Chapter 568: Master Zhang, look further ahead and be bolder

Zhu Yijun replied: “Master Zhang, ordinary people will control their spending if there are few ways to make money. Apart from the most basic salt and cotton cloth, they will hardly buy other goods.

Even for cotton cloth, in addition to growing cotton and picking flax, spinning and weaving at home, we only buy some cheap and good quality cotton cloth as supplementary supplies. “

Zhang Juzheng nodded.

Most of the people in the Ming Dynasty were still living in a small peasant economy where men farmed and women weaved. They were basically self-sufficient in terms of food, cotton and linen. Except for a few essential daily necessities such as salt, they rarely had trade with the outside world.

Under this kind of small peasant economy with low production, the people could barely have enough food and clothing, but if you asked them to perform various corvee labor, it would be life-threatening.

Whether it was transporting grain or building bridges or cities, it required the mobilization of strong laborers from the family, and they also had to bring their own dry food, which was an extremely heavy burden.

It would be even more terrible if one was forced to perform labor service outside the county. One would not be able to come back for three to five months. Not only would one not be able to help with farm work at home, but one’s own food and clothing would also be a heavy burden.

In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, as the accumulated problems became more and more serious, the cost of court operations became higher and higher, while the tax sources became less and less, resulting in the levies of various miscellaneous duties becoming increasingly heavy, draining the people’s bones and marrow, and the destruction of families and deaths of people were common everywhere.

The literati and civil servants, who had been deeply educated in the thoughts of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, were at a loss in the face of the visible trend of national poverty and people’s impoverishment. They could only repeatedly emphasize the rule of virtue and benevolence, and frequently submit memorials to the emperor, saying that the people were suffering too much and that this levy should be exempted and that that tax should be reduced.

They gained a good reputation, but the incumbent Minister of Revenue jumped up and down and cursed, “Cut your grandmother’s legs!”
This is reduced, that is exempted, why is it that your salary is not reduced?
The Qingliu people retorted, “Emperor Taizu only gave us such a small salary, and we still want to reduce it? Do you believe me or I will hang myself in front of you?”

After arguing for a long time, the civil servants turned their attention to the royal family.

We are starving, but these guys are still eating so much, just because they are named Zhu? If we have to starve, let’s starve together!

After hundreds of years of arguing and bickering, a few smart people finally emerged among the civil servants and came up with the “One Whip” system.

We converted all the regular and miscellaneous labor services as well as the levies into silver.

In a sense, regular and miscellaneous corvee labor was also a kind of tax levied by the imperial court on the people, except that the people paid it in the form of labor.

The current tax collection is in the form of cash and silver, which is acceptable to both local governments and the central government, as it greatly simplifies the tax collection process and is fully in line with the Confucian principle of simplifying things.

As for whether the people can raise so much cash, it is not within their consideration for the time being.

During the Wanli period when the Single Whip System was fully implemented, many people were unable to pay the full amount of taxes in cash. The Ministry of Revenue and local officials had to compromise and restore the old practice of allowing people to offset the tax with goods.

Therefore, we can see in the “Wanli Accounting Records” that the Ming Dynasty’s treasury had become a sundry shop again.

Seeing that Zhang Juzheng understood what he meant, Zhu Yijun continued: “Poor households buy less, rich households buy more. Villagers buy less, urban residents buy more.

In comparison, rich households are certainly more financially comfortable than poor households; citizens are certainly more likely to obtain cash than villagers. In this case, we use commodity surcharges to adjust the people’s head tax.

The villagers rely on farming for their livelihood and have paid land taxes directly or indirectly, which is already a heavy burden. They should pay as little head tax as possible.

The rich are wealthy and it is easy for citizens to make money. They are willing to buy more goods and pay more head tax.

In addition, fine wine, glassware, glass mirrors, clocks, silks and satins are considered luxury goods and are subject to luxury taxes along with brothels and restaurants.

“Luxury tax?”

Zhang Juzheng was surprised and delighted.

“Yes, the luxury tax is specifically targeted at the rich. These wealthy people have money, and buying these goods shows their wealth and nobility. No matter how high the tax is, they will still buy them.
These luxury goods are meaningless to ordinary people and the poor. Even if they are tax-free, they still cannot afford them. “

Wonderful.

Zhu Yijun’s words opened a new window for Zhang Juzheng.

Open source and reduce expenditure.

Traditional Confucian scholars only knew how to save money. From the royal family to the government officials, they all practiced frugality and saved money, and tightened their belts.

But they would never increase revenue, as if the five elements were mutually exclusive. In their minds, the mention of increasing revenue means raising taxes, competing with the people for profits, and exploiting the people.

But everyone knows who these people and the common people are.

Now, by increasing the luxury tax, the rich are being fleeced quietly. For Zhang Juzheng, this is not a burden at all, as he knows those people’s backgrounds too well.

Zhu Yijun continued, “Master Zhang, taxation is a means of redistributing wealth. Another important meaning is to let the rich pay more taxes and the poor pay less taxes, so as to maintain social balance.

Otherwise, society will be out of balance, and the Yellow Turbans will be waiting for the Ming Dynasty.”

Zhang Juzheng pondered Zhu Yijun’s words, and the more he thought about them, the more profound their meaning became.

“Your Majesty, I am greatly inspired by what you said about redistributing wealth through taxation. Previously, I thought that as long as the land tax is balanced, annexation is curbed, and the Single Whip Law is implemented, there will be no bias in the service, and then the fields will not be barren, people will not flee, and money and grain will not be in arrears. The people can live and work in peace, and the national treasury can collect enough taxes, and naturally the country will be strong and the people will be rich.

Now it seems that I was too simplistic. “

Zhu Yijun said: “Master Zhang, we must grasp the two issues of civil service administration and finance and taxation, and make a good start. Only then can we concentrate and control them with ease.

However, these two tasks cannot be accomplished overnight and require long-term governance.

The performance appraisal system for civil servants will be introduced. Once the cabinet’s Central Steering Committee for Performance Appraisal has completed the overall promotion of the performance appraisal system, the Censorate can follow suit.

Regarding finance and taxation, first, the taxation system should be clear, and second, the budget system should be implemented.

Our government offices at all levels must no longer be like before, collecting taxes and spending money in a confused manner. We must spend according to our income and establish a fiscal system with the budget and final accounts system as the core. “

Zhang Juzheng said: “Your Majesty, in order to clarify the tax system, we must first understand the financial situation of the Ming Dynasty. The land survey and population census must continue.”

“It has to continue.

Gao Gong did make a significant contribution to the land survey and population census.”

When Zhang Juzheng heard Zhu Yijun mention Gong’s name, his heart skipped a beat.

The tall bearded man was angered to death by Feng Bao using a little trick, and he himself could not escape the responsibility.

However, looking at the emperor’s expression, he just sighed and did not pursue the matter further.

Feng Bao’s going to Chengde to supervise the construction of the imperial court seemed to be a punishment, but also a warning to himself and others.

Zhu Yijun continued, “Gao Gong has surveyed the land in the nine border areas.

Liaodong Town has 3.26 million mu of farmland, Jizhou Town has 1.08 million mu, Xuanfu Town has 6.31 million mu, Datong Town has 7.03 million mu, Ningxia Town has 5.87 million mu, and Gansu Town has 4.6 million mu.

A total of 28.15 million mu, this number is different from the Hongwu period, but not far off. “Zhang Juzheng said: “Your Majesty, how should these lands be dealt with?”

“These fields are located in the Nine Borders, where most of them are dry and cold, and the yield from farming is poor. I have decided to convert most of them into pastures.”

Zhang Juzheng was stunned: “Change it into a pasture?”

Zhu Yijun glanced at him.

You don’t know that in the next few decades, Ming Dynasty will enter the peak of the Little Ice Age, and the weather will become more and more extreme.

The north is prone to drought. The once prosperous basins and plains such as Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei are now suffering from drought.

Not to mention the Jiubian fields further north.

Instead of spending a lot of manpower and resources to cultivate these fields, it would be better to develop Huguang and Guangning and Shenyang in the northeast.

If a major natural disaster really occurs and there is not enough food, we can also make the people of Japan, Siam, Cambodia and India suffer more.

We have so many goods, and so many battleships and artillery, that they would be only too happy to trade freely with us.

Instead of this, it would be better to return farmland to pasture and allow the fragile ecological environment of the Nine Borders to recover a little.

Zhang Juzheng considered it from another perspective.

“The left and right wings of Mongolia have submitted to the Ming Dynasty and are directly under the Xuanhuiyuan. It will take several more decades to educate and pacify them. The quota of soldiers in the nine towns can be reduced, but they cannot be completely eliminated.”

“Master Zhang is right. We need to politically control the left and right wings of Mongolia, economically control them, culturally assimilate them, and religiously appease them.

It will take several more decades to educate the people. The nine towns can be changed into cities and towns, but all the troops cannot be withdrawn.

Therefore, I decided to distribute these farmland to the families of the Zhenwei cavalry, so that they can graze and raise cattle, sheep and horses. “

“Distribute it to the town guard cavalry?”

Zhang Juzheng understood Zhu Yijun’s thoughts.

The cavalry on the left and right wings of Mongolia belong to the Wing Guards, which are similar in nature to the inland camp guards.

The Zhenwei Army was a regular standing army directly under the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Juzheng nodded approvingly: “Your Majesty is wise. We must have soldiers and sharp swords in our hands so that the Mongols will be in awe of our power and virtue.

Now the Mongols in the south of the desert are divided into the left and right wings, but the court must also have enough pastures and herdsmen to provide cavalry and war horses. “

Having reached a tacit understanding with Zhang Juzheng, Zhu Yijun continued speaking.

“In addition to the nine frontiers, the land survey work in northern Zhili, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan was also completed. The land survey work in northern Zhili increased by 4.99 million mu, totaling 86.01 million mu.

Henan added 6.43 million mu, totaling 104.6 million mu.

Shanxi added 610,000 mu, totaling 42.47 million mu.

Shaanxi has increased its area by 400,000 mu, totaling 50.35 million mu.”

The hidden farmlands found out in Shanxi and Shaanxi were concentrated in the Nine Frontiers, while there were not many hidden farmlands found out in the hinterland.

Zhang Juzheng went on to say: “Shandong has added 36.58 million mu of farmland, totaling 116.66 million mu. Huguang has added 55.19 million mu, totaling 91.63 million mu.

Southern Zhili increased by 2.33 million mu, totaling 60.58 million mu.

Zhejiang added 4.59 million mu, totaling 56.3 million mu.

Jiangxi added 6.15 million mu, totaling 49.27 million mu.”

After Gao Gong’s downfall, Zhang Juzheng recommended Wang Guoguang to take over the Ministry of Revenue, took over the work of land surveying and accelerated the process.

Thousands of students from the Imperial College, Jintai Academy, Chongyi, Longhua and other public schools were directly seconded to form hundreds of working groups. Tens of thousands of scholars were recruited locally to go deep into the fields to conduct surveys.

Because they obstructed the land survey, starting from the first year of the Longqing reign, Zhu Yijun killed thousands of royal family members, thousands of local tyrants headed by the relatives of the Yansheng Duke, and officials of all ranks, a total of 20,000 to 30,000 people, comparable to the two major cases of Hu Weiyong and Lan Yu during the Hongwu period.

Compared with this, the grand ceremony in the early years of the Jiajing period was simply a gentle breeze and drizzle.

Of course, these people were beheaded or hanged one after another on various charges of treason, disrespect, disobedience to the feudal lords, corruption, abuse of power, and favoritism.

But those who are interested know that the fundamental reason these people lost their lives was that they jumped out to hinder the land survey work ordered by the emperor.

Especially in Shandong, in the early stage, not only did they hinder the land surveying work, but they even dared to beat and kill the surveying team.

The emperor was furious and “fabricated all kinds of charges” and killed everyone in the Yansheng Duke’s Mansion until only the Yansheng Duke’s lineage was left. More than 10,000 Shandong noble families were killed, and tens of thousands were exiled and confiscated.

Under this high-pressure situation, no one in the region has the courage to act arrogantly and hinder the land survey.

The most that can be done after the hidden land is surveyed is that the full amount of taxes will be paid later.

If you hinder the land survey, your whole family will suffer.

So the progress was very fast, and only Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi and Annan had not yet completed the survey.

Zhu Yijun stood by the lake with his hands in his sleeves.

Not far away, several pairs of ducks and mandarin ducks were swimming leisurely, stirring the green waves.

The willow trees with shade like umbrellas sway in the wind, and the green drooping branches slide across the water, as if cutting through a curtain of summer dream.

“Southern Zhili has only surveyed 2.33 million mu of farmland, while neighboring Zhejiang, which has more mountains and less land, has also surveyed 4.59 million mu of farmland.

It seems that those people in Jiangnan are still hoping for the best.”

Zhu Yijun’s words were like the breeze blowing across the lake, light and peaceful, but they made Zhang Juzheng feel cold and his back tingled.

Jiangnan, ah, Jiangnan!
Zhang Juzheng couldn’t help but sigh in his heart.

(End of this chapter)