The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The eyes of the officials moved slightly. If this matter is left unchecked, the people's resentment in Songjiang Prefecture will accumulate too much and an uprising will occur.

Yan Chengjin replied: "Imposing five times the commercial tax can solve the problem of Songjiang Prefecture."

The ministers in the hall looked a little surprised.

The old face of the retired emperor Hongzhi twitched slightly. He thought this guy had a good plan, but he went around to levy commercial taxes.

The day before yesterday, this guy proposed to levy commercial taxes because of this matter.

Li Dongyang's brows gradually relaxed, and he asked in confusion: "To suppress the trade of merchants? Not to embezzle the silver of the merchant?"

Emphasizing agriculture over commerce is not advocated by Confucianism, but by Legalism.

During the Qin Dynasty, the big businessman Lu Buwei used financial resources to assist the first emperor's father Zichu to ascend to the throne.

The Legalists believed that the financial resources of merchants would endanger the imperial power.

After the Qin Dynasty restricted merchants, the rulers of subsequent dynasties would deliberately lower the social status of merchants.

The Ming Dynasty was different. On the surface, merchants were placed at the bottom, but they were still valued.

Yan Chengjin said calmly: "This is a means of control, but to solve this matter, the court needs to make up for these bad debts, so the treasury needs a huge reserve of silver."

Wala will not go south for the time being, and there will be no war in the nine borders, but the Ming Dynasty needs more silver.

Now it is in the embryonic stage of capital, and the buds need nutrients, and these nutrients are silver.

Not allowing the gentry to use silver for trade will inhibit the development of commerce, and the Ming Dynasty cannot go further.

And if the gentry use the silver for other purposes, there is a risk of bank runs and bankruptcy, which will lead to unrest among the people and shake their confidence in the business.

The court's move to save the business is the only way to solve the situation.

Han Wen frowned and said: "How can the court pay back the silver for the gentry?! Isn't this a free gift!"

Yan Chengjin said: "In exchange, the court can take over the business and recover the gentry's wealth. Please consider carefully, the emperor, and I beg to leave."

If I continue to talk, I am afraid that the gentlemen will beat him.

Seeing that the emperor was absorbed in his thoughts and motionless, he acquiesced and left the hall.

"What Lao Gao said makes sense. The gentry cannot pay back the money, but the people resent the court."

On the contrary, if the court takes action to resolve the situation at this time.

The people will support the court more, which will help stabilize the country and suppress the gentry.

Zhu Houzhao raised his eyes. Lao Gao actually let him take the credit.

The emperor Hongzhi frowned and asked Zhu Houzhao to get out.

The officials were either hesitant or solemn.

Li Dongyang pondered for a moment and said solemnly: "What Yan Chengjin said is true. Only if the court opens the treasury can the money be paid back."

"But if the commercial tax is increased five times, how can the merchants be willing?"

Liu Jian stroked his beard. Yan Chengjin always said twice more. I'm afraid three times is enough.

Cui Yan knelt on the ground tremblingly. All the merchants in Nanzhili had no money. I don't know how much turmoil it would cause.

If the court pays off the debt, it will have to pay a large sum of money.

"I have failed to supervise and manage well, and I beg to retire."

"Resign first."

...

Cui Mansion,

Cui Yan underestimated Yan Chengjin. The gentry would never let anyone check the deposits of a business.

This guy is far away in the capital, but he knows about the affairs of Nanzhili. Is he Zhuge Liang or Wolong?

The housekeeper came in and said embarrassedly: "Lord Yan is worried that there is danger in your mansion. If you want to see him, go to his mansion."

Cui Yan stammered: "This guy is also timid... Although he impeached me, can I still kill him in the capital?"

He grumbled to himself for a few words, and asked someone to prepare a sedan chair to go to Yan Mansion.

In the western district of the capital, the dilapidated courtyard wall seemed to be blown down by the wind at any time, and people dared not stand under the dangerous wall.

Cui Yan couldn't help but mutter, is this Yan Chengjin's mansion?

The doorman took a closer look at the portrait. His appearance and height were the same as described in the portrait. He welcomed Cui Yan into the mansion.

Yan Chengjin was tasting the black tea brewed by Qing'e.

"What did Lord Cui come to see me for?"

Cui Yan's expression froze slightly, and he said, "I have doubts. How do you know that the business has no silver?"

"I guessed it by luck."

In fact, it was learned from the silver received from Liangxiang that it had doubled.

The court raised silver with national debt, and the gentry established businesses to absorb silver.

"If I beg for you, Lord Yan, can you withdraw the impeachment?"

The emperor was kind and would not punish him for the time being. If he could make meritorious contributions while guilty, he would keep his official position.

Moreover, this matter cannot be blamed entirely on him. Who asked the court to openly ban the sea? Even if it was the court, it could not openly investigate the silver of the business.

I was afraid that Yan Chengjin would impeach him and put him in prison. This matter was not small.

...

Forbidden City, Wenhua Hall.

The retired emperor Hongzhi pondered over the issue of commercial tax. When he ascended the throne, the world was in a state of depression, and the people would not deposit money into the business.

All he needed to consider was to maintain stability in the nine borders.

But soon, he remembered the story of the emperor hanging on Coal Hill, and his eyes became firm.

"I want to increase the commercial tax, what do you think?"

If it goes on now, it will force the people to rebel, and the silver is in the hands of the gentry.

Neither the people nor the gentry will be pleased.

The court increased the commercial tax and returned the silver, at least it could appease the people.

The gentry did not agree. With the previous experience of King Ning, they did not dare to start a rebellion. If they really started a rebellion, they would send the Beijing camp to confiscate their homes.

"I think it's okay!" Li Dongyang said.

Xiao Jing said awkwardly: "The new emperor... the new emperor is already drafting an edict."

At the morning court today,

seeing the retired emperor Hongzhi's serious face, all officials stood respectfully in the hall.

Zhang Cai was very nervous. No matter whether this matter succeeded or not, the officials would not let him off easily, so he brought more servants with him.

Zhu Houzhao said happily: "I have thought about it for a long time and decided to increase the commercial tax of the whole country by six times. The cabinet will draft the decree."

The noisy voice in the hall was like boiling water.

But it soon became quiet. Zhu Houzhao, are you out of your mind? Once the imperial edict is issued, who in the world still wants to do business?

Yan Chengjin looked strange. This guy actually doubled the tax.

Huang Yue, the official in the Ministry of Revenue, said: "From north to south of the Grand Canal, there are seven major banknote gates such as Chongwenmen, Hexiwu, and Linqing. If one banknote gate is taxed five times, how much silver is this?"

"The new emperor should think twice!"

The officials said this, but they were angry in their hearts. Can you do it? If not, get out and let the emperor's grandson succeed to the throne.

But the next moment, the emperor raised his hand slightly: "Pass on my order, the commercial tax varies according to the goods. For goods with a total value of more than 150 taels, the last bank will double the commercial tax."

Yan Chengjin's heart moved slightly. The total value of the goods is more than 150 taels, which means that ordinary vendors do not need to be taxed. It is aimed at the gentry.

Merchants need road permits to move goods.

The road permit will clearly state the destination of the goods. Double commercial tax will be collected at the last stop to avoid double collection.

Cui Yan bowed slightly: "I second the motion!"

Liu Jian bowed: "I second the motion!"

Li Dongyang also said: "I second the motion!"

Jiang Mian and Zhang Sheng bowed immediately: "We second the motion!"

All officials were stunned. They thought it was the new emperor's idea. Who knew that this was simply crazy!

The emperor Hongzhi said loudly: "The cabinet will change the new emperor's order and announce it to the world."

"I obey the order." Cui Yan breathed a sigh of relief.