Chapter 371: Not Daring to Look at the Eyebrows

Chen Qiming just didn't believe in evil!

No matter how heaven-sent a young noble master you are, can you really be the reincarnation of the Martial Marquis Zhuge?!

Now that everyone in the hall has suffered setbacks, it is both a difficulty and an opportunity!

Since this person is so proficient in military supplies, he surely wouldn't understand state expenditures too, right?

Just ask about state expenditures!

Chen Qiming tightened his brows, his eyes probing like needles:

"Can the Young Master speak of the changes in rent and taxes from ancient times to the present?"

Wang Yang smiled:

"Why wouldn't I be able to? Rent is taken from fields, and taxes are taken from households. The Han had rent but no taxes. During the time of Gao Zu, the field rent was one-fifteenth; by the time of Emperor Jing, it was one-thirtieth, and the Eastern Han followed this without change. This was a tax in kind. Besides goods, there was also poll tax, which was taxed based on population. When Emperor Wu of Han used troops, people from seven to fourteen years old paid twenty-three coins per person, which later became a fixed system. Those fifteen and older paid poll tax, calculated once a year to assess their tax. The amount might increase or decrease, but one hundred and twenty coins was always the standard.

Therefore, for a family of five, a couple plus three children, they paid poll tax for two people and poll tax for three people, totaling three hundred and nine coins a year. Calculating at ten coins per dou of rice, it was worth three shi of grain. The field rent for a standard household of seventy mu, taxed at one-thirtieth, was seven shi per year, which was double the poll tax. Thus, fiscal tax was based on field tax, with population tax second.

When Wei Wu (Cao Cao) pacified Hebei, he abolished the poll tax and changed it to two bolts of silk and two jin of cotton per household. From then on, there was a tax, called 'household tax.' First, the tax changed from being calculated by population to being calculated by household. Second, the collection changed from current money to goods. As for field rent, it also changed from a percentage to a fixed amount, regardless of whether it was a harvest year or a lean year, regardless of whether it was fertile or barren land, it was taxed at four sheng per mu.

The Han mu produced an average of three hu per year; taxed at one-thirtieth, the annual tax was one dou. Wei only collected four sheng, so the field tax was halved. This was because Wei carried out garrison farming on a large scale. The benefit of garrison farming was that the people and the government split it (fifty-fifty). Increasing this could eliminate that, so the standard field rent was halved from then on..."

Tax policy is the most important matter of a state. Without understanding the past, one cannot regulate the present; without knowing the present, one cannot verify the past. Therefore, famous ministers who made achievements in tax policy throughout history were all well-learned scholars. People like Tao Rui and Guo Wenyuan, who understood tax principles, felt enlightened upon hearing this! It was as if they had been walking in a dark room for a long time and suddenly saw a ray of light from a skylight!

And those like Kong Zhangyu and Xue Shao, who understood a little but hadn't studied deeply, were also listening intently. They only felt that many things they had half-understood in their previous reading and life had been connected!

Chen Qiming felt his heart go cold by more than half, and thinking that Wang Yang would probably ask him back in a moment, he only felt his head grow big!

As for the Prince of Badong, he was—

So, did this Prince get Kongming (Zhuge Liang)????

No, it is I, the Emperor, who got Kongming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Prince of Badong's mouth was almost stretched to his ears! But he didn't want to lose his cool, so he forcibly held back and didn't laugh out loud. However, although there was no sound from his mouth, his whole person seemed very "sneaky." His big tiger eyes were shining brightly, and his body was trembling uncontrollably, like a big-tailed squirrel that had picked up a super-large pinecone but was pretending to be calm.

Fortunately, everyone was focused, and their eyes were all on Wang Yang, so they didn't notice that the Badong Tiger had turned into a Badong Squirrel...

"... After Jin pacified Wu, the world was unified. Men were allowed to occupy eighty mu of land, and women thirty mu. Fifty mu were set to collect four hu of rent, based on a fixed amount rather than a percentage, which was the same as Cao Wei. However, the tax per mu was eight sheng, double that of the Cao Wei period. But Cao Wei collected more for more land, whereas Jin did not. It only assessed land based on population, not actual numbers. Adult men were only assessed fifty mu; anything beyond that was not assessed. Secondary adult men were assessed twenty-five mu, adult women twenty mu, and secondary adult women were not assessed. (Those aged thirteen to fifteen, and sixty-one to sixty-five were secondary adults. Those younger than thirteen and older than sixty-five were the old and young.)

This meant that the people of the world, each with the same amount of land, were assessed the same tax. However, field rent was originally based on land, but here it changed back to a population tax. Those with more land were not taxed more, and those with less land still had to pay the full amount. People who could not bear the burden either fled the official register or left their status as commoners, becoming tenant farmers, retainers, or slaves for others. Refugees competed to attach themselves to private families rather than returning to the public, the national household register shrank day by day, while the private families' retainers increased day by day. This was not the original intention of the tax system, but actually the trend of the situation.

As for the household tax system, there were also changes—"

Wang Yang happened to look at Chen Qiming when he said this.

Chen Qiming was terrified, treating every bush and tree as an enemy!

He had been worried that he would be asked until he was foolish on the spot like the others, so as soon as he saw Wang Yang looking at him, he was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring. He felt Wang Yang was going to ask a question, and regardless of whether his judgment was accurate, he hurriedly preempted:

"Young Master Wang is learned and eloquent, with peerless talent! I am deeply impressed and can only sigh in admiration! I have another question I would like to ask Young Master Wang: If the county government's various official documents are submitted to the state department, and the state department replies, and the county government drafts a response based on the state department's reply, and then sends it to the gatekeeper (local state and prefecture governments also have gatekeepers, see the appendix to Chapter 253, 'Dream Interpretation') for review and signing, what is the official document formula for the first three characters of the drafted document sent to the gatekeeper for review?"

Chen Qiming spoke very fast. At first, everyone didn't understand what he meant, but after hearing the end, everyone couldn't help but secretly think that Chen Qiming was shameless!

From everyone attacking Wang Yang for having no practical talent, to Wang Yang counterattacking everyone, to the gambling battle to decide the outcome, everyone tacitly understood that it was all centered on the learning of saving the world from chaos. You suddenly ask this kind of thing; it's like two great Confucian scholars arguing over classics, and one, seeing he is about to lose, suddenly asks the other: "The *Analects* says 'Rotten wood cannot be carved,' so what are the specific steps to carve a piece of wood?"

The opposite great scholar:???

Are you kidding me???

And those with quick minds immediately saw that Chen Qiming was not only shameless, but shameless to the core! This fellow thought that Wang Yang was from the Langya Wang clan and had seen too much, fearing that he had really seen the county government's submission to the state government! So he didn't ask about the submission document directly, but asked about the reply document. (The official documents between higher and lower units are two-way; one going and one returning is one reply, and the document format for the second reply changes.) He didn't ask about the official document formula for the county government's reply, but asked about the draft (yes, official document drafts also have fixed formats), which only the specific clerks below would know. You, a noble young master of a high family, no matter how broad your knowledge is, you couldn't have seen the drafts of official documents, right?!

Wang Yang had actually seen them.

But it was a pity that he had seen the original drafts of Han and Tang official documents, not those of the Southern Qi.

In the study of history, Wang Yang was most proficient in the Han and Tang dynasties. If Chen Qiming had asked about Han and Tang documents, Wang Yang could not only answer, but could also use higher-level documents to ask back. Chen Qiming was limited to the local level and understood state and county documents, but he might not be so familiar with the rules of official documents between central government offices. If he really used this to counter-question, wouldn't the Langya identity be even more stable?

However, heaven did not fulfill his wishes. Although Wang Yang had been actively communicating, entering the world, studying hard, and thinking non-stop since crossing over, he really hadn't seen the drafts of the county government's second reply to the state government, let alone the drafts, he hadn't even seen the formal ones!

But since Chen Qiming didn't play by the rules, Wang Yang wasn't afraid of playing dirty tricks.

Wang Yang looked at Chen Qiming and smiled:

"This question is quite unique. It's like sharing the vast sea; one person describes its vast clouds and mist, while you alone study the nails on a sampan; it's like looking up at the galaxy together; everyone discusses the vastness of the universe, while you talk about the wings of a firefly. Unique is unique, but it's a pity it doesn't fit the times. Today, under the throne and in this hall, what is said and described are all the essentials of the military and the state. As for the petty papers and scraps you discuss, that is the place for clerks under the lamp and scribes at the table—"

Chen Qiming's face turned red. Wang Yang looked at Chen Qiming and put on a look of sincere suggestion:

"If you are interested in that, why not move to the corridor? I think with your great talent for documents, if you argue there, you will surely be able to lead the way and crown the crowd!"

The Prince of Badong heard the four words "great talent for documents" and spat out a mouthful of wine!

Tao Rui and Xue Shao laughed out loud!

Everyone else couldn't help but laugh. Even Li Jingxuan, whose mood was depressed, couldn't hold back when he heard the six words "lead the way" and "crown the crowd"!

Vicious, truly too vicious! Compared to this, his own defeat didn't seem so hard to bear...

Chen Qiming was directly broken! He only felt that his face had been slapped hard, and all the blood rushed up. His face swelled up like a radish, and he pointed at Wang Yang, his fingers trembling:

"You, you..."

Wang Yang smiled, said nothing, and just looked at Chen Qiming.

Chen Qiming's finger pointing at Wang Yang froze for a moment amidst the giggles, and then, not knowing what he thought of, it soon fell powerlessly.

Wang Yang ignored Chen Qiming and looked around the hall:

"Is there anyone else willing to offer advice?"

Everyone stopped giggling.

The Prince of Badong started giggling!

He stood up, took the woven gold cloud beast brocade robe that had been prepared long ago from the maid's hand, and walked to Wang Yang amidst the astonished gazes of everyone. Wang Yang stood up and bowed very sensibly.

The Prince of Badong personally shook out the black and gold brocade robe with a bright red background and draped it over Wang Yang. The wind of the robe pressed the candle flame low, and the Young Master's brows lifted slightly, like a painting—

Precious brocade turns the clouds into a formation, heroic eyes contain the sharpness of a sword. The candle shadows all lower their heads, not daring to shine higher than his brows.

The Prince of Badong carefully tied the collar and belt for Wang Yang, then stepped back to look. Seeing Wang Yang in the black brocade cloak, his heroic posture was solemn, standing like a jade tree, his demeanor like a clear breeze, he couldn't help but call out "Good!"

He patted Wang Yang on the shoulder and said the sentence he had been brewing for a long time, feeling that it would very likely be in the history books in the future—

"I am not happy to have Jingzhou; I am happy to have Zhiyan!"

Everyone turned pale!

Wang Yang finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

He knew that his life was temporarily saved.

He had deliberately been arrogant and shown off his talent today, firstly to save his life. Secondly, to be heavily relied upon. As for the third intention, it was not for the present and would not be mentioned for the time being.

"Someone! Pass the order to all parts of the Prince's Mansion! From now on, when Wang Yang wears this robe, the guards must salute, and there is no restriction on his coming and going! Also, prepare two hundred thousand coins and send them to Wang Yang's residence!"

Wang Yang took the opportunity to say:

"I heard my residence was locked..."

The Prince of Badong was immediately furious!

"There is such a thing? Who did it!"

Wang Yang:...

Kong Zhangyu immediately stood up and said:

"This official has been busy running around these past few days and hasn't heard of this matter. Your Highness was leading troops outside and just returned to the city, so naturally you wouldn't know either. Perhaps it was someone below acting on their own?"

The Prince of Badong praised Old Man Kong for being reliable in his heart, but on the surface, he was still furious, waving his hand and scolding:

"These idiots! Daring to lock Zhiyan's residence, they really have dog eyes! Remove the locks immediately! And tie up the people who locked it! This Prince wants to punish them severely! Severely!" ===== CHAPTER 372 =====