Why did the emperor rebel?

Chapter 1044

Naturally, Zhu Qiyu could see all the changes in the expressions of the vassals below.

Of course he knew that these feudal lords would not follow Huangzhuang's management method honestly. The current methods were balanced by him many times, combined with the vision of his previous life and tried.

Some of these measures are directly related to the final income of Huangzhuang, such as giving good seeds, cattle and other utensils, and hiring propertyless refugees as tenants, and even, the decreasing land rent is also to prevent tenants from stealing. Treacherous and slippery, passive sabotage.

This whole set of models can be said to be interlocking, but there is a big flaw in it, that is, the power of renting tenants is always in the hands of the host family.

Therefore, from the standpoint of maximizing profits, the best way should be to expel the tenants and hire new refugees around the tenth year.

Because according to the method of decreasing land rent, the first ten years is the period when the rent is the heaviest. After the first ten years, the land rent is still higher than that of ordinary private land, but it will gradually decrease after all.

But the disadvantage of doing so is that in the long run, the effect of land rent reduction and exemption will drop sharply. After all, for the tenants, the reason why they farm diligently is to finally be able to 'turn' Zhuangzi's land into their own. , even if it's only temporarily, but these tenants generally don't think so much.

But once this is done, it is equivalent to not doing the last cover-up, directly cutting off the thoughts of these tenants, and they will naturally find a way to prepare for the way out early.

Zhu Qiyu is very clear about this point, and he is even more aware that if Huangzhuang is really handed over to these vassal kings to manage, then such a situation must be unavoidable.

After all, vassal kings are different from court ministers. For court ministers, they can be dismissed directly if they violate the imperial decree. However, vassal kings have a high status, so they are usually reprimanded if they make mistakes. The more serious ones are closed for meditation, the most serious The most important thing is to cut the salary, but if the cut is severe, it will appear inhumane, so the vassal kings will be more confident.

Fortunately, he didn't really intend to let these feudal kings take over...

Leaning over, Zhu Qiyu asked the kings below.

"What do you guys think of this Huangzhuang?"

Asking again this time is naturally different from the previous one.

The faces of all the kings were a little cautious, although they were so eager just now, but when they actually needed to act, they were cautious and tight.

You know, although what Wang Cheng said sounds fine, what they see now is just the ledger after all. No one has really seen what Huangzhuang looks like. Fudged them, made false accounts on purpose?

Moreover, the kings just wanted to understand clearly, but in fact they were playing their own tricks in their hearts. After all, this kind of business method, to put it bluntly, is just a different method. After they learn it, they can go back and do it by themselves. Want to cooperate with the court?

Therefore, a group of vassal kings glanced at each other, with smiles on their faces, said.

"Your Majesty's method is naturally excellent."

"Yes, this Huangzhuang can not only attract refugees, but also enrich the internal treasury. It is actually a good thing that kills two birds with one stone."

"That's right, Your Majesty's benevolence and benevolence are truly a blessing to the people..."

A bunch of flattery was offered, but he didn't answer the emperor's hints at all.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu simply said directly.

"The benefit of Huangzhuang lies in the combined cultivation and full use of the land. Therefore, I think that in addition to Huangzhuang, Wangzhuang and official lands in various places can also be handled in the same way."

"This time to rectify the military settlements, the imperial court cleared a lot of land for private reclamation. Most of these acres were forcibly reclaimed by the officers and soldiers, and many of them are your property in the fief, so they should be taken as official land."

"However, even if it is harvested as official land, the imperial court still needs to hire tenants to rent it out, and if you want to have a good harvest, you need to prepare grain, cattle, iron plows and other utensils."

"So, I thought, since there are a lot of properties, which are originally under the names of you and are relatively familiar, it might as well be handed over to the kings to manage them. You only need to pay taxes to the court as scheduled according to the official land standard, how about it?"

Did the Son of Heaven actually plan to do this?
All the kings present looked at each other in blank dismay, like King Yi, King Zheng, and King Ning, who had suffered heavy losses in the process of rectifying the army, were already a little ready to move.

These privately cultivated fields were originally fields that had not been registered with the imperial court, so during the process of rectifying the military settlements, once they were discovered, they were directly confiscated.

If these fields can be handed over to them for management according to the method of Huangzhuang, then, compared with the double rent collection of official land, half of them will be handed over to the imperial court as taxes, and the remaining half will be collected by them. middle.

Moreover, if it is true that Huangzhuang's increase in production is true, then the extra [-]% will undoubtedly belong to the vassal himself.

Calculated in this way, although compared with the original land rent that could be collected, it is only about [-]% of the original, but it is much better than nothing.

More importantly, although no one dared to take care of these privately cultivated fields, they could not pass the clear road after all. If someone really wanted to make a fuss about it, like Yu Qian, if they wanted to use it as a strong order, then they had nothing to do .

After all, it was they who violated the court code first.

But if this path works out, then this field is considered to be a clear path, which is naturally very attractive to the vassal king.

However, just when they were about to agree, King Zhou and King Lu who hadn't spoken for a long time spoke at the same time, saying.

"Your Majesty, no!"

After finishing speaking, the two realized that the words were serious, so they looked at each other, and finally, King Lu continued.

"Your Majesty, the official land is the property of the imperial court, and it should be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs. How can ministers and others intervene beyond their authority?"

Afterwards, King Zhou also continued.

"Your Majesty, what Brother Lu said is justified. The official land should be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Households. As long as the matter is handled, it belongs to the government affairs of the court. If the ministers accept management, this is unauthorized power and there is suspicion of interfering in the government. Your Majesty has good intentions. Ministers and others I understand, but this is really inappropriate."

"Furthermore, the system of Huangzhuang requires multi-party coordination. If it is just to grow some grain, the cattle, the ministers, etc. will naturally not refuse. However, Eunuch Wang Cheng just said that in order to ensure safety, people need to patrol day and night. In order to divert canals to fetch water, it is necessary to coordinate with the local government to integrate the land, which will also cause conflicts with the common people. In addition, although these official lands have been registered in the register, they are still cultivated by the original tenants. There are many problems in it. Can be solved."

"Therefore, it is quite inappropriate to entrust the management to the ministers and others. Please think twice, Your Majesty!"

After these words were spoken, the emperor hadn't reacted yet, but the other vassal kings who had just moved their minds seemed to have been poured cold water on their heads, and suddenly came to their senses.

They only saw the benefits, but they ignored one point, that is, why did the court give them these benefits?

From the current point of view, Huangzhuang is more profitable than ordinary official land, so if this is the case, why doesn't the emperor do it himself?

If it is said that due to the regulations of the imperial court, it is not unreasonable to let them stand out to bear the pressure of the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs.

After all, this official land belongs to the imperial court. Logically speaking, such a heavy rent should not be charged. Since the emperor wants to use Huangzhuang's management method, he is obviously making a mistake.

Speaking of this, the thoughts of the vassal kings suddenly drifted away. Among other things, the ability of the current emperor to make money is really unmatched by anyone.

An imperial store monopolizes the entire border market, and splits accounts with the imperial court. It is said that the household department does not make as much money as the imperial store, and has to come to the inner treasury every day to fight the autumn breeze.

Now that another Huangzhuang has been created, the income can be increased by [-]% just by consolidating the fields in this way.

If it is really pushed away, then this is not a small sum.

Although it is not comparable to Huangdian, but the most important thing is stability!

Not to mention, Huangzhuang played a major role in the refugee problem that the court has always found very difficult.

From this standpoint, it is absolutely no exaggeration to call him a promising king.

However, having said that, although it is barely plausible to use them to bear the pressure of the courtiers, there is a big problem in it.

That is, the imperial court has been tossing for so long, and finally cleared up the privately cultivated fields in various places, but now, they have returned them to their hands. What is the plan?

Not to mention that it is to ensure that taxes can be collected in full. Once these fields are returned to their hands, there are many ways to operate in the dark.

The imperial court made such a big determination that even Yu Qian was implicated in going to the ten princes' mansion to admit his mistake, and then returned all these acres of land to the imperial court's control.

It is because the vassal kings are deeply entrenched in the local area. As long as the fields are still under their control, there are too many methods that can be used to unite the gentry, or to intimidate the tenants.

At that time, give a reason on the surface, there is a disaster in the locality, the people below are lazy and delay the farming season, the tenants are passive and sabotage, cheating and cheating, anyway, the harvest is not good.

As for whether the court recognizes it or not, the harvest is so much, whether you want it or not.

They are not officials of the imperial court, and they are afraid of being investigated. Not to mention the intricate local relations, it is very difficult to investigate. Even if it is really found out, just bow your head and admit your mistake.

This point, the emperor could not be clear.

Once these privately cultivated fields are returned to the hands of the feudal lord, it will be equivalent to the price paid by the court before, and more than half of it will be lost.

To put it bluntly, the court made such a big fuss just to return the land to their hands. How could the emperor be so kind?
There are traps!
This is absolutely not normal!

All of a sudden, many vassal kings couldn't help shouting that the matter of Yu Qian some time ago was so inexplicably calm.

You know, back then in the palace, the emperor tried his best to protect Yu Qian, hoping to calm things down, if it weren't for the vassal kings like them pressing hard, there would be no such thing as the ten princes' mansion.

Moreover, there has always been a consensus in the imperial court, that is, the emperor treats Yu Qian with extraordinary circumstances and trust, which is far beyond the reach of ordinary courtiers.

In fact, if it weren't for Yu Qian's status to achieve the results they wanted, these vassal kings would not be willing to provoke him.

But after the incident happened, they calmed down strangely and quickly, which made them wonder whether there was any bigger conspiracy behind it.

Could it be that the emperor came to settle accounts for Yu Qian this time?
If they don't keep it together, once they accept this job, their backhands will be as big as chicken and eggs.

After all, the imperial court would definitely not agree to hand over the official land to them for management, and now, these official lands have been taken over by local yamen.

If there is the permission of the emperor, even if it is just acquiescence, they can send people to 'take' these fields back.

But what if the emperor's attitude is ambiguous?
After all, without the support of the emperor behind them, they did not dare to rob.

If this is the case, then in the end, it is very likely that they will not be able to get the land back from the local government, and they will have to bear the criticism of the court.

Going forward, maybe, this is what the Ministry of Rites has been waiting for, and the opportunity for suzerainty reform is also possible.
Can't agree!

Never agree!
Thinking about this, several feudal lords below shook their heads like a rattle and said one after another.

"Your Majesty, it is indeed inappropriate. How can the imperial court's official land be managed by the ministers!"

"That's right, this move is not in compliance with regulations, please think twice, Your Majesty."

Seeing them like this, Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but frowned. After thinking for a moment, he turned to King Zhou and King Lu, and said.

"What the two uncles said is reasonable, but it is not without workarounds."

"Official land is imperial court land, which is indeed different from Huangzhuang, so it cannot be copied. However, in my opinion, it doesn't matter who manages it. The key is that taxes can be collected on time."

"What's more, the people are suffering. Although they rent and plant official land, they have no good seeds, cattle and other things, and the harvest is not good. If these utensils are provided by the court, they cannot be supported by the current treasury. It is a good thing to buy good breeds and cattle for the common people to use.”

"As for the establishment of farms, it is for the convenience of water diversion and irrigation, as well as to protect the harvest, and to prevent unruly people from wantonly trampling on the fields. It is all for the sake of the people."

"However, after all, these need silver taels, and it is impossible to provide them for nothing. Let these people rent farm cattle and other things based on [-] to [-]% of the annual harvest on top of the official land tax. The rent is still decreasing every year, five to ten years. Afterwards, when the amount is reduced to non-delivery, the oxen and plows will be donated to the tenants.”

"This statement is acceptable to the Ministry of Household Affairs. What do the two uncles think?"

You know, in today's situation, a good farm ox is not cheap. Many people who have their own private fields for farming can only afford to buy a farm ox after saving for three to five years.

The vassal kings built farms for the purpose of increasing production, so naturally they selected the best cattle, and such cattle were more valuable.

This is equivalent to that the common people take out [-] to [-]% of the field every year, and then rent the cattle, and after a few years, the cattle become their own.

Compared with Huangzhuang, although the fields are replaced with cattle, the essence is the same. After all, a farm cattle also has a life span of about 20 years. In the first year, it was used in the cultivation of official fields.

This is indeed a good way, but the problem is...

(End of this chapter)