Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 47: Working as a slave



"Why should we suffer the people?"

Zhu Gaochi slumped on the chair, his mouth wide open, his breathing a little rapid, and his chest, covered with fat accumulation, was rising and falling.

Before coming to listen to Jiang Xinghuo's lecture, Zhu Di told him that he would be greatly shocked, because both Zhu Di himself and the black-clad prime minister Dao Yan were severely shocked by Jiang Xinghuo's resourcefulness and knowledge.

However, at that time, Zhu Gaochi felt that his father had exaggerated.

Zhu Gaochi believed that Jiang Xinghuo must be a great talent just by listening to him for a short time.

But this was not enough to shock him, because Zhu Gaochi had seen too many literati and talented people.

Even if Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong, the future ministers of the country, are not as good as Jiang Xinghuo, they are just inferior, not completely different.

But as Jiang Xinghuo peeled off the cocoon, he sorted out based on the "three elements of manufacturing power" that "the field determines the tax, the proportion determines the tax base, and the tax base determines the life span."

Then based on these three decisions, Zhu Gaochi was completely moved after proposing to think from the perspective of a farmer.

Zhu Gaochi was even more excited when he said, "When formulating policies, we must take into consideration the people's urgent needs and think about what the people want." This sentence made him want to make it his lifelong motto.

After all, he is the future Emperor Renzong of the Ming Dynasty!

The pen of history is like iron, and the word "benevolence" that seals the coffin is by no means an empty statement.

When Jiang Xinghuo proposed a plan to solve the problem of land and taxation based on the three factors of corvee labor, grain, cattle and seeds, in Zhu Gaochi's mind, Jiang Xinghuo's talents had far surpassed Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong.

Jiang Xinghuo, on the other hand, further inquired into the nature of corvee, which was that projects to maintain social public services required group work, and corvee was an economic and public account.

Finally, when Jiang Xinghuo roared, "Why should we suffer for the common people?"

Zhu Gaochi was completely shocked, and then suddenly realized.

Since it is a matter of national economic and public accounts, why can it only be solved by "suffering the common people"?

an answer,

A final answer,

Separated by a layer of window paper,

Placed in front of Zhu Gaochi.

inside the wall.

"Mr. Jiang, Mr. Cao, please sit down."

Zhu Gaoxu saw the two people arguing and quickly spoke out to persuade them.

No one paid any attention to him.

Zhu Gaoxu also had a stubborn temper. When he stood up, he was a full head taller than the two of them. Then, with one hand in each hand, the nine-foot tall man pushed the two of them to the ground like a carrot.

Li Jinglong's temper also rose, he twisted his neck and asked.

"Don't suffer for the people? What do you think you can do?!"

At this time, Li Jinglong was no longer just acting for Zhu Di.

But he was really angry, guilty, and wanted to know the answer.

There is an unknown secret in everyone's heart.

Everyone has their own nightmare when they dream back at midnight.

For example, as Zhu Gaochi just mentioned, Zhu Yuanzhang's portrait is to Zhu Di.

Another example is the unknown young man who was trampled to death by Li Jinglong's horse in the city of Dezhou.

That was the subordinate he had just recruited as a personal soldier after his defeat. He was a young fisherman who originally made a living in Jishui.

Li Jinglong no longer remembers the boy's name. He only remembers the fishing songs he sang when he was bored. The tune was ridiculous and extremely unpleasant.

Opposite him, Jiang Xinghuo was held down by the bearded Zhu Gaoxu. He was like a wounded beast. He panted for a long time before returning to normal. His eyes were still bloodshot.

Fortunately, he finally calmed down somewhat.

"Ho ho."

Jiang Xinghuo took a few deep breaths, wiped his face and spoke briefly.

"Corvee labor, to put it bluntly, means that the cost of hiring people to do things for the local government is higher than recruiting farmers for free!"

"But in this world, all free things have a price tag secretly assigned to them by fate!"

"The "On National Destiny" I talked about clearly tells you that unpaid corvee is damaging the national destiny and shortening the life of the dynasty!"

"boom!"

In the secret room, Zhu Gaochi jumped up in a manner unimaginable to Zhu Di, and the wide chair he brought specially fell to the ground.

Zhu Di, on the other hand, felt a little lost while supporting his son.

All free things have a price tag secretly marked by fate!

Unpaid corvee is shortening the life span of the dynasty!

These two very brief and incisive words made Zhu Di lose his mind for a moment.

Zhu Gaochi glanced at Zhu Di, and after a moment of silence he said: "Father, Jiang Xinghuo is right, things in this world will not always be without price."

Zhu Di closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then finally shook his head.

"I don't deny that what Jiang Xinghuo said is absolutely right. Of course, we need to take a longer-term view and plan for the future - but now, boss, you and I must ensure the stability of the Ming Dynasty. Unpaid corvee cannot be cancelled, otherwise even if it is the next The West can’t make back this kind of money.”

"We need to make changes. We can't wait any longer. We can't leave our children and grandchildren with this unsolvable mess."

"I understand what you mean." Zhu Di held up his hands and sighed, "No matter what, I am willing to support you, but not now. I am asking you whether the country has money, whether you can move the capital to Peking, and whether you can build the Yongle Ceremony. You are not Did you say that too?"

"--not now."

"I know." Zhu Gaochi nodded and continued, "My father is a smart man and I don't need to elaborate, but"

Zhu Gaochi paused for a moment, then he raised his head and looked at Zhu Di.

"My father wants to be the emperor of the ages who will surpass the Tang Dynasty and the Han Dynasty. If he wants to reach far away from the Han and Tang Dynasties, he cannot plan for one life but not for all the future generations."

"If you don't plan for one life, how can you plan for the future?" Zhu Di frowned and sighed, "It's not that I don't want to cancel the unpaid corvee, but if I cancel it, the Ming Dynasty will be in chaos."

Zhu Gaochi said calmly.

"Father is wrong."

"Why?" Zhu Di frowned instead.

Zhu Gaochi said seriously: "Father, I have thought of Jiang Xinghuo's answer. Today, we can plan for one life or for eternity."

"What's Jiang Xinghuo's answer?"

Outside the wall, Jiang Xinghuo, who had completely calmed down, continued in his rational tone.

"If the economic benefits of the country's free recruitment of farmers are less than the economic benefits of the new policy, then the country will naturally choose the new policy."

"What's more, the country is not a shop. Not only economic interests must be considered, but social interests must also be considered."

"And my countermeasures not only allow the country to cancel the free conscription of farmers into corvee service in terms of economic benefits, but also make the people more stable and practical in terms of social benefits."

Without waiting for the two to ask, Jiang Xinghuo spoke bluntly.

"So my countermeasure is to work as a slave!"

"That is, the money required for the country's annual corvee work is calculated and distributed to every acre of land in the country. Everyone, regardless of landowner or farmer, is equal and collects it as part of the tax!"

"From now on, corvee can be abolished forever!"


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