Chapter 612: Han Zhongliang: Could You All Stop This?

Zi Anxiong, is this… enough?

At the Ministry of Revenue, Du Gou listened to Chen Yan speak of the supplies to be mobilized, puzzled, "Wasn't it said that Luoyang is suffering floods, with many civilians displaced and even a possible flood disaster?"

We're only going to provide this amount of supplies?

"Then what do you propose?" Chen Yan said irritably, "Don't forget we still have to fight this year, the autumn harvest is still far off, and if we empty the Ministry of Revenue, how will we get through the next few months?"

"Besides, I've already ordered Xu Lianyue to urgently send people and supplies to Luoyang first; let the Luoyang government handle the rest themselves."

"Anyway, with such a huge incident in Luoyang and His Majesty still uninformed, the government will surely be held accountable. If we don't let them resolve it, are we supposed to rely entirely on my Ministry of Revenue? Rely on the Treasury's meager income?"

Du Gou immediately understood Chen Yan's meaning, nodded knowingly, "I understand. I'll have people prepare the supplies right away."

"Alright, once you've arranged it, summon Ma Zhou, Brother Fang and the others to come over; I have some matters to discuss with you all," Chen Yan said lazily, reclining in his chair.

"Fine." Du Gou was slightly startled; whenever Chen Yan says this, the matters are never trivial.

Du Gou took it seriously and left immediately.

By afternoon, Du Gou and Fang Yizhi had arranged all affairs, drafted a preliminary list of the supplies to be mobilized, and then, together with Ma Zhou and Han Zhongliang, went to the Grand Secretary Hall.

"Zi Anxiong, we have preliminarily drafted the list of supplies to be requisitioned, awaiting your signature; once His Majesty approves tomorrow, we can mobilize them."

Du Gou placed the prepared list on the desk; Chen Yan didn't glance at it nor stand up, merely raised his hand and tapped, "Everyone sit down; we're all acquaintances, no need for all those formalities."

Hearing this, Du Gou and the other two naturally found seats, and Han Zhongliang hesitated briefly before also sitting down.

"For this year's troop deployment, the Ministry of Revenue has signed a loan agreement with the Money Shop, securing a large sum of money and grain," Chen Yan said calmly, "But it is, after all, borrowed."

"Since it's a loan, it must eventually be repaid!"

"Although the agreement stipulates installment repayments, which eases a considerable burden for our Ministry of Revenue, the pressure, reduced as it may be, still remains."

"I have already explained to you what 'increase revenue, cut expenses' means; now that we fully control the Ministry of Revenue, the next step is to increase revenue."

"Otherwise, we'd be waiting for the Ministry's meager annual tax revenue, counting on our fingers each day, and still can't make ends meet."

"Do you have any good solutions? Speak freely, say whatever you wish."

Du Gou hesitated briefly, whispering, "Zi Anxiong, tell me, could we borrow someone else's name, or the name of a certain government office, to conduct some transactions?"

"Just like in Weinan County…"

"No!" Chen Yan rejected without hesitation, "The Ministry of Revenue is the Ministry of Revenue, Weinan County is Weinan County; the two cannot be conflated!"

"Back then in Weinan County, it was the Crown Prince's fief, so we could manipulate it at will, backed by the Crown Prince and His Majesty to take the blame, and being just a small county, even if people objected, the strong suppression by His Majesty kept it stable."

"If the Ministry of Revenue attempted the same, any problem would have no one to cover it, not even His Majesty!"

"The risk is too great; unacceptable!"

Fang Yizhi frowned, "Even that thing you mentioned… is any borderline maneuver prohibited?"

"I, Chen Yan, can bear the reputation of contesting the people's interests; personally we don't mind, but the Ministry of Revenue absolutely cannot, we must not set this precedent!"

"Then… the progressive tax system you mentioned earlier, Sir?" Ma Zhou asked tentatively.

"As for that…" Chen Yan sighed, "It's not that easy; it involves the interests of countless landlords, aristocrats, and Meritorious Nobles, so we can't rely on it for now."

"I'm still not sure we can achieve it; we're only laying the groundwork bit by bit."

"Relying on the progressive tax is less viable than relying on a commercial tax; at least the latter carries lower risk. If we can devise a reasonable commercial tax system, it could boost the Ministry's revenue."

Now, the three of them were at a loss for words.

Transactions cannot be undertaken, the new progressive tax cannot be counted on for now, and the commercial tax has clearly been added by Chen Yan to the must‑do list.

They truly could not think of any other ways to increase the Ministry's income.

While everyone was pondering, Ma Zhou suddenly noticed Han Zhongliang's hesitant expression and immediately said, "Minister Han, do you have any good ideas?"

At those words, everyone cast their gaze at Han Zhongliang, Chen Yan included.

Han Zhongliang instantly felt immense pressure.

"Minister Han, I told you early on, we're all acquaintances; feel free to speak whatever you like," Chen Yan reminded.

Han Zhongliang gritted his teeth, "Sir, I think our current system has serious issues."

"Buddhism in our Tang Dynasty has become too prosperous. According to our levy system, a grown male must pay two shi of grain, two zhang of brocade, and serve twenty days of corvée; if he avoids service, he must pay six zhang of silk to be exempt."

"But any monk holding a degree certificate is exempt from all of that."

"In fact, for ordinary Tang citizens, the best way to rise in class isn't the Imperial Examination, but ordination."

"Tang temples are like tax‑free celestial realms; thanks to the 'Endless Treasury', they are the biggest usurers. Worse still, temples have gradually become the largest landowners in Tang."

"After all, if a farmer can't survive, simply donate the land to a temple, register it under the temple's name, and become a temple household."

"Thus, the farmer still tills the land, but the land belongs to the temple, and the court receives no tax."

"Grand Secretary, I think…"

"You think we should eradicate Buddhism?" Chen Yan's eyes lit up.

Ha!

How could he have forgotten those bald donkeys?

Your damn kiss!

In the Tang era, Buddhism was, in a sense, more detestable than aristocratic families.

Having traveled to the present, he almost forgot that such a thing still existed.

Du Gou inhaled sharply, "Lord Han, I previously underestimated you; I didn't expect you to have such grand ambitions?"

"Honestly, I raise both hands to support your proposal. I've long been fed up with those bald donkeys; the nonsense of laying down the butcher's knife and instantly becoming a Buddha."

"If we co‑author a crime, can a shaved head absolve us entirely?"

Ma Zhou sincerely agreed, "Indeed, Minister Han is wise, but… this undertaking may not be easy!"

"What's there to fear? We even dealt with the Wei family; why fear a few bald donkeys?" Du Gou retorted confidently, "If you ask me, just do it!"

One after another, they each voiced their thoughts, their excitement evident.

Only Han Zhongliang was on the verge of crying.

Isn't it?

When did I say I wanted to exterminate Buddhism?

You guys, can you not mess around?

"......"

ps: Everyone, Yanzu, Yifei, happy new year!

Actually I thought of many blessings, but they all feel too fake, so...... I'll just wish everyone a prosperous new year!!!

I've never asked you for gifts from start to finish, but I'm really lacking in this area—could I trouble you to ask for a small gift? Thanks, everyone.