Liang Wencheng's face, although there was some haze, but he didn't feel how wrong Li Zicheng was, Huaxia is so big, it does need an army, 500,000 army, not too much, in the Ming Dynasty, there were one million standing troops, and at most, it reached two million......

But the military spending of the Mandate of Heaven Army...... It's a real headache!

"Your Majesty, what about the cavalry and navy, can you cut some of them?"

"When the Tartars in Liaodong are completely disabled, maybe some of the cavalry can be removed," Li Zicheng shook his head slowly, "But the navy can only be strengthened, and it must not be removed!"

"Why?"

"I'll talk about the navy later," Li Zicheng said: "Wencheng's worry is that the treasury doesn't have enough money to spend?" ”

"Your Majesty, that's all there is to ...... taxes"

"Wen Cheng doesn't have to worry about the silver," Li Zicheng said lightly: "Last year, there was only 18 million taels of taxes, and that was because of the war, many places reduced taxes, Wen Cheng rest assured, this year's taxes will increase significantly, at most next year, the taxes will be doubled." ”

"Double?"

"Wencheng, I will settle accounts for you," Li Zicheng said with a smile: "What are the main taxes in Huaxia?" ”

"Agricultural tax and industrial and commercial tax, mainly agricultural tax, industrial and commercial tax less."

"The low tax in the Ming Dynasty is because the land of the Ming Dynasty is tax-free, and the clans, gentry, etc., do not have to pay taxes, and even many people who should pay taxes also attach their land to the names of the gentry, so as to be exempt from taxes," Li Zicheng said: "You are the prime minister, do you know how much arable land there is in China?" ”

"About 80,000 acres ......"

Li Zicheng smiled, this number is even larger than his estimate, "80,000 mu, calculated with the lowest yield of one stone, is 80,000 stones, fifteen taxes one, agricultural taxes are more than 50 million stones, assuming that 20 percent is used for disaster reduction, the remaining eighty percent, at least 40 million stones, is worth more than 20 million taels of silver!"

"This ......"

"This is only the lowest algorithm, in fact, the output of most of the land is more than one stone, the rich land in the south of the Yangtze River can even reach two or three stones, and the agricultural tax alone can exceed 20 million taels," Li Zicheng said: "There is also industrial and commercial tax, don't look at it very little now, as long as the industry develops, it will not take a few decades, maybe you can catch up with the agricultural tax!"

He calculated the development plans of the three major industrial sectors of Jiangnan, Jingshi, and Xining-Lanzhou with Liang Wencheng and Guo Shijun.

Not only Liang Wencheng, but also Guo Shijun were amazed.

"Poll tax," Li Zicheng said: "Since ancient times, there has been a poll tax, and the fact that China has not collected it for the time being does not mean that it will not be levied in the future. ”

He only painted a cake for Liang Wencheng, and in fact had no intention of imposing a poll tax, which would inhibit the development of the population if it was levied on the people.

Today's China is not short of land, but of population.

If there is less land, it can be requisitioned, and if the population is small, it will be difficult to increase it for a while and a half, especially the young and strong laborers.

Liang Wencheng said calmly: "Does the emperor want to levy a poll tax?" ”

"There is no plan for the time being, and Huaxia is not difficult to this extent, isn't there still a salt tax, tea tax and other special product taxes?" Li Zicheng said with a smile: "Let me tell you, I still have a tax, which is just the beginning now, and it will be frighteningly high in the future!"

Liang Wencheng muttered: "No matter what, it's not to increase the burden of the people......

"Wen Cheng really misunderstood me, at the beginning of the founding of the country, the people needed to cultivate and recuperate, I understand this truth," Li Zicheng glanced at Guo Shijun, and estimated that he understood, "Tariffs, customs taxes!"

"Tariffs?" Guo Shijun was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said: "The emperor is going to open the sea ban?" ”

"In fact, the sea ban has been opened!" Li Zicheng went south from the South China Sea Fleet and talked about the recapture of Taiwan from the Dutch, the recovery of Haojing from the Portuguese, and the trade activities with the two countries, including the signing of a treaty with the Dutch.

Guo Shijun's eyes were shining, but Liang Wencheng was very worried, "Your Majesty, will the ministers oppose the opening of the sea ban?" ”

"Wen Cheng forgot, the forbidden sea is a matter of the Ming Dynasty, not Huaxia, Huaxia opened the sea trade, and then taxed maritime merchants and foreigners, isn't it better than increasing taxes to the people?" Li Zicheng said: "Even in the Ming Dynasty, maritime trade has never stopped, but it is relatively hidden, and the imperial court has lost a lot of taxes because of this," he lowered his voice and continued: "I know that there are many people in the Ming Dynasty who oppose overseas trade, in fact, they oppose the imperial court's taxation and benefit the people; In the Chinese court, if anyone has such selfishness, I will not tolerate it and will expel them. ”

“……”

Li Zicheng said with a smile: "I said this in the hope that Wencheng will understand that although it is not possible to reduce expenditures for the time being, Huaxia's taxes will increase significantly, and there should be a slight surplus every year." ”

"In this way, the minister will rest assured," Liang Wencheng's worries have not been completely eliminated, and it can only be like this for the time being, "The emperor, the imperial court and the local civil and military forces, most of them retain the former dynasty, and the officials are honest, and the ministers are really worried about ......"

"I understand," Li Zicheng knows that the control of corruption is an unsolvable problem for all dynasties and countries in the world, and there is only a matter of priority, "I will ask the Ministry of Justice to formulate relevant laws as soon as possible, and besides, if you let out a rumor in the court, the court will soon rectify the rule ......of officials."

"Wait for you to understand!"

Li Zicheng and Liang Wencheng talked for a long time, mainly on economic matters, and as for professional matters, especially military matters, he was ready to summon the corresponding ministers.

waited until the negotiation was almost over, and then glanced at Guo Shijun, "Shijun should talk about education, three million taels of silver, it's not a small amount, Wen Cheng may still be distressed now!"

The corners of Liang Wencheng's mouth twitched, I feel distressed, isn't the emperor distressed?

Guo Shijun said unhurriedly: "Back to the emperor, the Han land in Qinghai and Gansu provinces, primary and secondary schools and in full bloom, Sichuan is almost over, the emperor should know that to develop education, three million is far from enough, the minister is hesitating, whether to continue to develop, listen to the emperor's words, know that this year and next year, taxes will increase significantly......

"Want to increase funding for education?" Li Zicheng certainly understands that to develop education, especially compulsory education for the whole people, it is a bottomless pit economically, but there are many places where money needs to be used at present, and everything needs to be done...... Especially military spending, but there are so many taxes, industrial and commercial taxes, customs duties are indeed attractive, but they are only expected income.

I wonder if Liang Wencheng will agree?

Sure enough, Liang Wencheng almost jumped up, "Master Guo, the Ministry of Education spent three million last year, do you want to drag down Huaxia?" No, absolutely not, this year's education funding, not a single cent......"

Guo Shijun has Li Zicheng's support, he has the bottom in his heart, and he is not angry, and said with a smile: "Your Excellency, these education funds only govern the three provinces of Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan, and do not include the land of naturalization. ”

"Lord Guo, you ......"

Li Zicheng smiled and shook his head, "The two Aiqing are both cherished by Huaxia and are my ministers of the humerus, and I am very relieved!"

Liang Wencheng had contempt in his heart, and this was tantamount to not saying it! If Guo Shijun is allowed to increase education spending indefinitely, Huaxia will be dragged down sooner or later, "Your Majesty, the ministers are not opposed to new education, but under the current situation, it is difficult to increase education funds, maybe the current time is not right......

The timing is wrong?

Li Zicheng's heart moved, maybe Liang Wencheng's conservatism is right, Huaxia has not yet entered the stage of industrialization, and the compulsory implementation of education may not be beneficial to Huaxia, just like a baby, in order to make him grow up quickly, he is forcibly instilled with milk, lean meat, roast duck, etc. every day, and the result may be counterproductive, either choking to death after eating, or indigestion.

China's taxation is still dominated by agricultural taxes......

But he gave up like this, Li Zicheng was very unwilling, the situation was not easy to come by, and Gansu and Qinghai provinces have trained a large number of teachers, can these teachers be unemployed at home?

The point is that there is not enough silver!

Is it possible to raise some funds in the form of issuing treasury bonds, and then enlist the help of people of insight in society......

Li Zicheng quickly denied it.

If national bonds are issued, Liang Wencheng will not cry his nose? Besides, once the treasury bonds are in place, it is really difficult to control which direction they will develop in the future.

He pondered for a moment and said: "Education has set up a framework, at this time, if this torrent is blocked, it will be a great harm to the country and education itself, since the silver is not enough, then slow down, start with the five northern provinces, one primary school in each county, one middle school in each prefecture, and another discussion on high education, and so on for education to form an industry, which can increase taxes for the imperial court, and then expand the scale of education!"

“……”

"In addition, I also have a suggestion that primary and secondary education in the five northern provinces will no longer be free, let the rich enter the campus, raise some funds, and at the same time, set aside no less than 30% of the free places in each school for poor students."

Liang Wencheng believes that the pace is still too big, "Your Majesty, can you choose two provinces for trial?" ”

"The new style of education has been tried for more than ten years in Qinghai and Gansu provinces, and it has been in Sichuan for several years, and there is no need to try it out," Li Zicheng said: "If Wencheng has economic considerations, it is better to do this, the country's industrial and commercial tax is all used for the development of education, and before the industrial and commercial tax is less than the education expenditure, I will no longer expand the scale of education, don't forget, the Ming Dynasty did not levy industrial and commercial tax......

"Your Majesty, the ministers are really worried......"

Li Zicheng smiled secretly and said: "Wencheng, the military expenditure is more than half of last year's taxes, but the domestic war is basically over, and the taxes have further recovered, and the military expenditure should not increase significantly, and may even decline!"

Decline? If not, thank God!

Liang Wencheng knows that Li Zicheng's temperament, although he seems to be very gentle, but he is very assertive in his bones, or in other words, Li Zicheng's mildness is very tough and hawkish for China and foreign races.

Military power is his tough capital!

The key is that Li Zicheng's decision often proved afterwards that he was right, and it was the best plan!

Is Li Zicheng a genius, or is it because he is the Pope?