After getting onto the main road, the horse-drawn carriage drove steadily and returned to the western capital. After all, Zhao Pu did not directly return to Luoyang with Emperor Liu. After all, his return to the imperial court was a certainty. After all, Zhao Pu could naturally behave relatively reservedly. At least he had to kowtow a few times and shed a few tears in front of his mother's grave to say "seize love". "Things.
Emperor Liu obviously understood and would not force him. After sitting in "Zhao Lu" for a while, he returned first. This time I left the palace for only a few days. In addition to taking Liu Yang to see the political and public sentiments around Xijing, I also visited Zhao Pu. After finishing the work, it was time for the tired bird to return to its nest.
It can be seen along the way that the summer harvest has ended. Most of the surrounding farmers are threshing millet, raising money to pay taxes, and preparing for the next round of farming. Hard-working farmers, as long as they have land, they will have no worries about working all year round. .
Coupled with a relatively clear political environment and stable social security, most of the land-owning people can ensure their livelihood. Not to mention prosperity, at least they can have enough food and clothing.
In the final analysis, the root of all problems lies in the land.
Unlike other Daozhou, the land in the east and west capitals is actually relatively concentrated, and the annexation situation is very serious. Below the Kaifeng Mansion, there were mainly official and public lands, while here in Xijing, there was real annexation. By the sixth year of Kaibao, 60 to 70% of the land belonged to the nobles of the Han Dynasty.
Some of these lands were rewards given to meritorious officials by the imperial court, and some were placed by themselves. The purchase of land by nobles and even bureaucrats has been popular since the founding of the People's Republic of China. At that time, Prime Minister Su Fengji was punished by Emperor Liu. In addition to corruption and illegal favoritism, it was also related to his extensive property purchase.
The problems in Xijing have always been serious. During Shi Hongzhao's tenure, a large number of people were rectified, and the government also took back a large amount of land. Most of it was allocated to farmers for reclamation, some of it was used as professional land, and a small part became royal land.
But over the years, the trend of land concentration has not been reversed, even though Emperor Liu did not like it, and it can even be said that he hated the excessive concentration of land.
Emperor Liu took the issue of land annexation very seriously. After being in power for twenty years, he also introduced a large number of measures to restrain nobles and protect farmers, but they were all policies that addressed the symptoms rather than the root cause.
The most effective among them is to impose heavy taxes on land sales, but it still only has a suppressive effect. The concept of land among the Han people has long been ingrained in their bones. As long as they can get land, no matter how heavy the tax is, it will be difficult to stop their enthusiasm.
With the stability of the society and the development of the economy, the number of people engaged in handicrafts and business in the Han Dynasty has become larger and larger. However, businessmen who have made money inevitably return to their hometowns to buy land in order to secure a place to live.
In the early years, Emperor Liu had the impression that the free sale and purchase of land was the bane of annexation and must be prohibited. Therefore, I once thought about re-promulgating the land equalization plan and restoring the land equalization system.
But I finally gave up. First, I considered that if the equalization system was effective, how did it collapse in the Tang Dynasty? Will the land annexation problem be solved by then? Second, it was limited by the overall social environment. For three generations, despite the constant wars, the development of the commodity economy was moving forward steadily, and the officials and the people were accustomed to the free sale and purchase of land.
If Emperor Liu forcibly changes this system, it will regress the land policy, which will not only cause opposition from nobles, bureaucrats, and landlords, but even the common people at the bottom may not agree.
After all, ordinary people also have needs to buy and sell land. In recent years, Dahan's economy has been prosperous and dynamic, and land transactions have also accounted for a large proportion of it.
So far, the court has mostly cracked down on illegal transactions, while normal land sales are not prohibited.
"Land annexation has been a problem that is difficult to cure in all dynasties. In the later stages of development, it often leads to a situation where the rich are separated from their fields and the poor have no place to stand..." The father and son were riding in the same car. Emperor Liu Discussing the land issue with Liu Yang, he said: "It is difficult for ordinary people to make a living without land. They either live among the rich and powerful, or they live in the rivers and lakes.
However, the people in Guizhou are mediocre and ignorant, and they don't have enough to eat. Naturally, they have to find ways to survive. Breaking the law, stealing, and being thieves are all normal. In serious cases, they may gather in the mountains and forests, or even raise flags to rebel.
How do you think the court can avoid such problems? "
Liu Yang was also a little at a loss when Emperor Liu suddenly asked him to take such a serious problem to take the exam. He may have been practicing with Emperor Liu for a long time, and he knew something about this aspect.
However, it would be difficult for him to really come up with a solution. Therefore, with a bitter look on his face and a lot of tangles, he replied with a wry smile: "The sages of the past generations have no one-time solution. Dad, you have been worried for a long time. Please forgive me for being stupid. It is really difficult to come up with a radical solution!"
"You are honest!" Emperor Liu said after hearing this.
Obviously, these words should not be taken as a compliment to oneself. Liu Yang had no choice but to sigh in agreement. After seeing Emperor Liu's pensive expression, he looked like he was thinking about this matter. After thinking for a while, Liu Yang said: "Dad, now the Han Dynasty is just like the rising sun, and the land situation is not as severe as you said... ..."
Before he could finish his words, Emperor Liu interrupted him rudely: "What about the future? Right now, the land is sufficient and the population has not yet reached its peak, but you also know the rate of growth. Not to mention a hundred years, just thirty or forty years. After that, I'm afraid there won't be enough land in the world, and there will inevitably be a situation where there are more people and less land. Then the situation I'm talking about is not just talk!"
Hearing this, Liu Yang fell silent again. Seeing this, Emperor Liu added: "Thirty years from now, I may not still be there. You will be the emperor and govern this country. If faced with this situation, have you ever thought about how to solve it?"
"I..." Liu Yang opened his mouth, but finally held it back. He did not express his opinion rashly, but his face wrinkled tighter.
After a long time, Liu Yang cupped his hands and said: "If that's the case, I can only try to crack down on those rich people who occupy too much land, implement land equalization, and distribute the excess land to the landless people!"
Emperor Liu obviously did not agree with Liu Yang's answer, and his tone became more severe, saying: "Those who occupy a large amount of land are nothing more than nobles, bureaucrats, and landlords. If you want to cut their flesh, it will inevitably arouse fierce opposition, and these people , are also the foundation of the Han Dynasty. You have to rely on them to rule the world and manage the people. Do you think it will be easy to equalize the land?"
Liu Yang was stopped by the question again, his eyebrows furrowed even more tightly, and his hands on his legs could not help but clenched into fists. Finally, as if he had exploded, he said: "If it really gets to that point, it won't change." , the country is bound to be weak, and the world is bound to be in chaos. For the sake of the country, whose flesh cannot be cut off, whose interests cannot be harmed? If everyone from top to bottom only cares about their own land and does not care about the country, such people are worthy of being called the foundation of the country. ?"
Hearing what Liu Yang said, Emperor Liu suddenly smiled happily, patted his shoulder and said, "Don't spread your words out!"
Seeing this, Liu Yang couldn't help but be a little stunned. He took a moment to react. But his interest was completely piqued, and he took the initiative to ask: "If it were you, how would you solve it?"
When asked, Emperor Liu also responded in a very serious manner: "I can't think of any radical cure!"
Regarding this, Liu Yang was also speechless. You can't do anything yourself, so why bother asking me?
Looking at his prince, Emperor Liu said leisurely: "I just want you to know that the land issue is related to the long-term future of the country and the country. Never let down your vigilance!
As you said, if it gets to that point, you have to change even if it doesn’t change! Moreover, if it reaches that level, it will not only involve the issue of land annexation, but also must be accompanied by official governance and legal system. When governing a country, you must always clearly understand what the top priority and the main contradiction are and prescribe the right medicine.
Also, although I have always advocated the rule of law and governing the country according to law, the essence of the Han Dynasty is still the rule of men. All systems ultimately rely on people to implement them, and the legal system is not reliable, and ultimately it all depends on people. The emperor is not only the greatest defender of the rule of law, but also the greatest destroyer..."
Liu Yang was completely stunned when he heard what Emperor Liu said. It obviously had a great impact on him.
Seeing that he was thinking seriously, Emperor Liu patted him on the shoulder again and said, "Think about it carefully..."
Liu Yang buried his head in thought, and the car suddenly became quiet. After a long time, Liu Yang suddenly raised his head and said, "If there is not enough land in the country, we will soon find a way to open up new land for the landless people to make a living!"
As he spoke, he seemed to realize something, and then asked: "Is this the reason why you are recruiting troops and expanding to all directions?"
