Chapter 338: It's so bright that it blinds the eyes!
The new policy reform of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of the Song Dynasty has been implemented for a year. This prairie fire that ignited from the Shu area in the west and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in the north has swept all the way to the east and south. Although it has encountered many resistances and obstacles, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, with his strong strength, decisively and ruthlessly removed those roadblocks and pushed the new policy through.
At present, except for Guangnan East Road, Nanxi Road, and Fujian Road, the new policy reform has not been implemented. Jiangnan East Road, Jiangnan West Road, and Liangzhe Road, the three richest and most difficult bones to chew, have been painted red on the imperial palace's study map to indicate the success of the new policy reform after a desperate battle between the aristocratic families, the wealthy and powerful landlords, and the new policy reform officials sent by the court.
The Song Dynasty was full of undercurrents, wars and crises. Fortunately, the Liao Kingdom and the newly established Xixia, which were always restless in the past, were very quiet, which made the important officials of the Canzhi Zhengshitang and the Shumiyuan feel relieved.
The taxes for this year have been collected, and all the officials are secretly analyzing and guessing how much the taxes will be reduced this year.
The new policy reduced the land tax, and only the commercial tax was increased. This year, there were constant resistances in various places, and the regent used troops everywhere to suppress the rebellion. How much money would be spent?
In the minds of most civil and military officials in the capital, the Song Dynasty was in turmoil this year, with leaks everywhere, panic and public resentment. The stubborn and foolish Regent King led the Song Dynasty into a gradual decline.
However, the Regent King was cruel and ruthless, and the young emperor was young and ignorant and obeyed his uncle's orders. People with ulterior motives tried to sow discord many times, but they could not separate the trust and feelings between the uncle and nephew. On the contrary, if they were not careful, they would be severely punished and dismissed from office after being caught by the young emperor. Except
for a few people who knew about it, no one among the civil and military officials had any hope for this year's tax revenue. They just hoped that the number would not be too tragic, otherwise, it would really shake the foundation of the Song Dynasty!
Some officials with ulterior motives were secretly delighted and waiting to see the joke. If the tax revenue this year is reduced by more than half, how can you, the Regent Prince Zhao Defang, still have the face to force the new policy?
If the treasury is empty and the various expenditures next year are not enough to cover the expenses, and the Ministry of Revenue can't pay, will the civil and military officials impeach you, the Regent Prince, and change the new policy back to the old one?
On the day of the grand court, the civil and military officials went out early to attend the court. Today is the day for the tax department and the Ministry of Revenue to hand over the accounts. This year's financial revenue is the most concerned and important thing for the officials.
The civil and military officials waited in front of the two side gates, and the long hat wings of the red and purple official uniforms lined up in front. These heavyweights were patient and waited for the palace gate to open.
The low-ranking officials in the back, wearing red and green hats with short wings, were talking in groups of three or five, speculating on how serious the tax revenue reduction was this year.
Feng Xiaochun, who was in charge of the Taxation Department, stood in the team with a calm face. As a fourth-rank official who was hired by exception, he was ranked at the front, but he could still hear the whispers around him.
Feng Xiaochun, who was known for his authoritarianism, iron-faced impartiality, insensitivity to flattery, and the success of villains, had a cunning smile on his lips: Wait a minute, the amount of tax collected this year will blind your eyes!
Lu Mingda, a fourth-rank Imperial College academician, walked from the crowd with ill intentions towards Feng Xiaochun, who was standing there alone, and saluted with his fists, saying, "Good morning, Lord Feng. Look at the dark circles under your eyes. Have you not slept for several days?
Lord Feng, your health is important. Even if you don't eat or sleep for half a month, you can't make money to fill the tax hole.
If you really can't stand the pressure, just resign from the position of commander of the Taxation Department and let other capable people do it."
Lu Mingda's words were rude and insidious enough. If it were someone else, they would have been angry with him and would have started a fight. Some officials excitedly squeezed over to watch the excitement.
Feng Xiaochun, however, remained calm, and his cultivation of mind and spirit was extremely impressive. He just smiled faintly, "I'm afraid I'll disappoint Lord Lu. I'm very happy to be the commander of the Taxation Department, so how could I bear to resign and let someone else take over!"
Lu Mingda pouted with disdain and said, "Of course you wouldn't be willing to resign and let someone else take over such a lucrative position as the commander of the Taxation Department!"
Feng Xiaochun smiled faintly again, turned around, and didn't bother to answer him.
Seeing Feng Xiaochun's shameless and arrogant look, Lu Mingda became angry and was about to insult and ridicule him a few more times when the palace gate opened.
Lu Mingda could only say "Pah!" at Feng Xiaochun's back, and was persuaded by his colleagues to line up to enter the palace.
The morning sun shone on the swaying hat wings and the red, purple, red and green court robes, reflecting the colorful nobility. Today was a grand court, and there were far more than a hundred civil and military officials who were qualified to stand in the court.
Civil and military officials filed in and lined up on both sides according to their ranks. After the whip sounded, the officials all concentrated and calmed down, and welcomed the emperor and His Royal Highness the Regent Prince to the music.
The little emperor Zhao Wuji had an unconcealable joy between his eyebrows, and he couldn't help but curl up his lips with a frown. There will be something interesting to watch today, which made him think about the reactions of officials who are dissatisfied with the new policies and have delusional thoughts about the reduction of tax revenue in recent days before going to court.
The Regent Prince Zhao Defang still sat down calmly and secretly observed the officials. There was no trace of dejection or frustration on his face.
The Regent Prince Zhao Defang glanced at the ministers and said lightly: "The issue that the civil and military officials are most concerned about today is probably this year's tax revenue.
Lord Feng, you and Lord Kou of the Ministry of Revenue will hand over the accounts in front of the civil and military officials in this court!"
The ministers made a commotion, and their eyes were fixed on Feng Xiaochun and Kou Zhun who came out.
Feng Xiaochun smiled at Kou Zhun, and Kou Zhun also smiled knowingly in return.
Feng Xiaochun took out a book from his arms and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Prince Regent, I have worked overtime with my colleagues from the Taxation Department overnight to complete the verification of all taxes collected this year. This book is the total amount of various tax revenues. I will read it to Your Majesty and Your Highness the Prince Regent first, and then I will hand over those boxes of books to Lord Kou of the Ministry of Revenue."
The little emperor Zhao Wuji straightened his back and said, "Read it!"
"This year, the agricultural taxes collected totaled 36.82 million guan of silver, 12.46 million dan of grain, and 168,000 bolts of silk..."
Before Feng Xiaochun finished reading, the ministers cried out in anger...
Lu Mingda came out indignantly, "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Regent, I don't believe it! This year, the land was distributed to the people for cultivation at low rent and low tax, so how could the agricultural taxes increase? Feng Xiaochun falsely reported the tax amount and took credit for it, and he deserves death!" This