The three inner court elders sat there, unable to come up with any good ideas.
It was impossible to hide this matter. The main problem was what to do.
Even Zhang Xueyan, the Minister of Revenue, was hiding, which showed the seriousness of the matter.
But Zhang Xueyan could hide, but they couldn't. The Cabinet Scholar, where could he hide?
"Elder, let's pass the report to the Emperor first!"
Pan Cheng glanced at Shen Shixing and said with a bitter smile, "Things have already come to this. We can't suppress this news, or the Emperor will misunderstand."
Pan Cheng's meaning was clear. If we don't say it, the Emperor won't know?
Stop joking.
The news had probably spread outside by now, and the Emperor should have known long ago.
Shen Shixing nodded and said with a smile, "This is also a good thing. Now that the imperial court has taxes, it means that we have money. Let's go and report the good news to the emperor!" Shen Shixing stood up and said with a smile.
Shen Shixing knew what to do now that things had come to this, and the other two were the same.
Zhu Yijun had long known about the taxes in Shun Tian Prefecture. Dongchang and the inner court had already sent the news to him.
Hearing the three elders come to report the good news, Zhu Yijun just nodded and ordered Zhang Jing, "Let them in!"
Not long after, Shen Shixing and the other two walked in together. Shen Shixing said with a happy expression, "Your Majesty, great news!"
Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Shixing and snorted, "I'm about to die from anger, and you still want to be happy? Where is the joy coming from?"
"Your Majesty, this is the report from the Ministry of Revenue. After the implementation of the tax collection, the tax service of Shun Tian Prefecture has been increased by eight times. This year, the tax service has collected 4.84 million taels of silver!" Shen Shixing said excitedly, "This is more than half of last year's tax."
Zhu Yijun suddenly stood up and said with a look of disbelief, "Really?"
Before Shen Shixing could answer, Zhu Yijun had already sat up from the throne and said with a laugh, "Good, good!"
After so many years, Zhu Yijun's acting skills had been practiced to perfection.
After a series of hypocritical bootlicking and humility, Zhu Yijun instructed, "Is this the amount that hasn't been deducted from the salary?
Did the Ministry of Revenue say how much Shun Tian Prefecture needs? "
In fact, Zhu Yijun was very clear about the whole thing. He also knew that the reason Shun Tian Prefecture could collect so much tax was because the Imperial Plantation had paid taxes.
Everyone in Shun Tian Prefecture, whether it was the Honours or the gentry, had paid taxes.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue is still verifying and has not submitted a report." Shen Shixing hurriedly bowed.
Zhu Yijun nodded and said with a smile, "Good, very good. Let the Tax Bureau verify it as soon as possible. The preferential treatment given by Emperor Taizu to the gentry cannot be careless. Keep a close eye on it and don't miss anyone."
After exiting the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the three of them glanced at each other with bitter smiles on their faces.
Although the emperor's words were very generous, you can't listen to it.
Not one could be left out, which meant not one more could be reported.
Since the Cultivation Silver was used to distribute money, there would definitely be people who wanted to get their hands on it.
False reports and concealment would probably become a new method of corruption. However, the local yamen would have to work with the tax department, so it would be relatively less.
As for mentioning Emperor Taizu, it was a blatant threat. Who didn't know about Emperor Taizu's policies? He did exempt the scholars from taxes, but only a portion of them were exempted.
The number of Elementary Scholar exemptions, the number of Grand Scholar exemptions, and the number of Grand Scholar exemptions were all detailed rules.
If they paid taxes strictly according to this, then Super Firm's finances wouldn't be so tight.
Although the population of the imperial court had increased a lot since the founding of the country, and the number of scholars had also increased, it had not reached the point of swallowing up the taxes of the country.
The main reason why the imperial court could not collect taxes was that the gentry did not pay taxes. No matter how much land they owned, they did not pay any taxes.
The civil officials, through generations of hard work, had turned partial exemptions into full exemptions. There was a big difference here.
This was the origin of the hidden land. This time, the tax department was obviously targeting this place. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to collect so much taxes.
Although Zhang Juzheng had also cleared out a large portion, there were still some that had not been cleared out.
For the emperor to mention Emperor Taizu at this time, it was clear that he was telling Shen Shixing and the others that he would also give preferential treatment to Emperor Taizu.
However, it was impossible for them to exceed the preferential treatment given to them by Emperor Taizu.
This time, Shun Tian Prefecture had collected so much taxes. Once it was revealed, the gentry would definitely be shocked.
This was all their money, how could they be willing to give it up?
It would definitely cause a commotion. Shun Tian Prefecture already had so much, what about the other provinces?
One had to know that although Shun Tian Prefecture was rich, it also depended on where it was compared to. Compared to the northwest, it was much better.
However, compared to Zhejiang or Huguang, it was still a far cry.
Although the Daming could not increase the taxes by eight times, it could increase it by five times.
With an annual income of more than 40 million taels, those gentry would definitely go crazy.
The emperor was telling Shen Shixing and the other two to suppress it. They could think of a way, he only cared about the results.
This wasn't the first time something like this happened. The three of them were already used to it, especially Shen Shixing.
Ever since he became the Cabinet Chief, he had been the scapegoat more than once.
If you didn't want to be the scapegoat, you would have to resign.
However, a man couldn't be powerless for a day. Who would be willing to go home after becoming the Cabinet Chief?
The Cabinet Chief!
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was above tens of thousands of people.
Of course, the three of them were also excited. If Shun Tian Prefecture had so much tax, then how much would the entire country have?
If they really collected tens of millions of taels, they would be able to do a lot of things. A famous official was already waving at them.
After working under Zhang Juzheng for so many years, it was impossible for Shen Shixing not to be like Zhang Juzheng after his death.
This was what civil officials valued the most, and Shen Shixing was no exception. It was impossible for him to give up and go home at this time.
The three of them looked at each other and instantly understood what the other two were thinking.
Thus, without saying anything, the three of them reached a tacit understanding and returned to the duty room of the Cabinet.
The news of the Shun Tian Prefecture's taxes quickly spread. As expected, the capital was shaken. This amount of money was too shocking.
For a moment, all kinds of things were said. The topic of competing with the people for benefits was thrown out again. However, the leaders of the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers were as steady as Mount Tai. The scholars of the Cabinet also didn't express their opinions.
Others jumped for nothing?
Other than loudly cursing them or putting the label of a paper scholar, there was nothing they could do.
Shandong, Jinan Prefecture.
Pi Gan held a booklet in his hand and lightly counted the fines that were sent over. There was a satisfied smile on his face.
These days, 90% of the gentry that were hiding in the tax department had come to pay the fines. This task could be considered completed.
Of the 16 gentry that paid the fines in full, 14 had already paid the fines.
Although the Chai family hadn't paid yet, they had been gathering money everywhere these days. They even sold two of their shops. It was estimated that they would be able to gather the fines in two days.
When the Chai family also paid the fines, Jinan Prefecture would be completely completed.
Once Jinan Prefecture was completed, more than half of Shandong would be completed.
"Very good, let's go to the treasury!" Pi Gan saw that there was no problem after counting, so he smiled and ordered the tax servant.
These days, he had been extremely nervous. Now that he could finally breathe a sigh of relief, Pi Gan planned to find a place to have a drink at night.
Ever since he joined the inner factory, Pi Gan rarely saw the light. After joining the tax department, Pi Gan liked the feeling of being under the sun.
Especially when he was resting, he would find a small shop to drink a few glasses of wine. This was one of Pi Gan's few hobbies.
After leaving the tax department office, Pi Gan smiled and walked to a small shop at the end of the street: Chen Family's Old Shop.
The shop wasn't very big. It only had seven or eight tables, but business was very good. This was because the shop owner, Old Chen, was very good at cooking. In addition, the wine he brewed was very fragrant, so many people liked to come here.
After coming here a few times, Pi Gan already liked this place. Walking into the shop, Pi Gan smiled and said, "Old Chen, the usual three!"
Because he was an old customer, Old Chen also knew what Pi Gan liked. The usual three referred to a plate of soy sauce meat, a plate of side dishes, and a jar of wine.
This was Pi Gan's standard. The forty-something year old Old Chen smiled and replied, "Okay!"
Old Chen liked officials like Pi Gan very much. After all, he would pay for the meal!
Soon, the wine and dishes were served. Pi Gan poured himself a glass and drank it in one gulp.
Pi Gan wiped his mouth in satisfaction, picked up the chopsticks on the table, and picked up the soy sauce meat and stuffed it into his mouth.
Pi Gan looked up at Old Chen and said, "Hey, Old Chen, this is beef!"
One had to know that in this era, it was not allowed to kill cows for meat. Beef was a rare commodity.
In the past, Old Chen's soy sauce meat was donkey meat. Now that he had a bite of beef, how could Pi Gan not be surprised?
"My brother-in-law in the countryside had an old cow in his house. It fell and broke its leg, so I gave it a leg."
"When that guy heard that the cow died, many people ran over. Fortunately, it was my brother-in-law, and after a lot of persuasion, he left the cow's leg." Old Chen shook his head and said, but he couldn't hide the pride on his face.
Pi Gan nodded, picked up another chopstick, and put it into his mouth.
His mood was good, and there was beef to eat, so Pi Gan naturally drank two more glasses.
By the time he left Chen Family's Old Shop, the sky was already dark.
Jinan Prefecture wasn't the capital, so there was no curfew. However, Pi Gan didn't have any other hobbies, so he drank until he was in a daze and went home to sleep.
After turning a corner and walking into an alley, Pi Gan suddenly felt his heart jump.
How long had it been since he felt like this?