People in Zongwu: Starting with the Yin Gui Sect

Chapter 332

"Wen Tiren?"

Compared to Li Banghua and others who have been working in Northern Zhili, Wen Tiren, the Minister of Rites from Southern Zhili, has almost no presence.

In fact, it is not just the others who are confused, but Wen Tiren himself is also confused, because even he does not know who recommended him.

Originally, he was grateful to be transferred from Southern Zhili, so how could he dare to expect to enter the cabinet?

But now, not only has he successfully entered the cabinet, but he has also become the second assistant of the cabinet after Huang Liji. How can he not be excited?

However, there is much more to make him excited. After the people who will enter the cabinet were determined, Wu Yu's next words really made him burst into tears.

"The second is the candidate for the Minister of Personnel. Since Zhou Yingqiu retired last time, the position of the Minister of Personnel has been unfilled. Now that Wen Aiqing is the second assistant of the cabinet, the position of the Minister of Personnel will be handed over to Wen Aiqing. I wonder if Wen Aiqing is willing to take on this important task?"

"What?"

When Wu Yu's appointment was announced, the entire court was in an uproar. Originally, Wen Tiren's entry into the cabinet as the second assistant was beyond their expectations. Unexpectedly, he was promoted to the Minister of Personnel again, which is the head of the Ming Dynasty's books and hundreds of officials.

The faces of the Donglin Party officials were completely gloomy, and the original consolation of Sun Chengzong's entry into the cabinet disappeared instantly.

So after all these people arguing for so long, recommending and using connections, in the end, it all benefited Wen Tiren who came out of nowhere?

At this time, Wen Tiren, who was stunned by the overwhelming wealth, also woke up from the shove of his colleagues, so he kowtowed to Wu Yu without saying a word.

"I am willing to take on this responsibility, and I will do my best for Your Majesty and the millions of people in my Ming Dynasty until my death!"

"Bah, you bootlicker!"

Seeing Wen Tiren's flattering appearance, many people were full of disdain in their hearts.

In their view, as a court minister, he should have his own principles and bottom line, and should not lose himself to please the emperor.

However, these people also developed a strong jealousy of Wen Tiren, because he was able to be appreciated by the emperor and had a smooth career, which made other officials feel extremely envious and lost.

After everyone calmed down, Wu Yu announced the third thing again: "This third thing is about the increase of commercial taxes!"

As soon as this third thing came out, the civil and military officials who had just calmed down quarreled again.

"Silence!"

Seeing that the quarrel was about to continue, Wu Yu immediately signaled the officials who maintained order to stop it.

When everyone was quiet again, Wu Yu continued: "I believe that you have all learned about the eight major Shanxi merchants from the Daming official newspaper.

These merchants are enjoying the various convenience stores brought to them by the court, but not only do they not think about serving the country, but also do things that betray the country.

In this case, the court does not need to continue to give them preferential treatment. From now on, the tax paid by all merchants will be changed from the original 30% tax to 15% tax."

"Wow!"

Everyone did not expect that His Majesty would not only increase the business tax, but also increase it by half at once.

So when he finished speaking, someone immediately stood up to oppose it, and it was a member of the Donglin Party.

"Your Majesty, since ancient times, scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans have been the class system. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty..."

Then the man began to talk a lot, but in summary, he meant that imposing commercial taxes would compete with the people for profits, which would be opposed by the whole world and would also damage your majesty's wisdom.

"So I ask your majesty to withdraw your order!"

"Imperial and other members of the Donglin Party also knelt down to ask Wu Yu to withdraw his order.

Looking at the large group of people kneeling down, nearly one-third of the people, Wu Yu knew that there were still too many Donglin Party members in the court.

However, what he decided would not be changed so easily. This was his first step in reforming the Ming Dynasty. He must not give in and let the reform end in vain.

"Lord Zhou, do you want to hear what you are saying? What does it mean to compete with the people for profit? I remember that Lord Cheng also mentioned the issue of increasing agricultural taxes last time, and you agreed at that time. How come it is not competing with the people for profit when it comes to you?

And your resolute opposition, is it related to the eight pests in Shanxi?"

"I am innocent!"

Hearing that Wu Yu actually linked them to the Shanxi merchants, Zhou Daodeng's face changed instantly.

Although he did receive a lot of benefits from the eight families in the past, he absolutely could not admit such a thing. After all, the fact that the eight families were colluding with the enemy and selling out the country has been confirmed. If others think that he is with them,If there is any connection, then you will be the one who dies.

"Since there is no connection, then shut up. Since farmers are the people of our Ming Dynasty, then merchants are naturally the same. Unless the agricultural tax is abolished at the same time as the commercial tax, how will the various expenses be handled and how will the country operate!"

Wu Yu's words made almost all the civil and military officials in the court bow their heads, but not because of shame, but because they could not find words to refute for the time being. Although they did not treat the people as human beings, these words must not be said.

Seeing that they did not speak, Wu Yu continued: "Also, this time the increase in commercial taxes is a notification, not a discussion.

In addition, considering that it is not easy for the people to do small business, from now on, anyone who makes no more than ten taels of profit from each commodity will not need to pay commercial taxes!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Realizing that the increase in commercial taxes is inevitable, the people can only change their tone at this time and shout that Your Majesty is wise.

But at this moment, a discordant voice sounded in the square, "Your Majesty, I have something to say!"

"What?"

"Who is this?"

Hearing that someone dared to stand up at this time, many people still gloated.

But when they saw who was talking, they were relieved.

"It's this miser, then it's okay!"

Everyone in the court knows that the Minister of Revenue Bi Ziyan is the most angry, but in the end, His Majesty didn't do anything to him.

"Since you have something to say, Bi Aiqing, you might as well say it directly!"

After seeing that it was this old miser, Wu Yu's face also eased. There was no way that the Ministry of Revenue could not do without this old thing.

Bi Ziyan said, "Your Majesty, since you intend to increase the commercial tax, why not reduce some of the agricultural tax? After all, there are disasters everywhere in the Ming Dynasty, but the agricultural tax that needs to be collected has not been reduced at all.

In many places, there are even fields that are not cultivated. If this continues, I am worried that more and more people will choose to leave their homeland and become refugees, and then the entire Ming Dynasty will fall into a food crisis."