Because the emperor issued an edict, the auxiliary ministers must comply with the edict to conduct court discussions and promulgate it.
Therefore, shortly after the edict to eliminate corvee was issued, the cabinet issued an edict to reform the road guide system.
The edict stipulates that people are allowed to migrate to work and migrate across the country, and their children can also go to school locally with their parents, but they need to bring their household registration certificates.
When entering the city and staying in inns and other social activities, you need to use this to prove that you are a registered resident of the Ming Dynasty so that the government can check your identity.
Although, the road guide system has long existed in name only in today’s Ming Dynasty.
However, this system still restricts the free labor and freedom of movement of the people in many places. For example, it is difficult for fleeing military households and ordinary people to be registered as households for fear of being punished. However, now people are allowed to work and migrate in other places, and to escape The military households and civilians would not have to worry about being punished for fleeing, and could become households again in other places.
Fangshan County, Shuntian Prefecture.
The local people who were assigned to dig ditches in Liuli River were serving here at this time.
They have been serving here for two months.
But as the New Year of the ninth year of Tianqi is approaching, they are now eager to return home, and they all want to go home as soon as possible and reunite with their families.
However, what makes them despair is that their corvee will not end until next spring.
Therefore, they now have to hide their thoughts and continue to work for the government for free.
"Master Huang, the official, is here!"
While they were working hard for the government one by one, the sound of police officers came from the north of the canal, and they were frightened and had to work harder. After all, if the county government officials found out that they were lazy, they would be beaten.
Not long after, Huang Dianli of Fangshan County came here and shouted to the people doing corvee work: "Everyone stop what you are doing and listen. Just now, the county received an edict from above. The emperor showed mercy and ordered the world to prosper. In the dynasty, God's grace was universal, so corvee service was forever abolished. The serving civilians could choose to receive two silver coins as travel expenses and household checks to return home, or they could sign a new contract with the county to hire workers for the county government, and the money would be paid by the county magistrate. Confirmed, in order to complete the corresponding projects, the county magistrate has decided to pay three cents per mile in silver."
As he said this, Huang Dianli pointed to the left and said, "Anyone who wants to go home should stand here."
Then, Huang Dianli pointed to his right side again: "Those who want to earn money by working for the county government, come here."
The people were overjoyed after hearing this.
"Really, Mr. Huang?"
"Abolition of corvee forever means that no one will have to do corvee in the future?"
"I thought I was going to extend my service time, but I didn't expect that I wouldn't have to serve at all!"
…
The peasants started talking about it.
"How can the imperial edict be false?"
"That's right, no one will have to do corvee anymore, unless the world wants to change the emperor. However, even if the emperor changes, it will be embarrassing to ask the people of the world to do corvee again."
Huang Dianli said impatiently: "Make a decision quickly, I have to go to the next construction site to announce the decree."
"The government gave me money, but I had better earn it before going back. There is no farm work to do when I go back, and staying at home is a waste of food."
"Me too, let's work until the Chinese New Year is approaching and then go back."
As Emperor Zhu Youxiao expected, most of the people at the bottom were indeed industrious. After hearing that the government gave them money, they still started digging canals, and not many of them had to pay for travel home.
However, people's enthusiasm for work has increased a lot.
Government-run projects are much more efficient than before.
It just cost a lot more money for the project.
But for today's Ming Dynasty court, the extra money spent on the project is nothing.
"His Majesty suddenly issued an edict to abolish corvee forever. This is really unexpected! Looking at ancient and modern times, even Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty failed to do this. But in fact, our What His Majesty has done is not even remotely similar to those of these wise masters. He imposed harsh laws, harshly punished the gentry, imposed taxes, and even established a special factory in the West to collect taxes. He also used elite border troops to collect taxes. Until now, It even raises commercial taxes to unprecedented heights! And then, as a result, the world will be exempted from corvee forever, in the interest of public service. Is this kind of decree worthy of being recorded in the annals of history?"
Zhu Youxiao's edict to permanently exempt the world from corvee also caused a great sensation among the courtiers.
At this time, Liang Tingdong, the right minister of the Ministry of War, told Li Jiantai, the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, about the matter.
Li Jiantai also frowned and said: "It stands to reason that such good governance is worthy of leaving a mark in the annals of history. However, none of the benevolent rulers in the past had such good governance. Even if there were light corvees and low taxes, they would not dare to completely eliminate corvee. If If this matter is recorded in the annals of history, will the kings of future generations think that only by exercising strict governance can the country become rich and the people no longer need to serve?”
"For this reason, the Hanlin Academy should not record this matter, so that future generations will really use this as an excuse to not think of this person today."
When Liang Tingdong said this, he lowered his voice even lower and said, "I don't think that the current emperor is an unprincipled king or a tyrant!"
Li Jiantai nodded: "When I return to the Hanlin Academy, all the elites in the Hanlin Academy will talk privately, asking the Hanlin who compiles history not to remember this matter for the sake of holiness, so that future generations will not know that this majesty has abolished the world's corvee!"
"That's right! Li Gong's move is very just! Now that person wants to use this to restore his reputation in future generations, so he hypocritically wants to abolish the world's corvee forever. But if the world's corvee is abolished, the court's expenditure will undoubtedly increase, and it will not be able to support it. Years, after a few years, the corvee will be restored, or at least the common people's corvee will be restored. In this way, the court will return to the time before the officials and gentry paid the grain together. Now the so-called abolition of the corvee is just a show."
Liang Tingdong said with a smile.
…
"The permanent abolition of corvee is not just a show. I order the governors and governors of all provinces to strictly investigate the prefectures and counties that do not implement the exemption seriously. Once I know who is violating the imperial decree and still forcibly conscripting people into service, I will be punished. Deal with it strictly! Punish him for the crime of resisting and disobeying the decree!"
At this time, Zhu Youxiao was also talking to the ministers of the Political Affairs Hall about the follow-up to the elimination of corvee in the world, and emphasized his sincere determination to eliminate corvee.
Then, Zhu Youxiao continued: "This is the general trend. When commercial taxes and customs duties have become the main taxes, the people's corvee fees are no longer enough. Rather than letting them serve the government, which will not make much difference, it is better to let them Going to factories and converting excess labor into money will not only make business more prosperous, the court will have more tax revenue, but also give them more income. Therefore, this matter must be implemented seriously, don't show off, and write it down in the annals of history. Special letter, let Chongwen Temple publicize it. It is not necessary to just promote that it is my contribution. The ministers should also have this contribution, especially Yuan Fu Yuan Aiqing. I mean, I will use this matter to create an earl, add three Dukes, and discuss it with the Ministry of Rites. , what title should the earl be given?"
"Your Majesty, I am ashamed to accept this."
Yuan Keli hurriedly declined, thinking: "I have already made people hate me by raising business taxes and banning brothels all over the world. Now I have made myself an earl. Isn't this putting myself on the fire?"
Zhu Youxiao obviously wanted to provoke the people of the world, so he said: "Why not take this seriously? Looking at ancient and modern times, how many people can assist the king and make such contributions to the country? This is to abolish the world's corvee! Bless the world's billions of people. People! Or do you think this is nothing, and my doing this is nothing?"
As Zhu Youxiao spoke, he asked Han Xu: "Han Aiqing, can Yuan Aiqing afford the title of uncle because of this?"
Han Xu smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, of course I can afford it!"
Zhu Youxiao stood up and said: "Well, I'll ask Han Aiqing to go to the Hanlin Academy immediately and call all the officials of the Hanlin Academy. I want to see how the Hanlin Academy records this matter."
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