roccoschili Chapter 10 Tax 1
Chapter 10 Tax 1
In the real world, yields vary per acre.
In this world, the output of each grid may be more or less, but the difference is not too great.
"The tax rate is tentatively set at one-tenth."
"For every ten plots of arable land, one plot of yield is taxed."
When mature wheat is knocked down, one wheat grain and one to four wheat seeds will fall.
Of the ten wheat crops grown, one was handed over to the state.
Three wheat grains can be made into one loaf of bread.
This tax is already considered very low.
Do you have statistics on the amount of farmland that has been reclaimed so far?
Zhou Liang nodded: "Two days ago, the amount of arable land should have been around two million grids."
In theory, a person can cultivate about 2 to 3 plots of land per second.
Eight hundred people, in a day and a night (real-world time), can cultivate about 150 million hectares of arable land.
However, it is limited by factors such as the durability of farm tools, the manufacturing of farm tools, water resources, hunger levels, and walking speed.
This quantity is significantly reduced.
However, out of two million units, one-tenth is taxed.
That is, the tax revenue from owning 200,000 plots of farmland.
Wheat matures in about thirty minutes in the real world, but this is not fixed.
Even by the lowest standard, wheat would ripen thirty times a day.
Two hundred thousand multiplied by thirty, then divided by three (for making bread).
The daily tax revenue is two million loaves of bread.
It looks like a lot, and it really is a lot.
However, this did not reduce the expenses for the three hundred loggers.
If we do the math, the tax revenue that can be saved is about one million.
Zhu Youjian's lips unconsciously curled up into a smile.
Give yourself another year to develop.
By then, their own material reserves will truly make them as wealthy as a country.
By then.
They have the power to flip the table themselves.
The corrupt and decadent court needs to rebuild order. At that time, it will be ruthless and invincible.
That's enough for today.
"I have to attend court tomorrow, so I'll leave this to you."
Zhou Liang bowed and knelt, saying, "Yes."
……
The next day.
Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Youjian sat up, feeling refreshed.
The thought that his wealth would increase by one loaf of bread each year made Zhu Youjian feel happy.
After dressing properly, Zhu Youjian did not attend the morning court session.
Instead, he had Wang Chengen bring the memorials that needed to be approved.
"Your Majesty, the court officials are all waiting at the Huangji Gate. Should we inform them that they will not attend court today?"
The daily morning court session was held at the Huangji Gate.
Moreover, the office was located outdoors, which put the physical strength of the emperor and his officials to the test.
Zhu Youjian waved his hand.
Until noon.
The sun was directly in the sky, and it was exceptionally hot today, with beads of sweat covering the foreheads of every minister.
The prolonged exposure to the sun caused some ministers to faint.
Wen Tiren glanced at the fallen official behind him, then looked up at him.
Is His Majesty giving himself a warning?
They learned of the emperor's awakening from Zhou Kui's words.
This also means that their bribery of Zhou Kui has been exposed.
If it were based on Zhu Youjian's past personality, he should have been severely punished, so how come nothing happened?
these years.
He was always trying to figure out what the emperor was thinking.
I have a good understanding of the emperor's personality. Zhu Youjian was a suspicious and extremely extreme person.
They're incredibly kind to people they like.
If someone falls out of favor, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to kill them off.
"Grand Secretary Wen, what exactly does His Majesty mean by this? He's not going to punish us, but just let us bask in the sun?"
Tang Shiji could no longer contain himself and went up to ask Wen Tiren.
Wen Tiren replied calmly, "How dare I presume to fathom His Majesty's will?"
Tang Shiji remained silent.
As Wen Tiren's colleague, fellow townsman, and friend, how could he not know Wen Tiren's personality? You are usually the one who can best understand the emperor's thoughts.
Otherwise, how could Wen Ti-ren have become the Grand Secretary?
In fact, Wen Tiren really couldn't understand Zhu Youjian's thoughts.
Was Zhu Youjian's fainting spell really caused by the desecration of his ancestral tombs?
Or is this just a facade, and the emperor has other plans?
Otherwise, there's no way to explain why the emperor fainted and even the empress wasn't allowed to visit him.
The emperor and empress had a very good relationship, so it was perfectly reasonable for the emperor to visit them when they were ill.
It was certainly not Wang Chengen's intention to prevent the Empress from visiting her; he didn't have the guts to do so.
Then... Wang Chengen's obstruction must have been instigated by someone.
Otherwise, Wang Chengen would not have stopped the Empress for no reason.
The only person who could instruct Wang Chengen to do things was Emperor Zhu Youjian.
But what exactly is it... that needs to be kept from the Empress and from them?
Just as Wen Tiren was pondering.
Wang Zhong, a close attendant of the emperor, came to the corridor and said to the officials who were exposed to the scorching sun, "His Majesty has decreed that today's court session is over. Court is adjourned."
Wen Tiren and Hou Xun both fell silent.
Officials of lower rank left immediately.
However, Wen Tiren, Hou Xun, and the others were not in a hurry to leave.
Wang Zhong glanced at Wen Tiren and the others.
"Grand Secretary Wen, Minister Hou, Left Censor-in-Chief Tang... His Majesty summons you, please come with me."
Sure enough, the emperor was going to punish them.
The group proceeded to the Qianqing Palace with trepidation.
Everyone bowed their heads as they stepped into the hall.
Before Zhu Youjian could speak, Wen Tiren immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness: "Your Majesty, this guilty subject Wen Tiren pays his respects."
Tang Shiji, Hou Xun, and others also knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
Zhu Youjian raised his eyes and glanced at it.
In a calm tone: "Where is Zhang Fengyi?"
Although Zhang Fengyi was the Minister of War, he did not clearly take sides or belong to any political party, so he naturally stood in a lower position.
Zhang Fengyi's heart also skipped a beat.
The matter of trying to install the crown prince has nothing to do with me, so why did the emperor choose me first?
"Your humble servant is here."
"Has the plan been drafted?"
Zhang Fengyi was slightly taken aback.
What plan?
Only then did Zhang Fengyi remember that Zhu Youjian had instructed that a solution needed to be found within half a month.
Plans for eliminating Zhang Xianzhong.
"This..." Zhang Fengyi unconsciously swallowed.
Because the emperor suddenly fainted, there were even rumors that he had died of anger.
The Wen Party, led by Wen Tiren, and the Donglin Party, led by Hou Xun, began to fight.
Starting a factional struggle naturally prevents the provision of concrete solutions.
Although he was the Minister of War, he did not take sides.
However, the rest of the Ministry of War had chosen sides.
Seeing Zhang Fengyi stammering, Zhu Youjian was not surprised.
They were all busy vying for power, all wanting to support the crown prince, and all wanting to gain merit by following the emperor.
Who still cares about the destruction of the Fengyang Ancestral Mausoleum?
Who still cares about suppressing bandits?
"I recall that Minister Zhang was performing his duties while under investigation, right? What's this? Has the Ministry of War failed to produce even a single draft proposal by now?"
"Could it be that Minister Zhang is also waiting for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, so that you can be absolved of your crimes?"
When a new emperor ascends the throne, the privilege is usually waived.
This means granting a general amnesty, but it does not mean removing the shackles from criminals.
Tax exemption means being exempt from taxes.
Tax exemptions are one of the reasons why taxes cannot be collected.
The gentry and landlords owned a large amount of land. Although they were exempted from some taxes, they still had to pay taxes.
However, in order to evade taxes, this group of people used various excuses to pay only a portion of the taxes and then owed the rest to be paid the following year.
This year's debt will be owed to next year, and next year's debt will be even greater.
The imperial court would issue an order to exempt the emperor from the imperial examinations once a major event such as the emperor's ascension to the throne or the birth of a prince took place.
The taxes owed by the landlords and gentry were wiped out.
Then they owe again, and then get it forgiven.
While the courtiers were busy vying for power and profit, the landowners and gentry were looking forward to the new emperor's ascension to the throne and the exemption of their tax arrears.
Zhang Fengyi pounded his head on the floor: "I have committed dereliction of duty, but I absolutely had no intention of supporting the Crown Prince. Your Majesty, please see the truth."