"But I am not sure whether this method will be effective or how effective it will be."
Seeing Zhu Biao's confusion, Han Du sighed and continued: "Because ten times the profit is really too big, big enough for people to dare to trample on any severe punishment laws. Moreover, for the princes and ministers who have the ability to do so, the law has no impact on them." Their effect is far inferior to that of Sheng Dou Xiaomin. They have too many ways to avoid the restrictions of the law. For example, even if the law limits how much land they can own, they will find ways to eat more and occupy more. Either the land is dispersed among the same clansmen or the same clan, or the land of the common people is simply taken over directly, and it only belongs to the common people in name."
The land annexation in the Ming Dynasty was so crazy. In the later period, King Fu alone occupied 70% of the land in the fiefdom, and millions of people owned less than half of his land.
It can be seen that the dynasty's demise in just over 200 years was not unrelated to the crazy speed of land annexation.
Zhu Biao was shocked when he heard this. Neither the great scholars who taught him nor his father mentioned the issue of land annexation to him. Although he also valued land, he had never thought deeply about the consequences of land annexation for the Ming Dynasty.
Since the founding of the country, Lao Zhu has rewarded meritorious officials and enfeoffed kings, among which he has given a large amount of land.
Zhu Biao couldn't help but wonder at this moment, if his father knew that the consequences of land annexation were so serious, would he still give the land to him at will?
Zhu Biao's spiritual will was relatively strong. Even when faced with such a heavy issue as land annexation, he was able to sit quietly aside and continue to ask Han Du, "Is there more?"
"Yes, why not?" Han Du took a sip of tea and felt the refreshing fragrance.
Zhu Biao's reputation for kindness is well-known in history, and Han Du should be more open-minded in front of him. There are certain things that Zhu Biao dare not say or cannot say in front of him, as long as Zhu Biao wants to hear them, Han Du can tell him. Even if it doesn't work for the time being, it's like a seed. As long as it falls into the soil in Zhu Biao's heart, it will one day take root and sprout.
"Land annexation is not a single issue, but a complex social issue. Therefore, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince should be mentally prepared. This is not a matter that can be solved overnight, but can only be solved slowly." Han Du came to the critical moment. , still couldn't help but remind Zhu Biao first, just because he was afraid that he would go directly to Lao Zhu in a hurry.
If Lao Zhu knew about it, with his temper, he might not be able to escape and cause a bloody storm, which Han Du didn't want to see.
Han Du thinks, how precious are people? Moreover, the population of the Ming Dynasty was not large. Even those corrupt officials, Han Du believed that he could kill as little as possible.
As long as they can exert their remaining value, it is not impossible to spare their lives.
"I understand, you tell me." Zhu Biao nodded.
"I think that the tax exemption rights of scholars can be stopped now. Even if it is not completely stopped, their tax exemption quota must be strictly limited. They must not be endless tax exemptions like now."
Zhu Biao asked in confusion: "Why? My father gave tax exemptions to scholars and above because he cares about talents, so that they can have an income because they have no time to make a living because of their studies. Isn't this also good?"
"The emperor is naturally out of love for the people." Han Du replied, "Scholars are not engaged in production, so it is appropriate to give them some compensation. I thought that the court could give them a certain amount of money and food just like it gives out official salaries, but We must absolutely prohibit them from endless tax exemptions. Although there are not many scholars and scholars nowadays, the tax exemption part seems to be inconspicuous, and it seems to have no impact on the court. But your Highness, don’t forget that if you study well, you will become an official. Guided by dreams, there will only be more and more scholars in the future. If one day, everyone in the world is a scholar, may I ask Your Highness, does the imperial court still have the power to make them tax-free? Does the Ming Dynasty still have enough land to make them tax-free? ?”
Hearing Han Du say that one day everyone in the world will be scholars, Zhu Biao was overjoyed. As someone who has received orthodox Confucian education, he has an attitude that the more scholars the better.
But at the same time, when he faced the questions raised by Han Du, his heart was filled with deep worries. At that time, will the imperial court really have the ability to treat scholars preferentially?
"I'm afraid that by then, not to mention that there is no land to use for tax exemption, even paying them salaries as you mentioned will be unsustainable." Zhu Biao sighed.
"Your Highness is right," Han Du nodded and admitted, "Even the payment of salaries is only temporary. Once the number of scholars increases, it must be stopped, otherwise it will become a heavy burden on the imperial court. Once the imperial court is overburdened, The only way to balance the budget is to increase taxes."
"But your Highness, don't forget that at this time, most of the land in the world is in the hands of the princes and ministers, and they don't have to pay taxes. So the taxes will only fall on the people whose land has been drastically reduced. The land here has decreased, but the taxes have increased. Does your Highness know what the situation will be like if this continues?"
What kind of situation is it? Do you still use Handu to describe it?
How was Ming Dynasty established? Isn't it because during the Yuan Dynasty, the people were overwhelmed and therefore started to rebel. The huge Yuan Dynasty became a thing of the past in just a few years.
Zhu Biao seemed to have seen that scene in his eyes. He stood up and clasped his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in front of Han Du. After a long time, he stopped and sighed: "The people are overwhelmed. This is the root of the demise of all dynasties."
"What His Highness said is true!" Han Du raised his teacup and saluted Zhu Biao.
"Your suggestion is..." Zhu Biao looked at Han Du and wanted him to give some advice.
Han Du pursed his lips and said, "Everyone is exempted from tax exemption, whether they are princes, ministers or scholars, and they all pay the tax as one; or tax is collected according to the acres of land, no matter who owns the acres, the tax will be collected as much as there are acres of land. Even if This can only delay the arrival of the final moment, but cannot completely eradicate it."
After hearing this, Zhu Biao shook his head and sighed: "It's difficult, it's difficult."
Han Du was not told specifically where the difficulties were, but there were indeed too many. It would be difficult to pass just collecting taxes from princes and ministers. You must know that when my father was conquering the world, he also promised many benefits to the people below. People hold their heads high and go through life and death for their father, isn't it just to be able to be granted a title of marquis and prime minister to bless their descendants?
This road is difficult to pass.
Zhu Biao put this method aside for the time being and asked Han Du: "Didn't you say you have two ideas? What is the other one?"
Han Du smiled and held up the tea cup to show it to Zhu Biao, "Your Highness, please see, how do you keep drinking this cup of tea?"
Zhu Biao smiled when he heard this, picked up the teapot on the side and refilled Han Du's cup, "This is easy, can't you just refill it after drinking it?"
"Thank you, Your Highness." Han Du saw Zhu Biao pouring tea for him and quickly thanked him. After taking a sip, he continued to talk to Zhu Biao: "What His Highness said is true. The land in the world is like this cup of tea in front of you. Since all parties want to drink it, and they all want to drink it, the court wants it too. This cup of tea will never be finished, so just refill it."
"Your Highness, you must know that this world is not just the Ming Dynasty, there is also a lot of land around it."
"You mean to launch a war to plunder the land?" Zhu Biao frowned. Baptized by Confucianism, he was unwilling to talk about war lightly. In his view, war will undoubtedly increase the burden on the people.
"There's nothing I can do about it. It's better for others to cry than for you to cry yourself." Han Du said calmly.
At the same time, I carefully observed Zhu Biao's expression and saw that he still had his eyebrows furrowed and lowered his head in thought, but did not raise his head for a long time.
Han Du coughed dryly and said, "Actually, it doesn't have to be through war."
"Oh? Is there any other way?" Zhu Biao finally raised his head and looked at Han Du.
Han Du continued: "Ahem, in fact, as long as the surrounding vassal countries can provide food to the Ming Dynasty, it will be the same. If the court has food, it can naturally reduce the taxes of the people. Even for those people who cannot survive, the court will We can also provide them with food. In this way, the problem is solved.”
Zhu Biao rolled his eyes at Han Du and said, "Food is an important material everywhere, and it is not easy to get those vassal countries to provide food. Besides, transporting food thousands of miles is a troublesome thing, let alone asking them to transport food thousands of miles. It's not easy at all. impossible."
"Transportation on land is indeed difficult, but shipping by sea is different. We don't want all vassal states to provide food. We can just choose some that are rich in food and can rely on sea transportation. And don't the vassal states all have to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty? We can ask them to pay tribute with food instead.”
Zhu Biao glanced at Han Du noncommittally and said: "The tribute must be returned several times. Doesn't this mean that the court has to spend several times the price? What is the difference between that and buying it directly in the market?"
"The difference is huge," Han Du became excited and quickly explained to Zhu Biao, "There is a certain amount of food in the Ming Dynasty. No matter how much money the court spends on buying in the market, it will not increase the food supply. But the vassal country cannot Likewise, even if they pay tribute to a grain of grain, it is equivalent to adding a grain of grain to the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, the domestic grain of some vassals is as cheap as mud. Even if we give it back to them at the market price, they might be able to get a grain of grain. Double the profit, maybe they would be even more happy?"
"Besides, after the new treasure banknotes are produced in the future, the imperial court's return gifts to the vassal countries can be exchanged for treasure banknotes. In this way, we can get a lot of food in exchange for a pile of paper. Isn't it wonderful? ?”
Han Du expressed what he had thought for a long time, and it was completely feasible.
