A long time ago, under the leadership of Li Chengqian, Datang experienced a reform.
During that reform, the Ministry of Household Affairs conducted a large-scale census across the country.
This time the census not only surveyed the population, but also surveyed the land, and summarized the uncultivated areas.
At that time, the total population of the Tang Dynasty was more than 44 million, with more than 200 million cultivated farmland, and countless uncultivated farmland.
After that, Li Chengqian established a land management department in the Ministry of Households based on the experience of later generations.
After all the farmland in the country was nationalized, it was redistributed to the people according to the population recorded in the household registration.
And at that time, there were clear regulations.
No organization or individual is allowed to occupy, buy, sell, or lease land. Land is only owned by individuals. When a person is alive, the land will be redistributed by the court.
In order to avoid the problem of land annexation, the use of land is not completely free for the people.
During the harvest season, local officials will collect 20% of the entire harvest from the people as tax.
As for uncultivated land, it cannot be reclaimed without permission.
At the beginning, Li Chengqian's purpose of establishing this clause was to cope with the increasing population in the future.
But the modern era is, after all, an era in which information and transportation are very limited.
Among them, there are inevitably some speculative guys who take out uncultivated land for cultivation.
Then he deceived his superiors and deceived his subordinates to earn illegal wealth.
At this moment, this is exactly what Li Chengqian was talking about.
After hearing Li Chengqian's words, Wei Zheng frowned and said, "Your Highness, your words are a bit sarcastic."
"I have been honest throughout my life and have never been anyone's protector."
Wei Zheng stamped his feet and said in a loud voice: "If there are really such deeds as His Highness said, I don't need anyone else. I will be the first to refuse to agree!"
"Hey, hey, hey."
"Master Wei, I didn't tell you anything, why are you anxious?"
Li Chengqian raised the corners of his lips and said, "I'm talking about those who reported the news to Mr. Wei."
"After all, I also know that Mr. Wei has not been out of the capital for a long time and cannot see what the people are like."
"And as the right minister, what you heard in the past are all reports given to you by your officials."
"Haven't you ever thought about why your subordinates reported these things to you?"
Li Chengqian tilted his head and said: "As I said just now, our land in the Tang Dynasty is abundant. Even around the Tang Dynasty, there are probably more than 100,000 fields that have not been cultivated."
"But, someone happened to report to you about the land."
"Don't you think that among the officials under you, there is someone who acts as a protective umbrella?"
As soon as he said this, it was obvious where his sword was pointing.
Li Shimin in the hall also showed an ambiguous smile.
It wasn't until this moment that he realized that everything just happened seemed to be foreshadowing.
Li Chengqian's real intention is obviously here.
To understand this, Li Shimin couldn't help but look up at Wei Zheng, his eyes flickering and a clear expression on his face.
If it weren't for Li Chengqian's intention being too obvious later.
He really almost believed that these two people were evil.
In fact, Wei Zheng and Li Chengqian had long turned into enemies, and even became a die-hard supporter of the crown prince.
In the past, no matter what policies Li Chengqian proposed, Wei Zheng would confront Li Chengqian in private even if he had different political opinions.
When in court, he was either supportive or silent.
When has there ever been such a head-to-head performance today?
Feeling Li Shimin's aggressive gaze, Wei Zheng inevitably felt a little guilty.
He cleared his throat and continued to pretend to be angry: "Impossible. The officials under the old minister are all pillars of the government. How can there be such a shameless person who deceives the superiors and conceals the truth from the subordinates?"
"If not, how could Mr. Wei say such things?"
Li Chengqian looked at Wei Zheng and said, "Is it possible that you, Mr. Wei, made it up out of thin air?"
"this……"
Wei Zheng was speechless for a moment.
Immediately, he raised his hands towards Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, I am getting older and my speech is not as sharp as His Highness the Crown Prince's."
"I hope your Majesty will make a clear decision and give justice to this veteran and his subordinates!"
Seeing the two people singing along, Li Shimin almost lost his temper on the spot.
"this……"
"Wei Aiqing."
"Actually, I also think what the prince said makes sense."
Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "If no one was involved in the matter, how could Mr. Wei raise objections to this long-decided national policy?"
"As for the matter of the fields, it may feel trivial to talk about it."
"But after all, our Tang Dynasty has tens of millions of people. In the future, when the world is peaceful, the number of people will only be much greater."
"If someone engages in this kind of deception in private, it will inevitably be a hidden danger in the future."
You know, under the influence of Li Chengqian.
Li Shimin's gaze was far forward than ordinary people's.
He could see the reasons for the demise of the dynasty, and he could also see the crux of the dynasty's decline from glory to glory.
If nothing else, let’s use the Tang Dynasty as an example.
What was the reason for the demise of the Tang Dynasty?
Many people would say it was the Anshi Rebellion, or the Huangchao Rebellion.
But why did the Anshi Rebellion happen? And why did the Huangchao Rebellion happen?
All in all, if everyone in the world can have enough to eat, who will risk their own heads and lives to accompany these people in rebellion?
In the final analysis, it boils down to just four words: land annexation.
To put it bluntly, the fields are controlled by a small group of people.
And when the people don't have enough to eat, they will naturally rise up and respond to the call of the rebels.
Of course, this is not just the Tang Dynasty.
It can be said that the reasons for the collapse of all dynasties in the past dynasties almost all have the shadow of land annexation.
At this moment, Li Chengqian used the words of Wei Zheng to lure the Northern Desert barbarians into the Tang Dynasty. By raising this question, he was reminding Li Shimin.
Nowadays, some people have begun to be dishonest and restless.
And Li Shimin naturally wanted to understand this.
At the moment, he pretended to hesitate and pondered for a long time before saying: "Where is Tang Jian, Duke of Ju?"
"I'm here!"
Tang Jian stepped out of the queue.
"Before registering the people of the Northern Desert."
"You order your men first... no, you go to the people yourself."
"Look at various places to see if there is any private land reclamation. If so, report it immediately."
Li Shimin said with a gloomy face: "I also plan to see who is doing these deceptions under my nose."
"My lord, I obey!"
Tang Jian turned around and walked out of the palace.
But this time, everyone around was a little dumbfounded.
To be honest, they haven't realized what is going on until now.
Aren't you talking about the barbarians in the Northern Desert?
Why did it suddenly jump to the ground?
And only a few people present saw the clues.
Li Ke looked at his brother in front of him and couldn't help but whisper: "I've been nervous for a long time in vain. Can you tell me in advance what plans you have in the future?"
"Telling you in advance will have no effect."
Li Chengqian said with a smile: "And this matter has just begun. You will have to take over in the future..."