No one was surprised. During the Song Dynasty, the market economy was well developed, and maritime trade and the monopoly of some commercial products had become very mature. For example, Zhao Kai's tea-horse reform in Bashu was more about the court's previous restrictions on commercial and economic activities in the Bashu region, which were now released. However, there was no current situation of suppressed commercial potential in the coastal areas that the court could directly radiate to.

For example, during the reign of Emperor Zhezong of Song Dynasty, a maritime trade reward mechanism was established, whereby maritime merchants who paid more taxes would be rewarded with official positions, and things like the Marine Accident Regulations were also established...On the contrary, the time traveler Zhao Jiu once approved a very inappropriate decree in Nanyang, which was to abolish the ceremony in which eunuchs sent off fleets on the southeast coast, in order to save the country some money.

In a word, Lin Qi's meaning was very clear. Since we have to consider people's hearts, taxes can no longer be raised. As commercial taxes are an important part of the Song Dynasty's finances, although there is still room for squeeze in theory, considering that commercial taxes are actually related to the hearts of urban residents who account for a large proportion of the Song Dynasty's population, we should not force the issue by forcing it, but should calm down and let it recover slowly on its own.

But then again, waiting for it to recover slowly is certainly the right thing to do, but aren't we preparing to use troops now and are we simply short of money?

So Lin Qi simply said that if he wanted to make quick money but didn't want to lose the support of the people, he could only consider the national debt and Jiaozi... This was an inevitable direction.

In fact, Zhao Jiu had already rehearsed Lin Qi's words once when he was discussing with the ministers before. At that time, Liu Ji analyzed it in this way, and Li Guang immediately refuted him.

"I think what the Minister of Revenue said is superficial and may not be right in the end." At this time, Chen Kangbo, the chief academician of the Imperial College, stepped out of the crowd and refuted in public. "Although I am not good at money and goods, I know some basic principles... After all, the wealth of the world is there. The land tax is collected from the fields and the taxes are collected from the market. There are traces to follow. The dilemma of the court now is that the north of the Huai River has been affected by the war, and it has to raise troops to plan for the north. It has no choice but to increase taxes in the south, which has lost some people's hearts. Therefore, we must not make plans on the land, and we should not make plans on the market. Goryeo, Japan, Dali, Tubo, and even Daqin are so big that the annual trade income cannot suddenly exceed expectations. Then I dare to ask Minister Lin, if you want to use national debt and Jiaozi to make money now, there must be a place to get it, right?! Whose money are you going to use this to get?"

In the central army hall which was illuminated by countless braziers as bright as day, everyone was temporarily caught in a delicate state. Some were nervous, some were eager to try, some were terrified, and some were thoughtful.

Even though the ministers' opening remarks might have been like a rendition of "The Legend of the White Snake," there was nothing wrong with what they said from a high vantage point. The country just had financial problems.

As for the Minister of Revenue Lin Qi, who took up the topic out of duty, there was nothing wrong with his analysis.

It was Chen Kangbo, the young leader of the pro-war faction, who had just been promoted to a full-time position and was full of youthful vigor. His words were direct and a little hasty, but equally irrefutable... The logic was there.

So, Emperor Zhao and the ministers sang the same tune. Who did they want to make money from using national debt and Jiaozi?

"There are some people in the world who do not work and just sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor. When the country is in trouble, they are unwilling to contribute a penny, but after the national crisis, they start to work like dogs and dogs, seeking wealth, official positions, land, and profit." At this moment, the Minister of Personnel, Chen Gongfu, suddenly walked out of the ranks, but did not look at the officials and ministers behind him. Instead, he turned his head and spoke proudly. "The country is in such a difficult situation now. Every penny of the financial surplus must be spent on the military. Even the Supreme Emperor has to raise fish and plant mulberry trees in the harem. So what are they doing here?! Just to perform rituals and confiscate the government offices?!"

"Namo Amitabha."

As the imperial court officials revealed their true intentions, Abbot Fahe, who had been praying in his heart, felt a little aggrieved... Weren't you fine in the afternoon? I said you were a bodhisattva, and you said I was an arhat, but it's like this in the evening?

Do we really have to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, harvest all the fields, and take away all the wealth?

If this is the case, it is no wonder that no one from Mingdao Palace came... Their family had been plundered by the government four years ago, even the golden statue of the Taoist ancestor was taken away.

In fact, not to mention the monks, Taoist priests and merchants, even the Duke of Yansheng and others were somewhat inexplicably worried after hearing such murderous remarks... They couldn't even confiscate the sacrificial fields in Qufu, right? I didn't do anything wrong, did I?

When they thought of this, many people instinctively looked at Emperor Zhao who was in the middle, but unexpectedly, the emperor was just staring at a notebook on the table in a daze, and no one knew what he was thinking.

PS: Routine sacrifice, the new book of the Holy Wolf Master "The Ancient God Breeder"...