Chapter 550: Difficult Questions
Chen Fang felt annoyed that he couldn't kill the cradle of troubles, because it meant that troubles would keep coming to him in the future. Seeing such a background and brain-dead guy, he regretted going shopping today.
Through understanding, the young man on the ground who was woken up and passed out by himself and Wenren was named Gong Aoqing, as he himself said, his father, mother and aunt are all big shots, and the backstage is really not ordinary hard.
The purpose of Gong Aoqing's visit this time is very simple, he came with the royal order.
Because Gong Xiaobai wants to develop the Unyielding City, he plans to implement a tax-free policy to attract people and encourage business to develop the economy.
However, the imperial court released Xiaobai from the palace to build the city as a contemporary spokesperson, and only gave him the right to dialogue, report and governance, and did not give him other rights for the time being. If he wants to implement the tax exemption policy, he must report to the imperial court.
In other words, Unyielding City is actually under the rule of the imperial court, and the laws and regulations implemented are managed in accordance with the terms formulated by the Five Emperors Council and the Human Race Imperial Court, and cannot be changed casually. Gong Xiaobai has no right to change it.
Unyielding City was newly built. In order to retain people and promote economic growth, Gong Xiaobai sent a request to the imperial court to exempt the residents of Unyielding City from taxes for two years.
The Minister of Finance, who is a supporter of the Second Prince, received this request, and naturally rejected it directly, and brought people from the same camp to the imperial court meeting to speak out against Gong Xiaobai's "stupid" behavior of trying to exempt taxes. After a while, the people on the First Prince's side knew what attitude they would adopt. The two sides joined forces to make Gong Xiaobai, who was originally weak in the imperial court, look alone.
No matter how domineering Gong Zhenglang is, he can make a decision with one word, and he understands the benefits of Gong Xiaobai's doing so and wants to support him, but he can't act arbitrarily against so many voices of opposition.
After the tax exemption policy was rejected by the imperial court, Gong Xiaobai discussed with Wu Mei, Jimo and the others to exempt tax in private. As for the tax to be paid after one year, at most, he would find a way or pay to make up for it.
Charming agrees with this, and the others agree.
The new city needs to be developed. While increasing income and reducing expenditure, the city residents should not be burdened. The tax paid for the new city of Indomitable City should not be too much. It is not difficult for Gong Xiaobai who has the support of the Wu Family Merchant Alliance.
However, Gong Xiaobai had just implemented tax exemption in private for two months, and the Minister of Finance found out about it, and then the other party brought this matter to the imperial court, saying that there is no rule, so please return to the law of the king. Gong Xiaobai was punished, and the eldest prince's faction also came out to speak out, and the two concubines of the harem, Li and Jin, were blowing the wind, which made the palace a big wave, and finally had to issue an imperial order to force Gong Xiaobai not to violate the system, otherwise the punishment would be withdrawn. With his support, he withdrew his status as spokesperson, and gave up the Indomitable City to be governed by others.
And also appointed Gong Aoqing as the tax officer of Unyielding City, and asked him to come over to supervise.
This decree was brought by Gong Aoqing. This man came to Unyielding City quite arrogantly. Taking advantage of the decree issued by the imperial court, holding chicken feathers as arrows, he did not take Gong Xiaobai, the third prince, as an arrow. Put it in your eyes.
A person from the second prince faction came to serve as a tax officer, which is not a good thing for the indomitable city that needs to be developed. So after the meeting, Gong Xiaobai held a countermeasure meeting with Wu Mei and other high-level officials of the indomitable city to brainstorm ideas. Find a way how to send this god of plague away, and how to solve the tax problem.
As a result, before the discussion came to a conclusion, Chen Fang beat him up and almost buried him. It is conceivable that Gong Aoqing might cause troubles to Unyielding City and everyone.
After understanding the situation, Chen Fang naturally expressed his apologies to Gong Xiaobai and Yu Mei, but everyone didn't care, because no matter who switched positions with Chen Fang, they would be furious in such a situation.
The fight was over, and the two sides were not on the same boat. Let Yaya relieve the paralysis of those big guys and ask them to carry away their masters, and everyone went back to the conference room to think of a way.
Chen Fang also attended the meeting. He had no place to go and he caused trouble to others. He planned to stay and delay the cobbler to see if he could help.
Also present were Gong Xiaobai's four subordinates, whom Chen Fang had met during the war.
"Can we ask the princess to tell His Majesty and ask him to support His Majesty, not for two years, but for a year or even half a year, at least there is time for development." The tall and strong Du Si said.
As always, Lewis, who was well dressed and looked a bit rigid, shook his head and said: "It is impossible to be useful. Even if Your Majesty wants to help with this matter, he will be stopped by the First Prince and the Second Prince's people, and in this regard, as long as the Minister of Finance, Mr. Gong, bites to death, Your Majesty It’s not easy to say too much.”
"It's useless to talk about other things now. We still have to find a way to solve the tax problem." Fumei rubbed her brows and said.
"It's difficult. If the business develops, it can be collected. Now there are all kinds of businesses in the city, and there is nothing. It is difficult for everyone to live with money. If taxes are collected, people will leave sooner or later. Once this happens, Indomitable City will It exists in name only, and the imperial court will definitely hold His Highness accountable when the time comes, and the First Prince and the Second Prince are likely to use this opportunity to put His Highness in the ranks of the successor." The elegant lady Mili said through the small feather fan in her hand.
Everyone fell into deep thought when they heard Mili's words, and what she said was most likely what the other party was thinking.
"Tax exemption is not good, but tax reduction is always possible." Chen Fang couldn't help interjecting.
Charming shook her head directly, "Tax exemption is still possible, but the imperial court will definitely not open the tax cut. Even if my brother-in-law agrees, it needs to obtain the consent of the other four emperors, which is very difficult."
"Why?" Chen Fang was puzzled.
The taxes under the five royal families in the southern border are calculated separately, and each clan pays its own tax. The types of taxes and the fees paid are quite unified, which is jointly determined by the five emperors.
The tax exemption is only temporary, and everyone knows that it will be restored in the future. As long as the time is specified, everyone will firmly remember the validity period, and tax payment is a consensus.
But the tax cut is different. After you cut the tax, everyone pays it on time. After a period of time, they all get used to this tax rate. Even if there is a time when the tax rate will be restored, the taxpayers will not be as reliable as remembering the tax exemption time. If you care, you will only think that you have raised taxes, which will cause trouble.
And it's also in the southern border, where the tax is low on your side and the tax is high on my side, what do the people think of me?
Therefore, when the five royal families formulated the tax collection standards, they deliberately mentioned tax exemption but not tax reduction.
Chen Fang didn't quite understand, "It's just a small tax reduction in a small place. It's good if you don't understand it in advance, and the impact shouldn't be big."
"Besides, this is a newly built city, and the tax system in the southern border is still used mechanically. Isn't it just fishing in the dry land? How to develop it should be very obvious."
"You think those high-ranking people don't know this truth. We also used this reason before to ask Inflexible City to formulate a new tax system according to the situation, but it was rejected." Charming showed a mocking expression. Of course, she was not targeting Chen Fang. .
Chen Fang asked, "What's the reason?"
"The local government is not allowed to formulate relevant policies without permission. This is the imperial power. My brother-in-law would not be able to pass the test even if I propose it." Charming said.
Well, I understand, Chen Fang spread his hands.
Everyone talked one after another, but they couldn't make up their minds during the discussion until the end of the night, so they had to disperse, leaving only Chen Fang and Gong Xiaobai, and a party was held in the castle to celebrate Chen Fang's awakening. banquet.