I’m the Farmgirl You Can’t Mess With
Chapter 897 - Chapter 897 Taxation

Chapter 897: Taxation Chapter 897: Taxation Editor: Atlas Studios The pirates along the southeast coast were shocked to see Great Qi attacking the pirates twice in a row and had won both times.

Although the second time, they had only caused some damage to the enemy’s ship and killed some pirates, it was considered a victory for them since they had come away unscathed.

The pirates who were originally planning to go ashore to rob immediately canceled their operations and adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

The entire Guangdong East Coast became peaceful instantly.

Qi Haoran was discussing with Fan Zijin how to exploit those captives to the fullest.

“Since you want to set up a trade caravan to go out to sea, a sea map is a must.

Those Westerners must be very familiar with the sea route since they came all the way here to be pirates.

Get someone to interrogate them separately.

No matter what, you have to draw a sea map.” Fan Zijin nodded.

At this moment, his anger had subsided slightly and he no longer wanted to kill all those people.

He said, “Why don’t you stay in Guangdong for a while longer and help me clean up the pirates at sea so that they don’t always come to disturb the commoners?

I’ve already submitted a memorial to reopen the coast and lift the maritime ban.

It should’ve reached Eldest Cousin by now.” “Previously, we were all worried about you and the maritime ban was the last thing on our minds.” Qi Haoran said, “Your navy is useless.

Maybe if we train them for another half a year, they might be able to fight a battle.

Previously, we relied on that cannon to catch the enemy off guard, and we also launched a sneak attack.

If we really fight face to face, they definitely won’t be able to defeat the pirates.” Fan Zijin sneered.

“This isn’t entirely the fault of the navy and Zhou Zhou.

Considering they don’t even get fed enough, it affects their ability to train.

Yu Cheng got someone to withhold the military rations.

Does he think that he can get away with it by smoothing out the account books and not letting me go to the navy to investigate?

Has he no idea what I’ve accomplished?

Since I can even prop up the national treasury, how can he hope to hide his account books from me?” “Because he’s a local tyrant, I wanted to take things slowly.

But since he gave me something to use against him this time, it would be a waste not to use it.

I’ll use the crime of him blocking the news to investigate him.” Fan Zijin said, “Since you don’t want to use the navy, go to the garrison and ask them to be more vigilant recently.

Don’t let Guangdong fall into chaos.” This time, Fan Zijin planned to settle everything thoroughly.

He wanted to thoroughly investigate the entire Guangdong bureaucracy as a way to change his team.

There had never been a magistrate as lucky as him.

Although he had suffered previously, the rewards were also generous.

Fan Zijin could not command the garrison, but they would listen to Qi Haoran.

The two of them discussed the matter of the entire Guangdong bureaucracy.

Qi Haoran taught Fan Zijin, “Since we’re going to lift the maritime ban, you can just post an announcement to offer them amnesty.

As long as it’s a citizen of Great Qi, if they previously became pirates due to hardship, they can be fully exonerated should they turn themselves in.

That is, if they don’t have any blood on their hands.

If someone is willing to turn themselves in, the punishment will be reduced accordingly.

The rest are either foreigners or vicious people.

After reducing the number of pirates this way, the pressure on the navy will be greatly reduced.” Fan Zijin sighed.

“If only you could stay.

As Zhou Zhou is not experienced enough, I’m afraid he won’t be able to train the navy well.” Tempted, Qi Haoran said in a low voice, “Actually, I want to stay tooaEUR|” It was not for any other reason, but because Ah Ling had said that if they did not pay attention to the sea, in the future they would be facing threats from both the land and the sea.

On the other hand, Great Qi’s coastline was very long.

When the enemy landed, they would not be able to defend against them.

Just look at how exhausted their navy was from dealing with the pirates at the moment.

He might not be able to do other things, but he was confident in training the troops and fighting in wars.

Even if he did not know how to fight in a naval battle now, he could always learn.

The Guangdong Navy 20 years ago was not bad and it wasn’t that long ago.

He did not believe that he could not find someone who was adept at naval battles.

Failing that, there were still his uncles.

He could just ask them for a few people who were good at naval battles or seek their guidance.

The cousins looked at each other.

They planned to write a letter to the Emperor tonight to beg.

Who knew, maybe he would agree?

At this moment, a guard ran to the Imperial Study with a secret letter that he had just retrieved from a pigeon.

Seeing as this was a messenger pigeon from Guangdong, it was most likely related to the Duke of Peaceful State.

It had been half a month since the Duke of Peaceful State disappeared.

Over the past few days, the Emperor’s mood had been getting worse and worse.

He lost his temper in the imperial court almost every day, and when he returned to the Imperial Study, his face was always ashen.

Twice, he even smashed things.

The Emperor had always been thrifty and cherished public property.

This was the first time since the Emperor ascended the throne that he had smashed things.

Therefore, be it the eunuchs, palace servants, or guards, they all waited on him with a worried heart.

Not knowing if it was good news or bad news this time, the guard nervously sent the letter to the Emperor.

Qi Xiuyuan took the letter and saw that it was Qi Haoran’s handwriting.

The first line said that Zijin was safe.

Qi Xiuyuan’s heart finally relaxed.

Only then did he have the time to read the entire story.

Knowing that it was all because of the sea trade, Qi Xiuyuan’s expression did not change, but he was very dissatisfied with the Westerners.

They actually raised the prices on a whim in Great Qi without any restraint, forcing Zijin to test the ship himself (it was clearly Zijin’s idea to go).

How detestable.

As for the pirates who surrounded and attempted to kill Zijin, they were actually Westerners like them (in fact, they were not the same and were from two countries).

It was simply unforgivable.

Qi Xiuyuan’s protective instincts rose.

He knocked on the table and said with a serious expression, “Men, invite the Left Minister, Right Minister, and Minister of Revenue over.” Seeing that the gloom between Qi Xiuyuan’s brows had dissipated, Eunuch Wan knew that it was good news.

He acknowledged loudly and bowed before leaving.

Qi Xiuyuan said to the two prime ministers and the Minister of Revenue, “I plan to reopen the coast and lift the maritime ban.

We can reduce import tariffs on the sea merchants if necessary, but it’s impossible for our Great Qi merchant ships to be the only ships entering the port.

The previous dynasty had many foreign vassals and did not collect taxes from them when their ships came to our seas.

Meanwhile, they were harsh on our citizens and over-taxed them.

This is really inappropriate, so I plan to collect taxes from the foreign merchants as well.

What do you three ministers think?” Equally thick-skinned as Qi Xiuyuan, Rong Xuan felt that there was nothing wrong with it and readily agreed.

He even suggested that such tariffs could be higher than the tariffs imposed on local sea merchants, within reason.

This would generate income for the national treasury, so the Minister of Revenue naturally would not object.

His eyes flickered as he thought about how much money the Ministry of Revenue could earn by reopening the coast.

Only Yan Du hesitated and said, “Won’t it make our vast country seem a little petty?” Rong Xuan said solemnly, “Right Prime Minister, you’re wrong.

Pettiness has nothing to do with taxes.

If tax exemption is being generous, shouldn’t Great Qi exempt all its citizens from taxes?” “Left Minister, I’m talking about our policy towards foreigners.” “I don’t think there should be any difference in taxes between locals and foreigners.” Qi Xiuyuan raised his hand to interrupt their argument and said, “I’m already very generous to those Westerners, but they don’t want to repay my kindness.

Instead, they keep raising the prices of goods and disrupting the order of the market in Great Qi.

They even rob merchants and fishermen along the coast.

That’s heinous.

If we don’t restrain them, I’m afraid they’ll push their luck.” Yan Du immediately stopped talking.

He felt that sea trade was just a small issue and was not worth paying too much attention to.

Since the Emperor wanted to tax foreign vassals, just go ahead.

Seeing that Yan Du no longer objected, Qi Xiuyuan planned to bring it up in the Imperial Court the next day.

The court officials had to give their opinions on how much taxes to impose and who to impose them.

Moreover, they had to control the price fluctuation rate of imported goods and not let the Westerners raise the price whenever they wanted.

Did they really think that Great Qi was easy to bully?

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