The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 140 Zhu Yuanzhang Raises Taxes, Zhu Biao is Stunned

Crown Prince Zhu Biao had never thought about this question.

Throughout history, the last emperors of most dynasties were often dissolute and incompetent.

Therefore, many people believe that the country's failures are all the fault of the ruler, and Zhu Yuanzhang's statement is extremely frightening upon closer examination.

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored what the crown prince, Zhu Biao, thought and continued speaking.

"The tax rate we have set now is one-thirtieth. Although it is a bit tight, it can guarantee that the people of the world will at least have food to eat. However, the land in the world is finite. If the amount of land decreases, the taxes that can be collected from the people will be much less. If we want to do the same thing then, we will have to reform or increase the tax burden!"

"Until the numbers increase to the point where the people can no longer survive, they will rise up in rebellion, plunging the world into chaos once again, just like a cycle!"

"Leaving aside everything else, just look at how much grain tax Fengyang Prefecture had at the beginning, and how much tax it has now!"

Crown Prince Zhu Biao remained silent.

The most common method used by powerful families and local gentry was to conceal and annex land. Very little tax could be collected from them. However, as their wealth and land holdings grew, the land owned by ordinary people would only decrease.

In that case, the country's money will flow to these people instead, and the remaining people will be overwhelmed, which will naturally lead to this outcome.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued.

“At the beginning of the founding of the nation, Li Shanchang and others proposed to us that all scholars in the country who have obtained official titles should not have to pay taxes. However, with the imperial examinations held every three years, the number of scholars is increasing, and these scholars are also acquiring more and more land. In the end, how much of this land will actually be taxable?”

"In the end, whenever a dynasty falls from grace, it's not because the emperor is incompetent and the people are immoral, but because the rulers are traitors and parasites. These are all big rats!"

Crown Prince Zhu Biao sighed.

"Alas, not paying land tax and not being subject to corvée labor are the privileges of scholars. If even these privileges are taken away, scholars from all over the country will rise up and attack us, and the Ming Dynasty will probably be overwhelmed. Moreover, our Ming Dynasty needs these people to govern. Where in the world can we find a way to have both?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Crown Prince Zhu Biao and said in a deep voice.

"Biao'er, what do you think of implementing the land tax reform, where gentry and commoners pay taxes together?"

"The so-called 'equalization of land tax and poll tax' means that taxes are levied based on the amount of land owned, regardless of the individual. Land is divided into three grades according to its yield: superior, medium, and inferior, and taxes are levied on each grade separately. In addition, gentry and commoners pay taxes together, and the privileges of aristocratic families and scholars are abolished!"

Zhu Biao felt a sudden dizziness.

"Father, this suggestion is indeed a good one, but it may not be so easy to implement. In the end, the country is still governed by those scholar-officials and literati. If we push them too far, who will help us govern the country? Since ancient times, there has been a tacit custom that the emperor's policies do not reach the county level. No matter how good our strategies are, they are useless if those gentry and local people do not implement them!"

"It would be a real shame to lose the hearts of scholars all over the world in the end!"

Zhu Yuanzhang also knew that with the world still unsettled, implementing this strategy as soon as possible would not be an easy task. It seemed that this matter had to be entrusted to Xiong Ying.

"We were just saying that!"

Zhu Biao knew very well that Zhu Yuanzhang would not give up this idea; it was just a matter of time before he implemented it.

"Father, perhaps we can do this in the future, but we absolutely cannot do it now!"

"The imperial court has not yet recovered its strength. The chieftains in the southwest each occupy their own territory, and Japanese pirates have appeared in the southeast. The Prince of Liang, who is entrenched in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, still has an army of 100,000!"

"Kökö Temür, the Qi King of the Northern Yuan, still holds considerable military power. In addition, the Khorchin, Tatar, Uriyangkhai, Arughtai, and Doyan tribes still possess significant strength!" "Since the first year of the Hongwu reign, our Great Ming has launched several northern expeditions. Although we have dealt them heavy blows, a centipede is not easily killed, and there will likely be more major wars in the future!"

"If we lose our composure now, we might play right into their hands!"

Zhu Yuanzhang patted his crown prince Zhu Biao on the shoulder.

"I know all this, but there's always a solution. You've been gentle and kind since childhood, and you're very steady in your work. We're at ease entrusting the country to you. However, with your personality, you're good at defense but not at offense. You should learn more from Xiong Ying in this regard!"

"Although U.A. is young, his methods and mindset are already quite mature, and perhaps we can accomplish great things in the future!"

Zhu Biao nodded. The future is a matter for the future; who knows what will happen? "Then what about the Fengyang Prefecture? We can't let Tie Xuan cause trouble, can we?"

"Tell Mao Xiang to spare one of his men to help Tie Xuan. Tell those old fogies that Tie Xue is acting on our orders. If they don't want to die, they'd better behave themselves, or we'll personally buy them a coffin!"

Inside the Imperial Palace of Yingtian Prefecture.

Zhu Xiong Ying frowned as he looked at the battle report in his hand.

Not long ago, Marquis Mu Ying of Xiping won a battle in the north, but the battle was quite strange.

Normally, the northern Mongols would march south in large numbers in the autumn when their horses are fat and strong, but it is quite strange that they are marching south in the winter.

More importantly, the battle started strong but ended weakly. This thousand-man team was like bait deliberately thrown down by Wang Baobao. However, after Mu Ying took the bait, there was no trap, which shows that these people had other purposes behind them.

Wang Yuemin suddenly appeared at the Qin Prince's mansion.

Zhu Xiong Ying suspected that Wang Bao Bao's actions were intended to support Wang Yue Min's southward advance. If it were a trivial matter, there would be no need for such a fuss, but if it was aimed at him or the current emperor, then it was likely a deliberate act.

Zhu Xiong Ying suddenly realized that there were probably more than just Wang Yue Min who had come; there might be others lurking in the shadows.

This is a little eunuch on the side, reporting in a low voice.

"Your Highness, Prince Jin has arrived!"

"Well, since Uncle is here, let him in!"

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin walked in with a face full of excitement.

"Xiongying, I have good news for you. These past few days, I've been monitoring the situation with the men you gave me, and we've finally got results!"

“That guy named Wang Fu is really cunning. He used the opportunity of selling bean porridge to leak information. If it weren’t for the capable people in your hands, he probably would have really gotten away with it this time!”

"There are quite a few people sent by the Northern Yuan in this vicinity of Yingtian Prefecture. They are hiding in really high places!"

"We currently know of six locations, the closest to Yingtian Prefecture being Faxiang Temple in the south of the city and a village in Jiangning!"

"However, according to recent intelligence, these people will probably need to be mobilized from other places. We've really stirred up a hornet's nest this time!"

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and nodded. It seemed that the bait had been used well this time, attracting quite a few big fish.

(End of this chapter)