"I don't understand, how come a whip has become a bad government in the north? This way, no government has a whip. They all pay for food and even continue to be served by the people of each class in turn!"
Shen Shixing, who was patrolling in the north, had arrived at the boundary of Datong.
But Shen Shixing, because Datong Governor Jia Yingyuan and Inspector Ru Zongshun also opposed a whip, at this moment, he spoke to them in a bad tone, and added:
"Do you know how much food the imperial court spends on transportation once it releases grain?! Don't you know that distributing silver avoids a lot of losses?!"
Both Jia Yingyuan and Ru Zongshun were not afraid of powerful people.
Therefore, Jia Yingyuan responded bluntly: "Of course we know. But the people in the north are short of money. Forcing a whip will only make it easier for the big households to exploit the small people. Do the lower officials and the inspectors really want to go against the big households and embarrass the court?" It’s not because when you serve as an official, you should benefit one party, and you should not be unfavorable to the emperor or burden the common people. If you really want to force a whip, it will only cause more refugees to flee the famine in the north. "
"That's right, oranges are oranges when they grow in Huainan, and oranges when they grow in northern Huaibei. There is a shortage of silver in the north, so forcing a whip will not only make it easier for big households to exploit small people, but also make it difficult for the government to complete tax collection in a timely manner. Gein, wait until the people raise money. Silver will take three to five months no matter what, and if this continues, it will be detrimental to the success of officials in a province."
Ru Zongshun said.
Shen Shixing sneered: "You always have a lot of excuses. This is the same rhetoric all the way. So, I would like to ask you, regarding the new policies that the imperial court will implement next, what new policies do you hope the imperial court will implement?"
“Of course it’s a tax cut!”
"The people in the north are too poor. The whole family has worked hard for a year. After paying the land tax, they can only make ends meet."
"In the key northern region, there are serious sandstorms and serious soil degradation. The weather is getting colder year by year, and the output is therefore getting smaller and smaller year by year. If taxes are not reduced, there will be more and more people fleeing famine. Mr. Ge doesn't know. Just because the output of the Northland is getting less and less, Prince Dasikou (Wang Chonggu) once wanted to resume the payment of grain and open the country, but he failed."
Jia Yingyuan replied without thinking.
After hearing this, Shen Shixing said: "The south has heavy taxes, especially Jiangnan. Everyone who has land hopes that the court will reduce taxes! Now, the people in the north also want to reduce taxes, so what else can the court use to support the clan and supply military supplies to the nine sides? ?”
Jia Yingyuan and Ru Zongshun were both silent.
It is a fact that taxes are heavy in the south, especially in the Jiangnan area.
It's not easy for them to deny it either.
However, even if the taxes in the North are not as heavy as in the South, it is still poorer than the South and people's lives are more difficult. It is indeed a fact.
Therefore, it was hard for them to say anything at this time.
When Shen Shixing came to inspect the north, he was warmly received by the local gentry. Like Ma Ziqiang, he even saw the luxury of the big landowners. However, he also half-listened to the opinions of the local gentry and only came to Datong. , and seriously asked reformist officials like Jia Yingyuan and Ru Zongshun, who were outsiders, about how to implement the New Deal next.
Moreover, Shen Shixing was deliberately angry in order to hear the truth, but after listening to the arguments between Jia Yingyuan and Ru Zongshun, he still fell silent.
There is no other reason.
Shen Shixing suddenly realized that the taxes in his hometown of Wu could not be reduced, because the North could not increase, so if Wu was reduced, the imperial court would be destroyed.
"I guess it's not possible to spread the land over a small area."
Suddenly, Shen Shixing said with a wry smile.
Jia Yingyuan was shocked and hurriedly turned around and raised his hands to Shen Shixing: "Mr. Ge, of course this can't be done! After all, it's not easy for farmers in the world, and it's even harder for farmers in the north. If you force a whip, who can do it in this northern land?" Plant?! What’s more, there are many military households in the North, and dividing the land into acres will intensify the military households’ flight.”
Ru Zongshun answered more directly and asked directly: "That's right! Why is it that only landless farmers are responsible for the corvee? But landless merchants and craftsmen do not have to bear the corvee? Are farmers richer than merchants and craftsmen?!"
"Or are you saying that in this world, only the farmers of the land are the best to serve, so the court should only serve the farmers?"
“Are farmers inherently guilty of the country?”
Ru Zongshun then asked another question and said: "Furthermore, farming in the north has very little output, so we can barely support it by sharing the service with our clan members and neighbors. If we divide the land into acres, it will undoubtedly make the surface land more The clans in the north will bear more corvee duties, while the landless wealthy merchants in the south will be greatly reduced. In this way, not only the small people in the north will not be able to survive, but even the generals of the big families in the north will have to move south! The north will be empty. How to prevent this? Are the Tartars going south?"
After saying that, Ru Zongshun said again: "It is only in the south that it is beneficial. The south has developed commerce, and there are far more commercial workers than farmers. If you divide the land into acres, you can have a large number of commercial workers, and you don't even need to pay a small amount of silver!" "
Shen Shixing said: "I know it's not the right time to spread the family into the family. It's just a mention."
"Fortunately, Mr. Ge understands!"
Ru Zongshun cupped his hands and replied.
Jia Yingyuan also said: "Even a whip is not suitable, let alone spreading it into acres. Maybe in the future, when the climate in the north improves, and the grain yield is as high as in the south, it may be possible."
Shen Shixing nodded after hearing this, and asked again: "Why do officials and gentry pay the grain together and work as errands?"
Jia Yingyuan and Ru Zongshun both opened their mouths to speak, but immediately closed their mouths.
Because they all suddenly realized that by refuting Mr. Shen Ge's proposals twice today, were they not giving Mr. Shen Ge too much face?
In their view, after all, Mr. Shen Ge is obviously a minister who is determined to innovate and actively pursue the country. What's more, in the future, he may also be liked by Yuan Fu because of this, and he will take over Yuan Fu's work and become the new Yuan Fu. , If I don't give this person face, won't it affect my future career?
So, Jia Yingyuan replied at this time: "It is not impossible to let the officials and gentry pay the food and serve as errands together. The people in the North are short of silver, and the officials and gentry are not short of silver. It is not difficult to ask them to pay more money, but the court has to have it." That’s all it takes is determination.”
Ru Zongshun also agreed: "Yes, the soldiers and horses are in the hands of the court, and the officials and gentry will not rebel just because they are paying for the food! It really just depends on the determination of the court. In addition, it is more difficult to deal with local parents and officials than to care for them. If you really want to implement this policy, you must be able to suppress the officials!"
Shen Shixing nodded and said nothing more. After returning to his room, he wrote a private letter to Zhang Juzheng, saying:
"Improving business taxes is definitely not feasible, fearing that the livelihood of the small people in the south will change. However, when students went to the north, they found out that the people in the north are still resistant to a whip, let alone sharing the acres. Therefore, the shareholding cannot be forced. ;"
"It is only feasible for the officials and gentry to pay food and serve as servants together, but I am afraid that the powerful families in my hometown will be dissatisfied, cause trouble, and embarrass the teacher. If the teacher really wants to choose one of the three strategies, he may choose this strategy. But the teacher has thought about it, even if If the officials and the gentry work together to pay for food and work, will the commander-in-chief be reviled for eternity?"
…
Zhang Juzheng received a letter from Shen Shixing on his way back to Beijing. He simply said: "Reply to him and say that if you want to be a good assistant, you cannot advance or retreat thinking about personal honor and disgrace. You must have your own opinions. You must think about your father and the emperor." Sheji!”
After saying that, Zhang Juzheng silently looked at the passing water outside the boat and the sunset smoke. He said nothing for a long time and did not think about tea.
On June 15, the sixth year of Wanli, Zhang Juzheng arrived on the outskirts of the capital. Zhu Yijun specially ordered He Jin, the eunuch in charge of rituals, to hold a banquet at the Vacuum Temple outside the city to welcome Zhang Juzheng.
Hekou passed the imperial edict and said: "If you enter the city at noon, ask Mr. Zhang to wait in the court room, and I will summon you on the platform. If you enter the city before time, Mr. Zhang will go to the house to rest, and he will not be summoned by the court the next morning." "
Early on the morning of the 16th, Zhu Yijun summoned Zhang Juzheng in the west room of Wenhua Hall.
Zhu Yijun saw Zhang Juzheng's carriage just parked outside in the distance, so he quickly walked out of the hall.
But Zhang Juzheng had no choice but to bow down at the steps outside the palace.
"No gift, sir!"
Zhu Yijun said with a smile.
After Zhang Juzheng thanked Zhu Yijun, he stood in front of Zhu Yijun, raised his head slightly, and suddenly couldn't help laughing and said: "Your Majesty has grown taller again!"
(End of chapter)
