Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

The newly established tax department has basically been formed.

The name of the yamen is "Tax Supervisor".

Under the jurisdiction of the four departments of taxation, taxation, storage, taxation and police, each has an order, a Cheng, a master book, and a recorder.

The Taxation Office is a collection of the original Salt and Iron Envoy and the Household Division.

In the mid-Tang and Northern Song Dynasties, the envoys of salt and iron were all in charge of taxation in the world.Shao Shude felt that the word "salt and iron" could not well summarize the scope of work of this department, so he ordered to change it to "taxation office".

Both Duzhi and Warehousing were former institutions of the Ministry of Households, namely the departments managed by Duzhi Langzhong and Cangbu Langzhong, and now they have been moved here together.

The tax police are a thing of the era of the Shuofang Army. They are mainly used to catch businessmen who trade in private. They have the size of several battalions.

The first tax supervisor was Du Xiao.

In the first year of Tongguang, he served as Minister of the Household Department. It has been five years and he is familiar with Qiangu affairs.

After he left office, Zheng Jue, the servant of the household department, was promoted to Shangshu.

The importance of the household department must have been greatly reduced compared to before.

"Governmental decree in charge of household registration and well fields in the world" is probably the scope of most of its responsibilities.

To put it bluntly, count household registration and the number of fields, and implement all government orders related to population and fields.

In the future, the Ministry of Household Affairs will also have some overlapping functions with Sinong Temple, mainly involving agriculture.

In addition to these three items, the household department is also responsible for collecting and issuing corvee.

That's about it.

In fact, they have already adapted to such days.

Since the prime minister of the former Tang Dynasty sentenced the three divisions, the household department has long lost the power of money and grain.After the establishment of the Xia Dynasty, it was briefly withdrawn, and now it has been stripped off again.

The Taxation Supervisory Office is actually an enlarged and regular version of the prime minister's agency that specialized in money in the "three divisions" of the former Tang Dynasty.

From now on, the tax supervisor will be a member of the prime minister of the political affairs hall, and the household secretary will no longer be.

In institutional reform, there are always winners and losers, nothing more.

"Du Qing, the new tax system will be implemented in two years. Do you know what to do this year and next year?" In Shendu Garden, Shao Shude sighed and put down his walking bow and replaced it with a hunting bow.

The once strong and powerful arms could no longer provide him with enough strength and stability.

Military strong bow, now he is struggling...

"Returning to Your Majesty, from March onwards, the tax supervisor will send staff to various provinces to check the accounts, investigate government affairs, and finally determine a land tax distribution ratio." Du Xiao said.

Shao Shude nodded slightly, and said: "This is a big event, it would be great if it can be completed this year. What about next year?"

Although Shao Shude asked the prime ministers to determine a tax payment ratio for each land.But how could this matter be done sitting in the yamen?No way, I still have to send a large number of people to various places to investigate, listen to the opinions of local officials, see how much they will spend, and even wrangle and bargain a lot before finally deciding on a plan.

This will take time, no question.And this is also the main reason why Shao Shude gave a two-year transition period.

"Next year, we will have to deal with commercial and tax affairs." Du Xiao said, "We may have to set up branches in various avenues."

A "branch" is a branch of the tax supervisor.

In the former Tang Dynasty, yamen were set up in important tea producing areas to urge tax payment.Each Dao also has a salt and iron envoy to lead these institutions.

The role they undertake, in addition to taxation, also has the responsibility of transshipment-only commercial taxation.

As for the land tax, it is the transfer envoys of various roads who are responsible for collecting and transporting.

"Branches in various places, Du Qing is looking at recruiting people. Whichever yamen you like, transfer as soon as possible." Shao Shude calibrated his bow while saying, "I will allocate some people to you from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the three major commercial companies. .”

"I obey the order." Du Xiao was a little surprised.

Forget about the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which is barely considered a government office, although it mainly serves the royal family.

But what about the three major trading companies?If you are exhausted, you are considered an official and businessman. The essence is still a businessman, not an official.

If the people from the three major trading companies enter the tax supervisor in large numbers, the things involved in this matter will be very intriguing.

There have been merchants serving as officials since ancient times, including the former Tang and Xia dynasties, but the number is small and the grade is not high. Generally, they are in the eighth or ninth grade.

But the people from the three major trading companies have entered the tax supervisor, and the grade cannot be too low. Doesn't this improve the status of the businessman?Didn't it open the ceiling for businessmen-born officials?
"Don't underestimate these commercial companies." Shao Shude said: "Inviting them to collect taxes will definitely get twice the result with half the effort, because they are too aware of all kinds of insidious ways of doing business. Merchants want to evade taxes, and they may succeed in fooling Jinshi, but fooling them in It's not that easy to hang out with the shopkeepers in the Bohai Trading Company for more than ten years. These people have different skills, so when you arrange them, they should be divided according to their ranks, and some will be assigned to different places."

Bohai Trading Co., Ltd. has been in operation for many years, and it is relatively professional on the whole.

Last year, the supervisory censor went around, and after checking the account, the profit increased sharply this year, approaching 20 yuan.At the same time, Yili River Valley and Yunnan have more small experts in financial management—and also small experts who are greedy for money. It depends on how you use them.

The people who came out of these trading companies, not to mention their character, their abilities are all on the passing line.The reason why Shao Shude wanted to give them a chance was actually to make them more motivated, to work hard in Bohai Trading Co., and to develop themselves in the future.Another point is probably because he is full of "maliciousness". In the case that merchants in the former Tang Dynasty can only be eighth-rank officials, give them a breakthrough and open up room for promotion.

Compared with this old brand, Annan Trading Company has suddenly emerged, and its profits have risen rapidly, almost on the same level as Bohai Trading Company.

It can be seen from this that, compared with the trade of "chicken and dog bits and pieces" in Liaodong, spices, a bulk consumer product, have a huge profit space.

The Western Regions Trading Company made a profit last year.Not much, just over [-] yuan, and no dividends, but it makes people see hope.

The main source of profit for this business company is farming, and the tax supervisory department will deal with them in the future.

"If there is any need to spend money, spend it as much as possible this and next two years." Shao Shude said again: "You also know that after the tax supervisor officially controls the taxation of the world, it will not be so easy to spend money."

In the sixth and seventh years of Tongguang, the fiscal policy of living within one’s means was still implemented. From the eighth year onwards, it was basically living within one’s means—of course, it’s only relatively speaking. It's not the same as before.

******
After taking care of the tax supervisor's mess, Shao Shude had a whim, and after dark, surrounded by guards, he came to a certain place in Mingjiaofang, and then slipped into a mansion.

"Zhahid, quickly call Grandpa." Cai Bangshi said softly, holding a little boy's hand.

The little boy stared at Shao Shude for a long time, and finally shouted timidly: "Grandpa."

Shao Shude responded happily, and hugged his son in his arms.

The little boy also became happy and stroked his beard.

The guards stared intently, expressionless.

These people are all confidant guards who have been with the saint for many years.Never watch what you shouldn't see, never say what you shouldn't say.

I have never heard of such a thing as the son of Prince Yalong calling the saint father, and I have never heard of it in my life.

"It's been a few months, and you haven't come to see our mother and son." Cai Bangshi said with some dissatisfaction.

Shao Shude was a little embarrassed.

I am the son of Daxia, and you are the princess of Tubo. It is not appropriate for me to visit you all the time.

"Didn't Zhengdan just meet?" Shao Shu dragged the mother and son into the house.

Cai Bangshi blushed.

At the Zhengdan Grand Court Meeting, she entered the palace to meet the queen, but was hugged by the saint like a hungry tiger and had an affair.

The sage also boasted boldly, saying that a concubine who favors a concubine now has to rest for a month, which is a rare opportunity.

"Zashid is five years old, you, a cruel father, are you going to lock him up forever?" After sitting down, Cai Bangshi asked.

"What do you want?" Shao Shude asked.

"Do you dare to act or not? You were greedy when you had an affair with me, and now you look like this." Cai Bangshi said angrily: "Zashid is already sensible, he knows who his biological father is .”

"Some things should not be said in front of children..." Shao Shude said weakly.

"Grandpa, Aniang, I'm going to play outside." Zahid broke free from Shao Shude's arms and ran into the yard.

Shao Shude looked at the child's back and was touched.

"Nunu, you taught me very well." He stretched out his hand, gently stroked Cai Bangshi's face, and said in a low voice.

Cai Bangshi's aura suddenly dropped, she looked at Shao Shude's old face, sighed, and asked: "Someone came from Yalong a few days ago, did you enter the palace to see him?"

"En." Shao Shude nodded.

"I told you earlier, but you still don't believe me." Cai Bangshi rolled his eyes at him, and said, "Zashid is five years old, and he needs to find a good teacher."

"I believe it now." Shao Shude smiled.

The two Tubo princes behaved differently after returning.

Just last month, Li Shengtian played in Khotan. After Brother Tie returned to Zhangxiong, he was warmly welcomed by the local Tubang princes.Some people even went to great lengths to come from the south of the mountains (Himalayas) to see them.

Brother Tie was full of ambition, and heard that he had accepted several concubines in one breath, and kept wooing the king of the earth, promising benefits.

After Shao Shude had finished reading it, he felt that he had looked up to this fellow before.

When sending his wife to his bed, he was decisive and forbearing in every possible way, but when he returned to Xiangxiong, why was he so high-profile and wanted to seize power?
As a local tyrant of Xiangxiong, the Meilu family couldn't stand it anymore, and hurriedly sent people down the mountain, passing through Khotan, planning to enter Beijing, which will be on the way.

Shao Shude knew what people from the Lu family were doing here.

Brother Tie is too ambitious, but also a bit ambitious and talented.

He didn't trust the Wu Lu family, because when he was in Chang'an, the people of the Wu Lu family met alone many times, and it was normal for Brother Tie to be suspicious.

In addition, it may just be unwilling to be a puppet.

This man - interesting!
Compared with Brother Tie, Yansun is very submissive, which may be related to the situation he is facing.

Overall, his local status in Yaron is not very secure.Jidnimagun's secret efforts caused the nobles to waver, so the support of the Great Xia court was urgently needed.

Shao Shude knew that Yansun was meritorious, because Cai Bangshi bore him two children, a son and a daughter.

After Yansun returned to Yalong, he also took in several side concubines, but according to the insider who just came to Beijing, it has been more than a year since he went back, and Yansun has no children.This may be the main reason for his honesty—without an heir, which noble would like to play with you?

"Of course I worry about my seed, I'll take care of it." Having said that, Shao Shude hesitated for a moment, and then said: "The child is still young, don't let him talk around..."

"Scared?" The corner of Cai Bangshi's mouth was a little mocking, and she only heard her say: "Yansun has returned to Yalong, and I am alone in Beijing. During the Zhengdan court meeting, you insisted on messing with me. At that time Why aren't you afraid?"

Shao Shude was a little overwhelmed.

This little pepper is very popular with him, so he is very pampered.It is also because of this that he often feels embarrassed when he speaks straightforwardly.

"Recently, I always feel that my strength is not as good as before..." Shao Shude sighed suddenly, and said, "So, I am very worried about the children's affairs. I will tidy up the things I did, before I leave."

Cai Bang's expression paused, and he remained silent for a long time.

She felt a little absurd about cheating and stealing feelings.But they have already given birth to two children, so how can they be strangers?How could it be completely untouched.

"I will teach the child well." She repeated what she had said before.

"I can't accompany you two to the end." Shao Shude lost his interest, got up and went to the yard, looking at Zahid who was playing with the guards.

This child will eventually leave.

Sometimes, he doesn't know what he's doing with his life.

After fighting for decades, there are piles of bones under the throne.

The old brothers left one by one, leaving him alone to recall the past.

When I am old, I cannot reunite with my children and grandchildren.

Wouldn't it be better to be selfish?

If you do it all over again, how would you choose?Will roll in this muddy pond with a new posture?
"Zhifei, walk with grandpa." He stretched out his hand and called softly.

Zahid walked over bouncingly, tightly holding his father's big rough hand, feeling the infinite warmth.