Inside Yangxin Hall.
Zhu Houzhao looked at a secret book in red paint.
This was the surplus of the Ming Dynasty's treasury that Zhu Houzhao had ordered the Brocade Guard to secretly investigate.
In the first year of Zhengde, the national treasury of Ming Dynasty had three million taels of silver, nine thousand pieces of cloth and six million stones of grain.
In the first year of Zhengde, there were 18.95 million households in Ming Dynasty, with a total population of more than 89.5 million.
The Ming household register only counted as the head of the household. Even if there were hundreds of people in a clan, it could only be counted as one household.
Even if there were only three people in a family, it was still considered a family.
And the Ming Dynasty's taxes were collected according to each household.
Moreover, the tax rate was so low that it made one's hair stand on end.
To the commoners, this was naturally a benevolent policy. However, to those large families, it was a disguised form of protection!!!
What the little palace maid said yesterday could not be seen in the official's memorial.
Ever since Emperor Hongwu, every dynasty and every generation of emperors had been thrifty. It was not easy for them to save up three million taels of silver!
Although the household registration tax system had a huge loophole, the most fundamental flaw was the vassal king system!
The big families mentioned by the little palace maid, other than officials, there were also vassal kings.
In the first year of Zhengde, there were five hundred and fifty-two vassal kings in the Ming Dynasty. Among them, there were more than one hundred and forty who inherited the throne, more than one hundred and seventy who inherited the title of Duke, and more than two hundred who inherited the title of Marquis…
Moreover, these titles were inherited from generation to generation and would never be paid!
At the same time, these vassal kings also had the right to collect taxes from their fiefs.
At the same time, there were thousands of aristocratic families in these fiefs.
Not only did they have a large amount of land in their hands, but they also paid taxes according to their household registration.
A family of three only had one mu of land, and they had to pay a stone a year.
A family of 100 people, 100 mu of fertile land, a year to pay three stone tax.
Hundreds of clans, 1,000 mu of fertile land, a year to pay three stone tax.
Moreover, there was no business tax that could support the expenses of a country!
The reason was that the Ming Dynasty valued agriculture and suppressed commerce. The merchants were poor and did not enter the government. All national policies were for farmers.
The burden of taxes naturally fell on the peasants.
As a result, the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer.
There are frozen bones on the road where wine and meat stink!
……
Bang!
Zhu Houzhao slammed his palm heavily on the red paint.
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao was burning with rage.
The Great Ming Dynasty was destroyed by this group of vermin!
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao's killing intent rose.
He would never allow the Ming Empire to decline like this!
He would not allow anyone to ruin his empire!
Clean up the fertile land in the world and implement the one-whip method!
In the Ming Dynasty, taxes were no longer levied according to each household or per person, but according to the number of fertile land in the world.
The more fertile land you have, the more taxes you will collect!
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao suddenly stood up from his dragon throne, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
Clearing the fertile land of the world and implementing the One Whip Technique was indeed very difficult!
However, Zhu Houzhao's determination did not waver.
"Men, pass on the imperial edict. Cao Zhengchun is to come to see me immediately!”
The young eunuch hurriedly left Yangxin Hall and went to the East Chamber to deliver the decree.
After Cao Zhengchun heard the emperor's edict, he immediately came to Yangxin Palace.
"This subject Cao Zhengchun greets Your Majesty.”
Cao Zhengchun, the supervisor of the East Chamber, knelt in front of Zhu Houzhao respectfully.
"Zhen An."
Zhu Houzhao picked up the secret edict that he had written beforehand and handed it to Cao Zhengchun. He said in a dignified manner,""Zhen will give you a secret edict. Open it and take a look!
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Cao Zhengchun opened the secret edict. When he saw the line of words on the edict, his pupils constricted.
'Investigate all the land and property of the officials in the court, and investigate all the taxes of the vassal kings in the world.'
At this moment, Cao Zhengchun finally understood why the Emperor had summoned him in the middle of the night and why he had handed this secret edict to him.
In Cao Zhengchun's mind, two words suddenly popped up,'Cut the vassal'!
It turned out that all these years, the Emperor had been immersed in fun and did not think about the government. Everything was an illusion in the eyes of outsiders.
Even he himself had been deceived by the Emperor.
At this moment, the person standing in front of him was no longer a youth.
He was clearly a mighty lord, an emperor who had taken the world into his own hands.
At this moment, Cao Zhengchun could already feel the Emperor's long-immersed sharpness.
The years of forbearance were all for the sake of sharpening the sword and revealing its edge today!
"Cao Zhengchun!"
Cao Zhengchun's body trembled and he bowed respectfully,""Your subject is here."
"I don't need to teach you what to do next!”
Although the Emperor's voice sounded immature, it had a pressure that was comparable to the heavens.
"I understand. Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I would rather die than complete the task Your Majesty has given me.”
"Very good."
"You can leave!"
"Yes."
Zhu Houzhao looked at Cao Zhengchun's back as he bowed and left Yangxin Palace Hall. A faint sneer appeared on his lips.
Cao Zhengchun might have been subservient in front of the Emperor.
However, Zhu Houzhao did not underestimate this person.
To be able to be the supervisor of the East Military Hall, apart from having excellent skills, he also had a scheme and disguise as deep as the sea.
If one were to compare Yu Huatian to a colorful viper…
Cao Zhengchun was a rusty sword!
It looked unremarkable, but with a little polishing, it was a peerless divine weapon that could cut off the hands and feet of the enemy.
Cao Zhengchun was in the palace and outside the palace, he had eyes and ears everywhere, monitoring the world.
He was also ruthless in his actions. In order to achieve his goals, he would not hesitate to use any means.
But in front of the Emperor and power, he was as insignificant as an ant.
After all, this world belonged to the Zhu Clan. Outside the Imperial Palace, no matter how much power he had, he was still a subject in front of the Emperor!
Everything he had was given to him by the Emperor. The things that the Emperor had given him, not only had to be done well, but they had to be done beautifully!
In the East Chamber.
Cao Zhengchun sighed helplessly as he looked at the pile of gold, silver, and jewelry.
Sigh--
These jewels were the wealth that he had slowly accumulated over the years.
However, at this moment, he understood that everything seemed insignificant when compared to wealth and power.
The Emperor's actions today had already revealed his determination to him.
Not only was the emperor going to make a move on the vassal kings of the world! He even wanted to make a move against the corrupt officials and crafty officials in the court!
This was his only chance to show goodwill to the Emperor.
In front of the big issues.
He, Cao Zhengchun, was ruthless to others, but he was even more ruthless to himself!
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