Chapter 107: Worrying diligently from dawn to dusk, laboring the body with documents

Sending miscellaneous taxes back to regular taxes has a fatal problem—that is, the gentry have the privilege of exempting regular taxes.

Although there are quota limits, time limits, and all kinds of messy things.

But in actual execution, the gentry almost have unlimited exemption rights for regular taxes.

This is also why the people would compete to donate fields to Xu Jie.

Now that the pilot is going to change the regular tax, this is a problem that must be faced.

Should the gentry be exempt from taxes?

Zhang Zhang Juzheng sits quietly on the low stool, listening to the Emperor's words one by one.

Lowering his eyes and eyebrows, he quickly goes through the Emperor's words in his mind.

Until the Emperor finishes saying three points and doesn't say any more, he slowly stands up.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng thinks for a moment, bows and salutes: "Your Majesty, although it is only one prefecture of Songjiang, it is, after all, pulling one hair and moving the whole body, and everyone is watching..."

After the Emperor finished speaking, there was nothing simple.

Merging harsh taxes and miscellaneous levies back into regular taxes, saying it is simple, but there are many problems.

After the regular tax is increased, how to curb local government offices from continuing to add levies under a new guise?

If the regular tax is increased on one side, and additional levies continue on the other, what should the people do?

You must know that regular taxes are collected by the Central Secretariat, but miscellaneous taxes are different.

If it were just one prefecture of Songjiang, it would be fine, but when it is spread across the world, local government offices lose their income, and it is inevitable that demons will dance in chaos.

Not to mention the annexation by the gentry.

This is a problem of thousands of years; doing seven points, it is good to have two points of success.

And the gentry paying taxes... is even more difficult!

Zhu Zhu Yijun nods, and doesn't make his words absolute: "The Minister manages yin and yang, and is naturally well-versed in the essence of it, so I asked the Minister's opinion first."

In the final analysis, the feudal dynasty's pursuit of local governance is really too low, and they are all used to rough handling.

For example, the two most important things: personnel power and financial power.

The former basically retains the power of appointment and removal, and as for how to govern in the office? Do it yourself.

The current Examination Law is taking back the power of delegation and assessment that should belong to the Central Secretariat.

Obstacles abound, and it is hard to describe in words.

And financial power goes without saying. Throughout the dynasties, as long as taxes can be collected, everything will be fine.

As for how the taxes were collected, what annexation, what gentry tax exemption? It is good enough not to implement the tax farming system; who cares about these.

What Zhu Zhu Yijun wants to do now is to intervene in the distribution of taxes on the basis of financial power.

The matter is of great importance, and the words between the two are naturally cautious and careful.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng muses for a moment and says: "Your Majesty, now the Cabinet and the Ministry of Revenue's original meaning is to improve the Whip Law, and after coming up with a charter, test it in Songjiang Prefecture for two or three years, and then gradually improve it."

"Since Your Majesty wants to merge the miscellaneous taxes back into the regular tax, it is just right to take this opportunity to change the name."

"That is, additional levies outside the regular tax... I am afraid it is inevitable."

Taxes are collected by land, corvée is collected by household, and outside of taxes and corvée, there are numerous additional levies such as local products and tributes.

The so-called Whip Law, in short, is the combination of taxes and corvée, calculated by land, and paid in silver.

Since these regular taxes and miscellaneous taxes are all simplified into silver collection, they can also be used as a new regular tax name.

Ten to one, seven to one, it doesn't matter.

What regular tax, miscellaneous tax, will all be changed to a name in the future, called the Whip Tax.

But merging regular taxes is easy, but wanting to prevent local additional levies is not very realistic.

In his speech, it is not a remonstrance, but it also has the meaning of a warning.

Zhu Zhu Yijun naturally understands this, and is afraid that his expectations are too high; when things don't go well, it is inevitable that the blocks in his chest will accumulate—the regular tax has been increased, but additional levies cannot be prevented, so the people will complain.

Officials and clerks indulging in their treachery, and the people suffering, are all common things in the new government.

Zhu Zhu Yijun ponders for a while and asks: "Minister, according to the Whip Law, the collection of taxes and corvée is no longer handled by the village head and grain head, right?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng nods: "After the collection of taxes and corvée is converted into silver, it is changed to be collected directly by the Songjiang Prefect's office and deposited into the warehouse. The subsequent transportation matters will no longer disturb the people."

Zhu Zhu Yijun also says seriously: "The village head and grain head are beyond the reach of the Central Secretariat, but if it reaches the prefecture and county, they can be managed."

"Try it first, one prefecture and one province at a time, the boat is small and easy to turn."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng at most reminds him, and seeing that the Emperor listens, he doesn't persuade him anymore.

He bows and agrees: "The specific matters of merging regular taxes will be discussed with the Ministry of Revenue before reporting to Your Majesty."

If you prepare, you will stand; if you don't, you will fail.

How much should the regular tax be, how to convert miscellaneous taxes, how to convert corvée—all must be prepared in detail.

Thinking of this, he inexplicably thinks of the next two imperial examinations—he should add more officials to the Ministry of Revenue, otherwise, they might not be able to handle it.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng suppressed his wandering thoughts, composed his mind, and continued his response: "Regarding the second point Your Majesty just mentioned, allowing cooperative production among the common people..."

He pauses, his meaning difficult to understand: "I don't know who the people Your Majesty refers to are?"

This is also a tricky problem.

Xu Jie has already retired, can't he call himself a commoner?

Or, even if he is a gentry, there are always people in the family who are commoners.

If they hide behind the scenes, the name is justified, what should be done?

Zhu Zhu Yijun feels a bit of pity and glances at Zhang Zhang Juzheng implicitly.

This Minister of his, even if he hasn't been a local official, is so clear about these local malpractices.

It is because the Great Ming Dynasty's official career is not scientific enough, and most of the Cabinet Chief Ministers revolve around the Hanlin Academy and the six ministries, without local experience.

If Zhang Zhang Juzheng had really been polished from county to prefecture to the Central Secretariat, he wouldn't know what kind of style he would have.

Zhu Zhu Yijun thinks about this, but there is no pause on the surface, and he connects to Zhang Zhang Juzheng's words: "The people, naturally, are the people who hold land and farm by themselves."

"The so-called cooperative production should be in the form of clan schools and clan fields."

"And those landlords who hire tenant farmers, that kind of annexation, must be severely cracked down on."

In other words, production materials can be merged, but only in the form of joint ownership.

That kind of landlord annexation and exploitation of the people must be severely cracked down on.

The original intention is that Zhu Zhu Yijun is unwilling to curb economic vitality, but wants to prevent large-scale annexation and the formation of gentry oligarchs.

Production materials are fine for expanding reproduction, but if they are used for enjoyment, the Emperor is not happy.

Of course, the idea is good, but how much effect it can have specifically is hard to say.

It is still that sentence, Zhu Zhu Yijun is still young, there is still plenty of time to make mistakes, every step is experience, and every step can be explored slowly.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng immediately understands.

Distinguishing from ownership, it is not difficult on the surface.

The difficulty lies in how to implement it—the resistance from top to bottom, I am afraid, will not be small.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng is silent for a long time before nodding slowly.

He is about to discuss the issue of gentry paying grain, but sees the Emperor stand up and wave to him: "Sitting in the Gu Chengguang Hall in the afternoon is a bit sleepy, let's go out for a walk and talk on the way."

After saying this, Zhu Zhu Yijun walks to the front, grabs Zhang Zhang Juzheng's arm, and pulls him out.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng follows helplessly.

The two walk out of the Gu Chengguang Hall, and Zhang Hong in the side hall, as well as Jiang Jiang Keqian and others on duty outside the hall, immediately follow.

After the Emperor beckons people to follow from a distance, Zhang Zhang Juzheng continues to talk about the main business, which is the matter of gentry paying grain mentioned earlier.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's expression is quite serious, and he says seriously: "Your Majesty, I also know that the taxes of this dynasty are mostly intercepted by the gentry."

"I also understand Your Majesty's worries—if taxes are simplified, I am afraid it will become worse."

"I know it deeply, but I still have to warn Your Majesty..."

"The time for gentry paying grain is not yet ripe."

Compared to gentry paying grain, the matters discussed earlier can simply be said to be dust.

The previous matters, at most, attract the resentment of prefecture and county government offices and local gentry, and can even be controlled within the Songjiang Prefecture boundary for the time being.

But this kind of thing, even if it is only in one county, will cause a huge uproar.

As long as a little bit of wind is leaked, it is an enemy of all officials in the world!

Why do court officials often ask to retire?

Why hasn't Lu Lu Shusheng come to the Ministry of Personnel to take office yet?

Why are flower sedan chairs lifted by people, and after retiring, they are all posthumously awarded virtual titles and high-level matching?

It is because officials can be exempt from taxes after retiring!

Good days are all after retiring; you don't have to go to work, and you don't have to suffer the Emperor's anger. The fields and tenant farmers are all waiting for you. Buying half a city with a courtyard is more relaxed and comfortable, right?

Now it's good, the Emperor says one word, everyone has worked hard for half a lifetime, and now they have to pay grain.

How can they connect fields in the future? How can they be rich?

No salary when serving as an official, and when they are about to retire, the Emperor is subsidizing the performance of later comers, and canceling the tax exemption right.

In short, no benefits, and all the bad things are occupied by themselves?

Once they connect, the Central Secretariat, local provinces and prefectures, all will suffer from the backlash of the imperial court itself!

It is simply digging the grave of the imperial court itself!

Zhu Zhu Yijun walks half a body in front, listening quietly to Zhang Zhang Juzheng's remonstrance.

After the latter finishes speaking, Zhu Zhu Yijun says: "The Minister's old and prudent words, I have accepted."

"I am not prepared to do it overnight, just intending to discuss it with the Minister."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng hears the unfinished meaning in the Emperor's words.

The two are now somewhat accustomed to each other's way of expression.

Seeing this, he directly hands over the ladder: "Please Your Majesty indicate."

Zhu Zhu Yijun picks a leaf at random, pinches it into two pieces in his hand, and shakes his head: "A little idea, for the Minister's reference."

He pauses, turns his head to look at Zhang Zhang Juzheng, and slowly spits out a few words: "Old methods for old people, new methods for new people."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng is startled, then suddenly realizes.

But then he slowly frowns, obviously starting to think about the pros and cons.

Zhu Zhu Yijun watches Zhang Zhang Juzheng's long thought, but his thoughts are thousands of miles away.

There is nothing new under the sun.

The super-standard treatment of officials after retirement, becoming a burden on the Central Secretariat's financial taxes, is not a new thing.

Dual track to single track, and back to dual track, such pulling for decades, and still haven't decided the winner, he remembers it vividly.

The phrase "old methods for old people, new methods for new people," as an experience of an era, Zhu Zhu Yijun naturally doesn't mind using it.

Official households exempt from taxes?

Current officials, exempt and continue to exempt, but those who take the exam later, that's hard to say.

Divide and disintegrate, internal fire, what a good method—this is the wisdom of later generations.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng doesn't dare to make a conclusion for a while, hesitates for a while, and still bows and begs: "What Your Majesty said... please allow me to think slowly."

The matter involves major national affairs, how can it be concluded in a few words.

The Emperor gave the idea, whether it is feasible or not, always needs to be discussed and discussed by many parties.

Zhu Zhu Yijun laughs, nods: "This matter is not urgent, the Minister should think carefully in the Cabinet."

"However, before there is a specific charter, don't let the wind leak."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng agrees.

Afterwards, the two talked about other government affairs.

Including issuing thirty-seven thousand taels of silver from the Taicang to buy grain and grass in various border areas.

Promoting the Left Administration Commissioner of Shandong, Shi Duchen, to the Governor of Shuntian Prefecture—it is worth mentioning that the former Governor of Shuntian Prefecture, Sun Sun Yizheng, confessed another batch of illicit money in prison today, totaling over two hundred thousand taels.

In addition, there is the memorial of the Canal Transport Governor Wang Wang Zongmu, first, drawing near-sea shipping maps, pointing out reefs, surveying storms, etc.; second, building official ships, unifying styles to facilitate civil transport.

The Emperor has no objection, and sends it to the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue.

If there is anything difficult, it is the memorial of the Zhejiang Circuit Investigating Censor, Tao Xie Tao Xie Tingjie.

He had nothing to do and made trouble, submitting a memorial some time ago, questioning why the imperial court did not put Wang Wang Yangming into the Kong Miao to enjoy sacrifices.

Saying something like, Wang Wang Shouren, the Earl of Xinjian, his theory of conscience is a wonderful fit for the true meaning, his theory of investigation is a super-realization of the original intention, his academic purity, how can he not be sacrificed?

Wang Wang Shouren, named Wang Yangming, was enfeoffed for military merit, and is the great synthesizer of the School of Mind, writing books and establishing theories, calling himself a sect and ancestor.

That is the one who knows and acts as one and achieves conscience.

In the eyes of the disciples of the School of Mind, this person is a sage, naturally he should enter the Kong Miao and enjoy sacrifices with Confucius.

It has been arguing back and forth for many years, and now it is coming back again.

As soon as Tao Xie Tao Xie Tingjie's memorial was submitted, it poked a hornet's nest on the spot.

The disciples of the School of Mind, who were already marginalized in the Central Secretariat, immediately gathered together, voiced their support, and requested the Emperor to sacrifice to Wang Wang Yangming.

But Wang Wang Shouren naturally had opponents besides disciples, not to mention entering the Kong Miao and enjoying sage sacrifices.

Once the dissent came out, the imperial court immediately argued about it.

Plus other factions fanning the flames, the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites were arguing endlessly about this, wanting to persuade the Emperor every day.

Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't want to get involved in this either.

He didn't even look at it, and sent it all to the two palaces.

The two Empress Dowagers naturally didn't understand this, and could only let the Cabinet discuss it.

Now the Cabinet is arguing, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng wants to catch the Emperor to set the tone.

Zhu Zhu Yijun heard this and hurriedly muddled through—things that offend both sides, leave it to the two palaces, I am still young.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked at this somewhat slippery Emperor and almost couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Just now he told him not to work too hard and pay attention to his health.

Now that he really brought a thorny problem to the Cabinet, he started to play dumb.

It's a good thing the Classics Mat is suspended for the summer, otherwise he would have to change the curriculum tomorrow and take the opportunity to educate him.

Well, it's not that there is no other way, tomorrow he will offer the imperial calligraphy and poetry axis of Emperor Xuanzong, and take the opportunity to point out two sentences.

The two walked for a while, the shade of the trees couldn't cover the sunlight, so they found a pavilion and walked in to rest.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng continued the next topic: "According to Wang Wang Chonggu's

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded.

This was the benefit of having a background as a frontier general; once he entered the Grand Secretariat, hollowing out the Ministry of War's authority over the Capital Camps was merely a matter of a single thought.

Nowadays, the specific tasks of training and equipping were handed over to Gu Gu Huan, while clearing out empty payrolls and punishing generals were entrusted to Wang Wang Chonggu—Zhu Zhu Yijun only controlled the payment of salaries for the Capital Camps.

He thought for a moment and sincerely requested: "Chief Grand Secretary, it is the intention of Wang Grand Secretary Zhang and myself that the Capital Camps will likely need to rotate to the borders frequently in the future, and we will need the Grand Secretariat to provide more support."

Rotating garrisons is not just a matter for the Ministry of War; it involves the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, and local governors and grand coordinators. It cannot be forced through by sheer will every time like it was with the Yueyang Guard.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng did not say much more; these were all routine matters. He cupped his hands and agreed to the task.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered something and earnestly reminded: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing. The matters concerning the Salt Administration Office have almost been deliberated."

"Yin Yin Shidan will be arriving in the capital to receive the imperial edict in some time."

"We are currently finalizing this matter. Your Majesty, please do not procrastinate any further during the court deliberations in the coming days."

After the Emperor went on break, he spent his days either practicing martial arts and archery or fishing and swimming; it would not do to not urge him on a little.

Zhu Zhu Yijun carefully stole a glance at Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Seeing his stern expression, which already carried the air of a teacher, he hurriedly followed his advice: "Teacher, rest assured, I understand."

Seeing this, Zhang Zhang Juzheng's expression softened slightly.

He looked at the sky; they had been discussing matters for half the afternoon, and it was getting late.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng gathered his thoughts slightly and brought up the final matter of the day: "Your Majesty, there are still two matters in Huguang that require Your Majesty's consideration."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhu Yijun immediately became solemn: "Teacher, please speak."

These were among the few matters he had been most focused on recently, and he could not afford to be careless.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng took a memorial from his bosom and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, according to precedent, the memorials from various regions regarding the serious criminals to be released and the virtuous scholars in the countryside to be recommended this year have all been submitted to the Six Ministries."

"In Jiangnan, there were forty-two serious criminals and others; the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review have released twenty-seven. Shandong has released thirteen..."

At the end, he paused, his tone somewhat complex: "In Huguang, no serious criminals have been released."

Zhu Zhu Yijun understood the implication immediately and grasped Zhang Zhang Juzheng's meaning.

It was rare for him to feel nervous, and he hurriedly explained: "Teacher, that is not my intention!"

Who is so despicable as to play such a game of sowing discord!

How can a person living in this world not care about their fellow countrymen?

As someone from Huguang, Zhang Zhang Juzheng could not avoid such worldly concerns.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng brought this up not to plead for the serious criminals, but to test him—to see if he was punishing Huguang politically due to a momentary whim.

Otherwise, why did everyone else follow the rules, while Huguang did not have a single person released!?

The serious criminals were just the beginning; the unspoken meaning referred to the promotion of officials, the recruitment through the imperial examinations, and so on and so forth.

If they dared to treat them differently today, would Huguang never be employed again in the future?

That was why he asked this question—to see if this was truly the Emperor's intention.

But Zhu Zhu Yijun was truly wronged!

He hurriedly defended himself: "Not to mention that you, Teacher, are from Huguang, even if we take a step back, among the matters in Huguang, Zhang Chucheng is from Zhang Jiangling, Jingzhou Prefecture, Huguang."

"How could I lack the sense to distinguish right from wrong?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said earnestly: "Your Majesty, I am not boasting of my merits to question Your Majesty, but to remind Your Majesty to be wary of such things."

"It is not just the serious criminals; there is not a single person recommended from the countryside in Huguang either."

"The release of serious criminals is the work of the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, and the recommendations are handled by local governors and the Ministry of Personnel."

"Your Majesty, those who speculate on the imperial heart... throughout history, there have been too many!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun paused.

Then he fell into silence.

He understood the meaning behind Zhang Zhang Juzheng's words.

The matter involved the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Personnel, and local governors; not many people had the ability to collude like this.

Even if they did, they would not be so petty as to do something so ineffective and seemingly sycophantic.

It was highly likely just a simple coincidence, an intentional effort to cater to the Emperor's preferences.

And Zhang Zhang Juzheng's subtext might also be testing the Emperor's attitude toward Huguang—after all, the imperial examinations were coming up soon.

But more than that, it was also a reminder to the Emperor, Zhu Zhu Yijun.

Since his likes and dislikes were expressed so clearly, he had to be careful of those who acted under the banner of doing what was best for the Emperor.

Zhu Zhu Yijun went through it in his mind, and after thinking it through, he slowly said: "Teacher, your golden words are well-taken; I have listened to them."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng nodded with satisfaction.

He then brought up another matter: "As for the second matter, it is that the memorial from the Huguang Administration Commissioner, Xu Xu Xuemo, has arrived at the Grand Secretariat today."

"He asks for His Majesty's opinion: to what extent should the matters in Huguang be carried out?"

"Zhu Zhu Xizhong... has he perhaps been a bit too excessive in his killings?"

(End of chapter)