"Is this Quyang City?" Xiong Wuliang was stunned for a long time.
Since he can remember, Xiong Wei has sent Xiong Wuliang, his only son, to Yingdu.
Firstly, it was to allow Xiong Wuliang to receive a better education - the significance behind being able to study with the prince of Chu was extraordinary - Mi Liang would definitely be a close confidant of the next King of Chu. That is to say, Xiong Wei has a great reputation. If he were an ordinary minister, it would be difficult to send his heir to the palace to accompany him.
Secondly, I wanted Xiong Wuliang, the future young prince, to get in touch with more aristocratic ministers of the Chu State in Yingdu, so that he could become familiar with them early, which could be regarded as developing contacts.
Thirdly, I am afraid that the son of the prince was used as a pledge to reassure King Chu Huai.
In short, no matter what the reason was, Xiong Wuliang had not been back to Quyang County for many years.
The Quyang City in front of us is the core of the entire Quyang County - a small square city. There is a plaque on the city gate with the two characters "Quyang" written in Chu script.
The entire city is made of rammed earth, so it is definitely not majestic.
Compared with the uniform stone bricks on the walls of Yingdu, Quyang looks very shabby.
Although the city is small, it looks neat and orderly - the soldiers at the gate are checking the identities of those who enter the city, which is quite impressive!
"This is the newly-named Young Master Wu Liang, and you haven't saluted the little prince yet!" Zhong Hua greeted the sergeants at the door.
All the sergeants knelt down and saluted: "Greetings to Lord Quyang!"
The people passing by secretly glanced at Xiong Wuliang's car and couldn't help but whisper: "They almost look exactly like the boss!"
"I hope he is also a good ruler who cares about people's livelihood..."
"The old master died miserably..." Someone secretly wiped away tears, seeming to miss the old master very much.
After Shang Yang's political reform in Qin, he was beheaded to record his merits. Therefore, the Qin army was violent and had the habit of humiliating corpses, beheading and cutting off ears to discuss merits. In the Battle of Danyang, there were basically no intact bodies of the Chu soldiers who died in the battle.
Chu people have always respected their ancestors, ghosts and gods, and pay attention to returning fallen leaves to their roots. It's okay to die in battle with dignity, at least the body cannot be disgraced.
Nowadays, the body of the deceased is found in a different place, which is a great insult to the living.
Therefore, the Chu people had deep hatred towards the Qin people.
…
After entering the city, Xiong Wuliang looked around and saw that there were almost no pedestrians on the street.
"Why is it so depressed?" Xiong Wuliang frowned slightly.
"Sir, it's the busy summer season right now. Farmers are tending crops in the fields, so the city is naturally depressed." Zhong Hua explained.
Xiong Wuliang nodded suddenly and asked: "Based on previous years, how much is Quyang's annual agricultural income? What is the tax rate?"
Agriculture was the only pillar industry in this era, and agricultural harvest represented almost all the income from the fiefdom.
Of course Xiong Wuliang attaches great importance to it.
"Back to the young master - Quyang has mostly fertile fields. One acre can produce two stones of millet, and the tax rate is four times that."
Xiong Wuliang's eyes widened in surprise.
The yield per mu is only two stones?
In this era, the level of agricultural technology is too low!
Too.
At present, not only is the selection and breeding of excellent rice seeds immature, farm tools are also extremely backward, and the concept of fertilization is almost non-existent.
Fortunately, Xiong Wuliang is confident that he can change all this with his knowledge.
Keeping the agricultural reform in mind, Xiong Wuliang frowned again and said: "Tenth tax rate? This is too high!"
Zhong Hua was startled, and then explained: "Of the 40% of the tax, three are to be handed over to the treasury, and the other 10% is the tax given to you by the fief."
"Young Master, you don't know, but the tax rate in Quyang is already very low. In most areas of our Chu State, the tax rate is five or even six."
"As for the Tiger and Wolf Qin Kingdom, the tax rate is as high as seventeen!"
Xiong Wuliang nodded slowly.
There is a record in the "Book of Han" of later generations: Qin paid tribute and received half of the tax.
For those who are more than half, choose two-thirds - an astonishing 67% agricultural tax rate!
It now seems that the taxes collected by the countries during the Warring States Period were similar to those of the Tyrant Qin.
After all, during the Warring States Period, there were successive conquests, and the expenses of the army and the pensions for the fallen soldiers were huge expenses.
The monarchs could only ensure balance of payments by charging high agricultural taxes from farmers.
The tithe tax rate in Quyang County can really be regarded as a light corvee and a small tax in this era...
It seems that if we want to reduce taxes, we can only wait until the world is stable!
For example, after Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, the agricultural tax rate was only one-fifteenth.
Xiong Wuliang threw the unrealistic thoughts out of his mind. At this moment, he had no intention of patrolling the territory: "Take me to the warehouse to have a look."
Zhong Hua was startled: "Young Master has been tired from a long journey, why don't you go back to your home to rest first?"
Xiong Wuliang shook his head and motioned to Zhong Hua to lead the way.
Zhong Hua and the surrounding tribes became excited.
This new master of his family is obviously not the kind of idle and wealthy son who only knows how to bully men and dominate women - he has to inspect the warehouse as soon as he arrives in the fiefdom, and it seems that he has to do some practical work.
Quyang County's warehouse is located in the center of the city, next to Quyang Jun's Mansion.
This warehouse is made entirely of blue bricks, which is quite eye-catching in Quyang City, which is dominated by gray-yellow rammed earth houses.
The clerk in charge of the warehouse saluted Xiong Wuliang and Zhong Hua, then called several people to open the heavy warehouse door.
There is a strong smell of rust in the air. Apparently, in addition to food, some metal products are also stored here.
The warehouse clerk bowed and said, "Please come in, please be careful where you step."
Xiong Wuliang walked into the warehouse surrounded by Zhong Hua and others. The warehouse was almost empty. A few grains of rice and straw were scattered on the dusty ground, reminding Xiong Wuliang that he had indeed gone to the wrong house.
Zhong Hua quickly knelt down on one knee to apologize:
"Sir, after the battle between Qin and Chu in Danyang, the eight hundred soldiers of Quyang suffered all casualties. The treasury was in embarrassment and could not provide compensation, so my subordinates took it upon themselves to use the grain stored in the treasury instead of money and silk to provide compensation for the dead... Please punish me."
Xiong Wuliang was silent for a moment and waved his hand: "You did the right thing."
If he wants to make a comeback, Xiong Wuliang must not hurt people's hearts.
It would be better for the treasury to run away with rats than to shorten the pension for soldiers who died in battle.
"Your Majesty, please take a look - there are more than 200 weapons and twelve chariots in the treasury." The clerk of the treasury led everyone to the depths of the treasury and introduced them.
Xiong Wuliang took a closer look and saw that the weapons in front of him were basically all bronze weapons, and the chariots were also rusty and mottled. He couldn't help but shake his head secretly.
Qiang Qin in the west has begun to popularize standard iron weapons.
My fiefdom is still stuck in the Bronze Age!
As for the twelve chariots in the treasury, they are old items that have long been eliminated from the field battles of infantry and cavalry.
Xiong Wuliang sighed, he was completely broke now.
Zhong Hua comforted him: "Master, don't be depressed - as long as you wait until the autumn harvest, this treasury will not be empty."
Xiong Wuliang waved his hand.
How much money can you make by exploiting those old farmers?
If you want to get rid of poverty and become rich, you have to engage in construction and industrialization!
At present, the fiefdom is destitute and surrounded by powerful enemies.
If you want to build a market economy step by step, I'm afraid it won't work - you can only build a planned economy!
It has to be a wartime planned economy!
If you want to build an industry and set up a factory, you can’t do it without workers.
The first priority is to improve agricultural productivity and expand food production. Through the improvement of agricultural technology, farmers can be freed from the busy work of farming and have free time to work in factories.
with a clear purpose!
The first thing Xiong Wuliang did when he came to the fiefdom was to innovate agricultural production technology!
