It was late February, and the Ministry of Revenue reported two things.

One is the tax for the second year of Chongzhen. The other is the budget for the third year of Chongzhen.

This cannot be blamed on the Ministry of Revenue to delay the work. In ancient times, tax collection was no more than in the 21st century.

In ancient times, the tax collection procedures were complicated, and after the one-whip method was abolished in the late Ming Dynasty, most of the food was collected.

After all, it is an agricultural society, and there is indeed not much commercial tax.

The commercial taxation was also quite controversial in the history of the Tianqi and Chongzhen dynasties.

Bi Ziyan submitted the taxes actually collected in the second year of Chongzhen. When he saw them, his heart sank. Good guy, the autumn tax was levied a total of 10 million shi.

Let’s look at last year’s summer tax, 2 million shi!

The tax last year was only 12 million shi!

The Ming Dynasty also had two tax laws, and the so-called two tax laws refer to summer tax and autumn tax.

This is based on the laws of agricultural society, harvesting wheat in summer and harvesting rice in autumn.

2 million is wheat, and 1,200 stones is rice.

In addition, what should ordinary people who do not farm?

It is also collected, but it is used as other items.

For example, cloth, horse grass, cinnabar, etc.

There are also some who have garrisons and silver, but very few, only 20,000 to 30,000 taels.

In the late Ming Dynasty, the tax was mainly based on food.

It should be said that when Chongzhen ascended the throne, he was the best tax revenue for the emperor's career since Chongzhen.

In the seventh year of the Tianqi period, the autumn tax collected was about 2,149 stones, which were included in Bi Ziyan's "Duzhi Memorial".

The summer tax is also 4.3 million shi.

But what about now?

The autumn tax has shrunk by almost half.

Chongzhen was very dissatisfied and asked: "When will Zhejiang pay the 160,000 taels of owed the year before?"

Bi Ziyan said: "I have sent someone to urge me, saying that I am raising it."

Chongzhen kneaded the paper in his hand into a ball and said angrily: "How can they give me Tai Chi! Is Zhejiang short of money?"

This place is really unreasonable!

Was the Ming Dynasty poor?

The Ming Dynasty was not poor at all.

Longqing switch has taken advantage of the great sailing. One-third of the world's silver inflows, how can it be poor?

But this tax just can't be collected.

This is the twisted side!

Take a very famous literati in Zhejiang for example.

who?

That smelly and sour guy Zhang Dai!

He loves prosperity very much, good monastery, good maids, good **, good fresh clothes, good food, good horses, good lights, good fireworks, good pear gardens, good advocacy, good antiques, good flowers and birds, and also uses tea to abuse oranges, and the devil of books and worms.

Isn't it very literary?

He is respected as the number one literary male god of the Ming Dynasty.

A lot of fans in later generations.

Zhejiang owes taxes, but the problem is that luxury and debauchery are growing there.

However, the emperor was worried about money every day in the palace, and Emperor Chongzhen's clothes in history were patched.

However, they can spend a lot of money in Jiangnan, and they still feel that their life is meaningless every day, and they want to find the true meaning of life.

But this kind of unhealthy trend of lying in new poems that force me to say sorrow, chanting without illness, and enjoying playboys is still praised by many people.

They have money to enjoy themselves, but they just don’t have money to pay taxes!

Chongzhen lowered his voice and said, "Where are other provinces, why did you pay less this time than in previous years?"

"They all owed taxes, and they said they could not collect taxes, and the people suffered a disaster."

Chongzhen frowned.

Bi Ziyan said: "Your Majesty, the court is in trouble now, I think I can increase the Liao taxes."

"No."

What are the three types of Liao salary, training salary, and suppression salary, and you must not be able to send additional fees.

All these extra sects were added to the common people. When the court said extra sects, the officials below were like red-eyed vampires.

For example, the imperial court said that each household would add one kilogram, so they would dare to collect five kilograms in this name!

Chongzhen took a deep breath, opened up this year's budget, and finished carefully.

The old rule in Liaodong is 4.8 million taels.

During the Tianqi period, Liaodong spent 6 million taels a year. However, after Yuan Chonghuan took office in July of the first year of Chongzhen, he cut a lot of military expenditure, and only spent 5.13 million taels in the first year of Chongzhen.

After that, Yuan Chonghuan reported that only 4.8 million taels were needed per year.

The total military expenditure of other military towns in Jiubian is about 3 million taels.

But there is another military expenditure for the new army. The new army's mission this year is to expand to 50,000 people, and the new army's military pay of 1.8 taels per month.

Sun Chengzong paid 1 million taels (about 650 million yuan) of military pay.

There was also Denglai's military pay, Yuan Keli's, who reported 500,000 taels of military pay.

There was also Zheng Zhilong who said he wanted 100,000 taels of military pay.

This is 9.4 million taels!

The new army had previously expected 800,000 taels. Now, if Yuan Keli is included, the new army has reached 1.3 million taels.

Exceeding budget!

Do you want to cut some?

Don't cut it!

To cut down is not to cut down military expenses, but to the heads of some dog officials!

The total salary of officials this year is 2 million taels.

Not to mention the other expenses, it has reached 11.4 million taels.

Bi Ziyan's palms are also sweating. It is not easy for him to have some money in the treasury. It seems that he will spend almost the same amount this year.

In this budget, there are various suggestions from the cabinet to cut the east and west.

But Chongzhen didn't plan to cut a penny, not only did he not cut it, but he also had to add it.

What to add?

Increase the salary of officials!

"I will discuss this with Wang Yongguang by raising the official's salary budget to 4 million."

"Your Majesty, this..."

"That's it, just give it to the Sili Supervisor after adding."

The eunuch Fang Zhenghua was on the side.

"yes!"

"Okay, you go down first."

"I'm leaving."

After Bi Ziyan left, Chongzhen fell into deep thought.

Why give officials a salary increase?

In addition to the fact that the salaries of officials in the Ming Dynasty were indeed low, Chongzhen also wanted to rectify the administration.

Can a simple salary be used to rectify the administration?

Of course not, but this is just the beginning.

Zhang Chen always takes courtesy and then fights when doing things, and he should show his attitude.

I have added the salary to you. If you don’t cooperate with me, don’t blame me for turning against others.

Are you more confident to cut people’s heads?
To be continued...