Chapter 271 This is a matter of government decree
"Exploited a loophole in the government order? Song Zhimian, you mean that from a legal point of view, the former Jiangnan Education Commissioner is not at fault, right?" Princess Yongxin was the first to react.
Princess Shou Kang, however, felt it was somewhat impossible.
How much silver could a provincial education commissioner in Jiangnan earn in a year?
After deducting daily necessities like food, drink, and sanitation, how much would be left? So much land, stretching as far as the eye can see, how much silver would it take to buy it!
In any case, she was certain that the former education commissioner of Jiangnan was corrupt.
After all, his wife and daughter had come that day, and both of them were dressed in gold and silver. How could the family of a Jiangnan provincial education commissioner, who didn't have much money, be dressed so well?
Haha, if her family isn't rich, then she must have gotten it through corruption...
Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin both looked at Song Zhimian.
Song Zhimian didn't waste any time; she simply placed the account books sent by the Supervisory Bureau in the middle of the table.
"Take a look!" Song Zhimian gestured for the two of them to look at the account book.
Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin both shook their heads.
"I don't understand!" Princess Shou Kang laughed.
“I won’t look! It’s pointless to look!” Princess Yongxin laughed.
Song Zhimian... well, actually she couldn't understand the very detailed ledgers, but she could understand the words and their meanings.
"Well, actually I don't really understand the ledgers either, but I can still understand what's written on them," Song Zhimian quickly said.
Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin both nodded.
“Well then, just tell us what you understand. We trust you,” Princess Shou Kang said immediately.
Song Zhimian thought for a moment, then decided, "Fine, if they don't want to watch, they don't have to! They'll probably ask me why after they do."
"Okay, I'll tell you what I saw, and you can think about what the problem is."
Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin quickly nodded.
Song Zhimian then took the account book sent by the Supervisory Bureau and put it in front of her.
Three years ago, Suzhou collected 520,000 taels of silver in taxes, and last year Suzhou collected 510,000 taels of silver in taxes.
"Do you think there's a problem?" Song Zhimian asked.
The two immediately shook their heads.
There's definitely no problem. It's been this stable for three years, what could possibly be wrong?
Not only are there no problems, but it also shows that Suzhou has enjoyed stable livelihoods and national peace and prosperity over the past three years.
"You guys also think there's no problem, right?"
Okay, let's look at another set of data.
Three years ago, of the 520,000 taels of silver collected in Suzhou, 380,000 taels were related to trade.
However, of the 510,000 taels of silver collected in Suzhou last year, 450,000 taels were related to trade.
"Have you noticed the problem?" Song Zhimian continued to ask.
Even though Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin disliked looking at account books, they could tell there was something wrong with them.
"The taxes on commerce are increasing, but the total taxes in Suzhou are not increasing."
"Impossible! For the past three years, Suzhou has enjoyed favorable weather and abundant harvests. Trade revenue has increased, and while other revenues may not have increased, they should at least have remained stable!" Princess Yongxin immediately said.
Princess Shou Kang quickly nodded in agreement.
Song Zhimian didn't speak, but instead took out another ledger.
“I asked you, Princess, to have Chun Buwan’s people secretly investigate some information. How about you listen to this information again?”
Three years ago, all the students in Suzhou City who had completed their studies—I'm referring to those who started studying after the founding of the Great Yu Kingdom—were eligible to participate.
There were a total of 3,426 people, including 1,063 scholars who passed the county-level imperial examination and 482 candidates who passed the provincial-level imperial examination.
Last year's figures were 3,716 students who passed the preliminary examination, 113 who passed the county-level examination, and 512 who passed the provincial-level examination.
Besides those who passed the preliminary examinations, those who passed the county-level examinations could own 80 mu of land exempt from land tax.
The 120 mu of land under the name of the successful candidate will be exempt from land tax.
Suzhou was a gathering place for scholars from Jiangnan, especially scholars who passed the imperial examinations. How many acres of land did they own?
How much land was exempted from land tax under their names?
When the Great Yu Kingdom was established, Emperor Taizu issued a decree to appease the gentry in Jiangnan.
As long as one holds an official title, one can own land exempt from land taxes. Moreover, even if that person dies, their descendants can still enjoy the benefit of tax exemption on the land under their name.
It also allows for another type of storage.
If a scholar does not own enough land, he can register the land of other members of his clan under his own name, thus enjoying the same exemption from land taxes.
When Emperor Taizu issued this decree, it was for two reasons: first, to appease the Jiangnan gentry, and second, to encourage more learned people from humble backgrounds to emerge.
The cost of education was high, and many families had to pool the resources of the entire clan to produce one or two scholars.
After supporting a scholar to become a scholar, it is only right that they repay their clansmen or fellow villagers by exempting their land from land taxes.
But it was precisely this decree that allowed some people to exploit a loophole.
That former educational commissioner of Jiangnan had a lot of land. If we calculate it normally, the more land he owned, the more land taxes he would have to pay.
"But he registered all the land under the names of those scholars and candidates... So do they still need to pay land taxes?" Song Zhimian asked.
Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin immediately understood what Song Zhimian meant.
The more land one owned, the higher the land tax would be, but the former educational commissioner of Jiangnan had all those lands registered under the names of scholars and candidates for the imperial examinations...
In that case, the land he owns would be exempt from land tax.
Others may not be able to do these things, but the Jiangnan Education Commissioner can.
After all, which student from Jiangnan is not connected with the Jiangnan Education Commissioner?
Or rather, which student doesn't want to have some connection with the education administration and gain their special attention?
In this way, the Jiangnan Provincial Education Commissioner can be exempted from taxes on some land... which doesn't seem to violate the law!
...
Princess Shou Kang and Princess Yongxin were dumbfounded.
So this is how intellectuals can engage in corruption—without breaking the law, and while doing so, they can still feel at ease with themselves…
“No wonder that former Jiangnan Education Commissioner has so much land. He doesn’t have to pay taxes on his land, and he uses it as sacrificial land. Even if something happens in the future, the sacrificial land will not be damaged, and his descendants will be protected,” Princess Shou Kang sighed.
"More importantly, if a mere educational commissioner in Jiangnan can possess so much land, what about other places? Do they also have similar issues?"
No wonder you just said it was a problem with government orders; looking at it this way, it really is the case with the founding emperor…
"Forget it, just pretend I didn't say that. I dare not say anything more about the Emperor Taizu's decrees." Princess Yongxin quickly shut her mouth.
Song Zhimian nodded.
Indeed, they were just insignificant people, and there were some things they couldn't raise any objections to. Otherwise, if the people in the court found out, they would be accused of disrespecting the founding emperor...
"Song Zhimian, now that we know what happened, shall we return to the capital now?" Princess Shou Kang had lost all interest.
Song Zhimian immediately shook her head.
"It was the Ye family who made us discover these things."
If we return to the capital now, and His Majesty handles this matter, then in other people's eyes it will be seen as the Ye family saying something to us.
To avoid involving the Ye family, let's go to Yangzhou!
"Then we'll bring this up in Yangzhou and pin it on a family unrelated to the Ye family," Song Zhimian said.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
