Tang Dynasty Never Night

In fact, what Ren Wu meant was not to worry about it, just forcefully implement it. There are so many policies in the country where there is so much time to care about what the people think.He didn't understand why Li Xian wanted to do that investigation. Before leaving, he assigned the task to them and said that he must see the results when he came back.

To their questions, Li Xian only said one sentence: The country is based on the people.

Ren Wu thought it made sense at the beginning, but he still didn't think much about it, and then...see, now you see the results, right?The common people are not happy!Li Xian didn't intend to ask the merchant's opinion at all, and he knew it was useless to ask. No one wants to pay more money suddenly, and the merchant must vigorously guarantee the implementation.

He didn't understand the common people here. After looking at the investigation, he found out that the common people are afraid of paying more taxes!In the past, the tax was basically fixed, and it was fixed when there was more production and less production. Now it has suddenly become flexible. Many people think that after that, if you grow more, you will have to pay more.

After Li Xian saw it, he was stunned. Even if the policy they formulated would not exceed the existing tax revenue when the output was the largest, it would decrease when the output was low, so that the common people would not have nothing to eat. Why don't they understand?

Of course I don’t understand. This tax system is too complicated. Now is not the future. This is an era with a very high illiteracy rate. A lot of people can’t figure it out. Once it’s more complicated, they won’t understand it. Those who don't understand, and those who don't understand it, and those who don't understand it and make a mistake, just spread it like this.

Li Xian turned to look at Ren Wu with some helplessness: "Think of a way to explain it clearly."

Ren Wu looked at Li Xian as he looked at a vexatious child: "My lord, time is running out, so stop wasting it on these fools."

Li Xian shook his head. He knew that this was the most fundamental difference in thinking between him and Ren Wu. He explained that Ren Wu might not be able to understand it. Hai Qing... Hai Qing was more accommodating to Ren Wu.

"Forget it, don't worry about it, leave it to me."

Ren Wu didn't say anything. In fact, Li Xian's workload wasn't particularly heavy. He was only responsible for proposing his ideas and then discussing with Ren Wu. The customization had already been made in advance, and the rest was left to the people below.It's just that after listening to the voices of many common people, Li Xian also began to think, is the tax still heavy?

He couldn't help discussing with Ren Wu and the others again. This time, the information he needed was not only from Yangzhou, but from many states. If this tax system is good, it will definitely be implemented nationwide in the future, so we can’t just look at the grain output of Yangzhou.

Ren Wu and Hai Qing also ignored this point and couldn't help sweating. Yangzhou has been a land of fish and rice since ancient times. Due to climate problems, the grain production here is very high, so it may not be possible to set taxes according to this grain production if it is implemented nationwide. Appropriate, even if the tax is flexible, the ratio must be carefully considered. It may be fine to collect so much in a place with a large grain output, but in a place with a small grain output, even if the rest is collected according to the ratio, I am afraid...

With a bitter face, Li Xian could only continue to do arithmetic problems with Ren Wu and Hai Qing. Finally, after doing the math, Li Xian decisively decided to set the agricultural tax at [-], the merchant tax remained unchanged, and the others followed suit. and adjust.

After Ren Wu saw it, he was afraid that the tax revenue would decrease, but if there were no accidents, the tax revenue should not be reduced, and Li Xianming told him clearly: "Our focus is wrong. We have been focusing on agricultural tax before, but In fact, even if there are more tax items, reducing the agricultural tax will not empty the national treasury. Since more taxes are collected, an appropriate reduction in the agricultural tax rate will be very beneficial for recuperation.”

If the country's commerce develops in the future, Li Xian even wants to abolish the agricultural tax, but it can't be done now, after all, the country still relies on the agricultural tax for development.

After the new tax rate came out, it was up to Ren Wu and the others to figure out how to implement it, while Li Xian turned to writing a promotional draft—his job was to let everyone understand what the new tax rate was all about, or even if they didn't understand it. Let them have an impression that the new tax system is to protect farmers.

Because Ren Wu and the others are busy, Li Xian has a lot of time to write the promotional draft. To be honest, it is good for him to write the publicity draft. Li Liu, but ordinary people may not understand it like that, and even the preachers may not understand it—the education level of grassroots civil servants is not that high.

As soon as Li Xian started, he used a big vernacular. After Ren Wu read it, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he endured it for a long time before he didn't spray Li Xian's gentle sweeping.He was also very puzzled. Li Xian is the prince. Although she was taught by Empress Wu when she was young, Empress Wu's cultural level is really not low. authority.

Many times education level represents vision, and then... Li Xian No. 1 Wang Fu, Zheng Qi, a Jinshi in the first year of Zongzhang, let alone this literary talent, although Zheng Qi rarely writes poems, but Ren Wu has seen him write The article is really good.

With a teacher like Zheng Qi, no matter how much he thinks, Li Xian can't be crooked like this, and isn't he very good at writing memorials?What's wrong with you brat?

This time Li Xian only threw four words to Ren Wu: The old woman can understand.

Yes, he wrote for ordinary people, not for educated people. Naturally, it is better to be as popular as possible. That’s why he refrained from writing more bluntly—the written language of later generations is put in Now that's so straightforward that no one will fail to understand.

Li Xian didn't settle the accounts with them. Even if they did, everyone might not understand them. He just combined the data of the past years, and then compared the taxes that need to be paid for last year's harvest and the previous year's harvest with the old and new tax systems. Come out, everyone will understand at a glance.

Of course, some people may say that if the output is very high, then the previous tax system is cost-effective, after all, it is a fixed tax.

Regarding this point, Li Xian said... If he wants to achieve that output, unless Yuan Longping also crosses with him, otherwise...he does not have this ability, and it is estimated that no ordinary person in this era has this ability.

Although the common people are not well-educated, they are still very keen in agriculture. They specialize in the field of agriculture, and there are low-level officials who give lectures. They understand it as soon as they hear it. Even when the production is the most, the tax payment is the same as in previous years, and the production is less and the payment is less. Gradually, there are no voices of opposition.

Then there are those businessmen. To be honest, it is useless even if businessmen obstruct them. They have no say. No one would say he was wrong.

But if you are a businessman, sorry, your status is low, and it is useless to have money.

What Li Xian was worried about was that some businessmen would evade taxes. To be honest, he felt that there was no way to avoid this, but it couldn't happen at the beginning!

It's just that Li Xian didn't expect that there are many books and policies, and those businessmen actually started to find ways to vote for officials, just to avoid paying taxes!

Damn!He said long ago that the tax should be treated equally, and there will be various situations of tax evasion and tax evasion under the condition of equal treatment. Now that some people are blatantly exempt from paying taxes, naturally there are more ways to evade taxes!

It’s just that what Zheng Qi said is correct, even the control of the royal family in the unified dynasty is not so strong now, and the family is very cruel. You can change one, and the royal family can also change to another family.

Fortunately, the biggest official in Yangzhou is Li Xian. After discovering this, Li Xian quickly ordered the registration of all the shops under the officials, and clearly stated that after the new tax system came into effect on the first day of September In other words, any new shops or caravans under the names of various officials and those with fame and titles must go through strict scrutiny.

Since we can't let everyone pay taxes equally now, then we can only do a little calculation.At first, the merchants in Yangzhou were waiting and watching, but after the notice came out, they began to think of a solution. Some people thought about giving gifts to Li Xian, but they couldn't see Li Xian at all!Let's go to the Governor's Mansion. People say that His Royal Highness Zhou went to the state capital to work. Let's go to the state capital. They say that during office hours, private matters will not be received. Wait until after get off work, and people say that His Highness did not go back to the Governor's Mansion today but went to the state capital. Guanlan Bieyuan.

The merchants thoroughly learned what the Three Caves of the Rabbit are. Of course, they also tried to leave the gift there, but King Zhou’s subordinates were too principled, and refused to accept anything. .

Everyone gave up after coming and going, and they all knew that His Royal Highness Zhou Wang was determined to implement the new tax system.

There are always people who are satisfied or dissatisfied with the new policies. Li Xian didn't think that many people would sing their praises, as long as they could see the real benefits.

You have to do something to know how difficult it is. When Li Xian said that he wanted to reform the tax system, he thought it was very simple. He thought that as long as the court ordered it to be promoted, it would be fine. Although it must be difficult, after all, the country is too large to promote It was too strenuous to get up, and now he realizes... It's just that a small place in Yangzhou has caused him a lot of trouble. The agricultural tax is paid every six months, so it won't be seen until next year, but the commercial tax, Li Xian set it down for a month Once handed in, those who evade taxes will be severely punished, not only fines but also criminal penalties.

So... there is still a law to be enacted in this regard.Li Xian only knows the laws of the Tang Dynasty, but has not studied them in depth, not to mention the laws of the Tang Dynasty, he has not even studied the laws of the Rabbit Dynasty. so.

So let him study the law...it's so hard.The new tax system was implemented on the first day of September. It was already the end of August when Li Xian came back, and now he started to revise the law... It can only be said that novices are really unreliable.

That's right, Ren Wu and Hai Qing's ability is not bad, but that's only in their professional field, now it's the customization of the law... Li Xian decided after thinking about it... copy it!Of course, it cannot be completely copied, so he has to measure a certain degree, and if this degree is to be followed, the existing legal system must be followed.

Just when Li Xian was struggling, the letter from Chang'an arrived. It was specially sent by Zheng Qi to him. Seeing the exhausted look of the messenger, Li Xian once again felt depressed that the communication in this era was too backward. Carrier pigeons or something... This kind of stuff is actually quite unreliable even if it is stupid.

Li Xian asked someone to arrange a messenger, so he opened the letter Zheng Qi gave him. To be honest, he was a little flustered when he got the letter, because the letter was very thick, thicker than all the previous letters combined. Logically speaking, he had just left Chang'an not long ago, unless something major happened, what would Zheng Qi write so much about?

As a result, Li Xian took it apart and saw that he wanted to fly back and kiss Zheng Qi fiercely. The things he was worried about here, Zheng Qi had almost solved it for him. Restricted by the law, for his student Zheng Qi, he knew what kind of guy Li Xian was - until now, he probably didn't memorize all of Tang's laws and regulations. If he was expected to study... maybe something would go wrong.

So Zheng Qi thought for a while and gave Li Xian his idea. Of course, he didn't know the tax rate that Li Xian finally customized, but the law was formulated according to the tax rate originally set by Li Xian. There are a lot of things, and Li Xian, who hasn't mentioned them, can also add them.

So when Ren Wu and Hai Qing were still struggling there, they found out that Li Xian, who had been busy beforehand, had suddenly taken a break. Later, when they saw the laws corresponding to the new tax system formulated by Li Xian, they were convinced. Originally, the two of them wanted to let the little Highness do it, but in the end, they both wanted to give their opinions. After Li Xian came up with the plan, they could refer to it and add it.

Everyone can see that the sage threw his son here to exercise, and Ren Wu and the others have already adjusted their positions.

It's just that I didn't expect that this little highness seemed to be careless and jumpy, but he actually thought a lot. Anyway, from the perspective of Ren Wu, Hai Qing and other officials, there is nothing to modify this law. Yes, even the sentencing is more appropriate and not too harsh.

At this time, Li Xian finally relaxed a little, but it was only for this month, and in the second half of the month, he would have to pay attention to the tax situation again.

Realizing that the workload might be heavy, Li Xian set up a taxation team ahead of time—he thought that when he was in the company, the company’s accounting would be destroyed at the end of each month, and at the end of the year, it would be like the end of the world, so he knew that the workload was absolutely small no.That was still the era of computers, if there were no computers...

In fact, the workload in this era is really not very large, after all, business is not very developed.Li Xian didn't do it himself, but sat in the back and looked at the general ledger, but he could see the problem from this look. To be honest, the bookkeeping methods in this era have formed a certain standard, but the ledger used...is... There is no format, it looks really dizzy and dizzy, these books have to be in duplicate, one is kept in the hands of the merchant, and the other is handed over to the state government, looking at the various books written , Li Xian found out helplessly that he had to do something else—make a unified ledger!

Not only the format must be unified, but also the font used to write the account book must be unified!He sort of discovered that the current taxation team's work progress is slow not only because there is no computer, but because the handwriting is too...

It is imperative to promote printing.But... take your time.Li Xian asked someone to make a template account book. To be honest, even if he made a prescribed format, it was based on the current bookkeeping method, so it wouldn't make people uncomfortable.

Li Xian decisively asked people to print a lot of blank ledgers. After printing, he thought about it and stamped the official seal of the state capital on the side of the ledgers.

Then a new policy was issued - all merchants must use the account books printed here in the state capital in the future. It is illegal to not use this account book, and the font for writing the account books is stipulated as regular script, and writing in other fonts will not be recognized. , If the account book is not qualified, it will be regarded as tax evasion and tax evasion, and the consequences will be at your own risk.

After Li Xian's new regulations were announced, everyone was shocked. The businessmen didn't say much except for being a little annoyed and secretly underestimating Li Xian's ability to make trouble.There is no way that the social status is low. As for businessmen who have a little voice, they don't have to pay taxes!

In this way, in the second month, the work efficiency of the working group has been greatly improved, but to Li Xian's surprise, the state government's financial revenue has increased again this month - a lot of books have been sold!In the back, there is even a sense that the supply is in short supply.

There is no way, this is a must buy, and the quality of the blank ledgers produced by the state government is not bad, and the price is not high. There are many ledgers to record.

Li Xian looked at the state capital's month-end summary - this is the task he assigned to the people below, and he will be given a summary at the end of the month. Of course, this is a special period, and there is no big problem when the new tax system is on the right track Then the monthly summary can become a half-year summary and a year-end summary.

Li Xian couldn't help it, the people below had to hand in homework for him, and he had to hand in homework for his superiors!It is also very abusive to write about the progress here every month to reassure parents and so on.

Li Zhi and Empress Wu were also very surprised when they received Li Xian's monthly report. The two of them had more experience than Li Xian. The account book is only valid if it is printed by the imperial court, and it is not allowed to use pirated copies. Of course, few people dare to pirate it-the official seal of the state government is printed on the side of the account book. It is pure death to dare to pirate this.

All the merchants in Yangzhou have to buy account books here in the state capital. If Li Xian hadn't recruited enough printing by craftsmen to work day and night, the supply would be in short supply. This is still a very simple woodblock printing.

Li Xian, who had tasted the sweetness, continued to toss, and he discovered another disadvantage, that is, even if the merchants blatantly made false accounts, they may not be able to distinguish it, because no one can monitor each merchant to see if they are really selling. They didn't record this thing when it was sold, or that it was sold.

Even if there is a unified account book, it does not mean that others cannot use private account books to record real accounts.So Li Xian waved his hand, it's simple, it's time for something like this to appear!Buying and selling things requires an invoice, and the invoice also needs to be bought from the state capital. There are three copies of this thing, one for the buyer, one for the seller, and the other for the state capital.

The invoice has consecutive numbers, and the one handed in at that time must be accurate from beginning to end. Of course, when people make some mistakes, but these mistakes must be handed in as well!And marked it out in a folded form, Li Xian used all the methods he knew to prevent tax evasion.

In fact, it is impossible to completely prevent it. After all, the invoice represents a series of rights and interests such as warranty return and exchange in later generations, but now it is just to ensure that the running account matches the actual capital flow. In order to ensure tax revenue, there is nothing Buyers don’t necessarily ask for it, and sellers don’t necessarily take the initiative to open it. As long as you open two fewer copies, you can pay a lot less tax.

This kind of thing is not uncommon, but Li Xian has no good solution for the time being, he can only do it a little bit. After all, the advanced technology of later generations cannot completely stop tax evasion from happening.

After two months, Yangzhou's state capital tax revenue has been rising slowly, and the secondary industry development of ledgers and invoices has also made the state capital more money. Li Xian looked at the state capital's running account, although more people were hired, But the expenses are not too much, at least not much more than the extra money.

So a new question arises - how much local tax should be paid to the imperial court?It is impossible to pay all the money. After all, the place still needs to be kept in operation, but how to control the speed is definitely not possible according to the previous method, and this sensitive topic cannot be brought up by Li Xian himself, so he secretly rubbed his hands. Write a letter to Zheng Qi, asking him to write a letter to raise this issue, and then let the group of capable people from the three provinces discuss it. His brain cells have died enough, and he doesn't want to continue.

As a result, just as the letter was sent out, Li Xian found out... In November, there was another fucking solar eclipse!Li Xian felt very tired. In future generations, he would say that solar eclipses happen once in a hundred years, but now...he has seen them three times in just two years since he passed through!

After getting tired, he was a little vigilant again, for fear that someone from above would think that he was not pleasing to the eye and take the opportunity to make trouble, for example, seeing that Yangzhou was getting more and more prosperous, he would have the idea of ​​transferring him back and let others come. After all, he It's the prince. In the Tang Dynasty, there was no precedent for a prince to go out of the town.

Just when Li Xian was guessing, Li Zhi's edict came. This edict was very simple, it was to let Li Xian prepare to participate in the winter hunting.

Li Xian: Damn it, it's going to be embarrassing again!