How could the autumn wind blow? A hint of coldness blows past, causing the eunuchs and palace maids on duty everywhere in the Great Zhou Palace to shrink their bodies. However, Ma Jin in the Heart Hall did not feel the chill at all, but instead a heat surged in his heart. Since a few days ago, Chunyu Yan reported that the national treasury was empty and there was only two million taels of silver left, making Ma Jin unable to sleep.

At the meeting yesterday, many officials from various court offices in the court called Kuang, saying that they could not do anything without money, which seriously affected the operation of the court. So Ma Jin asked his ministers about the situation, and now that the treasury is empty, how can the treasury be enriched?

Some of the officials of the court said that the tax exemption was cancelled, some said that they had reduced their expenses again, and some said that they had taken action against wealthy businessmen and wealthy people. There were more than a dozen suggestions, but they were rejected by others.

At that time, the cabinet was involved in politics, Kou Zhun Shang Chen Dao. Now the situation in the world is stable, and the people are rich, which is very conducive to merchants' exchanges and exchanges. It should follow the example of the Song Dynasty to vigorously develop handicrafts, commerce, and market trade, and can collect commercial taxes to the Fengfu Treasury.

Just as the idea of ​​resuming the collection of commercial taxes in industrial and commercial trade was opposed by most court officials.

Many court officials believe that agriculture is related to the stability of the world. If industrial and commercial trade is developed, the agricultural population will inevitably decrease. In this way, the grain output may decrease. Where can the people eat? How can they provide relief if disasters and famines occur? Then the world will inevitably be in chaos. Who can bear this responsibility?

Once this theory was released, no one in the palace dared to refute it. After all, "agriculture-based" was the basic national policy in ancient times. And did these ministers really strongly oppose Ma Jin's discovery of industrial and commercial trade for the sake of the court and the people?

Ma Jin doesn't think so. After all, these ministers are still afraid that they will pay attention to the trade tax. After all, the cross-border and cross-state trade in the Great Zhou Dynasty is now controlled by the aristocratic families. Isn't Ma Jin going to collect trade tax and want to cut their meat? It would be strange if these ministers can agree.

However, the problem of empty treasury cannot be solved, and even a piece of fat like a commercial tax cannot be ignored. Ma Jin is naturally very dissatisfied with the reactions of the ministers in the court. OK! You take my salary and become my officials, and talk about how you are loyal to the court and are loyal to me. Once you involve your own interests, you immediately become a mad dog and bark at your master. Ma Jin was extremely disgusted and wanted to kill them all. Of course, Ma Jin could only think about it.

A penny stumped the heroic man. Ma Jin immediately ignored the opposition of the ministers in the palace and asked Kou Zhun again about the detailed development strategy, how to develop industrial and commercial trade, make the world's wealth circulate, and make the people rich.

When the emperor asked about the advice of the dynasty, Kou Zhun naturally knew everything. Kou Zhun told Ma Jin that to prosper industrial and commercial trade, first of all, we must implement tax reduction and exemption policies in the prefectures of the world and important counties and cities, especially the Shendu, to attract merchants to come and do business. Secondly, provide customs clearance for merchants, allow merchants to have their own activities in the Great Zhou Dynasty, thirdly, establish foreign trade places such as Maritime Bureau and Quotation Field to guide merchants to engage in foreign trade, and at the same time give them some discounts and conveniences. Of course, the court can also form an official trading team, and the trade income can be directly included in the national treasury.

In Ma Jin's view, it was imperative to vigorously develop industrial and commercial trade. However, the civil and military officials of the court would not mention it for their own interests. Otherwise, why did Ma Jin have to ask about Kou Zhun? It was not because Kou Zhun was his own person.

Today, the Great Zhou imperial court's treasury is empty and difficult to survive, and it is so poor that it is hard to solve the problem. If the problem is not solved, if there are border disasters and disasters, Ma Jin will not even be able to take out the money, and the consequences will be unimaginable.

Besides, Ma Jin wants to recast the Great Zhou Empire, can it work without money?

When Ma Jin asked about how to do it and who would do it was more appropriate, Kou Zhun recommended himself and said that the most suitable person was him. Of course, Ma Jin believed that he could not know how rich the Song Dynasty in his previous life was. Kou Zhun was the prime minister of the Song Dynasty at that time, so he naturally knew how to do it.

Ma Jin naturally nodded in agreement.

Subsequently, despite the opposition of the court officials, Ma Jin issued an order to be the imperial envoy to be responsible for the establishment of the Maritime Department and the Trade Department of the Quotation Department.

At the same time, an edict was issued to announce the tax rates levied by the court on merchants in the form of an imperial edict, and made relatively clear regulations on the objects and tax rates.

The purpose is to focus on the big and small, encourage private business, encourage the circulation of coins and goods, and attract merchants from all walks of life to concentrate on the Great Zhou to prosper the market.

But now the imperial treasury is empty, and the commercial tax is levied, which cannot relieve near-thirst thirst. So if you kill donkeys before grinding the rice, Ma Jinchou's hair has turned white these days. Thinking about the seniors who traveled through time, they can dry salt, make perfume, and make cement, they can almost do anything. Why did they come to him and do nothing? Why did they return all the knowledge from high school and junior high school to the teacher in the past? Could it be that he has no life as a protagonist?

At this moment, a small eunuch outside the hall came in to report that the cabinet officials Chunyu Yan asked to see His Majesty.

"Chunyu Yan? Why did he come to see me?" When Ma Jin heard that it was Chunyu Yan asking for a meeting, he was a little confused and ordered the eunuch to invite Chunyu Yan in.

...

A few days ago...

After Changsun Wuji and his two men met Ma Jin, the next morning, Ma Jin issued an order to take the office of the Ministry of Revenue as the cabinet to participate in politics.

After the court resignation, Chunyu Yan was still a little confused. He never thought that His Majesty would actually ask him to take charge of the Ministry of Revenue. You should know that although he was also the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in the past, he was just a title and could not directly manage the Ministry of Revenue. Now His Majesty personally ordered him to be a real Minister of Revenue, and he still served as a cabinet participant in politics.

You should know that in the court, except for the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue is the most important thing in charge of the world's money and grain. But then Chunyu Yan couldn't be happy because the Ministry of Revenue had no money!

"No wonder, when Your Majesty gave me the important task, no one in the court opposed it. It turned out that he wanted to see my joke!" On the way, Chunyu Yan finally figured out the causes and consequences, and couldn't help but feel a little depressed.

When he returned home, his wife Mao saw Chunyu Yan looking depressed, and asked, "Master, what big thing happened in the court?"

Chunyu Yan shook his head and said in a deep voice: "Not one, I'm promoted by your master."

"Oh?" When Mao heard this, he couldn't help but look happy on his face and asked hurriedly: "Can you let Master, you be the chief minister?"

"How is that possible? How can that be true!"

Chunyu Yan said: "It's just that Your Majesty asked me to actually take the errands of the Ministry of Revenue!"

"This is a good thing. Why does the master look depressed?" Mao asked in confusion.

"Oh!" Chunyu Yan sighed and said, "The key is that the treasury of the Ministry of Revenue is empty and the silver is less than 2 million taels. How can I be happy?"

"No!" Mao's expression was very surprised, "Master, our family has more than that savings, but the Ministry of Revenue only has such a little money?"

Chunyu Yan replied frowningly: "So, Master, I'm in a dilemma!"

Mao persuaded: "Master, don't be too embarrassed. As the saying goes, there is always a way to go after mountains and rivers."

Chunyu Yan said impatiently: "How can it be said that it is so easy? If the money is so easy to do? Why would the Ministry of Revenue still lack money?

But Mao said with a smile: "Master, what's the problem? I have a way to do it, it depends on whether the master dares to use it."

"What method?" Seeing that Mao said there was a way to get the money, Chunyu Yan asked hurriedly.

Mao said seriously: "Master, have you never heard a saying, "The salt merchant is rich, and he is the best in the world." I heard that these salt merchants are all rich and don't take money as money. Master may as well pay attention to it from the salt merchant."

"But there are not many of the aristocratic families behind those salt merchants whom I can afford to be provoked by your master, and I don't think so!" Mao's method was an effective method. Chunyu Yan was also very moved, but then he thought of the background of those salt merchants, and the heat in his eyes couldn't help but hide.

"Master, you only have this courage!" Seeing Chunyu Yan's appearance, Mao couldn't help but laugh, "As long as your Majesty supports you, what can others do to you? Your Majesty's power cannot bear it."

"Madam's words are reasonable!" Chunyu Yan thought about it carefully. Mao's words really made some sense, "Then I will write a memorial and report it to Your Majesty."

...

Chunyu Yan followed the little eunuch into the Yangxin Hall. After seeing the ceremony, Chunyu Yan said, "Report to Your Majesty, I have something to report to Chunyu Yan!" As he said that, he took out a memorial from his sleeve and presented it with his hands.

"Let me tell me!" Ma Jin signaled Wang Chengen to deliver the memorial from Chunyu Yan.

Chunyu Yan said in a true voice: "I have called Your Majesty. Recently, Your Majesty asked me to take the responsibilities of the Ministry of Revenue. I feel deeply responsible and frightened. In order to repay Your Majesty's kindness, I have been inspecting the Ministry of Revenue's treasury these days and found that there are many tricks in the salt tax in the court, so I came to report to Your Majesty immediately."
Chapter completed!