In the Tongzhou Palace, Qin Maocai stood on the high platform with some embarrassment.
After all, it was impossible to hold two succession ceremonies within seven days, but after Qin Yun gave the order, he still stepped onto the high platform and bowed his hands.
"Thank you all for coming to attend my king's succession ceremony. We are all famous people from all over Tongzhou. I believe that with your joint efforts, Tongzhou will definitely get better and better!"
"Next, I would like to invite His Royal Highness Prince Liang to give a speech to everyone."
Qin Maocai memorized the speech given by Qin Yun in one breath and stepped off the stage. The heads of the Tongzhou aristocratic families looked at each other in shock. This was the first time they heard such a speech.
Qin Yun walked up to the high platform and coughed lightly.
"Everyone, I will give you a brief explanation!"
"First of all, I would like to thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come to attend the Tongzhou Land Equalization Tax System Launching Conference. If you are able to come, you must be well prepared to fully support my work!"
Everyone looked at each other, isn't this the succession ceremony of King Tongzhou? Why did it suddenly change? Qin Yun ignored everyone's facial expressions and continued to talk to himself.
"The land equalization tax system, as the name suggests, pays taxes based on the land held by each person. Do you think this is exploiting and oppressing you?"
"Wrong, a big mistake. Taxation is the foundation of a country. Without taxes, there is no treasury. If the court has no money, how can it allocate funds for disaster relief? How can it recruit troops to defend against foreign invasion?"
"But over the years, the imperial court has allocated more and more taxes to you, and the people have suffered terribly. That's why we have this land equalization tax system. At first glance, your interests will be damaged in the short term, but in the long term, you will become Gainers.”
"The following are the specific details about the land equalization tax system..."
Qin Yun was talking, and the people below were drowsy when they heard it, until Qin Yun's voice suddenly rose to a higher pitch.
"So, you will support me and the court, right?"
All the aristocratic families looked at each other, and all looked at the representatives of the Yuan family.
An elder of the Yuan family stood up and said, "What the prince said, I will fully support. However, our Yuan family does not have much land. Even if we have it, it has already been allocated to my family to have children. It is a pity that this year is unfavorable and my family has no land to have children." No food is produced!”
"Your Majesty wants to impose taxes, and we have nothing to say. After all, it's all for the imperial court and Great Xia! But please ask Your Majesty to give those families a way to survive and the people of Tongzhou to have a way to survive!"
All the family heads also began to cry: "Yes, Your Majesty, due to the military disaster in Luochuan, countless refugees rushed into our Tongzhou. Some refugees went directly to the fields to waste the food regardless of whether the crops were mature or not. Seeing that the autumn harvest has come, so have my fields." If there is no production or harvest, we will have to subsidize the tenants with grain."
"In previous years, if something like this happened, the court would have given us tax exemptions, but why does it have to suffer for us poor people this year!"
"We will definitely pay this tax, but please leave a way for our whole family to survive!"
Can you imagine that all the landowners wearing splendid clothes and gold and jade are crying in front of you? Can you imagine the cat mourning the mouse and then supporting the tenants?
Anyway, Qin Yun just felt sick when he saw this scene.
Qin Yun chuckled lightly: "I understand the difficulties you all face, that's why we have this imperial edict to rent land. You have more than 100 kilograms of grain per acre of land every year. Throw away the tenants, farm tools, and grain seeds, and the most you can get is nothing. It’s over fifty pounds, right?”
"I generously give you eighty pounds per acre of land. Why, I heard that some people are not satisfied?"
"Today, I call everyone here. First, I want to tell you that the land equalization tax system will be implemented sooner or later. If you feel that you can't come up with taxes, I will not force you. I will rent the land to the court and receive food on time every year."
"I have offered such generous terms, and you are so coy. Why do you not believe in me, or do you not believe in the imperial edict of the imperial court? Or, do you harbor evil intentions and want to imitate the Xiao family's rebellion?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone's hearts beat.
With a stick in one hand and a turnip in the other, I ask you if you accept it?
Qin Yun's eyes swept across all the landlords present, and finally landed on an old man.
That person was none other than Yu Shuihuan, the head of the Yu family who came from Yuzhou.
"Your Majesty, Shengming, I also want to rent my family's land to the court. It's a pity that I am in Yuzhou. You Tongzhou people are so blessed that you don't know how to be blessed!"
Everyone looked over, what do you mean, a member of the Yuzhou family appeared in the Tongzhou family?
Especially the representative of the Yuan family looked livid.
Qin Yun smiled and said: "Old Patriarch Yu, you have seen clearly that this group of people really do not know how to be blessed despite being blessed. It seems that they are ready to fight this king to the end!"
"Today, I have made my words clear. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, you must either pay taxes honestly according to the land equalization tax system or rent the land to the court. Otherwise, I will not be preaching to you patiently like I am today!"
"Okay, everyone has eaten tea and listened to the music. Let's all disperse! By the way, I know that some of you want to cooperate with me, but you are worried about retaliation afterwards."
"I hereby promise that whether you want to rent land or pay taxes, you can come to me alone. The top ten renters will receive an additional twenty kilograms of grain per mu, and the top thirty renters will receive an additional ten kilograms of grain per mu. Jin, first come, first served!”
"Qin Maocai saw off the guests!"
King Tongzhou stepped forward mechanically.
"Everyone, please!"
A group of people looked at each other in confusion. Is this all gone? They only drank a few bowls of tea and didn't even eat any meat.
The representative of the Yuan family snorted and turned away.
Some representatives of medium-sized aristocratic families stood up and left with some hesitation, but some small landowners were quite moved. They knew that it was impossible to resist the imperial court.
Following the Yuan family to rebel, the risks are too great and the benefits are too small, so it is better to get the benefits first.
A few small landowners stayed until the end.
"Your Majesty, we are willing to rent it!"
Qin Yun smiled and said: "Come on, take these family heads down to sign the contract. By the way, we will have a dinner together later. I will treat everyone to a barbecue!"
Several family owners were fearful and looking forward to it. They had heard the name of Liang Wang BBQ for a long time. It is said that Liang Wang’s barbecue is extremely fragrant! In the capital, Shen Shangshu showed off to everyone, and this spread to Tongzhou.
After a few people left, Qin Yun came to Yu Shuihuan, who paid homage respectfully.
"Master Yu, if you are here, you should understand what I mean. There is a fortune coming from heaven to your Yu family. Do you want it or not?"
Yu Shuihuan bowed and said: "I just want to protect the Yu family's property from being annexed by the Yuan family!"
Qin Yun shook his head: "It's small, the structure is small, why can't the Yu family become the next Five Hopes? Don't you see how the Yuan family rose up back then!"
Yu Shui bowed happily and said, "I am willing to fully support Prince Liang!"
Qin Yun smiled: "Master Yu, it's not a question of whether you want it or not, but it's your only choice! However, one day, you will find that today is the day when the gears of your destiny turn!"
Gears, destiny? Yu Shuihuan was confused when he heard this.
Qin Yun threw down a piece of paper.
"This is a new formula for colorful dyes, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. I have only one request. In half a month, I want to see the Yuan Family Dyeing House closed down!"
Yu Shuihuan held the formula in his hand. He couldn't believe it. Is this true? Of course, he wouldn't think that Qin Yun called him all the way here just to tease him.
"Little old man, thank you to His Highness Prince Liang. After this, 70% of all proceeds from the Yu Family Dyeing Shop will belong to His Highness!"
Qin Yun smiled and said: "No need. From now on, when I am in Qiongzhou, I will inevitably trouble your Yu family. But you must remember that I can give you this wealth and wealth, and I can take it back at any time!"
"Yes! Remember this, villain."
