The most arrogant in history

Chapter 786 Overseas Isolated Island.

Ye Kun shook his head: "It's not about reintroducing the salt and iron tax, it's about appropriately increasing the commercial tax. If the salt and iron tax is reintroduced, the court will have more money than it can spend."

After unifying the Central Plains, Ye Kun announced the permanent abolition of the salt and iron tax.

Moreover, the prices of salt and iron were lowered to very low levels.

More than a decade ago, ordinary people enjoyed the freedom to eat salt and use iron.

If the salt and iron taxes are reintroduced, it would be a step backward in history.

Ma Zhao pondered and said, "In terms of business tax, I feel that there is limited room for improvement. But in terms of increasing revenue, it can be considered. Many private small businesses never pay taxes.

For example, butchers, tofu grinders, bean sprout makers, breakfast and fried dough twist makers all earn more money than county magistrates. In recent years, county magistrates have often resigned to become butchers.

These people should be taxed.”

Everyone laughed when they heard this.

Ye Kun couldn't help but smile: "Okay, let's summarize the occupations that can be taxed in the private sector and collect some taxes appropriately. We can collect them monthly, so we can collect less."

The Minister of Finance and Taxation nodded and said, "Then we will call it a small business tax, and let the tax collectors in each county pay it. There are at least 10,000 pig butchers in the whole country. Each pig butcher will be taxed half a tael of silver per month, which adds up to 60,000 taels per year."

"As for the specific amount, you should do a good job of market research and then determine the amount. In short, you can't charge too much, so as not to affect people's livelihood and economic development."

Ye Kun moved on to the next topic and said:

"The people in the coal-producing areas are engaged in serious illegal mining of coal. There are also many coal dealers who buy private coal, disrupt the market, and evade taxes. We should crack down on them.

I hope the Ministry of Justice will take surprise action to arrest a group of coal dealers and people who illegally mine coal, and have them all relocate to the Oil Peninsula. There is oil on the Oil Peninsula, and they can mine it as they please. "

Ma Zhao knew that Ye Kun’s only goal now was expansion and immigration, so he nodded: "Okay, I'll arrange this."

After a busy period, March finally arrived.

He Zhongshu from the prairie gathered tens of thousands of elite soldiers from his own army and began an expedition to Europe.

Ye Kun personally supervised the supply of food and fodder, and the mobilization of troops in various places.

This time, the supply of food and fodder started a month ago, and was prepared in three routes.

On the one hand, there was food and grass supported by the Little Wise King of the Western Xiongnu, on the other hand, there was food and grass supported by the Western Regions, and there was also food and grass directly from the imperial court.

Army expeditions are more arduous than naval expeditions.

Ye Kun also used all his family assets to supply sugar, dry milk tablets, compressed biscuits and canned food to ensure the nutrition of the expeditionary soldiers.

He Zhongshu also made preparations in advance and carried a large number of cattle and sheep with the army, eating as they marched.

By the end of April, He Zhongshu's troops had reached the Xihai Lake, which was considered a very rapid advance.

Ye Kun ordered: "Rest for about seven days, launch a general attack on the Xitie Dynasty, make sure to wipe them out, and continue to advance westward."

He Zhongshu replied: "I will just need three days to rest. Your Majesty, please wait for good news."

Qin Erwu had also arrived in Tianzhu and was mobilizing troops to prepare for a blitzkrieg against the Parthian Empire.

Liu Ai disagreed with Ye Kun's decision and called to get angry:

"Your Majesty, when I first came to Tianzhu, you promised that I would be in charge of all affairs on the Tianzhu continent. General Qin Erwu's return has disrupted my plans."

Ye Kun replied vaguely: "You support Qin Erwu's actions first. If Qin Erwu fails to complete the task, I will hold him accountable."

Liu Ai had no choice but to cooperate with Qin Erwu to prepare food and military supplies.

Ye Kun is free for the time being, so he comes to see Ayiman, the Queen of Loulan.

Ayiman had been in Zhuo County for several years. She had raised a prince and was busy taking care of the child every day. She also studied Han culture and occasionally handled the affairs of the new and old cities of Loulan via telegram.

In name, she was still the queen of Loulan.

Ye Kun came to the Queen's Palace and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, how have you been recently?"

"Your Majesty, you haven't been here for more than ten days. The little prince almost doesn't recognize you."

Ayiman complained and sent the little prince to Ye Kun: "Hurry up and hug the child, otherwise, I will not be close to you in the future."

The little prince was already over two years old, smart and cute. He opened his arms and rushed towards Ye Kun: "Father..."

"Good boy, not bad."

Ye Kun picked up the little prince and turned him around, then smiled at Ayiman and said, "Your Majesty, I promised you before that I would take you back to Loulan. Today I have good news for you. In two years, the railway will be able to reach Jincheng directly. Maybe the railway in the Western Regions will also be completed and can reach the ancient city of Loulan directly.

At that time, I will accompany you back to Loulan."

"Your Majesty, can the railway really be built to the ancient city of Loulan?"

"Yes, the Ministry of Transportation has already made a plan, and the Western Region Railway has already begun construction."

Ye Kun smiled and said, "My junior sister Ding Ding is a workaholic and will work overtime to build it."

Ayiman smiled and said, "That's great. Our son will be the future King of Loulan, and he will have to go back eventually."

Ye Kun nodded: "It only takes one month to travel from Zhuojun to Loulan now. After the railway is fully built, it will only take half a month at most. At that time, it will be no problem for you to go back several times a year."

Ayiman smiled and said, "The Western Region Railway is related to my hometown. I still have some dowry here. I will give it to the emperor to build the road. It is a small token of our Loulan people's appreciation."

Ye Kun smiled and asked, "How much dowry is there?"

"Not much, just three thousand taels of gold." Ayiman smiled mischievously and asked, "Can three thousand taels of gold build a ten-mile long railway?"

Ye Kun calculated: "At most, we can build a ten-mile railway. Since the Queen is so generous, our first train to the Western Regions will be called Loulan. What do you think?"

Ayiman was delighted: "If you name the train Loulan, I will give you another three thousand taels!"

When she married Ye Kun, Ayiman brought a lot of property.

Loulan was already wealthy, and the royal wealth was even more astonishing.

Ye Kun laughed: "Then our second train will be called Loulan II."

Ye Kun spent a whole day in the Queen's Palace.

Huang Ye came to report that Xiao Dequan wanted to see him.

Ye Kun had no choice but to return and meet Xiao Dequan in the imperial study.

Xiao Dequan said cautiously in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, I met Empress Liu a few days ago and told her about her. She has realized her mistake and will never make Your Majesty angry again."

"I'm not angry, I'm just worried that your sister is unhappy."

Ye Kun sighed and asked, "Last time, I asked you to choose a place as the fiefdom for the little prince born to Concubine Liu. Have you chosen it yet?"

"Your Majesty, I was just about to tell you this."

Xiao Dequan came to the huge globe, turned it, and pointed to a large island on the east side of the southern tip of Africa: "This place is very large, I want to go and take a look. If feasible, please ask the emperor to grant this large island to Concubine Liu's two princes."

Ye Kun was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Are you sure that Concubine Liu is willing to have this big island?"

Xiao Dequan asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, this big island...is it not suitable? Or is the condition bad?"