Chapter 302: Increase the population and never increase taxes

This was Cao Jie’s second time setting foot in Tokyo.

This city is truly glorious in this era.

It was so magnificent that even Cao Jie couldn't bear to destroy it.

Between inheriting the Zhao Song dynasty and destroying it and rebuilding the dynasty, Cao Jie chose the former.

As a hacker, he doesn't have time to worry about those trivial matters.

As the prime minister, Zong Ze also hoped for a peaceful transition of power.

As for how to govern the country in the future and how to make the country rich and the people strong, we will just have to explore it by trial and error.

On the way to the Imperial Palace, Cao Jie asked Zong Ze, "Sir, how is your research on the Whip Technique going?"

Zong Ze bowed and said, "Your Majesty, your one-whip method is far superior to the stubborn prime minister's square field and equal tax method. With this method, we will surely usher in a prosperous era."

The Single Whip Law stipulated that the land tax, corvée and other miscellaneous taxes of each prefecture and county should be collected in one tax, and the tax should be paid according to the land area per mu. This greatly simplified the tax system and made it easier to collect taxes. It also made it difficult for local officials to cheat, thereby increasing fiscal revenue.

Zhang Juzheng used the Single Whip Law to prolong the life of the Ming Dynasty for fifty years!
Unfortunately, the "Three Taxes" at the end of the Ming Dynasty were added, and in addition to the "Three Taxes", other taxes such as duck tax, cattle tax, and rice worm tax also appeared. At this point, the One Whip Law was completely destroyed and the Ming Dynasty fell.

"Although the tax law is good, it still depends on who will implement it! I will have to work hard in the future, sir."

Zong Ze had worked at the grassroots level for his entire life, so how could he not know the difficulties of tax law reform? After thinking for a moment, Zong Ze replied: "Your Majesty, if the Single Whip Law can replace the existing tax system, first of all, it will be able to put an end to the extortion of local corrupt officials. Secondly, the Wei Dynasty has just been established, and it is a good time for reform. We can make drastic changes without worrying about the obstruction of the gentry and landlords..."

Soon, the Zhao Song imperial palace came into sight.

During Zhao Ji's reign, many palaces were built, such as the Hall of Preserving Harmony, which had a total of 75 rooms and was magnificent. Various classics, histories, and collections were moved to the Hall of Preserving Harmony for collection. Emperor Huizong also collected cultural relics, calligraphy, and paintings from all over the country, so he had to fill up all the new houses, right?

Baohedian was nothing special, as the new Yeongbokgung Palace was later built.

The area is not large, that is, smaller than the original imperial palace.

It is roughly the same size as the Imperial Palace of the Northern Song Dynasty, but it almost doubled during Zhao Ji's reign.

Now it is Cao Jie's good fortune, what a prosperous era!
As he was about to do something big, Cao Jie told him everything: "Sir, I have a few more plans. One is to abolish the capitation tax. What do you think?"

"Dividing a small family into an acre?"

Zong Ze's voice became a few notes higher, and the expression on his face changed from calm to solemn, and from solemn to deep. He sat on the horse for a long time, lost in thought, without uttering a word.

It's not that he didn't understand, but he was thinking about something deeper.

The tax on land is also known as the tax on land or the tax on land.

It was implemented during the Yongzheng period.

The implementation of this system has reduced the economic burden on landless and land-poor farmers, promoted population growth, and given workers greater personal freedom, which is conducive to social and economic development.

The simplification of tax rules reduces the possibility of the government arbitrarily raising taxes.

The system of allocating taxes on land was a further reform and development of Emperor Kangxi's policy of "never increasing taxes as the population increases", an important reform of the taxation system in the late feudal society of China. It was a taxation system in which the Qing government incorporated the ding silver tax passed down from generation to generation into the land tax, marking the abolition of the poll tax (ding tax) that had been implemented in China for more than 2,000 years.

The implementation of the land-based tax system directly led to the explosive growth of China's population.

This reform has both advantages and disadvantages.

If we don’t get the support of the landlord class, the world will fall into turmoil again!

"What do you think, sir, if the fire consumption is returned to the public?"

Suddenly, Zong Ze looked up at Cao Jie, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start.

"Officials and gentry work together and pay taxes together, so what?"

"boom!"

A thunderbolt sounded in Zong Ze's mind. On the one hand, he was so excited that his body was shaking, and on the other hand, he was afraid of the many crises behind this reform.

As we all know, since ancient times, those who have carried out reforms have rarely had a good ending. Tax law changes will affect the rights and interests of a large number of people, causing them to try every means to obstruct them. People like Shang Yang and Wang Anshi are the best examples.

The implementation of the tax distribution based on land area was a bolt from the blue, and landlords all over the world were rebelling.

The fire consumption is returned to the public, and the local officials are going to rebel. The officials and gentry are all serving as officials and paying taxes together, oh my God! The whole world is our enemy! Cut them into pieces, grind their bones and spread their ashes...

But, Zong Ze was extremely excited inside?

Saint! If this is accomplished, Wei Emperor Cao Jie will be the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in the world.

"Sir, I, Cao Jie, didn't disappoint you!"

Cao Jie reined in his horse and stood in front of the gate of the inner palace.

Zong Ze stopped his horse, dismounted, straightened his clothes, and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, I, Zong Ze, will use my remaining body to help Your Majesty build a foundation that will last for generations."

"Your servant Wu Yong (Huang Wenbing, Xu Guanzhong)..."

"Your servant Liu Tang (Ruan Xiaoqi, Cao Zheng)..."

"…help Your Majesty establish an immortal foundation."

"Ha ha ha ha."

Cao Jie pointed his golden mace at the palace gate and shouted, "Enter the palace!"

…………

The small imperial palace was taken over by the army in an instant.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty...the bandits are breaking in...the bandits..." A young eunuch rushed into the Chuigong Hall in panic, shouting loudly all the way.

"..."

There were dozens of princes and princesses gathered around Zhao Ji. He wanted to pick up his sword, but found that he had lost all his strength.

He is far inferior to Chongzhen.

In a moment, the sound of powerful footsteps resounded throughout the hall.

The Chuigong Hall, where the emperor held court, was majestic and tall, giving off a sense of sacredness and inviolability.

The 160-year-long Song Dynasty is finally coming to an end today.

Zhao Ji looked at the young man with a heroic appearance and collapsed to the ground.

Cao Jie gently stroked the golden mace in his hand and asked, "Does Lord Zhao recognize this item?"

"I...I...I am the emperor of the Song Dynasty. Emperor Yang of Sui was also strangled to death with a three-foot white silk. How can I kill the emperor with an iron whip?"

Cao Jie raised his eyebrows and spat, "I! I! You dog-footed I! This is the golden mace used by Emperor Taizu of Song. Can it beat you? If the emperor is not upright, I will punish him. If the wicked are in power, I will punish the treacherous ministers."

“……” Zhao Ji’s eyes widened, scared to death.

Soon, Cao Jie sat on the throne and looked at Zhao Ji below with deep eyes: "Your Majesty, don't force me to kill you. If I really start to use the knife, I won't be able to stop. Your wife, children, and the entire royal family will be covered in blood..."

"Your Majesty, please abdicate and let others take over..."

At a very opportune moment, a group of old ministers walked in from outside the palace gate, kowtowed and spoke loudly.

"Your Majesty, please abdicate and let others take over..." The voice was urgent and choked.

"The King of Wei is unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness. Your Majesty, you are not virtuous and should abdicate..."

"Your Majesty, please abdicate and let others take over..."

However, the bright light of the knife was somewhat dazzling under the sunlight.

"Your Majesty...abdicate and let others take over..."

Zhao Ji opened his mouth and his face was pale, without a trace of blood.

Li Yu of the Southern Tang Dynasty probably felt the same way back then.

How sad it is for a king who has lost his country.

(End of this chapter)