Why did the emperor rebel?

Originally, Song Wenyi was still wondering what the emperor meant when he said that he was not allowed to treat the tenants harshly, but after hearing what Wang Cheng said, he immediately understood.

You must know that the taxes in Ming Dynasty today are mainly based on land tax, but the specific amount of land tax varies from person to person.

The fields in various places can be roughly divided into different types such as military fields, civilian fields, and official fields, and between different fields, according to different regions, the production of the fields is different, and the taxes are also different.

Among them, the Susong area has the highest taxation. The reasons for this are complicated, and there are different opinions among the people. Many people believe that when the Emperor Taizu attacked the Jiangnan area, the local people attached themselves to Zhang Shicheng, so after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, they paid great attention to Su Song. Pine areas are subject to heavy taxes.

This kind of statement cannot be said to be entirely false, but it is not comprehensive. Putting aside subjective factors, since the Tang Dynasty, due to various reasons, the south has been relatively stable and the economy has developed rapidly. Specifically, it is farmland reclamation. At the same time, the climate in the south is relatively suitable, and the yield per mu is higher.

Relatively speaking, wars are frequent in the northern region, coupled with climate change, the output is constantly decreasing, and the closer to the north, the closer to the border, even in times of peace, there are often disturbances to the border, which leads to the northern people The environment we are facing is even worse, and farming is a matter that is extremely dependent on the environment. Once the farming season is missed, the harvest in the coming year will inevitably be greatly reduced.

Under this increase and decrease, for the imperial court, the only choice is to impose heavy taxes on the south.

Generally speaking, in the Susong area, the tax rate for civil land is generally between five and eight Dou, and the official land is heavier, between six Dou and one stone. This tax rate accounts for about [-]% to [-]% of the harvest. Not to mention heavy.

However, in terms of quantity alone, even the official land with the heaviest taxation can still leave about two shi of grain after paying the land tax, but if it is in the north, although the land tax paid is relatively low, only two shi Fighting to five buckets, but, due to various reasons, their annual surplus of grain is actually less than two stones left.

Apart from how to collect taxes, what the imperial court had to consider was maintaining local stability and keeping the common people alive.

Zhu Qiyu frowned, looked at Song Wenyi's leaving back, and after a while, he spoke.

"I know that this matter is difficult, but if it is not difficult, I will not specially send you back. When you are doing things, as long as you follow the two sentences I gave you, and do not violate them, then you can let go and do everything. "

"Xu Youzhen?"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, this servant will definitely do her best to repay His Majesty's grace."

Therefore, for the lowest-level tenants, what they want most is always to have their own fields.

With these words, he naturally dared to act boldly.

According to Wang Cheng, the rent for Huangzhuang farmland is double the official land tax, which is about [-]% to [-]% of the output per mu. This is a very normal farm rent ratio.

However, this is the imperial court after all, it is impossible to leave him too much time, feeling a little impatience in the eyes of the emperor, Song Wenyi quickly restrained his mind and said.

However, if this is the case, then for Huangzhuang, the emperor should also charge a high land rent. Even if he is sympathetic to the tenants, then a slight reduction of [-]% is enough. Why make it so complicated?
You know, according to this calculation, the harvest of Huangzhuang will decrease every year. If it is serious, it may be cut in half in a few years.

"Shu Liang, go back and check. Song Wenyi picked those people from the palace, found out their backgrounds, family background, and temperament, and reported them back to me."

But who would have thought that this Bachelor Xu would be so persistent, just waiting here in the wind and snow.

So, when Song Wenyi and Wang Cheng heard about the situation in Huangzhuang all day long and finally returned to the mansion in the dark, they saw a soft sedan chair in front of his door, watching the snow falling on the top of the sedan chair, You know you've been waiting for a long time.

You must know that most gentry do not have to pay land taxes, but this does not mean that the land taxes originally collected by the court will not be collected. On the contrary, they will add these land taxes to the land rent and collect them into their own pockets.

"In addition, the person allocated to him should find more clever and credible people. If Song Wenyi violated my orders during the process of carrying out his errands, bullied ordinary people in order to ask for credit and rewards, forcibly robbed people's land for no reason, or treated them harshly in the management of Huangzhuang. Tenants, also return to me as soon as possible."

From this point of view, the emperor's current Huangzhuang actually exists like this.

Therefore, once they are moved, what Song Wenyi will face must be pressure from the court.

Of course, this refers to the largest number of landowners with small wealth, not the country gentry.

At this moment, the wind and snow outside the hall had gradually subsided, and the hall gradually calmed down as the two left.

The emperor's voice sounded again, making Shu Liang stunned.

Regarding Wynn's evaluation, Zhu Qiyu did not comment, and the palace returned to calm again.

"He is capable, but his character needs to be investigated. Although we haven't been in contact for a long time just now, the slaves always feel that this person is quite greedy. He first wanted to enter the Supervisor of Rituals, and then he wanted to covet the imperial store."

So Zhu Qiyu nodded and waved his hands.

However, Mr. Xu's identity is secret, and this kind of thing naturally requires the prophet to know Shu Liang, so it will be delayed after going back and forth.

"Grandpa, Xu Youzhen, Bachelor Xu of His Royal Highness' Palace, has been waiting here since it was dark. According to your instructions, he was supposed to be sent away, but this Bachelor Xu wants to say anything." Seeing you, the people below did not dare to welcome him in, so he just waited outside, you see..."

However, this ratio is not the same every year, but is halved every year. According to this ratio, if a tenant cultivates the land for Huangzhuang for five to ten years, his land rent can be reduced to the same level as that of official land.

However, what he didn't expect was that the emperor had already expected this and expressed his attitude in advance.

Most of the so-called squires are landowners with fame in their families. According to the regulations, the acres under the names of these people can be exempted from land taxes.

"The servant obeys the order..."

After Song Wenyi finished listening, he couldn't help showing a hint of excitement on his face.

Song Wenyi breathed a sigh of relief, only to realize that his back was drenched in cold sweat, but no matter what, today's test has finally passed.

"Um……"

"Wynn, what do you think of Song Wenyi?"

He remembered this person. When he just returned to Beijing, he handed him a greeting card and wanted to come to see him.

Generally speaking, this kind of question is the most difficult to answer. If the answer is yes, then the emperor may feel that the question is useless. If the answer is not good, then there will be suspicion of attacking each other.

Hearing this, the emperor's face softened a bit, and his tone became gentler, said.

Because of this, Song Wenyi was so surprised.

Song Wenyi naturally has means, but the reason why these country gentry are difficult to deal with is that they all have their own backers behind them.

In fact, Song Wenyi realized that this was a very risky job after the emperor said what he wanted him to do.

However, if they are tenants for others, then no matter how much the imperial court’s land tax is, in fact, only a pitiful [-]% will be in their hands, which is barely enough to feed their families.

The tea in hand was getting cold, but Wynn and Shu Liang didn't move, they just stood there quietly, as if they were waiting for something.

After all, the taxation of acres of land, whether it is official land, military land or civilian land, is inevitable.

Logically speaking, the people in the uterus should show some face, but he had just returned to Beijing at that time, and he was not familiar with all the forces in Beijing. In addition, at that time, he still had a little bit of Jinsi etiquette. The expectation of the prison, so, naturally, the people in the womb of the prince and the empress do not get involved, and in the end, after accepting the greeting card, they threw it aside and ignored it.

Therefore, after hearing what the emperor said, Song Wenyi immediately knelt down and said.

This can be regarded as encouragement, and it can also be regarded as a reassurance.

Could it be that the emperor felt that he had too much money and no place to spend it?
Song Wenyi thought for a moment, but he couldn't figure it out.

Wang Cheng also left with Song Wenyi.

I didn't see what was going on when I was in the Xuan Mansion, but now, this Eunuch Shu Liang is still safe and sound in front of the imperial court, and his power and status are even better.

As the Son of Heaven said, these country gentry can no longer be dealt with by reasonable means, so they can only use unreasonable means.

Song Wenyi frowned, looking at the soft sedan chair in the distance, his face was a little displeased.

Although it is said that in some places the imperial court imposes heavy taxes, the people's land is at most eight buckets, which is about [-]% of the annual harvest, and the remaining [-]% belongs to themselves.

And, more importantly, he also wanted to understand now that for the Son of Heaven, he is actually just an ordinary eunuch recommended by Jin Ying.

However, ordinary people who actually cultivate land do not necessarily have their own land. If they are tenants of landlords who rent land, then, in addition to paying the court’s land tax, they also have to pay land rent to the landlord. What fell into the hands of the tenants was actually about [-] to [-] percent.

What really surprised Song Wenyi was what Wang Cheng said just now, the method of managing Huangzhuang.

Shu Liang clapped his hands together, with a respectful expression.

It was a favor for the emperor to choose him to handle affairs, and he was just a royal servant, so he had no right to refuse at all.

Although it is said that these acres cannot be inherited, this is already a great thing for ordinary tenants.

You know, what the emperor just said clearly, let him be the eunuch of the mining tax, so that the squires will spit out all the land they have collected.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Qiyu suddenly asked again.

"The emperor handed over Huangzhuang to him. This person was depressed and disgusted at first, but when he saw that Huangzhuang had an opportunity to expand, he became enthusiastic again. He was suspected of being greedy for power and profit. You can't do it right, time will tell people's hearts, since Eunuch Song has returned to Beijing, then after a long time, you will naturally be able to see his character."

If he wants to climb up, he must gain the trust of the emperor. As an eunuch, the best way to gain the trust of the emperor is to fulfill the emperor's orders to the letter.

He is very clear about this, but what he is even more aware of is that he actually has no choice.

"If you need money and food, you can find Wang Cheng. If you need manpower, Shu Liang will allocate it to you. As for other things, I am here, so you don't have to worry about it."

"According to the purpose..."

If it is said to be cultivated continuously for ten to 15 years, then it will be reduced to the same level as the tax on private land, which in fact means that these acres of land have actually been owned by these tenants.

Because, only if you own the land, you can only pay the court's land tax.

The fields in Huangzhuang belong to the emperor's private land, so there is no need to pay taxes, only the land rent needs to be paid to the emperor, the big landlord.

Before the news of Song Wenyi's return to Beijing came out, Nangong asked Zhu Yi to contact him secretly, and Zhu Yi was afraid that she would be too ostentatious in the past, so she wanted to use Xu Youzhen's hand to try it out.

Moreover, this is the case in every place. In Song Wenyi's own farm, he also collects [-]% of the rent, but the actual rent that can be collected every year is actually only about [-]%.

This sounds cruel, but it is the truth.

Frowning, Song Wenyi lifted the curtain, and cast a questioning look at the young man beside him, so the young man hurried forward to the porter's room to ask, and after turning around, said.

After all, for the eunuchs in the palace, as long as the emperor keeps them, no one can do anything to them.

"In addition, didn't the Supreme Emperor reward Song Wenyi with a word before? Now, it should come in handy..."

Although Huangzhuang's errand is risky, it is also a great opportunity. If it is done well, it will definitely win the emperor's favor. After that, it will skyrocket and it will be just around the corner. Therefore, Song Wenyi has already made preparations.

"Well, you can go. From now on, you can do it. Regarding the detailed details of how Huangzhuang manages, I will ask Wang Cheng to explain it to you later."

So for a while, Song Wenyi was also a little confused.

"Your Majesty is kind and loves the people, and my servants respect you. Please rest assured, your servants will do everything with all their heart and do their best to fulfill His Majesty's orders, and dare not slack off in the slightest."

To put it bluntly, this is actually a hard grab!
Therefore, Song Wenyi originally thought that the emperor wanted to expand the Huangzhuang, let it continue to expand, and become a stable source of income for the internal treasury just like the Huangdian.

However, Wynn didn't hesitate too much, he just thought for a while and said.

When the Son of Heaven mentioned this matter again, although Shu Liang was a little surprised, he quickly reacted and clapped his hands.

Although the emperor didn't say it clearly, Song Wenyi was not stupid. The emperor said 'voluntary trading', so the Song eunuchs had plenty of ways to make them voluntary.

"Slaves leave..."

Regarding his ability and character, the emperor didn't know much about him, and he didn't even have any feelings for him. Therefore, it was impossible to entrust him with such important tasks as the emperor's shop and the supervisor of ceremonies as soon as he came up.

You know, ordinary ministers keep their own identities, visit eunuchs in private, and keep a low profile as long as they can. This Bachelor Xu is very different.

After waiting against the wind and snow for such a long time, there must be quite a few people in the capital who know about it.

If the other party has reached such a level, if he still refuses to meet, then he will really offend people for no reason. Although he doesn't want to get too close to the people in the empress's womb, it's not good to offend them completely, not to mention Xu Youzhen. He just waited and waited, even if the news got out, it was because Xu Youzhen insisted on seeing him, and it had nothing to do with him.

Therefore, after hesitating for a moment, Song Wenyi nodded and said.

"Please go in, first bring this Bachelor Xu to the front hall to serve tea, and I will come after I change..."