I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 330: Can taxes be changed?

Compared with the Chancellor's Desk, the courtiers are more numerous, more senior, and have a richer variety of opinions.

Waterwheels are related to people's livelihood, and are not limited to water delivery for irrigation.

For example, using water to drive a stone mill is completely achievable with current waterwheel technology.

Liu Bian listened very carefully. The promotion of waterwheels in various places cannot be done overnight. The methods and methods must be carefully discussed. It cannot be directly decided and implemented in the court like Zhu Jun is also the governor of Jiaozhou.

The people who recorded the meeting were all busy. A copy of these records would be sent to the Chancery after the meeting, and became a reference for the Chancery to provide administrative suggestions.

Liu Bian and Lu Zhi came to the Yuntai Hall together. Lu Zhi thought that Liu Bian would express his opinions on the waterwheel, but he never expected that Liu Bian asked a question he had not imagined: "Nowadays, there are frequent inspections of officials in the five states of Guandong." Jishu, Master Lu, do you think we can take this opportunity to reform the tax system?”

Liu Bian had only discussed with Xun Yu before when the tax system could be reformed. Lu Zhi only knew that Liu Bian wanted to check the land, but he did not expect Liu Bian to be so anxious.

Lu Zhi asked: "Why did your Majesty suddenly ask this question?"

"It's still a matter of money." Liu Bian had a sad look on his face.

Although the rains after the summer solstice in the Central Plains are generally late this year, they have finally arrived. It is foreseeable that this year will be another good year.

Moreover, this year's rectification of officialdom, although more manpower was invested than the previous year, and the scope was generally limited to the five Kanto states, the results were remarkable. The proceeds from the confiscation of the criminals' property not only covered the court's expenses for rectifying the administration, including the mobilization of officials and soldiers, but also greatly enriched the national treasury and Liu Bian's Wanjin Hall in the West Garden.

The regular rewards to the Xiongnu and Wuhuan were finally restored to their full value, and in the early years the court had enough money and food borrowed from the Han princes to supplement military expenses.

The treasury has finally stopped raising fat rats. This is the first time in the past ten years. This is a great thing. There are worries about having less money, and there are worries about having too much money.

Finally, he had some spare money, but Yuan Pang, who had always been neutral and upright, was unwilling to spend money from the treasury to promote waterwheels.

Although there are many reasons, and with Yuan Pang's behavior, as long as Liu Bian has an edict, he will always squeeze out some money.

However, the problems reflected in it made Liu Bian worried - even Yuan Pang, who had always been neutral towards the government, became more conservative. Liu Bian has experienced the conservative style of bureaucrats more than once. The higher the position, the more likely they are to seek stability.

Talented but unscrupulous people like Dong Zhuo and Li Ru could be used as knives, and they were ruthless in their actions, but Liu Bian would also murmur in his heart if he really wanted to entrust him with important matters.

Lu Zhi was startled when he heard Liu Bian's troubles. He didn't just deal with it, but really thought about it carefully.

The current situation seems to be improving, and there should be no major problems if the results of this rectification of officialdom are maintained for three to five years.

However, reforming the tax system will inevitably require an inventory of the land, and the people affected are not as simple as just rectifying the administration of officials. At that time, I am afraid that all the counties will follow the example of Guangwu when he conquered the fields, and the war will be everywhere. This kind of chaos would occur without any connection. It would be insufficient just to rely on Huangfu Song to control Yanzhou.

Is the Han Dynasty ready to recover from the chaos?

"Your Majesty, I don't think it's time yet. Nowadays, there are many capable ministers everywhere, but they may not be willing to reform the tax system..."

After pouring a basin of cold water on him, Lu Zhi put forward his suggestion: "Your Majesty has been on the throne for less than four years, and those who have received His Majesty's favor, such as Xun Yu and others, are not yet strong. It may take a few years before Xun Yu and others can take charge. It will be feasible to occupy the central counties of each state, just as the Taiwei lives among the five states today." What Lu Zhi said is not subtle. There are officials like him in the Han family who hold high positions but do not own land, but there are too few. .

Many officials can fulfill their duties and be loyal to the emperor and love the people even if they serve for one term, but they may not support the state's census of the land and population of their clans. Those who dare to betray class for the sake of justice have always been in the minority.

Liu Bian said firmly: "Master Lu is right. Even if it doesn't work out now, we should make preparations early."

He should also get closer to young and middle-aged officials.

In addition, the military must not ignore it.

In this regard, Liu Bian has always been very active.

"You and I are from the same school, Ji Gui doesn't need to be polite!" Liu Bian said, holding Cui Yan's hand.

The ancients often started to grow beards after the age of thirty. Cui Yan had just turned thirty, and his beautiful beard and beard had already taken shape. It looked very in line with the aesthetics of contemporary scholars, and he was a handsome man from the Han family.

In terms of actual age, Liu Bian is seventeen years old this year.

Height, build, and most importantly, appearance, are no less impressive than Cui Yan.

Both of them were Zheng Xuan's disciples. Cui Yan was quite pleased with Liu Bian's words and attitude towards him, but on the surface his attitude was still respectful, and his words were not disrespectful at all.

Liu Bian was used to such meetings and was quite familiar with them. This was not the first time he met Cui Yan. He first asked about Zheng Xuan's current situation, and then naturally asked about the present: "Ji Gui is now teaching reading and literacy to the soldiers in the army. How effective is it?"

Cui Yan had long guessed Liu Bian's purpose of cultivating soldiers, and he answered truthfully. In his opinion, if he wanted to send soldiers back to their hometowns or assign them to various places to serve as village officials, they still lacked moral integrity and talent.

He also gave some reasons for his conclusion: "I personally think that the army is slightly different from the school. Because the soldiers have to prepare for battle, they often stick together and talk about each other as brothers. On the battlefield, they are of the same mind, but if they are in the countryside, Once officials gather together, there may be hidden dangers of favoritism."

Soldiers are regarded as rural officials and cannot be placed too many in one place.

After hearing this, Liu Bian praised: "After listening to Ji Gui's kind words today, he will make fewer mistakes when he takes this action in the future."

He asked again: "A few months ago, Lieutenant Colonel Jian asked me to set up a retirement home for the veterans of each battalion, so as to avoid the worries of the disabled and the old who have no one to rely on. However, I heard that there are some doubts in the army. I don't know. How much does Gui know?"

Jian Shuo's idea was good, but when the imperial edict was put into effect, it was not as smooth sailing as he had imagined.

Cui Yan replied: "I often hear the soldiers mention His Majesty's care for the soldiers, and they all shed tears of gratitude."

"Jian Xiaowei is quite famous among the military officers in Xiyuan, and most of them are away from home all year round, and there are not many in Beijing. However, the soldiers in the army mostly follow the generals. I heard that in other places, even if there is an edict, There are many people who suspect that Colonel Jian is using public affairs for personal gain.”

After Cui Yan finished speaking, Liu Bian also understood that there were still mountains and mountains in the army. In the final analysis, Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun were qualified to coordinate the overall planning of this matter, but Jian Shuo still fell short.

(End of this chapter)