Zhao Lin asked, "Do my father-in-law and elder brother know how profitable maritime trade is?"
Fu Chengwang and Fu Wenqi shook their heads at the same time.
Zhao Lin said, "Let's put it this way. If maritime trade can pay taxes normally, the national treasury's annual revenue can double."
"How many?"
Fu Chengwang and his son widened their eyes, looking as if they had misheard.
Zhao Lin said: "You heard it right, it can be doubled."
"impossible!"
Fu Chengwang immediately retorted, "I've also studied maritime trade. It's only a few hundred thousand taels of silver per year. While it's a lot, it's nothing compared to other taxes."
Fu Wenqi continued, "When I was the Imperial Inspector of Salt, I visited the coastal provinces. The maritime trade there really couldn't provide much tax."
Zhao Lin shook his head: "What you know is just what they let you know. You don't know the real situation at all."
The maritime trade tariffs of Daqi were pitifully low, only about 300,000 to 400,000 taels of silver per year.
Such a big country, with countless people and ships going out to sea every year, but it only generates a few hundred thousand taels of silver in taxes. Isn't this a joke?
Because all the benefits were taken away by coastal officials, wealthy families, chambers of commerce, etc., these hundreds of thousands of taels of commercial taxes were just what slipped through their fingers.
If tariffs could be collected normally, they would definitely account for half of Daqi's finances.
This is why Zhao Lin wants the Maritime Customs.
The Maritime Customs Office was previously just a government office under the provinces, and its chief official was only a fifth-rank civil servant. It was under the control of the provinces, and all the benefits were divided among them, so it was naturally impossible for it to be handed over to the national treasury.
It is impossible for Fu Chengwang and Fu Wenqi to conduct in-depth investigations at the grassroots level, so they certainly don’t know the real situation.
Zhao Lin said, "All maritime trade is monopolized by officials and merchants from the coastal provinces. They take all the profits, and the only thing that is handed over to the court is the tiny amount that slips through their fingers. If we could raise taxes on this area, the pressure on the court would be much less."
Fu Chengwang was immediately moved: "If that's true, it can really relieve a lot of pressure."
He sighed, "Natural disasters have been everywhere lately. This year, Haizhou was hit by a devastating storm, rarely seen in a century. Three states were devastated, and millions of people were displaced. The northwest is suffering from drought, and the harvest has been completely destroyed, with hundreds of thousands more victims. The Central Plains, while relatively well-off, are barely self-sufficient. In such a situation, disaster relief can only be provided by the national treasury, but where is the money?"
Fu Wenqi continued, "Not only that, the rebels and bandits that had just calmed down are rising again. Several large rebel groups have appeared in the southeast and northwest. Some of them have even defeated the troops sent to suppress the rebellion and have gained prestige in several states."
Zhao Lin said in a deep voice, "Natural disasters are inevitably accompanied by man-made disasters. With so many victims displaced and the imperial court unable to provide quick relief, or even resettle them, it's only natural for the people to complain. Add to that the instigation of those with ulterior motives, and it's surprising they don't rebel."
"Yes, the elders all think so. But to provide relief, we need money and food. There are disasters everywhere now, where will we get the money and food?" Fu Chengwang sighed.
Fu Wenqi said, "Right now, your second brother is in the southeast providing disaster relief. He's having a hard time getting anywhere. He even had his government office surrounded by disaster victims and was nearly beaten up by them."
Fu Liqing's second brother is named Fu Wencheng, who is also a young genius. He followed Fu Chengwang in his early years, and later worked with Fu Wenqi. Now that he can act independently, he volunteered to go to the southeast to provide disaster relief.
His idea was good, but unfortunately the money and food could not keep up. The angry victims overturned the government office where he lived. Fortunately, he saw the opportunity and ran away quickly, otherwise he would have suffered.
Zhao Lin's expression immediately grew serious. "I knew there was a disaster over there, but I didn't expect it to be this serious. I immediately ordered the transfer of two to five million kilograms of rice."
Zhao Lin complained, "Since the situation over there is so serious, why didn't Big Brother tell us earlier? If you had told us before we came to Beijing, the rice would have already arrived there by now."
Fu Wenqi smiled bitterly and said, "I didn't know it would be so serious. I only found out after my father told me."
Fu Chengwang said, "I'm afraid some people will be unhappy about the unauthorized transfer of so much rice."
Zhao Lin sneered, "The rice belongs to me, my son-in-law. I have the final say. Unless the emperor gives the order, I will slap anyone who dares to object."
Zhao Lin became proud again: "My son-in-law is only eighteen, not yet an adult. Even if I hit someone, the ministers wouldn't stand for me, right?"
Fu Chengwang and Fu Wenqi were both stunned for a moment, then shook their heads and smiled bitterly.
Fu Chengwang laughed and scolded, "If Li Chengqian knew this, he would definitely make things difficult for you."
Zhao Lin said disdainfully, "If he doesn't give me a hard time, why should I? As the head of the cabinet, the prime minister of the dynasty, what has he done? He has betrayed the emperor's trust and the people's expectations. Why is he still clinging to the position of prime minister? If he dares to talk back, I will slap him in the face."
"Okay, what's the reason for all the anger?"
Fu Chengwang shook his head and said, "It's difficult for Li Chengqian too. He needs to coordinate everything. It's not easy to be the prime minister."
"If it's difficult, change someone else." Zhao Lin said bluntly.
"You," Fu Wenqi also shook his head. "Just say this at home, but don't say it in front of outsiders. Although you are now a first-rank official and qualified to sit on equal footing with these officials, you were promoted too quickly and your foundation is unstable. Which of those officials doesn't have many supporters? Conflict with them is not a good thing."
Zhao Lin smiled and said, "Don't worry, big brother. I know what's going on."
"It's good that you have an idea." Fu Chengwang said.
Zhao Lin said, "Speaking of which, since His Majesty has appointed me the Governor of Rivers, I must clean up all the rivers in the country, reinforce those that need to be reinforced, and deepen those that need to be deepened. But this requires money, and the money I have seized from the confiscation of property is simply not enough."
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