Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

Chapter 194 The Manpower of Farming

"Your Majesty, I have something to announce!"

Fan Li, the internal history of millet administration, suddenly appeared on the list.

"please say."

"Recently, there have been a large number of beggars in the country. They are slaves or savages. They are homeless, so they wander and live by begging. There are about [-] people. Affect local law and order!"

Hearing this, Qing Ji slightly nodded and said: "The harm of refugees is endless. My country of Wu does not support idlers, so you might as well speak freely, how to deal with these many beggars?"

There are beggars everywhere in the streets and alleys, what is the reason, Qing Ji is well aware of it, and the hearts of the officials are like a mirror.

Thanks to Qingji's decree to verify the assets of the people of the country, everyone in the old clan of the Wu State felt insecure and feared that Qingji would commit a crime, so they dismissed the illegally obtained slaves one after another and released them to freedom.

These slaves turned into savages. Without a livelihood, they could only beg along the street to make a living.

Of course, a part of the old family is still lucky.

For example, they hid all the illegally obtained slaves who had no transaction records, or bought those slaves, forcing them not to recognize their identities, only saying that they were adopted servants by the master's family.

This is nothing more than a clever name!

But with Qingji's increasingly tough methods, sooner or later, the officials will release those slaves who are still kept in captivity and obtained illegally.

Dazai Ji Zha immediately went out with Yahu in his hand and said: "Your Majesty, I think that beggars can be regarded as savages, and they can be given fields, houses, farm tools, and rented cattle for farming. Such kindness, even if you want to come to him , should be grateful for the kindness of the country, and think of Wu people."

"What Dazai said is absolutely true!"

"Your Majesty, the minister seconded the proposal!"

"My minister agrees!"

Many ministers agreed with Ji Zha's proposition, and they all stood up to second the proposal.

They thought they had figured out Qingji's temperament, and believed that Qingji would be lenient and turn all the savages into Wu's population.

Not really!

Because Qingji just smiled lightly at Ji Zha's proposition, noncommittal.

Dian Ke Botong immediately said: "Your Majesty, I think that these beggars are originally slaves and should not be regarded as savages. If the country gives houses and land to all beggars, wouldn't it add too much burden to the country? "

"Therefore, I think that the king might as well use these beggars as official slaves, so as to benefit the country!"

"absurd!"

Ji Zha blew his beard and stared and said, "Dianke, according to what you said, these beggars were still savages and citizens of other countries before they became slaves of others!"

"How could the government degrade them all into slaves without distinction?"

Didn't he just jump out of the fire pit and enter another devil's den?
What Jizha wanted to express was very simple and clear.

Because those beggars were innocent victims in the first place, how could Qingji bring them back to their original form in the blink of an eye after saving them from the dire straits?
At this time, Fan Li, the internal historian of Zhisu, thought for a while, and immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I think that both the Dazai and the Dianke have advantages and disadvantages. If that is the case, why not make a compromise?"

"How to compromise?"

Fan Li said sternly: "My lord, now our country of Wu is employing people. A lot of wasteland needs to be reclaimed, and manpower is needed to reclaim the wasteland. Since there are so many beggars and official slaves, why doesn't your majesty let them reclaim the land?"

"Just like the case of prisoners of war, beggars and official slaves are equal. The government temporarily borrows their houses, farm tools, cattle, and acres of land, and at the same time assigns them to wasteland for reclamation. After five years, these beggars and official slaves will be free. The body, as a rented thing, also becomes its own, isn't it beautiful?"

"what?"

Fan Li proposed to equate official slaves with beggars, which made Shen Xi, Bei Li and other old family ministers frown and feel extremely angry.

"Your Majesty, you must not listen to the advice of Zhisu Neishi!"

The eunuch Shen Xi said sadly: "The number of official slaves is small. If they are freed again, wouldn't there be no more slaves in our country of Wu?"

"If there were no slaves, who would cultivate the land of us high officials? Most of the land cultivated by the ministers is middle-to-high-grade fertile land. If the king lets the officials and slaves go to farm and reclaim wasteland, and then waste the fertile land, wouldn't it be a waste of money?"

The Shaofu was followed by Li and agreed: "Your Majesty, what the eunuch said is absolutely true. Official slaves must not indulge!"

"My minister agrees!"

"Your Majesty, please sell official slaves to make up for the manpower for farming in each fiefdom!"

"Think again, Your Majesty!"

The ministers of the old family, headed by Shen Xi and Bei Li, naturally strongly opposed the country's treatment of official slaves as prisoners of war and gave them the foundation of farming.

How could Qingji not understand their thoughts?
Qing Ji immediately said: "You and others can have no worries. The country needs people who farm and reclaim wasteland, and the arable land of your feudal towns also needs people who cultivate it. I can understand it!"

"However, I think that if the arable land of Zhuqing lacks people to cultivate, why not hire farmers to cultivate it with property? Just like merchants and merchants, just give a certain reward."

"..."

Regarding Qingji's words, the ministers were really speechless.

Hire farmers to farm for yourself?

It's not that this kind of thing has never been done before, it's just that it's rare.

Because there is really no manpower, the officials will choose to buy some strong slaves in the tooth shop and let them farm for themselves.

Doctors only need to provide food and housing, but if they hire farmers to cultivate their own fields, it is conceivable that they will pay a higher price!
However, this is Qing Ji's proposition, how dare the old family dare to object?

Fan Li's thoughts actually coincided with Qing Ji's.

Since slavery cannot be banned, then curb it, avoid some minefields as much as possible, and don't force the old people to jump over the wall!
Now, the condition for Chinese people to acquire slaves is not necessarily to buy official slaves from the government.

They can also acquire slaves among the people, but only if the other party voluntarily sells themselves to become their slaves, and then they have to report to the government.

If you force others to become slaves by violent means, it is conceivable that Qingji will definitely punish him severely.

"Your Majesty Yingming!"

Therefore, regardless of whether they are willing or not, all the ministers can only agree with Qingji's proposal.

After retiring from the imperial court, Qingji changed into ordinary clothes, dressed like ordinary nobles, walked with Fan Li, and went out of the palace for private visits.

The bazaar in Wudu is still bustling with crowds of people.

Street vendors yelled at the side of their stalls, selling their goods to passers-by.

This is a thriving scene!

It has only been two or three years since King Qingji came to the state of Wu, but the state of Wu has undergone almost earth-shaking changes, with each passing day, and the national strength is booming.

Looking at the increasingly lively scene on the street, how could Qingji not be proud of it?
(End of this chapter)