Seeing that everyone was silent, I said calmly: "There is indeed something wrong with Li Si's proposal."
Li Si looked at me in astonishment. He originally thought that this matter would be approved by me. In yesterday's conversation, I did express this idea. Even though it was only for prisoners and the head of Guizhou who had no land, he thought deeply for a long time before proposing such a law.
If Ying Zheng were still alive, Ying Zheng would basically not oppose him as long as his proposal was indeed useful. It's just that I am not Ying Zheng after all. In the eyes of many people, I am still a child and lack the power to intimidate these ministers.
If I forcibly support this law, more people will definitely oppose me. There are still many things I have to do. If I am on the opposite side of most people just regarding agriculture, it will be difficult to implement the subsequent plans.
Seeing Li Si's expression, I changed the subject: "However, it is not without its merits."
"Eleven years have passed since the twenty-sixth year of the First Emperor. Da Qin has not conducted large-scale land statistics. The former emperor once used the method of self-implementation of fields in Guizhou to count the number of acres. However, I carefully checked the county annals , It was found that the statistical number of some acres was not consistent with the land fertility situation of the county or county. When Guizhou Province reports on its own, it is inevitable that there will be concealment or fraud. "
"I intend that from now on, we will re-count the number of fields across the country, including not only the production areas of staple grains such as millet, wheat, and rice, but also vegetables, ornamental timber, fish ponds, etc. All crops that occupy the land must be counted. Based on the results of this statistics, all fields included in this statistics will be regarded as old fields; any fields reclaimed later will be regarded as new fields."
"In this way, we can not only understand the land reclamation situation across the country, but also encourage Guizhou to reclaim wasteland. It can be said that we kill two birds with one stone. What do you think?"
After I finished speaking, everyone in the hall had different expressions.
I won't have a big conflict with them, but equally, I won't compromise with them easily. Every time I make a decision, it saves them face.
Seeing that no one spoke, Li Si was the first to understand: "Your Majesty is wise, I think it is okay."
I looked at Ge Yue. As the ruler of the Qin Dynasty, it was understandable to protect the aristocratic families. After all, they still relied on them to contribute a large amount of grain and land rent. However, if they were still on the opposite side of me on such an obvious strategy of enriching the country, it would be hard to say He replaced it.
When Ge Yue saw me staring at him, he panicked for a moment. He quickly stood up and cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I also agree with your Majesty's policy."
Then I looked at the Bai family and the Xiqi family who were the most opposed. These people all occupied the position of Jiuqing in the court. When I looked at them, they quickly agreed.
I was secretly alert in my heart. Rulers who touch the interests of powerful families never end well.
In ancient times, their main source of interest was land annexation and underreporting of acres. Now that their fundamental interests are touched, they will not give up.
Then I said to Ge Yue: "Since there is no objection among you, you will take charge of this matter. I will order all the county guards and county magistrates to fully cooperate with you. The deadline is half a year, and there must be results."
Ge Yue accepted the order and said yes.
I unconsciously glanced at the leader's position again. When I saw Feng Quji and Feng Jie and his son, I had a plan in mind.
"Feng Jie, please arrange a few censors to assist Ge Yue in completing this matter. If you encounter anyone who dares to obstruct the land statistics, you don't need to report it to me. They will be captured directly and handed over to Meng Yi to be sent to prison until the matter is over. , and try them together." I stared at Feng Jie and said.
Since I can't clearly see the attitude of your father and son, I simply drag your Feng family into the water and see how you respond.
Feng Jie was also stunned. He didn't expect that I would let him get involved, so he quickly said yes.
But in his heart, he suddenly became wary, just like Feng Quji.
If the outcome of this matter is not to my liking, then it will definitely offend me, and I may even be labeled as a bad supervisor.
If the report is true, it will definitely offend those nobles. The key point is that the Feng family is also one of the nobles. They need to check themselves. If they don't grasp the right balance, they may face disaster.
The two looked at each other: It seems that His Majesty wants to test the loyalty of my Feng family to Da Qin.
This matter has come to an end for now.
I looked at Ge Yue again and gave him a stick. I had to give him a sweet date.
I opened my mouth and said, "When I was checking the geographical properties of Baiyue Land, I happened to see a record about rice."
"Currently rice planting is mainly concentrated in the south of the river, but the yield is very low, and there is no systematic guidance for planting in the first part of Guizhou. I have seen in the records that in the southern part of Baiyang, close to the sea, there is a kind of rice called 'Champa Rice' It is rumored that the local rice can reach a yield of 1,000 kilograms per mu."
Everyone was surprised when they heard what I said, and no one believed it. The yield per mu is one thousand catties. The current average grain yield is only one hundred catties per mu. How can this myth exist?
In fact, in this era, it is indeed impossible to achieve a yield per mu of 1,000 kilograms. In order to stimulate their desire for exploration, I had to report the yield per mu for future generations.
Seeing everyone's expressions, I continued: "I also have my doubts, but what if this kind of rice really exists? You can think about what the national power of our Great Qin will reach."
"Therefore, I want you, Ge Yue, to take charge of this matter. Of course, I am not asking you to go to Baiyue to look for this kind of rice. After the meeting, I will order Zhao Tuo to send people to search for it."
"If it can really be found, you must take on the responsibility of promoting it and let this kind of rice be planted in large quantities south of the river. Not only that, I also want you to preside over the preparation of rice planting guide books to provide systematic guidance for planting in Guizhou, and further Increase rice yields.”
When Ge Yue heard this, the depressed look on his face disappeared, and he stood up quickly and said: "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I will do my best to plant excellent rice for my country, Qin, so that the national treasury will be filled."
Compared with such offending things as counting acres of land, it is the dream of every ancient scholar to be able to write a book and leave it to the world. If you don't see Zhu Di compiling "Yongle Dadian", you can also know that Qianlong revised "Sikuquanshu".
Then I told everyone about the intensive agricultural model of later generations, the breeding of cash crops, etc. No one objects to this matter. Being able to increase crop yields is a good thing for aristocratic families. They have the most fields in their hands, and they would like to be able to produce thousands of pounds per acre.
After arranging all the necessary matters, I left Li Si behind. The meeting ended and everyone performed their duties.
When we arrived at the Sihai Palace, Li Si and I sat down and said apologetically: "At the meeting just now, I very much agree with Prime Minister Li's national policy. However, there are too many people who oppose it, so I have to compromise and adopt it. Prime Minister Li will not blame me." Me."
After hearing this, Li Si looked horrified and quickly straightened up and said: "Your Majesty has betrayed me. How dare I speak so slightly to you? It was my lack of thinking that made it difficult for your majesty. The crime cannot be forgiven."
I said with emotion: "Prime Minister Li's words are serious. I hope Prime Minister Li will make more suggestions for me in the future. Since the death of the late emperor, I have often felt that I am unable to do what I want. Without veterans like you, I don't know what will happen."
Li Si was deeply moved: "I swear to serve His Majesty, and I dare not fail to do so!"
This matter cannot be completed overnight, but I finally have time to think about how to solve the problem of the uprising army in the late Qin Dynasty in history.
After Li Si left, I asked Xingzhong to call Zhang Liang in.
