A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 651
"Alang, Mr. Mingfu is here to pay his respects."

Mingfu was another name for the county magistrate in the Tang Dynasty. Wu Huaiyu returned to Longqiao, and the Sanyuan County Magistrate also came to see him immediately after hearing the news.

"Please."

The current magistrate of Sanyuan County is an acquaintance and was once Ma Zhou's bole. When Ma Zhou was in decline, Zhao Renben was a wise man and gave him a sum of money to help him seek an official position in Beijing.

"Meet my husband."

"You're welcome, Mr. Zhang, sit down quickly."

Huaiyu stepped forward, took his hand, and pulled him into the living room affectionately.
Pour tea for him personally, "This is also a new tea this year, Gu Zhuzi Bamboo Shoots, it tastes good,"

Zhao Ren originally came to pay homage to Xie Huaiyu. He had previously served as the censor in the Qipin Palace in the Yushitai. When Wu Huaiyu served as the censor in the Yushitai, he appreciated the important use of him and Zhang Xingcheng and asked him to take charge of the palace. After Wu Huaiyu paid homage to the prime minister, he specially recommended and promoted him to the position of Wailang, a member of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Wai Lang, a member of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, is from the sixth rank, but it is also the most important step before being promoted to the fifth rank.

The fifth-rank service official is Tonggui. Once you reach the fifth rank, you no longer select officials for the Ministry of Civil Affairs. They are appointed by the prime minister.The important officials in the provinces and Taiwan are all of the fifth rank, such as Zhongshu Sheren, Gui Shizhong, Jianyi Dafu, Langzhong, and Zhongcheng. Because these five-rank positions are all important positions,

Therefore, it is customary to be promoted to the fifth rank of the central government, and you must first be appointed as a sixth-rank honest official.

Among the sixth-grade upright officials, except for the East Palace officials, there are actually only seven types, namely, Si Yuan Wai Lang, Shi Yu Shi, Li Lang, Taixue Doctor, Guozi Assistant, Secretary Zuo Lang and Zuo Lang.

Among them, Julang, Taixue Doctor, Guozi Assistant, Secretary Lang, and Secretary Zuolang are all of an academic nature and are beyond the capabilities of ordinary administrative staff. There are not many positions. Only Yuanwailang and Shiyushi are of a general administrative nature.

There are only four officials serving as censors, while Yuanwailang has the most, with six departments and 24 divisions, each with one or two people. Therefore, Lang officials have become an important way for low-level officials to advance to high-level officials.

When Wu Huaiyu paid homage to the prime minister for the first time, he helped Zhao Renben and made him a member of the civil service.And when he returned from the Northern Expedition, he helped him again and promoted him to the magistrate of Sanyuan County.

From the sixth rank of Yuanwailang, there are usually direct promotions to Langzhong or Shiyushi, but more often they have to be transferred on the 24th, or to Bianzhou or Ji County.

Especially in recent years, the imperial court has gradually adopted new unwritten rules, not including prefectures and counties and not Taiwan provinces. If you want to go further, local official experience is indispensable.

It turned out that Zhao Renben's first term of civil servants, Wai Lang, was full, so he had to stop the election.

Waiting for one year is called "stopping for election", and the time of stopping for election ranges from one to 12 years, which is also evaluated based on the level of official rank and the size of meritorious service.

Zhao Renben, a foreign minister, had not served for four years, but he had passed the examination very well. There happened to be a vacancy for the magistrate of Sanyuan County, so Wu Huaiyu recommended Zhao Renben for promotion to the magistrate of Sanyuan County.

The magistrate of Sanyuan County is the magistrate of Ji County. He is on the sixth rank. Yuanwailang is promoted to the magistrate of Sanyuan County. He does not have to stop the election and can be promoted. With the local experience of Ji County, he will have more chances to attack the fifth rank next time. No matter it is If you are promoted to a doctor or a junior scholar, you have a good chance.

In the past three years, Zhao Renben went from serving as a censor in the palace to serving as a member of the civil service department, and now as magistrate of Sanyuan County. It can be said that he overtook others in a roundabout way and took shortcuts.
He followed the path of Wu Huaiyu, and it was natural that he was regarded as Wu Huaiyu's former disciple in the officialdom. This label cannot be easily changed.

Although Zhao Renben said that he was born in the famous Zhao family in Tianshui, his father's official position was not high and he only served as the chief minister of Huaizhou.He started as a minor official, and from the first year of Wude to the first year of Zhenguan, he became the imperial censor in the palace.It's not enough to just have talent, you also need to have a strong family background, and you also need to have a backer in the officialdom.

Although the Sanyuan County Magistrate is just a county magistrate, this is Ji County. If you do well, you will have the opportunity to be promoted to the fifth rank of Jing County Magistrate, or directly enter Taiwan Province to serve as a scholar, a minister, or a Langguan.

"Have you figured out the situation in Sanyuan County?"

"After I took office, I visited every township in the county and found that the situation in the county was not bad."

During the Wude Dynasty, Sanyuan County had always been divided into two counties, and even the county seat was moved around. It was only in Zhenguan that it was merged into one county. The county government was chosen about ten miles northeast of Longqiao, at the foot of Bailuyuan.

"I visited various townships and found that there is still a big difference between the upper plains and the lower plains in the county."

The plain is the two sides of the Bai Canal. This is the most fertile farmland in Guanzhong. It is also irrigated by the Bai Canal. The water and soil are fertile. In recent years, the weather has been good and the food has been harvested every year. In addition, Sanyuan is also an important transportation road to the north, like a dragon. Under the leadership of the Wu family, the bridge became a large industrial and commercial market, where countless craftsmen and merchants gathered.

In contrast, the plateau is dry and water-deficient, and is much barren.
Sanyuan includes Fengyuan in the south, Menghouyuan in the west, and Bailuyuan in the north.

In fact, there is a mountainous area to the north of the three plateaus, where conditions are even worse than on the plateau.

Wheat is mainly grown on the plains in the county, millet is mainly grown on the plateau, and buckwheat, sorghum, etc. are mainly grown in the mountains. The higher you go, the poorer you are.

"Thanks to the auspicious seeds brought by my husband, corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes have been planted everywhere in our plains and mountains in the past two years. The people can fill their stomachs for the first time,"

The yield of corn has no advantage on the plains, no better than wheat, but it is particularly advantageous in mountainous areas, especially on hillsides and in the cracks of rocks. It does not need water for irrigation. It only depends on rain. Unless there is a severe drought, otherwise There are harvests, which are better than buckwheat and millet.

As for potatoes and sweet potatoes, it's even better. They are miscellaneous grains, but the yield is very high. Whether they are eaten as a staple food or used to raise pigs, they are very good. It is also good if they are finely processed into vermicelli and vermicelli.

The biggest problem on the plateau and in the mountains is the lack of water and dependence on the weather. In the past, if the people on the plains of Sanyuan County were in poor condition and could not find wives locally, they would take advantage of the drought years to go to the plateau to propose marriage. This was not possible. Just go to the mountainous areas. Those families who are hungry and have a hard life would also like their daughters to marry and live in the plains for a better life.

Wu Huaiyu's first piece of land was Chang'ao on the Bailu Plateau, and Huaiyi's first piece of land was also on the other two plateaus.
Later, Wu Huaiyu also bought some land on three plateaus one after another. The land on the plateau was cheap.

In the past two years, Wujia Zhuangzi on the plateau no longer grows wheat. Instead, they grow corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sorghum and other coarse grains, and they also raise pigs.The Wu family did not hide it from the surrounding people. After seeing the harvest of the Wu family, the nearby villagers could no longer sit still and came to the Wu family to buy seeds.
Then these auspicious things were planted, and then pigs were raised and so on.

When Zhao Renben took office as a new official, he deliberately visited the entire county, up and down the plains and in the mountains. He conducted serious visits and investigations, and was very surprised.

The people of Sanyuan on the plateau and in the mountains are now barely able to have enough food and clothing. Some brave people have good luck raising pigs and have even made some money.

Of course, what amazed Zhao Renben the most in Sanyuan County was Longqiao.

When Sanyuan County was still two counties, there were four county towns that moved back and forth, but these four places are now far less prosperous than Longqiao.
"My lord, Longqiao is developed very well under the leadership of the Wu family. It has many good people, prosperous industry and commerce, and is a transportation hub. I would like to report to the court and apply to move the county seat to Longqiao."

The current county seat is located at the foot of Bailu Plateau and on the south bank of the old road of Qingyu River.Compared with Yong'an City in Qingshui Valley, the earliest old settlement in Sanyuan, and later moved to Yong'an Town on the Bailu Plain, and then to Rencheng below the plateau, the old Yong'an City is in a more dangerous location. It was first a military city, and later Yong'an on the plateau. Town, being a traffic hub from a high position,
Rencheng stood guard on the plains, facing the plains.

In general, in the past, military needs were mainly highlighted, but now in peacetime, Zhao Renben feels that the county seat should be elected in Longqiao, which has more convenient transportation and better economy.

"I also support the move of the county seat to Longqiao, Qinghe Township. You can report back later."

Moving the county seat to Longqiao is not a bad thing for the Wu family.
Zhao Renben said that Longqiao is a good place. Wujiabao and Lijiazhuang, which are adjacent to Longqiao for ten miles, actually produced two prime ministers.

Zhao Ren originally wanted to make some political achievements in Sanyuan, so that he would have a better chance of reaching important positions in the province and Taiwan. Whether he was the doctor of various departments or the secretary of the author, Cheng Dali Zheng, he wanted to give it a try.

At his age, he has to work hard every step forward. If he doesn't go well, he may not be able to keep up after adjusting the team at one step.

"My lord, I heard that the court is planning to implement a new law. Is there anything we can do in Sanyuan County?"

"I can fight for an opportunity for Sanyuan County to pilot a new law in the DPRK. It is hard to say whether this can be achieved, but I suggest that you start a comprehensive census of Sanyuan County first, including the registered population, acres of land, and household property. , investigate everything clearly and be accurate.”

Before the imperial court, there were five classes of households, divided according to the amount of family property. Later, they were subdivided into nine classes.

Among them, the upper-middle, upper-middle, upper-lower, middle-upper-class households are collectively called upper-class households, the middle-middle, middle-lower, and lower-upper-class households are called secondary households, and the lower-middle and lower-middle households are called lower-class households.

The household tax is levied on a per-household basis, and even the apportionment of expenses and miscellaneous labor in some places in the yamen are based on this.

It's just that even though it's been 13 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the registered population, household property, and land acres are still very unclear.
Concealing population, false reporting of age, false reporting of property, and confusion of land parcels are common.

There are people who underreport taxes to evade taxes, and there are officials who write more taxes to tax more.

Many wealthy landowners obviously have a lot of property, but they conceal it and underreport it. Many people are very poor, but they are forced to be listed as household names by subordinate officials.

If the court wants to implement the two-tax law, then these must be done accurately first. After all, household tax must be levied based on property, and land tax must also be collected on a per-acre basis.

"If you want a place to develop, you must first ensure stability for the people. My Wu family has been here in Longqiao for 15 years, and I know it very well. The court's rent-to-yong system is based on the equalization of land. But now in Longqiao, there are actually many The common people have no land, or only a small amount of land, which can be included in the household registration, but they still have to pay rent and transfer according to the rent. The common people have many complaints, feeling that it is unfair and the burden is too heavy."

Zhao Renben nodded, having already discovered this when he went to visit the countryside.

"I am admonishing the sage. For the landless people who are listed as customers, no matter how many they have, the rent of one or two shi of millet will no longer be levied. The household tax will only be collected based on their family property, such as household registration. If it is Households in the lower and lower classes are also exempted from household fees.

If there are young men in the family, they only need to serve 20 days of regular service every year, while middle-aged men must serve some miscellaneous services in the prefecture and county. "

"Our Sanyuan County can apply to pilot it first."

Zhao Renben exclaimed, “If this policy could really be implemented, there wouldn’t be so many people fleeing their households.”

"Well, the tenants of noble and powerful landlords should also be registered as customers and not as illegal households." In the past, people evaded taxes and labor, abandoned their registrations, fled their households, and hid in the homes of powerful landlords. This was very detrimental to the court and even allowed powerful landlords to control In order to protect the life freedom of these people who are dependent on them, they form a strong dependence relationship.

Now that these tenants are cleared out and granted the status of customers, and the customers and owners are legally granted the status of husband, the landlords' control over these people will be greatly weakened.
"Mr. Sir, if the landless people register as customers and do not need to pay rent adjustment, I am afraid that many people with very little land will sell or abandon their land and become customers on their own initiative." Zhao Renben said, after all, rent adjustment is not required Under the law, one was taxed and served according to the Ding standard. One Ding had two stones of millet, two zhang of silk, and three liang of cotton per year. He also served 20 days of free service in a year. If he did not serve enough, he would have to break the silk and replace it with mediocrity.

Regardless of whether you have a hundred acres of land or one acre of land, one person counts as one share.

“If we in Sanyuan County can pilot the new policy, we can give those who have land equal status after conducting a census to determine the land area of ​​the registered population.

For example, if there are ten acres of land, it will be classified as the tenth class, twenty acres of land will be classified as the ninth class, and one hundred acres of land will be classified as one class. The number of acres of land will be divided into as many classes. The original one ding, two stones of millet, two feet of silk, and three taels of silk per year will be divided into three classes. Also classified into ten grades,
If you only have ten acres of land, you only need to pay two bushels of millet, two feet of silk, and three coins of silk for each acre.

"What if there are multiple people in one house?"

"Then the land within a household must first be divided into ten and then divided into equal parts. For example, if there are six people in a household, the family has [-]% of the land and only has thirty acres of land, then one can be divided into ten and the other into nine. ·····”

In the final analysis, this trial method is actually based on collecting taxes based on property, not on population. The most important aspect of property is the number of fields owned.

Of course, when it comes to specific implementation, Tian will definitely still be graded according to fatness and thinness.

Craftsmen and merchants other than farmers must have different policies.

The property owners with land are the households, and the property owners without land are the customers.

Customers do not need to pay rent adjustments, but the main household does. However, if the land is less than [-] acres, discounts and exemptions are available.

During the pilot period, households with land of more than [-] acres were still levied on a rent-based basis, and they would not be levied on a per-mu basis immediately.
Zhao Renben sighed, "If we in Sanyuan County can really win the trial implementation of this new law, then a large number of people will receive tax exemptions, the burden will be greatly reduced, and even many people who have fled will be willing to re-naturalize and become customers,"

Customers are also good citizens, but those who run away from home are not good citizens. In fact, being a good citizen still has a lot of power. At least you must be a good citizen to be selected as a soldier, to be an official in the imperial examination, or even to be an official.

"The advantage is that the burden on the people is reduced, but there is also a problem, that is, the tax revenue will be reduced a lot immediately." After all, rent reductions and exemptions are only given to people who have insufficient land, but they are not immediately given to large landowners who own many fields. Taxation.

"Mr. Sir, I don't think this is a big problem. Our Sanyuan County is now prosperous in industry and commerce, and the industrial and commercial taxes can be filled."

Sanyuan County is the heart of Guanzhong and the land of Gyeonggi Province. The problem of land annexation is very serious. Chang'an's royal relatives, relatives and ministers are watching closely, and they will annex it if there is an opportunity.More and more people are losing their land, or in other words, ordinary people have long since lost the opportunity to be allocated farmland.

Without land, renting is still indispensable, so the people have no choice but to abandon their registration and flee, and run to become landlords or tenants to rely on the powerful landlords.

As the county magistrate, Zhao Renben's responsibilities were not only to collect taxes and encourage farmers to practice agriculture, but also to increase the population. People under his rule abandoned their registration and fled. He, as a county magistrate, had a great responsibility.

(End of this chapter)