After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

The national treasury is empty, and everything requires money; even if she does nothing every day, it still requires a large expenditure. Aren’t all the officials and clerks under her domain in need of salaries?

And the soldiers under her command, the daily consumption of money and grain when they open their eyes can make her feel overwhelmed.

So with no money in the treasury, she must create money.

The monopoly on salt and iron is not the fastest way to accumulate wealth; as Zhao Ming said, taxes are.

However, now all the people in the country are suffering, even though Yu State’s drought is light, and the disaster isn’t severe, but due to the wars over the past six months, Yu State contributed significantly to logistics. During her time fighting outside, military taxes alone in Yu State were levied twice, plus one donation, combined with soaring grain prices; ordinary people have reached the brink.

Therefore, Zhao Hanzhang decided not to tax the ordinary people but to levy taxes on merchants, artisans, and the gentry and officials.

She intends to issue the Calculation Order.

The so-called Calculation Order refers to a decree once issued by Emperor Wu of Han, specifically targeting merchants, moneylenders, and artisans for property taxes.

However, Zhao Hanzhang’s ambitions were larger; her Calculation Order included the gentry and officials, essentially encompassing the wealthy classes of today’s nation.

But she also relaxed the tax threshold; she required merchants and moneylenders to pay one unit of tax for every 4,000 coins, while artisans and gentry, officials, and others were taxed one unit for every 5,000 coins; besides, there is also a tax on vehicle and ships.

Apart from officials and the chariot riders having a tax exemption for one vehicle or horse, everyone else must pay a unit of tax for a vehicle within specifications or a horse. Officials and the seniors must pay taxes for a second vehicle as well.

Zhao Hanzhang was extremely fast, she returned and immediately ordered the drafting of an edict, intending to issue it the next day.

Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, and Zhao Ming did not oppose, as the Calculation Order was even present in Cao Wei before Jin, having become a regular tax; only after Jin did it exist in name only and was essentially not levied.

Now that Zhao Hanzhang was levying this tax, the entire court knew the reason.

The national treasury had no money.

Even Zhao Ming generously did not quibble but gracefully had the housekeeper calculate the family’s assets to pay the tax.

This relieved Zhao Hanzhang; she was waiting to be scolded, but unexpectedly, Uncle Ming was so understanding, touching.

Zhao Ming didn’t scold her but believed someone else would.

Indeed, the day after the decree was issued, Zhao Hu dragged Zhao Song and several gentry gentlemen to Zhao Mansion.

This was Zhao Hanzhang’s residence in Chen County, appropriated; Mrs. Wang often lived here, having returned to Xiping due to the previous war. Now, Zhao Hanzhang, along with the Little Emperor and others, resided here, temporarily treating it as a Royal Villa.

Of course, many court affairs were discussed and resolved here.

Zhao Hu rushed to the front of the main hall, unable to enter due to the guards blocking him, even though he displayed the demeanor of an elder.

Zhao Hu was already angry, and now he was even more furious, clutching his waist and yelling at the hall, "Ungrateful! Disrespectful to elders! Zhao Hanzhang, come out here! You have the gall to tax me but no courage to face me?"

Zhao Hanzhang was inside reviewing documents, paused at the sound of yelling. A guard came in quickly to report, "Great General, Fifth Grandfather and Seventh Grandfather have arrived at the mansion."

Zhao Hanzhang set down the pen, not in a hurry to go out, leisurely strolled to the door and peeked outside.

Zhao Song was slightly displeased, glaring at Zhao Hu, telling him to save his words for when they met, not shout so disrespectfully.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Zhao Hanzhang peek out and almost instantly withdraw back.

Zhao Song: ...

Completely improper!

Zhao Hu also saw her, trembling as he pointed in the direction Zhao Hanzhang retreated to, excessive, too excessive, she actually hid!

Zhao Hanzhang probably realized that hiding was useless and soon appeared at the entrance, her face with a bright smile, very respectfully inviting them into the main hall.

Zhao Hu snorted aggressively, bypassed her, and went into the hall. The three gentlemen he brought exchanged glances, followed him apprehensively.

They had come to complain to Zhao Hu but didn’t expect him to immediately bring them to Zhao Mansion to demand an explanation from Zhao Hanzhang.

To be honest, they weren’t unfamiliar with Zhao Hanzhang; whenever she needed to fundraise for military expenses, she’d dine and drink with them, casually discussing Yu State’s future development.

Then they’d open their wallets.

But that was just social dining; privately... they were more familiar with Zhao Ming, Ji Yuan, and others.

Somehow, they were somewhat afraid of Zhao Hanzhang, even though she always smiled.

Zhao Hanzhang invited them into the main hall, had tea served, and asked them to sit, "Seventh Ancestor, what has caused such anger?"

Zhao Hu coldly asked, "What’s the deal with the Calculation Order? This year you went to war and needed military funds; just the grain, I gave you thirty thousand shi, and the hundred thousand shi grain, I offered you at the lowest grain price, not to even mention the money. Zi Nian took at least 500,000 coins from me, and the medicine, your army still owes me for the medicinal materials."

Speaking of this, Zhao Hu was infuriated, couldn’t help but mutter, "I asked you for money, you told me to find Fan Ying; where’s Fan Ying? Touring Bingzhou and Youzhou, yet you fooled me..."

"Alright, alright," Zhao Song said, "It’s two separate issues; don’t conflate them into one."

"It is one issue!" Zhao Hu couldn’t help but stomp his foot, loudly declaring, "This is all her deceiving and ungrateful actions, besides, years ago, didn’t she have Chang Ning keep an eye on me? Making me pay tax yearly, Chang Ning monitored nobody else, just focused on me!"

Zhao Hanzhang quickly reassured him, "Seventh Ancestor, I truly appreciate your many supports, all remembered in my heart; publicly is publicly, privately is privately, even though I remember personal favors, I can’t override national policy for personal interests, right?"

"Bullshit, save your dignified rhetoric, the Calculation Order traditionally targets merchants and moneylenders, and artisans; am I an artisan? A merchant? A moneylender?" Zhao Hu staunchly suspected Zhao Hanzhang included the gentry just to grab his money, "Never heard of gentry needing to pay Calculation money."

Zhao Hanzhang sincerely asked, "Why shouldn’t the gentry pay then?"

Zhao Hu replied confidently, "Gentry shouldn’t!"

Zhao Hanzhang: "What’s the reason?"

Zhao Hu was momentarily stuck, isn’t it common knowledge? Why ask him for reasons?

The class order, gentry’s status only second to the Imperial Family, inherently didn’t need to pay!

Zhao Hanzhang saw he couldn’t answer, sighed, "Seventh Ancestor, they are all wealthy people; why discriminate against the gentry? Since everyone pays Calculation money, they shouldn’t be excluded, otherwise it’s disrespecting them."

Such nonsense!

Zhao Hu wanted to curse, Zhao Song glared at him, then turned to Zhao Hanzhang, "Third Lady, the world needs gentry stability, management; officials come from gentry, thus, the world’s taxes should favor the gentry; if without such favor, how could you expect them to serve you?"

China carries a unique national reality, since ancient times, the political bureaucracy heavily attracts intellectuals; hence most connected reading and official appointments.

Like scholars such as Ji Yuan, because of special circumstances unable to serve as officials, they choose certain people to serve, aiming to participate in political activities through officials.

Intellectual enthusiasm for appointment roots in benefits from official positions, right?

These benefits are comprehensive, including wealth, status, and special status.

For instance, the gentry class can waive many taxes.