"My dear minister, I didn't expect you to not only be good at business, but also have your own unique ideas about governing the country. Tell me your ideas in detail.”
Ximen Qiao was summoned by Zhao Ji immediately after he sent the memorial.
"Your Majesty, how much is the annual income of the national treasury?”
"100 million taels."
"Your Majesty is wise! Then how much was the annual expenditure?”
"The Ministry of Revenue's figure was 120 million taels the year before last. You want to test me!" Zhao Ji was lying on the couch in the West Warm Pavilion, eating jujube and wolfberries tea.
"Your Majesty, last year, the national treasury's income dropped to 80 million taels, but the expenditure was 150 million taels. What was reduced was the tax revenue of the three war zones, and the increase in expenditure was also the expenditure for the war.”
Ximen Qiao thought to himself that the cost of your flower stone outline would be fifty million taels of silver, so he held back his words.
"Yes, yes, these few things have made zhen dizzy. My beloved minister said in the memorial that you have a way to attack the rich families. Zhen wants to know who the rich families you are referring to are?”
Zhao Ji sat up on the couch. He was indeed short of money.
Ximen Qiao felt that his back was aching from standing and talking, so he sat down when he saw a seat.
Zhao Ji was stunned for a moment but didn't say anything. He thought to himself," This person really doesn't understand the etiquette of monarch and minister. I haven't asked you to sit, but he endured it."
"Your Majesty, at the moment, the people who can get the most money are naturally the rich families. These rich families include the royal family and the senior officials. They have occupied too much land and have never paid taxes. In the long run, the entire country will be dragged down.”
Ximen Qiao's mouth was dry from talking, and when he saw that there was still a cup of tea on the coffee table, he picked it up and moistened his throat.
"I also know what my beloved minister said, but those people not paying taxes are stipulated by Taizu Taizong, so I can't do anything about it.”Zhao Ji sighed.
"Your Majesty, the rules set by Taizu Taizong naturally cannot be changed. However, special times have their own rules. Your Majesty can issue an edict to call for them to donate silver to help with the war. This is not a tax, but to help each other in the same boat.”Ximen Qiao said. "Your Majesty, you can take the lead in donating silver. This will shut Youyou up.”
"My dear minister, what you said is true, but this is something I cannot do. It's not that I don't want to take the lead, but I can't say that we are in the same boat. If that happens, the subjects below will be divided and think that the country is about to perish.”Zhao Ji said.
Ximen Qiao laughed coldly in his heart. It seemed like it was a common problem for emperors since ancient times to pretend that everything was peaceful.
"Your Majesty, if this doesn't work, then we can only crack down on the despotic who eat the rich. Seizing land by force, corruption and bribery are a big deal.”
"This plan is feasible, but the impact should not be too big. Beloved minister, who do you think is qualified for this task?”
Ximen Qiao thought for a moment, and Zhao Ji looked at him with a blank expression. He then turned around and ordered the eunuch to bring him more tea and fruits.
"I recommend myself!" Ximen Qiao enunciated each word.
Zhao Ji was stunned when he heard that. He thought to himself," Your level is not high enough." However, he turned around and thought that there might be no one more suitable than him.
He was a newcomer and did not have much interaction with the princes and ministers. The other ministers might not necessarily take on this offending task. Even if they did, they would only do it perfunctorily.
After making up his mind, Zhao Ji said," That's good. I love you for daring to be the first in the world. You are loyal to the king and love your country. I will appoint you as the Imperial Censor in front of the palace. You will be fully responsible for your duties. After this, you will be relieved of your post."”
"Long live our emperor!" Ximen Qiao thanked him.
"Your Majesty, I think we can change the method of donating silver. If a large family is willing to donate silver, then we can compensate them accordingly, just like the Han Dynasty. Although this matter does not conform to the ancestral system, it is very effective and immediate.”Ximen Qiao stood up and said.
"Yes!" Zhao Ji agreed. As long as it doesn't involve him, let him be. I only want silver.
"Then, I will take my leave." Ximen Qiao bowed again, thinking that this set of etiquette was too torturous.
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