Historically, Wang Anshi did not issue the conscription law until the fourth year of Xining, after the Qingmiao Law. By that time, the core forces of the conservatives had basically been banished from the capital.
If we look closely at Wang Anshi's reforms, it is not difficult to find that the policies he initially implemented basically did not directly involve the superficial interests of officials.
Whether it was the Equalized Transport System or the Qingmiao System, they only involved merchants, landlords, and common people.
This is because Wang Anshi learned the lesson from Fan Zhongyan. Fan Zhongyan wanted to streamline the number of officials right from the start. How could the problem of redundant officials be solved without cutting officials? As a result, the ministers immediately counterattacked, causing the New Deal of Qingli to quickly come to an end.
Wang Anshi saw this and thought he would never be stupid enough to do this. Instead, he said that laying off a few officials would not save much money, and making money was the right thing to do.
This also means that his current environment is not as difficult as that of Fan Zhongyan and others.
However, later on, Wang Anshi also thought of various means to streamline the number of officials.
However, Zhang Fei's arrival changed many things, which made Wang Anshi think that the time was ripe to promulgate the conscription law. If he missed this opportunity and promulgated it two years later, he would encounter greater resistance.
But as I said before, there is no perfect policy. As long as the policy changes, some people will benefit and some will suffer. In the end, the head is determined by the butt.
The rich were of course very happy, but the officials were very angry about this law.
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It also includes Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo and others.
Chuigong Hall.
"The people shall not be taxed more, the people shall not be taxed more, is this what you mean by the people shall not be taxed more?"
Sima Guang ignored the fact that the emperor was sitting on it and angrily shook the newspaper in his hand towards Wang Anshi, spitting out saliva, and he really wanted to throw the newspaper directly at Wang Anshi's face.
Isn't this called additional taxation?
Wen Yanbo was also excited and asked: "If your conscription law is not to collect money for the country, then what is it?"
Your true colors are revealed too quickly.
In the face of the two people's questioning, Chen Shengzhi remained silent. This old fox rarely expressed his opinions on such occasions, which showed that he was not wholeheartedly supporting Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi smiled and said, "Let's assume that the national corvée fee is ten strings of coins, which is borne by ten people, and each person needs to pay one string of coins. Now the total number remains the same, but it is borne by one hundred people, and each person only needs to pay one hundred coins. Do you think this is an increase or a reduction in taxes?
Of course, if the people in your eyes are only those officials, Taoist priests, and monks who were previously exempted from military service, then I admit that you are right."
Zhao Xu nodded slightly after hearing this, obviously supporting Wang Anshi's statement very much. "Don't think I'm blind. It's already known to everyone that those Taoists and monks use their privileges to evade taxes and make money."
The same is true for official households.
"Don't confuse me here."
Zhao Yan angrily rebuked Wang Anshi, "We are not referring to the government households, Taoist priests, and monks, but the lower five classes of households. Their lives are already difficult, but you still make them pay the exemption tax. Aren't you trying to kill them?"
Wang Anshi retorted: "My method is to enrich the people, not to make them poor."
Zhao Yan was confused. "A way to enrich the people?"
How shameless must one be to say such a thing.
"Exactly!"
Wang Anshi asked, "Does Prime Minister Zhao still remember Geng Ming from Luomapo?"
Zhao Yan was slightly stunned, "Of course I remember, I was the one who tried this case."
Wang Anshi said: "Before Geng Ming's accident, there were twelve upper-class households in Luomapo. After Geng Ming's accident, until this year, there were only two upper-class households in Luomapo, one was Wei Yushan, and the other was Geng Ming who won the family business last year.
Why is this? It is because those upper-class households work hard but feel that they are not as good as the lazy people next door who live a carefree life, so they gradually slack off on farm work and work harder for the lower five households, or even become tenants of landlords.
As a result, agricultural taxes have been decreasing year by year.”
Wen Yanbo retorted: "That's just a minority of people. Most of the lower fifth class households don't have much to earn a living. If you still impose taxes on them, it will only arouse public resentment."
Wang Anshi snorted, "People are not worried about the lack of taxation, but the inequality. Everyone has to pay, and the amount of tax is determined by the wealth of the family. If it is fair and just, the people will not be resentful. Why did the Yaqian Yi cause such public outrage? Isn't it because only the upper class households were required to serve?"
"You are simply quibbling." Sima Guang said, "According to your method, on the surface, it is divided by quantity, but you don't think about where the money comes from for the fifth-class households. They have to exchange their grain and silk for money first, and then use it to pay taxes. In this way, the money they pay may not be less than that of the rich households. And how do you explain the two cents of surplus money? If you are not making money for the country and exploiting the people, what else can you do?" Jin
The conscription law included a budget system, which required each state to first budget the labor costs needed and then let the people share the cost. However, Wang Anshi requested that an additional 20% surplus money be levied on this basis to prepare for famine.
Wang Anshi further explained: "The so-called leniency is to take money from the people and use it for the people. This money is used to prepare for disasters and famines. Although the two cents are the same, the rich have to pay more and the poor have to pay less. During disasters and famines, the poor need relief more. This is to use the rich to help the poor."
Sima Guang was so angry that he laughed, "You are not using the rich to help the poor. The people of the lower five classes can't even survive now, how can they survive the famine? If you follow this method, the people will suffer from disasters every year. It's not a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster."
At the end of his speech, he pointed a fierce finger at Wang Anshi.
He turned to Zhao Xu and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I think this method is absolutely unfeasible. First, the burden on the people is already heavy. If the court imposes a tax exemption, it will only make their burden worse.
Secondly, this law ignores reality. If the people use currency instead of labor service, it will inevitably give unscrupulous businessmen the opportunity to fish in troubled waters. At that time, in order to pay taxes, the people will have to sell their property at a low price.
Third, although there were many drawbacks in the previous yamen service, it was only for a few years. According to this method, long-term employment will be required every year, which will increase the burden on both the people and the court. It is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse and the loss will outweigh the gain. "Jin
Wen Yanbo also said: "Your Majesty, this law of conscription will only give local governments more reasons to exploit the people. How much is the annual labor fee and how to divide the people's wealth will give corrupt officials opportunities to take advantage of it. It is absolutely unacceptable!"
Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, isn't the Royal Police just a conscripted service? Therefore, the court collected more carriage and sedan chair fees, more street intrusion taxes, and more violation fees?
Regardless of how much money you own, everyone is equal when it comes to license plate fees, violation fees, and street infringement taxes. It is said that this law was established by Zhang San, the founder of the legal system.
I believe there is no need for me to elaborate on Zhang San's attainments in law.
What was the result? Public security was improved, the streets were cleaner, and traffic was less congested, so much so that everyone from high-ranking officials to ordinary people paid money and applauded.
In addition, there is another very important reason, that is, the corvées in the past did not receive wages. They could only use their position to exploit the citizens, causing the losses of the people to be far greater than the taxes they paid.
The Royal Police are paid and have the opportunity to be promoted. In order to cherish this job, they will not easily commit illegal acts. This is why the Royal Police are praised.
When the police station was established, they also said the same thing. Of course, Sima Xueshi didn't say much at the time, because it was beneficial to his judicial reform after all."
When the Royal Police comes out, no one can compete with them.
This really caught Sima Guang off guard.
The Royal Police is corporals who were converted into conscripted soldiers, and they have achieved great success. If their image was not good, they would not be called the Royal Police.
For the police department, license plate taxes, violation taxes, and street infringement taxes are all included in the Royal Police's finances.
“That’s enough!”
Zhao Xu interrupted their argument and said, "The success of the Royal Police is indisputable. If that's the case, why not use it for other duties?"
Wen Yanbo said anxiously: "Your Majesty, the Royal Police was successful because...!"
Zhao Xu asked: "Why?"
Wen Yanbo was stunned. Yes! Why?
Why was the police station successful in the first place?
In my impression, it’s just a few piles of feces, and that’s it.
Wang Anshi immediately said, "Your Majesty, in fact, many duties overlap with those of the Royal Police. Your Majesty is planning to expand the Royal Police. Combining the two can save a lot of money."
Zhao Xu's eyes lit up. This teacher and student were really in sync. He immediately said, "Approved."
After Zhao Xu left, Wang Anshi smiled at Sima Guang and said, "Junshi! Look, the laws I changed are all beneficial to your judicial reform. Do you still think I have selfish motives?"
Sima Guang angrily shouted, "You are going to destroy the police station. If the people knew that the extra money they paid was because of the Royal Police, would they still respect the Royal Police? You just wait, you are courting disaster."
After saying this, he waved his sleeves and left angrily.
......
Zhang family.
“Okay, okay!”
Gao Wenyin nodded happily, and said with a choked voice: "This yamen servant is finally going to be deposed, it's really great."
Zhang Fei looked at Gao Wenyin in surprise, because this woman rarely expressed her opinion on such things. Seeing her watery eyes were full of tears, he said, "Madam, it's not that exaggerated, is it?"
Gao Wenyin said with a hint of anger: "This Yaqian Yi has caused a lot of harm to people. He should have been deposed long ago."
Zhang Fei said: "It depends on the person. I also served in the Yaqian Army and I enjoyed it very much. It's a pity that they forced me to retire."
"You're right, he's the one who scored points." Xu Zhiqian said angrily, "This scholar Wang's reform is so disappointing."
Zhang Fei asked again: "What do you think?"
Xu Zhiqian said: "Official households are richer than upper-class households. Why should they only pay half of the tax like the poor? The poor already have a hard life, and this only adds to their burden. Shouldn't official households pay double and exempt the poor from taxes?"
She had always supported Wang Anshi's reform, but this reform made her extremely disappointed. It was different from what she had imagined!
Gao Wenyin nodded and said, "What Zhiqian said makes sense."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "If you follow what you said, the government should pay the most taxes."
Xu Zhiqian said: "It should be so."
Gao Wenyin was startled, "Sanlang, Zhiqian, you can't say that!"
Just at this moment, someone suddenly heard someone outside the door saying, "Master Sima?"
The three of them looked up and saw Sima Guang walking towards them angrily.
Before they could come out to greet him, Sima Guang had already arrived in the hall, and the three of them quickly stood up and saluted.
Zhang Fei asked, "Master Sima is here to help you. What advice do you have for me?"
Sima Guang's face was filled with anger, he said nothing, just glanced at Xu Zhiqian and Gao Wenyin.
The two girls left very tactfully.
After they left, Sima Guang suddenly pointed at Zhang Fei and said, "This is all your fault."
Zhang Fei was stunned and asked, "Why blame me?"
Sima Guang said excitedly: "If you hadn't set up a police station, how could Wang Jiefu use this as an excuse to collect money for the country?"
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