met free Page 1559
Page 1559
"After our dynasty abolished corvée labor,"
"This number will increase considerably."
"Without the conscripts, the expenditures of local government offices have also increased significantly."
"Then expand the 'Three Hospitals and One Garden' program,"
"I'm afraid the annual expenditures of just the six circuits of Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Hebei, Jingdong, and the capital region alone will exceed forty million strings of cash."
"In less than a year, the national treasury was depleted."
Zhang Shuye frowned and said, "Our dynasty's military strength is formidable."
"The Western Army can also reduce its troop strength in accordance with the measures taken in Jingdong and Hebei,"
"This could significantly reduce military spending."
Jiang Jing shook his head and said, "Military matters must be discussed with His Majesty and the generals."
"We cannot interfere."
The Liang Dynasty divided its civil and military affairs.
Even the prime minister has no right to interfere in military affairs.
Military matters were discussed only between the emperor and military officers.
Eunuchs were even confined to the palace until they died.
He shall not be granted an official position.
They are strictly forbidden from participating in politics or asking questions about military affairs.
Zhang Shuye was also skilled in both literature and martial arts.
However, because the king is in charge of military affairs...
He also felt that the king was arbitrary.
Therefore, a civil official was chosen.
They weren't even qualified to ask about military matters.
Although Zhang Shuye felt that military generals had too much power,
But Your Majesty is in charge of military affairs.
Zhao Yuan also did not want the civil officials of Liang to hinder the military generals.
None of the officials in the court dared to utter a word.
He couldn't manage on his own.
Since we cannot cut costs,
Then let's open source it.
If the imperial court levies more taxes...
Naturally, the "three institutes and one park" model can then be implemented.
Thinking of this, Uncle Zhang said,
"The imperial court prohibited officials from engaging in commerce,"
"Commercial taxes must have increased considerably, right?"
The commercial tax system of Daliang continued the system of the Song Dynasty.
The tax rate is three percent.
Taxes are 2 percent.
The stationed tax is levied on merchants who remain stationary.
Taxes are levied during transportation.
Taxes levied at checkpoints.
Jiang Jingdao said, "Although there are fewer officials smuggling goods,"
"But it also reduces double taxation."
"A Song Dynasty merchant passed through a prefecture,"
"Then you may be subject to taxes several times."
"But in our dynasty, a province can only collect taxes once,"
"Therefore, commercial tax revenue is unlikely to see a significant increase."
Zhao Yuan asked, "How much can the commercial tax be?"
Jiang Jingdao said, "Even during Zhao Ji's reign, commercial taxes amounted to no more than ten million strings of cash."
"Our dynasty's territory is not even half the size of the Song dynasty's."
"Moreover, the Jiangnan region is the main tax-paying area,"
"I'm afraid it's only two or three million strings of cash."
Zhao Yuan frowned and said, "Didn't we say before that commercial taxes accounted for more than half of the Song Dynasty's total tax revenue?"
Chapter 1869 Keep Fighting!
"How did it become ten million strings of cash again?"
Jiang Jing explained, "There is also a tax on goods and taxes."
"Salt, wine, tea, incense, and alum, which were monopolized by the imperial court,"
"With these taxes added, it can indeed exceed half."
"But the salt-removing agent was controlled by Tian Hu."
"Sea salt and tea are both found in Jiangnan,"
"The tax revenue was reduced by more than half."
Zhao Mingcheng shook his head and said, "The two taxes have always been the bulk of the revenue."
"Even prosperous dynasties could not exempt farmers from taxes,"
"Your Majesty's proposal is perhaps a bit too radical."
Wen Huanzhang nodded and said, "Abolishing all corvée labor has also greatly increased the court's expenditures."
"Nowadays, farmers in our country are the happiest,"
"There is no agricultural tax, and no corvée labor."
Jiang Jing recalled Zhao Yuan's words and said helplessly,
"Commercial tax is actually a tax levied on everyone,"
"Merchants pay taxes, so naturally they will pass on the costs to the people."
"It cannot be said that farmers have no burdens at all."
"His Majesty said that the imperial court is the biggest merchant,"
"If even a monopoly isn't enough to maintain financial balance,"
"Then the Ministry of Revenue should be entirely staffed by merchants."
Zhang Shuye said with dissatisfaction, "The King's divine power is invincible!"
"Invincible in battle, in charge of military affairs."
"But he's not good at politics,"
"The common people only use that much salt, wine, and tea,"
"Can Your Majesty allow the people to eat more or sell the food at exorbitant prices?"
This time, Wen Huanzhang did not agree with Zhang Shuye, and shook his head,
"Judging from the Royal Bank, perhaps His Majesty truly has the Midas touch."
Jiang Jing, however, could not forget Zhao Yuan's mentorship, and nodded in agreement.
"If it weren't for the king's mercy,"
"Set the interest rate for the Royal Bank at one percent per month,"
"Once the Royal Bank is fully operational,"
"His annual income is estimated to be tens of millions of strings of cash."
"It's this one cent of profit,"
"Once it's rolled out,"
"He could probably earn tens of millions of dollars a year."
Wen Huanzhang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty has now cut off the financial lifeline of all the wealthy families in the land."
"If it weren't for the King's invincible record,"
"I'm afraid that once the Royal Bank issues its..."
“All the wealthy people in the world will rebel.”
"Back then, the princes and nobles implemented reforms,"
"The interest rate on Qingmiao Loans is 20% in just a few months,"
"Even then, they were attacked by a group of powerful and influential people,"
"This shows how heavy the interest rates are in private lending."
Shi Wengong laughed and said, "Who dares to rebel?"
"We're so bored we're practically bursting with boredom."
Shi Wengong and Huyan Zhuo have been back in force for several days.
When Zhao Yuan was conquering Liao,
To demonstrate their determination to resist the Liao Dynasty with all their might,
However, the Great Liang Dynasty recalled all the troops that had been sent on the southern and eastern expeditions.
Although Shi Wengong and Huyan Zhuo swept through the territory, eliminating bandits and defeated soldiers along the way,
But it only took about twenty days.
Zhao Yuan had just arrived in Xijing at that time.
But now news has already come back that Chage has been killed.
For military generals,
This was the time for territorial expansion.
When making achievements and establishing a career,
After resting in Tokyo for more than ten days,
Shi Wengong then requested permission to lead troops to seize more prefectures and counties.
However, Zhao Yuan suppressed it.
Zhang Shuye had to admit the success of the Royal Bank.
"The Royal Bank truly benefits the people and the country,"
"However, the Royal Bank held a large amount of savings from ordinary people,"
"If anything goes wrong, it could shake the very foundation of the nation."
"Therefore, I suggest that the Royal Banks be brought under the control of the Imperial Court."
"It will be managed by the Ministry of Revenue, which will also replenish the national treasury."
Upon hearing Zhang Shuye's words,