In this way, both tricycles and bicycles developed in a positive direction.
There are increasingly more modifications being made to tricycles for daily life and work.
As a result, the people gradually assigned a name to each of the two vehicles.
This bicycle is mainly for personal use, or for couples to use together. It's very convenient for getting around. One bicycle can carry one or two people.
Tricycles are more suitable for family use and business people, as they are more economical.
Regardless, both of these items have become very popular products in the Ming Dynasty.
It even completely surpasses the previous floral water.
Of course, the sales of floral water are still very good, after all, it has become a daily necessity for most people who can afford it.
It's just not as practical as a bicycle or tricycle.
In the main hall of the imperial court, the Minister of Revenue announced the revenue of three state-owned industries over the past month: tricycles, bicycles, and toilet water.
Floral water is still selling very well, after all, the weather is very hot, and it remains a best-selling item.
Almost every day, nearly 100,000 bottles are sold throughout the Ming Dynasty, bringing in 10,000 taels of silver to the Ming treasury daily.
Bicycles and tricycles, on the other hand, were terrifying. They could produce as many as needed and sell them immediately, bringing in over 100,000 taels of silver every day.
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled upon hearing this:
"Good, good! The Ming Dynasty's treasury has never been so full in the more than twenty years since its founding. Since that's the case, we've decided to reduce taxes for the people of the Ming Dynasty."
Apart from the commercial tax payable by merchants and the poll tax payable by every individual, all other taxes were abolished.
In addition, the poll tax will be collected only once a year, reduced to 50% of its original rate, and the business tax will also be reduced to 50% of its original rate.
Upon hearing this, all the officials in the court were shocked. They had not expected Zhu Yuanzhang to be so generous, directly offering to reduce such heavy taxes for the people and merchants.
After all, there were many taxes in ancient times, including not only poll tax and commercial tax, but also other miscellaneous taxes such as land tax, grain tax, silk tax, and so on.
However, with a single sentence from Zhu Yuanzhang, all these taxes were abolished, leaving only two main taxes: commercial taxes levied on merchants when conducting business and engaging in trade.
The poll tax should be paid by every ordinary citizen.
However, these two taxes can be directly reduced by half. You can imagine how much the burden on the people will be relieved by such a large-scale tax cut.
In fact, during the Ming Dynasty, many ordinary people spent most of their hard work throughout the year on taxes.
They themselves received very little, barely enough to feed their families and survive; they were fortunate if they could manage that.
Although Zhu Yunwen had previously carried out land reforms, allowing the people to own their own land and grow enough grain to meet the court's taxes.
But the people are still having a hard time!
But things are different now. Zhu Yuanzhang eliminated most of these taxes and abolished all sorts of miscellaneous taxes. People no longer have to pay taxes on land and grain; each person only needs to pay a small poll tax per year.
For very poor families, this is by no means a problem.
Moreover, the poll tax was reduced by half.
Therefore, the officials in the court kowtowed to thank His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince on behalf of the people.
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled with satisfaction. His decision was not impulsive, but rather a result of his good judgment.
The income that the Ming Dynasty could generate from selling floral water, bicycles, and tricycles was already comparable to its annual tax revenue.
Zhu Yuanzhang naturally had a reason to reduce the burden on the people, because no matter how rich the court was, it was all for naught if the people were poor.
To achieve prosperity, the nation and its people must prosper together.
This is why, in ancient times, in every very wealthy dynasty, the emperor would reduce the burden on the people.
The poorer the imperial court became, the more it demanded from the people, ultimately leading to the collapse of not only the treasury but also the people.
Throughout history, some wealthy dynasties reduced taxes for the people, making the court rich, the people rich, and everyone became richer and richer.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this will become a positive cycle and continue indefinitely.
That day, the news spread quickly, and the announcement of tax reductions and exemptions was posted everywhere throughout the country.
Upon receiving this news, the people cheered and shouted that the emperor was wise and the grandson was mighty.
After all, although the decision was made by the emperor, the resources were provided by Zhu Yunwen.
If it weren't for Zhu Yunwen bringing these ways to make money to the court, Zhu Yuanzhang wouldn't have had the resources to reduce or exempt taxes.
I originally thought that everything was developing in a positive direction.
However, Zhu Yunwen never expected that the rapid popularization of bicycles and tricycles would lead to more and more troubles.
Leaving aside other places, in the capital city alone, traffic accidents caused by bicycles are rapidly increasing.
Three-wheeled vehicles are a bit better because they don't go fast and are very stable, so traffic accidents are generally rare.
But bicycles are different. Those who own bicycles are all young people, full of youthful vigor, riding them like they're flying.
As mentioned earlier, this bicycle uses wooden tires instead of rubber tires, making them very hard and slippery on the ground, with almost no anti-slip properties.
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