"Your Majesty, regarding the matter of the tea tax, I have a small suggestion concerning the tax proportion. I believe it best to tax one out of ten, with tea priced in three grades. This taxation is not harsh and can alleviate the crisis of the National Treasury. Of course, this is merely a small suggestion of mine; Your Majesty and the ministers present certainly have more discretion than I do."
Gu Chengyu could do only these things. If His Majesty is dissatisfied with the proportion of this tax, then he would be helpless.
He had already tried his best to lower the proportion of the tea tax; thereafter, it depends on the Emperor's decision.
Although he proposed the tea tax, causing loss to the interests of tea merchants and tea farmers, he is clear in conscience.
