I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 86 Conflicts over land acquisition, commercial taxes

In the Military Guard House, Yagyu's office, he still changed his desk and stool. In the room, the officials of his new organization were busy.

Hijikata Toshizo came to Yagyu with a document and said: "Director, the uniforms of the new army have been selected. Take a look."

Yagyu took the photo and took a look. The style of the new military uniform was the same as that of the Western army. It was changed to a suit, the color was black, and the military cap was an improved flying saucer cap.

Yagyu signed immediately: "Just follow this, two sets of summer clothes and two sets of winter clothes, order them from merchants in England."

Hijikata Toshizo left with the documents, and Takeda Kanryusai hurried into the office.

Liu Sheng was a little surprised, raised his head and asked, "What's the matter, Guanliuzhai?"

Takeda Kanryusai stepped forward and said: "Director, the residents near Sakai Town are unwilling to move, and the port project cannot be carried out. Vice Chief Shannan asked me to come back and ask what to do."

Yagyu frowned and said, "Are those residents dissatisfied with the compensation provided by the court?"

Takeda Kanryusai said with some indignation: "These unscrupulous people probably know that we are going to build a port in Osaka, so they are unwilling to move and want more compensation."

Yagyu said with some displeasure: "Where did the imperial court get so much money? The money now is all borrowed from Western countries. The shogunate has too much to take care of itself. The money given by the feudal lords is all for the royal family. The little money is just a drop in the bucket.

Tell Shannan that the compensation can only be given according to the market price, and there will be no more. As for those stubborn people, I will arrest them and tell them to either take the money and leave, or just get out. "

Takeda Kanryusai said worriedly: "Director, will this cause unrest?"

Liu Sheng waved his hand and said: "Don't worry, these people dare to cause trouble, it must be because there is someone behind them. Whoever dares to show up, I will go find him personally."

Takeda Kanryusai immediately retreated and conveyed Yagyu's order to Shannan Keisuke. Although Shannan Keisuke could not bear it, in order to complete the tasks arranged by Yagyu, he began to lead a team to forcibly drive away the nearby people.

Some people glared at Shannan Jingsuke and shouted: "You are a vicious thief who helps foreigners bully our own people!"

"Just because those foreign businessmen want to trade, you are driving us away. What a shame!"

"Give us the land! Give us back the land!"

A group of people stood in front of Shannan Jingsuke, shouting and scolding loudly.

Shannan Keisuke immediately covered his face and fled, and the people became even more excited, but Takeda Kanryusai didn't care about these people. He immediately shouted: "The imperial court has already paid you money to compensate you. Don't be ignorant and retreat quickly!"

But instead of leaving, the people began to attack the construction site.

Takeda Kanryusai was worried about problems at the construction site, and immediately asked the accompanying Shinsengumi to start suppressing them.

When the common people saw the Shinsengumi's move, they immediately dispersed and fled.

Not only was it difficult to acquire land in Osaka, but people in Kobe Village and Hyogotsu were also dissatisfied with the compensation and caused riots.

Yagyu could only send out the Shinsengumi and the action teams of the Prosecution and Non-violation Agency to suppress it.

Hitotsubashi Yoshiki and Shimazu Hisamitsu wanted to use this matter to stop Yagyu.

In the early morning of that morning, Hitotsubashi Keiki was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, I have received a report that the Shinsengumi under Yagyu-sama is robbing the people of their land."

Shimazu Hisamitsu also took the opportunity to say: "Your Majesty, this incident has caused resentment among the people in Osaka, Kobe and other places and caused turmoil."

Yamauchido took the opportunity to say: "After all, Yagyu-sama is young and not familiar with political affairs, which is why he caused these troubles. I think it is better to replace the reform with an older minister." Several people sang in harmony, and other ministers also helped to speak. , after all, Yagyu has all the power, which naturally makes people jealous.

Yagyu knew that this group of people had been clamoring against Changzhou recently, and now he didn't know what the fault was, so he had to provoke him.

He said with a straight face: "Every bit of land expropriated by the imperial court has been compensated. Some unscrupulous people are too greedy and have no national interests at heart. They deliberately obstruct the expropriation of land in order to get more compensation. This is not me." His men robbed him."

Emperor Takamei, who was sitting behind the straw mat, stood aside and said: "These unscrupulous people are going too far. The purpose of opening the port is to prosper the country. Since compensation has been given, it should be sensible. It is wrong to make trouble everywhere."

Mr. Shimazu and Mr. Hitotsubashi, you are busy with the affairs of Choshu, so don't worry about the opening of the port, so as not to be deceived. "

Yagyu took the opportunity and said: "Your Majesty, although I have received aid and loans from Western countries, this amount of money is just a drop in the bucket if we want to industrialize the country.

Now neither the shogunate nor the imperial court has money, so I plan to develop financial resources. "

Emperor Xiaomei quickly asked: "What is Aiqing going to do?"

Yagyu immediately said: "Judging from the situation of the imperial court, before the factory is opened, there is only one way to increase revenue, and that is to collect taxes."

Hitotsubashi's expression changed, and he immediately retorted: "Yagyu-sama, why are you taking advantage of the people's livelihood in vain? Those farmers are already bearing heavy taxes, and imposing more taxes will provoke a civil uprising."

Yagyu explained with a straight face: "The tax I am talking about is commercial tax. The commercial tax collected in Kyoto and the newly opened port city is the revenue for the imperial court."

Shimazu Hisamitsu immediately objected: "By taxing businessmen, doesn't that just strengthen their importance? How is this allowed?"

Yagyu said with an indifferent expression: "In Western countries, the status of businessmen is no longer as low as before. Businessmen and farmers are equal. Japan's rise cannot be separated from the efforts of every citizen.

Moreover, merchants earned a lot of money and were far richer than farmers. Even many princes and warriors were borrowing money from merchants.

Now that the country continues to use money to revitalize the country, how can businessmen who have made a lot of money ignore important national affairs?You know, without a country to protect them, their money will be robbed by bandits and robbers.So I think the court should collect commercial taxes from merchants. "

Hitotsubashi Keixi was still dissatisfied and cursed: "Asking for money from those lowly businessmen is shameless."

Yagyu counterattacked unceremoniously: "Western countries all have commercial taxes. If we don't want to fall behind, we should learn from each other's systems. Collecting commercial taxes is the right way."

When Emperor Komei saw that Yagyu insisted on collecting commercial taxes, he said: "Since those powerful countries collect commercial taxes, Japan should also learn from it. My dear Yagyu, I will leave this matter to you."

As soon as the court meeting ended, the imperial court issued an imperial edict to collect commercial taxes. However, the specific content of the commercial tax system has not yet been determined. This imperial edict only endorsed Yagyu's tax system reform.

The imposition of commercial taxes caused great repercussions in Kyoto and Osaka, and the most dissatisfied were the businessmen in the two places.

Since the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, the shogunate has not paid much attention to commercial taxes. Since the tax quota was established at the beginning of the shogunate, it has not changed for more than 200 years, so commerce developed quickly.

Now the court wants to collect taxes, which is a bit difficult for businessmen to accept.

For example, Konoikeya in Osaka.

Konoikeya does something similar to the financial industry. He mainly lends money to princes all over the world. Relying on this business, Konoikeya has become the largest wealthy businessman in Osaka.

In addition, in addition to merchants such as Konoikeya in Osaka, there are also merchants such as Yamatoya in Kyoto. If they join forces, they can affect the market environment of the two places. Once they shut down, a civil commotion is imminent.

(End of this chapter)