Chapter 1046

Pan Yun stared at him in shock, seeing his plan document over a finger's height: "You haven't even taken office yet, and you've already written something this thick?"

Xue Shao explained: "I didn't write it now—I had these ideas while inspecting Jiangnan, but back then, as an Inspection Censor, I couldn't voice them."

Pan Yun: "Can I take a look?"

Xue Shao handed her a scroll and said: "Actually, many of these ideas came from you and Wang Cong and the others."

Pan Yun opened it—this scroll proposed promoting industry and commerce, starting from population, farmland, handicrafts, and commercial development, clearly stating the necessity of developing industry and commerce.

He also proposed protecting agriculture, since food is the people's heaven, and the people are the foundation of the state; thus, agriculture is the state's foundation.

But state policies rarely reach the countryside; people chase profit and are short-sighted. Once industry and commerce develop but agriculture is neglected, the scholar-gentry who control most of the land will surely find ways to plant cash crops and ignore grain cultivation—within just a few years, chaos will erupt across the land.

So Xue Shao's suggestion was to reduce land taxes and rents, with the ultimate goal of eliminating them entirely.

This "rent" refers to the rent on public fields.

Of course, eliminating land tax is the ultimate goal, and Xue Shao made clear in his document that this cannot be achieved in one or two years.

To develop industry and commerce, commercial taxes must offer some concessions, so commercial taxes must not be too heavy at first.

Under reduced land taxes, the empire's finances will face a transition period, which Xue Shao estimated to last ten to twenty years.

He recommended that, within the first five years of this twenty-year span, the head tax and land tax be merged into a single tax, making payment easier and allowing more people to engage in industry and commerce without being bound to land.

And within these five years, complete the task of surveying all land and population across the empire.

Xue Shao believed that to eliminate hidden land and hidden households, and to increase state revenue to support nationwide land tax reduction and industry-commerce development, scholar-officials must be made to pay grain and taxes alongside commoners.

To achieve equality among all people under heaven, and between men and women, only education can accomplish this.

If all people under heaven become scholars, then the privileges of tax and labor exemptions for those who pass the imperial examinations should be revoked; instead, attract scholars to take the exams and serve the state by raising salaries and increasing winter charcoal and summer ice allowances.

If this can be accomplished in five years, then for the next ten years, Great Ming can rely on the land and population surveys and the inclusion of scholar-officials in grain and tax obligations to sustain major reforms, allowing industry-commerce and agriculture to develop together.

Pan Yun silently finished reading this scroll, and Xue Shao handed her the second one.

This one concerned educational reform.

Xue Shao said: "Didn't you say that all children under heaven, regardless of gender, health or disability, should enter elementary school at age six and study for ten years? Ten years of hard study is enough for them to learn skills to earn a living—Great Ming today cannot achieve this, so I proposed five years in my memorial."

He said: "Five years is enough for them to learn common characters, become proficient in arithmetic, and develop slightly mature judgment, so they won't be easily deceived when seeking livelihoods."

Pan Yun said: "Hu Ying once proposed this, but the Grand Secretariat rejected it due to the enormous cost."

Xue Shao said: "The cost is indeed huge, so we must more urgently survey land and population and make scholar-officials pay grain and taxes."

"But what if it's still not enough?"

Xue Shao smiled: "When has there ever been enough money in this world? If it's not enough, find a way—suffer a little, but no matter how hard, we must build education. Only when children have learning can Great Ming truly be strong. This is the first time in history—we will be eternally recorded in the annals."

Pan Yun murmured: "You're right—those who achieve this and the era that does it will be eternally remembered."

Pan Yun looked up at him seriously: "Have you thought this through? If you submit these, you might die."

"Even if I die, I do not regret!"

Pan Yun closed the scroll, lowered her eyes, and asked: "What's left?"

"It's the state-run salt and iron management plan," Xue Shao said without hesitation, handing it to her: "Besides that, there are plans for state-run tool workshops and state-run textile workshops."

Pan Yun flipped through them and whistled: "Now I understand why the Emperor transferred you to the Ministry of Revenue."

This plan was written to be extremely profitable.

But no one knew how it would work in practice.

In these scrolls, Pan Yun saw a familiar world.

If all of this could be realized, she wouldn't mind adding a few strokes of color to make the future even more brilliant and vibrant.

Pan Yun placed the scrolls on the table and said solemnly: "Xue Shao, I'm leaving tonight. I'll stir up trouble outside—you must survive in Jingcheng. Your ability to read qi is unmatched; if you ever sense danger, notify me immediately—even if your identity dies, you must live."

Xue Shao raised an eyebrow.

Pan Yun said: "Because your survival itself is a vast treasure for Great Ming."

Xue Shao laughed and nodded: "Fine. If I'm about to die, I'll tell you."

Pan Yun left him a talisman drawn in her own blood to carry with him, and gave him a communication talisman so he could contact her anytime.

Pan Yun: "I'll carve you a Spirit-Communicator once I find the materials. Your cultivation has risen—you now have Yuan energy, so you can use the Spirit-Board version."

Xue Shao was very interested and asked: "What materials are needed?"

"Jade is best," Pan Yun said, "otherwise, wood infused with spiritual energy. I'll have to find it myself."

Xue Shao was poor—especially after deciding on the path ahead, he distanced himself from his father, brothers, and uncle's family.

He now rented his home—a government-subsidized apartment—because housing prices in Jingcheng were so high that even with his salary, he'd need eighty-six more years to afford a house in his current neighborhood.

So Xue Shao chose to rent.

Hearing jade was needed, he rummaged through his chest and handed Pan Yun his hidden silver: "Not much—buy what you need. If it's not enough, I'll owe you—I'll pay you back once I save more."

Pan Yun took it without hesitation, opened the box, glanced inside, and asked: "You've only been a Jingcheng official for nine months—where did you get so much money?"

Xue Shao: "Thanks to the State Preceptor. After you crossed the Tribulation at Coal Hill, everyone in court learned I can read qi and understand mysticism, so people keep asking me to divine things—I earned some side income. Also, Jingcheng has the Imperial Academy and many academies—I can write essays for people and critique them."

In short, if Xue Shao wanted to earn money, he could do so anytime.

His official salary was merely the most insignificant of his many income sources.

He had none of the typical scholar's arrogance, nor the haughtiness of an official—except for illegal acts, he'd take on any profitable opportunity.

He saved part of his earnings and used part to help others.

His help followed no pattern: sometimes he had Xi Jin buy grain and distribute it at the city gates to refugees barred from entering;

sometimes he bought buns and steamed bread on the streets and gave them to beggars;

sometimes he supported impoverished students stranded in Jingcheng, or children with no school to attend;

because he never publicized his name, and also donated money to the imperial orphanage, or grain to Daoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, letting monks and priests distribute aid to commoners—officials who wanted to accuse him of buying popular favor had no grounds.

Unlike those who shout Pan Yun or Pan Sanzhu's names from the rooftops after doing a single good deed.