Chapter 77: Behind the false prosperity, buried are the bones of thousands of people "Neither officials nor the imperial court can directly create the economy. But to support so many people in the imperial court, where will the money and food come from?"
"Not ordinary people yet? From the value created by the ordinary people's labor, we collect finance and taxes to support the entire bureaucracy and support the royal family."
"To put it bluntly, it is the common people who create economic value."
"Although ordinary people are the creators of the economy, they are not the managers."
"The managers are the officials of the imperial court. As producers, ordinary people need to pay taxes. This has been a matter of course since ancient times."
Zhu Ping was completely confused when he heard these economic terms with new terms.
Lin Che took a sip of wine and continued: "However, as the country got on the right track, the bureaucracy grew with the development of the dynasty, its powers became larger and larger, the institutions became more complex, and the number of officials became correspondingly larger."
"With no increase in fields and no increase in economic output, the common people are increasingly unable to support the court's expenses and officials' salaries."
"Let's take the current Ming Dynasty as an example. The Ming Dynasty was established not long ago, and there are many wastes waiting to be revitalized. The existing officials in the court are enough."
"The taxes paid by the common people can support these officials, and their lives can still be guaranteed."
"But once the imperial court began to recruit more officials, the people's burden increased tenfold from supporting 1 people to 10 people."
"Do you think the people can still afford it? Can Ming Dynasty's economic income still support it?"
"In the final analysis, the only way for the imperial court to make money is through common people farming land and collecting taxes. The source of income is too single and it really cannot support the huge expenditure of the Ming Empire."
"But as time goes on, the imperial government will become more and more bloated. There will be more and more officials receiving imperial salary, and the imperial court's expenses will become larger and larger."
"The imperial court had no choice but to increase taxes."
"This will inevitably create a vicious cycle. The greater the court's expenditure, the greater the taxes, and the people will become poorer and poorer."
"In the end, the Ming Dynasty will surely follow the same path of subjugation as the Yuan Dynasty did..."
The voice fell, and the audience was shocked.
Inside the secret room.
Zhu Yuanzhang and his son looked at each other in confusion. Both of them were shocked by Lin Che's analysis.
The greater the court's expenditure, the greater the taxes, and the poorer the people.
In the end, the Ming Dynasty will definitely follow the old path of the former Yuan Dynasty's subjugation.
Lin Che's words made Zhu Yuanzhang shocked and a little helpless.
The court needs expenses, the officials need salaries, and the army needs food and salary. These cannot be saved and must be solved.
And these burdens fall on the common people.
It’s not that Zhu Yuanzhang didn’t know, but what could he do?
As Lin Che said, the taxes levied by the court were too simple, only taxes on farmers farming.
These burdens inevitably fall on the common people.
Zhu Yuanzhang also wanted to reduce the burden on the people, but the court's expenses could not be avoided.
We can only make a fuss about taxes and increase taxes.
Alas, everything was done without money! Zhu Yuanzhang sighed deeply: If you don’t have money, your country will be destroyed, if you don’t have money, your species will be exterminated! this moment.
Zhu Yuanzhang deeply understood what Lin Che said: the taxes collected from ordinary people farming could not support the huge Ming Empire alone.
Behind the country's false prosperity lie the bones of tens of thousands of people.
thought here.
"thump!"
Zhu Yuanzhang fell down on the chair and murmured:
"We understand!"
"We finally understand!"
"No wonder Mr. Lin has repeatedly emphasized the need to lift the maritime ban and expand commercial trade. We really can't just make a fuss about the land farmed by ordinary people."
"The old land in the Central Plains cannot bring more profits. When a dynasty reaches its peak, it begins to turn from prosperity to decline..."
“Without the people, how can we talk about a country?”
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang sitting there in despair, Zhu Biao stepped forward to comfort him: "What the father said is absolutely true!"
"Mr. Lin's far-sightedness impressed me greatly!" "My minister thought that the reason why Mr. Lin singled out Ming Dynasty to talk about it must have a way to solve it!"
After Zhu Biao comforted Zhu Yuanzhang, he said with firm eyes: "Currently, Ming Dynasty is in financial difficulties, just as Mr. said."
"Don't talk about anything else, let's just say that I am in Tianfu, at the foot of the emperor, the most beautiful place. Although prices are low, the lives of ordinary people are not easy."
"After paying the taxes and paying the food, the money left over at the end of the year is just enough to sustain the family."
"On the surface, there seems to be no problem, and the people can still have enough to eat, but... if we take a longer-term view, it will undoubtedly be a huge hidden danger."
After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had regained his composure, turned ugly again.
Zhu Yuanzhang naturally understood the prince's insidious remarks.
After the common people paid their taxes, they only had enough left over to eat, and there was no surplus food at all.
Once there is any natural or man-made disaster and prices soar, these will be a fatal blow to the people.
There was a moment of silence.
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head slightly and sighed:
"Let's go over and think about the problem, it's too easy!"
"Don't blame Mr. Lin for scolding me. We govern the country as if it were our own home. How can we govern well?"
"If our Ming Dynasty doesn't take the initiative to seek change, it will have to perish like the former Yuan Dynasty..."
……
the other side.
Lin Che's words made Zhu Ping's hair stand on end.
Mr. Lin's lecture could easily lead to the collapse of the Ming Dynasty and the end of the Ming Dynasty. Who can bear this! Just as he was pondering these words, Lin Che asked: "If it were you, would you have any good ideas to break the situation?"
Zhu Xi: “…”
After hearing this question, Zhu Ping's mind was buzzing.
Not to mention any good strategies to break the situation, he didn't even understand this issue yet and was still in the dark.
Zhu Xiang raised his head helplessly and looked at Lin Che blankly, with the words 'I don't know how' missing on his forehead.
This time.
Lin Che did not let Zhu Ming go, but stared at him with piercing eyes.
Zhu Xi looked at each other for a while, then looked back angrily, and said bravely: "Mr. Lin..."
"We should have agreed beforehand that we made a mistake. You can't be angry!"
"This is what you asked me to say..."
Lin Che glanced at the other party, took a sip of wine and said:
"Do not talk nonsense!"
"Let you speak, just to let you think alone. I can't tell you everything!"
"You have to express your opinion on my problem!"
"You said it wrong, no one blames you!"
With Lin Che's guarantee, Zhu Ping no longer had any worries.
He put down the cup in his hand, closed his eyes and meditated for a while, going through what Lin Che said in his mind.
This said:
"It is difficult for the common people to support officials. The number of officials is increasing, and the pressure on the common people is increasing..."
"Then...the imperial court will no longer recruit officials. It will use the existing officials. When the time comes, one will be replaced and one will be replaced. The current base will always be maintained."
"Or use the method Mr. Lin said to adopt an assessment system for court officials. Those who are outstanding and qualified will be retained, and those who are unqualified will be eliminated."
"In this way, the base of court officials will be reduced, and the pressure on the people will also be reduced?"
"What do you think Mr. Lin?"
(End of this chapter)