The merchants were the only ones who were different from the farmers. Merchants only cared about profits. This was something that had never changed. Not only in China, but all over the world.
Therefore, the previous dynasties and emperors had severely suppressed merchants because of this. They deliberately weakened the merchants and suppressed their status.
For example, merchants were not allowed to be officials, and their children were not allowed to participate in the imperial examination. Also, even if merchants were wealthy, they were not allowed to pass on silk.
All these measures were meant to suppress the status of merchants. Therefore, when merchants had money, they would often buy a large amount of land, turning them into landowners and squires.
It could be said that land acquisition was also related to the suppression of merchants.
However, it was undeniable that even after being heavily suppressed, the power of merchants was still not small. Even if this was the feudal society of the Ming Dynasty, it was still the same.
And Zhu Houzhao's industrial and commercial tax had harmed their interests. This was because the merchants in the past did not pay taxes. He only needed to buy a shop and hire someone to run it.
However, Zhu Houzhao issued an order that all merchants must obtain the approval of the local department before they could operate, and they had to pay a fee to operate.
This was definitely a great loss to the merchants. Even if Zhu Houzhao guaranteed that their business would not be harassed by local ruffians and hooligans in the future, they could not tolerate it.
As a result, many places went on strike. Zhu Houzhao would naturally kill the one who took the lead to cause trouble as a warning to the others.
However, they could not kill all the merchants like they did to scholars or officials. Because there were many people who were willing to be officials, if they were killed, they would immediately raise their hands to sign up.
However, merchants were different. If they were all killed, the entire country would basically be paralyzed. For example, the capital and the capital regions could not even guarantee food.
Many newly appointed officials were at their wit's end. He couldn't kill them all, but he couldn't leave them alone either.
"It's true that we can't kill too many merchants now. After all, the country still needs them now. After the industrial and commercial development, there was no need to worry about it. But now, he had to solve this problem first.”Zhu Houzhao discussed with Liu Jin and Eunuch Sun to see if there was any solution.
As for the officials in the court? Forget it, they knew nothing about business. The so-called two ears do not pay attention to the outside world, wholeheartedly read the books of sages, this is the normal state of the current scholars.
Not only did they not understand business, they could not even do basic life well. They didn't even touch the spring water with their hands, let alone carrying it on their shoulders. They were the ones who were not diligent and could not differentiate between food and water.
Do you expect them to give advice on business? It was better to listen to the "expert" talk nonsense in his previous life. At least in his previous life, the "expert" could still fool people, but they knew nothing about it.
"Emperor, now that the merchants are on strike, many places are unable to satisfy their needs with food and cloth. If they wanted to start operating again, they would have to abolish the industrial and commercial tax.”Eunuch Sun said with a frown.
"Abolish the industrial and commercial tax? That's impossible. Industry and commerce must pay taxes. They would be the ones who would be the main source of tax revenue in the future. If industry and commerce developed enough, the agricultural tax could even be abolished.”No one understood business better than Zhu Houzhao, who lived in his previous life.
In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country was too backward. In order to catch up with the developed countries, the country did not hesitate to sacrifice agriculture to subsidize industry, commerce, and cities.
However, after the development of industry and commerce, the tax revenue would be sufficient to support the country's operations. Therefore, in the end, the agricultural tax was abolished.
Although Zhu Houzhao still felt that it was unfair to the rural areas, it was already much better. The countryside had sacrificed so much, and the country would compensate them in the future. As the country developed, the country would support agriculture with industry and commerce.
Because of this, Zhu Houzhao knew the potential of the industrial and commercial tax. He absolutely could not let go of this piece!
"Emperor, since that's the case, we can only find a businessman with enough influence and let him take the lead in paying taxes. This way, there might be a chance!" Liu Jin had an idea and suggested.
"Let merchants with sufficient status take the lead in paying taxes?”Zhu Houzhao frowned, then he was overjoyed.
"That's right, why didn't I think of that? Men, go and find me Wan Sanqian. Tell him that I want to see him.”Zhu Houzhao laughed heartily.
If it was the real Ming Dynasty in history, during the Zhu Houzhao period, it would be very difficult to find a businessman who could influence the entire country's industry and commerce.
However, this was not in history. This was the world of " The World's Best ". It just so happened that in this world, there was a businessman whose identity was enough to influence the entire country's industry and commerce!
That was the richest man in the country-13,000.
Not only was he rich, he was even richer than the national treasury. More importantly, his influence in the country's industry and commerce was unparalleled.
Moreover, there were many people in all walks of life in the country who were inextricably linked to him. Even Zhu ignored him. If it wasn't for the fact that the Xiangxi Four Ghosts had exposed a flaw in helping him train Tiangang and Disha, they wouldn't have been able to do anything to him.
However, he could not contend with the Empire. No matter how much money he had, no matter how many people he had, he could not stop Zhu Houzhao's army.
"This servant will obey!" After receiving the order, Eunuch Sun immediately ordered the Dark Shadow Organization to search for 13,000 and had him enter the capital immediately.
"Liu Jin, the chaos has almost been pacified. Count for me how much silver we have seized from the corruption and punishment of the lawless squires! Also, the expenses for this rebellion!" Since the industrial and commercial sector had already gone to prepare, Zhu Houzhao began to summarize the operation.
"Your Majesty, this servant has already calculated it!”Liu Jin was indeed a person who could become a powerful official. As expected, he was deeply in the emperor's heart.
He knew what Zhu Houzhao wanted, so he had prepared everything in advance. Which leader wouldn't like such a person?
"Very good, then tell me about it!”Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Jin approvingly and said.
"Your Majesty, these officials, gentry, and scholars are really rich. A total of 300 million taels of silver and copper coins were confiscated throughout the country. There was also a large amount of jewelry, calligraphy, paintings, and antiques, which amounted to more than 170 million taels of silver. As for the land, it had already been distributed.”At the mention of inspection, Liu Jin was extremely excited and gave Zhu Houzhao a dumbfounded number.
300 million taels was 300 million taels. 170 million taels was 170 million taels. This did not include the land.
" Hiss…" Zhu Houzhao gasped.
Although he knew that these people were rich, he did not expect them to be so rich. One had to know that Da Ming's annual tax revenue was less than seven million taels.
This time, if they didn't count the land, it would be equivalent to seventy years of income for the national treasury.
Yes, the Ming court had no money. However, these officials, squires, and clans were very rich. The accumulation of the clans for hundreds of years was taken away by the officials.
Now, they were all filled with the national treasury and the emperor's private treasury. In an instant, Zhu Houzhao became rich.
"What about the expenses this time?" After knowing the income, he also needed to know the expenses.
"Replying to the emperor, the expenditure this time is also very shocking. Because of the national operation, the army was no small matter. In this half a year, he had spent a total of more than five million taels.”Liu Jin said with heartache.
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