After the court session ended, Ximen Qiao was about to board the palanquin when a shout suddenly came from behind." General Ximen, please wait! General Ximen, please wait!"
Turning around, it was the Minister of Revenue, Chang Gui.
"Lord Chang, what can I do for you?" Ximen Qiao stopped in his tracks.
"General, how about we have a chat in my house? I have something to discuss."
"Something important? Lord Chang, His Majesty has asked me to assist you in your work. I am now your direct subordinate, so there is no need to be polite.”
"General is really modest and prudent. Let's go, this isn't the place to talk.”Chang Gui urged. His sedan chair had also arrived.
"Alright then, I'll go with you.”Ximen Qiao called Dai 'an over." You can go back and tell Young Mistress that the master will be back later. The family matters will be decided by Young Mistress."”
" Yes, sir," Dai An said.
Ximen Qiao, who was sitting in the sedan chair, began to think about the intelligence group's information on Chang Gui.
Chang Gui, a scholar, 41 years old, timid and afraid of trouble. He was a corrupt official, but his greed was measured and he only accepted money from the unspoken rules.
The family had a wife, four concubines, an only son, and two daughters. The eldest daughter was married to Zhao Ning, and the younger daughter was twenty-eight years old and waiting to be married.
It turned out to be the father-in-law of the Eighth Prince, Zhao Ning. Last time, he fooled the Eighth Prince and almost caused his family to be destroyed. Could it be that this trip was a trap?
Chang Gui's residence was in the southern part of the city. They had to pass through a long street along the way, and it was already late in the morning when they arrived at the Chang residence.
On the first day, she was almost late for the court and had not eaten. At this time, her stomach was already growling from hunger.
When he entered, he saw that there was already a sumptuous feast in the hall. Ximen Qiao immediately saw the steamed lamb and roasted suckling pig.
"Lord Ximen, please take a seat." Chang Gui had already taken off his court clothes and changed into casual clothes.
"Lord Ximen, it's your first day in court, so you probably don't know the trick. You must be hungry, hahahaha.”
Ximen Qiao picked up his chopsticks and smiled." That's true. I wonder what's the secret behind this?" Did you all go there after breakfast?”
"No! We all brought this." Chang Gui took out a rice ball wrapped in lotus leaves and ginseng from his court clothes.
Ximen Qiao finally understood. So that was the case!
"Eat, Lord Ximen, don't stand on ceremony. Treat this place as your own home.”Chang Gui was the first to open his chopsticks. Actually, he was full, but he was worried that it would be inconvenient for Ximen Qiao to eat alone.
He was a meticulous person. Ximen Qiao thought.
After the dishes were finished, Ximen Qiao raised his wine glass and toasted Chang Gui.
"Lord Ximen, His Majesty sent you to help me raise the income of the national treasury.”Chang Gui saw that the time had come and said what he was thinking.
"This is very simple. Increase taxes." Ximen Qiao said. He was still eating a piece of lamb.
"Lord Ximen, increase the tax. This year's tax has already been collected. According to the ancestral system, taxes could not be increased.”Chang Gui thought to himself that this person's skill level was very average.
"The ancestral system is dead, but humans are alive. The era when the ancestral system was established was different from now. Now that two wars are going on, what other way is there without raising taxes?”Ximen Qiao put down his chopsticks and took a sip of wine.
"Lord Ximen, in the past few years, there have been continuous famine in various parts of the country. Some farmers have no harvest and are unable to pay taxes, which is why they have embarked on the path of rebellion. If we increase taxes again, isn't that forcing the people to revolt?”Chang Gui shook his head.
Ximen Qiao felt that this person had some brains, but he was still a little stupid, so he said,"Who said that the people should increase taxes?" How much silver could a commoner have?”
"Lord Ximen, since ancient times, the farmers and merchants have always been the ones to collect taxes. The farmers make up the bulk of the income.”
"Lord Chang, Minister Chang, asking the peasants to increase taxes is like adding fuel to the fire. How could we do such a stupid thing? We want to collect taxes from the rich and powerful families.”
Ximen Qiao said. According to his many days of research, the vast majority of the royal family and important officials owned most of the farmland, but the shops were tax-free.
This was a huge amount of wealth, and these wealthy families had obtained it unjustly.
"Lord Ximen, that is absolutely not something we can do. How can we collect taxes from those relatives of the imperial family?”Chang Gui jumped in shock, thinking that Ximen Qiao had some other good idea.
"If this matter is decided by this humble official, this humble official will submit a memorial to His Majesty. As long as His Majesty's ruling is feasible, this humble official guarantees that within a year, the national treasury will no longer be empty, but full.”Ximen Qiao drank a cup of wine.
Chang Gui picked up his wine glass and was stunned. He was savoring Ximen Qiao's words.
If the Emperor opened his mouth, the imperial relatives could not resist. However, if the Emperor took back this order one day, then the unlucky ones would be the advocates. Wang Anshi's reform in the previous dynasty was a lesson.
"Lord Chang, this is the only way.”Ximen Qiao said.
"Lord Ximen, please allow me to consider. This matter is very serious and should be handled with caution.”Chang Gui was a cautious person. According to the way he conducted himself, it was impossible for him to have such big thoughts.
"Your Highness has arrived!" The Chang family's butler shouted from outside the door.
The Eighth Prince, Zhao Ning, had already walked in from the main gate. After a period of time of keeping a low profile, he had led a few ministers to kill Cai Jing and had once again become mighty.
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