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Chapter 300 Taxation and Corvee
"Li Shimin has always taken Emperor Sui Yang as a warning, but what is the difference between him and Emperor Sui Yang in his later years? Killing loyal ministers is against human ethics."

"In his later years, just like Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he carried out extensive construction projects, wasting people and money."

"In the early years of Zhenguan, Li Shimin repeatedly ordered not to build palaces."

"But just ten years later, he went out of his way and started building palaces on a grand scale."

"Despite the strong opposition of his ministers, he not only built more than a dozen palaces such as Renshou Palace, Luoyang Palace, Feishan Palace, and Yuhua Palace. In the 21st year of Zhenguan, he also spent a lot of money to build the palace on the top of Lishan Mountain in Lintong because he thought the palace was too hot and stuffy. A luxurious and luxurious summer resort."

"And he was extravagant and licentious. In his later years, Emperor Taizong felt that he should enjoy himself, so he renovated the luxurious palace that Yang Guang had built and confiscated many beauties and hid them in it."

"And once I accidentally saw the daughter of my deceased minister who was very beautiful, I took her as my concubine!"

"Wu Zetian was only 14 years old at this time! She also ordered people to look for beauties for herself all year round. As long as they were beautiful, they would be sent to the palace for him."

[Minister Zhang Xuansu and others believed that this move was "the disadvantage of killing the devastated people after they were withered, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to attack hundreds of kings." ]
[Dai Wei also remonstrated, saying, "The construction continues, and the public and private labor costs are almost unbearable." Li Shimin not only refused to listen, but also became furious and punished him with "slander". ]
"As for the advice of Minister Huangfu Deshen: "Repairing Luoyang Palace is laborious. "Li Shimin even said a very classic saying, "When people have nothing to do, they are arrogant and carefree, but when they work hard, they are easy to do."

"It means that if the people have nothing to do, they will be arrogant and indulgent, so they need to be constantly labored and kept working, so that the rule can be stable."

"It's ridiculous that a country that puts its people first and develops would say such a thing!"

"Li Shimin's large-scale construction projects in his later years not only consumed the country's huge wealth, but also burdened the common people with heavy corvee labor. In the end, many common people even cut off their own hands and feet in order to escape the corvée labor."

"In the 16th year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin issued an edict specifically for this purpose: "From now on, those who injure themselves or become disabled will be punished according to the law and still be subject to tax and labor. "

"It means that I don't care how much you harm yourself, not only will your crime be increased, but you will also have to continue to do corvee service."

"Li Shimin often did similar things in his later years. It was not until a year before his death that Li Shimin felt that he had gone too far."

"One of the factual issues in the Tang Dynasty that made people more unavoidable was the tax corvee."

"Taxation is understandable. The Tang Dynasty had a large number of people and a strong country. Under this situation, the country needed the people's tax help to stabilize the country's foundation."

"No matter what era, paying taxes for the country is people's obligation, even in today's socialist environment."

"However, the corvee after taxation is very incomprehensible. If it is to spend money to recruit soldiers to contribute to the country, that's it. The corvee in the Tang Dynasty was completely under the guise of using the people and making them become the country's free labor force."

"The definition of corvee is that rulers force civilians to do unpaid labor."

"It has a very broad audience and is open to almost everyone."

"However, the children of palace ministers do not have to join the corvee due to their status and other reasons, but the taxes and fees they pay are not the standard for ordinary families."

"Of course, all this is a prerequisite for a good future. If any family has an accident due to corruption or other problems, they will not only face corvee labor, but may even be sent to the border to suffer for the rest of their lives."

"Actually, compared to other dynasties, the Tang Dynasty should be considered good." "The policies of the Tang Dynasty have always been good. Not long after the founding of the country, the emperor proposed the policy of exempting from corvee for one year when the country was in a situation of being in need of prosperity."

"This policy not only won a lot of public support, but also promoted the country's economic development and laid the foundation for the subsequent prosperous times."

"However, this cannot change the fundamental problem of their exploiting labor, and the subsequent loss of lives and money."

"In fact, we all belong to a feudal dynasty. Even if the Tang Dynasty was more humane, it could not truly treat the people well, and it would not be truly fair after all."

"This problem seems to occur in every dynasty. There are too many dynasties that rule violently."

"For example, during the reign of Qin Shihuang, the common people at that time were drafted into the army and worked hard. No matter how hard they worked, they could not get the attention of the superiors. They were like an inexhaustible source of power and became a tool for the rulers to use."

"It's not an exaggeration. In such a situation, no matter how hard people try, they may still lose their lives in the next second."

"In the real society, in an unhumane social environment, human life is like a piece of grass. The people at that time were really desolate."

"As the saying goes, water can also carry a boat, but it can also capsize it." This sentence was perfectly reflected in the Tang Dynasty. "

"It's just a pity that the Tang Dynasty was essentially a feudal dynasty that oppressed the people. There are still many people who are still struggling to survive under the oppression of the state."

"The country's economic prosperity is nothing more than a bubble to them."

"Real prosperity should be based on the happiness of the people. Later, Li Shimin personally destroyed the prosperity he built."

"In the twelve chapters of "Emperor's Model" written for Prince Li Zhi, he clearly wrote: "Since I came to the throne, I have done many bad things. "

"There are endless splendid embroideries, pearls and jade, palaces and pavilions are constantly being built, dogs, horses, hawks and falcons are never far away, traveling in all directions to provide relief from troubles. These are all my faults. Don't take them as righteousness and imitate them."

"Obviously, for the sake of his ancestors, Li Shimin must tell the truth to his son. He hopes that Li Zhi will not imitate him. To be a wise monarch, he must be restrained and restrained."

"Li Shimin's move seems a bit like "Only state officials are allowed to set fires but the people are not allowed to light lamps"!"

"Only you, Li Shimin, are allowed to act rebelliously, but Li Zhi is not allowed to live in peace and enjoyment? Fortunately, Li Zhi is a good son and is not mentally unbalanced by his father's last words."

Sima Guang: Emperor Taizong said something like this: "The reason why the common people commit theft is because taxes and corvee are heavy, and officials greedily plunder, making them hungry and cold, so they have no regard for shame."

"To eliminate thieves, we should eliminate luxury, reduce expenses, reduce corvees and taxes, select and appoint honest officials, so that the people will have a surplus of food and clothing, and the people will naturally stop stealing. There is no need for harsh laws!"

"You explained the reason in one sentence. Taxes and corvee are heavy, and officials are greedy to plunder. Without these, how can there be thieves if the people live and work in peace and contentment?"

This is indeed the case, but you didn't do it!
(End of this chapter)