"Burned?"
Zhu Houzhao snorted." I didn't burn it. I just hid it."”
"This Liu Daxia enjoyed a clean reputation and left such a huge inheritance for his descendants.”
"Truly smart."
Even the most ignorant person.
He could also hear the displeasure and mockery in Zhu Houzhao's heart.
As for Xie Qian and the others.
It also changed again and again.
"Liu Daxia, Liu Junzi!"
Xie Qian only felt a little disgusted.
In the previous dynasty, he had worked with Liu Daxia.
At that time, he felt that this person was extremely pedantic.
Although he was pedantic, he still looked very honest.
Therefore, he didn't have any ill feelings towards Liu Daxia.
But now, it seemed like…
"It's really disgusting!"
A look of disgust flashed across Xie Qian's eyes.
You call yourself a gentleman?
He was truly a capricious villain!
"Your Majesty, if we find Zheng He's treasure map, doesn't that mean that our Ming Dynasty can restart the western sea route?!”
Zhang Cong's eyes lit up. He was truly excited.
He didn't know much about Liu Daxia, but he knew how important Zheng He's treasure map was!
Among them, there were records of the construction techniques of the treasure ship, the wind direction and currents on the western sea route, and the customs and resources of the western regions.
It could almost be said.
This so-called treasure map of Zheng He.
This included the lifetime efforts of Zheng He and the other seafaring followers of the Yongle Dynasty!
Once they were found…
This also meant that Da Ming's government would have absolute hegemony in the ocean!
No one could resist!
"Now, everyone should know why I want to open the sea ban, right?”
Zhu Houzhao chuckled.
The four of them nodded in admiration.
"However, the matter of opening the sea ban still needs to be urgently formulated by the four of you. The most important thing is how much tax merchants who are allowed to trade on the sea have to pay.”
Xie Qian pondered for a moment.
Just as he was about to raise his opinion.
However, he suddenly saw a faint smile on Zhu Houzhao's face.
"It seems that His Majesty has already decided on this matter.”
He suddenly came to a realization.
Zhu Houzhao's expression did not change." I've already decided that the customs tax will be divided into five stages. The first stage will be 1 tax, and the second stage will be 7 tax!"”
"One tax for five to seven taxes for ten?"
Xie Qian's expression instantly changed.
Whether it was 1% or 70% of the taxes.
Such a terrifying heavy tax was almost never seen in this dynasty!
It was already hard for him to imagine.
Once the news of the customs tax was released, how much criticism would there be in the court?
However, Zhang Cong stood up.
"Your Majesty, this tax rate is still a little low. If you ask me, since my Great Ming can already restore Zheng He's treasure ship, why should we give any profits to those merchants?”
"Why don't we just collect all of them according to the five taxes and four taxes, so that those merchants will retreat.”
"It's also good for the money to go into the national treasury.”
Zhang Cong was truly a man of shocking words!
Behind him, Yang Tinghe and Yang Yiqing were thinking about how to persuade Zhu Houzhao to lower the customs tax.
In the end, Zhang Cong suddenly said.
He directly stunned the two of them.
Even Zhu Houzhao was stunned, let alone the two of them.
"Zhang Cong, you're even more ruthless than this one.”
Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but laugh." However, there's no need to unify the five taxes and four taxes. We might as well follow the revenue, from five taxes to five taxes and four taxes."”
If he were to raise the business tax alone, he would definitely be attacked by everyone.
But he did not expect that Zhang Cong was actually willing to stand with him.
Naturally, he was pleasantly surprised.
"Your Majesty, this..."
Xie Qian still wanted to speak.
However, he was interrupted by Gu Dayong.
"His Majesty has already made up his mind. Old Xie, don't say anything more.”
As the seal eunuch of the ceremonial supervisor.
Gu Dayong knew what Zhu Houzhao was thinking.
"Your Majesty."
He respectfully placed the red stamped note in Zhu Houzhao's hand.
It was the content of their conversation just now.
He stamped it with a red seal.
This also meant that this matter was completely settled.
"Very good."
Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly and put the note aside.
"Now that the first matter is over, let's talk about the second matter.”
The four cabinet members immediately held their breaths.
The first thing that happened was that they were so shocked.
He wondered what the emperor was going to say about the next two matters.
"The second thing is to increase the trade tax.”
Zhu Houzhao slowly said," The current business tax within the Ming Dynasty is too low. It is only 30% tax. I have decided to reset the business tax system. According to the income ratio, the lowest income merchants can maintain 30% tax. However, for the big merchants, the highest business tax will be increased to 30% tax!”
At most, three taxes, two...
Hearing this ratio, Xie Qian almost couldn't breathe.
He felt that he was old enough.
However, when he came to the Leopard House today, he suddenly became younger.
Because he felt like he was scared out of his wits by His Majesty's words.
"Your Majesty, with such heavy taxes, I'm afraid the world will mutiny.”
Xie Qian's voice was trembling.
Forget about the customs tax.
After all, the sea ban had just been lifted, and most merchants had not yet obtained the right to trade, so there were not many conflicts of interest.
But now…
What His Majesty wants to collect is the business tax of Great Ming!
Moreover, the moment he collected it.
It was to directly raise the tax rate to such a terrifying level!
How much profit was involved?
Once touched, it was very likely to directly enrage the entire gentry class.
The consequences.
Just thinking about it made him tremble in fear!
"Don't worry, I don't intend to cut myself off from the world.”
Zhu Houzhao chuckled.”
"W-what?"
Xie Qian felt that he couldn't take the stimulation anymore.
"Private-government partnership."
"If those big merchants are willing to confiscate their businesses and turn them into official merchants, then they can naturally collect less taxes," Zhu Houzhao said faintly.”
Whether it was customs tax or business tax, this was a lot of money!
It was for the emperor ranking three months later.
The current Zhu Houzhao could be said to have completely laid his cards on the table!
He had to do it anyway.
He might as well do it all in one go!
"This, this…"
Xie Qian really thought that the Emperor was going to make some other compromise.
However, he did not expect that his business would be confiscated.
It was over!
I, Big Ming, am finished!
He felt that the Emperor had gone mad.
This was no longer a tax collection.
This was daylight robbery!
Xie Qian only felt that there were no other thoughts in his mind.
He wanted to take a step forward.
Suddenly, the world spun and everything went black.
His body actually fell down.
"Elder Xie, Elder Xie, what's wrong?”
Zhang Cong, who was behind him, turned pale with fright and hurriedly supported the old man.
"Did he faint from fright?"
Looking at Xie Qian who had fallen to the ground, Zhu Houzhao was also a little surprised.
After all, this old man was an old man from the previous dynasty.
Was his mental fortitude that bad?
......
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