Chapter 194

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at the two sets of numbers submitted by Wang Wang Zhiyuan, and was silent for a while.

The household and population that Wang Wang Zhiyuan said naturally refer to the number of households, after all, the imperial court collects taxes by household.

The imperial court's regular taxes now have three categories—farmland tax, household tax, and miscellaneous taxes.

Looking at the leopard, just looking at the household tax of Shuntian Prefecture, one can see that the tax base has basically been eroded.

Since it is like this, how can it not be sunset?

Zhu Zhu Yijun sighed: "What about the farmland?"

Wang Wang Zhiyuan knew it in his heart and blurted out: "Your Majesty, in the 15th year of Hongzhi, the farmland in Shuntian Prefecture totaled 68,720 qing, 13 mu, 5 fen."

"The Yellow Register of Shuntian Prefecture last year totaled 99,582 qing, 99 mu, 9 fen."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was stunned when he heard this.

He looked suspicious: "The population is only 20%, and the farmland is so 'normal'?"

Saying normal does not mean there is no concealment at all.

But compared to the 80% reduction in population, this farmland that is advancing steadily is a bit too gentle.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan was an official who was sent to local prefectures in the first year of Emperor Wanli. Facing the Emperor's question, he seemed to have expected it.

"Your Majesty, each prefecture has its own situation. When I was in Dengzhou, the Yellow Register had many people and little land; but when I arrived in Jinan Prefecture, there were few people and little land."

Wang Wang Zhiyuan's face was very official, his voice was loud and eloquent.

In a few words, Zhu Zhu Yijun felt a sense of favor.

Zhu Zhu Yijun asked Wang Wang Zhiyuan earnestly: "Wang Qing, why is this?"

He could understand the decrease in population, it was nothing more than an upgraded version of Xu Jie's donation.

Without household registration, there is no need to pay head tax, and no need to serve corvee. People donated to avoid taxes, and the big families naturally accepted them happily.

Except for the central government that lost the tax base, it was not a two-way rush.

Farmland is the same truth. The less it is in the register, the more wealth is hidden among the people.

But what is the difference in the actual situation of each prefecture, he, the Emperor in the deep palace, is naturally not as clear as these local officials who started from the prefecture.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan pondered for a moment and replied: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has issued eight items for farmland measurement this time, one of which is."

"It says to restore the quota of sitting and sending, saying that there are official, civil, and garrison numbers for farmland, and there are upper, middle, and lower grain rules for grain, which should be checked one by one so that they cannot be mixed."

"These official land, civil land, garrison land, upper grain, middle grain, lower grain; and population, there are official registration, supervisor registration, military registration, civil registration, etc."

"The weight of the collected farmland tax and household tax cannot be generalized among the prefectures."

"There is another one, which is the law of strict deception and concealment."

"It is also to see whether it is mainly deception by the Prefectural Yamen, or concealment by the powerful."

"The former focuses on hidden farmland, the latter takes into account hidden population, which is also different."

"As for Shuntian Prefecture..."

Wang Wang Zhiyuan suddenly paused.

He looked at Shen Shen Shixing behind the Emperor, and then respectfully bowed to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, I ask for forgiveness first."

This appearance clearly meant he was going to say something inappropriate.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Wang Zhiyuan unexpectedly, and then nodded generously: "Qing, just answer truthfully."

After Wang Wang Zhiyuan got up, he pondered for a long time before finally opening his mouth: "The farmland in Shuntian Prefecture is mostly imperial estates and official land, which are not taxed, so there is naturally less concealment."

"And the population of Shuntian Prefecture, firstly, is due to the Gengxu capture."

"Secondly, there are too many powerful officials, dignitaries, eunuchs, and temples in the capital that can be relied upon."

Wang Wang Zhiyuan sighed: "Otherwise, where did the adopted sons, adopted daughters, servants, and tenants of the powerful families come from?"

Shen Shen Shixing turned his face away on the side.

Although he did not do this, many of his relatives and students in Nanzhili had set up industries in the capital—just like the Song Confucians at the beginning, "in the capital, luxurious as nobles, with more than ten concubines."

Shen Zhang Gelao Zhang, as the head of the Nanzhili township party, was somewhat ashamed.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan did not care whether he offended anyone, and continued: "Your Majesty, this is also the most difficult part of this farmland measurement and population clearing."

After saying this, he bowed again to apologize for his words just now.

Zhu Zhu Yijun naturally understood what Wang Wang Zhiyuan meant.

The most difficult part of farmland measurement and population clearing is not finding people and land to register.

It is everyone who opposes the imperial court in this process.

This includes not only the powerful gentry, but also the people who are slaves and tenants!

Once hundreds of thousands of people are cleared, how to deal with them is a huge problem—they are barely making a living, and once another household tax is added, I don't know how many people will starve to death because of this.

When Xu Jie returned to his fields in Songjiang Prefecture, there was really farmland to distribute to settle the people, so there was no chaos.

What about Shuntian Prefecture?

Do you want to distribute the farmland of powerful officials, dignitaries, eunuchs, and temples to the common people?

Why? Are they legally tax-exempt?

That is why Wang Wang Zhiyuan asked for forgiveness—the most hidden population in Shuntian Prefecture is the backbone of the imperial court.

Just then, Shen Shen Shixing, who was standing on the side, could no longer hold back and said: "Wang Wang Jingzhao hasn't had time to look at the farmland measurement of the Grand Secretariat after taking office yesterday?"

Wang Wang Zhiyuan was stunned, and then said frankly: "Not yet."

He had been in office for less than a day, so it was impossible to take care of everything. He hadn't even finished reading the files of his own Prefectural Yamen.

Seeing that the Emperor did not intend to speak, Shen Shen Shixing organized his language and explained: "Wang Wang Jingzhao's concerns just now, the Emperor and the Grand Secretariat had thought about it before."

"After the farmland measurement, the current tax system will also implement the New Policies, and during this period... the household tax will be temporarily exempted."

Farmland measurement is not the end, but just the beginning of tax reform.

After the tax base is improved, the way of collecting taxes naturally needs to be synchronized.

Not only the Single Whip Law needs to follow closely, but farmland tax, household tax, miscellaneous taxes, and corvee also need to undergo a huge change.

And exempting household tax is the preferential treatment for the people in this turbulent cycle—from the standpoint of the Grand Secretariat, in this New Policy of farmland measurement and population clearing, not letting the people add burdens and rebel is the top priority.

But Wang Wang Zhiyuan was stunned just hearing Shen Shen Shixing say the first part.

Temporarily exempting tax!?

This is not a small amount!

As one of the three regular taxes, even if it is only for three to five years, the Tai Cang Treasury will be hollowed out!

He looked at Shen Shen Shixing in surprise, and then looked at the Emperor.

Seeing that both of them took it for granted, Wang Wang Zhiyuan could not help but ask in surprise: "Temporarily exempting household tax? What about the imperial court's annual income!?"

Of course, it is not that tax exemption is bad.

An emperor who exempts taxes will be set up with a plaque by the people at any time.

Especially at the juncture of farmland measurement, the hundreds of thousands of people cleared out can continue to work as before, and will not be trapped to death by an extra tax.

But the problem is, is the imperial court so well-off?

At the beginning, the founding ancestor said 30 tax 1, which sounded good, but in the end, the miscellaneous taxes still came up.

Don't say it sounds good, but in the end, it is a mess.

Shen Shen Shixing coughed lightly: "In the next few years, the tax amount of household tax will be added to the farmland, and as for how to change the specific tax reform later, it depends on how much farmland and population can be cleared this time."

Wang Wang Zhiyuan fell into deep thought when he heard this.

Household tax added to farmland...

He could clearly feel that this was adding the people's household tax to the landlords and big families.

However, it felt like there was a layer of gauze, and he couldn't see through it.

He didn't think of anything for a long time.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan finally nodded hesitantly: "This can leave a way for the displaced people, but the landlords and big families will probably react more intensely."

Farmland measurement is a tax increase, and bearing an extra head tax is also a tax increase.

It depends on how intensely they can resist.

However, at least it is consistent with his ambition to suppress the powerful and return the people to a better life.

Shen Shen Shixing looked at the Emperor and replied sternly: "Let's suppress it for a few years first. When we collect household tax again, we will reduce the farmland tax that was temporarily added this time."

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Shen Shixing fooling Wang Wang Zhiyuan and could not help but touch his nose.

It is impossible to collect household tax again, and household tax will be exempted forever in the future.

Don't even think about reducing the farmland tax.

This is a desensitization test, for the sake of spreading the tax into the mu!

Historical products must have their historical mission.

The feudal system is like this, the filial piety and integrity are like this, and the head tax is also like this.

In the history of China, the head tax has had its positive and active role for a long time.

But the situation changes.

In this period of time, the head tax is already a tax system that affects the development of productive forces.

Together with the backward household registration system of the Great Ming Dynasty, it locks the common people like fuel to a village or county.

The burden is heavy, making people farm forever.

The official power is strong, making people unable to flow.

Under such a tax system and household registration system, the Great Ming Dynasty will never want to give birth to industry.

Atomization is the result of industry, and it is also a catalyst.

At the same time, the handicraft industry in Jiangnan is waiting to be fed, Zhu Zhu Yunhua in Huguang has built iron smelting plants, local prefectures are thirsty for the people's commercial taxes, and the nobles in the two capitals who participate in sea transportation are impatient to transport goods back and forth.

Light industry needs displaced people; heavy industry needs craftsmen with free household registration; merchants who are wealthy but can only wear coarse cloth and linen also need to abolish the household registration status that limits their status.

Exempting household tax is the first step of tax reform and registration reform—the central government took advantage of the farmland measurement to secretly add warm water to the frog in the pot.

With the inertia of collecting head tax for thousands of years, most landlords and local tyrants will hold a fluke mentality, thinking it is a "temporary" thing.

Just like Wang Wang Zhiyuan's reaction—landlords will definitely have opinions, but they can only be suppressed for a few years.

But in fact.

Once the farmland measurement is completed and the tax base is complete, why should the head tax be restored?

The burden on landlords increased? So what?

The Yellow Register is the greatest symbol of actual rule. As long as the Yellow Register is in hand, there is no security war that can break the empire.

The people that the wild boars can kill, the Great Ming Dynasty can kill more delicately.

Of course, it is best to be able to transition smoothly.

Therefore, things should not be said too thoroughly. Even if Shen Zhang Gelao Zhang is facing the small nine-rank official in front of him, he can fool him if he can.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan has not entered the central government, so his vision naturally cannot see this level.

He nodded thoughtfully.

Shen Shen Shixing saw Wang Wang Zhiyuan believe and nod, and continued: "Then it is Wang Wang Jingzhao's words, Shuntian Prefecture is full of tax-exempt official land."

"Wang Jingzhao, the Emperor and the Grand Secretariat have just decided that from the Tong Jinshi and Jujian of this subject next year, after resignation, only the farmland tax of three and a half mu will be exempted."

Wang Wang Zhiyuan was not too surprised when he heard this.

This matter has been blowing wind since the subject of the second year of Emperor Wanli, saying that new people have new methods, and old people have old methods.

It's just that it hasn't started, which made these two sessions worry for a long time.

It seems that the wind has blown enough, and it will finally start next year.

The tax amount of three and a half mu is enough to support a family without starving.

The Emperor and the Grand Secretariat have to bear the reputation of being harsh and ungrateful.

Otherwise, it would be sorry for the years of cold window study of the Tong Jinshi.

Of course, it is the Tong Jinshi after the eighth year of Emperor Wanli, who belong to the future opposition, and are still in swaddling clothes—anyway, it has nothing to do with these old people.

Thinking of this, Wang Wang Zhiyuan asked curiously: "When was the edict issued, why haven't I heard of it?"

If there was a clear edict from the central government, the literati would have to quarrel for a few sentences, and he would not have heard of it.

Shen Shen Shixing stroked his beard and said vaguely: "When registering for the imperial examination in the twelfth month, I will inform you."

This is a conspiracy, if you don't want to be an official, there are plenty of people who want to!

Li Zhishi benefits? Today, even the tax exemption of three and a half mu is not satisfied. If you become an official, you dare not think about anything!

Wang Wang Zhiyuan could not help but glance at Shen Shen Shixing.

This proud son of heaven who entered the Grand Secretariat at the age of only forty-three has gradually become a bit insidious and cunning in two years.

The water and soil of the Grand Secretariat don't seem to be very good.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan shook his head, threw the extra thoughts out of his mind, and said to the point: "Since that is the case, the most difficult part of farmland measurement now is probably the temple property."

"Now there are hundreds of new temples in Beizhili, and there are nearly a hundred in Shuntian Prefecture!"

The difficulty is not in the power, but in the trouble.

Anything involving a large number of people is not without trouble—especially in the case of treating people as people.

The Taoist sect is better, but these people in the Buddhist sect are really hard to get along with, even if they are cut down and destroyed, they don't see any peace.

Shen Shen Shixing was about to speak, but heard the Emperor clear his throat.

Shen Zhang Gelao Zhang closed his mouth knowingly.

Zhu Zhu Yijun took the conversation, looked at Wang Wang Zhiyuan, and said sternly: "I came here this time not only to care about Wang Qing, but also to inform Wang Qing that I want to tour the twenty-four counties of Shuntian Prefecture."

"The powerful officials, dignitaries, eunuchs, and temples you mentioned just now, I will take a look at them one by one, and see what kind of wealth they have in their homes."

"As for the Buddhist and Taoist sects, I will not hesitate to visit them."

Wang Wang Zhiyuan suddenly coughed.

It took a long time for him to stroke his chest and return.

He and Chang Chang Chunqiao looked at each other, and both showed a difficult expression.

The former said helplessly: "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Zhu Yijun interrupted him directly and continued to say to himself: "This is a matter decided by the court discussion, Qing, prepare quickly, no need to say more."

He understood the mood of the foreign court being afraid of trouble.

But a real-power emperor does not spend his whole life in the palace.

If you don't go out to investigate, it won't be good if you are like Zhang Zhang Juzheng in history, who was blind.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan wanted to say more, Zhu Zhu Yijun suddenly turned his head to look at him: "If Wang Qing feels rushed, I will stay in Shuntian Prefecture tonight, and let the internal officials and the Secretariat assist, so that we can set off early, how about it?"

Wang Fuyin was startled when he heard this, and his whole body almost jumped up: "Your Majesty is the supreme, how can you stay in Shuntian Prefecture!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun stared at Wang Wang Zhiyuan and smiled without saying a word.

The latter saw the Emperor's appearance and finally reacted.

I have long heard that the Emperor often plays this kind of rogue means, and today I finally saw it.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan bowed helplessly: "Can I have a few days to prepare the files, so that when Your Majesty has doubts, I will not be ignorant."

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction: "Then it will be the 28th of the tenth month, tour early and return early."

After saying this, he ignored Wang Wang Zhiyuan's bitter face, nodded to Shen Shen Shixing, and turned to leave.

Shen Shen Shixing followed.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan and Chang Chang Chunqiao bowed and sent them off with a great ceremony.

Just then, Zhu Zhu Yijun suddenly remembered something, turned his head and asked curiously: "I don't seem to have seen the Prefecture Assistant?"

There are not many officials in Shuntian Prefecture who are qualified to appear in front of the Emperor, but besides the two in front of him, there should be a Prefecture Assistant.

Wang Wang Zhiyuan was at a loss when he heard this, not knowing how to answer.

Chang Chang Chunqiao on the side saw this and suddenly said: "Your Majesty, after the Prefecture Mayor arrived yesterday, the Prefecture Assistant Guo Gu Tingwu transferred to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices through a relationship."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was stunned when he heard this, and immediately understood what was going on.

He nodded calmly and smiled: "I heard Chang Qing complain twice, if this time the examination is excellent, the Censorate will be waiting for you."

Chang Chang Chunqiao did not know whether the Emperor was teasing or mocking, so he just bowed and pleaded guilty.

When he raised his head again, he only saw the Emperor's back surrounded by close ministers.

After the group left the Shuntian Prefecture Prefectural Yamen, Zhu Zhu Yijun suddenly pulled his face down.

He looked at Jiang Jiang Keqian and said stiffly: "Go, copy the house of the Prefecture Assistant Guo Gu Tingwu, and see how many clans his crimes are enough to punish."

Jiang Jiang Keqian was about to respond.

Shen Shen Shixing, who had been following the Emperor, was shocked.

He hurriedly grabbed Jiang Jiang Keqian and advised the Emperor: "Your Majesty! Avoiding difficulties is human nature, how can it be like this!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head expressionlessly: "He is a fourth-rank official, and he also expressed his support for the New Policies to Me in the southern suburbs that day, but now he is retreating in the face of difficulties, what is the reason!?"

Shen Shen Shixing was speechless.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Shen Shixing and asked earnestly: "How many court officials who do not support the New Policies but do not resign can stand the investigation?"

Shen Shen Shixing was speechless.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded to Jiang Jiang Keqian, and the latter led the guards away.

The Emperor did not stop, and said to Shen Shen Shixing: "Wang Wang Zhiyuan, Chang Chang Chunqiao and others, I will never fail; Lu Lu Guangzu, Shi Shi Yaochen and others, I can gather and disperse; but for those like Guo Gu Tingwu who are hypocritical, don't blame Me for being ruthless."

"Party struggle must have the appearance of party struggle. Identifying like-minded people is an indispensable thing."

Shen Shen Shixing sighed.

Helplessly replied: "I am afraid the foreign court will say that Your Majesty is cruel."

Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head and stopped talking about this.

"Go and tell the Buddhist Registry that the monk certificates will not be issued for now."

Shen Shen Shixing had not yet escaped from the Emperor's appearance of copying the house and destroying the clan, and asked carefully: "Your Majesty wants to...?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun walked in front, his voice very light: "Since the mountain-cutting and temple-breaking didn't make them honest, I will reason with them during this tour."

(Ask for monthly tickets, the eighth one fell, sad.)

(End of chapter)