ALL NOVEL Chapter 441
Chapter 441: Reclaiming Land to Establish National Ownership! Ying Zheng! The Largest Landlord!
“Indeed, securing the people.”
“Soldiers arise from the populace and also cease with them.”
“Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.”
“When the citizens live in peace and engage in their work, the world will be peaceful; when the people suffer, chaos will inevitably ensue.”
Such examples have been countless throughout history.
In times when people can barely survive, someone is bound to rise and overthrow the unjust rule.
Among dynasties, the Tang Dynasty stands out as the most glorious and influential in history.
The downfall of the Tang Dynasty occurred for many reasons—regional warlordism, the Anshi Rebellion, etc.—which all dealt heavy blows to the grand empire.
However, the most direct cause of the Tang’s demise was undoubtedly the Huang Chao uprising.
One could say that the Huang Chao uprising was the final straw that broke the camel’s back for the Tang Dynasty.
A year before Wang Xianzhi’s rebellion, a severe drought struck the eastern regions, with officials forcing the common people to pay taxes and labor.
Left with no options, the people gathered around Huang Chao and engaged in multiple armed clashes with the court officials.
Huang Chao, along with his brothers Huang Kui and Huang Enye, raised their arms in response to Wang Xianzhi.
Due to the drought and the government’s inaction, the officials’ oppression pushed the people to revolt, directly leading to the fall of the Tang Dynasty.
During the Late Yuan period, the Yellow River flooded.
Officials at all levels embezzled disaster relief funds to the point where little remained.
The government not only confiscated all usable and edible resources from the coastal residents but also forced everyone—young and old—onto construction sites.
When such ominous signs emerged, hinting that “the stone man with one eye provokes rebellion against the Yellow River,” peasant uprisings erupted across various regions, and the Yuan Empire was doomed to inevitable ruin.
This was also because the people had been driven to desperation by the court.
The same occurred during the late Ming and Qing dynasties.
At the start of a dynasty’s collapse, instances of peasant uprisings are often witnessed.
Even if the peasant uprisings are suppressed, they function like a gust of wind, raising the banners of rebellion among regional princes and lords.
“Secure the people… secure the people… without the people, there are no soldiers; without soldiers, there are no weapons; without weapons, there is peace in the world.”
Ying Zheng suddenly grasped the concept, standing up abruptly.
With bright eyes, he looked at Li Mo: “Sir, do you already have a method for securing the people?”
No wonder Li Mo had called Han Fei over!
Han Fei was in charge of drafting laws, so bringing him in was to have him implement Li Mo’s proposed policies for securing the people.
Under Ying Zheng’s inquisition and Han Fei’s urging gaze, Li Mo began to share his thoughts eloquently.
During the Warring States period, the land system still followed the tradition of the Western Zhou, which meant the well-field system.
Back then, there were public and private fields, where the private fields were those cultivated by individuals.
Fields that were cultivated privately were excluded from taxation.
Thus, slave owners and nobles eagerly developed private fields.
This led to scenes where “the people were unwilling to exert themselves” on the public fields.
One was taxed, while the other was not—everyone knew which to choose.
Thus, the private fields grew increasingly abundant, while the public fields gradually fell into disuse.
Various princely states, desperate to boost land tax revenue, ultimately had to abolish the distinction between public and private fields and impose taxes uniformly.
First, the Lu State promulgated the “Initial Tax per Mu” decree, proclaiming a tax on all fields, whether public or private.
Then, Shang Yang carried out reforms in the Qin State, legally establishing feudal land ownership.
He proposed, “Abolish the well-fields, open the pathways.” He allowed people to cultivate wasteland.
Records from the “Strategies of the Warring States” describe Shang Yang as “breaking the pathways and teaching the people to farm and fight.”
The term “pathways” refers to the irrigation channels and the corresponding roads within the well-field system, where vertical channels were called “qian” and horizontal ones “muh.”
Opening up the pathways and marking clear borders was evidently more advantageous than the well-field system and won public favor.
Shang Yang’s reforms led to a qualitative change in the power of the Qin State, catapulting it to the forefront of the Seven States.
Only then could it devour the Six States.
“Sir means for the people to farm?”
After contemplating a bit, Ying Zheng said, looking troubled.
While it might sound simple to provide land for Peasants to cultivate, the fundamental problem was that the land wasn’t in the hands of the common people, nor in his hands.
It was in the clutches of the aristocratic gentry!
Li Mo responded, “Precisely! Our first step is to reclaim land ownership.”
“Within the six harmonies, the emperor’s lands are supreme. From the flowing sands in the west to the northern households, the Eastern Sea to the great Xia in the south. Wherever human feet tread, there are no subjects unrecognized.”
This move is about clarifying that the land belongs to the state.
Self-cultivating farmers and noble landlords would only hold land use and possession rights.
They can possess it but cannot sell it.
Thus, Ying Zheng would become the largest landlord.
As for the Empress Dowager, she would be the largest landlady!
Ying Zheng pondered, “Reclaiming land and redistributing it is indeed a solution, but how do we ensure that the people’s lives will change for the better post-distribution?”
The ancient court’s economy relied heavily on taxes!
Regardless of one’s profession or work status, taxes were mandatory.
This is referred to as the “head tax”!
Although the term “head tax” originated from the Western Han period, its roots can be traced back to the end of the Western Zhou.
By the time of Ying Zheng, taxation was a fierce beast!
But taxes couldn’t merely be abolished.
Without tax revenue, how would the state afford anything?
Without money, how could there be construction and development?
How could they quell the invasions of surrounding barbarian tribes?
For the common people, this “head tax” is an immense burden.
It is mandated from the age of fifteen to fifty or sixty.
Each year sees a payment of 120 coins, while merchants and servants pay 240 coins.
Li Mo, with his wealthy background, wouldn’t care about such sums.
But ordinary folks were not in the same position.
To stabilize the world, the tax burden on them needs alleviating.
Ying Zheng suddenly found himself in a quandary.
He understood Li Mo’s meaning.
But if taxes were exempted, the national finances would go into turmoil.
Ying Zheng scrutinized Li Mo meaningfully: “If there’s a method that could relieve the people’s pressure without affecting tax collection… that would be splendid.”