. "Well? Most of them are private lands of aristocratic families?!" Xiang Zhuang couldn't help frowning when he heard this. This situation was really beyond his expectations. Logically, Western Chu was destroyed in just five years, and Great Chu had just established a country. It is impossible for land annexation to be so serious?

Xiang Zhuang asked again: "Ziyi, why is this happening?"

Xiang sighed and replied: "The previous king and Liu Bang attacked for five years, and they consumed countless money and grain. In addition, the six counties in Jiangbei were repeatedly stolen by the Liang army, and the people had no food to collect. Therefore, the four counties in Jiangdong were extremely heavy in land taxes. The people could not afford to pay the land tax, so they could only borrow grain from the aristocratic families. If they borrowed the grain, they could only mortgage the land. After a few years, it became like this."

Xiang Zhuang nodded silently. It seemed that the war was caused by the war. Although Jiangdong did not directly suffer from the war, it was also affected by the war.

After pondering for a while, Xiang Zhuang finally said, "Ziyi, this situation must be stopped!"

It is obviously impossible to have land annexation in Jiangdong so serious. In history, there were no dynasties with serious land annexation that were not destroyed, and no matter how powerful it was, it would be useless!

For example, during the Ming Dynasty, a large amount of land was annexed to the names of gentry (scholars with fame and honor) during the Chongzhen period. These gentry did not need to receive taxes. In the end, the national treasury was so poor that the soldiers were not as grain, and the army had no salary. In the end, the Ming Dynasty was destroyed by refugees. What kind of climate can refugees become? In the end, the Qing Dynasty was in vain. It is really regrettable to say that it was a waste of money.

Xiang Zhuang did not want the Great Chu or the Great Chu Empire to repeat the mistakes of the Ming Empire in the future.

Xiang did not understand Xiang Zhuang's meaning for a moment, and asked: "King, what do you mean is to stop the private land of the aristocratic families and gentry? This situation has actually been stopped. Since the king succeeded to the throne and reduced the land tax rate to 15 taxes, the self-cultivated farmers in Jiangdong have been enough to support themselves."

"No, I'm not talking about this." Xiang Zhuang shook his head.

Land annexation is obviously unstoppable. Even though Xiang Zhuang is a time traveler and is familiar with the rise and fall of many feudal dynasties, he still cannot prevent the occurrence of land annexation, which is basically unsolvable. The only thing Xiang Zhuang needs to consider is that no matter how the land annexes, the tax source of the treasury will not be lost. This is the fundamental thing!

For example, in the Ming Dynasty, if the aristocrats also received taxes, how could the country perish?

If the Tu tribe owned a large amount of land and the Tu people with more than one million were also paid, how could the Ming Dynasty treasury be so poor? How could the imperial emperor and empress have to wear common clothes? How could Zhu Youjian have to beg for alms with his ministers and royal relatives? As a result, Zhu Youjian's face was only a few hundred thousand taels of silver, and the rewards for the military and civilians were not enough to defend the city. As a result, Beijing was directly captured by refugees, and Zhu Youjian committed suicide..com was over quickly updating the Ming Empire.

When Xiang Zhuang was pondering, Xiang suddenly said, "Master, I have a way."

Xiang Zhuang asked subconsciously: "What method?"

Xiang said: "After the autumn harvest, it is time to enter the slack season. The strong men in each county and county should also serve Yao. I think it is better to concentrate the labor of the strong men in several counties to reclaim a large amount of wasteland along the Yangtze River. And attract tenant farmers from each county and county to farm at a low price. If the official land is too small, the dilemma of insufficient land tax can be solved. In addition, the treasury can also get an extra sum of money and grain. It is better than nothing."

Today, Jiangdong has a population density that is far from saturated, and there are still a large amount of wasteland for reclamation near Taihu Lake.

"This is a good idea." Xiang Zhuang nodded, then changed the subject and continued, "But the newly reclaimed fields are all raw fields, and the output is probably not too high. It will take at least five years to cultivate the fields. How can you survive these five years? Especially this year, I thought the situation of autumn grain harvest will improve, but I didn't want to be so embarrassed."

Xiang was silent, and he really couldn't think of a solution to this.

Xiang Zhuang suddenly said: "Ziyi, I plan to implement the new land tax method, and this year it will be implemented. The land tax for the 15th tax will remain unchanged, but the target of the tax must be expanded to the country's land. Whether it is to promote the common people, the scholars and noble families, or even the royal family, they must accept the tax according to the law, and those who resist the law will never tolerate it."

"This..." Xiang He frowned, "Master, is this a bit too extreme?"

Xiang could guess without thinking that once this new land tax method was implemented, it would inevitably lead to fierce opposition from the aristocratic families and gentry, because almost all the aristocratic families own a large amount of land, and even more so. The king almost snatched food from their mouths. How could they not object?

When the law of the registered household registration and the Jiangdong clan was just promulgated, Xiang did not think that now is a good time for offending aristocratic families and gentry. Once aristocratic families, gentry and clans join forces to resist the royal power, the situation will be serious, and perhaps the Great Chu will suffer an unprecedented catastrophe.

Xiang Zhuang also felt that everything was important, so he sent someone to find Bailixian.

After hearing the whole story, Bailixian shook the feather fan and pondered for a long time and said, "Master, it's not impossible to do this."

"Military advisor, you are not..." Xiang he was anxious and was about to refute but was stopped by Xiang Zhuang. Xiang Zhuang turned around and said to Bailixian, "Ziliang, what should I do about this?"

Bailixian smiled slightly and looked at Xiang and said, "What Yin was most worried about was that once the new land tax law was implemented, aristocratic families, gentry and clans would join forces to resist the law and challenge the royal power. It is not difficult to solve this situation. First, gather the clans of each county to serve Yao, build cities, or reclaim wasteland, so that the clans of each county could not cause trouble."

Xiang Zhuang nodded and said, "Ziyi had already told me about this matter. Let these strong clans go to Guquze and go to Wujiang to open up land, and the national treasury can also increase the income."

The clan men from all counties all went to Gu Quze, and the land was opened by the Wujiang River. Even if the clan elders smelled a strange smell and wanted to make something strange, they would have no strong men under their command, so what else could they make? As for the clan men from all counties concentrated in Gu Quze, and Wujiang River, of course, they had to implement militarized management. In addition, no one took the lead, so there would be no accident.

Bailixian nodded and continued, "Secondly, the king must issue another edict to significantly increase the salary of Shiqing Sehun in the name of rewarding the meritorious ministers. At least they must return the land tax collected from Shiqing Sehun to them in full. In this way, Shiqing Sehun's interests will not be damaged, and they will not react excessively."

The Shiqing Shixun mentioned by Baili Xian is actually the ancient Chu clan, such as Shusun Guan, Qu Yi, Wu Qi, etc. Although the number of these ancient Chu clans is not large, only a dozen, it has a great influence in Jiangdong. Although they have no military power, as long as they climb high and call, there will definitely be someone to raise troops to respond.

Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to please the Chu clan.

Bailixian paused and continued, "In the end, only the gentry who migrated from the six counties in Jiangbei to Jiangdong. These gentry did not hold high positions like Shiqing Shixun and did not have much influence in the army, but they were defeated by a huge number. There were at least thousands of gentry in the four counties in Jiangdong. Once they resisted, they should not be underestimated."

Xiang nodded repeatedly and agreed: "What the military advisor said is that the county magistrates, county magistrates and many subordinate officials of the four counties and fifty-six counties in Jiangdong are mostly held by the children of the gentry. Once the new law angers, they do not have to openly resist the new law. They just instruct the children of the gentry to abandon their official positions and retire, and the bureau will be unable to deal with it."

Xiang Zhuang was shocked: "This is indeed a hidden danger."

Imagine that once most of the county magistrates, county magistrates and subordinate officials in the fifty-six counties resign, wouldn’t the political situation of the entire Chu State be in chaos?

Bailixian smiled slightly and continued: "So, before implementing the new land tax method, we must first implement the literati, peasant, industrial and commercial courses to reserve enough talents for the country. At that time, it would be fine if the children of the gentry did not resign in large quantities. Once the renounced in large quantities, they would just be able to enrich the reserved talents to each county and county to shoulder the important tasks."

Xiang He said in confusion: "Military advisor, scholar, peasant, industrial and commercial course?"

Baili Xian waved his hand, took out a book from his sleeve and handed it to Xiang Zhuang. After reading it, Xiang Zhuang's eyes lit up, and then handed it to Xiang. Xiang saw that he had a slightly moved expression at the end and whispered: "All the children of Chu, regardless of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, can all participate in the national examination? Those who pass the score will be awarded the title of official sir?"

Xiang Zhuang nodded slightly. Although the title of Gongshu is humble, the amount of money taken from the treasury every year can be ignored. However, for many poor children from farmers, workers and merchants, once they have the title, just like the scholars in later generations have fame and fame, they will have the qualifications to become officials. This is the most important thing.

There is no doubt that the implementation of the literati, peasant, industrial and commercial courses can indeed greatly eliminate the potential for strikes by the children of the gentry.

This is because, in addition to the aristocratic families, the children of the gentry, the farmers, workers and merchants in Jiangdong, there are also scholars among the children of merchants, especially the children of merchants. Because their families have a wealth of family, they have the opportunity to study. However, since Wei Yang began to emphasize agriculture and suppress commerce, the status of merchants has been declining. Until now, it is basically impossible for the children of merchants to stand out.

Once the literati, peasant, industrial and commercial course is implemented, the status of aristocratic families will not be too threatened, and there will be no reaction. The majority of geniuses will definitely strongly oppose it, but Xiang Zhuang was originally planning to deal with them, so there is no need to worry about it. As for poor families such as farmers, workers, and merchants, they will definitely fully support the implementation of the new law.

In this way, the new law will have the first batch of staunch supporters!

In all reforms, while eliminating the old ones who gain benefits, they must also support a new interest class. Otherwise, the new law will never last long.

The reason why Wei Yang's reform was successful was that he supported a large number of emerging landlords in the process of reform. Therefore, even though Wei Yang died, the new law was not abolished. The reason why Wang Anshi and Zhang Juzheng's reform failed was that they did not support the interest groups that were closely related to the new law, and the law of death was abolished.
Chapter completed!