Land annexation is an unavoidable and rarely solved problem in all dynasties, especially in the Tang Dynasty.
Li Shimin and Li Zhi knew the past but did not know what was behind, but Li Qinzai knew the history of the Tang Dynasty very well.
It can be said that there may be many reasons for the decline of the Tang Dynasty, such as the separatist vassal towns, the treacherous ministers who harmed the country, the weakening of the army's combat power, etc., but these reasons are only symptoms. The fundamental reason for the decline of the Tang Dynasty is the annexation of land.
A large amount of land among the people was swallowed up and occupied by the powerful, and the peasants were reduced to serfs or refugees. The imperial authority was gradually lost, and the people's support was lost. The government army system had to be changed to a recruitment system. Soldiers no longer fought for their own land, and lost their faith and natural fighting ability.
weak.
So the Tang Dynasty, which was extremely prosperous, was gently pushed by An Lushan, and Jinlou Cloud City collapsed.
If it is truly prosperous, can An Lushan really be able to overthrow it with just one person?
Because the powerful annexed the land, the foundation of the Tang Dynasty had collapsed, and external forces could easily tear it down.
The phenomenon of land annexation has already begun to appear during Li Zhi's administration.
Li Qinzai impeached the Li family of Zhao County for twelve crimes at the court meeting, including land enclosure.
Impeachment was a means to overthrow the Li family of Zhao County, but the charges handed over to Li Qinzai by Baiqisi were all true. Today's aristocratic families are generally encroaching on the land of farmers.
As far as Li Qinzai knew, the invincible Tang Dynasty soldiers would gradually cease to exist in name only in the later years of Li Zhi's reign, and had to be replaced by a recruitment system.
This is a hidden danger of the Tang Dynasty, a very huge hidden danger. It is related to the state of the Tang Dynasty and how many years the Tang Dynasty can maintain its rule.
Li Qinzai has become accustomed to the life of the Tang Dynasty. He married a wife and had children here. He has relatives and friends. He is inseparable from this world, so he does not want to see his favorite dynasty continue on its original historical track.
He could not imagine that a few years later, Qiao'er, who was already in his twilight years, would still experience the pain of war and be displaced.
So he hopes to change something so that this powerful dynasty can last longer and the peace of the years can last longer.
This is the purpose of Li Qinzai's admonishment today.
It is not entirely public-spirited, but also mixed with some private interests, but there is no conflict between the two.
Fortunately, Li Zhi was not a foolish emperor after all, and he always paid great attention to Li Qinzai's advice.
After listening to Li Qinzai's words, Li Zhi's expression gradually became serious, and he also realized the seriousness of the matter.
As an emperor, what does Li Zhi care about most? Apart from caring about his aunt and niece, he certainly cares about the imperial power the most.
Just like what men like to show off, he cares not only about the quality of the imperial power, but also about how long the imperial power lasts, and even more about how the people who prostrate themselves under the imperial power feel.
If everyone is equally happy, of course it would be best. If only he feels happy unilaterally and the people below feel pain because of his rudeness, then it will be boring.
The realm of "harmonizing music and music" not only refers to men and women, but can also be applied to rulers and the ruled.
"What Jingchu said is true." Li Zhi nodded solemnly, and then sighed: "In the past few years, Baiqisi has submitted many reports to me, many of which are about the occupation of private land by aristocratic families and powerful people in the court.
."
"Now they don't dare to be unscrupulous. After all, the Tang Dynasty managed the Qingming Dynasty and the people were simple. They are not so much occupying it as buying it. It is a transaction between the two parties."
"But land is so important that powerful people from aristocratic families cannot buy it. If there are more farmers selling land, the rich and powerful will occupy more land. This is not a good thing for the country after all."
Li Zhi sighed and said helplessly: "Jingchu, it's not that I haven't seen these disadvantages, but...if the family is not weakened, many of my decrees will not be implemented."
"The aristocratic families have deep influence in the local area and are deeply intertwined with each other. They can completely obey the government orders that are not good for them, and local officials have nothing to do with them."
"This is why I am determined to weaken the aristocratic family. If the aristocratic family is not eliminated, no matter how much benevolence and good governance the court has, it will be just a piece of paper at the local level and useless. Can Jingchu understand my difficulties?"
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly.
In fact, he is also aware of the current abuses of the imperial court. If Li Zhi issues a decree now, forcing the powerful families from various places not to purchase and occupy land, will the families comply?
Who would swallow the fat in his belly and then spit it out and give it back to others?
To govern a country, you can only simmer it over a slow fire. No matter how anxious you are, there is nothing you can do. If the fire is not enough, things will not be solved.
Fortunately, Li Zhi and Li Qinzai are still young. Li Zhi is only in his thirties now, and Li Qinzai is only in his twenties. Li Zhi's old illness is slowly being recuperated. If nothing else, his life span should be
Much more than in real history.
As for Li Qinzai, he had already made up his mind to live until Li Zhi died first. If the king did not die, the minister would not dare to die...
Their lives are still long, and they have enough time to solve these long-standing problems.
The monarch and his ministers looked at each other and smiled bitterly, and then Li Qinzai's expression became relaxed again.
The future is long, and the current short-term goal is to cooperate with Li Zhi to weaken the family.
"Your Majesty, I have one more thing..."
"you say."
"I have a favorite student who also wants to take the scientific examination this time."
Li Zhi was a little surprised: "I have appointed you as the chief examiner of Mingshu. If your disciples want to take the examination, you can decide for yourself. What do you want to tell me?"
Li Qinzai hesitated for a moment and said, "This protégé of yours is a bit special. She is born as a girl."
Li Zhi was stunned. He knew the disciples of Ganjingzhuang Academy to some extent. There were only two female disciples under Li Qinzai, and they were both created by him after he trembled one night many years ago.
"Xuancheng and Yiyang?" Li Zhi said in surprise.
"Only Princess Xuancheng, I must admit frankly, she is the most outstanding of all my disciples. She is very talented in calculating and calculating things clearly, even better than I am."
Li Zhi laughed, and like all the parents in the world, he suddenly showed a proud look, and waved his hands pretending to be reserved: "Jingchu is so complimentary, haha, so complimentary."
Li Qinzai said seriously: "I am not exaggerating. Princess Xuancheng is indeed very talented."
Li Jiahe was furious: "I was just shivering back then, but I didn't expect to have such an unexpected surprise... No wonder I felt so good when I was shivering."
Li Qinzai: “…………”
You really don’t treat me as an outsider. If you like Dese so much, how about writing the details in the history books? Let future generations tremble with you when they read the history books?
After pondering for a moment, Li Zhi said seriously: "Women cannot have fame and official positions. Jingchu must be very clear about this, but if she wants to weigh the world's talents, I cannot let my daughter down..."
"On the day of the scientific examination, I set up a separate examination room in Anren Hall and asked Xuancheng to take the examination. The test papers are the same as the scientific examination. I personally invigilated the examination. After the examination, Jing Chu will still read the papers. What does Jing Chu think?"
Li Qinzai was overjoyed and bowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for this."
Li Zhi's smile did not diminish, his eyes full of relief and pride: "I also want to see if my daughter can compete with the world's elite."