novelraw Chapter 419: Increasing the Tax
Chapter 419: Increasing the Tax
In the Third Year of Chongzhen (1630 AD), Beijing, Imperial Study.
Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian was flipping through memorials.
A memorial from Shanxi caught his attention, “Since the beginning of the Tianqi era, the lands of Shanxi have faced disasters every year without exception, and last year was particularly severe…”
This memorial was the same one that Iron Bird Flies had shown to Xing Honglang not long ago. Iron Bird Flies had indeed just copied it instead of intercepting the original, so it still reached Zhu Youjian’s hands.
Zhu Youjian’s mood felt like it was plunging.
“I need money, always asking me for money. That last line, ‘To eliminate Shanxi’s bandits, first soothe Shanxi’s poor civilians’—it’s just a way to get me to cough up funds, isn’t it?”
High-ranking eunuch Cao Huachun whispered, “They’re all eyeing Your Majesty’s private funds.”
“Hmph!” Zhu Youjian retorted, “Where would I get so much private funds to give them? What about these officials’ duties? Aren’t they supposed to help me govern the regions properly? Now that the regions are in chaos, they won’t lift a finger but come asking for money? Forget it!”
He casually tossed the Shanxi memorial into a corner, wanting it out of sight and mind.
He picked up the next memorial and looked closely; this one was submitted by Minister of Revenue Bi Zi Yan. It said that due to “severe shortfalls in expenditures,” he had drafted twelve proposals and requested the emperor to increase customs taxes.Zhu Youjian smiled, “Look, this is more sensible—asking me to increase the tax. But increasing taxes? That’s no easy task. All the common people under heaven are my beloved subjects. Right now, everyone is poor, so we must not raise taxes.”
These words happened to be overheard by Minister of War Liang Tingdong, who had just entered the Imperial Study. Liang Tingdong immediately said, “The reason for the people’s poverty is corrupt officials. Once the trend of their corruption is silenced, and we then levy an additional land tax, the people will naturally agree.”
Zhu Youjian asked, “Oh? So, dear minister Liang, since my ascension to the throne, do you think all corrupt officials have been swept clean?”
Liang Tingdong hurriedly replied, “After Your Majesty ascended the throne, we rooted out the Eunuch Party and completely eliminated all corrupt officials and rotten clerks. Now the officialdom is clear and upright, making it the perfect time to raise taxes.”
Zhu Youjian’s mood felt like it was soaring.
He wrote the imperial decree himself: “Due to the eastern crisis, we imposed additional land levies, with no day of respite, and I have long been troubled by this. Now the border troubles persist unchecked, military demands grow urgent, and the Ministry of Revenue repeatedly petitions. We therefore decree: beyond the existing additional nine mil per mu, add another three mil of silver, totaling one cent and two mil per mu. However, the six prefectures in northern Zhili: Baoding, Hejian, etc., which were previously exempt, shall now levy six mil per mu. All these funds serve as military supplies for Liaodong and will cease once peace is restored. Given that the court deliberations are united, I approve as an expedient measure. Should not all our citizens, sharing a common enemy, be inspired to dutiful generosity?”
And so, the tax increase was finalized!
Just after sending down this decree, Zhou Shi Pu, the Right Vice Minister of Revenue overseeing new levies, arrived. Despite multiple demands, the various regions’ taxes had still not been transported to the Ministry.
Zhu Youjian picked up his brush and wrote, “The Ministry of Revenue orders all provincial governors and inspectors to investigate causes of defaults, naming specific individuals for impeachment and punishment; if any fail to impeach by the deadline, they will be severely punished together.”
After writing, Zhu Youjian felt a small flicker of delight. His level of governance was indeed quite competent. Once this tax increase was implemented, one million taels of silver would flow in effortlessly, securing the Liaodong war effort, ha ha ha ha!
At lunchtime, Li Daoxuan was eating Rongchang braised goose. The goose wings were delightfully chewy, leaving his hands greasy.
The view from the box focused on a vacant patch of land east of Bai Shui County. Four dragon heads were directed into the box, spraying mist for rainfall.
During the last expansion of view to see the Yellow River, part of Bai Shui County had entered his sight, but he had been busy managing Qiachuan Port. Now that Qiachuan Port was settled, he began secretly supplying a bit of rain to Bai Shui County and sending people there to sell books, setting the full strategy in motion.
Right then, the characters “Gaojia Village” on the box suddenly lit up. This indicated someone in Gaojia Village was ringing the bell to summon him.
This was relatively uncommon.
The people of Gaojia Village usually feared disturbing the Deity and strived to be self-reliant, rarely calling for him. Li Daoxuan knew it must be important, so he quickly wiped the goose grease from his hands with a napkin and touched the words “Gaojia Village.”
The view instantly shifted to the sky above the watchtower.
Gao Yiye was striking the bell, while Magistrate Liang Shixian of Chengcheng County and Magistrate Feng Jun of Heyang County stood behind her, waiting anxiously.
Li Daoxuan had switched views in such haste that he forgot to retract the four dragon heads supplying rain. As the view returned, they began spraying rain over Gaojia Village.
The villagers of Gaojia Village laughed heartily, “Rain!” and scattered under eaves for cover.
Gao Yiye chuckled playfully, ran inside to fetch an oilpaper umbrella, and opened it. She knew the Deity wouldn’t mind her sheltering.
But Liang Shixian and Feng Jun were there to seek an audience with the Deity. With the Deity present, they couldn’t flee at once—that would be disrespectful. So they stood stiffly unmoving, letting the light rain soak them.
Liang Shixian stayed stoic, unconcerned about getting drenched.
Feng Jun maintained a respectful expression, but his eyes darted around, clearly scouting for some way to shield himself from the rain.
Li Daoxuan noticed this tiny detail: Liang Shixian was tough and headstrong, while Feng Jun handled situations more flexibly.
Casually retracting the dragon heads, the rain stopped: “What urgent matter brings you?”
Gao Yiye lowered her umbrella: “The Deity is asking your business.”
Liang Shixian and Feng Jun exchanged glances, rushing with pride. Liang Shixian opened, cupping his fists: “We report to the Deity that the court has begun acting irrationally. In this great disaster year, they imposed additional military levies, adding three mil of silver tax per mu on top of the original amount.”
Li Daoxuan nearly blurted out “Wow”—he restrained himself, recalling Gao Yiye was below and shouldn’t hear too much coarse talk.
Liang Shixian added, “Just when we saw the bandits move to Shanxi and Shaanxi could finally catch its breath, the higher-ups caused such havoc. Now, things will likely… sigh…”
Feng Jun took over: “Although Chengcheng and Heyang Counties, with rain from the Deity, have essentially survived the disaster year, other counties will suffer terribly from this.”
Li Daoxuan thought: Fine! More people will surely become remaining bandits. But this shouldn’t affect the two magistrates directly—Chengcheng and Heyang haven’t paid taxes in years, delaying defaults. Why worry them?
Just as he pondered, Liang Shixian stated: “Chengcheng County has defaulted on tax silver for three years now, and Heyang for two. The Ministry of Revenue orders all governors and inspectors to investigate reasons for delays, naming individuals for impeachment and punishment; if any fail to impeach by the deadline, they will be heavily penalized.”
At this, he looked awkward: “The Provincial Governor sent envoys demanding why Chengcheng and Heyang keep delaying. Without a valid excuse, we’ll be punished!”