There was an impulse in my heart, and I issued an edict to deal with all the monsters, monsters, ghosts and snakes in Luoyang, but I only had the impulse for a moment. Angry is still angry, but for Liu Chengyou, he is not so angry that he gets carried away.
Although the land occupation situation in Luoyang is serious and can even be described as bad, given the current situation in the world, it is not difficult to say how serious the mistakes these officials have made.
In an environment where the land is desolate and desolate, officials are "taking action" and actively recruiting Dingkou, cultivating land, restoring production, and generating tax revenue for the country. This should be "encouraged". What really made Liu Chengyou feel angry and shocked was that the methods used by these officials to occupy land were too difficult to see, and the issue of occupying people was basically poaching the court, and most importantly, the issue of taxation.
According to the old system, except for a portion of the rated acres that were exempted from tax according to the official rank, the rest of the land occupied by these officials had to pay summer and autumn taxes as usual according to the system. However, there is too much room for maneuver. If you let the bureaucrats use their own land to collect taxes for the country, you can imagine what will happen.
And among the land-occupied bureaucrats, there are many high-ranking figures like Su Fengji. Moreover, today, local finance has not yet been transferred to the central government, and only a small part of local finance and taxation is sent to Tokyo. The amount depends on the consciousness of the local bureaucrats and generals with real power.
Still taking Xijing as an example, if normal taxes are collected into the treasury, how much tax can be collected around Luoyang is definitely a big question mark. Tax evasion, tax avoidance and even tax resistance are probably the basic means of this group of bureaucrats. It is basically certain that most of the wealth will come from the owner farmers or semi-owner farmers who only occupy 20% of the land.
At the same time, most of the taxes collected will be used for the normal operating expenses of the Xijing government office, the supply of the garrison, and the support of honorable ministers and nobles. It is conceivable that the number that can be transported to Tokyo and used by the imperial court will be very small.
In fact, this was the case with last year's autumn tax.
We can directly think of the situation in the Song Dynasty. Although Zhao Kuangyin's redemption policy took away military power and suppressed military officials, it also gave rise to a large number of noble landowners. Honorable ministers, bureaucrats and even local powerful people were able to legally annex land and build houses. Mansion. As for the country, the taxes must not be collected in full, and a large amount of rice, grain, cloth, and silk must be spent every year to support them. Ministers and bureaucrats all receive salaries. This is really a heavy burden on the country's finances.
Zhao Kuangyin relied on land, salary, titles, and rewards to win over the morale of the military, achieving the purpose of "releasing military power with a glass of wine" and solving the "root cause" of military chaos since the late Tang Dynasty. However, it also greatly accelerated the accumulation and outbreak of land conflicts under the feudal dynasty.
One thing to say is that if it were Zhou Shizong and Guo Rong, he would never choose such a method. It was not a matter of ability, but a matter of character. Guo Rong was resolute and impatient. In order to increase the country's wealth, he could even "destroy the Buddha", so how could he put such a heavy burden on the country?
With his thoughts wandering a little further, Liu Chengyou could understand a little more clearly that in the Song Dynasty, transfer envoys were set up in various prefectures to control local wealth. In addition to strengthening central finance and taxation and depriving local governments of financial rights, it is probably also due to the dangerous and tense land and national situation. If finance and taxation are not independent and left to the control of local bureaucrats, let’s see whether they will abandon their selfish interests and be patriotic, or whether they will not be afraid of power and perform their duties with due diligence.
Let’s not talk about the distance for now, now the problem is before Liu Chengyou, how to deal with it?
To issue an edict to seize his land and house is the simplest and crudest method, and it is also the most likely to cause trouble. And the effect it has is likely to be counterproductive. Moreover, not all of these people's lands were illegally occupied. A one-size-fits-all approach may lose people’s hearts.
Adding taxes will make the approach slightly milder, but the results may not be satisfactory. It is more likely that these "rich people" passed the pressure on to the tenant farmers who farmed for them.
However, this situation must be contained. There are many suitable systems and policies that can be thought of. However, no matter how good the policy is, someone must implement it, and Liu Chengyou lacks people, let alone authority. Even at this moment, he issued an edict strictly prohibiting officials from all over the world from privately enclosing land and occupying the people. Who would stop him? If class interests are affected, it will inevitably lead to mass resistance.
"Perhaps I still need some cruel staff?" Liu Chengyou muttered silently in his heart.
However, fortunately, "a small boat can easily turn around". After decades of war, even though the big man has taken over many tired and troubled dynasties, the power of the bureaucracy is not actually strong yet. As long as the central government is strong enough and the imperial power and the majesty of the court are established, a solution will be promoted sooner or later.
How strong the central government is and how to establish the majesty of the imperial power ultimately depends on the army. There is no way. In this era, everything must point to military power. The military is the foundation and power is truth.
From a large perspective, land policies and systems need to be re-formulated based on national conditions.
The situation in the whole world is definitely not as serious as that in Luoyang. After all, no matter how much land is occupied, there must be enough people to cultivate it. In the stage of returning chaos to rule, land is worthless and people are more important. Moreover, speaking only from a local perspective, if those towns and villages want to amass wealth and wealth, how can they allow their subordinate officials to be too presumptuous and affect local finance and taxation. Of course, the biggest landlords also have to count those who are responsible for military training, observation, defense, and group training...
In Luoyang, due to Xijing's special political status, the situation was obviously a bit abnormal. Regarding this, Liu Chengyou had to find ways to suppress it.
"Army." Liu Chengyou whispered.
Li Shaoyou stood in front of His Highness, almost watching Liu Chengyou turn from anger to gloominess, and then completely return to calmness, sitting there in deep thought. Hearing Liu Chengyou's voice suddenly, he became energetic, but when Liu Chengyou mentioned "the army", he was a little confused. He considered himself to be flexible and quick in reaction, but at this moment he felt that he couldn't keep up with Liu Chengyou's thinking. The Sacred Heart was unpredictable.
After coming back to his senses, Liu Chengyou glanced at Li Shaoyou and suddenly asked curiously: "Since there are many ministers in Tokyo who have purchased land in Luoyang, what about your family?"
Liu Chengyou's question made Li Shaoyou horrified. Did the fire burn to him? Carefully paying attention to Liu Chengyou's expression, which was as calm as usual, Li Shaoyou paused for a moment and answered honestly: "I and my son have three manors in total, ten acres of land, and about a hundred households of farm laborers."
Hearing this, Liu Chengyou nodded: "Since I came to the throne, I have not given any rewards to you and your uncle. These manors and land should be regarded as my rewards."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Li Shaoyou thanked him immediately, with a look of tears of gratitude.
After pondering for a moment, Liu Chengyou tapped his index finger on the desk and seriously told Li Shaoyou: "Xijing farmers' officials, please investigate carefully for me and make a list of those who have serious crimes, cruel methods, and rampant lawlessness. Come!"
Li Shaoyou was surprised at first, then suddenly realized, he quickly raised his hands and responded: "Yes!"
He knew in his heart that with Liu Chengyou's temperament and methods, he was probably trying to scare the monkeys again, and there was going to be trouble in Tokyo. At the same time, he also developed some contempt for those greedy and excessive courtiers and officials, especially those from the previous dynasty. He has no merit for the country, yet he is so unwilling to restrain himself from seeking personal gain. The two capitals are in the hinterland of the Central Plains. After being brought under their rule, they became important financial and taxation areas under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court.
The country is short of money and food. From another perspective, this can be regarded as a robbery of money and people from the court. Especially when it comes to robbing people, the country needs people for farming, but many of these officials force the people to serve as tenants. While thinking about it, Li Shaoyou gradually figured out what kind of list he should provide Liu Chengyou.
Excessive land occupation is a condition, and whoever has the most people is the most critical factor. As for "oppressing good people, running rampant in the countryside, and preying on the common people", these are not sufficient conditions.
Of course, Liu Chengyou's side probably had a similar idea. Directly seizing your land and releasing your farmers would appear to be harsh and ugly, but combating corruption, maintaining law and order, and punishing lawbreakers were always legitimate reasons. By the way, maybe you can also raid a house?
