Gao Pragmatic just mentioned the Huizhou "Huizhou "Ren Ding Silk" case as a typical example. In fact, he wanted to follow Shuai Jiamo's thinking and connect this matter with a whipping method. Although Shuai Jiamo did this just to reduce the burden on She County and use the imperial court. The trend is general, but Gao Pragmatic also wants to take this as an opportunity to use this "little thing" as a breakthrough to slightly improve the whipping method.
But there is a question, that is, should we just talk about one whipping method now, or should we also talk about the chronic problems of the Ming Dynasty's tax system?
Should we discuss this issue with Gao Gong now? Gao Pragmatic felt a little hesitant.
He is not like many time-travel novels that are seriously influenced by some so-called historical dramas. When he mentions Zhang Juzheng, he says he was a great reformer, and when he mentions a whip, he says he extended the life of the Ming Dynasty for decades. He is a liberal arts student who has really been in politics. He has actual experience in governing a place. Even if this "place" is ridiculously small, it does not prevent him from getting a glimpse of the situation and knowing the inevitability of Zhang Juzheng's reform failure.
However, this topic is so big that even at a high pragmatic level, one could talk about it for three days and three nights without taking a break, depending on how deep the topic is.
When people in later generations mention a whipping method, they will only think of Zhang Juzheng. It seems that this method is Zhang Juzheng's original creation, but it is not the case. The one-piece whipping method was tried out as early as the early years of Jiajing. It has actually been practiced for decades now, but the promotion is not very strong. The first 20 to 30 years were equivalent to "piloting", and it has only recently begun to be truly promoted. As for the promotion of the One Whip Method, at the central level, it is Gao Gong who grasps the overall situation.
Gao pragmatically knew that when later generations studied the history of this period, their focus was mainly on Zhang Juzheng. Even some scholars found that many of Gao Gong's achievements were not inferior to Zhang Juzheng's, and even many of Zhang Juzheng's reforms simply followed Gao Gong's path. Walk. However, their research on Gao Gong still mainly focused on aspects such as employment and military system. After all, a large number of officials promoted by Gao Gong later became famous ministers and even prime ministers in the history of the Ming Dynasty; and in terms of border defense management, Gao Gong also had The most outstanding historical achievement, "An Da Feng Tribute", is at the forefront, so its contribution to economic reform seems to be less dazzling.
In particular, the relationship between high arch and the implementation of Yitiao whip method has hardly been mentioned at all.
However, the one-whip method was a major tax reform throughout the Jialong and Wan dynasties. How could Gao Gong, a master of practical learning and a pioneer of reform, do nothing in it? You know, Gao Gong was the number one figure during this period who advocated "managing finances for the country" and "taking advantage of justice" and really vigorously improved the status of businessmen!
Gao Pragmatic had already inferred from some solid historical data that Gao Gong played an important role in the implementation of the one-whip method, such as strongly supporting local officials to distribute land and equalize grain.
"Chaoyi County Chronicle" records: In the fourth year of Longqing, Chen Mou, the county magistrate of Chaoyi County in Xi'an Prefecture, "Feng Wen uniformed the land". In Wanli's "Hezhou Chronicles", there is "an order to provide for the equalization of grain in the fields". It can be seen that Fengwen Tianjun began at least in the fourth year of Longqing.
Who was in charge in the fourth year of Longqing? Of course it is a high arch, otherwise why should we count on Li Chunfang? This makes things very clear: Zhang Juzheng's clearing of his land during the Wanli period was obviously a continuation of Gao Gong's policy.
Clearing the land is a prerequisite for implementing a series of reforms, so things must start after clearing the land. So how are the high arches made? He did not rush to roll it out across the board. Instead, he grasped the key points and carefully started to implement it in areas with heavy taxes and heavy servitude.
For example, "Ye Ji Mengsou" records: "In the second year of Longqing, a whipping method was carried out. At the beginning, Fu ministers Pang Shangpeng and Liu Guangji traveled to Jiangxi with this method." It also clearly mentioned: "Later, cabinet ministers Gao Xinzheng, Zhang Jiangling Huihui and the Ministry of Household Affairs adopted it, and it has been followed throughout the country. Zhu Daqi and Hai Rui, the governors of Yingtian, also implemented the law of whips." It can be seen that Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng were the decision-makers in this matter, while Zhu Daqi and Hai Rui were the executioners A capable person with a whip technique.
Of course, there is no need to introduce much about Hai Rui, but one more thing needs to be said about Zhu Daqi: He was promoted by Gao Gong.
Gao pragmatic knows his identity, especially knowing that at his age, he is not suitable to charge forward, so he always acts according to "guiding Gao Gong's thinking". In this way, it is required that he must give a boost when Gao Gong himself has similar intentions, instead of making noises based on Gao Gong's lack of consideration.
Now that it has been confirmed that Gao Gong strongly supports the implementation of Yiyi whip method, especially since he has started to do it in Jiangnan, a rich place with heavy taxes and heavy labor, then of course he must help him. After all, a whipping method does not meet the ideal standard in Gao Pragmatic's mind, but if a whipping method cannot be implemented, let alone the ideal standard in Gao Pragmatic's mind.
So he thought for a while and then asked with a wry smile: "Uncle San, I would like to ask first, how much has Taicang Silver lost every year in recent years?"
"Why do you ask this?" Gao Gong was a little surprised, but he still replied: "In the 30th year of Jiajing, Taicang silver was put into the treasury for 2 million taels, and expenditures were 6 million taels, resulting in a deficit of 4 million. In the following years, there was a deficit. There was a slight decrease, between 2 and 3 million taels; in the first year of Longqing, the income was 2.01 million taels, the expenditure was 5.96 million taels, and the deficit was 3.95 million taels; in the second year of Longqing, the income was 2.01 million taels. One million taels, the expenditure was 4.4 million taels, and the deficit was 2.4 million taels; in the third year of Longqing, the income was 2.2 million taels, the expenditure was 3.7 million taels, and the deficit was 1.5 million taels." [None Note: The above figures are historical facts. ]
When he said this, he said proudly: "Give me another three to five years. If I can't turn the deficit into a surplus, I am willing to die to thank Your Majesty."
Gao Pingshi sighed in his heart, what does it mean to "take responsibility for the world" and what does it mean to be a good prime minister in times of rescue? That's it. Although Gao Gong was once forced to resign, the economic policies of the Long Qing Dynasty still followed the tone set before Gao Gong left, so the deficit decreased year by year. Now that he has returned to Beijing, he is naturally more confident.
So Gao pragmatically said: "The meaning of what my nephew said just now is that if we want to implement a whip law, the Huizhou 'Ren Ding Silk' case is a good opportunity."
"Oh?" Gao Gong's eyes lit up: "What's your opinion?"
Gao pragmatic smiled and said: "The reason why the one-whip method is not being advanced quickly is because the court has to carefully think about which places are suitable for promotion and which places are not suitable for promotion. It cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach without any basis. There must be corresponding The figures can only be determined through precise calculations; on the other hand, because many places still hope to maintain the original chaotic tax system in order to fish in troubled waters due to the collusion between local officials and local wealthy gentry and other forces, they are unwilling to do their best to promote the one-whip method. I thought that the imperial court was just a 'gust of wind', dragging it along and disappearing, and everything would be fine."
When he said this, he sneered: "In that case, why not take this opportunity to show those people the determination of the imperial court?"
There was a flash of light in Gao Gong's eyes, and there was even a hint of murderous intent, and he asked in a deep voice: "What good plan do you have, why don't you tell me quickly?"
Gao pragmatic laughed, with a childish face filled with sternness: "Don't the magistrates of the five counties all express their intention to prepare for Hajj and want to get a good test? Yes, but you can let them pass through some channels. I know that rectifying tax laws and equalizing land taxes are the most important things for the imperial court these days - I want to see if they dare to continue delaying this!"
