RWNEFE -Chapter 506 The Concubine Tax!

Shen Lanxi struck the table in anger, smashing the desk into two pieces with a single palm.

All the officials trembled in unison.

“They can afford to keep concubines and mistresses, yet they claim they cannot pay taxes. If they don’t want to pay taxes, then I will make them pay more.”

“The Ministry of Rites will draft it, the Ministry of Revenue will supervise, and the Ministry of Justice together with the Court of Judicial Review will verify it. Today, I will add a new clause to the laws of Great Zhou.”

The officials were stunned.

Wasn’t this about a dye workshop? Wasn’t it about lowering taxes? How had it suddenly turned into revising the laws of Great Zhou?

Shen Lanxi said angrily, “Didn’t the Vice Minister of War just ask where the money to support Great Zhou’s army would come from? Listen carefully now.”

“Those who can afford concubines and mistresses, and can afford to raise illegitimate sons and daughters, clearly do not lack money. So we will begin collecting a concubine tax. Mistresses and bedchamber women are included, and so are illegitimate children raised outside.”

“For taking one concubine, ten taels of silver per year must be paid to the Ministry of Revenue. For each child she bears, five taels must be paid. And when those children grow up and have children of their own, the same five taels will be paid.”

“For taking a second concubine, the tax will be twenty taels; her children will pay ten taels.”

“For a third, thirty taels; her children fifteen taels, and so on, with no upper limit…”

The court officials felt as if they had been struck by lightning; their minds buzzed blankly.

Shen Lanxi smiled. “There are as many people in Great Zhou who keep concubines and mistresses as there are hairs on an ox. Those who can afford concubines are mostly wealthy households. Increasing the concubine tax will certainly fill the treasury for our military expenses.”

Not to mention others—even among the officials, those who did not keep concubines were extremely rare.

This was a terrible idea!

It must have been arranged in advance between the Ministry of Revenue and the Regent King!

The Ministry of Revenue deserves punishment!

For a moment, all the court officials glared at the Ministry of Revenue with blazing fury, as if they wanted to tear them apart alive.

Shen Lanxi continued, “As for the Ministry of Revenue’s proposal to restore tax rates to those of ten years ago, I think it is feasible.”

“Afterward, the Ministry of Revenue, together with the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, will deliberate and determine an appropriate tax rate. Within ten days, report it to me.”

After saying this, she glanced at Wang Bao.

Wang Bao announced, “If there are matters to report, report them; if none, the court is dismissed.”

Shen Lanxi turned on her heel and slipped away.

Three breaths later, the court erupted.

“Ministry of Revenue, you are a scourge among us officials…”

“Ministry of Revenue, you flatter the powerful…”

“The Ministry of Revenue should be executed…”

“Sacrifice the Ministry of Revenue to heaven…”

“Ministry of Revenue, if you have the guts, don’t run…”

…

Che Mingyuan said, “Your Highness wielded the sword of Xiang Zhuang, but your real target was Pei Gong. Brilliant—truly brilliant.”

Shen Lanxi disagreed slightly. “I call this throwing out a brick to attract jade, and killing with a borrowed knife.”

Using others’ hands—especially those of political enemies—to achieve her aims was immensely satisfying.

Che Mingyuan and the others jogged to catch up with Shen Lanxi.

The bulletin was the first to be prepared. After discussion between the two editors, the first issue was finalized: three parts job recruitment, three parts entertainment, three parts everyday gossip, and one part official government announcements.

Government policy was placed in the most prominent position, followed by livelihood news, entertainment, and household anecdotes.

After the first issue was printed, it was first delivered to Shen Lanxi.

“The layout putting the concubine tax first really grabs attention. If I saw this on the street, I would certainly buy a copy,” Shen Lanxi praised without hesitation.

Che Mingyuan said, “This shows that Ministers Mei and Liu are not rigid scholars.”

Shen Lanxi nodded and continued reading.

“Students of Bailu Academy held a poetry contest yesterday. A young woman, enamored of one of the students, secretly crawled through a dog hole to boldly confess her love, but was driven out by the students. Later, she turned the tables and claimed that all the students were in love with her… How ridiculous…”

Che Mingyuan said with a smile, “That section was written by a young official in the Ministry of Rites named Gao Run, a scholar from Dongchuan.”

Shen Lanxi said, “He’s talented. Transfer him to specialize in writing the bulletin.”

“Yes!”

Shen Lanxi added, “Include more job postings as well. Once the people see the influence of the bulletin, have the Ministry of Revenue think of ways to make money from it.”

Che Mingyuan was puzzled. “Your Highness, aren’t we already selling the bulletin? How else can money be made from it?”

Shen Lanxi explained patiently, “Restaurants, workshops, and all kinds of shops—if they want to become well known, relying on word of mouth alone would take a long time, wouldn’t it?”

Che Mingyuan understood at once.

With the bulletin, news could spread widely, helping them become known in the shortest time possible.

“The bulletin is excellent.”

Shen Lanxi closed it and said, “The bulletin is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is still to revise the laws and tax rates, and lighten the burden on the people.”

Che Mingyuan nodded, his eyes filled with admiration.

The impact of the concubine tax did not fade after Shen Lanxi hurriedly left court. Instead, aided by the bulletin, it quickly spread everywhere.

Although the bulletin was only being trialed in the capital, traveling merchants carried copies back with them. Before long, it had reached various regions.

Concubines and their children, sensing the impatience of the men around them, began to feel a growing sense of crisis.

Five days later, when the officials attended court, the Drum of Grievances suddenly began to thunder.

Wang Bao cried sharply, “Go at once and see who is beating the Drum of Grievances!”

Soon the Imperial Guards returned with news.

“Reporting to the Regent King—it is not one person, but many.”

Wang Bao frowned and asked sharply, “Exactly how many?”

“About a hundred.”

Shen Lanxi stood up. “Come, gentlemen, let us go and see the spectacle.”

In the blink of an eye, Shen Lanxi led the officials to the palace gates, where they saw a dense crowd of people kneeling on the ground.

Wang Bao announced loudly, “The Regent King has arrived—”

After a brief murmur in the crowd, voices began to rise.

“We are all concubines and illegitimate sons and daughters. The concubine tax imposed by the court leaves us no way to live…”

“Concubines can be bought and sold. If the principal wives do not want to pay this money, they will sell us!”

“We beg you, officials, give us a way to survive…”

“If the concubine tax continues, it will drive us to death…”

Not a single sentence directly accused Shen Lanxi, yet every sentence condemned the concubine tax she had implemented as something that would force them to die.

Many officials cast accusatory looks at Shen Lanxi; others simply watched the spectacle.

Taking concubines had existed since ancient times—it was in accordance with the natural order. What did a woman like Shen Lanxi understand? She had dared to change ancestral customs as soon as she took power. Today they would ensure she was disgraced for ten thousand years, doomed beyond redemption.

Shen Lanxi stepped forward and began calling names.

“Officials of the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Justice—step forward and speak!”

The people kneeling on the ground trembled when they heard her words.

But then they thought: there were so many of them here—surely Shen Lanxi could not imprison them all.

“Your Highness.”

The officials from the three departments stepped forward and took their positions.

Shen Lanxi said, “I am a person who understands propriety and abides by the law. Everything I do is worthy of heaven, of the people, and of my own conscience.”

“You say the concubine tax will drive you to death? That means there is a grievance here.”

Seeing Shen Lanxi react this way, the officials’ hearts tightened.

This wasn’t right. Shouldn’t she be furious—shouldn’t she be smashing people like she smashed that table?

Shen Lanxi continued, “I have said before: if there is injustice, I will redress it.”