit.

Then Qian Feng, the treasurer, introduced the situation of the bank to the Supreme Emperor.

The Supreme Emperor listened to Qian Feng's introduction of the general situation without any other choice.

Then I asked casually about several specific businesses, including the loan business of course.

The Supreme Emperor seemed very curious and specifically asked for a more detailed report.

Then the Supreme Emperor discovered that there was a category called marriage, which accounted for quite a large proportion of loans and profits.

The Supreme Emperor immediately asked very curiously:
"Strange, isn't our Suzhou the number one city in the world? Why do the children here have to get loans for marriage?"

Qian Feng and the owners who followed were suddenly panicked.

The Supreme Emperor came in a hurry, and they didn't have the opportunity to make a special report, so they could only take the normal internal report.

On normal reports, of course, there are normal business classifications.

They never expected that the Supreme Emperor would be interested in this kind of marriage loan...

They are all instinctively praying to God and worshiping Buddha in their hearts, hoping that the Supreme Emperor will just ask casually, and don't delve into this issue.

They all know that this marriage-related loan is mainly for private commercial banks to use marriage to avoid taxes.

Even if there are occasional marriage loans for ordinary people, it is impossible to have a large amount.

It can only be regarded as a fraction in the total loan amount.

In other words, under this category, most of the businesses are exploiting loopholes in the law to avoid taxes.

Strictly speaking, it is legal, but it is also a tax avoidance.

At the same time, the emperor's authority is unlimited. If he is not afraid of being scolded by the people, he can be killed by a big hat.

Everyone looked at Qian Feng at the same time.

Qian Feng can become the treasurer of the largest private bank, and his psychological quality and ability are top-notch.

But this time it was a bit of a dilemma.

A normal explanation will definitely reveal tax evasion.

But if it is not explained normally, a reasonable interpretation method cannot be found for a while.

Qian Feng could only bite the bullet and replied:
"Your Majesty, these years our Ming Dynasty was in its prime, and many merchants made a lot of money.

"These people make a lot of money easily, and like to talk about ostentation in all kinds of things.

"Marriage is such a major life event that bears the brunt of it."

The Supreme Emperor shook his head when he heard this:

"It's not good, getting a loan for a major life event like getting married is like slapping a swollen face to pretend to be fat.

"How dare you give them a loan? Can they pay back the money?"

Qian Feng can only continue to forcefully explain along this line of thought:

"Your Majesty, don't worry, we run a bank, and when lending money, we must check the status of the lender.

"Only those who are really able to repay and those who have enough property at home will issue a full loan.

"It's impossible for anyone to take out a large loan for extravagance.

"We have recovered most of the loans with interest."

The Supreme Emperor seemed a little surprised:
"Really? A person who needs to get a loan to get married can still repay the loan honestly? This is really weird, let me see?"

The Supreme Emperor continued to read the details in the report, and at the same time continued to ask:

"Show me the largest marriage-related loan business you have done, as well as the receipts and certificates of the recently completed marriage-related loan..."

Now Qian Feng and his bosses panicked even more.

If the largest document is presented, it will be difficult to continue to conceal the truth.

50 gold bills, that is, [-] silver bills, no matter how pompous the marriage is, it is difficult to use it up.

If it is really used up, the ostentation will not be so big.

The point is, after the money went out, it was indeed not used for the wedding.

If the Supreme Emperor continues to be curious and let people investigate this matter, then the means of avoiding taxes all along will be exposed.

In fact, it has been exposed, and the Supreme Emperor came here to "discover" it himself, just to make things worse.

Qian Feng and his bosses didn't know what to do for a while.

The Supreme Emperor waited for a few seconds, seeing that these people did not respond, he couldn't help urging:

"What's the matter? Can't you let me see it?"

If it was an ordinary person, or even an ordinary official, even the prince Zhu Jingyuan, Qian Feng would dare to resist a little bit, using excuses such as keeping clients secret or commercial secrets.

But the Supreme Emperor is also the emperor, and the emperor who is nominally higher than the emperor is deceiving the emperor in the true sense if he deliberately conceals it.

The vests of several clubs began to sweat.

However, under tremendous pressure, Qian Feng finally chose to confess.

Because Qian Feng is an outside professional treasurer, it is impossible to take the risk of deceiving the king in order to keep the secrets of the Gusu Bank.

Heartbroken, Qian Feng immediately pleaded guilty to the Supreme Emperor, and then went to get the receipt himself.

Soon after, Qian Feng sent several stacks of bills to the Supreme Emperor Zhu Zhongliang.

At the same time, Qian Feng, who had completely given up, also took the initiative to introduce:

"Your Majesty, the document placed at the top is the largest dowry loan that was recently processed.

"The lender is Wang Baoqing, and the loan amount is [-] gold bills..."

Zhu Zhongliang looked at the receipt, listened to the explanation, and deliberately asked in a very exaggerated way:

"Ten thousand gold bills! That's 50 silver bills!

"Prince Daming's dowry is only a hundred gold coins!

"Prince Daming's annuity is only two thousand gold bills!
"My initial investment in Daming Airlines was only [-] gold bills!
"Now this Wang Baoqing spent [-] gold bills on his son's wedding!
"Come on, go and find this Wang Baoqing, I have to ask him how he spent the ten thousand gold bills!

"And his in-laws also found me.

"I want to see how they spend ten thousand gold bills without overstepping!"

Several owners of Gusu Bank couldn't stand it anymore.

Now they really prefer that Wang Baoqing really overstepped and spent all the ten thousand gold bills.

The key question is no.

These nouveau riche are indeed very extravagant in their personal lives.

But it is absolutely impossible to put down all the net worth and lend a large amount of cash to use for the son's wedding...

The Supreme Emperor has his destiny, and now this matter cannot be stopped.

Immediately, guard officers went to Wang Baoqing and Liu Yudong's family to find someone.

In name, of course, it's not arresting criminals, it's just recruiting two civilians for questioning.

But in fact this is already being implemented.

Wang Baoqing has just completed his cooperation with Liu Yudong, and the two parties have completed a de facto equity transaction.

Now Wang Baoqing still stays in Suzhou, and continues to personally watch the important details of the follow-up cooperation.

Soon, he was found by Jin Yiwei, who accompanied the Supreme Emperor, and brought him to the Gusu Bank.

If it was half a month ago, if the two of them knew that they were going to be summoned by the Supreme Emperor, they would have been overjoyed.

But now the situation is completely different.

Especially knowing that the Supreme Emperor is now in the Gusu Bank.

During the waiting period, the Supreme Emperor Zhu Zhongliang continued to look through the materials in his hand, which was shocking.

Because Zhu Zhongliang already knew that the money was used to avoid taxes.

Seeing Wang Baoqing and Liu Yudong, after Zhu Zhongliang accepted their worship, he asked his accompanying secretary to question him.

Ask Wang Baoqing how the loan was spent and what he did after getting the money.

These things are actually open to the public, and you only need to ask ordinary people to find out.

Wang Baoqing and Liu Yudong knew that it was impossible to hide it, so they didn't dare to take the risk of deceiving the emperor, and told all they could say intermittently.

Both of them also understood that telling the truth may not necessarily lead to death, because what they did was nominally legal.

But if you don't tell or lie, you may die.

After Taishang Huang Zhu Zhongliang figured out what was going on, he immediately stood up furiously:
"You bunch of daring moths! You are digging up the foundation of my Great Ming Dynasty!

"It should be said that it really deserves to be the wealthiest place in my Ming Dynasty, you businessmen are so flexible in their brains!
"The marriage of the children can be used as a means to evade taxes, and it has become a complete money transaction like this!

"The imperial court cared about the close relationship between parents and children, and exempted parents from income tax on the children and the assets that children gave to their parents, but it turned out to be a means for you moths to evade taxes!

"Since you are so shameless, don't blame the imperial court for using harsh punishments!

"I have ordered that the Gusu Bank be shut down immediately, and all the shareholders of the bank, as well as all employees from the big shopkeeper to the staff, will all be imprisoned in the prison of Suzhou Prefecture for investigation.

"Send a telegram to the emperor, asking him to immediately order that all betrothal gifts, dowries, and marriage-related loans are prohibited from now on.

"All banks operating related businesses have been suspended for rectification.

"Arrange the Royal Bank of Ming Dynasty, the Ministry of Taxation, the Ministry of Punishment, Dongchang, and Jinyiwei to come forward and organize a tax evasion investigation team to investigate the irregularities in the large-amount loans and capital flows of the people in recent years.

"All banks that have been closed for rectification are required to cooperate in the recovery of tax evasion in recent years.

"Immediately begin to formulate new laws to modify the scope of income tax collection, and any kinship is no longer a condition for exemption."

(End of this chapter)