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

Chapter 168 Initial Proposal to Integrate Land Tax and Labor Service; Opposition from Officials

"However, since it is the elder's request, I would be guilty of disrespect if I did not comply. In that case, I will grant your request, Duke of Han. As the Duke of Han departs from the city, I will prepare a pot of wine to see you off!"

Li Shanchang was stunned for a moment.

He dressed himself up in this way hoping to use their old relationship to get some benefits from the Crown Prince for his old brothers. At the same time, he also wanted to get a response from Zhu Xiong Ying, otherwise they would probably have a hard time getting to Fengyang Prefecture.

I just didn't expect Zhu Xiong Ying to act unpredictably. He gave me face, but didn't offer any real benefits.

Li Shanchang also felt he had lost face and snorted coldly.

"Your Highness, although these old brothers have made some mistakes, they have already been covered up with imperial edicts. Why are you still being so aggressive? If His Majesty were here, he would be disheartened!"

"I'm old and don't have many days left to live. I can give up everything, but these old brothers have shed blood for His Majesty and for the Ming Dynasty. It's not too much to ask for something for them, is it?"

"Zhu Liangzu, both of your nephews died on the battlefield during the Battle of Poyang Lake. Lu Zhongheng, your son died on the northward march!"

"Chen Yong, his father Chen De was loyal to His Majesty, but he also developed many health problems. He passed away after only a few days of peace. These people shed their last drop of blood for our Great Ming. Can Your Highness bear to see them end up like this?"

Hu Weiyong was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected his teacher, who had always been extremely composed, to suddenly become so reckless.

This shows absolutely no respect for the Crown Prince. If this matter gets out, the Crown Prince might be accused of mistreating meritorious officials.

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and prepared to take the risk.

"Teacher, His Highness also has his own difficulties, and His Highness is not the kind of heartless person; he must have considered things!"

Li Shanchang looked at Hu Weiyong and snorted coldly.

"Such a traitor dares to bark and howl here?"

"I have never treated you unfairly in the past, but I never expected you to betray me at such a crucial moment. Now that the Secretariat is gone, your position is neither here nor there. You are reaping what you sowed!"

Hu Weiyong felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this, especially under the scrutiny of a high-ranking official in the court. He could only lower his head and retreat without saying another word.

Zhu Xiong Ying stared intently at Li Shan Chang, a playful glint in his eyes.

"What the Duke of Han said is correct. Zhao Zhong's ministers have indeed made great contributions to our Great Ming. Our Great Ming is naturally grateful for their contributions. Therefore, I am prepared to use my own silver to erect a bronze pillar in front of the palace gate, with the inscription 'Heroes who drove out the Northern Yuan barbarians and restored China' on it!"

"We will certainly give you all a place to belong, but that is no excuse to deceive the people of our Great Ming!"

"My Great Ming Dynasty cannot be deceived by Heaven, nor can its people be oppressed. No matter how many merits you have made or how much you have contributed to this world, if you oppress the people, I will not let a single one of you go!"

"Lord of Han, it is indeed not a problem that you protect these old brothers, the powerful families, and the scholars of the world. But don't forget that the largest number of people in the world are not the nobles of Huaixi, nor the scholars, but the common people!"

"Without the people of the world, what will you eat and drink?"

"And by what right do you have to realize your illusory ideals? Land is the foundation of the people. If the people lose their land and become vassals of the gentry, with their lives and deaths decided by others, how can my Great Ming Dynasty face the soldiers who died on the battlefield!"

Li Shanchang was stunned; he hadn't expected Zhu Xiong Ying to have such a thought.

In his view, the common people were merely appendages of the scholar-officials.

As long as the interests of the scholar-officials can be satisfied, they will surely be able to manage the people well for the monarch. As for the harm done to the people, he did not care. For the sake of the overall situation, some sacrifices are indeed necessary.

Therefore, sacrificing the interests of some common people for the benefit of the scholar-officials was not a big deal. However, Zhu Xiong Ying's idea was completely opposite to his.

His previous disagreements with Zhu Yuanzhang stemmed from this, and it is even more so now.

Li Shanchang sighed.

"Scholars are scholars after all, and they are different from ordinary people. If the interests of scholars in the world cannot be protected, who will protect the world for Your Highness and His Majesty? Are we to rely on those illiterate commoners?"

"Your Highness, you are too young or too immature. Such thoughts are indeed rather naive!"

Zhu Xiong Ying spoke as if mocking himself.

"Naive? Well, in your opinion, this idea is indeed somewhat naive!"

"Scholars and officials never lift a finger, know nothing of the five grains, and from childhood they are unaware of the hardships of the world. They only know how to seek ways to govern the country in books and become those high and mighty beings!"

"The people of the world toil in the fields, working hard all year, but they only get a little bit of food, not even enough to feed themselves!"

"When it gets a little cold in winter, you can hide in your deep courtyards, burning silver charcoal in your stoves, and still complain that it's not as good as silver frost charcoal!"

"Ordinary people can only huddle together behind mounds of earth for warmth, and countless people freeze to death every winter. Is this what you call naivety?"

"The land you want is, in your eyes, nothing more than a small gift, and you even feel it is far too little!"

"But these things could be lifesavers for ordinary people!"

"Since you feel that you do not have enough food, then I will give you enough food!"

"By my decree, all nobles who have resigned from their posts and returned to their hometowns will receive two thousand acres of fertile land, in addition to any compensation owed previously. This fertile land will come from the official lands of Fengyang Prefecture!"

These words shocked the officials in the imperial court.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Xiong Ying would compromise.

Tie Xuan's eyes widened; even he hadn't considered this possibility.

Thinking of this, he sighed. Sure enough, his own strength was still too insignificant. Even His Highness the Crown Prince would not dare to suppress these nobles too much.

Li Shanchang's lips twitched slightly.

Zhu Xiong Ying's ideas were completely contrary to his own, but he never expected that he would compromise in the end. Thinking of this, he breathed a sigh of relief. With these things, his old brothers' future days would be much better.

Two thousand acres of land is indeed a bit small, but they have saved up a lot of money, and it wouldn't be a problem to buy some more with that money.

However, just when everyone thought the matter was settled, Zhu Xiong Ying continued to speak.

"From this day forward, the policy of 'incorporating the poll tax into the land tax' will be implemented. All poll taxes and other levies will be added to the land tax, and taxes will be paid according to the amount of land owned!"

"Thereafter, no additional poll tax will be levied, and the land will be remeasured, with different amounts of tax levied based on the quality of the land!"

(End of this chapter)