Then Zhao Yun walked to the stone table next to him and sat down, while Wu Yuan carefully stood on the edge with his waist half bent.
Zhao Yun added: "I also know that those gentry are kind and some support the imperial court, but you have to admit that most of them are scum.
Most of the land under the names of these people was obtained by ancestors of past generations through various tricks. Otherwise, how could there be so many people willing to sell their land?
Not to mention anything else, let’s talk about the servants in this gentry’s house. Where did these people come from? Don’t tell me that their parents sold them willingly and happily. If you believe this, you will sell it.
Children, give it a try."
Wu Yuan had been an official in prefectures and counties for many years, and he knew deeply about the suffering of the people at the bottom, so he also knew that Zhao Yun's words were basically true.
Seeing that Wu Yuan was speechless, Zhao Yun smiled and continued: "Since most of the gentry's land came from disgrace and was very low-income, now I will take it back and return it to the poor people to realize redistribution and let people
People have land and every household has property, which benefits the country and the people. What’s wrong with that?
Although the new law will harm the interests of some good gentry, you have to admit that the gentry is more or less guilty of original sin. Now it is just taking back the land without holding them accountable. If they are content, they will be fine.
Qing family, I hope you understand that this is at the smallest price, in exchange for the complete transformation of the people of the world."
"But,,,but this will force the gentry to rebel!"
The biggest reason why Wu Yuan opposed the new law was that he was worried that the gentry would rebel. If they had money, food, people, and education, the intensity of their rebellion would be extraordinary.
"Just do the opposite."
Zhao Yun looked calm, with no trace of worry at all.
Zhao Yun said: "In the past, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty ignored the plight of the people. In the end, the people had no way to survive, which finally caused the world to be turbulent, and such a powerful dynasty was destroyed in one fell swoop.
How are we, the people of the Song Dynasty, any better now than we were then?"
With that said, Zhao Yun ordered Gao Shi to fetch a memorial from the study.
Zhao Yun said: "Look, Qing, this is the memorial sent by the Fujian Road pacifier. Just last month, a common people's rebellion occurred on Fujian Road. Although it has been put down, there are still more than 300 casualties.
Counting the previous ones, in the short two years since I took the throne, four people have rebelled. Why they rebelled, I don’t need to say more. Do you want me to follow the example of Emperor Sui Yang and ignore the suffering of the people?"
Wu Yuan was speechless and fell silent, thinking over Zhao Yun's words in his heart.
Zhao Yun stood up and said, "If the Qing family has no doubts, then go back to Zhenjiang early. The new law will be implemented across the country soon. At that time, it will be the time to really test you officials. I hope the Qing family will not give in."
I'm disappointed."
After saying that, Zhao Yun left, leaving Wu Yuan standing there stupidly.
At this moment, Wu Yuan only felt that Zhao Yun was so selfless and devoted to the people. His feelings towards Zhao Yun had undergone tremendous changes, and his resistance to the new law was no longer strong.
Time flies, and on June 17, the second year of Hengsheng, the joy of harvest is conveyed in Renhe, and everyone is happy.
On this day, when the grain was harvested, the fields were full of busy figures. Everyone had smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Piles of grain were piled up like hills. Everyone was crying with joy. They lay on top of the grain and cried.
Tears.
Although there were already county clerks collecting taxes at the rate of one out of every ten taxes, such taxes were completely bearable for the people. After paying the taxes, they could still have their warehouses full of food and no longer have to worry.
Many people from surrounding counties came to see it in person. When they saw that every household in Renhe was allocated thirty acres of land and now had such a big harvest, they were filled with envy and expectation.
"Officials, when will you come to Yuhang to implement the new law? We are all looking forward to this day."
"Yes, yes, we are all looking forward to this day. The court must not forget us."
When they saw the scribes, they kept asking questions. The scribes could only comfort them with kind words, "Hurry, hurry."
At this moment, the most proud thing is benevolence and the people.
The imperial court implemented the farmland-to-household law, and Renhe was the pilot, and they were the first to benefit. Now that I think back to when I rejected the new law, I wish I could slap myself in the mouth.
Liu Kezhuang was compiling the account books sent by the clerks, with an excited look on his face. Renhe had a bumper grain harvest and a huge increase in taxes. How could he be unhappy?
Chen Guiyi, Chen Longzhi, and Li Zongmian were also in the same eager mood, waiting for Liu Kezhuang to give them the final results.
Late at night, Liu Kezhuang finally came and said, "Your Majesty, I am very happy, very happy."
Chen Guiyi and the other three were shocked and hurried forward. Chen Guiyi hurriedly asked: "How about taxes? How much has it increased?"
Liu Kezhuang said: "Back to the envoy, Renhe County has 480,000 acres of land and produces about 970,000 shi of grain. Although the output has not increased much compared with previous years, due to the farmland to household law, the county government collected 140,000 shi of land tax.
Five thousand three hundred and seventy stones, an increase of 40% compared to last year, a full 40%."
Ordinary people had 30 acres of land and a tax of 10% per ten, but after the division of the powerful families, each of their children still had a thousand acres of land. These 1,000 acres of land were levied according to a tax of 10% per 10%, so the increase in land tax was astonishing.
"Really?" Chen Guiyi was excited and couldn't believe his ears.
Liu Kezhuang's face turned red with excitement, "How dare you deceive me about such a big matter?"
"Okay, okay, that's great."
Chen Guiyi said three good things in a row, with a look full of hope, "The new law has achieved results and can finally be implemented nationwide."
On June 25, the second year of Hengsheng, Lin'an, the Imperial Palace, Chui Gong Hall.
At the Great Court Meeting, hundreds of officials come to the court to pay homage to the king and discuss state affairs.
At this time, all the officials were in a bad mood, with serious faces and no trace of a smile. In sharp contrast to them were Chen Guiyi, Chen Longzhi and Li Zongmian, whose faces were full of excitement.
The new law is about to be fully implemented, how can they not be excited?
Chen Guiyi was the first to leave. He raised his hand to Zhao Yun and said, "Your Majesty, I have this memorial."
Zhao Yun's face was calm, but his eyes could not hide his excitement, "If anything happens to the Qing family, let me know."
Chen Guiyi held the memorial high, Gao Shi walked down the hall, took the memorial from Chen Guiyi, and handed it to Zhao Yun for review.
At the same time, Chen Guiyi also spoke loudly to the officials: "The farmland-to-household method was implemented in Renhe, and a total of 9,353 households were distributed fields, with a total of 280,000 and 590 acres of land distributed.
Official land did not decrease but increased, adding more than 20,000 acres.
Later, the grain harvest in Renhe was not a good year, but the people were full of warehouses and beaming with joy. The county government also received more than 145,000 shi of grain, which was a 40% increase from last year's land tax. It can be said that it enriched both the court and the people.