Chapter 496 Major changes to the vassal regulations
After struggling for most of the day, the dynasty was finally over on the winter solstice.
It was a torture for both the emperor and the ministers.
However, although Zhao Shujin was awarded the title of Duke, there was not much smile on his face.
The Ministry of Household Affairs needs to build the newly promoted honorary residence, and the honorary nobles spend more than 100,000 shi every year.
The military generals fought for the emperor, and a little money was nothing, but Zhao Shu was particularly dissatisfied with the vassal king's expenditure.
At night, dragging his tired body, Zhao Shu complained:
"Now there are hundreds of feudal princes, county princes, and princes living in Fanwang Street. I wonder what regulations your Majesty has?"
"With all due respect, veteran minister, if we continue to spend according to the regulations of the country, I am afraid that Taicang will be empty and the plan to build a new Beijing will be shelved..."
No wonder Zhao Shu was so rude. The vassal king's annual salary was a bottomless pit that could never be filled.
In the early years of the dynasty, the prince's annual salary was 50,000 shi, and later it was changed to 10,000 shi. This was fine. The key point was that the county prince's annual salary was 2,000 shi. Hundreds of county princes in the country could completely swallow up all the land tax.
Therefore, during the Jiajing period, money began to be folded and the number of concubines was restricted. It was not until the Wanli period that imperial examinations were allowed and reforms were carried out, and the number of clan members gradually decreased.
After all, they are relatives, and nowadays they still pay attention to the relationship between relatives, so Zhu Yixi can only support them and build some houses for them to live in temporarily.
But if it continues like this without any specific regulations, not only the court will feel uneasy, but the feudal princes will also feel uncomfortable.
Some want to return to their vassal prince's palace, some want to ask for salary, and some even ask for names and titles for their sons and grandsons.
However, the unanimous opinion of the court was that Lumi should never be distributed according to the standard, even the 33% off banknotes during the Jiajing period. The court could not bear it.
"What are the bylaws of the cabinet?"
Zhu Yixi didn't take it seriously and asked casually.
Since becoming the emperor, Zhu Yixi no longer directly expresses his thoughts. He always asks the cabinet and ministers for their opinions and considers the profit and loss.
First, it is to avoid mistakes and embarrassing moments.
Secondly, if there is more discussion, the emperor will not be arbitrary. If something goes wrong in the future, it will be easier to find someone who will take the blame.
“Several colleagues in the cabinet also believe that the Regulations on Duties and Vassals should be reformed.”
Zhao Shu was not surprised when he heard this and stated directly:
"The vassal reforms during the Jiajing and Wanli years were mostly aimed at the middle and lower-level clans, treating the symptoms but not the root cause. The most important princes and princes in the vassal system were the key, so they must be overhauled."
During the Wanli period, lower-level clans were allowed to take the imperial examinations, and free religious classes were set up, which achieved certain results.
But the time was too short. There were some scholars, but no Jinshi.
Moreover, the imperial court was extremely strict with the middle and lower ranks of the clan. For example, generals of the auxiliary state and lieutenants of the state of Feng, who had no children, could not inherit the title even if they had brothers and nephews.
The lower-level clans deducted their salary, but they did not dare to neglect the princes and princes at all. Succession from sons and nephews was very common.
"The princes are all county kings, and the princes are all generals who govern the country. Such titles will bring endless disasters."
"In my opinion, it is better to imitate the nobles and inherit the throne with one son, while the rest of the sons are common people, and continue to offer incense and sacrifices, so that we can thrive."
Zhao Shu bent down and cautiously made suggestions.
Limiting the number of titles is the best solution.
"In that case, except for the crown prince, the rest of the prince's sons will also become common people?"
The emperor questioned whether this pace was a bit too big and could easily lead to nonsense.
"Except for the legitimate son who is the king of the county, the other concubines can be named the generals of the country. However, the generals of the country will no longer be awarded titles. Their titles will be reduced to the rank of raiders. When they become lieutenants of the country, they will be exempted from the title."
To put it bluntly, if the distribution of titles is reduced from the source, how many legitimate sons can the princess give birth to? How many princes can she give birth to?
Based on this estimate, the accumulation of titles can be slowed down by more than ten times. Coupled with some unexpected heirlooms, it can be said that 90% of the clan members can be eliminated in just thirty to fifty years.
"As for the vassal kings currently in Nanjing, they can be judged by His Majesty."
"Holy Judge?"
Zhu Yixi chuckled and said: "The method you mentioned is good, it can be implemented, and the pressure on the court will be reduced in the future."
Having said this, he paused for a while and continued: "It's just that the vassal issue in Nanjing now urgently needs to be resolved."
The emperor rubbed his eyebrows and came over for a while before he said:
"There aren't many princes, so let's build them a mansion in accordance with the regulations of the imperial court, right in Beijing -"
After pausing here in Beijing, Zhao Shu understood that His Majesty was still insisting on the strategy of keeping the vassal king in the local area, which was contrary to the ancestral precepts of the Emperor Ming Dynasty.
But we can all understand the new dynasty and new atmosphere.
"As for the county princes, let's build them according to the scale of the baron. In the end, there are more people, so we can only make do with it this way."
"In addition, the prince's salary will be based on the standard of a duke, and the prince's salary will be based on the standard of a baron, and then it will be reduced by half in sequence."
Compared with the previous standards, this standard is not only compromised, it is simply broken.
You must know that the king of the county has 2,000 dan, while the baron only has 300 dan. There is a huge gap.
However, in this case, dozens of county princes only have one to twenty thousand shi of food, so the burden is much easier.
"correct."
Speaking of this, Zhu Yixi continued: "Nowadays, one of the sons of these county princes can attack the title of general."
Hearing this, even Zhao Shu had to admit that the emperor's reforms were too thorough. How many clans would there be after three or five generations?
And, no matter what, it seems a bit harsh and inhumane.
This damages the emperor's reputation!
Zhao Shu had no choice but to persuade: "Your Majesty, many of the feudal lords who are stranded in Nanjing have no money. I am afraid it will be difficult to support their families just by relying on rice!"
Zhao Shu also felt a little embarrassed and a little ashamed that those royal palaces and vassal fields were not included in the imperial court, and he couldn't help but suggest:
"Now that the land is deserted and sparsely populated, it would be better to give them some land so that they can pass on the family and raise their children."
"That's not bad."
Zhu Yixi thought for a moment and agreed to the suggestion.
"Nowadays, the population around Beizhili is sparsely populated, so we should allocate some fields to them, so as not to think that I, the emperor, am treating them harshly."
After the Manchus left, the large-scale enclosed farmland in Beizhili remained. Even if part of it was returned to the original owner, there was still a lot left. According to Jiang Yueguang, there were at least 100,000 hectares left.
Rewarding these abandoned lands to princes and princes can be regarded as the emperor's preferential treatment to his relatives.
This can be regarded as using land to buy their future titles and stop their nonsense.
"The prince has a thousand hectares, and the prince has two hundred hectares. Let's divide it according to this standard!"
Considering that the soil and water in North Zhili is not as good as that in the south, and the labor force is not sufficient, since it is to silence people, we should be more generous.
In Sichuan, Huguang annexed a lot of land, and his need for Huangzhuang was not so urgent.