Chapter 180: Poisonous Scheme
Elder Wang also smiled and said, "Changshan County has so many talented people. I'd like to meet the president of this court when I have time."
Chenghua was not relaxed by the elder's humor. He kept hinting that there was more important content to come.
Cheng Zhang was Cheng Hua's cousin. When he saw his nephew's strange look, he frowned and turned the file to the back.
The elders' table fell silent for a moment.
After reviewing all the evidence, the atmosphere among the elders became a little strange.
Elder Lin coughed and said, "Commander Qin's reach is so long that he actually incited the local nobles of Changshan County to rebel?"
Elder Ye glanced at Elder Cheng and Sheng Huaixuan and asked, "Is there any connection between Changshan County, Dongqinzhou, and Qin Gang?"
Elder Cheng denied it, "We have never met before."
"Then why is this?"
"Yes, and the last time in Qingcheng, it was also Qin Gang."
The four great elders did not speak, but just stared at them silently.
There is another seat above these four seats.
The imperial emperor Li Longxing rarely spoke: "Qin Gang, come here and explain."
In an instant, the eight elders stopped communicating.
Before the output report of Changshan County was submitted, they were questioning Qin Gang on a series of affairs in the southwest region.
The discussion on Changshan County's output value was just a halftime break to ease the atmosphere.
Behind the representatives of the Supreme Conference, Qin Gang, who was almost standing at the edge of the venue, strode up.
He was wearing a neat military uniform. He was about fifty years old, but he did not look old. He looked more like a young man.
He had a serious expression and distinct facial features. Two knife-like lines of nasolabial folds ran down his cheeks, making him look intimidating and awe-inspiring.
He returned to the elders' round table and bowed to pay tribute to the elders.
"Chenghua, give him the file." Li Longxing said.
Chenghua stepped forward tremblingly, took the file, and handed it to Qin Gang, the supreme commander of the southwest region.
The latter took it calmly and looked at them one by one.
After a moment, he closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to normal. He bowed and said, "Elders, this is clearly false evidence. An unknown enemy has framed me. I even suspect the Sopotamian Kingdom is behind this. This is their divisive ploy."
Li Longxing sneered and stopped talking.
The four great elders looked at each other with serious expressions.
"What's the reason?" asked a great elder.
Qin Gang bowed and replied, "I have no grudge against Governor Sheng or that little guy from Changshan County. There's no need to do this. Besides, although the evidence is true, it's too real, making it seem fake."
"Why?"
Qin Gang replied proudly, "These ant-like bugs, do I need to write a letter personally to persuade them to rebel?"
The Great Elder frowned slightly, but they didn't say anything else. During the questioning just now, Qin Gang had already given in and promised to disclose all the data and results of the nuclear tests to the highest military department of the empire.
Moreover, Qin Gang indeed lacked motivation.
There was no need to push him any further.
The stability of the empire is the most important thing.
"Okay, go down."
Qin Gang bowed and stepped back to the edge of the venue, but he did not put the evidence handed to him back.
At this time, Elder Lin Yabo suddenly said: "It is unreasonable for Changshan County to plunder the wealth of civilians in such a bloody way."
The Imperial Emperor Li Longxing glanced at him and said, "But it's very effective."
"In just one month, he collected more tax revenue than Changshan County could have collected in a hundred years."
"The empire is currently in financial trouble and chaos because the rich can't collect taxes, and the poor are desperately trying to squeeze them. As a result, the rich get richer, and the poor are left with nothing but death."
"I believe we should seize the wealth of the empire's wealthy and impose heavy taxes on them to alleviate the empire's suffering."
As soon as the words fell, everyone's expression became unnatural.
The four great elders said in unison: "No."
Elder Cheng Wei bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the empire needs fairness and everyone must be treated equally."
Elder Lin Yabo said, "You must not compete with the people for profit."
Elder Rono said: "This is the cornerstone of the empire, it must not be shaken."
Li Longxing said calmly, "Then donate. The national crisis is imminent, and everyone present has a responsibility. One million per person."
Li Longxing called the royal guards and transferred one million to the national treasury on the spot.
Everyone had no choice but to follow suit. After all, for those who could sit here, one million was just a drop in the bucket.
Soon, Li Huideng, the Imperial Finance Minister, announced with great joy: "The national treasury has received 55 million!"
Compared to the vast empire, this is not even a drizzle.
Li Longxing then said: "We have donated, so the imperial officials should also donate. They receive salaries from the empire and should contribute to the empire. This is their duty."
The proposal was quickly passed.
The specific donation details are formulated by the Imperial Minister of Finance.
Li Longxing added: "If the imperial officials have donated, then all those who have become wealthy because of the empire, and all those who have lived a happy life because of our efforts, should also donate."
In this unanimous vote, many people who had come to their senses voted against it, but it was still passed with a vote of 30 to 25.
In fact, those who opposed it also believed in their hearts that since they donated, everyone had to donate, but they only cast their votes against it out of their instinctive opposition to the expansion of imperial power.
However, they argued for a long time over the line for donations, and finally set the mandatory standard at "imperial civilians" with assets of more than one million. Those below that were encouraged to donate, but not required to do so.
Sitting in the corner, the First Princess Li Linyue, who only had the right to attend but no right to speak or vote, blushed and felt overwhelmed. She clenched her hands tightly and thought to herself, "This is the Emperor of the Empire, the supreme authority that cannot be violated!"
“I must become that kind of person!”
The meeting then began to discuss the economic problems of the empire.
The Minister of Finance and the Minister of State Affairs are talking about the trend of financial decentralization, the decline in the Elsevier coefficient, the inflation paradox crisis, etc.
Li Longxing felt annoyed when he heard this. He hated these kinds of incomprehensible words the most. They were nonsense.
The problem now is that the treasury is empty, military spending is insufficient, finances are tight, the economy is in a downturn, dark clouds are gathering over the Black Water River on the front line, another war is about to break out, and internally there are leaks everywhere.
To sum it up in two words: lack of money.
This meeting can be summed up in two words: making money.
What they are discussing is whose money to get and how to do it.
Sure enough, a moment later, Elder Lin Yabo proposed.
"Since Changshan County has developed so well, it should pay all taxes."
Bai Liuxi, the governor of Xiyan Prefecture, said, "That's right. If you have collected so much money, you should turn it over. Otherwise, you will be dismissed and punished."
Sheng Huaixuan said coldly: "Governor Bai is right. Xiyanzhou has just completed a large gold transaction. Considering the current difficulties of the empire, handing over 3 billion should not be a problem."
Bai Liuxi is a fat man with a big face and a protruding chin. When he gets angry, his buck teeth are exposed.
"Sheng Huaixuan, what do you mean? You stole gold, sheltered the rebels, crossed the border without permission, and violated the ban. We still haven't settled the score with you!"
Sheng Huaixuan didn't even look at him, as if he didn't exist.
Bai Liuxi was furious and was about to speak, but was stopped by Elder Lin Yabo with a look.
The Great Elder gave them a cold look and said, "Yan Gao, has Changshan County paid all the taxes it's supposed to pay?"
Yan Gao, the Imperial Tax Commissioner, replied, "Not a cent."
"How much is owed?"
"571 million in arrears."
When they heard this number, everyone's eyes lit up.
Hezhou Governor Shi Yuan asked, "How much money was confiscated from Changshan County?"
Director Kong Xiangxi replied: "At least 2 billion."
As soon as this answer came out, everyone fell silent.
The same thought ran through their minds: If such a poor Changshan County could plunder so much money, how much could the entire empire plunder?
The empire's financial hole, which is like a black hole, may really have hope of being filled.
Suddenly, Elder Wang said, "I think the amount of the mandatory donation can be discussed."
"That's right," Elder Ren said solemnly, "They are wealthy because of the empire. When the empire is in danger, they should also sacrifice their lives for the empire."
The Great Elder stopped Ren Zhengqing from discussing this dangerous topic: "We'll discuss the specific amount and detailed implementation methods later."
"Kong Xiangxi, Yan Gao, you must immediately make Changshan County pay the full amount of taxes."
The two agreed in unison.
But there was an opposing voice: "Great Elder, Changshan County is currently recruiting a large number of workers, carrying out large-scale development and construction. Forcibly withdrawing its funds at this time is a destructive act and is undoubtedly killing the goose that lays the golden eggs."
The person who spoke was Sheng Huaixuan.
The Great Elder frowned slightly. Although they seldom managed the affairs of the empire, their authority was not diminished in the slightest. Few governors dared to contradict them.
At this time, Yunzhou Governor Zhao Chaoyang also expressed the same opinion: "Changshan County recruited 400,000 workers and made great contributions to the stability of the empire. I also think that it should not be treated in this way."
Xu Chengfeng, the Imperial Civil Affairs official, also said, "If Changshan County's funding chain collapses, another 400,000 people will be unemployed, which will in turn deal a blow to the Empire's order."
Even Li Changsheng, the military commander of the southern region of the empire, who generally has no say, said, "I agree with them. 400,000 unemployed people will impact the social stability of our southern region."
Lin Yabo said coldly, "You only care about the difficulties of a small county, but not the difficulties of the empire?"
Bai Liuxi shouted, "That's right. The Empire has the highest priority. Even if a county is shattered to pieces, it should devote all its strength to the Empire!"
The four elders discussed in low voices for a while and quickly made a decision:
"Taxes owed by Changshan Commandery must be paid, but considering the difficulties faced by Changshan Commandery, the Empire can provide appropriate compensation."
Wang Wengong said, "I think Changshan County is unique and has become a new development model. We can help it remove its constraints and give it greater freedom. Perhaps it will develop even better."
Yu Zhongxian immediately agreed, "I agree. I think we can decentralize financial power as compensation. Changshan County can just pay taxes proportionally every year."
Duke Wang Wen laughed and said, "It's rare that the General agrees with me."
Sheng Huaixuan frowned, thinking that Yu Zhongxian must have no good intentions.
He thought along the lines of Yu Zhongxian's words and immediately understood that delegating financial power seemed to be delegating power to Changshan County, making Changshan County financially independent.
However, this also made Changshan County's finances self-sufficient.
From then on, Changshan County was responsible for its own profits and losses and was no longer a burden to the empire. The empire was only responsible for collecting money and did not have to pay out a penny.
This is a vicious plan.
And it is a vicious plan that is bound to succeed.
(End of this chapter)
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