Chapter 646: You Lead the Charge

"Ha ha, His Majesty, your question is both interesting and reasonable," Chen Yan said with a smile.

"Since you think it's reasonable, why did you just now deny it?" Li Shimin asked again, wanting to hear his answer.

"Actually it's simple: relying only on others' conscience is indeed unreliable," Chen Yan said while walking, "so I don't plan to depend on that."

"Then what do we rely on?"

Chen Yan replied, "We start from several angles: first morality, second law, third breaking technological monopolies."

"Moreover, although the Tang Dynasty prohibits slavery, in practice the control in this area remains insufficient and needs to be truly tightened."

"This point is quite important, because slavery would severely affect the rise of handicrafts, and handicrafts are a key factor in resisting Land Annexation, so His Majesty must take it seriously."

Li Shimin showed interest: "Explain in detail, what makes handicrafts an important factor against Land Annexation?"

"Do the workshops you opened help resist Land Annexation?"

"That's a long story..." Chen Yan thought, "but if His Majesty wishes to hear, we can discuss it slowly."

"First, do you remember what I told you back then? The benefits that can be distributed in the world are only that much, the cake is only that big."

"And the landlords and aristocrats are too greedy; they won't be satisfied with the cake they have and will try every way to snatch the cake from the common people."

Li Shimin said, "Indeed, I recall you saying that, and you also said that to solve Land Annexation, we must make the cake bigger, so these landlords and aristocrats won't only focus on the land in the hands of the people."

"Better to have them look outward."

"That's just one reason," Chen Yan sighed, "the problem of Land Annexation is so difficult; for over a thousand years, countless people have struggled for it, yet the results are unsatisfactory."

"For example, the historical land‑restriction policies have been implemented many times."

Chen Yan paused, then continued, "To understand why I say handicrafts are an important factor against Land Annexation, His Majesty must first realize that land is the foundation of our survival."

"The saying 'people regard food as heaven'—where does that food come from? Isn't it the land?"

"Land is also a fairly stable asset, right?"

"Hmm." At this, Li Shimin clicked his tongue, "It's precisely because land is valuable that, over the years, people have continuously sought to annex it."

"If it weren't valuable, there would be nothing worth annexing."

"Then," Chen Yan began slowly, "can we understand that land is the sole survival resource? That's why everyone fights over it?"

"Why is the harm of Land Annexation so great? Because losing this sole survival resource means the people cannot survive."

"If they cannot survive, what can be done?"

Li Shimin said cheerfully, "If they cannot survive, they'll naturally rebel; what else can be done?"

"The saying 'water can carry a boat, but also capsize it' truly resonates with me."

Chen Yan said, "Your Majesty, you are indeed very open-minded; you should know that our Tang Dynasty's Land Annexation problem remains unsolved."

"Being unable to see it clearly—what can be done? It only adds trouble." Li Shimin hummed lightly, looking at Chen Yan:

"Besides, don't I still have you, my dog‑head strategist?"

"You lead the charge at the front, and I will simply provide you with the necessary assistance."

Chen Yan: "......."

"You say that, but I am your son‑in‑law, truly!"

Li Shimin waved his hand, "Got it, got it, you continue speaking, no idle talk."

"Fine."

"You are the emperor; your word is law."

Chen Yan muttered to himself, paused as if gathering his thoughts, then said, "Since land is everyone's sole survival resource, once the people's land is almost entirely annexed, the dynasty will head toward destruction."

"Can we find a way for the people to survive without relying on land forever?"

"These words rang out like a bell, exploding in Li Shimin's mind."

"He suddenly turned, stared fixedly at Chen Yan, his eyes filled with doubt, excitement, and a hint of realization."

"After hesitating for a long time, he hurriedly asked, 'So the handicrafts you speak of are the path you provide the people to survive without land?'"

"'Yes.' Chen Yan said calmly, 'When I establish handicrafts on a large scale and distribute wages, I am actually creating an entirely new social production relationship—namely, an employment labor relationship!'"

"His Majesty, look, by carefully observing history you will find that in traditional agrarian societies, land is the sole guarantee of survival."

"Peasants 'are born here, grow here, die here,' bound tightly to the land, but when I provide wages, isn't that vastly different?"

"Li Shimin frowned, muttering continuously, while the fingers in his sleeve tapped nonstop."

"After a while, he understood and brightened: 'It's different, because you gave the people a second choice!'"

"Before they relied on the heavens for food; now they rely on craftsmanship, and wages guaranteed against drought or flood may be more attractive than farming according to the heavens' mood."

Chen Yan said, "Indeed, Your Majesty is correct; it is exactly so."

"Thus, the dependent relationships will also be completely altered: peasants depend on landlords, workers depend on workshop owners."

"But the former is personal, the latter contractual; having received wages, theoretically they can change jobs—if they can work for me, why not for others?"

"From an economic perspective, I issue wages, workers receive them, and now they have money—what will they do with it?"

"Li Shimin hurriedly said, 'Stop the idle talk; I don't quite understand your economics—just tell me what they'll do.'"

"'Of course they'll buy things.' Chen Yan said helplessly, 'Since workers survive on wages issued by workshop owners, they have no grain harvest, only wages.'"

"Therefore, to survive, they inevitably must spend money to purchase survival resources."

"For example, salt, grain, silk, furniture—these are needed, right?"

"'Certainly.' Li Shimin affirmed, 'Since they don't produce grain themselves, they must spend money to buy grain.'"

Chen Yan spread his hands and said, "Exactly, then wouldn't money start circulating everywhere?"

"As long as money circulates, stagnant water can be gradually revitalized, and when land is no longer the sole survival resource and people have other ways to live, the value of land will decline."

"If I persist in doing this, I can stir up a wave and become a pivotal force in our future reforms."

Li Shimin clicked his tongue in amazement, "I didn't expect your workshop to have such purpose; it truly gave me a surprise, ha."

"I'll think about it; from now on I won't beat you with the board."

Chen Yan: "......"

"......"