Shen Yi knew something about Gui Ji.
Probably people from the same clan deposited the land in Shen Yi's name, and sent part of the income to Shen Yi every year. This part of the income would not be much or very little, about half or seven of the annual court tax. become.
Of course, there are also some people who, in order to please their clan members, take less, or even take nothing at all.
It depends on the ratio negotiated by both parties at the time of sending.
This kind of thing is a "win-win" thing for Juren himself and the people in the clan. After all, both parties will get some benefits, and the only thing hurt is the court's taxes.
However, since the imperial court has this policy, it naturally has its own reasons. This tax-free policy can be said to win over the scholars from all over the world, especially the entire gentry group, so as to be kind to the scholars. This can stabilize the government and make the world more peaceful. The scholars below had no intention of rebelling.
At the very least, people who have the ability to pass the examination have no intention of rebelling.
However, everything must be done in a certain degree. The policy of exempting people from taxation is naturally conducive to the country's rule in the early days of the dynasty. However, after one hundred or even two hundred years of the dynasty, the number of people to be elected will become more and more, and this policy will gradually It does more harm than good.
Shen Yi used the excuse of "headache" to escape, not because he wanted to go against the times and the rules of the times.
After all, he is just a small adjutant now. Even if he rejects the Shen family's offer, other adjutants will do this kind of thing, which will be a drop in the bucket and will not help.
Moreover, land annexation and tax avoidance were only a part of the scholar class. Those members of the clan who also had tax-free privileges were noble, and their annexed land would not be less than that of scholars.
As land annexation becomes more and more serious, conflicts between classes will intensify, and this conflict will eventually become a butcher's knife on the neck of the ruling class.
However, judging from the current rice price in Chen State, the society of this feudal dynasty is generally stable, so Shen Yi does not have to worry about major changes in the world.
The reason why Shen Yi doesn't want to send "guilty mail" to these same clansmen is because he himself also wants to farm.
Of course, it’s not about farming in person.
There were no chemical fertilizers in this era, and the soil allowed only one plow a year. And because there were no pesticides, crop yields were not particularly high. The yields of some crops were only one-fifth or even one-tenth of those of later generations.
Therefore, Shen Yi really wanted to get a piece of land by himself, and then find some people to study the knowledge in the fields.
Although researching agriculture is the most thankless profession, and the cycle often lasts for more than ten years or even decades, especially in this era where there is basically no scientific research environment, if you want to increase production and income, you basically have to introduce new crops overseas. materials, or cultivating new varieties.
But some things always have to be started by someone.
When Shen Yi came to this world, he always wanted to leave something behind.
He was going to be an official, so he naturally didn't have time to do these things himself, but when he became an official and had the ability, he really wanted to build a piece of land in Jiangdu, and then find someone to figure out these things by himself.
Even if it takes ten, twenty, or even thirty years, if nothing else, as long as one more ear and one more grain of rice fall on the heads of the people, more people can eat it. Full meal.
In Shen Yi's opinion, this is a very meaningful thing.
And if he gives all the 200 acres of tax-free quota in his name to these clan members, it will be difficult for him to secretly set up experimental fields in the future.
After all, if the fields need to be taxed, people from the yamen will come twice a year, and there will be no secrets in Shen Yi's experimental field.
Shen Yi left with the excuse of a headache, just to find a way to keep the tax-free quota without offending his fellow clan members.
This era is still the clan era.
Clan power is deeply rooted.
For example, if Shen Yi, a newly promoted candidate, succeeds in the new examination, he will naturally get the full support of his fellow clansmen. If Shen becomes a Jinshi candidate in the future and needs to have connections when replacing his official position, these same clansmen and clansmen will spare no effort. of money and effort.
But in that case, Shen Yi would naturally have to pay some price. For example, after becoming an official, he would provide background for these tribesmen and help them where possible.
In this era, it is difficult for an individual to leave the clan.
Take Shen Yi for example, although the Shen family didn't help him much on weekdays, but at this time, these tribesmen came to deliver gifts. If Shen Yi was cold-faced and completely offended these tribesmen, maybe these tribesmen would make a fuss, which would affect Shen Yi's future. It’s gone.
Just when Shen Yi had a headache, his father Shen Zhang walked into Shen Yi's room. He looked at the frowning Shen Qilang, found a chair and sat down, and said: "Yi'er, there are so many elders here, why don't you leave Leave the next thing you say. It's very rude. If word spreads, people will gossip about our family."
Shen Zhang also sighed: "I would say that after our family became rich, we no longer recognized anyone."
Shen Yi smiled at Shen Zhang: "Our family is better now, so they came to our door. When we were not well, they didn't come to recognize us."
"That's what I said."
Shen Zhang said slowly: "But don't reach out and hit the smiling man."
He looked at Shen Yi and said, "Your third uncle just told my father that if you are not satisfied with the 50% farm rent, they can give our family 70% and keep 30%."
The so-called "field rent" refers to the land tax collected only by the imperial court. Chen Guo enacted the two-tax law, which levied taxes according to the land area. Although the nominal land rent stipulated by the imperial court was not much, so many local officials sometimes faked it at all levels. It will make the people unbearable.
As long as Shen Yi allocates these 200 acres of land to his name, then these 200 acres of land will be removed from the court's tax collection list. In other words, neither the court nor the local officials will ever collect a grain of grain from it in the future. , a copper plate of land tax!
From this perspective, these Shen family members would probably be willing to hand over not only 70% of Shen Yi's land rent, but even 10%.
After all, if it is left to Shen Yi, only Shen Yi will be on this level. If it is left to the county government, I don’t know how many people will get a hold of it.
"It's not a matter of how much money you share."
Shen Yi looked at Shen Zhang's wrinkled face. For the sake of his father's sake, he finally did not act cruelly. Instead, he sighed slightly and said, "Dad, go tell them and tell them that our family only needs them." 50% of the land will be rented. After renting the 50% of the land, I will give it to you for your elderly care, but..."
Shen Yi said slowly: "Our family has no merit and no reward. We cannot ask them for two hundred acres of fertile land for no reason. Dad, go and tell your third uncle and tell us that our family only needs... one hundred acres."
Shen Yi wants to leave himself a hundred acres of tax-free land, and he will set up experimental fields in Jiangdu or the suburbs of Jiankang in the future.
Not only will such a compromise plan not offend his fellow tribesmen, but when word spreads, most people in Jiangdu will say that Mr. Shen is so upright and upright that he can only take half of the land he receives.
Seeing Shen Yi relaxed, Shen Zhang also showed a smile on his face and said, "Okay, dad will go tell them now."
He looked at Shen Yi and said: "Yi'er, so many uncles, elders, and relatives from your mother's side are here. Why don't you stay in the house without seeing anyone? After resting for a while, go out and eat with them at noon. A meal."
Shen Qi nodded silently.
"I know, Dad."
