In fact, he had no choice but to choose Ceng Shengwu. Zhu Yijun really couldn't find a suitable candidate.
The northwestern military reform was the beginning of Daming's military reform. It was a pilot project. If it wasn't done well, the rest of the military reform could not be carried out.
Zhu Yijun had chosen for a long time, and after much consideration, Ceng Shengwu was the most suitable candidate.
Although Ceng Shengwu was a popular candidate to enter the Cabinet, being popular meant that he had not entered yet. Who knew what the outcome would be these days.
As for Wang Xijue entering the Cabinet, it was because of Wang Xijue's proposal to open the borders.
If it wasn't for Wang Xijue's proposal, Zhu Yijun wouldn't have let Wang Xijue enter the Cabinet no matter what.
Although it was a good story for the civil officials to hear that the top three on the first roll were all in the Cabinet, to Zhu Yijun, it wasn't a good thing.
However, Wang Xijue was preparing to open the borders, and Zhu Yijun was also prepared to let Wang Xijue take charge of the opening of the borders. Therefore, letting him enter the Cabinet was natural.
However, it wasn't that Zhu Yijun wasn't prepared. In fact, if the Cabinet showed signs of going out of control, Zhu Yijun was prepared to remove Shen Shixing and Yu Youding.
The Cabinet and Northwest affairs had calmed down. The court also returned to normal. The disputes during this period had also dissipated. Everything returned to normal. This allowed the court officials to regain their composure.
However, those in the know knew that there was still a headache to deal with. That was the cultivation silver.
All the scholars had to pay taxes, and the officials and gentry had to pay taxes together. Now it was time to collect taxes. Whether or not the taxes could be collected was the key to this policy.
However, after the Yangzhou case, there probably weren't many who dared to resist.
In fact, the officials that Zhang Juzheng had arranged in various places were a team with fighting power.
From the beginning of clearing the accounts, these people were the backbone. Compared to the Wanli Emperor in his previous life, these local officials were more loyal to the court.
The Daming's regions had not completely gone out of control. Although there would be twists and turns, Zhu Yijun was still optimistic about the prospects.
Tax Department.
Wang Yongji stood expressionlessly in the Tax Sector's lobby, his eyes sweeping over the officials inside.
There were more than a dozen officials present, including the Deputy of the Tax Department of the 13 provinces, the Chief of Detectives of the General Tax Department, and the Commander of the Imperial Bodyguard, Xing Shangzhi.
The atmosphere in the room was very heavy. Everyone was waiting for Wang Yongji to speak.
"I will only say a few points!" Wang Yongji sat behind the desk and said with a gloomy expression.
"First, this autumn tax is the first time our Tax Division is collecting taxes. This official doesn't care how you all do, the tax has to be collected.
Let me tell you, the poor people who can't pay their taxes can be appropriately reduced. "
"But every exemption has to be canceled. If I find out that someone is abusing his power, you know what will happen."
"The taxes of the gentry have to be collected. This is the Fish Scale Register. If anyone fails to collect it, they'll have to bear the consequences.
If anyone dares to use the taxes of the poor people to offset the taxes of the gentry, they'll have to bear the consequences. "
"There is only one principle. Don't force the poor people too much and give the gentry a chance to cause trouble.
All those who suffer from disasters or owe taxes, only collect this year's taxes. If they are really in trouble, they can be reported to have their taxes waived. "
Everyone hurriedly bowed and said, "This official understands!"
Wang Yongji nodded and then said, "Second, the cancellation of the scholar's silver. Verify the number of scholars in each place. The money must be reported as it is. Those who dare to embezzle or conceal the report, think about the consequences."
"Third, the Fish Scale Register in this official's hands is very complete, but this official doesn't believe that I Daming only have this bit of land."
"Investigate, investigate for this official. Anyone who hides their land will be fined fifty percent of the price of the land. If they don't pay, the land will be confiscated.
There is no room for discussion. Everyone, be alert. "
Wang Yongji's gaze swept across the crowd and he said directly, "These are the assessment standards of the Tax Department. I believe you all know them."
"If you do well, you'll be promoted to nobility and receive a large year-end bonus. When the time comes, you'll even be able to buy a house and take in a concubine. If you don't do well, not to mention all this, you might even lose your head.
This official will say the ugly words first. If anyone dares to do bad things, they'd better be prepared to be punished. "
"Don't say I didn't warn you!"
This was something Wang Yongji had learned from Zhu Yijun. He directly used it at this time.
Of course, everyone present understood the meaning of this sentence. More importantly, most of them were from the inner factories, so of course they knew what this mission meant.
"Alright, everyone go back. This official will wait for your good news!"
Following Wang Yongji's words, everyone dispersed and left the capital on the same day, quickly rushing to various places.
When everyone had left, Wang Yongji turned to look at Xing Shangzhi and said with a smile, "Sir Xing, this time, our Tax Department will need the help of the Imperial Bodyguard. I hope Sir Xing will support us!"
Last time, Xing Shangzhi had received benefits from Wang Yongji in the matter of registering a business permit in the capital. Now, he naturally had to return the favor.
In addition, this time, the Tax Department's matter was still an order from the emperor himself. Xing Shangzhi was also here to help by imperial decree. The better the Tax Department did, the more benefits he would receive.
The worse the Tax Department did, the worse his fate would be.
"Don't worry Sir Wang, our Imperial Bodyguard will definitely not be careless!" Xing Shangzhi patted his chest and said.
"I've already had the Imperial Bodyguard send people. Other than this official overseeing the capital, this official has also sent trusted aides to the other provinces to coordinate the manpower. When the time comes, we will definitely support the Tax Department with all our strength. There definitely won't be any slip-ups."
Wang Yongji nodded his head and said with a smile, "That's good!"
With such a big movement from the Tax Department, it was naturally impossible for the imperial court to not know about it. The people in the bureaucracy once again became nervous.
Everyone knew that this was not a small matter, and they were all worried that there would be slip-ups.
But after the victory in the northwest, Zhu Yijun's prestige had greatly increased, and the capital's military also had an illustrious reputation. They had long since swept away their previous decline.
With this kind of military power, there was no need to worry about people rebelling.
In reality, this time, the main target was the aristocrats and the poor farmers. There was even a tax reduction. This was also to prevent people from inciting the poor commoners to rebel.
As for the aristocrats rebelling and the scholars rebelling for three years, this was not just for show.
A rebellion without the participation of the common people was a rebellion, and it could be quelled.
A rebellion with the participation of the commoners was an uprising, and an uprising would not be easy to handle.
Other places did not feel it deeply, but when the Tax Department of the Shun Tian Prefecture began to collect taxes, the people in the capital naturally felt it deeply.
The first to pay taxes was the Imperial Plantation. The Daming Imperial Plantation was the first to pay taxes, followed by the Honours and the nobles.
The emperor had already paid taxes, and these people were not stupid. They obediently paid the taxes.
In reality, their attention was now focused on the northwest. Last time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had been impeached, and they were afraid that the matter would fall apart.
Now that the limelight had passed, the northwest matter naturally had to be brought up again.
Compared to the northwest matter, the land tax was nothing in their eyes.
The Imperial Family and the Honours and nobles had all paid taxes, so the aristocrats of the Shun Tian Prefecture did not dare to not pay!
Being in the Shun Tian Prefecture, they naturally had a deep understanding of the current situation. The imperial court was incomparably powerful. If they did not pay taxes, they would probably be arrested next.
In reality, everyone was looking at one place. As long as the taxes could be collected in one place, the other places would not be a big problem. This place was Shandong.
Firstly, there was Duke Yan's Mansion in Shandong, which was also the Kong family. Secondly, there was Huang Chao in Shandong!
In history, there were many rebellions, and Shandong was definitely one of the best. After the founding of the Daming Empire, the most powerful uprising was Tang Sai 'er in Shandong.
During the Tianqi era, there was also Shandong's Xu Hongru. In short, it was a strange place.
After the tax collection in the Shun Tian Prefecture was on the right track, Wang Yongji and Xing Shangzhi rushed to Shandong together.
In Beijing, at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Today, the atmosphere in the Ministry of Internal Affairs was particularly solemn because today was the day of the Northwest Textile Mill Conference. Ten selected Honours gathered at the Ministry of Internal Affairs to discuss the opening of a woolen mill in the northwest.
Of course, the ten Honours were naturally the stewards of their own families.
Li Zhonghang smiled and walked into the room. He cupped his fists and said to everyone, "Hello, everyone. You may dispense with the formalities. Everyone, please take a seat!"
In this room, there was a round table that was particularly eye-catching. Behind the table were many chairs. Everyone sat on the chairs and looked like they were preparing to eat.
Everyone felt that this way of sitting was very novel. When they heard Li Zhonghang's words, they sat back down again.
Li Zhonghang's eyes swept across everyone's faces and said with a smile, "I think everyone has heard about the business license, so I won't waste any more time."
"200,000 taels!"
Li Zhonghang said with a smile, "200,000 taels for each family for 10 years. Within 10 years, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not issue a second batch of business licenses. I think everyone knows what this means."
In fact, this practice was very common in some special industries in the future. It was not something that one could do just because they wanted to.
200,000 taels for each family was for the emperor. Li Zhonghang knew that the emperor was going to use this money to reform the northwest army.
It seemed to be a settlement allowance for the retired soldiers.
Those military families had nothing. You gave them land, and you still want to give them something.
Li Zhonghang asked for this money in a righteous manner. Do you really think that the emperor is giving it to you for free?
The stewards of each mansion were surprised, but they weren't stupid. They immediately nodded and said, "Of course, of course."
This was not a simple business at all. They knew this very well, and they knew it before they came.
Not to mention 200,000 taels, even if it was more, they still had to pay.
Otherwise, no matter what the emperor thinks, he would have to pinch his nose and accept it.
Seeing that everyone was satisfied, Li Zhonghang smiled and nodded: "In that case, everyone should pay as soon as possible. After that, we can set off for the northwest."
Everyone nodded again and again: "We will listen to Official Li!"