Chapter 211 Property Tax in Ancient Times
Whether we admit it or not, it is true that Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism together constructed the cultural heritage of China.

Even if we don't believe in those superstitious things, we can understand many words such as feng shui, reincarnation, and accumulating virtue, and are influenced by these traditional cultures in all aspects of our lives.

After all, people still need faith, especially in certain moments of despair or powerlessness. We can still hope for a miracle to happen and for God to bless us. Although it may not really work, it can at least give us some comfort.

Therefore, Buddhism and Taoism naturally have their necessity to exist, but the necessity of their existence does not mean that we should ignore them.

The barbaric growth of religion is also a disaster.

Therefore, Chen Gu had to control the Buddhists and Taoists in his own hands. However, he was now establishing a country and making laws, and there were wars going on in all directions. Chen Gu did not have time to deal with them, so he temporarily adopted a laissez-faire attitude towards them.

But as long as Chen Gu is free, he will definitely not show mercy to them.

"Master, don't you believe that there are ghosts and gods in this world?" Wu Qing'er asked tentatively.

The two women's bellies are now frighteningly big, especially Wu Qing'er who is close to giving birth. Her hands and feet have become swollen, and she is currently enjoying a massage from her maid.

The sour scholar suggested that Chen Gu could use some eunuchs, but Chen Gu directly refused. He was not used to being served, and now it was only because the two girls were pregnant that he hired two maids to take care of his food and daily life.

Not to mention the use of eunuchs, the human trafficking was abolished by Chen Ke. In order to put an end to disguised human trafficking contracts, Chen Ke even stipulated that all rental contracts could not exceed three years.

Any recognition of kinship documents have no legal effect, so as to avoid the disguised form of human trafficking by adopting godchildren as godsons.

"A gentleman does not speak of strange and supernatural things!" Chen Gu answered casually in response to Wu Qing'er's question.

At this time, Chen Gu was studying, um, still learning the Hundred Family Surnames. It might take him half a year to finish learning the entire book.

"But if there are no ghosts and gods, what will happen to people after they die?" Qin Ling asked curiously.

"Nothing!" Chen Gu was about to say that there was nothing, but suddenly stopped.

Whether there is nothing after death or not, in fact, no one can be sure about this question. Moreover, compared to leaving nothing, the idea of ​​becoming a ghost after death is actually better for people and for this society.

There is a great terror between life and death. If there is really nothing after death, I am afraid that many people will do extreme things before they die.

On the contrary, if one can become a ghost after death, and what one does in life can have an impact on the afterlife, then not only will a person be able to face death more calmly, but he or she will also try to do some good things in life in order to have a better life after death.

So, are there ghosts in this world?

Even if there really are no ghosts, can we just believe that there are really ghosts in this world?

After all, believing that ghosts exist in this world is actually better than not believing that ghosts exist in this world.

Ghosts are actually like love. Although none of us has seen one, no one can explain what it is specifically, and even cannot describe it accurately, it does not prevent us from believing that it does exist.

"Maybe there is!" Chen Gu thought for a moment, then said, "It will be the end of the year in a few days. I want to go to Fobao to pay tribute to the martyrs' tomb. Take care of yourselves these days!"

It’s better if there are ghosts in this world. Otherwise, how can our martyrs be reincarnated?
"My sister's due date is in these few days. Why don't we go back to offer sacrifices to the Buddha treasure after the New Year?" Qin Ling pouted and said, obviously standing up for Wu Qing. Only the innocent Qin Ling would speak so bluntly.

Wu Qing'er naturally didn't want Chen Gu to leave at this time, but she didn't say it, just looked at Chen Gu pitifully. Chen Gu sighed and nodded in agreement.

Wu Qing'er thought about it and said, "Why don't you build another martyrs' tomb in Chongqing? After all, the Buddhist treasure is still too small."

Chen Jue was stunned for a moment, then said, "Okay, when Lao Nian returns with the martyrs' ashes, we will build another martyrs' cemetery in Chongqing."

After Chen Gu finished speaking, he put his books aside and left the room, planning to go out for a walk.

At this time, Chen Jue lived in the back room of the government office and did not rebuild his mansion or anything.

Although Chen Gu is not short of money now, the seizures from Zizhou and Chengdu combined amount to more than 100 million taels of silver. Together with the seizures from other prefectures and counties, the cash exceeds 200 million taels of silver, and silver is still being transported back in a steady stream.

Xing Honghai purged all the wealthy families and officials in Chengdu, and their mansions were always confiscated with silver to enrich the treasury of the Huaxia Ministry.

This will give Chen the confidence to exempt all exorbitant taxes and corvee labor, and he won't have to worry about armament manufacturing and financial issues for at least two or three years.

Of course, living off past achievements is not a long-term solution, so taxes still need to be increased, but not on ordinary people.

So Chen Gu turned his attention to various workshops, mines, and houses.

It is necessary for workshops to levy certain commercial taxes. As for mineral resources, in addition to the readily available gold, silver, copper and iron, there are also salt and oil.

Oil is state-owned, but as for salt, Sichuan does not lack salt. Zhang Haomin is following up on the matter of Zigong well salt.

In order to ensure the supply of salt, Chen Gu did not send troops to attack Zigong, but asked Zhang Haomin to negotiate, so Zhang Haomin has not come to Chongqing yet.

As for houses, Chen planned to collect property tax, but not ordinary people, and give each of them 50 square meters of free area.

The landlords' manors, various guild halls, workshops, and wealthy people's mansions in the city were the targets of Chen's taxation.

Since you can afford to live in a big house, paying some taxes should not be a problem. Sichuan is so big, so a lot of money should be collected.

Moreover, doing so can further optimize the distribution structure of wealth in the entire society.

This matter needs to be discussed carefully with the Jiang family.

When Jiang Yingfan, the head of the Changjiang family, heard Chen Gu say that he was going to collect property tax, he was completely shocked.

"Property tax?" Jiang Yingfan said with a wry smile, "I have never heard of such a tax in all dynasties!"

"If there wasn't any before, there will be in the future. We won't charge more. For example, if a mansion is worth 1,000 taels of silver, we can convert it into 700 taels of silver at 70%, and then charge 1%, which means 7 taels of silver a year!"

Chen Gu smiled and said, "That's not too much, right?"

"It's really not that much!" Jiang Yingfan thought about it and nodded. This calculation method is within everyone's affordability, but he doesn't know whether everyone can accept such a new tax.

(End of this chapter)