Red Chamber: Bring Xue Baochai home at the beginning

Chapter 404
There are more than 4000 rank officials with real positions in the Great Wei Dynasty, and the total number of civil and military officials is about [-].

And it is conservatively estimated that the total amount of taxation after apportionment into mu will be at least the same as it is now.

That is four to fifty million taels per year.

Maybe even more after a smooth rollout.

In other words, on average, each person has at least 1000 taels.

Converted into food, it is about a thousand stones.

It is almost equivalent to the entire harvest of [-] mu of fertile land.

If the taxes left and paid by the tenant farmers are removed, it is almost equivalent to the net profit of five or six hundred mu of land.

This has to be a good year!

If the year is not good, it may be doubled.

Although the subsidy is based on rank and position, it is not very friendly to officials with low rank.

But at the same time, low-ranking officials generally don't have that much land in their families.

Unless it is a child of everyone, the family will suffer a lot of losses.

However, most of the descendants of Wei's aristocratic families, except for a few, have empty jobs and stay at home to eat and wait to die, so they are not successful.

People like Jia Jing and Jia Zheng are already rare.

Otherwise, the emperor would not have taken action to cut off Jia Zheng's official career.

As for Kedao, Hanlin, etc., most of these noble families are only well-off families, which can be regarded as more than inferior than inferior.

Such subsidies are real for them.

It can even solve the urgent needs of many people and make their lives more decent.

So hearing Feng Yibo's question at this time, most of the former voice officials who had opposed opinions turned off their fire, and they acquiesced in the new policy of sharing the income from the family to the mother.

But this benefit, naturally cannot make up for the loss of the Shi family.

The children of a few aristocratic families are eager to try, but they are afraid of being the first bird.

"I agree!"

While everyone was hesitating, one person stood up and said loudly:

"The two strategies before and after complement each other. The top can maintain integrity, and the bottom can calm the people. It is indeed a good policy for the country! Therefore, I was the first to agree!"

Seeing that Liu Zheng was the first to stand up, Zhang Songyue's eyelids trembled, his mouth twisted, and he echoed:

"As a subject, I am not that important, but I should be loyal to the country, share the worries for your majesty, and seek the well-being of the people of the world. Before I came, I had written a letter from my family, asking my family to cooperate with the government, and all the properties under the Zhang family's name should be in accordance with the law. His Majesty ordered the payment of taxes."

Liu Zheng was taken aback when he heard the words, and then he said:

"Ashamed, the students have been taught."

What Zhang Songyue meant was to remind him that raising integrity is a good thing, but there is no need to say it out loud.

On the contrary, things that are beneficial to the people can be brought out and talked about more.

But Liu Zheng's understanding was not like this.

He and Feng Yibo wear a pair of trousers, and have been involved in the New Deal, but never thought about letting the family take the lead in responding.

That's why he felt a little ashamed when he heard that Zhang Songyue set an example and wrote directly to let the Zhang family respond first.

In fact, Zhang Songyue was just a conditioned reflex.

He didn't want this silly apprentice to be used as a gun, so he tried his best to divert his attention.

But as soon as the words came out, he realized again, and turned to look at Feng Yibo.

I saw this kid looking at me with a half-smile!

Damn!

Obviously, Zhang Song understood that he had been tricked by Feng Yibo again.

He asked Liu Zheng to take the lead, just to force himself to make a statement along with him.

Unexpectedly, even though he had already come to sit in town, this kid was still worried about doing such a trick.

Fortunately, Zhang Songyue's anger came and went quickly.

Because in this matter, he is not alone.

"This officer also supports this matter!"

Chen Qinzhi, who was always succinct in court, also stood up at this time, and smiled at Zhang Songyue:

"Mr. Zhang is lingering on the sick bed. Today, I dragged my sick body out of the mountain for the sake of the late emperor's will. I am really ashamed of this old man!"

This matter was originally approved by him, and it stands to reason that he should come out to suppress the field.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Songyue took the lead.

And Zhang Songyue couldn't help but feel a little relieved when he saw that the current grand master also expressed his opinion.

This at least proves that Feng Yibo didn't cheat him, but drew a sufficient alliance.

Pushing him just now was just to prevent him from being hesitant and dragging his feet.

Such an approach, Zhang Songyue can understand.

Even, I really appreciate such a thoughtful layout.

After all, if you work with someone who is in such extreme control, you will be much more likely to succeed.

"This method..."

Chen Qinzhi was just thinking about Chen Xinzheng's benefits, but was interrupted by a gentle voice mixed with impatience.

"I object!"

It turned out to be Shui Rong, King of Beijing County. Seeing that no one stood up to oppose it, but one after another heavyweights came out to support him, he had no choice but to stand up and pick a head.

In order not to be forced by the pressure of the two chief assistants, no one dared to oppose it face to face.

He bowed to Dan Bi, and at the same time eased the impatience in his heart, before continuing:
"You all say that this method can maintain integrity at the top and stabilize the people at the bottom, but if it goes on like this, where will it leave the world's gentry?"

In the Wei Dynasty, the concept of gentry was actually very broad.

Including famous eunuchs from aristocratic families, local prominent families, tycoons and giants, raising people to Jinshi, etc., can all be included in the scope of gentry.

That is to say, people from famous families, or people who are only famous locally, people with fame, people with official positions, etc., can all be called gentry.

All the civil and military officials present today can actually be considered part of the gentry class.

But at this time, the meaning of water dissolution obviously refers to those gentry and landlords with a lot of land.

Having said that, he stood up straight and said loudly:

"Scholars, farmers, businessmen, and the four peoples of the country, how can the gentry be allowed to pay for the court? This evil law!"

Shui Rong deliberately confused the details of the New Deal, exaggeratedly saying that only the gentry will be supported, in order to arouse everyone's hatred and hatred.

However, before anyone stood up to support him, I heard someone say:

"No and no! The prince is wrong to say so!"

Yang Mingxin, as one of the participants of the New Deal, also stood up at this time.

He bowed to Dan Bi, then smiled at Shui Rong:

"What is farming? Those who cultivate the land are farmers! Could it be that the king's land in the whole world has been planted with Da Wei's land, so is there any problem with paying taxes to Da Wei?"

"Bullshit!"

Before the king of Beijing County could respond, the official of Enyin came forward from a family.

Seeing that someone was finally on his side, Shui Rong heaved a sigh of relief.

But what he said next made him a little numb.

"The gentry is the mainstay of the Wei Dynasty. The imperial court should treat the gentry well. How can the gentry be confused with mud legs?"

This person's background is not high, but the sense of superiority between words is extremely strong.

As soon as his words came out, many people present immediately frowned.

Some things, you can think so, but you can't say so.

A person's attitude towards stakeholders and superiors demonstrates IQ and EQ,

The attitude towards those who have no interests and those whose status is lower than oneself shows the quality and self-cultivation.

Obviously, this person insulted the farmers in a frivolous tone in front of the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.

This is IQ, EQ, quality, self-cultivation, none of them.

Most of the famous people present cast contemptuous glances at him at this moment.

"What a mud leg!"

Feng Yibo, who had been watching the fire from the other side, couldn't help laughing and shaking his head.

Today, he arranged for himself to be an official of the waiter, originally because he wanted to hide behind the scenes.

As the planner of the New Deal, there is no need for him to rush forward.

But the appearance of this person aroused his interest, and he felt that it was time to teach civil and military officials a lesson.

"Whether it's your majesty or the gentry, it's the mud legs you said are making offerings, but you pick up the bowl to eat and put down the bowl to scold the mud legs?"

Feng Yibo walked forward slowly, bowed to Bi Dan unhurriedly, and then continued:

"According to what you said, the gentry is the mainstay, so they should take on the responsibility of the mainstay."

That person saw that it was Feng Yibo, but he didn't take it seriously.

Hearing him speak for "Mudlegs", he disdainfully smiled and responded:
"The responsibility of the gentry is to serve the herdsmen of His Majesty. Do you know what a herdsman is?"

Feng Yibo smiled and said:
"Appreciate further details."

"The herders are grazing, and these mud legs are cattle and horses! Do you understand?"

The man felt that his explanation was very subtle, so he couldn't help but feel a little proud, and he continued complacently:

"We are officials to watch over these cattle and horses, let them work honestly, and pay taxes on time!"

Although this person spoke vulgarly, he was still vivid.

In fact, many people have such thoughts, but they are not stupid enough to say it.

Feng Yibo nodded, and tried to guide:
"It's really insightful. It turns out that farmers are just cattle and horses in the eyes of this lord. Then according to this theory, are gentry not His Majesty's cattle and horses?"

The man smiled and shook his head, and responded:

"A gentry is naturally a person who grazes for His Majesty."

"It turns out that you just don't treat the people as human beings."

Feng Yibo

He knew that this man was a jerk, and he didn't bother with him anymore.

He just glanced at Liu Zheng calmly.

Liu Zheng nodded knowingly, thinking about where this person should fall to minimize the harm.

Feng Yibo turned to glance at Manchao Wenwu, and said in a deep voice:

"It is said that everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world, but everyone's ability is limited. How can a country prosper by just relying on people?"

Farmers are hardworking and simple, creating wealth bit by bit.

If the wealth is used to build the country, it can be regarded as making the best use of it.

However, most of these wealth were exploited by people in various ways into their own pockets.

The gentry and landlords are the subjects of exploitation.

"The gentry are more capable. Shouldn't they be loyal to the country and share the worries of His Majesty?"

These people rely on exploitation to obtain wealth, and constantly annex land to obtain more wealth.

They would rather rot at home than spend any of this wealth.

If things go on like this, such people will be passed down from generation to generation, and they will become a cancer of society and the source of the collapse of many dynasties.

"Some people say that the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Although this statement is biased, it is not unreasonable."

These words made the people present who had fame and fame couldn't help but cheer up.

Many people vaguely feel that this seems to be similar to the concept of "self-cultivation, family governance, country and world peace", but it is different.

"Only use one's energy in one place, and one's heart in one place, instead of pushing and giving way, just wanting to let incompetent people do their duty. In this way, the gentry is the mainstay of the Great Wei!"

Blindly enjoying privileges, how can it be called the mainstay?

Such a pillar, placed under the wheel of history, is at most just a speed bump that is often rolled over.

"Otherwise, if you only enjoy your rights without fulfilling your obligations, you will be the moth of the country, and you will be eliminated sooner or later!"

Having said that, Feng Yibo looked at Shui Rong specifically, and said pointedly:
"This method is precisely to give the gentry a chance to prove themselves, and it is also the method to make the country prosperous!"

When Shui Rong heard this, her heart skipped a beat.

Obviously, Feng Yibo is not only responding to his evaluation of "evil law", but also hinting that he should seize the opportunity.

otherwise……

Before King Beijing could think it over, Li Shouzhong also took a step forward and said with a blank expression:

"This method can, firstly, reduce the burden on the common people, secondly, improve the lack of finances of the imperial court, and thirdly, allow the officials to have no worries, but let the gentry and landlords contribute more, but it will not hurt their muscles and bones. It’s a good plan for Diao, and I can’t help but support it.”

Although Feng Yibo didn't discuss it with him, he knew that this matter must have something to do with his apprentice.

Even if Zhang Songyue and Chen Qinzhi stood up, he still felt that his apprentice led the matter.

Regarding Feng Yibo's failure to discuss with him, Li Shouzhong felt that his apprentice did not want to involve himself.

So he thought over and over again, and stood up without hesitation.

Seeing that both the chief minister and the second minister of the cabinet expressed their support, Yuan Chun looked at the other two and asked:
"I don't know what Zhao Ge and Jia Ge think?"

Jia Yucun understood Yuan Chun's meaning as soon as he heard it, and immediately took a step forward, bowing to Danbi:

"This move is beneficial to the country and the people. Great Wei is now in a difficult time, so we can only suffer first."

Although he agreed, he placed himself among the gentry.

At the same time, Jia Yucun also used the word "first" to secretly reveal his helplessness.

Zhao Shunjun also stood up at this time, and bowed to Danbi:

"This is good governance, which can relieve the financial pressure on the imperial court to a great extent."

He said nothing about matters involving the gentry.

I only talked about the financial benefits from my own professional point of view.

Among the four members of the cabinet, although they all spoke in agreement, there were also obvious differences.

Chen Qinzhi advocated reform and was one of the planners of the New Deal. Of course, he fully supported it.

Li Shouzhong has different ideas, but he also spares no effort in what his apprentice wants to do.

Jia Yucun was reluctant, but he was attached to Yuanchun and could not agree with him.

Zhao Shunjun didn't care about it, he just wanted to take care of his own finances.

Fortunately, although the four of them had their own ideas, they barely reached an agreement.

"Several pavilion elders have said this, so I feel relieved."

Yuan Chun nodded in satisfaction, and then said earnestly:
"At the beginning, I only thought of the word 'benevolence and filial piety'. When I learned that the late emperor's will was so, I was anxious to fulfill my filial piety on behalf of His Majesty, and announced it to the world. I didn't expect it to attract an uproar, and the opposition was sparse. Fortunately, the cabinet ministers Only through public mediation can there be follow-up measures."

She is trying to take this matter on herself as much as possible.

I hope that even if the reform fails, there will be room for buffering.

Big deal, she messed around and just admitted a mistake.

At least as the empress dowager, there is no need to worry about her life.

"Now that you are so supportive of this, I finally let my palace and His Majesty explain to the late emperor."

Hearing Yuanchun's habit, he moved Emperor Jingshun out again.

The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty knew that this matter had come to an end for the time being.

(End of this chapter)