The expert means that new reform measures will be implemented in the south.
The specific reform content is actually similar to the reform content of successive dynasties over thousands of years.
Nothing more than the following points.
First, suppress powerful families, measure the land, return farmland to the common people, and reduce landless refugees.
Second, strictly investigate the phenomenon of tax evasion by the bureaucratic family class, make officials and the people pay taxes as one, and cut off all privileges.
Third, prohibit exorbitant levies and miscellaneous taxes, reduce taxes on corvee services, and collect only two taxes, namely the Ding tax and the Mu tax, to rest with the people and never increase taxes.
Fourth, abolish the slavery system, not allow hidden households and property, compile household registration, liberate the population, and increase labor productivity.
Fifth, rectify the administration of officials, select talents, establish an official evaluation system, and establish a new supervision and inspection system.
Sixth, streamline the army, reduce the old and weak, strengthen the army and the country, and create an elite force capable of fighting.
Seventh, reform the talent selection system, reduce the number of talents in the imperial examination system, and parallel the assessment system. Scholars can choose to actively sign up for the annual official examination.
Eighth, increase business taxes, and at the same time actively promote business development and establish business groups led by the government to ensure people's livelihood.
Among them, many people will think that the second article is a huge reform measure, but in fact, officials and gentry have paid taxes since ancient times, including the Ming and Qing Dynasties. However, in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there was a tax exemption policy for officials and gentry above the imperial examination. As more and more officials and gentry were promoted to Jinshi
, there are more and more tax exemptions for contributions, which has led to serious land mergers.
In the Han Dynasty, aristocratic families hid their fields and population. The two taxes at that time were land tax and head tax. The aristocratic families concealed these fields and population, turning people and fields into their own private property, thus avoiding the court's taxes.
Therefore, as long as the hidden properties of hidden households are checked, more fields and people are liberated, and registered, tax revenue will naturally continue to flow.
In addition, the last commercial tax is more controversial. Zhuge Liang once considered whether doing so would cause a lot of trouble. For example, if the government personally went to do business, would it lead to the birth of special privileges.
However, Shen Chen emphasized that only government trading houses for rice merchants and salt merchants should be established, and other governments would not intervene. This was done to lower the price of grain and salt. The government would collect grain and control the salt fields to achieve the purpose of stabilizing prices.
Zhuge Liang agreed when he heard that they were just making rice and salt.
This is because both Han Dynasties did this. In the Han Dynasty, salt and iron were monopolized. The state controlled salt to keep the price of salt low. At the same time, granaries were built in various places. The granaries were filled with new grain every year, and the old grain was sold in the market to stabilize prices.
For example, in the Wenjing period of the Western Han Dynasty, due to good weather and good government, the price of rice at that time was even as low as more than ten yuan per stone, which was more than ten times lower than the normal price of about two hundred yuan per stone in the Eastern Han Dynasty. This shows the importance of the government's control of rice and salt.
sex.
It is a pity that any system is good at the beginning, but if it does not change for a long time, it is easy for people to take advantage of loopholes. For example, if the grain in the granary is sold by the officials in charge, and when it is inspected by superiors, the evidence will be burned immediately.
Mi Fang and Shi Ren should be very familiar with this.
Therefore, the contents of Shen Chen's reforms are nothing more than strengthening centralization, enriching government finances, reducing the burden on the people, improving national defense capabilities, promoting the development of the commodity economy, etc.
These are all reform plans that have been in place for a long time in all dynasties.
For example, Shang Yang's Reform, Emperor Xiaowen's Reform, Qingli's New Deal, Zhang Juzheng's Reform, etc. are all taught in junior high and high school history books, so they are just copied homework.
It's not that Shen Chen can't think of new methods, but that these methods are already the best solutions in the feudal era. They can be regarded as a kind of expedient method that can cure the shortcomings of the problem.
If we want to find new methods, we must improve productivity and develop science and technology.
And even if productivity is improved, new problems will arise, and adjustments still need to be made according to the situation.
Therefore, the legal system and policies of countries in the new era are changing every moment. The simplest example is that the spring breeze of reform is blowing all over the land. At least more than 99% of the people in the new era can have enough to eat. That is already great.
Therefore, when Shen Chen promoted reform, he could only choose the best solution to solve the problem under limited conditions, thereby alleviating the increasingly acute social conflicts.
Moreover, if we continue to implement it in the South, we will not encounter any resistance at all.
Even Shen Chen, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Xu Shu were involved, otherwise they would not have transferred Jingzhou officials to Yizhou, and Yizhou officials to Jingzhou to implement the separation of the two places.
At this point, Shen Chen was a little envious of Cao Cao.
Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Dong Zhuo's Rebellion were the most serious in the north, the power of powerful families was not as strong as before, so in history Cao Cao rarely had to resolve land issues between the family and the people.
It’s not that he did well, it’s that the powerful northern families were weakened by several chaos, and there were no-man’s lands everywhere.
Even Yuan Shao crazily suppressed wealthy families in Jizhou and deprived them of their land.
According to historical records, Yuan Shao destroyed many aristocratic families to supplement military finance and return land to the people.
It caused many wealthy families to flee to the north and join ethnic minorities, which brought the development of iron tools to Xianbei Karasuma, and indirectly made the Hu people strong during the Five Husties period.
This is why the people of Jizhou mourned Yuan Shao's death.
On the other hand, Jingzhou and Yizhou were less affected by the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Dong Zhuo's Rebellion, and the power of aristocratic families was relatively well preserved. There were even a large number of northern aristocratic families who moved to the south and purchased land on a large scale, exacerbating land conflicts.
In addition, the problem of hiding property in hidden households was extremely serious. If Cao Cao had not yet conquered the north and Sun Quan was weak, rectification would be carried out immediately.
In the future, when Cao Cao completely takes over the north and Sun Quan recovers some of his strength, serious land annexation and aristocratic family issues will become the most important weight to bring down Liu Bei's regime.
Therefore, before Liu Bei pacified Yizhou, Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang had already discussed and studied, written down the contents of the reform in a booklet, and started to implement it.
The implementers in Jingzhou were Fazheng and Zhang Song, and the implementers in Yizhou were Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong and Xu Shu.
As for Shen Chen.
He still has to lead troops, and it is uncertain whether he will go to Yizhou or Jingzhou in the future, so he can only give reference suggestions, but cannot carry out the restructuring himself.
However, if they encounter problems, Zhuge Liang and the others can ask at any time. Anyway, with the Yangtze River nearby, Yizhou and Jingzhou don't need long to communicate back and forth. In a few days, or as slowly as more than ten days, they can probably communicate with each other.
After talking about internal affairs reform, Shen Chen talked about the external situation.
Externally, there are only two points.
military.
diplomatic.
Even the economy does not count, because the princes often do not dominate the economy and allow the people to develop on their own.
Shen Chen also has little research on economics. Although he knows that economic warfare is important, he is better at leading troops to fight, so he can only put forward his own suggestions on military and diplomacy.
He looked around at the people in the hall and said softly: "As a layman, I advocate forming a confrontation with Cao Cao. We only confront each other but do not fight. We form a superficial alliance with the Sun family in Jiangdong, but in reality we are annihilating it. We form a substantive alliance with Xiliang Guanzhong to share common interests. Resist Cao Cao's power."
"Destroy Jiangdong and unite with Xiliang and Guanzhong?"
Liu Bei glanced at Fazheng, which was completely different from the strategy discussed by Pang Tong, Fazheng and Xu Shu.
The three of them thought that they should temporarily unite with Sun Quan, first capture Guanzhong and Xiliang to form a three-thirds of the world, and then develop naval forces to raid Jiangdong to pacify Yangzhou's north and south.
When Fazheng heard this, his face suddenly became serious, wanting to know why Shen Chen would make such a suggestion.
"good."
Shen Chen nodded: "I think strategically, Jiangdong must be eliminated first. Jiangdong is too close to us. How can we allow others to snore next to the bed! Sun's wolf ambition, if not eliminated, will definitely become a disaster in the future."
"But."
Liu Bei hesitated and said: "Shi Yuan strongly advocated sending troops to Guanzhong, imitating our great ancestors and getting the three auxiliaries of Xiliang. After we have the land to raise horses, we can build up cavalry so that we can compete with Cao Cao for supremacy in Guandong."
"Xiaoqing is also from the north. You should understand the importance of cavalry."
Zhang Song also said: "If we cannot have a strong cavalry, we will be much worse than Cao Cao in terms of reconnaissance, attack, pursuit or battle changes. In the vast plains of the north, we need cavalry."
Although Cao Cao defeated so many Wuhuan cavalry, he thought the cavalry was useless.
In fact, Cao Cao defeated Karasuma by relying on the tactics of infantry and cavalry. He used bows and arrows to disrupt the formation of the cavalry, and then the tiger and leopard cavalry rushed into the formation to strangle and divide the battlefield. This was the victory he won.
Otherwise, it will be difficult for pure infantry to win against cavalry. Just like Li Ling, they can only retreat while fighting, and the cavalry will use their mobility to keep them hanging.
Shen Chen also suffered a loss in this regard. Since he had no cavalry, he was chased by Cao Cao's 5,000 cavalry like a rabbit.
If Gan Ning had not relied on Gan Ning to fight to the death, using chariots to form a formation, and Yuan Shao's pressure from the north was too great, I am afraid that Shen Chen would have been wiped out by Cao Cao using his powerful mobility in the Ziyun Mountain battle. .
Therefore, Pang Tong's strategy is correct in a strict sense. If Liu Bei's forces can obtain the horse-producing land, they will change this disadvantage.
Even Shen Chen was able to take out three powerful weapons: bilateral stirrups, high bridge saddles and horseshoes. Coupled with the steel filling method, he could organize a powerful heavy cavalry and a large number of light cavalry in just a few years. Cavalry troops.
In this situation, Cao Cao could not last long.
Fazheng also said: "Moreover, Han Sui is said to have sacrificed his children to Yecheng, and Ma Chao and his family are also in Yecheng as hostages. Gao Gan wanted to flee south and submit to his lord, but they were also blocked. It can be seen that they had already wanted to surrender to Cao Cao and attack Killing Han Sui, Ma Chao and others in Xiliang Pass will not only gain the land to raise horses, but also weaken Cao Cao's strength. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone."
But Shen Chen said: "Both Shiyuan and Xiaozhi are right, but the problem is that you have misjudged the person."
"Did you see the wrong person?"
Everyone was surprised, and Liu Bei asked: "Who did you see wrong?"
"Han Sui Ma Chao."
Shen Chen said.
Han Sui and Ma Chao?
Several people were very puzzled.
Fazheng asked: "Isn't it wrong?"
Shen Chen shook his head: "No, if Sun Quan has Gou Jian's ambition, then Han Sui and Ma Chao have Gongsun Shu's ambition."
Gongsun Shu’s heart?
Zhang Song was surprised and said: "Do they want to separate Xiliang in Guanzhong and become king?"
"good."
Shen Chen said: "So if we send troops to attack them, we will become their enemies. The best way is to wait for Cao Cao to attack Guanzhong and conflict with Han Sui and Ma Chao. We sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, and wait until Han Sui and Ma Chao." When they are defeated by Cao Cao, accept them, and then send troops to Guanzhong to fight against Cao Cao."
After listening to Shen Chen's words, Liu Bei, Fazheng and Zhang Song looked at each other, looked at each other, and then fell silent, and did not speak for a long time.
This inference is really outrageous to them.
From the perspective of God, future generations know that Ma Chao was a filial son, but he didn't even care about his own father in Yecheng. He insisted on recognizing Han Sui, his mother's enemy, as his father, and forced a war with Cao Cao.
And Han Sui, a kind father who was also a son, no longer wanted him. He recognized Ma Chao as his son, and raised an army to join forces with Ma Chao to fight against Cao Cao.
But from the perspective of people at the time, Han Sui sent his children to Yecheng, Ma Chao's father was also a hostage in Yecheng, and Cao Cao regained the north and became powerful, so it was reasonable for Han Sui and Ma Chao to take advantage of the situation and join him. , even this is the most probable event.
Therefore, in the opinion of Pang Tong, Fazheng, Xu Shu and others, sending troops to Guanzhong now is the best solution.
The first is to eliminate Han Sui's Ma Chao forces and weaken Cao Cao's strength. The second is to plot to seize Xiliang Guanzhong and obtain the horse-producing land. The third is to send troops based on Guanzhong and attack Guandong to seize the world. It can be said to kill three birds with one stone and take the initiative.
However, Shen Chen's reasoning was completely different from their opinions.
He believed that Han Sui and Ma Chao would definitely abandon their families and not become rebels, and take the initiative to send troops to Xiliang and Guanzhong, just to push them towards Cao Cao. It would be better to wait and see what happens, and wait for a small probability event like Cao Cao and Han Sui and Ma Chao to fight. , and then win over Han Sui and Ma Chao to fight with Cao Cao.
This made it almost difficult for Liu Bei, Fazheng and Zhang Song to understand.
It is simply a fantasy, something that is impossible to happen.
For a time, Fazheng began to doubt whether this famous Jingzhou War God was real or fake.
After being silent for a long time, Liu Bei turned to look at Zhuge Liang and said, "Kong Ming, do you think so too?"
Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly and said: "My lord, in Liang's opinion, Shi Yuan, Xiao Zhi and Yuan Zhi's suggestions are right, because Liang also thinks it is most appropriate to send troops to Xiliang Pass first."
Liu Bei said with great joy: "It seems that only Xiaoqing's opinion is different from everyone else's."
"But."
"But what?"
Zhuge Liang shook his head and said, "But this is Xiaoqing's opinion."
"Xiaoqing's opinion?"
Liu Bei was stunned.
"good."
Zhuge Liang said: "If someone else proposed to take Jiangdong first and then level Guanzhong, Liang would definitely scold him for being ignorant. But this was proposed by Xiaoqing, so Liang has to think about it carefully."
If it was Xiaoqing who brought it up, you have to think about it carefully.
When Liu Bei heard this, his face froze and he sat there in a daze.
Immediately afterwards, his expression became dazed, and his eyes gradually lost focus.
The eyes in my memory are all about the figure who looked like a little adult in Xuzhou back then.
Eight years old.
Shen Chen, who was only eight years old at the time, had already prophesied that Cao Cao would massacre Xuzhou.
Later, all the general trends in the world were rightly predicted by him.
From then on, I began to trust Mr. Xiao 100%.
He listened to every word the little gentleman said and kept every suggestion in mind.
So he finally fled to Nanyang, and just as Mr. Xiao said, he got the land of Jingzhou and Yizhou.
Everything was right as he said it.
Yes.
After so many years.
I have such unconditional trust in Mr.
Why is it that today...
For a moment, Liu Bei felt a little ashamed and lowered his head unconsciously.
Because he suddenly realized that he didn't trust Shen Chen just now. When did he become like this?
Maybe it was after getting Jing Yi.
Ever since I had Kong Ming, Shi Yuan, Yuan Zhi and Xiao Zhi, I seemed to be much less dependent on Mr. Xiao.
But wasn’t it precisely because of Mr. Xiao’s plan that he was able to obtain the land of Jingyi?
If it weren't for him, how could I be where I am today?