Minister of Revenue Li Qiyuan bowed and said, "The Ministry of Revenue has made preparations to open customs offices in Jimo Qingdao Bay (Qingdao), Chongming (Shanghai), Mingzhou (Ningbo), Xiamen, and Guangzhou. The officials sent can set off immediately."
Zhu Youxiao nodded and said thoughtfully, "The import and export tax rate for ordinary goods will be temporarily set at 20%, and the export tax rate for raw silk, silk, porcelain, tea, sugar, and cotton cloth will be 50%."
Zhu Youxiao did not think this tax rate was high. The silk, porcelain, tea and other products of the Ming Dynasty were popular all over the world, and the profits could be several times higher if they were shipped to Europe.
Moreover, this is the flagship product that allows the Ming Dynasty to maintain its monopoly position. Wouldn’t it be stupid not to collect taxes?
In addition to commodity export tax, there are also import tax (export qualification certificate), ship tax (export tax), etc., which are similar to before, but the collection intensity is different.
No matter how rampant smuggling is, it is imperative to lift the sea ban and increase customs. Whenever there is a problem, find a solution. It will always become more perfect and more scientific.
What's more, Zhu Youxiao has a backup plan that he will gradually implement.
For example, the origin of major export commodities is controlled, and buyers are required to obtain government authorization or collect deposits.
For maritime trade, taxes and taxes must be paid and a certificate issued at the customs office where the goods are exported. For domestic sales, the goods must be reported to the local authorities upon arrival. With the receipt, the license can be obtained or the deposit can be redeemed.
This is the same principle as the grain purchase certificate in later generations. Only merchants who have a family and a business in the mainland can be granted the certificate, otherwise you should not pledge money and be determined to smuggle.
In this way, smuggling can be almost controlled at the source.
Of course, no matter what means are used, smuggling is impossible to completely eliminate. Even with such powerful anti-smuggling methods and advanced equipment in later generations, there are still people who take risks!
Implementing and improving the commodity landing reporting system can also better collect commercial taxes and lay the foundation for the complete abolition of currency exchange.
Li Qiyuan had already discussed the matter carefully with the emperor. Seeing that the emperor had made the final decision, he asked about another matter with some hesitation.
Although the Single Whip System had its drawbacks, it did make collecting money in silver more convenient for the government. If the system changed to collecting in kind, the transportation and storage processes would be difficult to manage and would be very troublesome.
"I didn't explain it clearly." Zhu Youxiao took a sip from his teacup and said, "This policy will only be implemented temporarily in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, and Northern Zhili. The grain collected in various places does not need to be sent. Each state will build a grain reserve warehouse and store it locally."
After a pause, seeing the puzzled expressions on Li Qiyuan and the others' faces, Zhu Youxiao added, "Storing grain to prepare for famine and disaster is extremely necessary."
If it's for famine and disaster preparedness, it's feasible. Li Qiyuan pondered for a moment and said, "In my opinion, we can also strictly rectify the situation and restore the function of the reserve warehouses in various places."
In the third year of Hongwu reign of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, he ordered all prefectures and counties to set up reserve warehouses in the four townships (moved to the city during the Yongle period), and to use official banknotes to purchase grain and store it for relief. In years of famine, grain would be loaned to the people and repaid in the autumn harvest. This became a custom and replaced the Changping warehouse.
But by the end of the Ming Dynasty, these systems and policies were only in name only. The famine preparedness and disaster relief system was not only paralyzed, but also became an important means and tool for some officials to engage in corruption and make money, and lost its due role.
Li Qiyuan glanced at the Minister of Personnel Tao Langxian and added, "Perhaps the reserve warehouse could be managed by an official. A list should be compiled and reported to the Ministry of Revenue every year. A method for buying and selling grain from the warehouse should be established. Grain should be sold in spring and summer and returned in autumn and winter, with interest paid at a fair price. In the event of a famine, this could be used to provide relief."
Tao Lang knew what Li Qiyuan meant first, so he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I think it would be better if the Ministry of Revenue sent someone to take charge of this matter. This would not be under the jurisdiction of local officials, but would be more convenient and accurate if it could report directly to the Ministry of Revenue."
Central Grain Reserve Depot?!
Zhu Youxiao blinked his eyes, nodded in agreement, and said, "The Ministry of Revenue's organization is still not detailed enough and clear enough. I think we should start by establishing a new National Grain Reserve Management Bureau!"
Li Qiyuan hurriedly bowed and said, "Your humble servant obeys your order."
Bi Zisu saluted and said, "Your Majesty, this newly established National Grain Reserve Management Department should also be included in the supervision scope of the inspectors of each province."
"It is the responsibility of the Censorate to supervise all officials and the various provinces!" Zhu Youxiao said, "But Bi Qing should focus his efforts on the most corrupt areas, such as the Beijing debt and the grain transport, to serve as a warning to others."
"Your humble servant obeys your order." Bi Zisu was awestruck, knowing that the emperor had sharp spies and that the imperial guards must have reported the matter. He also helped the Censorate establish its authority by having it do so.
Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "I know that Bi Qing is honest and upright. He just arrived in the capital and doesn't even have a place to live. I happen to have a small house that is vacant. Bi Qing, please move in and stay there temporarily!"
There was no mention of reward, only idleness and temporary residence. Zhu Youxiao knew Bi Zisu's strong temper, as he was willing to starve himself to death out of anger.
Bi Zisu was about to refuse, but he saw Sun Chengzong and Li Qiyuan exchange glances. He smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."
Zhu Youxiao smiled and nodded, looking very happy. He turned to Xu Guangqi and asked, "Xu Qing, what do you think of the Portuguese muskets?"
Xu Guangqi said, "After I and my men conducted test firings, the Rumi gun was found to be just as good as the Portuguese musket. However, the Portuguese's Eagle Gun, also known as the Eagle or Dove Gun, is heavy but extremely powerful. It can penetrate heavy armor and destroy shield carts. It is truly a powerful weapon against the Jiannu..."
Xu Guangqi had previously submitted a memorial, arguing that the Later Jin soldiers mostly wore heavy armor, which was difficult to penetrate with bird guns. He suggested that Ming soldiers should practice shooting at the enemy's face and hands, or use Rumi guns and more powerful fire guns instead.
The Lumi gun was indeed more powerful than the bird gun and its design was more scientific. Zhu Youxiao agreed with this and approved the proposal.
Now what kind of eagle gun has appeared? From Xu Guangqi's description, Zhu Youxiao guessed that it should be a heavy musket with a support pole, or a fork gun?
According to Xu Guangqi's idea, cannons could only be used to defend cities, and light artillery and muskets should be used in field battles.
The initial plan was to establish fifteen elite firearms battalions, each with four thousand men, equipped with sixteen large cannons, eighty medium cannons, one hundred eagle guns, and one thousand two hundred Rumi guns.
In addition, there are several artillery carts, grain carts, and carts.
How much money would it cost to build a battalion like this? Armor, chariots, cold weapons, etc., plus training to be able to fight in actual combat, it would cost more than hundreds of thousands of silver.
Zhu Youxiao grinned secretly, thinking that it was financially difficult to support such an organized force at this stage.
Still according to his original idea, he would first cut down the weak ones in the existing Ming army and keep the strong ones, give them strict training, increase the ratio of firearms equipment, and then gradually achieve the final goal.
Xu Guangqi also knew that the finances were tight, and he had to use the imperial treasury to resettle the Liao people. In addition, he had to open the Dongjiang town, expand Dengzhen and Jinzhen, and shrink Liaodong. Money was needed everywhere, and he felt embarrassed to spend the emperor's private money!
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