After getting up, Liu Yang walked around the room, pondering deeply, until a waiter brought two cups of hot milk, then he sat down, personally placed one of the cups in front of Song Xiong, and waved to the waiter to leave.
After thinking about it, Liu Yang seemed to have thought about what to say. He looked at Song Xiong, sighed softly, and said: "Song Gong, if you ask the court for money, grain, silk, farming tools, or even
All officials and talented people can be easily solved, but this small group of people is not easy to solve!"
Song Xiong also took a sip of hot milk, nodded and said, "Your Highness, I understand!"
Liu Yang continued: "Since the Kaibao Year, the imperial court has had a policy of emigration to the border areas, but you have heard about the results in Yanshan.
Nowadays, there is no shortage of population in all the borders of the Han Dynasty. However, although the immigration policy has not been abolished, it has actually come to a standstill. After all, the imperial court cannot strictly order people to move to the border.
First, local officials are unwilling to release the people, and the people are unwilling to relocate and leave their homes. If they are forced to do so through administrative orders, it will definitely cause public resentment. This has been reflected for a long time.
Therefore, if Liaodong asks for people from the imperial court, the imperial court will also be in trouble! Moreover, Liaodong is also remote and bitterly cold. Even if the criminals are exiled, they will not want to come here, and it is not peaceful at the moment..."
"Your Highness is right!" Song Xiong still nodded and said to Liu Yang: "All the veterans know what Your Highness said. However, it is precisely because of this that Liaodong should be enriched to consolidate its rule. Liaodong is dilapidated and has many wastes waiting to be revitalized. If there is no
How to revitalize population?
On the other hand, Liaodong, like the northwest, had been dissatisfied with the king for a long time when they went to China. The local people of all ethnic groups, including the Han survivors, did not have much respect for the Han Dynasty.
In the past ten years or so, the reason why His Majesty has used various policy opportunities to immigrate to the border and populate the northwest is because he wants to reassert his power, consolidate the foundation and cultivate the people, and strengthen the Han's control over the old land. The Han people are the most important foundation.
Compared to the northwest, the situation in the northeast is more serious. After all, the Liao Kingdom has had nearly fifty years of control and influence, allowing three generations to grow up. If they want to be naturalized again, it will cost more and take more time.
Therefore, the veteran believes that no matter how difficult it is, the imperial court should enrich Liaodong!"
Song Xiong's words are reasonable and well-founded. Taking into account the historical legacy and practical conditions, in short, it is necessary to add people! For the public, of course it is to strengthen the Han's rule over Liaodong. For the private, he is a dignified person.
The chief envoy to Liaodong and the population of officials and people under his jurisdiction cannot always be inferior to those populous state capitals in the Central Plains. If you want to achieve political results, you also need a population.
When Song Xiong told the story, Liu Yang nodded subconsciously, indicating that he agreed with his point of view. After thinking about it for a while, he asked: "Song Gong came to see me. He should have some ideas. He can draft a statement. If it is feasible, I will submit it on my behalf."
The Center and Your Majesty!”
Hearing this, Old Song Xiong's face suddenly burst into laughter. Didn't he just want to seek the support of the prince? The same memorial, presented by the prince, was not even a bit heavier than him.
Taking out a memorial from his sleeve, Song Xiong presented it respectfully and said: "Before I came, I drafted a memorial and asked your highness to read it!"
Liu Yang took the reading and looked past the words describing the necessity of enriching Liaodong's population and focused on the specific measures. But when he saw the first item, he frowned.
Song Xiong had seven opinions in total, making suggestions and formulating relevant policies around enriching and restoring Liaodong. Especially in terms of attracting immigrants, he planned to introduce many preferential policies. The core was to allocate land for free, and the government would provide resettlement fees and various assistance.
, and conduct large-scale tax exemptions.
For a period of fifteen years, all formal taxes, including the two taxes, will be exempted, the Ding tax will be abolished, and commercial taxes and customs duties will also be exempted to attract merchants and enhance folk vitality. Basically, for the people who immigrated to Liaodong, in
Within ten years, there will be no other burdens except necessary servitude.
It has to be said that such conditions are very tempting. In addition, there are some things that the court can cooperate with. For example, for the migration of people, local governments cannot set up obstacles, and all criminals who have committed exiles will be sent to Liaodong, etc.
.
Of course, what really made Liu Yang frown was the first point. Song Xiong paid attention to the Han troops who stayed in Liaodong. He suggested that these Han troops be naturalized in Liaodong, be given land, and move their families here.
Sixty thousand Han troops means 60,000 families and hundreds of thousands of people. If the trip can be carried out, the population of Liaodong will directly double. Just a little prospect is enough to make Song Xiong excited.
Of course, his appetite is not that big. Those officers and soldiers from the Forbidden Army dare not ask for it, and they don't have that big appetite, but the remaining border troops and some local troops can be fought for.
Of course, Liu Yang also understood that this was a direct and effective method, but he also knew that it was a bit difficult to operate. The army had strict orders and prohibitions. If they were allowed to go to the battlefield, fight, and die, they would not have much complaints. If they were allowed to do it permanently,
Staying in Liaodong will easily cause problems. When it comes to military matters, of course, you have to be careful.
"This statement by Duke Song is very insightful!" Liu Yang carefully read Song Xiong's memorial, looked up at him, and said with a calm expression on his face: "I will submit the report on your behalf after you return to the court!"
Song Xiong observed Liu Yang's expression. Although he had no clear opinion or any promise, Song Xiong still expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Your Highness!"
This old guy also knows in his heart that it is impossible to completely follow his ideas, but since the opinions have been raised, he can always agree to a few points and gain something.
Speaking of which, it has been eight years since Kaibao. Population is still one of the political goals pursued by the Han Dynasty, and it is also a problem that restricts the continued development of the Han Dynasty.
According to the demographic statistics reported by various places in the sixth year of Kaibao, the registered population of the Han Dynasty has more than 6.74 million households, about 40 million people. In the past ten years, a large number of baby boomers have appeared among the Han people, and the people have become bolder.
Work hard to have children.
This number has already grown rapidly. It has more than quadrupled compared to the beginning of the founding of the country. You must know that in the early years of Qianyou, the population under the jurisdiction of the Han Dynasty was less than 9 million.
In the Han Dynasty, there are many densely populated places, such as Gyeonggi, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and even super cities like Kaifeng and Luoyang with a population of one million.
But overall, the Han Dynasty is still in a state of vast land and sparsely populated areas. The land is very abundant for cultivation and the population capacity is far from overflowing. Under this background, it is difficult to mobilize the people and leave their hometowns to enrich Liaodong and develop the Northeast.
One can imagine.
If the people are not motivated, the effect will not be very good just through government guidance or even forced promotion, and may even achieve half the result with half the effort. This trip to the northwest states and the migration of people have already proved this.
Of course, there is always a way, and Song Xiong's few suggestions have demonstrated its appeal very well. Although Liaodong is remote, its conditions are not too bad. In the past, whenever there was a war in the Central Plains, soldiers and people took refuge.
Pure land.
Fertile land and abundant resources provide the basis for development. However, the conditions submitted by Song Xiong are too preferential and the policies are too liberal. If agreed, it may cause a chain reaction and lead to
Other Daozhou states were dissatisfied. After all, the imperial court could not focus solely on the newly recovered Liaodong.
Liu Yang saw this, so he did not express his position clearly. In the end, he planned to submit it on his behalf and let Emperor Liu and the court officials make up their minds. No matter what, Liaodong must be dealt with properly after all. If Liaodong is not stable, then the Northeast will be
It is difficult to have a good foundation for governance.