I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 88 Discussion

At the national revenue level, it can be said simply in four words: increase revenue and reduce expenditure.

But it’s actually very difficult to do.

In terms of throttling, it is impossible to throttle.

Especially the salary, which is the main expenditure, has been like this for so many years. After it was reduced twice during the reign of Emperor Huan, there were already complaints, saying that the officials were struggling to eat, and any further reduction would probably cause the country to reflect.

You can only make decisions on open source.

On the one hand, it is necessary to expand the basic market; on the other hand, it is necessary to compete for the basic market.

The former is to increase population and acres of land, improve production and farming methods, and increase grain production.

The latter is the meat of the cutting place.

The former will be what Liu Bian has always done.

As for cutting meat, if you just use a knife to chop it, the local people will definitely resist, but what Liu Bian wants to do is just use a needle to draw some blood.

……

After Ding Gong proposed the three public discussions, the emperor not only agreed, but also expanded the scope.

Situ, Sikong, Jiuqing, Yushi Zhongcheng Han Fu, Guanglu doctor Zhou Zhong, and Shangshu Ling Lu Zhi were all summoned.

With so many people, the emperor did not choose to summon them in Yutang Hall, nor did he go to the court hall located in the inner Chaotai Pavilion. Instead, he moved the meeting place to Yuntai Hall, south of Yutang Hall.

This hall belongs to the East Palace and is larger than the Yutang Hall. It can also be used as the emperor's office and living space.

While waiting, Emperor Ling and Liu Bian continued to perfect their blood drawing plan.

When everyone arrived, Ding Gong, who arrived first, acted as an interpreter: "This year, in order to relieve the flood victims in the seven counties, the court has spent a lot of manpower and material resources. If the tax revenue in the second half of this year is still the same as last year, then the national treasury will definitely make ends meet." , not only all of you here, but also the salaries of officials across the country will be reduced by 10%."

Da Sinong Yuan Pang did not speak. In the eyes of others, this is acquiescence.

Ding Gong continued: "Except for Runan this year, since the pacification of Xianbei in Bingzhou and Wuhuan in Youzhou, there have been almost no military disasters in the country. All counties and counties should be able to collect the dead and reclaim abandoned wasteland. Taxes should increase this year. . However, in previous years, the taxes of each county and country have been reduced day by day. One of the discussions today is how much tax each county and country should increase. This will be used for assessment of this year's calculation, and envoys will be sent to inform each county."

As soon as Ding Gong finished speaking, the first person to speak was Yang Xu, who was the governor of Nanyang County a few months ago. He knew the current local situation clearly.

Everyone knew very well that although it was Ding Gong who spoke, what he represented must be the emperor's will.

Yang Xu also knew this very well. He directly advised the emperor: "Your Majesty, if you rashly ask the county to increase taxes, the people who will be most affected will definitely be the powerless people!"

Although Runan County was not included in the increase in taxes, as the head of the Nine Qing Dynasty, Yuan Wei also expressed his opposition immediately.

Then, without waiting for the guard Yang Biao to speak, Situ Dinggong acted as a substitute and immediately answered Yang Xu’s concern——

"This is the second meeting of the day. We are to send the imperial censor and others as envoys to inform the prefectures and counties about the increase in taxes, divide them among the prefectures, and inspect the officials in prefectures, counties and townships to see if they have oppressed the common people with a family capital of less than 100,000 yuan. This should be included in the annual examination of county officials. If there is anyone who bullies the people too much, he should be dismissed from office. In addition, state governors and county supervisors can also be used to help. "

This is something that Emperor Ling and Liu Bian decided to change. Why bother with spot checks afterwards? Just check on the spot.

There are a total of fifteen imperial censors in the system. Even if one or two are missing, there are enough for the thirteen states of the Han Dynasty.

As the main impeachment force of the Yushitai, Shi Yushi may not know how to speak nicely, but as long as they can do their job competently, they will definitely know how to speak unpleasantly.

As long as these censors who are responsible for admonishment are not too old, most of them have a bright future. There are no royal guards available, and the eunuchs at this time must also be excluded.

Liu Bian felt that Shi Yushi still had a mouth that could slander others and a heart that wanted to slander others.

Of course, it is not necessarily possible to use all the censors. If there are suitable admonishment officials and Yilang, it is not impossible to use them.

Liu Bian planned to release Yilang Liang Hu, who first taught him poetry and classics, to inspect a state if he had the chance.

If Liang Hu can make a difference in this trip, he will naturally bear the label of Liu Bian, and he may not be able to be reused.

Even though he had a response plan, Yuan Wei still objected and remonstrated righteously: "Today's county plan, its acres and population are all based on the current situation of the county. Is it any different from apportionment if you increase it arbitrarily?"

Sikong Fanling only served as a lieutenant for more than a month and felt deeply ashamed. He knew very well that among the people who impeached him, Yuan Wei and his former officials of the Yuan family were definitely among the people who impeached him. He thought to himself, Yuan Wei also became a captain. Lieutenant?

He said sarcastically: "I have seen Yuan Taichang's public spirit. But now the national treasury is empty. If there is a lack of salary, the petty officials will be unable to support their families. I heard that the Yuan family in Runan has a rich family, so naturally Yuan Taichang will not care about the two thousand stones. The salary is very high, but I’m afraid that Dou Shi, a small official, won’t be able to celebrate the New Year. Since Taichang is unwilling to increase taxes, does he have any good ideas to help Dou Shi, a small official, celebrate the New Year?”

Yuan Wei immediately started arguing with Fan Ling, but was stopped by Ding Gong.

The remaining nine ministers and the censor Zhongcheng Han Fu expressed their objections.

But the emperor was unmoved.

Only the chief minister Yuan Pang, Zong Zheng Liu Yan, Shangshu Ling Lu Zhi, and Guanglu doctor Zhou Zhong did not say a word.

Among them, Lu Zhi was the first to know that this matter must be related to Liu Bian, and he immediately began to think about the feasibility of the matter.

According to the Han system, if there is a big problem in the country, it will be discussed with the three public officials. When there is something wrong with the state, the three public officials should advise and fight over it.

In other words, the emperor has an edict, and only the alliance of the three princes can prevent the issuance of the edict through resistance.

Even if Taiwei Ma Rixi was present, he would be willing to protest, but neither Ding Gong nor Fan Ling were close to the eunuchs, and they didn't look like they dared to protest.

Once Emperor Ling wanted to build a palace but had no money, he simply ordered all the counties and counties in the world to increase the land rent by ten cents per mu of land.

Such edicts can be passed, let alone this one.

As long as the emperor insists on his opinion, the passage of this matter is inevitable. Of course, how it is implemented in specific places is another matter.

Historically, after Liu Yan took control of Yizhou, he immediately began to weaken the influence of the wealthy families. As a clan member himself, he has a clear understanding of the local situation.

Moreover, he still had the idea of ​​serving as a governor. If he could not succeed as a state pastor, he might as well find a suitable county and become a prefect and prime minister. Therefore, I am willing to support the emperor's decision at this time.

Zhou Zhong was born in Lujiang, Yangzhou. He was appointed as a new official. His father, Zhou Jing, was once the Taiwei of the Three Dukes. The Three Dukes were also Zhou Zhong's target, so he just had to be careful in his words and deeds.

After thinking about it, Lu Zhi was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, each county must be careful about the amount of tax increase compared to last year. If it is too much, the people will definitely suffer. Doesn't this run counter to the original intention of this policy?"

The emperor nodded: "Your words are a good thing."

After Lu Zhi spoke, Yuan Pang asked the emperor to go to the Dasinong Office to obtain the tax records of each county and state last year.

The proceedings continued.

(End of this chapter)