The work of measuring the land under the leadership of the cabinet began in all the counties.
In order to ensure that the local prefectures and counties did not hide the land situation from their superiors, Zhu Youtang specially approved the cabinet to mobilize the Royal Guards to supervise the officials.
South Town Fu Department of the Royal Guards.
"Second Master, why have you been practicing your sword these days?”
"That's right. Moreover, people practice their swords to play with them. Why do you always throw the scabbard away?”
White Tiger and Vermilion Bird asked Azure Dragon casually.
"You two, come, try waving it and see if you can hang the sword firmly on the hook on the wall."”
The Vermilion Bird smiled." This distance is at least 20 feet. How skilled must he be to do this?"”
Azure Dragon nodded in agreement." Yes, but the Emperor did it, and it was very easy."”
After he finished speaking, he left with the Embroidered Uniform Guards to monitor the surveying of the land in each state capital of Bei Zhi Li.
The White Tiger and Vermilion Bird stood rooted to the ground, lost in thought. Suddenly, their eyes widened in disbelief.
The Emperor's martial arts…were unfathomable!
The two of them sucked in a breath of cold air. They did not dare to think too much and chased after the Azure Dragon.
……
With the supervision of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, the efficiency of the local governments was extremely high.
With the help of the village chief, the land measurement work of the Hongzhi Dynasty was completed by the early winter when the snowflakes were dancing.
Many of the ministers in the court were confused by the emperor and the cabinet's actions.
Not to mention the aristocratic families and vassal kings.
They didn't know what Tian Zi wanted.
However, a sense of worry gradually emerged in the hearts of the aristocratic families and the vassal kings.
In these four months, Zhu Youtang was very busy with government affairs and rarely summoned the harem.
The first morning court session of early winter began.
Zhu Youtang sat expressionlessly on the dragon seat in the Hall of Heaven's Tribute.
Liu Jian stepped forward and cupped his fists." Your Majesty, the land measurement work in the two capitals and 13 provinces has been completed.”
"Tell me," Zhu Youtang said faintly.”
Liu Jian flipped open the book, and his powerful words resounded throughout the Hall of Heaven's Tribute.
"The two provinces of Northern and Southern Zhili have a total of 18 million mu of land.”
Liu Jian's first sentence made everyone in the court suck in a breath of cold air.
Heavens!
How much land did the gentry and aristocrats hide?
How much less tax would these fields have to pay?
However, before they could get angry, Liu Jian continued to speak.
"The first generation of Jiangsu and Zhejiang measured 8.9 million mu more than before.”
"In the first generation of Guang Xi and Guang Dong, an additional 23 million mu was measured.”
“……”
The hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
As Liu Jian gradually finished consolidating the land of the two capitals and thirteen provinces, the faces of all the senior officials in the hall flushed at a visible speed.
Bastard!
The final result was fixed at 280 million mu of land!
And this was only the extra part.
In the last years of Chenghua, the government had calculated that the land available for cultivation was only about 100 million mu.
Now, the amount of farmland that could be cultivated in Ming Dynasty had already reached 380 million!
Every shocking data appeared in the ears of the officials.
All the officials 'faces were flushed red, and they were extremely angry.
Zhu Youtang's expression did not change.
There was no need to be angry about the expected result.
"The officials have been deceiving me, the eunuchs and palace maids have been deceiving me, and the nobles of the world are also thinking of ways to deceive me.”
"The local officials and the big gentry are colluding with each other to deceive me.”
"The world will collapse if we're not careful. I don't dare to slack off at all.”
Zhu Youtang was neither sad nor happy.
The officials were terrified and said in unison,""I dare not."
Zhu Youtang smiled and ignored the pretentious officials.
He looked at the Minister of Revenue, Li Min, and asked,"Minister Li, how many taxes did the country accumulate in the first half of the year? Directly convert it to silver for me."
"Your Majesty, in the first half of the first year of Hongzhi, the accumulated taxes were converted into silver…more than four million taels.”
"What about the expenses?" Zhu Youtang continued to ask.”
Li Min was terrified." The Ministry of Works allocated 1.3 million taels, the Ministry of Rites allocated 600,000 taels, and the Ministry of War allocated 2.1 million taels…"
He didn't continue. It was obvious that the taxes collected were not only in excess, but also in deficit.
Zhu Youtang did not make things difficult for him.
The officials should now know how heavy the financial burden of the Great Ming Imperial Court was.
That was enough.
"Grand Secretary Liu, tell me about the new law."
Zhu Youtang said.
New law?
The officials whispered amongst themselves.
Since when did the cabinet and the Emperor set a new law?
The Minister of Justice was the most surprised.
Why didn't he know about this?
Liu Jian looked around at everyone. The most glorious moment of his life had arrived.
At this moment, his face was flushed red as he stepped forward and said in a clear voice,"On the third day of the winter month in the first year of Hongzhi, the new Fu law was promulgated.”
So it was the Financial Law.
The Minister of Justice heaved a sigh of relief.
Just now, he really thought that Tian Zi had abandoned him.
However, the Minister of Revenue began to panic.
Could it be that he did not do well enough? Why did the new tax law not pass through the Ministry of Revenue?
Liu Jian continued to shout loudly,"Clear the land and expand the collection." Unify taxes and corvee, limit harassment. According to the number of acres of silver, the official will pay the price."
When the three general policies were out.
The Minister of Revenue, Li Min, was suddenly stunned. Then, he began to panic and tremble. Then, he clenched his fists and became excited!
He had been in charge of the Ministry of Revenue for many years and was very familiar with the tax law. He only needed to think for a moment and immediately understood what Tian Zi was trying to do!
No wonder the cabinet and the emperor had privately set the new tax law without going through the Ministry of Revenue.
Because once this method was out, no one in the world would be able to exploit the loophole in Great Ming's taxes!
However, once this method was introduced, it would probably arouse the strong opposition of the world's aristocrats.
At that time, how would the Emperor deal with himself? Wouldn't they want to kill all the nobles in the world?
The Minister of Revenue, Li Min, was worried.
However, he should not worry about Zhu Youtang, he should be the cabinet.
It would be difficult for the cabinet to implement the new law, which would affect the interests of the gentry and bureaucrats. Liu Jian, Xie Qian, and Li Dongyang needed to think carefully about how to ensure the stability of the country.
However, Zhu Youtang still said the same thing. If you have any difficulties, look for the factory guards!
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。