Read Novel Full Chapter 907 - 40: New Tax Policy
Chapter 907: Chapter 40: New Tax Policy
These days, the Minister of Revenue has been in a very good mood, with a smile on his face every day, greeting everyone cheerfully. Of course, the condition is that you don’t ask him for money. No matter who it is, if you ask for money, his face immediately drops, and he puts on a gloomy look, saying in a sinister tone, "No money."
The reason the Minister of Revenue is in a good mood is because a large sum of money has entered the national treasury again. Although the national treasury isn’t the Minister of Revenue’s private vault, as the Minister of Revenue, seeing the treasury’s money increasing naturally improves his mood.
The national treasury has more money again, thanks to Prince Han.
In recent times, Prince Han has produced white sugar. This white sugar is as important as salt, and also as profitable as salt. These days, the court has made a significant amount of money just by selling white sugar. Prince Han mentioned that white sugar can be used for other things, such as cooking, making pastries, medicines, etc., which can also be lucrative.
Whenever white sugar is mentioned, the Minister of Revenue feels sweet in his heart. One reason is that sugar is sweet, and the other is that sugar is very profitable.
Ah, Prince Han is truly talented to be able to produce such a good thing as white sugar. We’re all just people, so why can Prince Han come up with so many novel and profitable treasures?
By the way, Prince Han also produced a new fertilizer. The new fertilizer is even more fertile than the previous green manure. Although the court hasn’t sold the new fertilizer, the people using it will certainly have a very good harvest this year, and by then, the national treasury will be replenished with money again.
Speaking of the new fertilizer, we have to mention the terraces that Prince Han created. Although the emperor hasn’t given an order to promote terraces, he has sent people to dig them and try planting crops there. Prince Han mentioned that the terraces could produce just as much as regular fields, so it certainly won’t be less. Next year, the emperor will surely give an order to promote terraces, and food production will increase. The thought of warehouses in many places being filled with grain makes the Minister of Revenue smile even more brightly.
Prince Han also improved the curved handle plow, making it much better for plowing. Good plowing results in good crops, and that naturally leads to great harvests.
To tackle the irrigation issues, Prince Han also developed a water wheel. This water wheel is truly an amazing thing. With it, fields can be watered without worrying about droughts. The most important part is that the water wheel can irrigate higher-altitude fields. Prince Han said that even the terraced fields on mountain slopes could be irrigated with a water wheel.
Prince Han is truly remarkable to have developed so many good things in a row. All these good things can increase crop yields, allowing many people to have enough food to eat.
Previously, when Prince Han produced glass and mirrors, it was thought that he might not create things related to agriculture anymore. Still, Prince Han remained concerned about the people and developed so many things beneficial for agriculture.
Prince Han is not only the God of Wealth for Great Zhou but also its "Shennong" (Divine Farmer).
Over the years, the increase in food across Great Zhou is much credited to the things Prince Han has created. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that many people being able to have enough food now is all thanks to Prince Han.
For the sake of Great Zhou, maybe he should go to the temple and light a longevity lamp for Prince Han, asking Buddha and Bodhisattva to bless Prince Han with a long life.
He’s heard that many people in various places have already set up longevity tablets or lit longevity lamps for Prince Han. Compared to some ministers in the court, the people’s eyes are clear-sighted. They recognize that Prince Han is the most talented in the world and know that he is the best for them.
In the hearts of the people, Prince Han holds a very high position.
The Minister of Revenue thought this as he walked towards the Imperial Study.
At the door of the Imperial Study, Sun Doudou saw the Minister of Revenue walking over with a smile and hurried forward to greet him.
"Mr. Sun, you’re particularly full of energy today." In his good mood, everything seemed better to the Minister of Revenue.
"You too are beaming with joy," Sun Doudou joked, "You’ve turned back the clock by ten years recently."
The Minister of Revenue bowed his hand in the direction of the southeast. "It’s all thanks to Prince Han."
"It seems like the white sugar Prince Han made has made you quite a bit of money."
"Prince Han is my God of Wealth." The Minister of Revenue reminded himself that he was there for a reason, politely asking Sun Doudou, "Mr. Sun, could you please announce me?"
"Please wait a moment, this servant will go right away."
Soon, Sun Doudou came out of the Imperial Study and respectfully told the Minister of Revenue, "The emperor invites you in."
"Thank you, Mr. Sun."
"You’re too kind."
The emperor watched as the Minister of Revenue came in, full of spring and teased, "Look how happy you are." Every time Zhao Yao made something new, the Minister of Revenue was happier and more excited than the emperor himself.
"Your Majesty, may I request a longevity lamp for Prince Han at the National Protection Temple?" The Minister of Revenue said earnestly, "I want to ask Buddha and Bodhisattva to bless Prince Han with a long life so that Great Zhou’s treasury will be even more prosperous."
The emperor: "..."
"I see you intend to treat Little Ten as the God of Wealth and worship him, don’t you?"
The Minister of Revenue found the Emperor’s suggestion rather good and asked brightly, "May I do that?"
The Emperor replied curtly, "What do you think?"
The Minister of Revenue thought to himself: I think it can be done.
"Your Majesty, did you summon me for any instructions?"
"Last time, Little Ten sent me a memorial about the division of land for the people of Swamp Prefecture. I didn’t look at it carefully and didn’t pay much attention. I just reviewed it and found it very well-written," the Emperor tossed the memorial to the Minister of Revenue, "Take a good look at it."
The Minister of Revenue was full of doubt: Division of land in Swamp Prefecture? How did Prince Han plan to distribute land to the people of Swamp Prefecture?
Driven by curiosity and doubt, the Minister of Revenue hurriedly opened the memorial to read it. After finishing, his face turned extremely shocked: "Your Majesty, this..."
The Emperor asked, "What do you think?"
"I think it’s excellent." The Minister of Revenue replied, but his expression suddenly turned grave, "It’s just... it might offend the aristocracy and noble families."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you think I would fear them?"
"Of course, you wouldn’t, but I am concerned that the new tax policy proposed by Prince Han would be difficult to implement, as ministers would strongly oppose it." The new tax policy proposed by Prince Han abolished the poll tax and levied taxes based on land ownership, which is beneficial to the common people but detrimental to the aristocracy and nobles, as they own much land.
If taxes are levied based on the amount of land, those landlords with a vast amount of land would have to pay many taxes, which they are surely unwilling to do.
The Emperor sneered, "How few things have they opposed? Have I ever cared about their opinions?" Whenever something damages their interests, the ministers oppose it. Whenever a policy benefits them, the ministers enthusiastically support it.
Earlier this year, when implementing the Three Departments and Six Ministries system, the ministers strongly opposed it. Some even threatened the Emperor with death, but when the Emperor genuinely let them run into pillars, they didn’t dare to.
"Your Majesty, the new tax policy proposed by Prince Han is not a trivial matter. I believe if you bring up this issue, it will inevitably stir up a storm." In previous cases, like the implementation of the Three Departments and Six Ministries system early this year, although facing considerable opposition, it could still be implemented because it didn’t genuinely harm their interests. However, the new tax policy proposed by Prince Han truly harms their interests, and they will inevitably oppose it and protest "vehemently."
The Emperor smiled sinisterly, "If they dare to stir up trouble, I’ll crush them with a slap."
The Minister of Revenue: "..." He worried too much. When the Emperor proposed the imperial examination system for selecting officials, those ministers also strongly opposed it, yet the Emperor firmly suppressed them.
"Your Majesty, I think the new tax policy proposed by Prince Han is excellent." I’m amazed at how Prince Han’s mind works, not only making so many great contributions to the country and its people but also devising policies beneficial to the stability of the state. "Your Majesty, this new tax policy will be a notable Chapter in the annals of history." The new tax policy is entirely comparable to the imperial examination system from a few years ago.
"I will announce this matter during tomorrow’s morning court session."
"Your Majesty, why not write to Prince Han to understand what exactly this new tax policy entails?" Prince Han did not detail the new tax policy in the memorial. "After fully comprehending the new tax policy, then you can announce it without haste."
The Emperor nodded and said, "Alright, I’ll ask Little Ten."
"Your Majesty, the fact that this new tax policy is proposed by Prince Han must not be disclosed, or the entire nation’s aristocracy will despise him." By affecting the interests of the entire aristocracy and noble families, Prince Han would become detested by them.
"I understand." For the sake of Little Ten, that wretched kid’s safety, it wasn’t publicly disclosed a few years ago that he proposed the imperial examination system. Naturally, the origin of this new tax policy cannot be revealed as Little Ten’s idea either.
"Your Majesty, how did you manage to have Prince Han?" The Minister of Revenue originally thought he wouldn’t be astonished by Prince Han’s extraordinary talents anymore, yet he was still overwhelmed by his abilities. "What does Prince Han usually eat and drink?" Perhaps he should refer to Prince Han’s diet, hoping his own grandson could become clever too.
The Emperor shamelessly replied, "Of course, it’s inherited from my talents."
The Minister of Revenue was dumbfounded by the Emperor’s shamelessness and silently mocked: The Emperor is as shameless as ever.
"Your Majesty, after Prince Han replies to you, you can then have the cabinet ministers deliberate on it."
The Emperor nodded, "Let’s proceed with that."
A few days later, Zhao Yao received a letter from the Emperor. Seeing that the Emperor was interested in the land and poll taxes policy, he wrote a detailed memorial. In it, he also discussed the return of illicit levies to the public coffers and the unified grain tax for officials and gentry.