Huaiguo, Huai'an.
Since Fan Li went to Qi as an envoy, Wang Qi's daily life has become busy. He is needed to handle all the affairs of the country.
Originally, these matters were handled by the left and right prime ministers, the Huai'an Order, the Grand Sima, the General, and the Shangqing. However, the Left Prime Minister went to Qi as an envoy, and the Right Prime Minister and the Grand Sima Lao were about to resign. The General was reforming the military system across the country. Shangqing presided over government affairs in Gusu.
For a while, no one helped Wang Qi handle state affairs, which made Wang Qi a little uncomfortable since he came to the throne.
He usually leaves matters to a few ministers, and he only needs to give approval or reconsider or object. After all, several important ministers are talented people, so he doesn't need to work too hard.
During this time, he preferred to spend more time with his wife. After all, with such a fairy-like wife, who would be willing to go through the trouble of writing documents?
Just when Wang Qi was feeling dizzy after looking at the bamboo slips, the eunuch came to report that Prime Minister Zuo had returned from his mission to the State of Qi. Wang Qi suddenly stood up, dropped the bamboo slips and walked out. As he walked, he murmured, "I'm finally back. Now I can relax."
Fan Li was very moved when he saw the monarch coming to greet him in person. But after seeing the bamboo slips on the table in front of me, I suddenly felt a little funny again.
"Your Majesty, I am fortunate to have fulfilled my mission and successfully made my mission to Qi!" Fan Li cupped his hands and said.
Wang Qi smiled and said, "Thank you Fan Qing!"
Then Fan Li explained the matter of this mission.
"Qi State will probably be in chaos for a while!" Wang Qi said with a smile.
Fan Li shook his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Qi must have noticed that I, the Huai State, are trying to sow discord between the public office and the Qing clan."
"Huh?" Wang Qi was stunned for a moment, then said, "Now that he sees it, will he still do what we want?"
Fan Li smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Qi will do it."
"Why is this?" Wang Qi asked in surprise.
Fan Li said confidently: "Your Majesty, are the internal problems in Qi State fake?"
"No, since the problem is not fake, will it be a good thing or a bad thing for Qi Hou if we break it?"
"It's a good thing. At least he knows about the hidden dangers in the country, instead of waiting until the Qing clan becomes completely powerful." Wang Qi reacted immediately.
If we wait until the Qing clan becomes stronger, what will happen even if the Marquis of Qi finds out by then? He has lost the best opportunity to deal with the Qing clan. The Qing clan is already stronger than the official family. What will happen next if the leader is weak and the minister is strong? .
The state of Qi is not the state of Zhou, and the official office of the state of Qi is not the emperor of Zhou. The Emperor of Zhou could still maintain his position with the support of the princes, but could the official office of Qi be able to do so?
"Your Majesty, even if the Marquis of Qi knows about it, he can only do it. This is a conspiracy. We tell the Marquis of Qi this matter, not to take advantage of the Qi State. We use deception and deception to get him to do it. , but told him that if he didn’t do this, the palace would be in danger, but if he did, there would be benefits. In this way, as long as Qi Hou is not stupid, he will naturally know how to do it!”
"What we are using this time is a conspiracy. Even if the Marquis of Qi knows about it, he can only do it."
Fan Li said with a smile.
"By the way, I think the Qingmiao Loan that you mentioned before is very good. Can it be implemented in the Huai Kingdom?" Wang Qi was very interested in the Qingmiao Loan that Fan Li just mentioned.
It is said to be a green crop loan, but it is not only possible to borrow money when cultivating food. Private lending among the common people has become very prosperous, and most of them borrow money from wealthy households, officials, or wealthy people of the same clan.
Because these people have extensive land in the local area, and most of them are the same clan or close relatives of the officials. They have rights and are not afraid that the people will not have money to pay back.
However, the interest rates on private loans are extremely high. If you only ask for 30% of the interest when repaying the loan, that would be a mercy. More often, it is 50% of the interest. Few people could afford such high interest rates, so they could only borrow money to repay valuable loans.
However, this can only meet the urgent needs. If the amount is not collected before the next loan repayment, the land will be sold and eventually become a tenant.
Even though the taxes collected by the Huai Kingdom are not very high, there are unforeseen circumstances and the people's ability to withstand risks is too poor.
If something goes wrong, everything will be ruined.
If a small family becomes a tenant, the tax revenue of Huai State will be reduced, and the strength of the Qingshi family will increase. Although Huai State also needs to collect taxes from the Qingshi family, it gives them preferential treatment. What's more, there are also some noble families who hide their fields and hide their people.
Therefore, after hearing about Fan Li's Green Miao Loan, Wang Qi wanted to promote this system in Huai State.
"Your Majesty, it is not easy to promote this green crop loan. This move is to compete with the local wealthy families for their interests. The noble families are not willing to give up these things." Fan Li said seriously.
"The suffering of the small people may lead to bankruptcy, and the suffering of the rich will only damage their skin. Moreover, the small people are the cornerstone of the country. If the small people cannot survive, the nobles and the big family are usurping the interests of the country. Although they have no ancestors, King Wen, Duke Wu, and Duke Wu Zhao are talented, but they are willing to work hard for it."
"Does Fan Qing think that Gu Lian doesn't have the courage of the Marquis of Qi? The common people are suffering and the Qingshi family is suffering. I am more willing to let the Qingshi family suffer. Please help me, Fan Qing!"
After saying this, Wang Qi saluted Fan Li solemnly.
Fan Li quickly stood up and stopped Wang Qi, and then said seriously: "Since your Majesty is willing to do this, how can I not help you?"
After helping Wang Qi up, Fan Li said: "The purpose of Qingmiao Loan is not to raise money for the country, so it cannot be implemented urgently. At the same time, even if Qingmiao Loan is implemented, it is only for the lower-level officials to contact the people. If the lower-level officials are corrupt and bend the law, Qingmiao Loan will No matter how good it is, it’s just a piece of paper.”
"Therefore, if you want to implement the Youth Loan, you must first regulate the officials."
"This is also the most critical issue. If local officials, wealthy families and officials collude with each other and do not give money to the people who need it, but force money to the people who don't need it and charge interest, it will lead to the bankruptcy of the people in the guide."
"Your Majesty has been in Huai'an for a long time, so you may not know the local sects. Many of the lower-level officials have connections with the noble families."
Wang Qi nodded solemnly. This situation was clearly recorded in the Huai State reform more than a hundred years ago. Although the text is very simple, the difficulties involved cannot be implemented by those with strong will and high intelligence.
"Today, the Huai Kingdom is thousands of miles away and dominates the princes. How can it stop because of this? Besides, there are Fan Qing, Wu Qing, and Sun Qing to help me. What reason does Gu have not to do it? If I am afraid of a group of insects, why should I be Huaigong? "
"Fan Qing, I leave this matter to you. I give you my utmost trust! Anyone who dares to hinder the implementation of Qingmiao Loan will be investigated and punished!"
...
Fan Li was a statesman, militarist, reformer, economist, Taoist scholar in the late Spring and Autumn Period, right prime minister of the Huai State, and Shangqing. He is the author of three volumes of "Fan Li" handed down from generation to generation, and launched the Qingmiao Loan, the first national loan reform in Chinese history. ——"History for Grade 7 (People's Education Press Edition)·Volume 2"
