Looking at Fang Yuegong and Fan Jingwen who looked confused, Chongzhen asked: "Commercial taxes are collected from merchants, collected by officials, returned to the country, and used by the people, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"But as far as I know, some local officials set up checkpoints along the way to levy heavy taxes on passing merchants. The collected taxes were not submitted to the court, but were taken by them for embezzlement."
"Merchants are complaining, the treasury is getting nothing, but these corrupt officials are filling their bellies and pockets."
"Is that true?"
Fang Yuegong pretended to think for a while and then said, "I have also heard some news."
"Just news?"
Fang Yuegong stopped talking.
It’s not that he doesn’t know, but he won’t say it even if he knows.
It is not easy to keep your position in a court full of cunning people.
You must take care of the things that are yours to take care of.
It’s not your business and you should never interfere.
The more you manage, the more mistakes you make, and the heavier the consequences will be when you are held accountable.
Fan Jingwen had the same idea, but because he was the second assistant, he explained on behalf of Fang Yuegong: "Your Majesty, I have also heard about some local officials blocking the road and setting up checkpoints to collect taxes and levies."
"Why didn't you report it if you knew about it?"
"This..." Fan Jingwen was stumped by this question.
The reason why local officials do this is that they have someone backing them up.
Take the canal transport as an example. The person in charge of the canal transport was Zhu Guobi, the governor of the canal transport. He was not only a nobleman, but also held military power.
If officials impeach him for this reason, it would easily be misunderstood as a party dispute.
Not only will it fail to solve the problem, but it will also bring more trouble.
This is just a noble Zhu Guobi...
Some local officials even cooperated with members of the royal family. No matter how bold the officials in the court were, they could not bring such matters to the table for discussion, as it would damage the reputation of the royal family.
Seeing the two of them being silent, Chongzhen clenched his fists and said, "They are in trouble, but I and the Ming Dynasty are not?"
"Merchants are also citizens of the Ming Dynasty. We cannot stand being exploited like this!"
Seeing Chongzhen angry, Fan Jingwen and Fang Yuegong hurriedly saluted and said, "It is our fault. Your Majesty, please calm down."
"What I want is not to appease the anger, but to solve the problem of local officials' excessive taxation and extortion."
"Your Majesty, please allow me and others to go back and discuss a solution."
"So there's nothing we can do now?"
"yes."
"I do have a way." Chongzhen continued expressionlessly.
Now is not the time for bandits to besiege the city.
At that time, he could use the sense of crisis to force officials to follow his ideas.
This is no longer possible now. Officials are also human beings and cannot be treated as tools to implement policies.
Chongzhen's meaning is very clear. You don't have any solution, right? I have a solution!
"We are all ears!" Fan Jingwen and Fang Yuegong took a small step forward at the same time and bowed.
"I plan to establish a new government office: the Post Office."
"Post Office?" Fan Jingwen and Fang Yuegong whispered it at the same time.
"Yes, the Post Office has two tasks. One is to carry out transportation tasks; the other is to collect taxes."
In the puzzled eyes of Fan and Fang, Chongzhen continued to explain: "Why do local officials levy heavy taxes? Power and soldiers!"
"Take the canal as an example. Officials first set up checkpoints along the way to stop ships, then took out various so-called official documents to collect fees. If merchants did not pay, they would send soldiers to arrest them and put them in jail."
"Merchants departing from Yangzhou have to pay a fee in Southern Zhili, another fee in Shandong, and another fee in Northern Zhili!"
"Not to mention the small caravans, even the big caravans can't stand this kind of ordeal."
"The Postal and Postal Bureau is responsible for issuing customs clearance certificates to merchants from all over the country. With this official document, no checkpoint can stop them along the way. At the same time as issuing the official document, the Postal and Postal Bureau will inspect the goods and collect the corresponding commercial taxes."
"This way the court has tax revenue and merchants have procedures, and the dilemma is solved."
Fang Yuegong and Fan Jingwen lowered their heads and thought about whether there were any loopholes in this matter.
"Your Majesty, what if the merchants do not go to the Post Office to apply for the Tongguan diploma?" Fang Yuegong asked first.
"Then they will have to accept exploitation at checkpoints along the way!"
"Then..." Fan Jingwen asked, "What if the checkpoints along the way do not recognize this procedure?"
"Kill!" Although Chongzhen only said one word, this word made Fan Jingwen and Fang Yuegong feel a chill on their backs.
"Is it... a bit heavy?"
"Severe? Ha!" Chongzhen sneered, "Not recognizing the official document is not recognizing the court, which is no different from treason! I have already given them a light sentence by not exterminating their three clans. In the case of not recognizing the official document, the civil officials on duty and the military generals leading the troops will all be executed."
Seeing Chongzhen's firm attitude, Fan Jingwen stopped trying to persuade him and asked, "Your Majesty, which government office do you intend to put the Post Office under?"
Fang Yuegong patted his chest and said, "Minister Fan, matters involving money and grain are of course under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue."
Fan Jingwen glared and said, "Although the Ministry of Revenue is responsible for the management of money and grain, there are still many caravans that transport military supplies and grain to the imperial border troops. These things cannot be taxed, so the Ministry of Works cannot be separated from them anyway!"
Fang Yuegong took a step forward: "According to you, the Ministry of War must also be involved?"
"The Ministry of War doesn't need to get involved..." Fan Jingwen blinked hard, "It has little to do with their Ministry of War."
"I think so too!" Fang Yuegong quickly changed his words.
Looking at the two old foxes who had a tacit understanding with each other, Chongzhen knew that he had chosen the right person.
The actual power held by the Post Office is beyond imagination. It not only controls commercial taxes, but also controls the country's caravans!
Although it is said that the greater the power, the greater the responsibility, but when power is placed in front of everyone, they will take it without hesitation.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!
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