Originally, the tax on salt and iron was a very serious and sensitive topic, and has been fought over all dynasties, but Han Yi has created a dark humorous atmosphere.

Li Yi's mansion realized that he had been deceived. He was so embarrassed that he wanted to dig a crack in the ground to get in. It was rare for him to be embarrassed to such a situation.

Master Xu, Lu Chengqing and others almost laughed out loud when they heard this, and tried hard to hold back their laughter.

Xu Jingzong did not participate in this matter. After all, he was from a high school and had experienced the Zhenguan era. Although he loved money, he also had many pursuits, such as fame and reputation. He was satisfied with money. This is the biggest difference between him and Li Yi Mansion. Li Yi Mansion was humble and tried his best to make money. He finally became the prime minister and had power. How to transform power into wealth is really useless.

However, facing Han Yi, Xu Jingzong naturally had to stand with Li Yi Mansion. Now seeing that Li Yi Mansion is so unsuccessful, Han Yi was trapped in a few seconds, so he quickly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the old minister believes that Li Zhongshu and Han Shangshu both make sense, but they both have shortcomings. Now the court should put the northwest first, and this matter should be postponed before discussing it."

Li Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "This is the end of today's meeting! Regarding the trade with Tuyuhun, Han Yi, you will present a memorial tomorrow."

"I obey the order."

Li Yifu was angry when he left Liangyi Hall, but he had thoughts about this. Because once the salt tax was imposed, the power of the court would be great, and his power naturally increased with the water, and he could make endless money. It involved various prefectures and counties. For him, it was simply beneficial and harmless. Han Yi had just negotiated the salt trade with Tuyuhun, so he was ready to use it to collect salt tax. He was also well prepared and made a good statement. However, he did not expect that not only did he fail, he was humiliated by Han Yi and came straight to Han Yi and questioned: "Shangshu Han, I proposed to collect salt tax, which was also to enrich the treasury. Even if you object, you don't need to target me!"

Han Yi smiled and said, "Li Zhongshu, are you levied salt tax? Are you thinking about destroying me! I have never levied salt tax in the years since the founding of the country. I have just served as the Minister of Revenue, so you have to levied salt tax. The price of salt has risen. Can the people not scold me? I am afraid that when I, Han Yi, walk on the street, I will be pointed at my nose and scolded me."

Li Yifu said: "Is your personal reputation important or national benefits important?"

"Of course it's national benefit, but my personal reputation is also important." Han Yi smiled and said, "That's why I proposed to pay taxes based on my personal income. In this way, the treasury is full, and I can still gain a good reputation. I'm not aimed at you. If I do this, I will pay more taxes than you."

"you--!"

There was no way that Li Yi’s house could argue with Han Yi. He waved his sleeves away in anger.

Xu Jingzong did not leave, but came to Han Yi and smiled and said, "Shangshu Han, this time I agree with your opinion. There is something unfair about the current equal-field system."

Du Zhenglun, Lu Chengqing, and Xu Shi also quietly came to Han Yi.

Han Yi smiled bitterly and said, "Shizhong Xu, and everyone, when I beg you, don't spread the words I said just now. I said solely to stop Your Majesty from levying salt tax. But if you want to levy salt tax, the people will only scold me behind their backs. I can be out of sight and not upset. But if you levy taxes from the rich, then people will dare to point at me and scold me. Just now, Li Zhongshu has already set a good example. I am not inferior and I have nothing to do to ask for trouble."

By the way, I also sarcastically mocked Li Yi Mansion, which is a typical type of person who looks for a draw if you have nothing to do.

Lu Chengqing said: "But we have to say that taxes are collected according to the population, and there are indeed many shortcomings!"

Han Yi said: "How can we seek fairness in this world? I think so. Now that the world is peaceful, there is no need to ask for change. Even if it is to change, the poor and the rich must be convinced. This rich man is also a commoner. We cannot exploit the poor, but we cannot slaughter the rich as pigs. We must be permeated with the idea of ​​benevolent politics, which requires wisdom. If there is no better way, it is best not to move."

Xu Jingzong, Lu Chengqing and others all nodded. It is rare for Han Yi to say that Confucianism is not easy, so I have to give him a thumbs up.

After hearing this, Xu Jingzong left with satisfaction. He was just testing Han Yi for whether he really wanted to reform. If Han Yi really did what he said, he would be the biggest victim. The prime minister must be a big landlord. There is no doubt that. Now that Han Yi really has no intention of this, he would feel relieved. He believed that Han Yi was not fooling him, because Han Yi had never mentioned this matter. It was because Li Yi's mansion took the lead and Han Yi fought back. It was impossible to say that it was a premeditation.

After Xu Jingzong left, Lu Chengqing whispered: "Shangshu Han, this salt tax cannot be levied. This is the root cause of harming the country and the people. As long as you firmly oppose it, we are willing to help you with your lives."

Master Xu nodded straight.

They were also afraid of Li Yi Mansion. Li Yi Mansion is currently in great influence and is a close minister around Li Zhi. They also saw that the emperor was a little concerned, so they were very worried. They had to win over Han Yi. At this point, we are an alliance. We firmly oppose the collection of salt tax. As long as you persist, you are willing to advance and retreat with you.

Because Li Yifu's policy is purely a valuable and dominates the world, while their thoughts are righteous, advocate benevolence in politics and kingly way, because once the salt tax is imposed, the burden on the people will definitely increase. This is open and there is no need to be calculated. I all know that this is completely contrary to Confucianism and Taoism. These are two completely hostile thoughts. At this point, they cannot compromise because if they agree, they will lose their thoughts, themselves, and beliefs. They will not agree, and they would rather not be this official.

No matter how Han Yi jumped and how much it impacted the tradition, Han Yi's mainstream policies were still based on people-oriented and Confucianism and Taoism. Han Yi himself said that his six sages were from Confucianism, and the Labor Act was a typical example of protecting the interests of the poor. Since Han Yi took office, grain prices have risen slightly, farmers' incomes have increased, prices have declined, and people's quality of life have improved. These are all benevolent political ideas.

It can even be said that it has both Confucianism and Taoism. Under his policies, the court only intervened invisibly, or guided, and did not intervene directly, and did not compete for profit with the people. You can say that you are promising or inaction, so they still agree with Han Yi's approach in their hearts.

Therefore, when Han Yi was promoted to the Minister of Revenue, no one opposed the civil and military officials of the court. Han Yi was the youngest minister. The finances of such a large country were handed over to such a young man. This was never before. No one opposed it. This was not the authority of the emperor. It can be seen that they also agreed in their hearts, but they didn't say it out loud. If Han Yi had a mess, just like Li Yi's mansion, he was devoted to money. If your emperor supports Han Yi, then these ministers would still oppose it, especially ministers from a noble family. They still had strong principles. Isn't this the case for Wang Anshi? The emperor supports him and if you have a ball, you will have to step down. It's just that they still have class contradictions between them and they can't be too close to each other. They should just talk about the matter.

Han Yi patted his chest and promised: "Please rest assured that as long as I, Han Yi, is still in the Ministry of Revenue, it is impossible to collect salt tax."

Lu Chengqing, Du Zhenglun, and Xu received the guarantee from Han Yi and then bowed to his farewell.

As soon as they left, the elderly Li Ji suddenly burst into vitality and came to Han Yi and said, "Which sentence is true and which sentence is false?"

Han Yi smiled and said, "Sikong, please rest assured. The money to destroy Goguryeo has been saved and I didn't dare to move. The money to fight Tubo has been earned, and I believe it will be soon."

Li Ji smiled and stopped asking.

After leaving the palace, Han Yi looked up at the bright moon and stars in the sky, and sighed, "It's so difficult!"

The next morning, Han Yi came to the palace with a memorial and presented it to Li Zhi.

Li Zhi received the memorial and said before he could read it, "You have prepared this memorial yesterday?"

Han Yi said: "Your Majesty is really a god."

Li Zhi said: "Then why didn't you submit it at that time?"

Han Yi said: "Because I know that Your Majesty will definitely find me."

Li Zhi said oh, and he said very playful: "Do you know what I have to talk about?"

Han Yi said: "Tax matter."

Li Zhi did not deny it, saying, "Then what do you think about this?"

Han Yi said: "Report to Your Majesty, in fact, Li Yifu is right. The current rent and mediocre system is too single. Once there is a natural disaster, the people and the country will suffer heavy damage. I won't talk about anything else. At least the country will not be able to help the people at that time. In addition, although the treasury is full now, its foundation is too weak and the country cannot lead the development. If the country has money, it can build roads, start education, etc., but there is no way to talk about nothing if there is no money."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "I was indeed moved yesterday, but I am definitely not greedy for wealth. I am not an emperor who is greedy for pleasure. As you said, if the country has no money, there will be many things that cannot be done. Therefore, I think it is necessary to open source taxes, which can make the national finance more stable. As for whether to impose salt taxes, this is not the key. Since you, the Minister of Revenue, have you ever thought about how to solve it?"

Damn! How long have I been in office? You can at least give me a breath! Han Yi said: "Of course I have thought that the most reasonable way is to formulate taxes based on each person's assets and income, as I said yesterday, so that it can not only increase the treasury, but also alleviate the gap between the rich and the poor. As for the equal-field system, its fundamental idea is not the amount of land distribution, but the average, why should it be equal, and why should it be suppressed? Because this country will be stable. Once the gap between the rich and the poor widens, it will inevitably cause chaos. Therefore, the tax law recommended by the minister is the real equal-field system."

Li Zhi narrowed his eyes. Although there were only two people in the room, he still whispered: "It seems you really have this plan?"

Han Yi said with a simple face: "Your Majesty misunderstood, I'm just talking."

Li Zhi was stunned for a long time, and suddenly slapped the table, "You are teasing me."

Han Yi asked back: "Your Majesty, if I suggest, will you approve it?"

Li Zhi said: "As long as you can convince all the civil and military officials of the court, I will agree."

Damn! You are really used to standing and talking without any pain. Let me do everything offends! Han Yi cursed inwardly and said, "The problem is here, and I can't convince all the civil and military officials of the court. No minister in the court is a big landlord. They have the most land. If the country levies taxes like this, they will be the biggest victims. Will they agree?

But if they don't impose their taxes, will the people in the world be convinced? Even if Your Majesty and I force them to implement them, they will definitely block them from it. Your Majesty and I are just two people, and they cannot take care of them. They are all officials who do things. If they want to make trouble, neither Your Majesty nor I can stop them. Once the reform is made, it may get worse and worse. However, if the salt tax is imposed, the country may be prosperous for a while, but it will soon die, because water can carry a boat and can also overturn it. No matter how good the policy is, it is not as good as the people's life. Only when the people live well can the country be stable. If Your Majesty wants to impose salt tax, it is better to bet on this, unite with the poor and fight with the rich to the end."
Chapter completed!