Fang Yun's first sentence was about collecting taxes from the rich, but the next sentence was about reducing taxes. This confused many people.
Fang Yun continued, "I was thinking, should we reduce some people's land tax, poll tax, or business tax? However, the national treasury is already empty. If we lose a sum of money, where can we go to fill this deficit? I couldn't think of anything, so I kept worrying. "
"Then Li Zhixiao said, since the imperial court has salt, iron, and tea, can we increase the price? Of course I didn't agree. I criticized him and said that the common people and the rich people eat about the same amount of salt a day. If we increase the price, it will be a burden to the common people, but it won't affect the rich people. Isn't this still mistreating the common people? "
Dong Yueqian and Xu Changgeng put their hands on Li Zhixiao's left and right shoulders.
Li Zhixiao smiled bitterly.
Fang Yun finally said, "However, the three of you inspired me. I was thinking, should we increase the business tax on the common people's luxury goods? This way, the common people won't be affected, and since the rich can afford luxury goods, they naturally won't care about the tax. Other than this, I can't think of any other way to fill the national treasury, so I'm not in the mood for the meeting. Therefore, I apologize to everyone for disrupting the meeting. Sigh … forget it, I'm not in the mood to attend the meeting. Goodbye, you can continue. "
As Fang Yun spoke, he sighed and left, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
The patriarchs of the various families were expressionless.
After Fang Yun left, the meeting quickly ended.
Some of the patriarchs who were on good terms with each other gathered together to discuss the meeting.
This matter quickly spread to the ears of the Jingguo officials.
Everyone finally understood the intention of Fang Yun's meeting, which was to increase taxes. On the surface, it looked like they were only increasing the tax on luxury goods, but if there were no accidents, they would gradually increase the tax on some items.
The various families had different views on the tax increase.
Some families didn't involve themselves in the business of luxury goods, so they didn't oppose or support it. Some families were involved, but they weren't the main business, so they didn't care too much. They just wanted to spend more money in the future, and it didn't affect their family's core interests.
Some families that specialized in luxury goods were very opposed. Although this was not a direct tax on them, it was only a tax on the goods. However, if the goods were too expensive, some people would definitely give up on buying them, resulting in a decrease in their income.
However, they were not particularly resolute in their opposition, because this sort of reduction in income would not hurt them greatly. It would not be worth it to oppose Fang Yun or even the Imperial Court for this bit of income.
However, they didn't want to sit still and wait for their doom, so they ran around looking for high-ranking officials, hoping to stop Fang Yun from increasing taxes on luxury goods.
A few days later, the General Revenue Department drew up a list of tax increases. All industries that dealt in the items on the list had their taxes increased by 10% to 30%.
The related industries were all over the place, but because it wasn't a major industry, it didn't cause much chaos.
The sun rose in Jingguo as usual.
Unknowingly, Jingguo had two new developments. One was called the judicial reform, and the other was called the tax reform.
Slowly, innovation entered the deep waters.
Before summer, a major piece of news shocked the entire human race.
The Demon Realm announced that as long as Fang Yun and the Stonebirth Blood Egg were handed over, the Demon Realm would withdraw all their troops and sign a thousand-year truce with the human race. If they didn't hand over Fang Yun, the Demon Realm would not only increase their troops in the Two World Mountain, but also invade all the ancient lands of the human race.
Even during the first Great War of the Two World Mountain, the Demon Realm did not invade all the ancient lands of the human race.
Later, some news was revealed by the Notre-Dame. Only then did everyone know that Fang Yun had done so much in the Holy Burial Valley. He had killed the Demon Emperor's doppelganger, stolen the Stonebirth Blood Egg, and disrupted the Demon Realm's plans. The impact on the Demon Realm was even greater than the loss of many Half-saints.
In particular, the Lord of Pestilence, who could have easily become a Supreme Saint, had already placed a high bounty on Fang Yun. He would kill Fang Yun at all costs and take back the Stonebirth Blood Egg.
Fang Yun was once again praised to the forefront, becoming a great hero admired by all the human race.
Most of the human race did not care about the Demon Realm's so-called surrender of Fang Yun, because no one trusted the Demon Realm. Moreover, Fang Yun was a pillar of the human race. If even Fang Yun was handed over to the Demon Realm, the human race would not be worthy of being called human.
For the first three days, the mainstream voices overwhelmed everything. Whether it was the gossip of the people on the streets or the exchanges of scholars on the rankings, they were all in sync, worshipping Fang Yun as a great hero.
However, a piece of news on the fourth day changed the situation.
The Demon Realm announced again that Fang Yun had been punished by the heavens in the Holy Burial Valley. After a narrow escape, his foundation had been destroyed, and there was a problem with his cultivation. He could not reach the Wen rank and would die soon. Furthermore, Fang Yun would face the anger of the Holy Burial Valley's consciousness. The valley would probably send a powerful force to kill Fang Yun. Therefore, if the human race handed over Fang Yun now, it would be like exchanging a piece of trash for a thousand years of peace.
This news shocked countless humans.
Although the news of Fang Yun's serious injuries had spread before, most people did not think that it would hurt his foundation. Moreover, Fang Yun had appeared frequently. Although he looked seriously ill, it did not seem like his foundation had been destroyed.
It was only a rumor before, but now it was confirmed by the Demon Realm.
Therefore, countless scholars sent letters to Fang Yun, comforting Fang Yun and encouraging Fang Yun.
Fang Yun was very moved, and then he continued to be the Left Minister.
It was also on this day that a discordant voice appeared on the rankings.
"If Fang Xusheng is really thinking for the human race, he should bind his arms and go to the Demon Realm in exchange for a thousand years of peace for the human race."
"In that case, Fang Xusheng cannot escape the blame for the Demon Realm's all-out war against the human race."
"Since Fang Xusheng's foundation has been destroyed, he does not have long to live. There is no need to stubbornly hold on, it is better to dedicate the last of his time to the human race."
"If nothing unexpected happens, Fang Xusheng will agree to the Demon Realm's conditions. After all, compared to a thousand years of peace for the human race, anyone's life, including Half-saint's, is insignificant. If the Demon Realm uses my life in exchange for a thousand years of peace for the human race, I will definitely agree. After all, from now on, my name will go down in history, and my descendants will also enjoy glory and wealth. "
"Next, we will know whether Fang Xusheng is a real villain or a real gentleman."
"Fang Xusheng, for the human race, please agree to the Demon Realm's conditions."
In just one day, tens of thousands of scholars appeared, hoping that Fang Yun would go to the Demon Realm.
Their comments made many scholars explode with anger. Many scholars would rather be banned by the rankings than curse those who wanted Fang Yun to die.
Almost every comment that wanted Fang Yun to die was opposed, criticized, scolded, or ridiculed by hundreds of thousands of people.
Especially the Jingguo scholars, they could not bear to see the hope of Jingguo receive such treatment. They even felt betrayed, and desperately posted or replied to those people on the rankings, and continued to support Fang Yun.
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