Chapter 1874: The Exploiters

In the bedchamber, Emperor Liu still lay sprawled on the couch in that half-dead manner, but his spirits had evidently recovered considerably. He tilted his head, his eyes somewhat dim, yet that unblinking stare made Liu Gui's heart crawl with unease.

The scrutiny lasted only a few breaths before Emperor Liu spoke, his words slow and leisurely, carrying not a trace of emotion: "How much land does the Court of the Imperial Treasury currently manage under the imperial estates?"

Liu Gui had always been sensitive to such figures, able to recite them like the back of his hand—and he had come prepared besides. Thus his answer flowed without the slightest hesitation: "Reporting to His Majesty, the lands under the Court of the Imperial Treasury, including all categories of arable fields across the various circuits of the realm, amount to approximately one hundred twenty thousand qing. Pastures in Shanyang, the Northern Circuit of the Yan Mountains, and Hexi total roughly three hundred thousand qing. There are additionally mountain forests and orchards, the precise count of which is difficult to determine and is still being surveyed..."

Liu Gui's reply carried an air of competence. Emperor Liu nodded slightly, pondered a moment, then said: "To tally all these things one by one with clarity—that must not be easy!"

At this, Liu Gui remained perfectly composed, clasping his hands in salute as he replied: "Where there is resolve, success will follow. Surveying the land, though heavy and tedious, is after all a matter of following established procedures. One need only proceed steadily and patiently..."

Liu Gui's words were indeed spoken truthfully. This was, after all, the imperial family's private property. Though it could not escape some petty scheming and underhanded dealings, when power bore down from above, the so-called obstacles were little stronger than bean curd—shattering at the slightest touch. Thus there was no absolute difficulty in the investigation; it depended only on the resolve of those above.

What Emperor Liu appreciated was precisely this attitude of Liu Gui's—a certain drive and spirit that suited his taste. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he asked again: "How many farmers and herders labor for the imperial household?"

"After a new round of investigation, with reports gathered from subordinate offices across the realm and submitted to the Court of the Imperial Treasury, the tally shows approximately three hundred eighty-four thousand five hundred households of farmers and twenty-eight thousand three hundred forty households of herders!" Liu Gui answered. "However, these reports still await further verification. Still, this humble one estimates that even if there are discrepancies, the margin of error will not be too great..."

A few simple figures laid bare some of the current face of the imperial estates—and even if only a portion, it was enough to be shocking.

Setting aside everything else, merely these two traditional properties of farming and herding were measured in tens of thousands of qing. What was more critical was that to ensure the effective use of these lands and pastures, a vast amount of labor was pressed upon them, whether willingly or otherwise.

These two categories alone meant over four hundred thousand households of Great Han commoners served the imperial household. By the current average household size in the Great Han, that meant at least two million five hundred thousand people. Adding the other industries under the Court of the Imperial Treasury, the number serving the imperial household likely exceeded three million. This accounted for nearly one-twentieth of the Great Han's registered population—a scale of immense magnitude.

And crucially, the commoners serving the imperial estates—especially those farmers and herders—naturally did not pay the court's regular taxes. Otherwise, with the emperor skimming one layer and the court skimming another, serious problems would easily arise...

Emperor Liu had always deeply hated and utterly loathed those powerful aristocrats who stole state wealth, evaded taxes, and bled the people dry. Yet judging from the state of the imperial estates, the one who sucked the most blood from the Great Han was precisely the imperial household itself. The true thief of the state was none other than Emperor Liu himself.

Of course, "all under heaven is the king's land"—this was something Emperor Liu firmly believed, and it was also the universal value of Great Han officials and commoners alike. That Emperor Liu enjoyed certain privileges and operated certain industries was only proper. And that he had taken the initiative to separate the privy purse from the state treasury, maintaining this distinction for decades, never drawing on state funds to satisfy private desires—this was exceedingly rare among emperors throughout the ages.

Of course, all of this presupposed that the imperial household held sufficient say, and that the Court of the Imperial Treasury's finances were ample enough to meet all imperial expenditures and needs. Otherwise, it would be a case of sovereign and state as one—and when the time came to take, there would be not a moment's hesitation.

Likewise, if anyone used such reasoning to argue that the emperor should not compete with the people for profit, Emperor Liu would surely strike back. There had been such "loyal ministers" in the past, but the results of their direct remonstrance on this matter had not been pleasant, and their fates could only be described as miserable.

If one merely criticized current affairs or offered commentary and suggestions on Emperor Liu's governance, even if it angered him, the result was usually demotion at worst—or exile to the frontier at most.

But if one harbored crooked designs on the privy purse, on the Court of the Imperial Treasury's finances, or on the imperial family's private property, one would face Emperor Liu's direct and merciless retaliation—almost vindictive in nature, striking from both the physical and psychological dimensions.

Emperor Liu had always seen clearly the difference between nominal and actual. The imperial household must possess independent finances and must maintain sufficient reserves in its coffers.

Not merely to distinguish from the state treasury, managing them separately to avoid the mixing of public and private and the resulting abuses—but also because this was one of the most important symbols of the stability of imperial power.

Setting aside everything else, when the court's finances required repeated borrowing from the imperial household to weather difficulties, who held the initiative, and the stability and health of imperial power—these questions answered themselves. Therefore, whoever tried to snatch food from Emperor Liu's bowl, whoever sought to touch the imperial family's private property, even if only showing a tendency toward it, would face Emperor Liu's merciless punishment. And the reason was always a phrase Emperor Liu frequently uttered: "Their hearts deserve death."

Emperor Liu had long maintained this sort of mentality, which had formed an inscrutable style in matters of the Court of the Imperial Treasury. On one hand, he sternly defended its interests; on the other, he felt a certain cruelty about such conduct. At the same time, he subconsciously ignored certain fundamental questions.

Now, after hearing Liu Gui's answer and pondering for a long while, Emperor Liu finally asked the question he had previously been deliberately avoiding: "These farming households—how much do they produce each year through their labor, how much grain and money do they pay to the Court of the Imperial Treasury, and how much compensation does each household receive?"

At this question, Liu Gui's face showed rare hesitation. He cautiously glanced at Emperor Liu before answering: "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the Court of the Imperial Treasury's statistics on farmland revenue over the past ten years, each household cultivates between thirty and fifty mu of land. Per-mu yield of various grains ranges from one and a half to two shi. Annual per-mu grain production averages approximately three point eight shi, of which seventy percent is submitted to the Court of the Imperial Treasury and thirty percent is kept by the farming households for their own use. Additionally, there are crops such as mulberry, hemp, cotton, and sorghum, of which eighty percent is collected by the Court of the Imperial Treasury..."

As Liu Gui spat out figure after figure, Emperor Liu silently calculated in his mind. After a long while, he furrowed his brow and asked: "With such a heavy burden, how do the commoners get by? Would they not harbor resentment?"

The hesitation on Liu Gui's face grew heavier. But facing Emperor Liu's gaze, tinged with gloom, he dared not be evasive. After thinking a moment, he answered cautiously: "There is indeed some resentment, but to be able to labor for Your Majesty is their fortune, and most farming households feel honored. Moreover, farming for the imperial household ensures safety and stability—at least they will not suffer bullying from others..."

Hearing Liu Gui say this, Emperor Liu's eyes widened somewhat. He stared hard at Liu Gui for a while before speaking coldly: "Your skill at spouting nonsense with your eyes wide open has certainly grown! Who did you learn it from? Yan Tuo?"

At these words, Liu Gui's legs went weak. He knelt hastily: "This humble one would never dare!"

Outside, Yan Tuo, who had been listening, was also startled when Emperor Liu mentioned him. Fortunately, his mental fortitude was sufficient that he did not let out a sound.

A clear expression of shame and anger appeared on Emperor Liu's face as he rebuked: "Working hard all year long, handing over seventy or eighty percent of the harvest to the imperial household—and you tell me this is a blessing for those farming households? If it were me, I'd be cursing that bloodsucking emperor up and down in my heart!"

Facing Emperor Liu's reprimand, Liu Gui shrank his neck and hastened to confess his fault: "Your Majesty's rebuke is just. This humble one spoke recklessly!"

Emperor Liu did not think Liu Gui's apology carried much sincerity—at best, it was putting on a show for his benefit.

Of course, Emperor Liu did not dwell excessively on this. After mulling it over for a while, as if making up his mind, he instructed: "Change! It must change—change greatly!"

"Please instruct, Your Majesty!" Liu Gui clasped his hands in salute.

"The farming households who labor for the imperial household—the grain and money they submit each year should align with the court's new tax system!" Emperor Liu spoke while thinking: "Per mu of land, the annual collection should not exceed seventy-five wen!"

At this, Liu Gui hesitated visibly, but still bowed and acknowledged. Nevertheless, he could not help reminding Emperor Liu: "Your Majesty, if collected at this standard, the Court of the Imperial Treasury's annual revenue from farmland will be greatly reduced..."

By current grain and meat prices, the Court of the Imperial Treasury's annual income from agriculture alone was around ten million strings of cash. Even after deducting costs of circulation and trade, what remained was still a vast sum—but that high revenue was built upon the cruel exploitation of farming households.

If Emperor Liu's idea were followed, then even if the imperial lands were all fertile and rich, the benefits drawn from them in the future would plummet, decreasing by multiples upon multiples.

"Less is fine!" As for Liu Gui's reminder, Emperor Liu appeared entirely unconcerned: "We cannot have people saying that the Great Han Emperor treats his subjects worse than some local tyrants treat their tenant farmers..."