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

Chapter 226: The Prince is tortured, and the bank adds new functions

The 20 million population mark.

All the officials were almost in an uproar, and they couldn't help but talk in low voices and whisper to each other.

Population has always been a symbol of a dynasty's national strength and prosperity, because it is directly linked to taxes, resources, and manpower supply.

Of course, it is also an important feature that reflects the country’s prosperity and stability.

The larger the population, the more it reflects the prosperity and stability of a country.

On the contrary, the smaller the population, the more miserable the people will be and the more wars will break out.

This is a positive proportional change.

The court added more than two million people to its population in one year, which was a great boost to people's morale.

Although there was a national policy to encourage childbirth, this was enough to show that the Tang Dynasty was peaceful and the people were willing to have children.

This achievement belongs to Your Majesty and all the civil and military officials.

It is not owned by anyone alone and cannot be occupied by anyone.

How can everyone not be happy?

Li Shimin had a hearty smile on his face, and Li Chengqian also had a smile on his face, but they didn't react too much.

He knew there was a lot of water in it.

Because the report does not provide any detailed divisions of the new population.

In normal understanding, the new population naturally refers to newly born babies.

But in fact, babies account for less than half of this new population.

That is less than one million.

As for the extra population, where did they come from?
Some of them are naturalized personnel, some are from foreign ethnic groups, and some were abducted to foreign ethnic groups and returned to the embrace of the Tang Dynasty.

Another part is the hidden population, that is, the unregistered population kept privately by wealthy and powerful families and not reported to the household registration.

The equal-field system and the rent-and-labor system implemented by the Tang Dynasty.

Taxes are collected based on the number of registered residents.

In other words, taxes must be paid according to the number of people registered in the household.

If it is not registered in the household registration, no tax will be levied.

The black households came into being.

The phenomenon of unregistered residents is caused by many factors.

One is that the aristocratic families deliberately concealed the facts. The more illegal households they had, the more land they cultivated, but they did not have to pay the corresponding taxes, only the registered population.

The second is to evade taxes and labor.

Three are the results of land annexation.

Four are loopholes in household registration management.

Anyway, the official registered population of the Tang Dynasty was more than 17 million, and now it is 20 million.

The actual population number is not just this, it is far more than 20 million.

It is difficult to estimate the excess amount, but what is certain is that they are definitely the best labor force.

If they are old and weak, how can they support themselves? The noble families are not kind people who will take in such people.

He must be someone who can work in the fields, endure hardships, and bear heavy loads.

Such people are extremely important and urgently needed by the court.

Li Chengqian was not quite sure how many illegal households there were, but it was definitely an astronomical number.

Many people are aware of this, but no one mentions it and pretends nothing happened.

He really wants to catch all the illegal residents.

But now is not the right time. A forced investigation will only bring endless trouble.

Some illegal residents are even unwilling to become legal residents.

Therefore, Li Chengqian had to use some means to make the aristocratic families voluntarily hand over their illegal households and re-register them.

As for how to do it?
That's not simple yet.

Li Chengqian had already made up his mind.

He is now a little curious about how Zhangsun Wuji managed to register illegal residents in order to make his political achievements look good.

Without these unregistered residents, the population would probably not exceed 20 million.

At this time, Changsun Wuji was sitting slightly in front of Fang Xuanling, receiving the gazes of all the officials.

He must be very proud and complacent.

I have been the Minister of Civil Affairs for only one year, but the tax collection has exceeded 80 million yuan, the additional farmland is 20 million acres, and the population has exceeded 20 million.

Just ask who else?
Have you seen my ability?
So what if I am a relative by marriage?
I am a capable and talented relative who can get things done and contribute to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

Shut your mouths, all of you.

These psychological activities were almost written on Changsun Wuji's face, and he severely slapped those dogs who kept talking nonsense to him.

"Duke Zhao."

"May I ask how the Ministry of Civil Affairs will set its goals for next year?"

Xiao Yu secretly increased the strength of Zhangsun Wuji.

The court officials were also amused and waited for Zhangsun Wuji's answer with a playful look.

This year’s target is 80 million, so will it be higher than 80 million next year?
Changsun Wuji felt as uncomfortable as if he had eaten a fly.

How the hell do I know what my goals are for next year?
This old man will soon be promoted to Shangshu You Pushe.

Why would I worry about the Ministry of Civil Affairs?

The goal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs should be set by the next Minister.

But he is still sitting in the position of Minister of Civil Affairs, not Shangshu You Pushe.

He still has to answer what he should answer.

"Based on this year's growth, the Ministry of Civil Affairs' goal for next year is to increase the number of new employees by no less than 30%."

Changsun Wuji said that he even wanted to kill Xiao Yu.

In order to achieve his goals this year, he worked hard, expended so much energy, and promised so many benefits.

This year, 30% is 24 million, and the total tax revenue will reach over 100 million.

God knows how much pressure he has to face.

"Duke Zhao is so great. With him as the Minister of Civil Affairs, our Tang Dynasty won't have to worry about money and food."

Li Chengqian felt that Xiao Yu was a piece of shit.

How can you squeeze people like this?

It was clearly like roasting Changsun Wuji on the fire. However, this was also fine.

Even if Changsun Wuji went to the Secretariat, the goals he set in the Ministry of Civil Affairs would be taken with him.

After all, the Secretariat is in charge of all national affairs. You can't just go there and ignore the Ministry of Civil Affairs' affairs.

Li Chengqian was also happy to see Zhangsun Wuji withstand pressure. If he couldn't withstand pressure, how would he know how to ask others for help?

After Changsun Wuji went down, other ministers came up to be interrogated.

Everything is going smoothly.

However, after this, some of the chief officials of each province and prefecture would come forward to report on their work and answer questions from all officials.

Questions such as what you did in the local area, how you did it, how the people are doing, etc.

The chief official of Daozhou had never experienced such torture. Even the third-rank governor of Shangzhou was trembling with fear, let alone other chief officials.

In front of the emperor and all the officials.

If you are not careful, you might fall flat on your face.

No one can save him.

Everyone who went up and down secretly wiped the cold sweat from their forehead.

This is really not something a human would do. Anyone who can't endure it mentally would probably lose their composure on the spot.

"His Royal Highness King Wu."

"please!"

There was no banking content in the report originally, but after Fang Xuanling submitted it to the Eastern Palace, the prince added the banking matters into it.

He didn't quite understand that the bank's affairs were not important enough to be inquired about at the grand court meeting.

Moreover, the identity of King Wu is quite sensitive.

It doesn't seem appropriate no matter how you look at it.

But since the prince wanted to add it, he had no choice but to follow his advice.

Li Ke stood up from behind Li Chengqian and in front of Li Tai, dressed in the crown and robes of a prince, looking very decent.

He sat on the torture seat amid the complicated looks of the officials.

This was the first time that the prince had been questioned, but everyone knew that this was the beginning of the prince's official entry into the court.

Otherwise, how could Li Ke be qualified to sit in the interrogation seat?

It is difficult to understand Li Shimin's views on his third son.

I feel relieved and filled with emotion.

He also knew in advance what Li Ke was going to do after he went up.

"After its establishment, the bank first set up its head office in Chang'an, and then set up branches in ten prefectures. It has exchanged a total of 100,000 silver dollars, equivalent to 10 million strings of cash, for large-scale transactions."

"From the feedback from private transactions, silver dollars have greatly facilitated large-scale transactions and promoted frequent transactions..."

He spoke eloquently and said, "Next year, the bank will promote two important functions."

“Save, borrow….”

When Li Ke said this, he was actually very nervous.

Saving is okay, but borrowing is too much of a hassle.

However, he was surprised that the officials did not react much.

It shouldn't be.

"Savings are open to all the people of the Tang Dynasty. Anyone with extra money can deposit it in the bank, and the bank will give a certain amount of interest back."

"Loans are also open to all the people of the Tang Dynasty. Anyone who owns land can use it as a mortgage loan and receive a certain amount of interest..."

"These two measures are an important attempt of bold innovation and exploration by the bank under the guidance of your majesty's spiritual thoughts and the purpose of Tang Dynasty's pioneering exploration."

"The purpose is to promote the economic growth, commercial prosperity, currency circulation, etc. of the Tang Dynasty..."

After Li Ke finished speaking, he waited quietly for the officials' reactions.

Officials immediately raised questions.

"May I ask Your Highness, King Wu, if the people save money, they will get interest back, so how much is the interest?"

Li Ke said seriously: "The interest rate varies according to the actual situation. The annual interest rate is not fixed."

"For example, if we launch a savings function next year, the interest rate for one year will be 2%, the interest rate for three years will be 3.5%, and the interest rate for five years will be 5.5%."

"The shorter the savings period, the lower the interest rate, and the longer the savings period, the higher the interest rate."

The official was surprised and said, "That is to say, if 100,000 guan is deposited for five years with an interest rate of 5.5%, it would be more than 6,000 guan per year, and more than 30,000 guan in five years?"

When this number came out, all the officials were shocked and looked incredulous.

It's just like giving away money.

If this is the case for 100,000 strings of cash, what about 1 million strings of cash?
How much should it be?

They were almost dizzy.

"Your Majesty, the bank's move is tantamount to a waste of national funds." An official immediately objected.

"Yes, Your Majesty, we can't do this. If everyone saves, where will the money come from to pay the interest? The national treasury can't bear it."

"This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people, how can it be considered a waste of national wealth?"

"I think it's good to have savings. The bank will manage it, and not having extra money at home can reduce the occurrence of theft."

"yes……."

The officials each held their own opinion and the two sides argued fiercely.

Some people are calculating how much money their family deposits in the bank in a year.

You don’t have to do anything, this is just money making money.

Although it has an expiration date, it’s better than letting it get moldy at home, right?
“What if someone saves for five years and then withdraws it midway?”

Li Ke replied: "If it is less than one year, it will be calculated on a monthly basis. If it is more than one year but less than three years, it will be calculated on a one-year interest basis. If it is more than three years but less than five years, it will be calculated on a three-year interest basis."

"Banks have taken these aspects into consideration and formulated detailed regulations."

"Don't worry too much, gentlemen."

He was calm and composed, and his answers were well-reasoned and convincing.

The officials discussed in low voices, but the ministers at the central government level said nothing.

Hold small meetings for big events.

They had reached a unified consensus in front of His Majesty and the Crown Prince beforehand.

Now it is just brought out to let all officials know that the court wants to promote this initiative.

No matter how the officials react, what needs to be pushed forward must be pushed forward.

(End of this chapter)