I can sign in in Datang

Chapter 532 Introduction
"Yifu, we haven't seen each other for a while."

Ma Zhou poured tea for Li Yifu himself, and said with a sigh.

"You are now a Shangshu, and I still can't achieve anything, I am really ashamed." Li Yifu said with a little shame.

Looking at Ma Zhou in a purple official uniform, Li Yifu was filled with jealousy.

Both are children of poor families, and they met each other while studying in Chang'an.

Although Li Yifu had known Ma Zhou before, he had always looked down on Ma Zhou in his heart.

Not to mention that Ma Zhou liked to drink, and he often got drunk and messed up.

Who knew that Ma Zhou was lucky enough to become Chang He's disciple, got recommended by Chang He, and was able to enter the court as an official. In just a few years, he became a minister.

Although the Ministry of Commerce is newly established, it has no other real powers other than collecting business taxes, and its actual status among the seven ministries is only slightly higher than that of the Ministry of Industry.

But in any case, it is also a Shangshu, and the level is there.

Li Yifu didn't think that Ma Zhou could beat him, and Ma Zhou was able to be what he is today because he was recommended by Chang He.

Many people may not have heard of Chang He's name.

Chang He was born in Wagang, and was awarded Shangzhu Kingdom and Lei Zegong by Li Mi.Later, he persuaded Li Mi to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, and was conferred by Li Yuan as Hushi General of Qingyi Mansion, Shangzhu Kingdom, and Lei Zegong.

After Li Mi gave birth to the heart of betraying the Tang Dynasty, he tried to persuade Li Mi, but failed.After being captured by Wang Shichong, he looked for an opportunity to instigate Wang Shichong's left and right sides. After being noticed by Wang Shichong, he led Wang Shichong's inner camp and fled back to the Tang Dynasty.Li Yuan said: "Respect for his flexibility, honor his heroes, introduce him at Linxuan, apply for a special award for excellence, and award him a chariot and cavalry general."

In addition, Chang He is also Li Shimin's confidant.

Before the change of Xuanwu Gate, Li Shimin put Chang He in Xuanwu Gate as the guard of Xuanwu Gate.

In addition, a lot of money was spent to let Chang He buy the imperial army.

In the change of Xuanwumen, Chang Hewei played an important role in the change of Xuanwumen.

If Chang He betrayed, Li Shimin would probably die.

Li Shimin's ability to entrust such an important matter to Chang He shows his trust in Chang He.

Li Yifu felt that with his talent, if he could get a recommendation like Chang He's, he would be able to rise to the top.

This is also the reason why he knew Ma Zhou but never begged Ma Zhou.

First of all, he looked down on Ma Zhou, and he didn't want to beg someone he looked down on.

Another reason is because Ma Zhou is not honorable.

The title of marquis and prime minister, but the prime minister is still ranked after the marquis, which shows that the ancients valued titles.

Datang is like the company group of later generations, both officials and ordinary people are working part-time.

Having a title is equivalent to having a stake in the company.

Although there is only dividend right and no management right, compared with those who work part-time, the Lord is naturally more trusted by the emperor.

But those princes and nobles were out of his reach, and Lin Xuan, whom he valued the most, was unwilling to accept him for some reason, so he had no choice but to come to Ma Zhou now.

Ma Zhou smiled and said, "I'm just lucky. I know your talent in Yifu. I believe that if you are an official, you will do better than me."

"Prince Bin was joking." Although Li Yifu was very grateful in his heart, he had a look of praise on his face.

"I wonder why Yifu is here?"

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Ma Zhou asked Li Yifu why he came here.

"I've had nothing to do recently, and I've thought about the business and taxation carefully, and found that the business tax is good, but there are many things that are wrong." Li Yifu said.

"Oh? I'd like to hear about it!"

Ma Zhou is the minister of the Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry of Commerce has spent a lot of energy on starting from scratch. He also feels that the current way of collecting business taxes has many shortcomings, but he has no time to think about it.

"In the past, the country only collected customs and market taxes, but it was only a drop in the bucket for merchants. Now, although the tax is changed to be based on the volume of sales, it is too difficult to count the actual sales volume." Li Yifu said.

The commercial tax was not proposed by Lin Xuan, but existed before.

However, Datang did not pay much attention to commercial tax before, and only set up foreign business tax (that is, import tax) and market entry tax.

When foreign merchants transport goods to Datang, they need to pay a little tax when they pass the customs.

During the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court stipulated that all commerce and trade must be carried out in specified places, called bazaars, such as the East Market and West Market in Chang'an.Merchants need to pay a fee to enter the bazaar, and private transactions are not allowed outside the bazaar. This is the so-called market entry tax.

In addition, merchants have no other taxes.

After Lin Xuan's proposal, Datang's collection of business tax has been changed to be based on the amount of sales.

But there is too much room for manipulation, and it is easy to evade taxes.

"Is there any good way for Yifu?" Ma Zhou asked.

"I think checkpoints should be set up at intervals on the important traffic arteries of land and waterways in the Tang Dynasty. Pedestrians and grains are not charged, and the rest of the goods are all taxed according to a certain percentage of the actual price. People's livelihood goods can be charged a little less, non-civilian goods. Items can be charged a little more. Calculated by charging hundreds of dollars for hundreds of miles of goods, merchants transporting hundreds of miles of goods for thousands of miles will only cost you a penny. This is just my superficial statement, and the specifics need to be discussed carefully.” Li Yifu said.

Ma Zhou's eyes lit up, and there was no need to worry about businessmen evading taxes at all by collecting business taxes in this way.

Stop directly on the main road of traffic and charge according to the price of the goods. Unless you can fly, you can't escape at all.

Of course, checkpoints can only be set up on major traffic routes. It would be too costly to set up checkpoints on all roads in Datang.

However, merchants transport a lot of goods each time, and it is not only safe but also faster to take the main road. It is not cost-effective to take the small road because of this tax.

"Great talent of Yifu, I only had vague thoughts about this matter before, but now after hearing Yifu's words, it seems as if I have seen the sun behind the clouds." Ma Zhou said excitedly.

A trace of imperceptible disdain flashed in Li Yifu's eyes.

If Ma Zhou wanted to recommend him, he would naturally have to show his ability.

It took him a long time to think about these things. Before Ma Zhou said anything, he had vague ideas. From Li Yifu's point of view, he just didn't want to hide his incompetence.

"I don't know if Yifu is willing to come to the Ministry of Commerce as an official. If so, I would like to recommend it to His Majesty." Ma Zhou said.

"Learn literary and martial arts, sell it to the emperor's family. If King Bin is willing to recommend it, it will be the best." Li Yifu laughed.

Although he was unwilling to be an official under Ma Zhou, he was even more unwilling to go to the local government. This is why he was unwilling to participate in the imperial examination, although he was clearly capable of passing the imperial examination.

To pass the imperial examination is nothing more than going to the local county magistrate.

He has no backing, and he can't turn to good places. The three-year assessment period for local officials is up, and it is impossible to get promoted if they can't make political achievements.

Staying in Chang'an is different, there are many opportunities.

Take Ma Zhou as an example. Originally, Li Shimin only asked him to be responsible for collecting business taxes. Later, when the Ministry of Commerce was established, it became a minister. Can't do a Shangshu.

"Since Yifu is willing, I will take you to see His Majesty." Ma Zhou said.

If it were someone else, they might think of swallowing the credit of Li Yifu, but Ma Zhou would not.

He not only wanted to introduce Li Yifu to Li Shimin, but also took Li Yifu to meet Li Shimin.

"Thank you, King Bin." Li Yifu said excitedly.

He originally thought that Ma Zhou would only recommend him to Li Shimin.

Unexpectedly, Ma Zhou wanted to take him to see Li Shimin.

When Li Shimin saw him, he would definitely test him. Once he was approved by Li Shimin, Li Shimin would be impressed with him.Are you afraid that Li Shimin will not entrust him with important tasks?

(End of this chapter)