Except for the main door, all the windows in Chongzheng Hall were open. A towering tree grew by the window next to Zhao Zhen's desk. In just one night, it grew into the house.
Zhao Zhen couldn't bear to cut off the branch, so he simply kept the window open.
The soft sunlight shining in filled the room with warmth.
Holding up the report submitted by the Ministry of Finance today, Lü Yijian said, "Your Majesty, fiscal expenditures for the first half of this year reached 48.96 million guan."
"Among them, the imperial guards totaled over 1.18 million people, with a salary of 24.33 million strings of cash, and a salary expenditure of 8.74 million strings of cash."
"Expenditures for school construction across the country totaled 2.37 million guan, repairs to rivers, roads, bridges, and Yellow River management totaled 4.89 million guan, and royal court expenses."
He reported a long list of expenses in a lavish manner, and concluded, "This is only the expenditure for the first half of the year. The second half will be no less. The funds are corrupt, even worse than before. And the revenue for the first half of this year was only 37 million guan. I'm afraid the income will not cover the expenses."
Zhao Zhen frowned and looked at Zhao Jun and said, "Grandson, this won't be a good thing."
"It's wonderful."
Zhao Jun laughed and said, "I originally thought it would be lower, but I didn't expect it to still be 37 million strings of cash. This shows that the Song Dynasty has greater potential."
Lu Yijian said unhappily, "Our income is already not enough to cover our expenses. Is this a good thing?"
"It's actually a good thing. The country still needs to maintain a certain fiscal deficit. Otherwise, wouldn't that much money just sit there and rot?"
Zhao Jun said, "There's still over 100 million in the national treasury. It's all the people's hard-earned money. It's important to spend it as soon as possible."
Song Shou rolled his eyes and said, "So the imperial court is supposed to be out of money?"
"It's not that the court having no money is a good thing, but what I want to say is that you only see the current decrease in income, but fail to see how the Song Dynasty has become better."
Zhao Jun also pulled out a note from his pocket and said, "Your Majesty, this is a report from the Audit Bureau and the various Imperial City Offices. Starting this year, a nationwide population and land census has been conducted, and a large number of hidden households and properties have been discovered. These people will also have to pay taxes next year."
"Besides that, the landlords and farmers responded enthusiastically. Those who had previously concealed their household registration and property were willing to register. Was it because they had a spirit of dedication? No, it was because the court lowered taxes and told them that if they were found to be hiding their household registration and property, they would be severely punished."
He continued, "So, after weighing the pros and cons, since handing over hidden households and hidden property will significantly reduce taxes compared to before, it's natural to choose to explain it clearly. In this way, the Song Dynasty will become healthier and its future will be brighter."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
