Seeing Zhu Di repeating his old tune and threatening himself with being sent to Fengyang High Wall, Zhu Gaoxu could only think about the solution strategy.
Jin Zhong, Xia Yuanji and other big guys couldn’t help but stop talking when they saw this.
They really wanted to see what insights this Han prince could have without violating Taizu’s old system.
Jin Zhong was sitting next to Xia Yuanji and couldn’t help but whisper, ‘Does Shangshu Xia have any opinions on this matter？’
Xia Yuanji looked solemn, ‘Our dynasty now inherits the ‘Two Tax Laws’ of the Tang and Song dynasties. In the early days of the founding of the country, in order to restore the people’s livelihood destroyed by the war, the tax and servitude laws were established. The laws are based on the yellow book. The book contains Ding Youtian and Ding Youwu. , the fields are rentable.”
‘After people’s livelihood was restored, the tax system began to be gradually improved based on the ‘Two Taxes Law’. Land tax was levied on a per-mu basis, which was different in the north and south. It was usually collected in summer and autumn, which is an important source of tax revenue.’
‘The basis for collecting taxes is the Yellow Book of Taxes and Services and the Fish Scale Atlas produced in the first ten years of the year.’
After a pause, Xia Yuanji sighed and said, ‘This matter involves tax collection, which affects the whole body. It is almost impossible to properly solve this problem without violating Taizu’s old system.’
Jin Zhong’s face changed slightly, he touched his beard and said nothing.
If there is a problem with tax collection, the only way to do that is to reform the tax system.
However, reforming the tax system is an earth-shattering matter that affects the whole body. It cannot be carried out rashly.
So, what advice does Zhu Gaoxu, the King of Han, have？
Everyone’s eyes were looking at Zhu Gaoxu, either in anticipation or teasing.
Some people are waiting for him to make a surprising statement and solve this tax collection problem.
Some people were full of teasing and ridicule, waiting to see his joke.
Zhu Di also looked at him expectantly, hoping that his enlightened son would bring surprises again.
After a long time, Zhu Gaoxu took a deep breath and turned to look at Xia Yuanji.
‘Old Xia Tou, what do you have to say？’
When everyone heard this, they were speechless for a while.
You’ve been thinking quietly for a long time, but in the end you haven’t come up with anything？
Xia Yuanji smiled bitterly, shook his head, and repeated what he had just said to Jin Zhong.
Seeing that this famous minister had no choice, Zhu Gaoxu immediately laughed and said, ‘Old Xia Tou, you, the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, can’t do it either!’
Xia Yuanji’s old face turned red instantly, but he couldn’t refute.
When Zhu Di saw this, he glared at Zhu Gaoxu fiercely and was about to teach the bastard a lesson when he heard him say with a smile, ‘Actually, this is not difficult. There is no need to drastically reform the tax system. We only need to make a small improvement in the collection system.’ Just change it!”
All the big guys were stunned when they heard this, and their expressions became extremely exciting.
No way？
He can’t really do anything, can he？
Even Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs, found it difficult. How could the King of Han come up with a solution in such a short period of time？
Zhu Di’s words to sneer at him were already on his lips, but when he heard these words, he swallowed them back, feeling very uncomfortable.
‘Okay, hurry up and say it, stop being so pretentious!’
Zhu Gaoxu curled his lips and said in a deep voice, ‘Everyone knows that the imperial court’s collection of taxes and levies is mainly based on the tax collection yellow book centered on the household, supplemented by the fish scale album centered on the land, and they are the latitude and longitude of each other.’
‘Therefore, the household registration system and the yellow registration system became important tax collection tools for the imperial court, right？’
Xia Yuanji nodded repeatedly, the surprise in his eyes became even stronger.
If the King of Han can realize this, it proves that he is not aimless!
Maybe this mud-legged guy can really impress people!
Zhu Di nodded slightly and motioned for him to continue with a smile.
‘However, since Yongle, the number of households has increased dramatically, and the land has also undergone drastic changes. In addition, in the process of compiling books and collecting money and grain, officials and other officials such as the household books, grain books, and books have cheated, and the survivors have If the payment is not made, the deceased will not be written off, and the land sales and mortgages are not recorded in the register, the yellow list system has gradually fallen into chaos and dereliction, and has become a fake register in name only!’
Fake book!
This word deeply hurt everyone.
Xia Yuanji, the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, was shocked and immediately raised an objection ‘Your Highness, the King of Han, the Yellow Register of Household Posters was produced every ten years, how could there be a fake register…’
‘Old Xia Tou, please don’t be so harsh. Believe it or not, I am extracting yellow books from various prefectures at will. The names and properties of the households listed on them are still the names and numbers of the Hongwu period in the early Ming Dynasty. There is no content at all. Variety？’
As soon as these words came out, Xia Yuanji’s expression froze, with a look of horror on his face.
‘In the early years of Hongwu, there was a large-scale creation of yellow records. Taizu did not appoint local officials to verify the number of acres of land. Instead, he appointed a large number of supervisors. This was to prevent local officials from colluding with the powerful gentry to conceal the number of acres of land and pay less taxes. Therefore, The Yellow Book of that time and even the Yellow Book of the Hongwu Period are both authentic and representative.’
‘But now, the large-scale pornographic book has become a mere formality. Local officials are too busy searching for people’s wealth. Who will do such a thankless job？ Wouldn’t it be wrong for them to use this free time to make clever excuses to line their own pockets？ ？”
After hearing this, Zhu Di’s face gradually turned ugly, and the faces of Jin Zhong and other giants were not much better either.
Although the words of the King of Han were harsh and harsh, he had to admit that they were indeed true.
For example, in the case of Henan disaster relief funds, those corrupt officials dared to extend their hands to the disaster relief funds. What else would they care about the fish scales in the yellow book？
‘Second brother, since most of these pornographic books are fake, let’s talk about your method.’
Zhu Di pondered for a moment and frowned tightly.
The yellow album and the fish scale album were the basis for the imperial court to collect taxes.
The inaction of local officials, and even corruption, resulted in these yellow books becoming fake books and not authentic at all!
However, even if the emperor Zhu Di knew about it, he had no suitable solution at the moment.
Is it possible to order an inventory of pornography records across the country？
That will be a big project that consumes countless manpower and financial resources!
However, if you really do this, you will only gain more than you lose!
Everyone frowned and looked at Zhu Gaoxu in unison.
Prince Han smiled slightly and said in a deep voice, ‘Since the Yellow Book is a fake book, then the imperial court will make a new real book!’
‘Old Xia Tou asked all the prefectures and counties to come up with a plan for collecting autumn grain every year. In August, the local government issued a budget plan, and in September, the flower farmers collected the actual collection book. They filled out the notification form. From November onwards, the court began to collect grain. The registration will be filled in by household, and the actual collection will be reported to the court when the collection is completed in December.’
‘After the grain collection is over, the court will check the plan book and the actual collection book. If there is a discrepancy between the two, no matter how much or how little, local officials can be asked to explain. If the explanation is unclear, they can be held accountable.’
Xia Yuanji was startled, then nodded excitedly.
This method greatly made it more difficult for local officials to lie about the disaster or take advantage of the disaster to commit corruption. It not only increased the income of the court, but also suppressed the bad corruption situation, and it did not change the old system of Taizu. It was simply a solution to the current dilemma. Perfect strategy!
Jin Zhong and others looked at Zhu Gaoxu in surprise, their eyes full of doubts, as if they were meeting him for the first time.
Zhu Di was also shocked. He really didn’t expect that his second son could come up with such a good idea.
This guy is really enlightened!
If you don’t make a sound, it will be a blockbuster!
‘My dear friends, how is this plan？’
Zhu Di was in a good mood and asked with a smile, causing the ministers to nod repeatedly.
‘If this is the case, then draft the decree immediately and implement it throughout the world!’