Start Being a Vassal King Today - Chapter 267

[Chapter 267 Commercial Tax]

One day later.

Feihuguan cavalry arrived at Yancheng Palace.

After hearing what the cavalrymen said, Zhao Xu said: “Go back and tell them not to take care of the Xiliang soldiers. Don’t act rashly and fall into the trap of Xiliang people. As for the people, let him send a team of cavalry to lead them to Yancheng.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Hearing this, the cavalry bowed and left.

At this time, Liu Fu was reporting the government affairs of the four counties to Zhao Xu.

Hearing this, he said: “Your Highness, these more than 200,000 people have poured into Shanggu County, but more than 200,000 have opened their mouths.”

After a pause, he said: “This does not include the people sent from Jinhe. The food provided to the people in the four counties is enough, but with the addition of these people, it won’t last for a few months.”

Zhao Xu nodded, the question Liu Fu raised was a very realistic one.

In ancient times, famines often occurred, especially in the north.

The reason lies in the lack of grain in the north.

If there is a flood or drought, basically there will be a famine.

This place in Yanzhou.

When the weather is good, the food grown by the common people is barely enough for their own use.

What’s more, the four counties are now waiting to be rebuilt, and their own food production is in a mess.

Now hundreds of thousands of people have been added. More importantly, these people are not used for farming, but are prepared to be used as industrial population.

Once they arrive in Yancheng, he will arrange them into various workshops.

Promote the prosperity and development of the handicraft industry in the four counties.

In this way, the hundreds of thousands of mouths that do not produce food are indeed a pressure for him.

After all, the total output of the four counties has not increased much, but there are more people.

“This king has figured out what to do.” Zhao Xu sighed leisurely to Liu Fu.

“Oh? What magic method does Your Highness have?” Liu Fu was worrying, when his eyes lit up.

“The food in the world comes from the Xie family. As long as we have the support of the Xie family, the food in the four counties will be safe. But on the other hand, this king will give gifts to Empress Xie and the deposed prince.” Zhao Xu said.

“His Royal Highness decided to support the abolished prince in competing for the crown prince?” Liu Fu was shocked.

Zhao Xu looked far away, “That’s right, the Xie family intended to win over this king. With this favor at this time, the king and the Xie family can support each other. It’s not a problem to give me some food and grass?”

After pondering for a while, he said : “According to my understanding, among the princes, the emperor does prefer the deposed prince, and supporting the prince will also win the emperor’s favor.”

“That’s what you say, but your highness doesn’t…” Liu Fu frowned, saying Here, stop abruptly.

Zhao Xu looked at Liu Fu when he heard that, Liu Fu’s head immediately lowered, as if he had done something wrong.

He understood what Liu Fu meant, and it was nothing more than letting himself join the battle for the crown prince.

He said: “The tree is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it. I am now standing on the cusp of the storm. If I don’t know how to hide my strength and bide my time, I am afraid that it will be a catastrophe.”

Coming to the door of the study with his hands behind his back, he said again: “Furthermore, keep in mind that an emperor cannot be called an emperor just by wearing a dragon robe. As long as he has absolute strength, he can be king without being king. You and this king only need to manage the four northern counties well. But .”

“Being king without being king?” Liu Fu thought about it, and then suddenly realized, “I understand.”

Put this matter aside.

Zhao Xu and Liu Fu returned to government affairs.

Winter is coming to an end and the snow is merging.

Immediately rejuvenated spring is coming.

In this season, when everything recovers, the four counties and four counties will naturally recover and enter a state of comprehensive development.

The construction planning issue reported by Liu Fu this time is the person the two are discussing.

Of course, the term construction planning was taught by him.

Liu Fu can come to the Government Affairs School whenever he is free.

Even sometimes at night, he would come to ask him questions that he didn’t understand.

“Your Highness has abolished the corvee, but the land in the four counties needs to be reclaimed, the rivers need to be dredged, and even if the food is transported in war, people must be hired. The officials feel that this is really inappropriate, and they should pick up the corvee again.” Liu Fu said.

“How can we win the trust of the people if the order is changed from day to day? If the people don’t believe it, the official words will be invalidated.” Zhao Xu immediately denied Liu Fu’s advice.

Corvée is something that makes people complain.

Recruitment of corvee is to let the people have no wages and work for the government for nothing.

And sometimes, in order to catch up with the progress, officials even punish the people and force them to work day and night.

In every corvee, people will die.

What’s more, corvée also breeds corruption.

The officials in charge of the corvee collected money to exempt some people from the corvee, and gave the corvee showdown to those who did not need to serve the corvee.

Although the officialdom of the four counties under his rectification is much more honest and fair than that of Da Song.

But there is no guarantee that some local officials will not do this.

After all, these officials are very powerful, and some of them have ways to hide the dirty things they have done.

Therefore, this thing of corvee must absolutely not go on.

But the construction of things like hydraulic power requires people’s power, which is indeed contradictory.

After thinking for a while, he said: “The government can contract out the things that need to be built to the merchants, and send officials to supervise, such as building a bridge, how much money the bridge needs, and let the merchants come to bid for the price, and those who are good and cheap will get it. The need to levy corvee will also promote the development of the four counties.”

“However, the government will need to pay more.” Liu Fu sighed.

Zhao Xu laughed when he heard the words, “You, you still have to continue your studies at the Government Affairs School, your vision is really short-sighted.”

Going back to the desk and sitting down, he said: “But if the money flows to the people, the people will become rich, and the people who become rich can let their children study, can afford meat, and can afford commercial goods. Didn’t it promote the commercial development of the four counties?”

“Aren’t they just merchants who are so rich? The common people make very little profit.” Liu Fu pointed out the problem to the point.

“Therefore, the government government must collect taxes on business, especially merchants. The richer merchants must collect heavier taxes. This is what your government should do. You must not be in the same boat as merchants, and only collect money from the common people. and allow merchants to evade and evade taxes.” Zhao Xu said solemnly, “These taxes can be reinvested in the development of the four counties. For this purpose, the government has a special organization in charge of commercial taxes.”

Liu Fuwen Words, lost in thought.

In Dasong, the most important thing is the agricultural tax, there is no doubt about it.

But at this moment, the commercial tax proposed by King Yan seems to be full of temptation for him.

He didn’t know whether it was right or wrong for King Yan to be so business-oriented.

But now he can only go down the road designated by King Yan.

Perhaps he could witness a North Four Counties of Yanzhou unlike anywhere else in Dasong.

“The lower officials understand, so we will plan this matter when we go back.” Liu Fu said.

Zhao Xu nodded, “There is also the matter of the people in Jinzhou. In the past few days, prepare the porridge shed and the like, and notify the county guards at the same time. The palace will pick up the rest, and they will understand the placement of each county.”

“Yes . , Your Highness.” Liu Fu replied again.

Two days later.

The endless line of common people arrived at Yancheng under the escort of soldiers from the palace.

Zhao Xu greeted him out.

(end of this chapter)