Suppliers from both worlds have dominated the world since Datang!

Chapter 389: The land tax is distributed according to the acreage!!!

Zhuang Zhou cleared his throat and simply told the historical process that he knew about in later generations:

“According to the first five-year plan, emphasis was placed on developing agricultural production.

We need to plant high-yield crop seeds on a large scale across the country.

In order to achieve this goal, land surveying must be carried out now.

With Chang'an as the center, the capital city remeasured the land and made a summary.

Based on this, all arable land in the country will be remeasured.

The imperial court wanted to have complete control over the country's arable land area.

This is the first strategic move that the court will implement this year."

As soon as these words came out, Li Er immediately showed an incredible expression.

This idea is a bit too bold.

You know, as the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Er had long wanted to do such a thing.

But the power of the aristocratic families is complicated and intertwined.

Even though he was an emperor, he was powerless.

Because most of the country's land is in the hands of the aristocratic families.

"Zhuang Zhou, have you ever thought about the obstacles you will face if you want to remeasure the country's arable land?"

Zhuang Zhou smiled and said:

"Of course I know. Isn't it the noble families who will stand up and oppose it?"

Li Er said silently.

Li Chengqian glanced at his father and remained silent.

Zhuang Zhou continued:

“The current practice of taxing people per head is not rational in the first place.

You know, most of the land is in the hands of wealthy and powerful families.

It is the farmers who actually cultivate the land, which means that the taxes still fall on the farmers.

If the situation continues like this, farmers' lives will only become more and more difficult.

You must know that water can carry a boat but can also capsize it. The people of the world are the water, and the court is the boat.

This is what we mean by putting people first. "

As soon as the voice fell, Li Chengqian continued:

"Mr. Zhuang, do you also know this sentence?"

"Yes! Isn't this known to everyone?"

Li Chengqian nodded and said:

"My father often taught me this saying, saying that water can carry a boat but can also capsize it, and that the court should put the people first."

Zhuang Zhou thought about it and then remembered.

It seems that this sentence is really Li Er’s famous saying.

"Yes, I know. Your Majesty also said, 'Using copper as a mirror, one can adjust one's attire; using the past as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of things; using people as a mirror, one can understand gains and losses.'"

Now it was Li Chengqian's turn to be surprised.

He first looked at Zhuang Zhou, then his gaze fell on his father, and his eyes were clearly asking questions.

But Li Er was puzzled and said:

"Zhuang Zhou, where did you hear that?

When did I ever say such a thing? "

"???"

Zhuang Zhou was stunned for a moment.

He remembered when he was cramming history books from the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty.

I have seen it in "Old Book of Tang Dynasty: Biography of Wei Zheng".

Li Er compared Wei Zheng to a mirror.

Why doesn’t Li Er admit it yet?

and many more.

at this time.

Ural hit the message on Zhuang Zhou's retina:

"Master, this happened after Wei Zheng's death."

"..."

I go!

Only then did Zhuang Zhou realize that he had allowed this passage to be published prematurely.

And it came from his mouth.

It was equivalent to him saying Li Er's famous quote in advance.

Isn't this inappropriate? Walking in someone else's path and leaving them with nowhere to go?

Zhuang Zhou was a little embarrassed.

I had to force an explanation:

"Then it seems that I remembered it wrongly. Why did I remember that it was His Majesty who said it?"

Li Er laughed:

"Zhuang Zhou, you have learned to flatter!"

Ok!

Li Er actually thought that Zhuang Zhou was flattering him.

"Use a bronze mirror to adjust your attire.

Using the past as a mirror, we can understand the rise and fall of nations.

Taking people as a mirror, you can understand the gains and losses.

That’s very well said! ”

Li Er's eyes were full of praise:

"You are truly worthy of being a great master. Cheng Qian is so lucky to have you as his teacher!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian nodded silently.

Yes!

If one can speak such philosophical words casually, then he must be a great man of his time.

The more Zhuang Zhou listened, the more embarrassed he felt.

This is clearly what Li Er said many years later.

Now this has become a wise saying by Zhuang Zhou!

Li Er pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked solemnly:

"Zhuang Zhou, since you can say such profound words, you must have unique insights on how to govern a country and maintain peace.

I want to hear your opinion. How do you think the court should be reformed so that the people can live and work in peace and the country can be stable and long-lasting?"

Zhuang Zhou's heart moved, knowing that this was an opportunity to showcase his talents.

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

“Your Majesty, governing a country and maintaining peace is not a one-day job.

However, I think the most important thing is to implement fair laws and protect the rights of ordinary people."

Li Er nodded in agreement:

"Keep talking!"

Zhuang Zhou said: "Right now, if the court wants to promote high-yield agricultural planting throughout the country, it should reform the agricultural system to make it more fair and reasonable."

Seeing that Li Er and Li Chengqian were listening attentively, Zhuang Zhou continued:

“For example, the land is not in the hands of farmers now. Even if they can grow high-yield crops, in the end, the people will not get food and will still go hungry.

The real beneficiaries are the aristocratic and powerful families, and even the imperial court is wasting its efforts, and the national treasury still has no increase in revenue. "

Li Chengqian interjected:

"Mr. Zhuang is absolutely right. The land is in the hands of the noble families. If we collect taxes based on the number of people, they won't be able to pay much to the court."

"Yes!"

Zhuang Zhou knew that Li Chengqian had understood:

"So the best way is not to collect taxes based on the number of people, but to collect taxes based on the land, and to implement the policy of equalizing the land tax."

"Dividing a small family into an acre?"

Li Er's eyes lit up immediately after hearing this:

"What does this mean? Please tell me in detail."

Zhuang Zhou knew that this policy had been proven by history and was completely feasible.

It is now the early years of Zhenguan, and Li Er is a famous sage king in history.

A great leader!

If these policies are to be implemented, they must be handed over to someone like him.

If we wait until Li Chengqian ascends the throne to do it, it will surely be full of difficulties and rivers of blood.

Thinking of this, Zhuang Zhou also told everything he knew:

"The policy of allocating taxes to each acre of land can also be called the policy of allocating taxes to each piece of land or the policy of combining taxes and land with each piece of land.

By implementing this policy, we can truly ensure that all people in the world have their own land to till, and promote rapid population growth.

This can also fundamentally prevent the gentry and wealthy families from annexing land.

At the same time, all provinces, prefectures and counties can combine land tax and corvée labor and include them in the policy of equalizing the land tax.

The collection of taxes and grain was combined and all payments were made based on the amount of land.

Officials appointed by the imperial court would collect the money directly and put it into the national treasury.

In this way, all prefectures, counties and cities will no longer be able to arbitrarily increase taxes and labor service for the people..."

Li Er nodded repeatedly after hearing this, with approval in his eyes.

He knew very well that what Zhuang Zhou said was true and that these were issues that the court urgently needed to resolve.

Developing agriculture and improving farmers' lives are urgent matters.

The fact that Zhuang Zhou was able to point out these problems so clearly and propose practical solutions shows his outstanding talent.

"Zhuang Zhou, you are right.

However, once this policy of allocating land tax to each household is implemented, it will face numerous obstacles.

Right now, the most difficult thing is to find a group of officials who are willing to implement new policies.”

"Yes!"

Li Chengqian nodded and said:

"Most of the officials in the court now are old friends, and each of them has thousands of acres of fertile land under his command."

Zhuang Zhou nodded and responded:

"In this case, Your Majesty, why don't you boldly employ new people?"

"What do you mean by this?"

"Isn't the imperial court going to hold the imperial examination next?"

Zhuang Zhou reminded:

"Your Majesty, why don't you select a group of talents from these people to implement the new policy?"

Upon hearing this, Li Er looked at Li Chengqian.

They both nodded in tacit agreement.

"Good idea!"