Three whips break the father-son relationship, please call me prince

Chapter 103 Changle is going to be rich
The commercial tax in the Tang Dynasty was very low.

It is precisely because of the low commercial taxes that business is prosperous.

But there is no such thing as tariffs to the outside world.

This is undoubtedly a serious shortcoming for the Tang Dynasty's tax revenue.

Li Chengqian proposed doubling or even quintupling the commercial tax, which sounded exaggerated, but in his opinion, it was enough to show mercy.

In foreign trade, who among those merchants did not make a fortune?

With such a developed business, the tax revenue is actually not as high as the agricultural tax.

That's nonsense.

This time, he wanted to propose the concept of tariffs and prohibit any trade activities that did not pass through foreign trade checkpoints.

The businessmen are making a lot of money, but it doesn't make sense that the country has little money coming in.

"Your Highness."

“Isn’t this a bit too radical?”

Gao Shilian raised an objection, saying, "The reason why our dynasty's commerce is prosperous is because of the low commercial taxes. Twice is still within an acceptable range."

"Five times as much, the merchants will probably be very dissatisfied."

"If it causes trade to stagnate and the flow of goods to stagnate, I'm afraid it won't be good, right?"

Fang Xuanling nodded and said, "We also gained a lot from foreign trade."

“Raising taxes on foreign businesses will inevitably increase commodity prices, resulting in a situation where prices are too high and no one buys.”

Zhang Sun Wuji thought for a moment and advised, "Your Highness, can you raise it a little bit?"

Everyone has different opinions.

Or they feel that if the increase is too much, it will have a significant impact.

Or feel that it should not be improved.

After listening to them one by one, Li Chengqian found that they all had the same problem. They did not consider the issue from the perspective of national taxation at all, but instead considered the impact of increasing commercial taxes.

"I probably understand."

"What you are worried about is nothing more than not being able to sell your products, or other countries not being able to afford the high prices, which will lead to unnecessary disputes."

"For now, we should focus on dealing with Tubo and appease other countries so that they don't cause trouble."

"Yes or no?"

Li Chengqian asked.

"Your Highness is right. We do have concerns in this regard. Since we want to focus on dealing with Tibet, we can just blockade Tibet. There is no need to target other countries as well."

"Hey!"

Li Chengqian couldn't help but shake his head, "I have a question for you."

"The Tang Dynasty blocks any trade with Tubo, and strictly orders all countries not to trade with Tubo in any way."

"Tell me, the countries in the Western Regions and even Xueyantuo, do they respect or not?"

He called out the name and said, "Master Fang, can you guarantee that they are really intimidated by the might of the Tang Dynasty and dare not trade with Tubo in secret?"

"this……."

Fang Xuanling was speechless for a moment, and everyone looked at each other in confusion.

No one can guarantee it.

Li Chengqian said: "I said that other countries are not allowed to trade with Tubo in order to let them realize how high the cost of taking risks is."

"If I hadn't raised the commercial tax and made the nature of the matter very serious."

"How dare they risk being rebuked and attacked by the Tang Dynasty to secretly trade with Tubo? How could Tubo spend so much money to buy it?"

what?
Everyone was surprised and almost stunned.

What does your highness mean by this? Are you slapping yourself in the face?

"Your Highness, I don't understand."

"They want to blockade Tibet completely, but they also want other countries to trade with Tibet."

"What's the point of this?"

Xiao Yu and Gao Shilian were dumbfounded.

Everyone else looked confused, their train of thought unable to keep up.

Wei Zheng was originally twirling his beard while listening to the prince's speech, but he could no longer hold back and in shock he accidentally grabbed two strands of his beard off, causing him great pain.

"Your Highness, isn't this a bit too much?" Wei Zheng said while enduring the pain.

"Why did you go back on your word?"

Li Chengqian said: "As long as we don't get caught by the Tang Dynasty, there will be no such thing as a country that is not loyal to its country."

He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.

Today we are discussing, to make them understand, and more importantly, to make things clear and relay them to Li Er for decision.

"The confrontation between Tubo and our Tang Dynasty cannot be resolved in a short time."

“This is a long-term war.”

"Then we have to find a way to make them engage in internal friction."

Li Chengqian said slowly: "I want to use this move to increase the weight and raise the cost for other countries to pretend to obey but actually disobey, so as to plunder wealth in the trade with Tubo."

"Let me give you an example."

"A box of tea originally cost ten strings of cash. If I raise taxes on foreign merchants, they will have to pay two to three strings of cash. Merchants will have to raise the price of their goods if they want to recover their profits."

“Countries may complain and buy less.”

"But there is a ban on any trade with Tubo. You will be charged with treason and be attacked by our heavenly army."

"If it is secretly sold to Tibet, it can be sold for thirty or even fifty strings of cash."

"Everyone, do you think they will do it or not?"

To do or not to do?
Of course I will.

Those present were not aware of how high the rewards were for smuggling banned items.

After Li Chengqian said this, they finally understood what was going on.

It's like drawing a line of prohibition.

This gave other countries an excuse to secretly sell materials to Tubo at high prices, even though they should have been sold at low prices.

We all bear the risk of being criticized, so isn't it normal that the price should be a little higher?

"No."

Chang Sun Wuji said anxiously: "We can do it too, why should we give it to other countries?"

Gao Shilian also nodded, "According to what Your Highness said, we can also afford it."

"No!"

Li Chengqian said: "We have already taken the lion's share of the commercial taxes."

"No matter what they do, the money will eventually flow back to our Tang Dynasty."

This is the confidence and self-confidence of the giant Tang Empire.

No matter how much money you make, if you don't have supplies, you still have to pay for them from me.

If you don't buy it, there will be no place.

As a middleman, you must have the awareness of a middleman.

"So, in this matter, our Tang Dynasty cannot be left behind. We must maintain a high-profile blockade of Tubo and repeatedly increase pressure on the ban."

"The more pressure we put on them, the more reason those countries that take risks will have to ask for higher prices."

"I just don't believe it. How much wealth does Tubo have to sustain it?"

"I will turn Tubo into a beggar kingdom within two years." "Increase it fivefold this year, and tenfold next year."

Li Chengqian said calmly: "We are just trying to catch rabbits by sniping at them, and at the same time, we are letting other countries experience the power of sanctions."

"The business tax has increased, and the nobles can afford it, but the lower-class people can't."

"Guess what will happen to them if the nobles enjoy themselves and the lower classes suffer?"

He clapped his hands, his tone frighteningly calm, "We in the Tang Dynasty want the money, and we in the Tang Dynasty also use the power."

"The contradictions were also planted for them."

"Tibet, I'm going to tear him apart."

There was silence in the hall.

Everyone looked at Li Chengqian in horror.

They didn't expect that a commercial tax, a ban, or a blockade would have such a huge power.

This isn't just killing two birds with one stone, it's killing many birds.

As the driving force behind the incident, the Tang Dynasty did not pay any price.

"Special checkpoints should be set up in all places to strictly check incoming and outgoing goods."

"At the same time, we will severely crack down on any illegal smuggling to ensure that Datang's interests are not harmed."

Li Chengqian said: "Everyone, do you understand?"

"I understand."

"it is good."

He smiled calmly and said, "Uncle, please stay."

Others should leave.

Seeing this, everyone took their leave one after another. However, after leaving, they did not leave in a hurry. Instead, they stood in the East Palace and waited.

Today's matter.

The prince suggested that in order to implement the plan, they should go to Taiji Palace together to present it to His Majesty and inform him in detail.

and so.

We still have to wait for Changsun Wuji to come out.

Not long after, Changsun Wuji came out with a heavy heart.

No one asked. Gao Shilian looked at him many times, not knowing how it happened in the blink of an eye.

soon.

When they came to Taiji Palace, they were all important officials, so Li Er had to meet them no matter how busy he was.

"Assisted machine, how long have you been away from me?"

"After visiting the East Palace, you're thinking of coming here again?"

Li Er said casually.

This is to say, I know you all went to the East Palace.

What did you do? Tell the truth.

"Your Majesty, this is what happened."

Everyone spoke at once, revealing the Donggong's proposal in full.

The more Li Er listened, the more restless he became.

He stood up and paced back and forth.

"Is that possible?"

Li Er is not stupid. He knows the pros and cons of it as soon as he hears it.

It will bring great benefits to the country.

"Your Majesty, it is possible."

Wei Zheng said:

"We can just sit back and reap the benefits without having to fight."

"There is nothing better than conquering the enemy without fighting."

Li Er walked up to Wei Zheng and asked, "Tell me, how did the prince come up with this idea?"

"Wei Zheng, you are his teacher, you should know."

Wei Zheng looked a little embarrassed.

I know?
I know nothing.

As a teacher, he felt ashamed of this prince.

"Haha."

Li Er raised his head and smiled, "Just do as the prince said and do it immediately."

"I want to see whether other countries will jump up and down or just quietly take advantage of the situation."

He is not worried about nations uniting.

Hitting one is hitting.

Hitting two is also hitting.

There is no foreign race that the Tang Dynasty has not defeated.

It's all scum.

"Yes!"

The ministers left.

However, Changsun Wuji did not leave. After he and others left, he reported to Li Er.

"His Highness said that Princess Zhonglie and Princess Honghua should be sent back to Tuyuhun immediately."

"First, Tuyuhun made threatening gestures."

"Secondly, Tuyuhun will be used as a transit point for private transactions with Tubo."

Li Er paused for a moment. He knew what to do almost instantly. "Who wants it?"

"Princess Changle!"

Li Er frowned and his eyes turned.

"Tuoba is close to Tubo, so there is a passage."

"The people under Princess Changle secretly traded with Tubo, which was also a subtle signal to other countries."

"Even a Tang princess would dare to do this. It doesn't make sense. They wouldn't dare to smuggle."

"If the court sends another person to Tuyuhun as prime minister, and he has an army at hand, he can exploit them secretly, and they will have no choice but to accept it."

Chang Sun Wuji said: "Of course, this matter cannot be made public and can only be carried out in secret."

Li Er understood everything clearly.

He paused and said:

"A prime minister must be loyal and resourceful."

This is tantamount to recognition.

"In this case, Li Zhi will probably become extremely rich."

Li Er made a joke.

"Princess Changle is His Majesty's legitimate daughter."

(End of this chapter)