Chapter 397: Daqin Commercial Tax
Generally speaking, the imperial court collected taxes from the people based on the amount of land they cultivated.
It is also called the equal tax on square fields, and the tax is probably collected at a rate of one in fifteen.
On this basis, merchants added a "transfer tax".
To put it bluntly, merchants need to travel frequently, and their businesses may be spread across major towns and cities.
In order to ensure the smooth flow of trade, goods had to be taxed by the imperial court, or tolls in other words.
Apart from that, it is basically the same as the tax collected from the people.
Some businessmen with connections and connections have good relations with local officials, and they can get tax reductions or exemptions.
Just give some benefits to local officials.
Chaos like this has existed in every dynasty and is difficult to eradicate.
This is also one of the reasons why some local officials are often more greedy for money.
Just think about it, you can erase a businessman's tax with just a few words, and it won't attract any investigation afterwards.
You can get the benefits provided by merchants, so why not do it?
However, Ying Yuan has never known much about the issue of taxation.
What he is going to do now is a bit like a modern method of collecting taxes.
Increase business taxes and completely abolish taxes for the people.
This tax collection concept is absolutely unprecedented among all nations.
However, what Ying Yuan wanted to do was not to reform the tax system, but to completely anger the Jintu family.
So, after he figured out what to do, he didn't hesitate at all.
Immediately, an imperial decree was issued, which spread throughout the land of Jin:
[From today onwards, all taxes paid by the local people in Jin will be completely waived.]
[The tax rate for businesses will be raised to 20%.]
That is to say, the tax is 12% of the total tax.
This tax rate increase is very high!
For this reason, before the imperial edict was officially issued, Lu You, Wu Cheng'en and others wanted to ask for an audience with Ying Yuan.
I hope he can change his mind.
Otherwise, such a high tax rate would inevitably lead to dissatisfaction among Jin local merchants.
By then, who would dare to do business in Jin?
However, Ying Yuan's attitude was also very tough.
"You can't not do something just because you know there's bound to be opposition. That won't lead to good results."
"What is the purpose of the Great Qin? To serve the people! I want to tell the people living in Jin territory this."
"From now on, they will no longer be oppressed and exploited by capitalism!"
He spoke with great righteousness.
He also said a few new words that left Lu You and others a little confused.
But that's not the point.
The point is, Ying Yuan has made up his mind to do that thing.
They had no choice but to give up.
Therefore, the Qin Dynasty abolished taxes on the people and increased taxes on merchants.
It is also praised by later generations as the earliest and most professional commercial tax in history.
It is also the cornerstone and precursor to the complete abolition of farmers' tax.
If it were not for the preparations made by Qin Emperor Ying Yuan, it would have been extremely difficult for later emperors to completely abolish the peasant tax.
now.
Starting from Shangjing City, the news of the increase in commercial taxes spread quickly to all parts of Jin territory, like fire that cannot be hidden.
And the land of Jin was like an earthquake.
From the common people to the nobles, everyone showed an expression of disbelief after hearing this.
It seems particularly shocking.
Immediately afterwards, some were happy and some were sad.
The people who were happy were naturally the people living in Jin.
"The Qin Emperor... abolished our taxes? Is this true? This has never happened before!"
"How could this decree from His Majesty the Emperor himself be wrong? From now on, none of us will have to pay taxes!"
"Yes, at least for three years, we won't have to pay taxes to the court. This way, our lives will be better."
"His Majesty clearly stated in the imperial edict that he doesn't care about the little money we ordinary people make. If the court wants to make money, it's to make money from the rich!"
"Your Majesty the Great Qin Emperor is a good emperor!"
"Isn't this better than when we were still the State of Jin?"
“…”
For a time, Ying Yuan's prestige among the people of Jin was rising rapidly.
When the people feel his kindness.
Naturally, you will be inclined towards him.
He also knew very well that after the complete abolition of taxes on the local people in Jin, there would definitely be a period of time when his reputation among the people would be good.
However, he believed that it would not be long before he would face retaliation from the local nobles of Jin.
Actually.
At this moment, they are discussing this matter.
For example, some nobles in the capital came all the way to other towns and gathered together, whispering:
"A tax rate of two out of ten! This is the first time in the history of nations that we have encountered such a high tax rate!"
"Qin Emperor Ying Yuan clearly wants us dead!"
"Even if we die, we will never let him have an easy life!"
"That's right. If he raises taxes, we'll raise prices. Let's see whether he's the first to succumb to public opinion, or whether we surrender!"
“…”
They have figured out a solution.
And the bad leader Yuan Tiangang was also fanning the flames behind the scenes.
"Taking two out of ten taxes... This Emperor Qin is really bold. Isn't he afraid of chaos under heaven?"
"Such an approach can indeed make up for the lost interests of the Qin Empire in Jin territory, but it will only make the situation here even worse."
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