My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 180 A Quiet Promotion

The Lingji Palace Conference has concluded.

The emperor was very satisfied with Su Ze's answer and publicly rewarded him with ten gold coins and ten golden pills.

The emperor then ordered the officials in charge of recording to transcribe all the speeches at the Lingji Palace assembly and compile them into a document to be passed down to future generations.

cabinet.

After the conference concluded, the four cabinet ministers summoned Su Ze to the cabinet.

Liu Jun, a scribe in the Imperial Secretariat, lit the whale oil lamps in the cabinet, illuminating the entire cabinet as if it were daytime.

Grand Secretary Li Chunfang sat in the main seat, while the second, third, and fourth Grand Secretaries were all present.

The scribes all left, leaving Su Ze alone to face the four Grand Secretaries.

Zhang Juzheng was the first to speak, asking, "How should commercial taxes be collected?"

"That's exactly the problem," Su Ze said, bowing slightly.

"This humble official does not know."

Zhang Juzheng was so angry at this answer that he almost laughed. You spout nonsense in front of the emperor, and you don't know the last sentence? Do you expect the cabinet to clean up your mess?

Li Chunfang couldn't stand it any longer and said to Su Ze:

“Su Zilin, you always plan carefully before you act. How could you not know how to collect commercial taxes? His Majesty sent us to ask you. You can speak freely without any reservations.”

Su Ze said sincerely:
"Prime Minister Li, I truly have no idea."

Su Ze really didn't know how the earliest commercial taxes were collected.

In fact, knowing this is useless; none of the modern taxes that Su Ze knows about are currently feasible.

Many time-travel novels attribute the problems of the Ming Dynasty to the fact that the Ming Dynasty did not levy commercial taxes, as if everything would be fine as long as commercial taxes were levied.

In reality, the Ming Dynasty at that time had neither the ability nor the means to collect commercial taxes.

The Ming Dynasty was not without commercial taxes.

The commercial taxes of the Ming Dynasty were divided into market taxes, which were fixed taxes levied on shops every month, and transit taxes, which were transit taxes that needed to be paid for transporting goods.

However, both of these taxes are a mess.

Both taxes were very primitive in terms of collection methods and means, and there were many ways to evade taxes.

The most ironically ironic thing is that the taxes collected by local checkpoints can sometimes be more than those collected by the government.

For example, in "Jin Ping Mei", it is said that Ximen Qing set up a "money exchange checkpoint" at the dock to charge "ship material fees" to passing ships.

There were also local thugs who set up "unloading checkpoints" to forcibly collect transportation fees, and some garrison stations would even set up checkpoints near the city to collect tolls.

The city tax was an even bigger mess. For example, many shops in the capital would try to curry favor with imperial merchants and evade taxes by registering under their names.

The situation is even more dire at the local level.

Officials in Suzhou Prefecture probably wouldn't dare to levy taxes on the weaving workshop owned by Shen Shixing's wife.

And the West at that time had no way to learn from this.

France is still using the tax farming system. In a few years, the French king will even use a decree to allow tax farmers to inherit their positions. The Yuan dynasty had already gone through this system long ago.

In industrial-era Britain, there were also chimney taxes and window taxes, levied according to the number of chimneys and windows.

How to collect commercial taxes is a problem facing the cabinet.

Who to collect from and how to collect is a complex issue that Su Ze cannot explain in just a few words.

Zhang Juzheng sighed and said, "Since you don't know how to collect it, yet you say it publicly at the Lingji Palace assembly, aren't you afraid of becoming the target of public criticism?"

Su Ze said:

“Grand Secretary Zhang, what I said at Lingji Palace was actually for the good of these merchants.”

"Merchants in our dynasty, even those with immense wealth, still have to rely on others for their livelihood. Isn't that because they lack business ethics?"

"If merchants can pay taxes and contribute to the court and local governments, then their profits will be recognized by the court, and they will no longer need to be as careful as before, hiding their wealth in secret."

Zhang Juzheng thought Su Ze was being sophistical, but Su Ze genuinely believed it.

Paying taxes is both an obligation and a right.

In the early days of many voting systems, the annual tax payment amount was used as a threshold; only those who paid more than a certain amount of tax were considered eligible to vote.

Paying taxes legally means that your income is legitimately recognized.

Nowadays, many Ming Dynasty merchants dare not operate in the open, fearing that leaking their wealth will attract the attention of the government.

Paying taxes legally means having legal political rights, and business owners who pay more taxes will naturally pursue more political rights.

Su Ze had another purpose in publicly proposing the theory of the four classes of people at the Lingji Palace assembly: to encourage scholars to study the "way of the four classes of people".

The same applies to social sciences; they also need an initiation tool.

Social class is such a tool. When Su Ze put forward the theory of the four classes of people, it was natural that some people would use social class to study society.

Su Ze also looked forward to what sparks his theory of the four classes of people would ignite in the intellectual circles of the late Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Juzheng said:
"I have already suggested to His Majesty that we start by levying a commercial tax on the cargo ships of the Maritime Trade Office, and then add a commercial tax to Dengzhou, Laizhou and Yuegang."

Su Ze looked at Zhang Juzheng, surprised that Zhang Juzheng's financial intuition was so sharp, his first thought being export tariffs.

Indeed, in the Ming Dynasty, a time of inefficient government, complex national conditions, and deeply entrenched local interests, levying commercial taxes starting with customs duties was a wise choice.

Currently, the only ports that have opened on a large scale are Yuegang and Denglai, plus Zhigu, which is about to open.

These places have just been established, and interest groups have not yet solidified.

Moreover, all ports have maritime trade offices, which are ready-made tax collection agencies.

The port's import and export business is relatively simple, so starting with levying commercial taxes on import and export goods is indeed a very good start.

Su Ze looked at Zhang Juzheng with some surprise. He had thought that Zhang Juzheng would aggressively push forward with commercial taxes, but he did not expect that Zhang Juzheng would take a cautious approach and choose to levy customs duties at the ports first.

Is this still the Zhang Juzheng who forcefully promoted the Single Whip Law in history?

However, upon closer examination, when Zhang Juzheng promoted the Single Whip Law, he was already the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, wielding unparalleled power in the Ming Dynasty. Naturally, he would forcefully push forward the new policy.

However, Zhang Juzheng was only in the Third Prefecture at the moment, with Li Chunfang and Gao Gong above him, so he naturally could not make decisions unilaterally.

Another reason is probably that when Zhang Juzheng was promoting the Single Whip Law, he saw that Wanli was growing up and felt a sense of urgency that time was running out. So he forced the implementation of the Single Whip Law to show the young emperor and his ministers some achievements.

However, Zhang Juzheng was not in a hurry, and the political situation in the court was stable, so he took a steady approach and chose to start by collecting commercial taxes from customs duties.

Zhang Juzheng then added: "You were the one who first proposed increasing commercial taxes! You're not allowed to run away!"

"I have petitioned His Majesty, and His Majesty has granted my request. Su Ze is hereby appointed as Assistant Director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Revenue. You shall come to the Ministry of Revenue to begin your duties tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Su Ze quickly said:
"Grand Secretary Zhang, what about my duties at the Crown Prince's Palace and the newspaper office?"

Zhang Juzheng glared at Su Ze and said, "You only attended a few lectures at the Crown Prince's palace, and Luo Wanhua handled all the newspaper matters."

Su Ze never expected that Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng would be so lacking in martial ethics, actually exposing his slacking off at the newspaper office in public.

Now even Li Chunfang looked at him, as if questioning Su Ze about why he was urging him to finish his manuscript while he was slacking off.

Su Ze said quickly:

"Your Excellency is wise. I still have a lot to do at the newspaper. I have written an article for this issue."

Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng finally relented and said:

"In that case, you will come to the Ministry of Revenue every other day, and spend the rest of your time at the Eastern Palace and the newspaper office."

Su Ze looked at Zhang Juzheng and realized that this was probably Zhang Juzheng's last line of defense, so he had no choice but to agree.

When Su Ze was leaving, Zhao Zhenji called him back and said:
"You've already reached the fifth rank. Keep up the good work and try to earn a title for Third Madam."

Su Ze then remembered that the Assistant Director of the Ministry of Revenue was a fifth-rank official, so he had been promoted.
The lowest rank for a wife granted an imperial edict is the fifth rank, and Su Ze is already at the fifth rank, just one rank away from that goal.

Did Zhang Juzheng help himself get promoted?
He was supposed to be helping himself get promoted, but it was like he was being conscripted. Su Ze looked at the cabinet illuminated by the whale oil lamp. Was this Grand Secretary Zhang a proud and arrogant person?
Upon returning home, he shared the good news with his wife, Zhao Lingxian, who beamed with joy as she said:
"Then tomorrow I will go and ask the tailor from the official clothing shop to come back and make a new official robe for my husband."

In the Ming Dynasty, the treatment of officials was very low. When an official entered officialdom, he would be given official robes. Occasionally, when an official in the capital encountered a happy occasion, he would be rewarded with official robes by the emperor. Otherwise, he would have to pay for his own official robes.

This was also something that Su Ze found difficult to adjust to when he first transmigrated.

High-ranking officials were fine, but high-ranking officials usually received official robes as a reward from the emperor. Even if they were worn out, they would be custom-made from places like the official clothing workshop, so the fabric and style were similar.

But low-ranking officials are in a much worse situation.

A complete set of official hats, robes, and boots required a considerable amount of money. Officials from ordinary families could not even afford to replace their official robes, and many low-ranking officials' robes were patched.

That's not the worst part. Some officials couldn't afford big shops like Guanyifang, so they would have their official robes custom-made in small workshops. These robes were made of different materials and would fade after being used for a long time.

When Su Ze first started working at the Hanlin Academy, he saw official robes of various shades and colors.

In movies and TV dramas, officials always wear the same official robes and bow in unison when attending court.

In reality, the court sessions were characterized by officials wearing court robes of varying shades and performing rude and disorderly court rituals, resembling a makeshift troupe.

Upon hearing that his wife was going to make a new official robe, Su Ze said, "Why don't you wear the old one for now? It's not a big deal."

Unexpectedly, Zhao Lingxian said, "This is not feasible. My husband is a man of integrity, and it would be inappropriate to hold a grand celebration for his promotion. However, he must wear a new official robe. We will have someone come to take his measurements and make a new one tomorrow."

Hearing his wife insist, Su Ze did not refuse again.

After Su Ze went to the study, Zhao Lingxian's personal maid said, "Madam, the money in the household accounts..."

Zhao Lingxian said, "The gold and silver coins that my husband brought back cannot be touched. They should be kept in the ancestral hall for worship. A sum of money should be taken from my dowry."

Hearing that her mistress wanted to take money from her dowry again, the personal maid said somewhat unhappily, "Even if you're going to take money, you should talk to your husband about it and let him know how difficult it is for you to manage the household."

Zhao Lingxian put on a stern face and said:

"Husband and wife are one, why do we need to calculate so clearly? In that case, our house is worth several hundred thousand taels of silver."

Although Zhao Lingxian appeared weak and frail in front of Su Ze, she was still very authoritative when she was in charge of the household. Her personal maid dared not say anything and quickly withdrew.

Zhao Lingxian then called over another maidservant who was serving her and said:

“Cui’er is of marriageable age, let’s arrange a marriage for her.”

The personal maidservant quickly said:

"Madam? Our personal maids don't marry, you..."

Zhao Lingxian said coldly, "Speaking ill of your husband in front of me, won't that drive a wedge between us in the future? Cui'er has been with me for many years, I'll find her a good husband."

Upon hearing Zhao Lingxian's words, the personal maid dared not say another word.

In the study, Su Ze looked at the system.

——Host: Su Ze——

Age: 26
Birthplace: Taicang County, South Zhili

Official rank: Assistant Director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Revenue, Left Vice Minister of the Left Spring Palace, Daily Lecturer, Lecturer of the Crown Prince, Fifth Rank.

Prestige: 144 (+8 per day)

Simulation times: 2 times per month (0/2 remaining)

Items in hand: [Model Calligraphy Brush] (blue), [Family Planting Mat] (purple), [Translation Rice Cake] (blue), [Post-Event Sketchbook] (orange, 4/5 remaining), [Flying Pigeon Message] (purple), [Memory Palace Sachet] (orange).

Main Quest: Achieve close relationships with all cabinet members; Quest Reward: 1 chance to draw an item.
Side Quest: Rehabilitate Hu Zongxian; Quest Reward: 1 Chance to Draw Items
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sure enough, he got promoted, and his daily prestige points also increased.

But last time when I was a sixth-rank official, I only got +4 prestige points per day. How did it become +8 per day when I was a fifth-rank official?
That's right. The transition from the sixth to the fifth rank is a hurdle. It's a crucial step in the transition from a low-ranking official to a mid-ranking official. And I just crossed it so easily.

It wasn't easy either. From running the newspaper to organizing the Lingji Palace Conference, Su Ze had been planning for this "Four Classes of Morality" theory for a long time.

Unfortunately, the number of simulations per month hasn't increased, but two times a month is enough.

Let's look at the memorial that was hung up last time.

[Should I spend 100 reputation points to force the passage of the "Memorial Requesting the Abolition of the Craftsmen's Stove and Musical Instruments"?]

really.

After proposing the "Four Classes of Morality" theory and the idea of ​​levying commercial taxes, there was virtually no resistance to abolishing the status of "lowly" people.

Moreover, Su Ze has already obtained the message from Tu Zemin via carrier pigeon. The new salt-making method has been successful, which can reduce the cost of refined salt and greatly save manpower.

This news should have already been sent to the cabinet through Tu Zemin's memorial, and for the emperor and the cabinet ministers, there was no longer any obstacle.

[Passed using prestige points.]

[Prestige points have been deducted; remaining prestige: 44 points.]
-
The next day, the tailor from the official clothing workshop arrived at the Su residence early in the morning. After waking Su Ze up, he took his measurements and promised to deliver the finished clothes within seven days.

After finishing his breakfast, Su Ze arrived at the Ministry of Revenue. Just as he was about to register his travel pass, he encountered Xia Wei, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat, who had been waiting there.

"Master Su, the waist pass has been prepared. Grand Secretary Zhang is waiting for you at the Jieyong Hall."

(End of this chapter)