Chapter 12: Liberation of Liaodong (5)

The meeting on this day was later called the "Four Bigs Conference" and had a profound impact on future history. From this day on, the ruts of the Ming Dynasty slightly deviated from the original trajectory and rolled in an unknown direction.

Tie Xuan and Yang Rong followed Zhu Zhi for a long time, and they were quite familiar with each other, but they never felt that Zhu Zhi had so many plans in his chest. He dared not say whether he was talented or not. At least Zhu Zhi's attitude and actions showed that he wanted to make a big career in Liaodong. Zhu Zhi had the kindness of knowing each other, so he naturally did his best to assist him. The key is that Zhu Zhi now shows the spirit of hard work, which makes the two feel like they met the famous master and are very excited.

Yang Rong was particularly surprised. Although he couldn't figure out some of Zhu Zhi's plans thoroughly, it seemed to be very different from the court's central government. For example, taxation, he dared to propose dual-track tax collection, which was equivalent to a hypocritical violation of the policy of the imperial court's public treasure banknotes; and the "Fair Trade Order" clearly violated the teachings of the saints. Although it was on the surface to protect the interests of the people, Yang Rong vaguely felt that behind this decree was an unfathomable space. If all of them continued to develop, wouldn't the government become an equal with the people? Although the court loved the people, it could not make the two equal, after all, officials were in charge of the people... Yang Rong did not dare to continue thinking.

Ye Wang was also very happy. He was originally a martial artist, and he was usually in charge of the military and the people, and he was already worried. The new Liao King actually had a relatively complete plan for civil affairs, so he was of course happy to push out these troubles. Moreover, Zhu Zhi had already heard some signs that both agriculture and commerce must serve the military. He had to rely on military affairs in any way to combat the Japanese and fight against the Hu.

Yao Shan said not to mention that he was a small ninth-rank dictionary book and took on two important responsibilities as soon as he came. Obviously, Zhu Zhi valued him very much. He wondered, he had no friendship with the King of Liao before, why did Zhu Zhi give him such a heavy burden?

After the meeting, Zhu Zhi invited everyone to stay at the mansion for dinner. The rules for the round table for dinner and meetings have been passed down from now on. Everyone felt good about this. Seeing that Zhu Zhi, the prince, was enthusiastic about official business and approachable, everyone also had a lot of fun at the dinner table. During the meal, Zhu Zhi specifically asked Ye Wang that he had just come to Liaodong and was in trouble and had a shortage of talents in his mansion. He felt that the experience of Yuyi was not bad, could he be transferred to the royal palace to help with official business? Zhu Zhi spoke, but Ye Wang dared not refuse, and said that he would call Yuyi immediately.

After the meal, Zhu Zhi ordered people to find Qu Yuan. He and Guo Ming came to the side hall to sit down. As his brother-in-law, Zhu Zhi still trusted him, especially the first errand was done well. After a while, Qu Yuan came, Zhu Zhi retreated and greeted the two of them to sit down and said, "Come on, Jianzhi, Yunfei, you don't need to be so reserved. I will leave it to Jianzhi for measuring the fields. Yunfei, as soon as you leave, you will be able to help Jianzhi." Qu Yuan quickly stood up to salute Guo Ming.

Zhu Zhi said again: "Jianzhi, you did a good job in recruiting ship craftsmen last time. I also found that your strength is that you can learn from one example and not stick to it in the process of doing things, so it is most suitable for you to do this job.

Don’t think this matter is simple, but it involves many benefits. Think about it, there are no big families. These landlords usually concentrate most of the land and then sublease them. Throughout the dynasties, the land will be measured in the way of these big landlords. They either bribe officials to reduce the land number, or transfer the land to the people, and take it back after the limelight is over. So the first thing you have to deal with is the big landlords in Liaodong. Fortunately, it has been a matter of nearly ten years since Liaodong has returned to our dynasty, and the big families have not had a deep foundation. Jianzhi, you are a relative of this king, and I just want you to use this big stick to break up the small abacus of these big families. In this regard, you must not let my hope.

The above problem is not a big problem. One thing is the top priority. Liaodong is vast and sparsely populated, but only more than 2 million mu of land, with an average of four mu of one person. Is this possible? So I think all regions have concealed the newly reclaimed land in recent years. So you need to supervise the officials below to thoroughly investigate these lands."

Guo Ming said: "This is even more problematic. Originally, land taxation is the lifeblood of the country and cannot be concealed by those unruly people."

Zhu Zhi smiled and said, "If you follow your ideas, I don't need to leave you behind and explain it separately. The key to this matter is here, let me listen carefully. I want you to do something, make two accounts with the newly found land, and add 20% of the new land to the old account. This account is used to deal with the court. When the new land is finally added and calculated, only two of you and I are allowed to know. The new land can be exempted from rent, and the term is three years, and then overlap with the old account after three years. From now on, the old account will be collected according to the old rules, and the new account will be collected according to the new rules, which will be a permanent example."

After hearing Zhu Zhi's words, Guo Ming couldn't help but jump in his heart and said, "Your Highness, this is a serious crime to conceal land and taxes."

Zhu Zhi said, "Don't worry, you two, I will find a way to report this matter to my father. It's just that I want to take action first and then report it. The same is true for the population, and we have to create two accounts. Okay, you can share this matter with the people below. Be sure to keep it confidential. Don't let others know before I report to my father." Seeing that Zhu Zhi had finished his advice, he waved his hand to let the two take a break.

Guo Ming left the station and looked uneasy. But Qu Yuan looked relaxed and seemed confident. Guo Ming asked: "Yun Fei, why did your highness hide the number of land acres? You could still collect taxes according to actual statistics? Look at this, have you figured it out?"

Qu Yuan smiled slightly and said, "Yuan was trying to save it without authorization. He found that His Highness really thought about the long-term. Look, why do the people cultivate new fields? It is because these acres of land can be taxed when paying taxes. Then if the government still needs to pay taxes after measuring the new fields, then the people's enthusiasm for reclaiming wasteland will be suppressed, which will be detrimental to Liaodong's expansion of land.

In the third year of Hongwu, the emperor had issued an order to exempt the rent from deserted fields, but it was only taken back in 20 years. Your Highness has just moved out this old case again. The people do not have to worry about hiding the charge of hiding the land, and they can also be at ease to reclaim the land. Your Highness's arrangements will increase the land tax on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is equivalent to encouraging the people to continue to reclaim new land. As for the emperor to find out in the future, I think your Highness will have a chance to deal with it, and you and I don't have to worry about anything." After Qu Yuan's explanation, Guo Ming suddenly realized and cheered.

After the first meeting of the four giants, Liaodong's career was launched without panic. Zhu Zhi arranged two more things that didn't seem to be big. One was to establish a pigeon communication system throughout Liaodong, and ordered people to recruit people to raise pigeons among the people, and establish pigeon stations in seven locations including Guangning, Guangning Zhongqianwei (Shanhaiguan), Tielingwei, Liaoyang, Dingliao Youwei Phoenix City (near Dandong), Jinzhouwei, Gaizhouwei, etc. for use by local military and political institutions; the other was to establish and strengthen the entire Liaodong.

The station network has formulated an emergency reporting system of 800 miles and 600 miles, requiring any place in the Liaodong Metropolitan City to transmit intelligence to Guangning within three days at most. Zhu Zhi is very clear that in ancient times, the speed of intelligence transmission became the key to the outcome of the war! In addition, he instructed Yang Rong to let all the "Wujian" seats gradually establish a pigeon delivery system. Zhu Zhi still regrets why it was not established in the capital for a year. It can be considered as a loss of money to do it now.

After arranging these things, Ye Wang also resigned and returned to the Liaoyang station. Yu Yi was left with Zhu Zhi and was arranged by him to help Yao Shan handle immigration affairs. Zhu Zhi believed that with Yao Shan's ability and Yu Yi's straightforwardness, the disadvantages of this matter can be minimized when executed.

Guo Ying put 200,000 taels of silver to build a royal mansion for Zhu Zhi, but Zhu Zhi asked his father-in-law to hold his troops temporarily. Now these silvers are the start-up funds for Liaodong. Zhu Zhi attached great importance to this money. If the royal mansion is not a royal mansion, just live safely. Within two days, Zhu Zhi moved back to the army on the grounds of the destruction of the royal mansion. The entire army moved to the north of the Daling River, cut wood and built camps, and the walls were piled with earth. The cost of the Liao king was reduced. The officials and people in Liaodong thought it was fortunate.

In fact, Zhu Zhi did this to make room for Jiao Zilong's research team. He asked Jiao Zilong to be the deputy Qianhu of Shenji Camp in name, but in fact he led the craftsmen to completely leave the military camp and move into the Qianyuan Palace to concentrate on developing flintlock rifles. His father-in-law Guo Ying provided all the steel required. The safety was carried out by Xiao Mawang, and he transferred a hundred households from the right guard of Yulin to be responsible for the guard. Zhu Zhi considered it and was led by Zhu De first.

Now that we are in Liaodong, the development time must be accelerated. Zhu Zhi issued an order to see the sample gun within three months. Jiao Zilong looked miserable and complained. Zhu Zhi didn't care about that much, but just told him that he wanted people to give them and money. In short, he had to see three sample guns in October. However, for some technical parameters, Zhu Zhi also lowered the requirements. When there was not enough technology to make the barrel, Zhu Zhi only required the musket to penetrate the heavy armor at 150 steps.

Zhu Zhi also sent Xiao Chenzi to buy a house in Guangning City and arranged for Wang Luchao and other remnants of Goryeo. Zhu Zhi felt that they had to think carefully about their use, after all, Zhu Yuanzhang did not dare to forget what Zhu Yuanzhang had ordered him at all.

As for military affairs, Zhu Zhi was not in a hurry. He decided to conduct a inspection in his jurisdiction before sorting out the reorganization plan so as not to make random matches without investigation and research. Whether in military or internal affairs, Zhu Zhi adopted a more pragmatic attitude and made a more steady journey. He hoped that by setting an example, the civil and military officials under him could also be pragmatic in handling military and political affairs.
Chapter completed!