The Road to Rebirth: Spoiling Husband (ChatGPT Translated)

Chapter 72: Good Strategy

Chapter 72: A Good Strategy

Xu Wei's question received the approval of most colleagues. After all, Xiao Wan was just a young and inexperienced newcomer. Previously, she had jumped from being the top scholar in high school to becoming a fourth-ranked official in the Ministry of Works, which made many long-time officials who had struggled in the government for years feel dissatisfied. And now, the Empress had even personally appointed her as the relief commissioner?!

Without any remarkable achievements or lasting contributions, why would the Empress say things like "you have the authority to make a decision first and then report back to me"? Could it be that she had given some kind of potion to the Empress?

"Your Majesty, I do have some humble suggestions." Faced with Xu Wei's deliberate provocation, Xiao Wan remained calm and composed. With a nod from Chu Tianyue, he confidently spoke up, "I believe that by implementing a policy to increase trade and providing tax exemptions and subsidies to grain merchants, it may encourage more traders to transport food products to the disaster-stricken areas for sale."

Xu Wei coldly retorted, "Minister Xiao, in previous years, the court did indeed provide preferential policies of tax exemptions to merchants. However, most of these merchants sold their goods before reaching the affected areas, seeking personal gain and rendering the policy ineffective. Moreover, just now, Minister Xiao, you mentioned the need to punish merchants severely, and now you are suggesting to increase trade policies. It seems a bit contradictory."

"Not at all. Yesterday, I punished unscrupulous merchants out of anger towards their unreasonable demands. But I also believe that relying solely on the court's reduction of hoarding is unlikely to quickly stabilize grain prices in the capital and meet the needs of the people. Only through trade can we fundamentally prevent riots caused by hunger among the disaster victims."

"As for the issue raised by Minister Xu about merchants selling goods in advance. . ." Xiao Wan raised his eyes slightly and calmly replied, "For every rice ship passing through customs, we will inquire about each merchant. If they are going to the affected areas to sell goods, they will be exempted from taxes at the customs and given a stamp. They will be required to present the stamped document to the local officials upon arrival for verification and cancellation. If during the verification process, it is discovered that they have sold goods in advance or illegally transported them to other provinces for personal gain, they will be detained on the spot and subjected to double taxation, in accordance with the prohibition laws!"

"Minister Xu, I wonder if my method can further reduce profit-seeking unscrupulous merchants and control the flow of grain?"

Xu Wei had originally thought she could put Xiao Wan in her place, but unexpectedly, she analyzed the situation in court with great clarity and reasoning. For a moment, Xu Wei felt frustrated and couldn't find any fault in Xiao Wan's words!

Chu Tianyue nodded repeatedly and agreed, "Minister Xiao's words are excellent. As long as we exempt merchants from taxes, encourage and protect trade, they will surely flock to us seeking profit. And it will be difficult for them to forge the official stamp. If merchants can freely trade and circulate, it will alleviate the rising grain prices in the disaster areas. With more merchants coming and going, the court will not be threatened by these few small grain merchants, and we can also strictly control the flow of grain."

Chu Tianyue made a certain argument, and the courtiers all agreed. Afterwards, Xiao Wan mentioned the policies of using work to replace relief and encouraging surrender.

"Using work to replace relief?" Chu Tianyue asked with a frown, "Will reducing half of the relief grain and replacing it with work cause dissatisfaction and protests among the disaster victims?"