Dragon Guard.
The Dragon Guard is very large, and the hall that can accommodate nearly a hundred people is filled with tables.
It was a bustling place, with piles of accounting documents on everyone's desk. Some were checking the accounts, others were calculating.
The beads in a string, also known as the abacus in later times, made a crackling sound that was quite pleasant to the ear.
"The Haizhou salt tax accounts are out!"
"Chuzhou's grain tax accounts have been calculated!"
"Jiangning Prefecture's iron tax verification is complete!"
"The calculation of Luzhou's money is complete!"
"The Shouzhou monthly payment account has been released"
After each account was calculated, the person reporting the account would shout out loud and then send the verified account to the long table in front of Pan Bufeng.
And the person sitting next to Pan Bufeng at this moment was Zhao Huan.
Zhao Huan casually took a verified account and said, "Pan Bufeng, I know you hate corrupt officials the most. That's why we established the Imperial Dragon Guard. Please investigate for me. How many accounts across the country are being concealed and not reported? How many officials have used false pretenses to embezzle wealth? Once discovered, they will be severely punished!"
Pan Bufeng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the accounts in various places are in disarray. Many local officials have set up taxes privately and invented various pretexts, causing great suffering to the people. I, in Shandong, have been forced into a desperate situation. In my village, out of over a thousand people, more than a dozen have died from government taxation."
Zhao Huan took a deep breath. It was no wonder that the Song Dynasty had fallen when it had become so corrupt.
"Bufeng, I give you absolute authority. I hope you will fulfill your mission. Do you find any problems with these accounts?"
Pan Bufeng shook his head. "You won't find anything by looking at these account books. Officials in various places will make the accounts look beautiful on the surface. Unless you go to the localities and check the actual amount of taxes paid by the people there, it will be difficult to verify."
Zhao Huan nodded and said, "Then send out the Imperial Dragon Guards to conduct investigations and verifications in various places. If any corruption or self-dealing is discovered, they will be executed directly without reporting. Execute first and report later!"
Pan Bufeng said, "Your Majesty, we must not rush into this anti-corruption campaign. Besides, every policy has its own countermeasures. It would be better for us to first clean up the accounts of all regions before we start."
"Well, how long does it take to settle the accounts?" Zhao Huan asked.
Pan Bufeng sighed: "Right now, the Imperial Dragon Guard is still understaffed, and it will take some time."
Zhao Huan slammed the table and stood up: "I will take care of the manpower issue."
Suddenly, Zhao Huan saw a list of taxes on the table. It contained a wide variety of taxes. He held up the list and asked, "Where are these from? Why are there so many?"
Pan Bufeng took a look at it and said, "Your Majesty, this is the Luzhou Jingzhiqian tax. According to regulations, for every 1,000 wen of land, houses, distiller's grains, and all other private transactions, the government will collect 30 wen of "Jingzhiqian" (Jingzhiqian), which was later increased to 56 wen. The "Jingzhiqian" covers a wide range of areas, and in some areas, the amount collected is up to three times the amount of regular taxes. In addition, there are many other tedious taxes under this Jingzhiqian, and the people are suffering."
"What if I want to cancel this Jingzhi money?" Zhao Huan asked.
Pan Bufeng frowned and said, "Your Majesty, I don't understand this. You need to ask the Ministry of Revenue. But if the Jingzhi coins are abolished, the court will not be able to collect taxes to cover expenses, and the treasury will be empty."
Zhao Huan picked up another account and said, "Monthly stake money, this is military expenditure, this cannot be reduced. I understand, Pan Bufeng, you have to calculate these accounts for me."
"As you wish!"
Morning visit to Zichen Hall.
"I've been to the Imperial Dragon Guards recently. I've never seen how much taxation our Great Song collects under various headings. Now that the war has ended, I want to live in peace with the people. How can the people afford such heavy taxes? Minister of Revenue, do you have any good advice?"
The newly appointed Minister of Revenue, Duan Xiaorong, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, if taxes are reduced, production will increase, but the court's revenue will also decrease. If the court's revenue increases, the people will suffer. This is a dilemma."
Zhao Huan looked at the newly appointed Minister of Revenue. He saw that he was quite different from the prefect of Xiangzhou he had previously served as, and he did not find anything remarkable about him. "I am asking you for advice, not to listen to your complaints. I want to reduce taxes and improve the people's livelihood. What do you think?"
Duan Xiaorong shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I do not agree to reduce or exempt taxes. The treasury of the Great Song Dynasty is currently empty, and the soldiers on the front lines still need a large amount of food and military pay, plus the salaries of all officials need to be paid. If taxes are reduced or exempted, the court will not be able to bear it."
Zhao Huan shook his hands in frustration: "Go away."
Duan Xiaorong retreated into the crowd and stopped talking.
"Does anyone else have any good ideas?" Zhao Huan asked.
The ministers murmured, but no one responded. Everyone knew that reducing taxes would reduce the court's revenue. With reduced revenue, officials' salaries would naturally decrease. Only a fool would stand up.
"Dismiss the court!" Zhao Huan said reluctantly.
After the court was dismissed, a group of officials surrounded Duan Xiaorong and patted his horse.
"Lord Duan, upon taking office, refused Your Majesty's tax reduction. This is truly wise."
"Well, Lord Duan has done a great job. If His Majesty reduces taxes, our salaries will definitely be reduced. How will we support our wives and children then?"
"That's right, Master Duan is much better than the old Meng Kangtou. I will have to rely on Master Duan in the future."
"That's right, that's right. From now on, if Lord Duan needs anything in the capital, please feel free to ask. We, the humble servants, will do our best to help."
Duan Xiaorong smiled and saluted with everyone: "Okay, okay, we are all officials in the same palace, so we should take care of each other from now on."
"Master Duan is right. Goodbye!"
“Please, please, please…”
All the officials waved goodbye to Duan Xiaorong outside the palace gate. Now all the officials had a very good impression of him. This Minister of Revenue was a hundred times better than the stubborn and stubborn Meng Gu Rao.
Zhao Huan kicked over the stool at Nangong Lian'er's place and said, "I thought this bastard Duan Xiaorong was capable of something extraordinary. That's why I transferred him from the prefecture of Xiangzhou back to the capital to serve as the Minister of Revenue. But he turned out to be nothing but a useless person."
Nangong Lian'er rarely saw him so angry, so she hurriedly asked what was going on. Zhao Huan told her what happened at the morning court.
Nangong Lian'er became very gentle after entering the palace, and she advised: "Your Majesty, when we were in Xiangzhou, we saw that Duan Xiaorong governed Xiangzhou in an orderly manner. He doesn't seem like the kind of person who does nothing. I think there is probably another hidden purpose."
"What's the secret? The people are suffering right now. This bastard doesn't know how to share the country's worries and is singing a different tune from me. I don't agree to reduce taxes. Just hearing that filthy voice of his makes me want to beat his ass into pieces."
Nangong Lian'er smiled and said gently: "In ancient times, great wisdom often appeared foolish. Maybe this Xiaorong did it on purpose."
"What else can be done intentionally..." Zhao Huan was about to say something when Cao Dongsheng rushed in from outside.
Cao Dongsheng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Revenue, Lord Duan, requests an audience!"
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