Chapter 28: Replacing Labor with Tax, Resolving the Dilemma

Chapter 28: Replacing Land Taxes with Trade Tariffs, Resolving the Dilemma

When it came to the loss of fiscal revenue, let alone the Ministry of Revenue, even the Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di, was deeply interested. He was truly short of funds; the destruction caused by war had caused revenues to plummet, while the need to reward meritorious officials and heal the scars of conflict had sent expenditures soaring.

The current state treasury in Yingtian was so empty that if a mouse were to wander in, it would leave in tears.

If a beggar were to stumble inside, they might even leave behind half a steamed bun.

There was no help for it—the treasury was genuinely destitute.

Wang Ning’s accusation that Xu Jingchang was shielding officials from the Jianwen era might have been a serious charge for someone else, but for Xu Jingchang, it was a non-issue.

His father had already given his life for the cause; who else could he possibly be protecting?

Conversely, seizing civilian land and undermining the tax base was equivalent to pulling the rug out from under Zhu Di and plucking the bristles from the Emperor’s own boar.

Could Zhu Di not be angry?

"Wang Ning, what is truly going on? Have you seized civilian land?"

"I have not," Wang Ning denied flatly. "Your Majesty, I only reclaimed property that originally belonged to my family. Xu Jingchang is fabricating claims out of thin air to slander a loyal official."

Zhu Di looked at Xu Jingchang again. "And you? What do you have to say for yourself?"

Xu Jingchang said sonorously, "I have ample evidence in my possession. Even if Your Majesty had not asked, I intended to publish it in the Imperial Gazette to expose these corrupt officials for what they truly are."

Zhu Di tightened his jaw, pondered for a long moment, and said, "Since you both hold conflicting stories, I shall dispatch men to investigate thoroughly. Once the truth is determined, I will not tolerate any corruption, regardless of who is involved. That will be all. You may leave."

As the two men walked out one after the other, Wang Ning suddenly stopped and whispered, "Director Xu, why must you set yourself against me? What exactly are you after?"

"What am I after? If I told you the truth, would you believe me?"

"Speak," Wang Ning replied coldly.

Xu Jingchang laughed. "My goal is very simple: I just want to sell more copies of the Imperial Gazette. There’s no help for it; the Office of the Transmission is too poor."

Upon hearing this reason, Wang Ning felt his entire being suffer; his intelligence and common sense had been insulted!

I am, after all, an Imperial Son-in-Law and a noble of the court. Who would be foolish enough to turn against me just for the sake of a few pathetic newspapers?

This kid really has a unique perspective.

"Just you wait, we are not finished!"

With that, Wang Ning stormed off in a rage.

Xu Jingchang felt helpless. In this day and age, no one believes the truth anymore. What has the world come to? Where is the trust between people?

Disappointed in human nature, Xu Jingchang returned to the Office of the Transmission to redouble his efforts in organizing the evidence, ready to strike a blow at Wang Ning.

***

While he was busy, Minister of Revenue Xia Yuanji arrived for a surprise visit.

The arrival of this old fox took Xu Jingchang by surprise. "Word travels this fast?"

Xia Yuanji smiled bitterly. "The treasury is empty. I cannot let any opportunity to increase annual revenue pass by... I have no choice in this."

Xu Jingchang was puzzled. "Minister Xia, a mere Imperial Son-in-Law like Wang Ning holds at most a thousand acres and a hundred households. It’s not even a drop in the bucket. Even if you are desperate, surely you wouldn't go after such a pittance?"

Xia Yuanji replied, "If you gather enough mosquito legs, they add up to a mouthful of meat."

Xu Jingchang paused, pondered for a moment, and understood.

"So, Minister Xia, you have set your sights on the new nobles of the Jingnan campaign. They have seized a great deal of land and profited handsomely during this period. In the past, no one dared to touch them, but now that I have struck at Wang Ning, once I win this round, you can openly pursue their land and property. Is that the logic?"

Xia Yuanji knew the young man was sharp, so he stopped hiding it. "Director Xu, I will do everything in my power regarding the Wang Ning affair; I will not let you fight alone. If this is achieved, the commoners regain their land, the court gains more tax revenue—it benefits the nation above and the people below. It will leave a lasting legacy and earn universal praise. Director Xu, you wouldn't refuse such a thing, would you?"

Xu Jingchang folded his arms, calculated carefully, and deliberated for a full quarter of an hour before finally shaking his head.

"No."

"Why?" Xia Yuanji asked in astonishment. "This is a matter that benefits the nation and the people—why would you oppose it?"

Xu Jingchang laughed. "It is beneficial, true, but in my view, it is more like wasted effort. Even if you investigate thoroughly this time, reclaiming a few tens of thousands of acres would be considered a success. Based on a tax rate of one in thirty, how much grain could you collect? Less than ten thousand piculs! It is simply not worth offending the entire faction of Jingnan nobles for such a meager sum."

Xia Yuanji frowned. His words held merit, but the prospect of shielding the new nobles was something he could not accept.

"Does Director Xu intend to wallow in the mire with them?"

Xu Jingchang laughed heartily. "Is that a provocation? Too bad, it doesn't work on me. I would like to ask Minister Xia a question: do you wish to leave a legacy for the ages?"

Xia Yuanji was confused. "What do you mean?"

"Minister Xia, the Great Ming has been established for over thirty years. The population has grown, and trade is flowing; it is no longer the era of the Founding Emperor. Clinging to that bit of agricultural tax will not quickly enrich the country or the people, especially since it cannot fill the treasury. If you have the courage, let us target trade taxes."

"Trade taxes?"

"Exactly!" Xu Jingchang said cheerfully. "Wang Ning and his ilk have annexed land and established so many estates. Even if they produce grain, they still have to harvest it and bring it into Yingtian. Beyond that, the volume of goods flowing into the capital from all over is immeasurable. If we set up tax checkpoints, the annual revenue would be at least eight hundred thousand to a million taels. Isn't that far better than collecting land taxes?"

Xia Yuanji frowned, lost in thought. "Land tax is of great significance and cannot be measured solely by the amount. However, your logic is sound. What do you think about placing these tax checkpoints at the Jubao Gate?"

He had even chosen the location; this fellow had been harboring these schemes for more than a day or two.

Xu Jingchang thought to himself that even that old demon-monk Yao Guangxiao couldn't use him as a pawn, and you, Xia Yuanji, are still not quite at that level.

"Minister Xia, it seems you don't even need my help!"

Xia Yuanji hurriedly replied, "Director Xu, you know that levying taxes is like cutting flesh from people's bodies; it involves far too much. Although I have had this idea, I dared not propose it, fearing a catastrophic end. Moreover, my life is trivial, but the Emperor’s grand enterprise is paramount. We must find a secure method to ensure absolute success."

Xu Jingchang smiled. "Minister Xia, are you begging me?"

"Of course, I am begging you—I am begging for your life!" Xia Yuanji bowed repeatedly.

Xu Jingchang chuckled. "Minister Xia, I understand your concerns, but this is not difficult to achieve. As long as we find enough allies, we have nothing to fear."

Xia Yuanji leaned in. "I would like to hear your high-minded strategy."

"There are many merchants entering the capital every day. If we set up tax checkpoints at the Jubao Gate, you simply need to mandate that all vegetables, fresh fruits, eggs produced by farmers, and handmade wicker goods—things of little value—are exempt from taxation. The commoners will naturally be grateful. As for large shipments of grain, silk, porcelain, tea, copper, and iron... they simply pay the tax. Let go of the small to grasp the big—this will surely succeed!"

Xia Yuanji was delighted. This kid really had something.

But soon, he shook his head again. "It still won't work. Director Xu, you must understand that the voices of small merchants and commoners carry no weight. This matter offends the nobles and the merchants, and even the scholars might not tolerate me. Were it not for the severe emptiness of the treasury, I would never have considered this."

Xu Jingchang smiled without a word and pulled out a copy of the Imperial Gazette, placing it in front of Xia Yuanji.

Xia Yuanji held it, stunned for a moment, before suddenly slapping his thigh and laughing aloud.

"Brilliant, truly brilliant! It seems you have been planning this for a long time."

Xu Jingchang smiled. "We are two of a kind."

Xia Yuanji gritted his teeth. "Fine, if we join forces, there is nothing we cannot accomplish!"

The next day, they went to see Zhu Di with full confidence. Opposite them, the Imperial Son-in-Law Wang Ning, Duke of Cheng Zhu Neng, Marquis of Chengyang Zhang Wu, Marquis of Wu'an Zheng Heng, Marquis of Yongkang Xu Zhong... a host of Jingnan nobles gathered in force.

By comparison, Xia Yuanji and Xu Jingchang appeared rather thin on the ground.

"Where duty lies, one must not yield!" Xia Yuanji whispered to encourage Xu Jingchang.

Xu Jingchang, however, remained smiling, as if he had everything under control. "Minister Xia, rest assured, this benefits everyone."

Xia Yuanji was taken aback. There is such a way?

Zhu Di said, "Xu Jingchang, I have decreed that the nobles in the capital should come to listen. You claimed that the Imperial Son-in-Law Wang Ning seized civilian land; how should this matter be handled?"

Xu Jingchang replied, "Your Majesty, I dare to propose: replace land taxes with trade tariffs, and the dilemma will be resolved of its own accord."

Zhu Di was stunned. "Explain yourself more clearly."

"It means that if Your Majesty levies trade taxes to fill the treasury's deficit, this move solves the court's financial shortage. By encouraging commerce and allowing goods to flow, we also solve the difficulties faced by my colleagues here, allowing everyone to profit. Is that not a case of the dilemma resolving itself?" Xu Jingchang said with a smile.