Time Travel: I am the idle king Li Shen and Li Shimin in the Tang Dynasty

"In reply to Aye, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has completed the registration yesterday."

Li Chengqian nodded.

"That's great. Just tell me and I won't go get the account book."

Li Shimin handed a cup of tea to Li Chengqian, who took it with both hands.

Then he replied from memory:

"Aye, this year the court collected 6 million strings of cash, 16 million dan of millet, 12 million dan of corn, and 27 million dan of rice.

Over 30 million pieces of cloth, silk and cotton were obtained.”

"So many?" Li Shimin was extremely surprised after hearing this.

During the Zhenguan period, rent and commission taxes were implemented, and the taxes collected from silver and money were mainly commercial taxes and customs duties.

But because noble officials were exempt from tax, not much was actually collected.

The tax rate for grain was one forty percent, and most of it was left to the people.

Li Shimin did not expect that he could harvest so much grain this year.

"Aye, I was also surprised after seeing this. Today's grain prices have increased by more than 40% compared to last year.

The price of cloth and silk has also increased by 30% compared to last year." Li Chengqian nodded.

In fact, he was even more surprised than Li Shimin. He had supervised the country before and knew the court's annual tax revenue.

When he was fourteen years old and serving as regent, tax revenue was less than half of what it is now.

"Forty percent?" Li Shimin frowned.

"Gao Ming, could it be that the county officials below made false reports for the sake of merit?"

This kind of thing has happened before. During Li Shimin's long reign, he found out more than once that his officials had falsely reported taxes or even collected too much.

"Father, I have asked the Censorate and the Dali Temple to send people down.

Investigate several counties with large increases to see whether they collected more grain from the people for merit." Li Chengqian reported immediately.

Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction.

“Very good, remember, the people are the foundation of our Li family, and those who increase taxes in order to gain credit will be severely punished.

There are many people who can replace them, so we cannot be lenient. "

"Your Majesty, I have something to report." Wang De on the side suddenly said.

"Speak!" The father and son looked at Wang De.

"I feel that the tax increase this year should not be taken advantage of by the lower-level counties." Wang De stepped forward and saluted.

"Oh? How do you know?" Li Shimin asked curiously.

"Your Majesty, one of my nephews came to Chang'an a few years ago."

"I know this, and I even arranged for you to go to Lao Shi's workshop. What does this have to do with him?"

"Your Majesty, a month ago, I went out of the palace to visit this nephew. He told me that the grain harvest at home had increased by 30% this year.

I live in Jiangnan, and I grow the two-season rice promoted by His Royal Highness Prince Ji.

My nephew said that in the past two years, the imperial court has built water conservancy projects and cleared rivers, and most areas of his hometown are no longer afraid of floods or droughts.

So the weather is good, the crops are growing well, and this year is a bumper year.”

Wang De explained it all in one breath.

"So that's how it is? Gao Ming, it seems you have done a good job in the past two years.

This is very good. If we consider the people more in everything we do, the people will naturally support our Li family."

Li Shimin became even more satisfied with Li Chengqian.

"Thank you for your praise, I dare not take credit for it.

In fact, all of this is also thanks to my tenth brother." Li Chengqian said after he stood up and saluted.

"how you said that?"

"Father, do you know how much silver my tenth brother gave to the Ministry of Civil Affairs this year?" Li Chengqian asked back.

After Li Shimin shook his head, Li Chengqian said:

"Nearly 14 million guan."

"What?" Li Shimin became a little upset when he heard this number, and the tea in his hand spilled out.

"How can there be so many? Last year it was less than 10 million guan. I thought it had reached the upper limit."

Fourteen million strings of cash, twice as much as the imperial court collected.

Li Chengqian heard this and shook his head and said:

"I don't know about that either, I only know that the Ministry of Civil Affairs reported that the Tang Dynasty First Chamber of Commerce sends money to the Ministry of Civil Affairs twice a year.

Once in the middle of the year and once at the end of the year.

In the first half of this year, the Chamber of Commerce sent in 6 million strings of cash, and by the end of the year it was nearly 8 million strings of cash.

Er asked Tang Jian, and he said that in recent years, the court's water conservancy projects, river dredging, and border wall repairs were all completed with the money sent by the First Chamber of Commerce of the Tang Dynasty.

The Ministry of Industry reported that water conservancy construction has been completed in half of the states and counties in the country."

"I never thought that he could bring about such a big change in the Tang Dynasty with just one person's strength. I underestimated him at the beginning.

I thought that his Chamber of Commerce was just a business activity, not something that could be accepted by the upper class. I really didn’t expect this.”

Li Shimin couldn't help but feel deeply moved. He really underestimated this rebellious son.

The prince's business dealings have always been criticized. Because Li Shen was engaged in business, the Taiji Hall was unable to accommodate the impeachment memorials.

In fact, Li Shimin also felt that it was disgraceful for a prince to engage in business and it would damage the reputation of the royal family.

However, Li Shen loved to make trouble at that time, so he didn't care. He didn't expect that Li Shen would become so big.

"Father is wise and far-sighted, and has always protected my tenth brother, which is why the court is so prosperous today.

Only then can my son sit here peacefully without worrying about money.

Now, not only is there no deficit every year, but there is even a lot of surplus." Li Chengqian flattered him a little.

This was very useful to Li Shimin. He stroked his beard and smiled:

"Hahahaha, I didn't expect that my Li family's God of Wealth really is not just a name, 14 million strings of cash.

This is comparable to the pre-Sui period.

As for rent, I remember that the annual rent of the Sui Dynasty was 33 million shi one year ago, but our Tang Dynasty has now surpassed the former Sui Dynasty.

Very good, very good." Li Shimin was really happy. He had always wanted to surpass Emperor Yang of Sui, and now he finally achieved his wish.

The one who helped him realize his wish was the Li family's God of Wealth, who had always been naughty and whom he called a rebellious son.

"Father is right. My tenth brother has indeed made an indelible contribution. The huge increase in food production in the Tang Dynasty is all due to my tenth brother alone.

If he had not brought back rice seeds that could be grown for two seasons, the Tang Dynasty would not have harvested so much extra grain.

Moreover, I also know that my tenth brother built an agricultural college at my fifth brother's place, which specializes in grain cultivation and how to increase production, and it has achieved considerable results.

My tenth brother once said that he hoped to produce ten shi per mu. "

Li Chengqian also praised. Li Shen had told him about the Agricultural College, including Li You's affairs.

"Ten stones? Humph, he really dares to think so. Do you believe this?

Since ancient times, it has not been easy to earn five stones. He dared to say ten stones. If it is true, I can give him the title of prince without exaggeration. "

Hearing Li Chengqian's words, Li Shimin sneered, thinking that Li Shen was just bragging.

Since ancient times, a yield of two or three shi per mu was considered good weather, and ten shi per mu was unthinkable.

If Li Shen could really produce ten dan of grain per mu, this achievement would be enough to make him a prince.

Li Chengqian smiled after hearing this. Indeed, it was a bit of a foolish dream to say that one acre of land could produce ten dan.

In recent years, some people have reported a yield of ten shi per mu, which was considered a good omen. However, investigations have shown that these reports were all false.

If Li Shen could create it, it would not be able to be described as a good omen, it would be simply a miracle.