boyutpedia Chapter 313 He is willing
Chapter 313 He is willing
"Master Jie, if a reform can be all-encompassing when it is first proposed, that is impossible. Even if it is improved countless times, it is impossible to satisfy everyone. There will always be concessions and there will always be complacency."
Xia Yuanji glanced at Xie Jin, took a deep breath, and explained.
"It's good if it benefits the people, but we still need to think about it in the long run."
After everyone was silent for a long time, Yang Shiqi finally showed his attitude.
"Master Yang, this is just an idea. I don't have any idea about the details yet."
Xia Yuanji half lowered his eyes and bowed in agreement.
"Then everyone go back and think about it. We'll continue discussing any ideas tomorrow."
"Yes, Master Yang."
Everyone walked out in a circle, Yang Shiqi walked silently at the back, looked back at Xia Yuanji who was still sorting files, then looked at the small compartment in the public housing, frowned slightly, and left.
The room became quiet, and soon Xia Yuanji had sorted out the files.
The person in the cubicle also opened the door and walked out.
Zhu Di holds the chubby Zhu Jiabao in his arms.
Zhu Gaochi followed closely behind, complaining with a look of grievance:
"Dad, I just happened to be there, so it's fine if I just eavesdropped, but why are you joining in the fun? And you brought Fatty with you! It's crowding people to death!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you're lucky enough?"
Zhu Di rolled his eyes to the sky.
After the court session, his son was not in a hurry to go back to find his daughter-in-law, and was still sneaking around. How could he not come to see him? Xu felt sorry for him because he was busy these days, so she brought Zhu Jiabao to deliver soup. He hugged Zhu Jiabao and listened to what was going on.
He is happy!
If he hadn't thought that the small cubicle in the public housing was too narrow and his fat son could take up space for three people, he would have wanted to take Xu with him.
"I, I just happened to do that!"
Zhu Jiabao didn't understand what his father and grandfather were saying, so he answered honestly.
"My little one is so good, come and hold me, don't tire your grandfather out!"
Zhu Gaochi smiled so hard that his teeth were showing and he stretched out his hand.
"I'm not tired! Tell me, what are you doing now!"
Zhu Di held Zhu Jiabao and moved to the side, avoiding Zhu Gaochi's grasp. He then sat down on the largest stool in the room with his sword and horse.
"Let's find out the truth. We want to change the way we collect land tax and corvee labor."
Zhu Gaochi pouted and found a chair to sit down.
"Grandpa Xia, please sit down too."
Zhu Jiabao was sitting on Zhu Di's lap. Seeing Xia Yuanji still standing, he felt annoyed and quickly pointed to a chair for Xia Yuanji.
"Oh, thank you, Princess."
Xia Yuanji glanced at Zhu Di, and seeing that he had no objection, he smiled with his eyes narrowed, and saluted to Zhu Jiabao before he dared to sit down and wait for Zhu Di to continue questioning him.
"Little clever ghost! You are the good guy, so I will be the bad guy!"
Zhu Di did not expect Zhu Jiabao's move, and suddenly felt that this might be another Zhu Gaochi.
"Is this what it means to be a good person? Grandpa Xia is standing tall, so he needs to look up. But he doesn't need to look up when he's sitting."
Zhu Jiabao still didn't understand, so he just told the reason honestly.
"Sipang, your grandfather is a mean guy. He judges others by his own standards and he still refuses to acknowledge you!"
Zhu Gaochi finished off the attack.
"Humph!"
Zhu Di turned his face away and ignored everyone.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, may I tell you about this matter?"
Xia Yuanji sighed inwardly and spoke weakly.
"explain."
Zhu Di waved his hand.
Xia Yuanji bowed again and began to explain the reason why Zhu Gaochi hid in the compartment to listen to their discussion today.
At this time, in the Ming Dynasty, the top people who were rich or powerful did not have to bear any responsibility.
Taxes and corvée labor have nothing to do with those at the top who are truly powerful and wealthy.
The burden was directly placed on the people at the bottom of society.
They have to shoulder a total of three big mountains.
Land tax, head tax and corvee labor.
The land tax is the payment of grain, the head tax is the payment of money, and the corvée is the payment of physical labor.
Zhu Gaochi had previously asked Xia Yuanji to read the history of the Han Dynasty and study whether the Han Dynasty's exemption of land tax could be implemented in the country. Xia Yuanji felt that it was not feasible.
The land tax has been reduced again and again since the founding of the dynasty. Although some people at the lower levels would take advantage of loopholes and exploit the people, generally speaking, as long as they grew grain, the land tax was not much and the people could afford to pay it.
Moreover, Xia Yuanji also asked the Imperial Observatory, and they said that the Ming Dynasty would not be peaceful for a hundred years, or even two hundred years.
It is possible that natural disasters will occur frequently over the next three hundred years.
Then it is very important whether the court has grain.
Once the imperial court stopped collecting land taxes and allowed a large amount of grain to flow into the market, most of it would likely be taken away by the landlords. Then when natural disasters struck, everything would be out of control.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune is no big deal.
If one of them is accidentally used to lure disaster victims into rebellion, it would be a fatal mistake.
Therefore, Xia Yuanji rejected the idea of exempting land tax.
However, the policy of Emperor Wen of Han Dynasty to impose corvée labor only every three years was indeed very good, and was also very suitable for the current corvée reform in the Ming Dynasty.
The corvée labor in the country at that time was simple, consisting of two types: labor service and silver service.
As the name suggests, Li Cha means contributing to the country.
To give an example, the Ku Ding who guards the warehouses of the prefecture, state, and county is a type of force difference.
At first glance, warehouse work seems easy and leisurely.
But in reality this is not an easy job.
If there is any loss of silver in the silver vault or grain in the granary, the keeper must pay compensation.
A large warehouse has so many people coming and going, and several warehouse workers take turns. If there is any loss, everyone may be held responsible.
When there is no money to be made for a job, some people will just do it perfunctorily, while others will take the opportunity to enrich themselves.
Silver and grain consumption occur from time to time.
With such a difference in strength, ordinary people are unwilling to do it.
Local places have developed many ways to make money.
One is that the people spend money and the government hires people to do it for you. The other is that the people give money to the government to send others to do it.
That’s all.
In the end, when local governments develop, they can no longer bribe and can only treat it as a labor force that inevitably has to pay for it. Even if the people do it honestly, the local governments can still say that you have not done it and will arrange for you to do it every year.
Ordinary people, without a pass issued by the local government, cannot go anywhere and have no way to file a complaint.
In other words, the power of life and death is actually in the hands of the local authorities.
Compared with the silver difference in labor, the difference actually means that the common people have to pay for the miscellaneous local expenses.
For example, in community schools, although local officials and gentry donated money to support education, the local government always found reasons to put the cost of desks, chairs, benches, building repairs and daily school expenses on the shoulders of the common people.
For example, when building bridges or roads, even if the imperial court gave enough money, the local governments would inevitably have to pay an extra share.
The imperial court did not set a unified standard for this kind of apportionment. Even if it did, there was a saying that it should be adapted to local conditions.
So in the end, the silver difference became a tool for local governments to exploit the people.
Xia Yuanji was the Minister of Revenue, and he knew exactly how much silver was collected every year.
He wanted to reform the corvee first.
There is always work to be done.
But you can’t ask people to do the work and pay for it at the same time, right?
Zhu Gaochi suggested that he consult with these people in the cabinet.
So we have today’s public housing talks.