Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 789 Land Consolidation
Land annexation has been a serious problem for all dynasties, and it has even become one of the reasons for the demise of many dynasties.

After the past dynasties were unable to solve this problem, usually the final solution to this problem was riots, or uprisings, which reduced the population by half, and the emerging forces defeated the old forces, and then re-divided interests, but this is actually just entering another cycle, and the If the problem of land annexation is not resolved, the redistribution of interests will have to be staged again within 200 years.

Wang Yan was shocked when he heard Chen Yanwen's words.

Seeing this, Chen Yanwen hurriedly said: "Your Highness, every time there is a famine, rich and powerful families from all over the country will inevitably rise up to borrow money from the people, earn high interest, or directly buy land at a low price. , can only accept the conditions of the wealthy family. This is a spontaneous behavior of the people, even if His Highness does not encourage it, the people are still doing it. Since it cannot be stopped, why not let the government come forward to regulate it, which will benefit the people instead!"

This is true. Land annexation is the worst in the year of catastrophe. Ordinary people's ability to resist risks and famines is too small. If they want to survive the famine, they can only rely on the rich.

In ancient society, the rich family also assumed the role of stabilizing the place. It is equivalent to the current bank. People borrow money in bad years and repay it in good years.

Land annexation is inevitable for economic development, and the West also eats people. The only difference is that farmers who lost their land in the West can run outside, while in China, after losing their land, they often gather together and break out into chaos.

Wang Yan pondered for a while, "Teaching people how to fish is worse than giving them fish. This year, big households bought fields and gave some food to the victims. This year can make it through the year, but what about the people who lost their land next year?"

Chen Yanwen swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and then said: "Your Highness, these big households bought fields, whether they are planting rice, mulberry, or cotton, they all need people. As long as the people do things, they will have food. After all, big households also need people." to work for them."

Wang Yan was taken aback for a moment, and was actually moved by his persuasion.

Throughout the dynasties, the way to prevent land mergers is to limit land transactions as much as possible, but this is actually just a delaying measure, which can only delay the problem and does not solve the problem.

The imperial court generally restricts mergers out of good intentions, but sometimes good policies can turn into bad policies.

For example, if the common people encounter an accident, at least there is still a piece of land to buy, and they can pass a test, but if the restrictions prohibit buying and selling, the big family will not lend you a large sum of money, because under normal circumstances, the harvest for a year is only a small amount. Enough to eat and drink, borrow too much and have no ability to repay, even if you can't borrow money, you won't be able to get through the difficulties.

"Your Highness, the land mergers in Huguang are also very powerful, and cotton fields have sprung up. However, due to the war, the population of Huguang has dropped sharply. Many wealthy families are recruiting people to farm. Some people in Guangnan even bought black feudal clans at high prices to work." Wang Fuzhi said suddenly.

In the past two years, Wang Yan has focused on the war, and he doesn't know much about these changes, but this is not a rare thing. The drama said that in the Song Dynasty, there were powerful people who bought the black feudal clan and called them Kunlun slaves.

Wang Yan pondered for a while, annexing land is a major event, which has been taboo in all dynasties. Although Wang Yan was persuaded by Chen Yanwen, he didn't dare to make a decision for a while, "If the disaster relief is carried out by the imperial court, it will cost a total of tens of thousands of taels. "

"In previous years, 200 million taels would have been enough, but this year's grain prices have skyrocketed. Without 500 million taels, I'm afraid we won't be able to get relief." Wang Fuzhi said, "Your Highness, even if Your Highness wants to give money, I'm afraid the money won't be approved. The gentry in the south of the Yangtze River these years The losses are heavy, and the disaster year is a good opportunity for them to dig out wealth. I heard that many gentry are ready to start buying fields."

Hearing what Wang Fuzhi said, Wang Yan knew that it would be impossible to completely rely on the court for relief.

One is four or five million taels, the amount is too huge. The money of the household department is not abundant now. In addition to repayment and court expenses, the King of Lu also sent a note some time ago, saying that the Qing army might plunder Jiangbei in winter. To prepare for war, and there is a shortage of food in Jiangbei, the imperial court needs to allocate it, which also requires money.

Two, since the gentry in Jiangsu and Zhejiang are ready to take advantage of the disaster year to make a fortune, there must be some people in the Zhejiang party who oppose all relief from the imperial court.

Wang Yan was silent for a moment, and then said: "Instead of letting the big households lower the price of the land to buy it, it is better to let the government take the lead."

Wang Yan glanced at Chen Yanwen, pursed his lips and said, "This matter was brought up by the magistrate Zhao, so you will write a note and discuss it with the cabinet."

"No, I will write it down and hand it over to His Highness today." Chen Yanwen hurriedly saluted.

Wang Yan waved his hand and continued to walk through the tent area with everyone.

He was still very worried. People who cultivate their own fields only need to pay the imperial court’s tax, but they have to pay two taxes to cultivate the land of a large family. This difference is still very big, but this time he cannot avoid land annexation. Many people lost their land.

People depend on food, and agriculture is the foundation of the country. Over the years, he has been emphasizing on business, and some have neglected agriculture. With the development of trade and the drive of interests, Huguang, the former granary of the world, has undergone a large-scale transformation of rice and mulberry, and rice and cotton. Although this led to a substantial increase in court taxes, food became scarce.

In this normal year, no problems can be seen, but once there is a catastrophe, the problem will become serious immediately.

If the imperial court has food in its hands, the people can borrow from the government, which can curb the speed of annexation.

Wang Yan looked at the tent area, sighed disrespectfully, and said to Wang Fuzhi beside him: "Next year, the imperial government's policies will be adjusted, the tax on mulberry fields and cotton fields will be heavier, and the tax on rice fields will be reduced. With the momentum of changing rice to cotton for mulberry, the imperial court has to build grain storage in various places, and it can no longer be so passive."

"Your Highness, I'm afraid this strategy is inappropriate. The Guangnan maritime merchants and the gentry in Huguang may have some criticisms against Your Highness!" Wang Fuzhi said in a deep voice.

The ass decides the head. The Wang family can now be said to be the representative of the enlightened gentry in Huguang. Naturally, Wang Fuzhi must take the interests of the gentry into consideration.

Wang Yan understands that this will inevitably harm the interests of the gentry, but the gentry and businessmen should not be too blind and short-sighted in their pursuit of profit. If so, the Chu Party will become another Donglin.

"They have complaints, and this matter has to be done. Without food, the heart is not stable, and the country without food is uneasy!" Wang Yan said coldly: "Unless you have other ways to solve the food problem and refuse to annex the land The problem."

Wang Fuzhi pondered for a while, "Your Highness, there is a solution. Nanyang is more suitable for growing grain than Huguang. After four years of development, Qiongzhou Island has nearly [-]% of the rice output in Guangnan this year. Land mergers in the past were all solved internally. But it is only a superficial solution, from the view of the subordinate, is it possible to try and seek a solution from outside."

(Finally finished writing, the collection will increase again, and more will be added)

(End of this chapter)