As the thoughts of the emperor, the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce have been conducting research and discussion for several days, and they have not even had a good year.

"Although the Thirty Tax One was decided by Taizu, the emperor seemed to change it intentionally. The additional tax was affirmative, but I don't know how much it would be added?"

"This is the dilemma. If you say too much, you may lose money in the future; if you say too little, you will be unhappy with Long Yan and the consequences will be serious."

Tang Mo put down the teacup and said helplessly: "Just talk about the additional levy, not the specific amount, and wait for the emperor to make the final decision."

Everyone looked at each other and nodded bitterly, saying that they could fool like this first.

In fact, it is certain that the additional taxation is added, but Zhu Youxiao really would not add too much. Because the commercial taxation in the middle and late Ming Dynasty was too small, and its relationship with the 30 tax and one tax was not as big as expected.

The biggest problem is that the levy should not be collected and the serious tax evasion is the most important problem. This is similar to the fact that gentry and landlords hide money and grain, and raise money and fight for the common people to bear heavy burdens.

Of course, the commercial policies set by Taizu also have great problems, or it has changed, which is not suitable for the current social and economic situation.

At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, commercial activities suffered from war and were very depressed.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang took protective measures against businessmen and merchants, and set a "thirty taxes" for commercial taxes, and also stipulated that books, pens, ink, farm tools, boats, chariots, silk cloth and other tax exemptions, and ordered the 364 tax departments to be withdrawn, making the commercial tax much simpler than the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

In the early Ming Dynasty, such policies did promote the development of commerce.

But by the middle and late Ming Dynasty, industry and commerce had already flourished, and imperial power (including eunuchs, harems, vassal kings), official power, and gentry power also intervened, and tax loss became a big problem.

In the eyes of later generations, the road blocking fee always has a bit of a bully who is extorted. But when you see the entire Ming Dynasty's commercial tax revenue and the number of tax checkpoints, you will feel that it is too small, too small.

For example, in later provinces, cities, counties, and even districts, there were tax bureaus, and there were many, many, anyway.

But in the Ming Dynasty, there were more than 400 tax bureaus in the early days, but in the early 17th century, only 112 remained.

Why did there be less, but then there was even less? The reason is very simple. Not only is there no profit, but the court has to pay for it.

For example, in the second year of Longqing in the Ming Dynasty, the Ministry of Revenue reported that a certain tax department inspected the annual salary, food, labor and food expenses of no less than 400 taels, while the levy of discounted silver was only 110 taels.

Let’s see, what card is set up and what taxes are collected? The collected money is not enough for tax collectors to have a meal, so you can save some money by closing it as soon as possible.

The Ming Dynasty is very strange, it’s so weird. When Zhu Youxiao saw these data, he felt more and more that it was like this.

Just collect personal income tax, and you can lose money the more you collect. Isn’t that too much?

What is the reason? Is it because business is underdeveloped, or is it because merchants do not take land or water, and have changed to air transportation?

Of course not. The business was very developed in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, and there were many vendors, but the key was the tax collectors and the tax-free group.

Let's give the simplest, or somewhat ridiculous example.

In the 37th year of Wanli, the commercial tax in Fenyang County, Shanxi was more than 6,600 taels, which was a very good number; in the sixth year of Wanli, the commercial tax in Jinhua County, Zhejiang was less than 7 taels, which was the same as confiscation.

Putting aside the differences in the ages, we can see the imbalance in the collection of commercial taxes between the Ming Dynasty. In developed and prosperous areas, commercial taxes are even less, which is particularly obvious in economically developed areas.

In addition to the lag in taxation and card establishment, the more important thing is that officials are slack in collecting commercial taxes or even resistance.

During the Zhengde period, when He Xun managed the Shashi Taxation Department, once the quota was completed, he reduced the taxes on merchants;

After Shao Jingbang of the Jiajing Dynasty took over He Xun's position, he completed the quota within three months, and the remaining months of this year began to serve as a merchant.

When Yang Qiao, who was also from the Jiajing Dynasty, was asked to pay taxes in Hangzhou, he ordered the wooden merchants to conduct tax assessments on their own income.

This is a famous minister who was praised in history books. He was generous to seek fame for himself and probably won a lot of benefits from merchants. Otherwise, how could he be so considerate about seeking benefits for merchant groups?

If we follow the tax collection standards of these three "famous ministers", let alone thirty taxes, even one hundred taxes cannot be achieved! As for the quota, it is just a number that is comparable to the past.

Yang Qiaoshi, this big bastard, was even more overwhelmed. He took the country's salary to collect taxes. Do you let the merchants watch it and do charity or give beggars?

Therefore, the low tax rate is not the biggest problem. If you can truly implement the local collection, the income will definitely be much higher than it is now.

Of course, since reform is needed, Zhu Youxiao will prepare to be in one step. Although this involves all aspects of problems, the road must be continued, eliminate difficulties and solve problems, and will never become worse.

People from the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce will definitely not understand the emperor's far-reaching considerations. They think that raising taxes is certain, and the emperor needs money!

Whether it is plundering or squeezing, as long as it is not a bone-knocking marrow, as long as it still makes a profit, it can only endure it.

But among the senior figures of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, they have a more sensitive sense of smell and a more profound thought.

"Everyone, in some opinion, it is certain to increase the tax rate, but it may not be very high."

Xia Zhongshi stroked his beard and said, "Look at the "Ming Ming Forum", the last two issues have been talking about the issues of officials. Shao Jingbang and Yang Qiaoshi are both negative examples of officials, and they are villains who seek fame."

He has a small head, sparse eyebrows, and a thin figure, but his slightly dark face always reveals deep and cold thoughts. This is when he is in the middle of summer, he usually doesn’t show off his mountains or reveals water, but he often has amazing ideas.

The fact that he was able to join the upper level of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce in Zhongshi was appreciated and recommended by his fellow villager Tang Mo. Because he entered a private school when he was young, he was "understood the classics and history at the age of ten", and was famous in the village.

If his father and elder brother had not died one after another, he would have to bear the burden of taking on the burden, and he would not have been "replaced as a scholar". Maybe he had already made a name for himself and became an official.

Others may not like Xia Zhongshi, and he does not like despicable merchants, but Tang Mo attaches great importance to it and says with a smile: "Old Xia, let's make everyone feel at ease."

Xia Zhongshi took a sip of tea slowly and said slowly: "Shao Jingbang and Yang Qiaoshi bought a name and were responsible for the court. As a tax official, but he did not do his duty, what kind of official do he still serve as?"

Tang Mo pondered for a while and guessed: "What do you mean is that the court still needs to rectify the officialdom, not just targeting merchants in Jiangnan?"

Xia Zhongshi smiled and said, "I don't say it, you know in your heart. With the current execution of the government, even if the tax rate is increased several times, how much can the commercial tax be increased, and how much more can the court charge?"

Scanding everyone with a slight contempt, Xia Zhongshi continued: "The landlords and gentry leaked out the arrears, and merchants evaded taxes, these are all superficial problems. When the imperial court suppressed the evil landlords, it did not forget to deal with local officials. This is what I saw."

"A businessman has a responsibility for evading taxes, but he can't help but analyze it with the emperor. If you want the Chamber of Commerce to conduct self-examination and correction, then you will make a charter. Whoever dares to have any illegality will be cleared out immediately."

"In order to ensure that the Chamber of Commerce will not be involved in individuals who are greedy for money and forget their righteousness, some people think that the entry threshold can be set. The church member pays a deposit. If there are illegal acts such as tax evasion, the deposit will be confiscated and expelled from the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce."

Everyone looked at Xia Zhongshi in contemplation, frown, or unhappy. Finally, their eyes focused on Tang Mo, waiting for his decision as the president.

Tang Mo thought for a while, then said, "Old Xia's words are reasonable. In the future, no matter whether the tax we pay can be earned by the court, we must abide by the law. Pay the deposit, and the offender will confiscate and cancel the qualification of the Chamber of Commerce membership. This will calm down the anger, and some people think it can be written in the proposal submitted."

"President——" a middle-aged businessman said with doubts: "There is no big problem of paying taxes, but what should I do if I go around? I used to take care of one's head, but now I'm taking care of both sides, I'm afraid I'll lose money!"

"Then I won't take care of it." Xia Zhongshi simply answered Tang Mo, "Don't forget that if the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce is like a sea merchant, the two Chinese Chambers of Commerce have the right to write a letter and have their own masters, what are you afraid of?"

"Old Xia is right." A businessman nodded in agreement and said, "I saw that last year that the emperor dealt with illegal officials extremely harshly, and he was quite like Taizu. In the early Ming Dynasty, Taizu Zeng Ming slapped corrupt officials and pursued his salary to pay the merchant..."

"The Marine Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce rely on this, and the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce also came for the appreciation of the emperor." Someone echoed: "If you don't do this, who will not go home for the New Year?"

Tang Mo smiled and knew that the main theme of the book had been decided.

This is no surprise. When I came, I was ready to pay a significant price and get the same treatment as the Maritime Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Now it seems that the emperor may not be willing to do so and does not intend to take over the robbery, so there is nothing scary. Just abide by the law, there is always a constraint, but don’t be like those gentry students who have been beheaded, who will still be humiliated until they die!

…………………………………

"Long live the New Year's Day, everything goes well." May Huan shouted and ran over, knelt down and kowtowed, and spoke smoothly to New Year's greetings.

Zhao Dabao was stupid and came over slowly. Under May's urging and reminding, he knelt down and kowtowed, just to pay homage to him, but he was far from the sweet mouth of May's little mouth.

Zhu Youxiao liked this little cutie from the bottom of his heart. He stepped forward and pulled it up, pinched the girl's face, and smiled and said, "May, what are you eating today?"

May opened his mouth and laughed, knowing that the emperor was teasing her, and said crisply: "I don't know about the pork rice and fine noodles soup I ate for lunch!"

Zhao Dabao laughed twice, not sure if he was joking about May or if he thought it was just ridiculous.

Zhu Youxiao touched the girl's head and asked strangely: "What a coincidence, it was the first time you saw me coming."

May blinked his big eyes and said with a smile: "It's not a coincidence. I've been working hard here for a while!"

Snowman? Zhu Youxiao looked at a strange snow pile that was neither round nor square by the roadside, and felt that his imagination was a little poor, but he couldn't tell that it was a snowman.

May didn't have this awareness and was still saying: "May knows that long live, I will come sooner or later, so I will build a snowman to greet you."

As she said that, she turned to Zhao Dabao and glared at him, "It would be better if I don't let you follow me and I'm just going to pile it up quickly, and it's so ugly."

Zhao Dabao scratched his head and said, "Isn't it done yet? I'll push a bunch of them first, then chop and repair them, just like a person! You didn't say it was for Long Live to see, otherwise I could pile them faster and better."

Mayyue curled her mouth and looked very disgusted.

Zhu Youxiao was very pleased that what the child said was the most sincere, not compliment, but from the heart.

Li Chengcheng handed the two boxes of candy to Mayyue and Zhao Dabao and said, "Little Mayyue, and you, this is a reward for you."

May took it happily and said, "Long live, I want to continue building snowmen, you will see it when you go back."

"Don't get frozen." Zhu Youxiao instructed, "If it's cold, go back to the house to rest. I will see you when it's time to pile up."

May agreed happily, put the candy on the stone table next to it, picked up a small shovel, and called Zhao Dabao, "Where are you doing it quickly, why are you doing it stupidly?"

Alas, Zhao Dabao responded happily, no matter how he saw May's appearance like his lost little sister, he had no complaints when he was sent to the point of being sent to the end.

Following the emperor, Li Chengcheng asked carefully, "Emperor, should the children in Shaoyingyuan grow up, be officials or something else-"

"Work." Zhu Youxiao added to Li Chengcheng. This simple word was not popular in ancient times, but more commonly called "buying a living" and "managing life".

Turning his head and looking at Li Chengcheng, Zhu Youxiao said with a smile: "It is not only because of being an official, but because I am working hard to change this concept. It is not that I can only be an official from an imperial examination. This is what I want to change."

Oh, Li Chengcheng nodded in a slight sense of understanding. She had a young brother who wanted to send him to Shaoyingyuan. She felt that the emperor valued it so much and would definitely have a future.

Zhu Youxiao also knew that it was difficult to change his concept, so he valued Shaoying Academy.

These children have been trained since childhood and learn various majors according to their ideas and plans. They are like a piece of white paper that can be painted with the most hope and beautiful life pictures.

Of course, new learning is also his hope. It is not that easy to make those scholars give up their dream of becoming an official and engage in other careers with peace of mind.

How was Sun Yuanhua like? He still believed in foreign religions, but he was still happy that he was given an official position.

Originally, Zhu Youxiao wanted to get a technical official's grade and let them wear official uniforms that were different from traditional civil servants, but in the end he gave up.

Because he figured it out, this is equivalent to artificially creating a classification of officials. Technical officials wearing different official uniforms are likely to be discriminated against, and they may even feel inferior.

It is very common to think about being a pride in the imperial examination. In the imperial examination, there are also differences between being a jinshi, a jinshi and a jinshi, let alone a technical official who is a jinshi and a jinshi.
Chapter completed!