As a royal place used by the emperor to summon important ministers and work, the Zichen Palace was still magnificent and brightly lit late at night.
Usually at this time, the empress would have gone back to Ziwei Palace to bathe and rest, even when the Holy King Cangming entered the palace to assist the emperor in handling official affairs.
But now, there are still people in the Zichen Palace, and the empress wearing a red dragon robe is discussing something with Lu Chen seriously.
"Lu Qing, do you mean that from now on, the clan's salary will no longer be a fixed amount, but will be changed to half of the annual income of the local government in the fiefdom without increasing the tax items?"
Lu Chen nodded and said, "Yes, Wei Chen plans to link their income to the income of the local people, instead of like before, no matter how the people live, it will not affect their salary."
"As the saying goes, we share blessings and share hardships. The clan and the country live together and share the national destiny with the court. Then they should share responsibilities with the court. For the court, if the people live a prosperous life and tax revenue increases, life will be easier. On the contrary, If the common people cannot make a living, the court cannot collect taxes, and the national treasury is depleted, life will become increasingly difficult, and so should the clan."
After hearing this, the empress suddenly began to think deeply, constantly analyzing the pros and cons of Lu Chen's unprecedented suggestion in her mind.
After all, it is a major event involving the reform of the ancestral system. It can affect the whole body, so we must not be careless.
After a moment, her eyes became brighter and brighter.
At this time, Lu Chen said again: "At the same time as the restructuring, the rights and obligations of the clan must also be adjusted accordingly, such as lifting some restrictions on employment, strengthening supervision of them, limiting land property, reducing the number of guards, at least, not allowing them to have people like Yu The king's power of life and death must be ensured that "princes who break the law are guilty of the same crime as the common people". Otherwise, if they are allowed to harm the people and plunder the people as they have in the past, the restructuring will be meaningless. On the contrary, it will increase their oppression and oppression of the people. Robbery by skill."
As soon as these words came out, the empress frowned again.
Is the power of this reform too drastic?
It is necessary not only to reduce the salary of the clan, but also to reduce their power.
This means knocking them down with a stick. Whether they can get up depends on their ability.
Wouldn't they have to fight tooth and nail to resist?
And the person who made this suggestion must not be regarded by them as a life-or-death enemy?
But after thinking about it, the empress suddenly understood why Lu Chen said this.
Indeed, reforming the clan support system will cause their income to plummet in the short term. If their authority is not weakened at the same time, they may try their best to squeeze the people and recover this loss from the people.
There are hundreds of thousands of clans in the world, and not all of them are as rich and talented as King Yu. Most of the clans still have to rely on the imperial court to support them.
If it becomes like this, it will backfire.
So, the person who made the suggestion.
Thinking of this, the empress couldn't help but think of a figure who had been extremely reliable from childhood to adulthood.
"Brother, I have to trouble you again."
The moment this thought flashed across her mind, she suddenly felt much more relaxed.
"Any more? Lu Qing."
"certainly."
Lu Chen smiled slightly and continued: "In human nature, things that are easy to obtain are always not valued and cherished. Since the clan's salary is linked to the local government, or the local people, then a reward and punishment system must be established and set A standard that allows the salary of half of the annual income to further fluctuate."
Hearing this, a subtle look appeared on the empress's face.
"How to reward? How to punish?"
Lu Chen said: "If the people are benefited, they will be rewarded, and if the people are harmed, they will be punished."
Is that really the case?
Lu Qing, as always, cares about the common people.
The empress couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
"for example."
Lu Chen continued to talk eloquently: "If the local people do not freeze to death and starve to death, a certain coefficient will be increased as a reward. Otherwise, a certain coefficient will be confiscated. Unannounced visits will be made. If the people complain against the clan, they will be punished. If they do not, they will be rewarded. And so on. .”
"Set up Xuanjiwei stations in various places and have them monitor the local people's livelihood, clan income and living conditions. If necessary, use photo charms, musical notes, or even projection charms to record evidence. The imperial court will analyze the relationship between the clan and local officials through annual income. Is there any foul play? If so, once verified, the house will be searched immediately and held accountable."
"Part of the proceeds confiscated afterward can be used as funds for the operation of the site and additional bonuses for Xuanji Guards in addition to salary. Those who have made great contributions will receive additional rewards."
Plans came out from Lu Chen's mouth one by one.
In short, the purpose is to guide the clan as much as possible and directly link their interests with the interests of the people. If the people live well, the clan will have an easier time. If the people are sad, the clan will live a hard life.
At the same time, because it is a fixed share of expenditure, no matter how many generals who control the country, how many generals who assist the country, or generals who serve the country, they can only be divided into half of the local annual income.
If there are many people, everyone will get less points; if there are few people, everyone will get more points.
It will no longer affect the court’s tax revenue.
"Of course, in addition to this, there is a more critical problem that needs to be solved. If this problem is not solved, Daxia will still be unable to escape the fate of overthrowing."
Upon hearing this, the empress's expression suddenly became extremely solemn.
After thinking for a moment, she understood what the problem Lu Chen was talking about.
"Is there a problem that the clan and gentry don't pay grain taxes?"
"That's right!"
Lu Chen nodded heavily and said in a deep voice: "All Daxia citizens have the obligation to pay grain taxes. There must be no situation where they can only enjoy rights without paying."
"It has been nearly a thousand years since Emperor Taizu Hongwu founded the country. The world of Daxia is no longer the era where people's livelihood was in decline, cultivators were withering, and spiritual disasters were frequent as it was a thousand years ago. In Daxia today, monks have exceeded Millions, relying on the national policy of not paying food to monks, countless people took the initiative to donate land to monks. These people continued to annex land through various means, and almost controlled more than half of the cultivated land in Daxia, but none of it was handed over to the court. This is simply plundering the wealth that should belong to the imperial court and the world!"
“The people who need to pay taxes have less and less land, the national treasury is getting tighter, and their burdens are getting heavier, which further leads them to donate their land, intensify mergers, and further reduce annual income, forming a vicious circle. If this continues, One day the people will no longer be able to afford the money needed for the normal operation of the court, and then with the treasury running low for years, the court will be unable to pay military salaries, have no money for disaster relief, and cannot provide salaries..."
"Your Majesty, when the court cannot function normally, can this world still be the world of Great Xia? Therefore, the drawbacks of the tax system have reached the point where they have to be reformed."
The empress was silent.
At this time, Lu Chen suddenly shook his head and sighed.
"What I saw and heard in the two states of Yu and Sui was shocking. The local officials were either indifferent or slack in political affairs. They were devoted to mystical cultivation and left the local area to their own devices. Their selfishness was as high as Mount Tai. There were only a few qualified people. The people were selfish in these affairs. Under the governance of mediocre and profitable officials, it is unspeakable misery, and these two states are medium-sized state capitals, and the people's livelihood is already so difficult. I can't imagine what a hell on earth the lower-level state capitals must be."
"In Wei Chen's view, the situation of the people in the two states can almost be regarded as a microcosm of the Great Xia. If we do not carry out drastic reforms, the prosperous age your Majesty expects will always be just a castle in the air. No matter how hard you work, the so-called The resurgence of China will only be as short-lived as the late emperor's."
After hearing this, the empress finally spoke slowly.
"I don't know anything about the disadvantages of the tax system, but this matter is huge and involves a wide range of things. If you are not careful, it will cause huge turmoil. We must take care of it slowly and not act too hastily."
The empress's reaction was unexpected by Lu Chen.
It is impossible to do something as big as tax reform on a whim.
After all, if you want to reform the tax system, you must face the entire gentry class and the officials and ministers who are intricately connected with the gentry class.
This is Daxia's elite class.
Reform has never been a simple matter.
To get rid of old abuses, new systems must be introduced to replace them, and the implementation of new laws requires the help of officials at all levels and a stable and reliable team.
Her foundation is still too shallow.
And he, Lu Chen, is too upright and has never formed a party for personal gain. He basically has no foundation. Well, those acting county magistrates in Yuzhou who are chasing ducks can barely be regarded as his team, but they have just entered the officialdom and are too immature. , can't make any waves at all.
As long as the empress is not stupid, she will definitely know that now is not the time for a complete reform.
However, Lu Chen was a little surprised by her attitude that she had obviously planned something for a long time.
"Wei Chen naturally knows that the tax system reform is not easy, and it is impossible to clear away the millennium-old disadvantages of Daxia at once. Wei Chen does not intend to accomplish it overnight and cause a big chaos."
Lu Chen said calmly: "There are just some things that need to be prepared in advance."
Hearing this, the empress couldn't help but move her eyes.
"For example?"
"For example, this matter of supporting the clan."
Lu Chen slowly raised the corner of his mouth, "As long as we find a way to tie the clan, which only has certain privileges but no real power, with the people and the local economy, and make it the fundamental interest of the clan, will the clan still be as incompatible with each other as before? If the gentry's well water does not interfere with the river water, then it may not be possible."
After a pause, he continued: "Moreover, fixed salaries will make the clan lose their ambition, but there is no upper limit. The floating salary, which can be clearly changed through hard work, can stimulate the potential of the clan, and at least create some value for the court. Rather than being treated like a pig by the imperial court all day long, knowing nothing but sensuality and wasteful spending that consumes the country's destiny."
After the words fell, the empress couldn't help but groan.
"Let the people and the local economy become the fundamental interests of the clan?"
After a moment, her bright eyes quietly flashed with light.
"This is the true sharing of national destiny"
After sighing with emotion, she suddenly raised her head, took a deep look at Lu Chen, and then said softly: "Lu Qing and his team in Yuzhou have gained much more than I imagined."
Hearing this, Lu Chen couldn't help but be startled.
After reacting, he sighed quietly.
"If possible, Wei Chen would rather gain nothing."
As soon as these words came out, the empress' eyes dimmed slightly.
After a moment of silence, she spoke:
"After Lu Qing goes back tonight, please draw up a charter. Remember, don't submit it directly to the cabinet, but send it directly to me."
Lu Chen nodded.
Seeing Lu Chen agree, the empress breathed a sigh of relief.
Then she seemed to suddenly remember something and asked Lu Chen: "By the way, those words, symbols and grids that Lu Qing just wrote with charcoal on the manuscript are examples of calculations that can quickly calculate complicated data without relying on calculations. Is it legal?"
"Oh, this."
Lu Chen nodded.
"This is a number that Wei Chen has figured out himself, as well as calculation symbols and tables. Through some methods, efficient calculation and coordination can indeed be achieved. If Your Majesty is interested in this, Wei Chen can teach you."
"Then I'll trouble Lu Qing."
The empress responded without hesitation.
But he didn't ask if it was difficult to learn.
After saying that, she stood up directly, walked to Lu Chen, and looked at the manuscript on his desk.
"Your Majesty, please sit down."
Lu Chen stood up and asked the empress to sit down.
The empress said "hmm" but did not refuse. She walked to where Lu Chen was sitting just now and sat down.
"Your Majesty, look, this symbol looks like a rolling pin. I equate it with one, and the one next to it is two."
"The individual numbers range from 0 to 9, ten in total. No matter how big the other numbers are, they are composed of these numbers. For example, 1 and 3 are placed side by side, which represents one thirteen, and a 2 is added in front, which is 213, also called two ratios. Bah! It’s two hundred and thirteen.”
Lu Chen took out a piece of white paper and wrote on it with a pen while explaining it carefully.
Listening to Lu Chen's patient explanation, although the empress focused most of her attention on the white paper in front of her, and her mind was constantly digesting this refreshing knowledge, the warm breath she felt in her ears from time to time still made her briefly Absence.
After a while, she exhaled heavily, gathered her thoughts, and carefully understood the charm of this new knowledge called mathematics that Lu Chen was talking about.
(End of chapter)
