Chapter 285: A Close Look at Land Annexation

"Could it be that the problem of Land Annexation truly cannot be solved, that no matter how prosperous a dynasty, it is ultimately fleeting and cannot stand forever?"

Li Shimin felt a mixture of countless emotions in his heart.

Opening the histories and surveying past and present, every emperor has wanted his nation to endure forever, and Li Shimin is no exception.

When he learned that everything Chen Yan had done was merely to create a life‑extending pill, not a life‑saving one, even Li Shimin felt somewhat dispirited.

Having known that true immortality does not exist in the world, and after hearing from Chen Yan about a method of spiritual longevity, he was actually already at peace about longevity and had never felt such emotion.

Yet, when he learned that the Land Annexation problem could not be solved and that the Dynastic Cycle Law could not be escaped, it appeared.

"Mr. Chen, since the Land Annexation problem cannot be solved, could we produce more life‑extending pills to lengthen the cycle?" Yuan Tiangang asked aloud.

He, however, did not share Li Shimin's sentiment; he only wanted knowledge.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin rallied his spirits again.

Since it cannot be solved, then let's prepare several more life‑extending pills so that the Tang Dynasty can extend its overall lifespan, right?

His demand was modest: it would be fine if it could be passed down for a thousand years.

"Impossible!" Chen Yan replied.

"Why is it impossible!" Li Chengqian exclaimed.

"If it can't be solved, fine, but is even preparing a few more life‑extending pills not allowed?"

Li Shimin, Du Gou, and Yuan Tiangang all expressed disappointment.

Chen Yan said so, surely having his reasons.

"Brother Cheng Qian, you must understand a principle," Chen Yan explained. "A pill, when taken excessively, develops resistance; as long as the Land Annexation problem exists, the conflict persists. Life‑extending pills do not extend indefinitely, because when the conflict reaches a peak, no matter how good the pill is, it becomes useless."

"If overused, it will cause the conflict to erupt even more violently."

"This..." Li Chengqian was speechless, murmuring, "Could it be that there truly is no solution at all?"

Hearing his mutter, everyone's mood grew heavy, and the surrounding atmosphere gradually solidified.

At that moment, Chen Yan, rubbing his chin, said, "It's not that there is no way to solve it."

Hm?

The group froze for a moment, then all lifted their heads in surprise!

"Hahaha, Zi An, you truly are my good son‑in‑law; I knew you would have a solution!" Li Shimin was overjoyed, his laughter ringing.

Based on his understanding of Chen Yan, he knew Chen Yan was not the type to make grandiose claims.

If he says there is a way, there must be a way!

"Brother Zi An, you are my... my Tang Dynasty's Zhuge gentleman!" Li Chengqian exclaimed excitedly.

Chen Yan: "......"

He was speechless, "I am the Zhuge gentleman, then you must be Liu Chan, right?"

"Do you want me to write you a memorial of dispatch?"

"Huh?" Li Chengqian hesitated, whispering, "Well... that is not impossible."

Chen Yan said, "Stop it, I could never compare to the Zhuge gentleman."

"Don't plaster gold on my face."

Du Gou interjected suddenly, "Brother Chen, why don't we discuss Land Annexation first? As for whether you're the Zhuge gentleman, can we postpone that discussion for later?"

Li Shimin: "Right, Zi An, quickly tell us the solution to Land Annexation."

Yuan Tiangang said nothing, but his eyes revealed that, like Li Shimin and Du Gou, he hoped Chen Yan would stop the idle talk and speak up quickly.

"Alright."

Chen Yan shrugged and said, "Before presenting a solution, I must correct you: the Land Annexation problem remains unsolvable; my method merely makes the problem no longer fatal..."

"I understand!" Li Shimin interrupted, "It's the same as my situation with the Guanyin Maid, right?"

"It won't be fatal, only side effects?"

"If you interpret it that way, it is indeed possible," Chen Yan nodded silently.

"Fine, you speak quickly; as long as it's not fatal, I can accept it—anyway it's better than waiting for death."

"......"

Chen Yan was speechless; it seemed that, after many similar encounters, Li Shimin's capacity to accept had greatly increased.

But on reflection, it made sense: making Land Annexation no longer fatal is far better than merely awaiting death.

"Given that, I need not say more."

Chen Yan, as always, before launching into a lengthy discourse, first mulled over his phrasing, then said, "Then, I'll ask everyone a question first."

"What is Land Annexation?"

At that remark, everyone was instantly speechless.

Sure enough, it's that routine: a question must be posed before an answer.

But after so many times, they had grown accustomed to Chen Yan's method and did not question it.

Because they also felt this seemed indeed helpful, making it easier for them to understand.

"Isn't Land Annexation simply nobles, officials, and landlords using various means to seize land from the common people?" Du Gou said immediately.

"Exactly!" Chen Yan gave Du Gou an approving glance. "Land Annexation is that simple; one sentence can summarize it."

"But solving it is exceedingly difficult!"

"Let's use another analogy and elaborate!" Chen Yan extended his hand, drawing an imaginary circle. "When we speak of the Dynastic Cycle Law, Brother Cheng Qian once said something very apt."

"When a new dynasty is founded, it must enfeoff the realm, reallocating benefits, so that the dynasty can return to a healthy state."

"Thus, at the moment a dynasty is established and the ruler has not yet enfeoffed, he naturally holds a massive share of benefits in his hand; we liken this benefit to a piece of cake."

"Then the ruler cuts the cake, first giving a portion to the meritorious officials and nobles who helped establish the realm, and then distributing the larger portion to ordinary soldiers and peasants."

"Those peasants who receive the small cake pieces become the foundation of the dynasty. They farm for food while paying taxes and serving in the military for the state."

At this time, the realm is stable and the state is strong.

But as time passes, the nobles, officials, and big landowners who originally received large pieces of cake will use their power, wealth, and high-interest loans to continually buy, cheat, and forcibly seize the small pieces of cake from ordinary farmers.

And what consequences will arise then?

Li Chengqian: "The court's tax revenue is dwindling, the treasury is increasingly empty; the lower down, the court has less money to support officials, to manage rivers, to relieve disasters, to pay military stipends."

"Exactly!" Chen Yan clapped his hands, "After knowing these, let's see what method His Majesty uses to deal with land annexation."

Du Gou said: "Implement the Equal-Field System, allocate land to the registered population, grant each household land, of which eighty mu are per capita field and twenty mu are permanent field."

At the same time, reduce levies and taxes, implement the rent-labor-tax system, and lessen the peasants' burden.

While cracking down on the powerful, strongly encourage timely marriage and childbearing to develop population, distribute more land, thereby consolidating the Equal-Field System.

【66】 "......"

"......"