After two full months, under the personal supervision and management of Sun Chuanting and Li Zhongzheng, the acres of land and population in Datong Mansion were finally inventoried and measured.
Although the two months of bloodshed have made the common people and gentry in Datong panic.
But when the government officially announced a new allocation of land based on the actual population of each household,
The common people all cheered.
Under the leadership of each Jia chief or li chief, the people from each village and area came in batches outside the prefect's Yamen to receive their own acres of land.
They looked at the title deed that they had received from the government, had their own fingerprints stamped on it, and had the government's seal stamped at the same time, and finally believed that all this was true.
The farmers felt like they had found a treasure and held on to the land deed tightly, as if they were afraid that he would escape.
There are also people,
I was so excited that I burst into tears and started crying on the spot.
The only fly in the ointment is that the land actually belongs to the government, and the land assigned to them only has the right to use it.
They cannot be bought, sold, transferred, or rented, and any violation will be punished with a felony.
"Your Majesty knows that many of you are illiterate and do not know the contents of this land deed, so you specially asked us government officials to read it here."
"You all should clean your ears and listen clearly. Don't suffer a loss in the future and still don't know what happened."
"The land allocated to you belongs to your family. There are years on it. Each household has a unified standard, all of which are five years."
"In the past five years,
This land cannot be left uncultivated. If it cannot be planted, ask your Lijia chief to come to the government with the land deed documents and the reasons for reporting."
"Or if there are more children in the family and the number of cultivated land is not equal to the population, the same is true. You can ask your chief Lijia to come to the government to apply for new cultivated land."
"When the time limit is up, just like today, you will come to the government office and re-allocate. Have you remembered everything?"
"Also, from now on, you will only have to pay land tax. Your family will pay as much tax as the land they own. You will pay the same tax as the land you own."
"For other specific matters, you can ask your commander or scholar."
The government officials explained impatiently, and after allocating the land, the people were changed one after another.
Although it was just a few words, these farmers who depended on the land for their survival felt reassured.
There are no longer those exorbitant taxes and there is no need to worry about the land being seized by the landlords. There is finally hope for this day.
What neither the government officials nor the common people know is that
At an inconspicuous alley, Zhu Youxiao, dressed as a wealthy man, was personally witnessing the implementation of the new policy.
Behind him, Chen Qiyu, dressed as a Confucian scholar, was also watching all this.
Although he saw with his own eyes the heartfelt smiles and satisfaction of these people, he was deeply influenced by the ethos of the times and Confucianism.
We are still opposed to this new policy.
It’s not that he doesn’t regard these lower-class people as human beings, or that he doesn’t want the imperial court to be prosperous and powerful and the Ming Dynasty to regain its glory, but his perspective on affairs is mainly from the perspective of the gentry group.
"Chen Qing, what do you think when you see this scene?"
"Have your views and thoughts changed?"
Zhu Youxiao was naturally satisfied that the officials and government officials could carry out his will and policies to the letter.
However, he still wanted to know whether Chen Qiyu, who had old ideas, would change under the circumstances.
After all, real talents were still relatively rare in the late Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Youxiao did not want to rely on killing people to solve problems.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the people should pay attention to it and treat it kindly, but it can be done in other ways."
"Instead of robbing other people's property and fields, this is not what the Holy Lord Mingjun did. It is the source of disaster that ruins the credibility and prestige of His Majesty and the court."
"Although the starting point of your Majesty's new policy is good, it is too tyrannical and cruel, and has never been seen before in all dynasties."
"After all, the gentry is the foundation of the country, and the landlords and powerful men are the mainstay of the country. Your Majesty has offended them all. Your Majesty has abandoned the legacy of your ancestors."
"If I say something disrespectful, it is tantamount to Your Majesty creating your own rebellion."
"The incident of Datong will spread throughout the world in less than half a year. By then, all the gentry and landlords in the world will be in danger and alienated from the imperial court and His Majesty."
"This is the beginning of disaster for the country. I hope that your majesty can quickly stop the implementation of this new policy. You can adopt a gentle policy and recuperate, which can also revive our emperor's Ming Dynasty."
Chen Qiyu's words are indeed very pertinent. Although his subjective consciousness is still on the opposite side, it is very rare.
It is a pity that what Zhu Youxiao wanted was not to share the world with the scholar-bureaucrats, nor to form an alliance of interests between the emperor and the officials and gentry to cooperate in exploiting the common people.
It was impossible for Chen Qiyu's few words to influence him.
"It seems that Chen Qing has really never seen the real sufferings of the people and how difficult people's lives are."
"But it's okay. After you go to Yunnan, you will know why I want to carry out reforms at all costs."
"Huang Ming is now strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Although he is more than terminally ill, he is not far off."
"Besides, as an emperor, shouldn't I be afraid of offending someone?"
"I want to see how the gentry and landlords reacted when the news of Datong spread throughout the world."
"It would be better if they raised the flag to rebel and just sent troops to suppress them. Taizu was a commoner and founded the country with the help of bows and horses. How can I still be afraid of fighting?"
In the face of absolute strength, Zhu Youxiao didn't need to play tricks or find someone to take the blame.
Now, he can directly and completely control hundreds of thousands of troops, with heavy troops stationed in the southwest and south of the Yangtze River.
If they really want to jump over the wall, let's see who is faster with his knife or their heads.
After saying these words, Zhu Youxiao also left here and went straight back to Daiwang Palace.
Chen Qiyu, who was about to go to Yunnan to serve as governor, was left behind, staring at the bustling government office in a daze.
"Why bother talking to him? How can a scholar-official like him understand the suffering of the people?"
On the way back to the palace, Ma Xianglin, who had always been aloof from politics, actually discussed this matter with the emperor for the first time.
Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but look at him with a strange look.
Ma Xianglin quickly explained:
"I really don't agree with what Chen Futai just said. Although I have been a general and hereditary commander for generations."
"Kechen has seen too many injustices since he was a child. Oppression and exploitation are commonplace. The southwest is far away from the capital, and there are many people of all ethnic groups."
"Those officials appointed by the imperial court have no regard for the life and death of the people, whether they are Han people or people of other ethnic groups."
"They also secretly instigate conflicts and wars, causing discordant tribes to attack each other, and they seek benefits from it."
"The local scholars and officials all regard themselves as masters, and they use their sweet words to deceive the illiterate farmers. It is really hateful."
"If it weren't for them, the southwest would not be in such chaos, let alone wars."