A little kindness is a favor, a big kindness is a grudge!
This is true between people, and also between the court and people.
When the people are in difficulty, the court gives them tax reductions and exemptions, and the people will be grateful for the court's kindness.
However, two consecutive years of tax exemption would make the people accustomed to not paying taxes, and they subconsciously believed that the court's tax exemption was justified.
When the court collects taxes again, the people are likely to forget their previous kindness and begin to hate the court.
When resentment accumulates to a certain level, civil unrest will occur.
Chongzhen was worried about this.
Fang Yuegong, the Minister of Finance, understood Chongzhen's idea. He bowed to him and said, "Your Majesty, the tax collection has been communicated to all local government offices. Most officials have said that they can complete the collection task on time and in full."
"How?"
"Let's use the old method. Let the gentry take the lead in paying taxes. Once they pay, the people will naturally follow suit."
Chongzhen frowned and continued to ask: "Those gentry have just been asked to pay taxes by the court. Will they be willing to take the lead in paying taxes?"
Fang Yuegong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. When Li Gelao came from Northern Zhili to the south to provide disaster relief and collect taxes, he had already thought of this. For the local gentry with a good reputation, the court mainly appeases them and collects the tax arrears as a supplement. They already owe the court a debt, and now the court needs them, these people will definitely help with all their strength."
"As for those evil gentry, the court punished them severely. Some of them were killed, some were arrested, and the rest could not cause any trouble."
Chongzhen looked at Yue Gong, who was full of confidence, and reminded him: "The traitors look like loyal people. This is true in the court and in the countryside! The real enemies will never show their faces. They will hide in the dark and use knives to bleed the Ming Dynasty."
"I will keep it in mind. I'll take my leave." Fang Yuegong bowed deeply to Chongzhen and turned to leave.
"Don't leave in a hurry. I have two more things to discuss with you." After saying this, Chongzhen looked around and found that there were many busy officials and eunuchs around him.
In order to prevent the news from leaking out, he whispered to Fang Yuegong: "Come to the side hall."
When the two arrived at the side hall, they found Fan Jingwen was organizing the officials of the Ministry of Rites to set up the table.
Everyone thought Chongzhen was here to inspect and bowed to him.
Chongzhen asked the others to leave, leaving behind Fan Jingwen and Fang Yuegong.
"Two things..." Chongzhen got straight to the point: "The first thing is to arrange for the new scholars to go to various government offices to observe government affairs after the palace examination."
In the Ming Dynasty, after candidates passed the imperial examination, the imperial court would not immediately grant them official positions, but would send them to the six ministries and nine government offices to observe government affairs.
That is what internship means.
For example, the Ministry of Revenue is to intern at the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of War is to intern at the Ministry of War...
There are two purposes for observing politics.
The first is to examine the scholars' ability to combine theory and practice, and to help the court select truly useful talents.
The second is to help these first-time officials quickly get into the role.
To put it bluntly, it is to teach them how to be an official.
The system of observing government affairs began in the 18th year of the Hongwu reign. Due to its remarkable effects, this system gradually became a standard.
During the Wanli period, this system quickly became a formality as Emperor Shenzong ignored state affairs.
However, the system of observing government was not abolished because of this, but it eventually ended with the demise of the Ming Dynasty.
Minister of Rites Fan Jingwen stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has already communicated this matter with the other five ministries and nine officials, and they all said they had no objection. After the palace examination is over, the Ministry of Rites will work with the Ministry of Personnel to arrange for the new Jinshi to observe government affairs."
"No," Chongzhen shook his head slightly, "It's not enough to just go to the six ministries and nine officials to observe government affairs, you also need to go to Shuntian Prefecture and its subordinate states and counties."
"Let the Jinshi scholars go to prefectures, states, and counties to observe government affairs?" Fan Jingwen was a little puzzled.
"Yes," Chongzhen said calmly, but his heart was a little cold: "Let the officials of Northern Zhili teach these Jinshi how to be good officials of the Ming Dynasty."
"This is a good opportunity to let them see the abilities of the local gentry and how to deal with them."
Fang Yuegong understood the meaning of Chongzhen's words and agreed.
Chongzhen's intention was very clear, he wanted this group of new scholars to grow quickly.
Northern Zhili is under the feet of the emperor, and both officials in the court and local officials are old foxes.
Under the guidance of these old foxes, these Jinshi will soon become little foxes.
When the time is right, he will send these little foxes to the south to deal with the foxes there.
If the little fox doesn't work, send the old fox south.
After talking about the new Jinshi observing government affairs, Chongzhen continued: "You two, do you know what other problems are there in the local areas now?"
Fan Jingwen and Fang Yuegong lowered their heads and looked at each other, then said at the same time: "Your Majesty, I don't know."
Chongzhen cursed in his heart: These two old foxes are too cunning, they clearly know the truth but pretend not to know!
There have been various problems in the dynasties of the Central Plains throughout history, but in the final analysis there is only one problem: money!
If we have money, we can pay salaries to officials and buy food for disaster relief, so there will be no internal chaos!
If there is money to pay the soldiers and make weapons and armor, there will be no problems with the army.
If there is no internal chaos and the army is not in trouble, no matter how powerful the enemy is, they will not be able to break in!
Looking at the two faces pretending to be confused, Chongzhen gritted his teeth and asked: "Minister Fang, your Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the national treasury. This year is the 19th year of Chongzhen. Can the national treasury revenue and expenditure be balanced?"
Fang Yuegong nodded: "Lord Li is collecting tax arrears in Jiangnan. They said in the letter that they had a good harvest this time in the south, and it is estimated that the tax arrears collected can reach 20 to 30 million taels."
"I believe that the treasury is not short of silver recently."
This sentence directly shut Chongzhen's mouth.
The emperor asked whether the treasury was short of money, and Fang Yuegong told him with facts that there was no shortage of money in the recent period.
Seeing that the two old foxes were not fooled, Chongzhen said directly: "The issue of commercial tax has been criticized a lot. I intend to start dealing with this matter."
"I wonder if Your Majesty wants to increase or reduce taxes?" Fang Yuegong asked the most crucial question.
Chongzhen smiled slightly: "Neither increase taxes nor reduce taxes, but... start collecting taxes!"
The four words "start levying taxes" uttered by Chongzhen immediately put the two cabinet ministers at a loss.
Fang Yuegong saluted and said, "Your Majesty, the court has always been collecting business taxes. How can we start collecting taxes?"
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