Read Novel Full Chapter 791 - 387: Asking for Money_2
Chapter 791: Chapter 387: Asking for Money_2
Constructing the canal is an extremely costly affair. If not for the significant earnings from tea in recent years, the national treasury would not have any extra funds for canal construction.
"How much money is in the treasury, do you think I don’t know?" The Emperor pointed at the Minister of Agriculture and scolded, "You’re like a pixiu, taking in but not giving out."
"Your Majesty, it’s been hard to accumulate some money over these years, you mustn’t squander it recklessly." The Minister of Agriculture did not want the treasury’s funds to decrease again, spending is easy, earning is hard. Fortunately, there is His Highness the Tenth Prince, otherwise the treasury would still be waiting to be filled. "This canal construction’s duration and cost are unknowable, thankfully His Highness the Tenth Prince helps to earn money. He truly is Great Zhou’s God of Wealth."
"Your Majesty, I propose we should increase the tea tax," Grandmaster Liu suddenly suggested.
"Increase the tea tax?" the Emperor asked with a puzzled expression, "Why should we increase the tea tax out of the blue?"
Prime Minister He supported Grandmaster Liu’s suggestion, "Your Majesty, initially to encourage the people to plant tea, the court set a low tea tax. Now, with more tea plantations and higher profitability, tea merchants are becoming exceedingly wealthy; it’s time to raise the tea tax."
The Minister of Agriculture immediately nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, it’s time to increase the tea tax." Increasing the tea tax would bring a significant amount of money into the treasury.
The Emperor had not thought of this, but hearing what Grandmaster Liu and the others said, he also felt it was time to raise the tea tax.
"How much do you think it should be increased?"
"The tea tax should be higher than the agricultural tax."
Regarding the matter of increasing the tea tax, the Emperor instructed the Minister of Agriculture and Grandmaster Liu to draft a proposal, which would then be discussed in the morning court session.
The Emperor ordered them to draft it within these days, ensuring the tea tax increase is settled before Zhao Yao produces the new tea.
The Minister of Agriculture and others acted swiftly, drafting the proposal for the tea tax increase within two days. Then, it was presented during the morning court session.
The aristocratic officials naturally opposed the increase in the tea tax, after all, they had earned a lot of money from tea in recent years. Raising the tea tax would significantly reduce their earnings.
Other officials supported increasing the tea tax, because over the years, tea had indeed become increasingly lucrative.
After listening to the officials discuss for a while, the Emperor decreed to raise the tea tax.
Soon, the decree to increase the tea tax was issued, causing lament among the tea merchants.
Tea merchants knew well that the tea tax couldn’t remain unchanged forever, nor could it stay this low. However, the sudden increase in tea tax was still hard for them to accept. Even if they didn’t want to accept it, they had to.
Far away in Changsha Prefecture, Zhao Yao was not surprised to learn about the tea tax increase, as the tea tax was one of the court’s most important sources of revenue and couldn’t remain stagnant.
After producing the new tea in Changsha Prefecture, Zhao Yao returned to the capital. This year’s new tea, called Junshan Silver Needle, was as beloved and sought after by tea enthusiasts as ever.
Zhao Yao’s annual production of new tea never disappointed tea enthusiasts, hence they called him the "God of Tea."
Since Zhao Yao produced Junshan Silver Needle, the Minister of Agriculture had been smiling every day. Apart from a few confidants like Prime Minister He, in court, only the Minister of Agriculture liked and favored Zhao Yao the most.
To the Minister of Agriculture, Zhao Yao was indeed Great Zhou’s God of Wealth. If possible, the Minister of Agriculture would truly like to enshrine Zhao Yao.
"Your Highness the Tenth Prince, when will you produce new tea again?"
"Minister of Agriculture, haven’t I already produced new tea this year?"
"Your Highness the Tenth Prince, do you not plan to produce another new tea before the Mid-Autumn Festival?" The Minister of Agriculture, thinking that in a few months the prince would be conferred a title and leave for his fiefdom, wanted him to produce another new tea before leaving to allow the court to profit greatly again.
"I don’t plan to, I’ve already produced new tea this year, I won’t produce more." Zhao Yao would only make one kind of new tea annually, doing more would diminish its appeal.
The Minister of Agriculture implored, "Your Highness, you are about to leave for the fiefdom, do you really not plan to produce another new tea before leaving the capital?"
Zhao Yao shook his head and said, "I don’t plan to. Once I reach the fiefdom, maybe I’ll make new tea every two or three years."
"What, every two or three years for new tea?" The Minister of Agriculture was shocked by Zhao Yao’s words, "Your Highness, you can’t do that."
Zhao Yao, uninterested in dealing with the Minister of Agriculture further, brushed past him and headed to the Imperial Study.
The Minister of Agriculture looked pale and hurriedly went to find Prime Minister He and the others.
Zhao Yao had important business with the Emperor, wishing to discuss the tea tax matter. He had helped the court earn a lot over the years by producing new tea, without taking any share. Now, with the tea tax increased, it was time for him to collect his dues.