Chapter 617: Taxation is distributed according to the amount of land, and all taxes are paid as one!
"Everyone, now that the evil villain has left, we should all be able to see the light of day and celebrate together!"

“Celebrate together!”

Thousands of miles south of the Yangtze River.

The north is exceptionally hot this year, and the south is no less hot, but there is also plenty of rain.

The sunshine and abundant rainfall all indicate that there will be a great harvest this year.

In Suzhou City.

There are shady green trees, rockery and gurgling water.

A group of gentry, dressed in loose and casual silk and satin, sat around the canal like stars in the Milky Way.

Young women placed bottles of wine among the floating objects upstream of the current.

It flows along the water for the use of the gentry present.

The atmosphere on site was harmonious and relaxed.

"Zhang Juzheng has been entrenched in Jiangnan for six years, causing great harm to the people of Jiangnan. Now that he has been ordered to return to Beijing, Jiangnan is like a dark cloud that has dissipated above the sky. The good days I have been waiting for are finally coming back!"

A few days ago, an imperial decree came from the capital to transfer Zhang Juzheng back to the capital.

Zhang Juzheng naturally could not disobey the order from the central government. After receiving the order, he packed his luggage at the Suzhou Grain Inspectorate Office and headed north.

As everyone drank glass after glass of wine, the topic became more and more open.

"Damn you Zhang, you've oppressed me and others so much over the past few years that I can't even breathe."

"If Jiangnan wasn't weak in the Central Government right now, if it were the past, I would have made sure that he would never return!"

Several people looked regretful.

In the past, the court had Xu Gelao, Li Gelao, Yan Shangshu, Lei Shangshu and others in office, and the six ministries, five temples and six departments were all clean officials. Just based on what Zhang Juzheng had done in Jiangnan in the past few years, he could be charged with a crime that he could not get rid of, and he would be dismissed from office and lose his title.

"The situation is different now. There are many treacherous villains in the court. The emperor has been living in the West Garden like the previous emperor in recent years. The power in the court is controlled by villains like Gao Gong and Yan Shaoting."

"Now that we can wait until the thief Zhang leaves Jiangnan, it is already the best outcome."

If you put your butt in different positions, you will look at the problem from different angles.

In the eyes of Jiangnan people, the court is indeed full of treacherous villains, and they are the ones who are being suppressed innocently.

Someone snorted coldly.

"Let's not talk about that. Now that Zhang Juzheng has left, there is only Gao Hanwen left in Jiangnan. Even if he has the reputation of Gao Yanwang, he can't stop us from raising our heads!"

"Correct!"

"Even if you are the King of Hell, you have to lie down!"

"Now that Zhang Juzheng is gone, it's time to get the word out."

"Over the years, those peasants have been farming the land for nothing and have not paid any taxes. We don't need to treat them harshly and demand compensation for the losses of the past few years. But from now on, those lands must be returned to where they came from!"

"We have always kept accounts at home. The summer crops are about to be harvested and the autumn crops are about to be planted. Every household has sent people to tell the peasants."

"The rules in Jiangnan need to be changed."

"There is no reason to let them get benefits for free. If they are willing to join the families, the land will be cultivated by them as usual, and the rent will be the same as before. But if there are some who have developed ambitions in the past few years and feel that they can support themselves, we will drive them out. At the same time, we will spread the word that anyone who dares to hire them as workers in the workshops of the twelve prefectures in Jiangnan will be guilty of betraying us!"

"I want to see if these peasants have the guts to fight us!"

The wine cup flows along the winding water.

He drank glass after glass of wine.

Despite six years of strong pressure from Zhang Juzheng, once he was ordered to return to Beijing.

After all, people leave and the tea gets cold.

And in Beijing, three thousand miles away.

In front of the Meridian Gate.

As the sun rose higher, everyone found the heat increasingly unbearable.

But seeing that Yan Shaoting, the newly promoted Grand Secretary of Huangji Palace, still had things to discuss, everyone could only endure the irritation caused by the heat.

The situation is better than people.

The situation in Beijing is unclear now.

Yan Shaoting was in charge of the capital and its surrounding areas.

No one could guarantee that if there was a conflict with Yan Shaoting at this time, a team of factory guards would break in at night and arrest him and put him in jail.

Gao Gong also glanced at Yan Shaoting who was standing next to the Crown Prince, his eyes flickering, "What else do you want to discuss? All the orders issued at the same time can protect the capital. If it is something else, why not go back to the cabinet to discuss it?"

This is the end.

He has already acknowledged the fact that Yan Shaoting will become a cabinet minister.

Yan Shaoting suddenly smiled and turned to look at Gao Gong.

See this situation.

Gao Gong's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "I have been away from the court for many years, but I often read about the government in the court reports. Since the second year of Longqing, the prime minister has been in charge of the central government and has been responsible for the new affairs. The new policies of Jialong have achieved remarkable results. I have heard in Changping that although the world is often plagued by droughts and floods, the local granaries are full. No matter how disasters come, the people will not be left without food. The local government offices have been renovated, and the prime minister has strictly implemented the performance evaluation system, eliminated the incompetent, and reused capable officials, so the government is in good order and the people are harmonious."

As Yan Shaoting spoke.

Gao Gong only felt a familiar feeling coming towards him.

Yes.

When Yan Shaoting had not yet left the court, if he wanted to do something, he would often find someone and praise him/her to the skies.

What does he want to do?
Gao Gong was alert and looked at the other person deeply.

Yan Shaoting glanced at the crowd and said, "Four years ago, under the leadership of Yuanfu, the central government implemented land measurement in Nanzhili and Zhejiang, and collected taxes in exchange for copper coins, which benefited the people. Fortunately, I have a few good friends and often get news from Jiangnan. I know that Jiangnan has a new look now, and Yuanfu has made great contributions!"

Gao Yi still couldn't figure out the situation at this time, but when he saw Yan Shaoting praising Gao Gong, he couldn't help but sigh: "In the past few years, the nourishment has not been in the court, and I don't know. Because of the new policy, the prime minister has been staying in the cabinet for six or seven days out of ten in the past few years. His hair has turned white and he has been old. Last winter, he even collapsed from exhaustion. Fortunately, the servant discovered it in time, so it didn't cause a disaster."

Seeing Gao Yi actually spoke up and agreed.

Gao Gong couldn't help but hold his breath.

However, Yan Shaoting clapped his hands with a beaming face and said loudly: "The Prime Minister has worked hard for many years to renew the country! Now, I think the new policy has reached a critical moment. For example, in places like Nanzhili and Zhejiang, the Prime Minister has made great contributions and created a new look. Now we should implement the method of consolidating the government and make it a policy that will never change."

broken!

Gao Gong's alarm bells rang instantly.

He stared at Yan Shaoting intently, knowing in his heart that this guy was using him to make trouble and was going to take action against Nanzhili and Zhejiang!

But what was he going to do?

Gao Gong had doubts in his heart.

He couldn't help but look at Zhao Zhenji and Hu Zongxian standing beside him.

Seeing that both of them had a hint of doubt on their faces, he became even more curious.

Logically speaking, if Yan Shaoting was in power now and wanted to take action against Nanzhili and Zhejiang, he would definitely have to inform Zhao and Hu in advance.

But now it is clear that there was no prior communication or discussion.

Zhao Zhenji, on the other hand, said, "Runwu has moved to Changping for four years and devoted himself to studying. We have often heard of his new learning in recent years. I think even though Runwu has not been in the court for many years, he must have a new understanding of the government. Why don't you tell us about Runwu's new methods in recent years?"

A fancy sedan chair needs everyone to carry it.

Yan Shaoting immediately turned to look at Zhao Zhenji and gave him a look.

Then he coughed lightly and took out from his sleeve a memorial that he had prepared four years ago when he left the court and lived in seclusion in Changping Academy.

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Zhao. I can't say that these laws are new, but I think that with the support of the Prime Minister, these methods can be used in places like Nanzhili and Zhejiang. Please circulate them. If there are any omissions, I hope you will give me your advice and complete the laws to benefit the country and the people."

After saying this, he handed the memorial out.

Chen Ju, who was standing nearby, was quick to pick up the memorial and present it to Gao Gong.

Zhao Zhenji, Hu Zongxian and Gao Yi immediately walked up to him.

While these people were reviewing the memorials, Yan Shaoting lowered his head to look at Zhu Yijun who was sitting on the chair he had pressed down.

As if feeling the teacher's gaze, Zhu Yijun also raised his head with a smile on his face.

Yan Shaoting whispered, "Your Highness, have you understood the order I issued today?"

Zhu Yijun frowned slightly and began to ponder in silence.

After a while.

He then said, "Sir, you once said that a gentleman should keep his plans secret. Now, my father... the court has changed, which is a big deal, so we need to prevent bad news from spreading. Sir, you have imposed strict restrictions inside and outside the capital, I think it is for this reason."

Yan Shaoting showed a satisfied smile on his face.

But he still added: "Planning affairs is divided into civil and military affairs, but civil and military affairs cannot be easily separated. This is true for planning politics and military affairs. The government affairs are secret, and military affairs must be guarded against in secrecy."

Zhu Yijun nodded.

During the years I studied with the teacher, he would always take the court bulletins and explain to me the intentions behind every event.

Even if he doesn't take care of state affairs, he has seen pigs run.

I thought about it.

Zhu Yijun asked, "Sir, now that you have imposed a strict ban on the capital, what are you going to do next?"

Yan Shaoting did not explain immediately, but asked: "Your Highness, what do you think should be done next?"

While his teacher and student were talking.

While Gao Gong and his companions were reviewing the memorials, they also listened attentively to the conversation between Yan Shaoting and the prince.

Zhu Yijun once again fell into deep thought. This time he thought for a longer time before he slowly spoke: "I think you will use officials, and... are you going to take action against Nanzhili and Zhejiang? You often say that when you plan for the country, you should not plan for the benefit of the people, but instead you should benefit the people. If that's the case, you will take action against the gentry and even officials in Nanzhili and Zhejiang."

After saying this, Zhu Yijun raised his head with a look of seeking praise on his face.

And on the other side.

Several people who were surrounding Gao Gong and reading the memorial suddenly exclaimed.

Gao Gong was even more shocked, with horror in his pupils.

He turned his neck stiffly and looked back at Yan Shaoting who was talking to the prince.

The reactions of the elders also attracted the attention and curiosity of the six ministries, five temples, nine ministers and officials of various departments.

Everyone craned their necks to look at the memorial held in Gao Gong's hand, wanting to take a peek and see what was written in Yan Shaoting's memorial.

Gao Yi's face was filled with anxiety, and he looked straight at Yan Shaoting: "Run... Master... do you really want to do this? Will it cause a big change?"

While Gao Yi was asking, Guo Pu and others who had not yet seen the memorial finally couldn't help but come over.

"What exactly is Master Yan going to do?"

Guo Pu, the Minister of Personnel, took the memorial from Gao Gong's hand.

Gao Gong took two steps forward and stood in front of Yan Shaoting, looking serious: "Are you really going to do this?"

suddenly.

Gao Gong had a strange feeling.

Both himself and outsiders have always considered him to be radical.

But now in front of Yan Shaoting, he felt that what he had done in the past was too conservative.

Yan Shaoting nodded silently.

When Guo Pu and others expressed exclamations one by one, just like Gao Yi and others before.

Yan Shaoting looked at the civil and military officials in front of him.

"It is said that the way to govern a country is to make taxes and labor service equal and to keep the people safe. Now, our Great Ming has been established for 200 years. Taxes and labor service are imposed on the two capitals and 13 provinces. The financial burden in the southeast is the highest in the world, but the problems are also the highest in the world. From the Hongwu to the Jiajing period, the prime minister has been in charge of the key government. According to the investigation of the land and population in the country, the cultivated land in the southern Zhili has decreased by 2.4 million acres, while the population has increased by millions. This is not because the population is increasing day by day. In fact, the rich and powerful have used methods such as offering tribute, deceitful letters, and flying money to make the land go to the poor and the poor pay the taxes on their behalf. The so-called rich and powerful have all gone to the gentry, while the widows and widowers have to pay heavy taxes. This is not what a prosperous era should be like."

"Some officials fear the gentry like a tiger, and would rather bankrupt the common people than touch the hair of the rich. According to the Suzhou Prefecture Records, since the Jiajing period, nearly 500 households have paid their own taxes, all of whom were short-clothed people. This is not a man-made disaster, but a fault of the system!"

"Mencius once said, 'Taxes of one tenth or two tenths are the policies of a king.' Today, the per mu tax in Jiangnan is no more than two liters, but the combined taxes of the capitation silver, corvée labor, and fire consumption converted into silver and copper are more than thirteen tenths. Farmers work hard all year round, but the income they earn cannot feed the corrupt officials. The Hongwu fish scale book has become waste paper. If it is not corrected, even if the central government officials work hard for several years, in a few decades, chaos will reappear and affect the country."

"As for the exemption of gentry, it was originally for the sake of kindness and generosity, and to support the talents of the world for the use of the country. But now it has destroyed the original intention. In recent years, it has been investigated in Zhejiang Province that the land owned by candidates above the level of Juren has reached nearly 500,000 mu, but the tax paid is only one-fifth of that of the common people. They pass down poetry and books to their families, but they make the orphans and widows pay on their behalf. This is not the way of saints and sages, but the way of thieves in disguise!"

"During the Japanese invasion in the Jiajing period, the Wang family of Shaoxing stored up 10,000 dan of grain but refused to help the army. Instead, they raised the price of rice. Isn't this a disaster of exemption? Therefore, except for officials of the country, the exemption of gentry from paying taxes should not continue. We should correct people's hearts with benevolence and righteousness."

"For many years since the opening of the sea, the tax and military levies have been exempted from the government, while private households have been enriched and the public treasury has been damaged. The officials in power should not think that the laws of our ancestors cannot be changed. The Tang Dynasty implemented the two-tax system and was revived. The Song Dynasty exempted the military service and the treasury was full. These were all the results of the reforms of the times. Now the wealth in the southeast is greater than that of the country. It is like a boiling pot. If we don't remove the fuel from the bottom of the pot, I am afraid it will be too late to remedy it in the future!"

It was quiet in front of the Meridian Gate.

Only Yan Shaoting spoke eloquently, at length, and with a majestic voice.

All the civil and military officials felt heavy-hearted.

now.

Yan Shaoting has already pointed out the shortcomings of Southern Zhili and Zhejiang.

Then the next step must be to correct these drawbacks and implement new laws.

New law.

This is the most commonly heard phrase in the court in recent years.

Those who still hold power in the court today basically support the new policies and laws.

Gao Gong and others were filled with horror.

They had read the memorial and knew what Yan Shaoting should do and how to make changes, but they didn't know anything else.

However, Yan Shaoting did not keep these officials who did not know the details waiting for long.

He said directly: "At this time, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet have been in charge of the central government for many years. You have worked hard in the court and the political situation has changed. Why don't you follow my lead in implementing the new law?"

"There are three new laws being discussed today. They will be implemented first in Nanzhi and Zhejiang. If they are effective, they will be implemented in the two capitals and 13 provinces throughout the country, benefiting hundreds of millions of people in our dynasty."

"First, the tax will be calculated based on the amount of land. From this year onwards, the tax will be calculated based on the amount of land in all 18 prefectures in Nanzhili, including Yingtian and Zhongdu, and 11 prefectures in Zhejiang, including Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Huzhou. The land of the military garrisons, the land of the royal mansions, and the land of the temples and monasteries will all be measured in a new fish-scale map. Anyone who dares to allow the powerful to kneel down and deposit their land will be punished as a pervert of the law by the provincial, prefectural and county officials!"

"Secondly, all the Jinshi, Juren, and Shengyuan who have not served the country in an official capacity will be exempted from paying taxes on 20 mu of sacrificial land according to the rules. The rest of the land will be taxed according to the rules for officials and civilians. At the end of the year, the governor, censor, and education official will check the school register and the yellow register. Those whose land does not match will be stripped of their official titles. For the old cases of tax resistance in Suzhou, Shaoxing, etc., the tax soldiers will collect the arrears!"

"Third, reorganize the tax bureau. The tax soldiers, anti-smuggling and banknote customs forces of the former tax bureau will be renamed the Daming tax bureau, and organized into the Nanzhili branch tax bureau, the Zhejiang branch tax bureau and the Shibo branch tax bureau. The performance evaluation system will be implemented, and the monthly red and white lists will be submitted directly to the cabinet and the Ministry of Revenue. All taxes on pawnshops, pawnshops, and other shops in Nanzhili and Zhejiang provinces, as well as silk, textile, tea, and mining sites, will be taxed at a tenth of the profits!"

"In the past, there were capable ministers who made innovations. Now, you are reforming the system. You can say that you are willing to sacrifice your life for the benefit of the country. The two provinces have accumulated malpractices for two hundred years. If we continue to tolerate them, we will surely suffer the disaster of the late Yuan Dynasty. All the prefectures in the two provinces should prepare twenty prison cars to lock up the evil gentry and corrupt officials who obstruct the new policies. When the summer tax and autumn grain are deposited in the warehouse this year, this cabinet will now report to the emperor and invite the Chief Censor Hai Rui to come to Nanzhi and Zhejiang to settle the accounts with the elders."

After finishing speaking.

Yan Shaoting let out a long sigh.

The reorganization of the Taxation Bureau was a long-overdue plan, and it was only delayed until now because he had been away from the court for the past four years.

With the Taxation Bureau as the main body, it could easily implement the land-based tax system, tax payment, and commercial tax collection in Nanzhili, Zhejiang, and the Maritime Customs.

He now controls the capital, and with hundreds of thousands of troops surrounding it, he can ensure the safety of the capital.

Then.

At this time, he can free up his hands to dig out the rotten flesh of Jiangnan, the most vicious part of the Ming Dynasty, which has long been rotten!

However, as he explained loudly.

The civil and military officials in front of the Meridian Gate were in complete uproar.

It was even more shocking than the emperor's decree not long ago that conferred on him the titles of Junior Tutor, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Grand Secretary of the Huangji Palace, and Chief of Staff of the Cabinet.

This is to uproot the entire Southern Zhili and Zhejiang!
Gao Gong looked at Yan Shaoting, who was more radical than himself, his face turned pale as paper and he could hardly speak.

Gao Yi, on the other hand, was limp all over, stumbling on the table in front of the Meridian Gate, staring at Yan Shaoting with a pale face.

"Young Master!"

"No!"

"If we do this, Jiangnan will surely be in chaos!"

"This is going to force the powerful gentry in Jiangnan to rebel!"

…………

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(End of this chapter)