Chapter 29: A Harmonious and Devoted Family

Chapter 29: A Father’s Kindness and a Son’s Filial Piety

Though Zhu Di was not particularly shrewd regarding fiscal matters, he understood at least that seventy percent of the Ming Dynasty’s tax revenue came from land taxes, with the remainder primarily from salt taxes. As for commercial taxes, they were limited to the levies on bamboo and timber collected by the Ministry of Works.

Xu Jingchang’s talk of "replacing land levies with commercial taxes" and "resolving dilemmas" sounded like complete nonsense.

At this moment, Xia Yuanji stepped in to salvage the situation. "Your Majesty, looking at the entire Ming Empire, this might not work in all thirteen provinces, where land tax must remain the foundation. However, for Yingtian, we could certainly adopt the proposal of the Transmission Commissioner Xu. If Your Majesty feels it is still too risky, we could limit the scope to the four prefectures of Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang, along with the capital, Jinling."

Hearing this, Zhu Di finally took an interest.

"Xu Jingchang, is this what you meant as well?"

Xu Jingchang quickly replied, "Indeed, though Minister Xia has explained it more clearly. My thought is this: for all goods entering the capital, bulk commodities like grain and timber shall be taxed at ten percent. As for tea, porcelain, silk, and the like, the higher the quality and the more expensive the price, the higher the tax, up to a maximum of thirty percent. After all, these are luxury goods for high officials and nobles; they have nothing to do with ordinary people, and this will only serve to highlight Your Majesty’s benevolence."

In short, don't squeeze the poor; only squeeze the wealthy.

Zhu Di’s interest grew even stronger. "Have you estimated how much additional annual revenue this would bring?"

Xu Jingchang and Xia Yuanji exchanged a look, and the elder Xia stepped forward. "In reply to Your Majesty, a rough estimate suggests over 800,000 taels in the first year. As for what it might reach in the future, it is hard to say, but there is definitely hope of exceeding two million taels."

Hearing this figure, Zhu Di could no longer sit still.

"Two million taels! That is more than twenty percent of the salt tax! It is truly a massive sum. This is excellent."

At this point, the Duke of Cheng, Zhu Neng, suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, from what I have heard, this only solves the treasury's woes. Isn't this squeezing the merchants a bit too hard?"

Xu Jingchang smiled. "Duke of Cheng, you cannot calculate it that way. May I ask, how many harvests do you get from farming in a year?"

Zhu Neng chuckled. "I come from a humble background and have done farm work. In Beiping, there is only one harvest a year. In the Jiangnan region, perhaps two, and in some places, three harvests every two years."

Xu Jingchang smiled. "The Duke is correct. Therefore, farmers sell their grain once or twice a year, and that money must last them all year. Merchants are different; they trade every day and have daily income. They earn more, and while the taxes are slightly higher, their total income will absolutely be greater. I am truly considering the interests of everyone; heaven is my witness!"

Zhu Neng lowered his head and thought about it. The logic seemed sound. He looked at the others, who pondered for a long time but could find no flaws.

This kid Xu Jingchang was truly remarkable to come up with such a brilliant plan.

Zhu Di looked at the group, and seeing no objections, he smiled. "In that case, you and the Ministry of Revenue and the Transmission Office should get to work on this as soon as possible!"

Having received permission, Xu Jingchang and Xia Yuanji left the main hall, both breathing a long sigh of relief.

"Minister Xia, we must hurry. We have to let His Majesty see the silver as soon as possible, or this will surely fall through," Xu Jingchang whispered.

Xia Yuanji was stunned. "Commissioner Xu, I thought you explained it quite well—the dilemma was resolved. What is there to worry about?"

"Minister Xia, are you a fool, or am I?" Xu Jingchang said irritably. "Do you really think doing business is something anyone can handle? Zhu Neng and the others have only just arrived in the capital; they are simple-minded, which is why they were easily fooled. If you tried to sell this to Jian Yi, he wouldn't listen for a second."

Xia Yuanji felt a jolt of alarm and suddenly understood.

Earning money isn't just about how much you make; it’s about how easy it is. If you can earn money while lying down, why would you stand up? Unlike the toil and labor of business, collecting rent and charging usurious interest are the easiest and safest ways to make money—the very things local magnates and noble clans love most.

If they followed Xu Jingchang’s plan and forced the nobility to turn to business, things would become infinitely more complicated, and some would inevitably lose money. Furthermore, this was only Yingtian Prefecture; the Ming Dynasty's policy of curbing land annexation had not changed and would likely become even stricter.

If the nobles and court officials realized the full truth, they would probably be playing funeral dirges for the person who started this.

At that moment, Xia Yuanji recalled the fates of countless predecessors—Shang Yang, Yang Yan, Wang Anshi... "Listen, Commissioner Xu, perhaps we should tell His Majesty to drop the idea of commercial taxes. I’d like to live a few more years."

Xu Jingchang scoffed. "It's too late. Having come this far, we have no choice but to bite the bullet and finish this quickly. With His Majesty’s support, we can rest easy. Otherwise, they will come after you too, because your ideas are too dangerous; they won't let you stay in the Ministry of Revenue. It doesn't matter to me; even if I lose my position as Transmission Commissioner, I am still a Marquis, and with my aunt there, at worst I’ll go home to fish and listen to music on the Qinhuai River..."

"Stop talking!"

Xia Yuanji’s face turned grim. He really had just been desperate for money to solve an urgent crisis, but who could have predicted that he would jump straight into a fire pit?

Imposing commercial taxes affected everything. Those wealthy merchants and magnates were backed by powerful clans, high-ranking court officials, and military nobles. They were already adept at evading land taxes, and they had never even heard of commercial taxes. Now, to suddenly strike them and prevent them from making money comfortably—this would create a deep, lasting grudge.

Throughout history, no minister who touched the tax system ever had a good ending. This was more hateful than digging up someone’s ancestral grave!

"I was too young and naive," Xia Yuanji sighed to the heavens.

Unfortunately, it was too late to say anything now. Xia Yuanji knew that time was of the essence. He decisively deployed his men, first taking control of the Shence, Shuixi, Zhengyang, and Chaoyang gates. People could enter the city, but goods could not; everything had to be concentrated at the Jubao Gate.

Xia Yuanji then personally selected the elite of the Ministry of Revenue to head to the Jubao Gate, while sending word to Xu Jingchang that the Transmission Office could not stand on the sidelines.

Xu Jingchang arrived, but accompanying him was the Duke of Cheng, Zhu Neng.

"I was originally handpicked by the Prince of Zhongshan to be sent to Beiping. That day, seeing you debate in the main hall with such eloquence, I knew you were a talent and that the Xu family would surely prosper even further. No other reason—I just hope that in the future, you will give me the honor of our closer acquaintance."

Xu Jingchang had not expected the Duke of Cheng to lean into him so quickly. Of the two great dukes who survived the Jingnan Campaign, the line of Zhu Neng was destined to endure with the state—his foresight was indeed much better than Qiu Fu’s.

"If the Duke of Cheng thinks highly of me, it is my good fortune. Please rest assured, with me here, you will never be at a loss."

Zhu Neng was overjoyed and ordered one hundred of his personal guards to accompany Xu Jingchang to help collect taxes and show his support.

Seeing them arrive, Xia Yuanji exchanged pleasantries and began the formal work of tax collection.

"Commissioner Xu, per your suggestion, we will not tax ordinary folks selling small amounts of vegetables, fruits, firewood, or bamboo crafts."

Xu Jingchang nodded. "Not competing for profit with the common people is the benevolent way of the imperial court. However, there must be limits on the quantity. If one is hauling dozens of carts of firewood into the city, we cannot let that slide."

Xia Yuanji nodded in agreement.

They stood at the city gate, watching to see who would be the lucky winner of the day.

At that moment, a caravan suddenly appeared from outside the city, consisting of over a dozen horse-drawn carriages heading toward Yingtian. The carriages were piled high with goods. The men driving them were robust and sturdy, clearly not ordinary laborers.

Work had arrived!

As expected, it was a caravan transporting silk—fifteen hundred bolts of the finest quality.

Upon reaching the city gate, they were immediately stopped.

"Halt! Inspect the count and pay the entry tax."

The leader of the group was shocked. "What kind of rule is this? It wasn't here when we left the city."

The Ministry of Revenue officials replied, "An imperial decree was just issued. You are transporting silk and must pay a thirty percent tax. Pay up now."

The leader was dumbfounded. Just then, a young man jumped off one of the carriages from the back and rushed to the front.

"What are you doing? Daring to block my carriage? Are you tired of living?"

The boy was only twelve or thirteen, but his attitude was arrogant and his manner overbearing. He didn't take the Ministry officials seriously at all and tried to push right through, shouting, "Get out of my way, or I’ll cut you all down and hang your heads on the city gate tower!"

The commotion caught the attention of Xu Jingchang and Xia Yuanji. Dealing with a troublemaker on the very first day, Xu Jingchang turned to Zhu Neng and smiled, "Duke of Cheng, whose brat is this? He’s got quite a bit of nerve."

Zhu Neng’s brow furrowed tightly. He suddenly spurred his warhorse and charged to the gate, coming face-to-face with the shouting brat.

"You little rascal, it's you!"

"Father, why are you here?" With a startled cry, the boy turned and ran, while Zhu Neng’s stern scolding echoed behind him: "If you dare run again, I’ll break your legs!"

Zhu Yong cried out, "Father, I don’t want to run, but—but my legs won't stop moving!"