First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Zhu Yuanzhang did not rely on Zhang Ximeng, but mobilized Geng Bingwen's troops.

Zhu Yuanzhang's first order was to abolish the original highest land rent order, and order to award land according to the outline of land equalization... This order will immediately explode in Changxing and other places.

It turns out that Zhu Jiajun has been talking about equalizing land, but this equalizing land also has stages, and it cannot be achieved overnight.

Changxing is located on the west bank of Taihu Lake. It is necessary to guard against Zhang Shicheng. It belongs to the front line. According to the plan, there will be no land equalization here for the time being, and the highest land rent order will be implemented.

That is to say, the land rent cannot exceed [-] percent. You must know that in the Jiangnan area, more than half of the land rent can be found everywhere, even [-] to [-] percent. After a year of hard work, almost all the harvest will be handed over to the landlord. Exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes will also fall on their heads.

A cow with two layers of skin peeled is simply miserable.

After Zhu Jiajun arrived, he ordered the restriction of land rent and the abolition of exorbitant taxes. The common people were all rejoiced and praised in unison.

Similar policies are also implemented, including Yixing, Changzhou, Zhuji and other places.

Basically, Zhang Ximeng advocates seeking stability wherever it is close to the enemy's territory.He has this attitude, let alone Li Shanchang, so he is naturally happy that the years are quiet and peaceful, and there is nothing wrong with him.

The former Zhu's army territory can be roughly divided into three levels. The core is Huaixi's hometown, which is the place where the land is the most thorough and supports Zhu Yuanzhang the most.

Secondly, after crossing the river, Tongling, Taiping, Jinling and other places have basically completed the granting of land.Although a considerable number of well-to-do peasant households remained, they also strongly supported Zhu's army.

Further outside, there are front lines such as Changxing and Yixing, as well as newly acquired sites such as Hongdu and Fuzhou, which have not had time to equalize the land.

This is not surprising, no one can achieve it overnight and eat a fat man in one go.

But in the face of the counterattack of the old forces, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want to procrastinate any longer. If we don't show you some seriousness, do you really think we are bodhisattvas who are merciful and merciless?

If you dare to attack Mr. Zhang, how can we spare you?

After Zhu Yuanzhang issued the order, he asked the Changxing Yamen to implement it immediately, and now clear up the acres of land and grant land to the people.

Faced with Zhu Yuanzhang's order, the Changxing Prefecture Yamen resolutely chose the pigeon's tactics.

When you encounter an order, you will perfunctory, bury your head in the middle of the copybook, so that you have nothing to do with him, but tomorrow and tomorrow, and tomorrow is nothing.

On the side of the yamen, it is as immovable as a mountain, but on the other side of the big household, it is aggressive like fire.

They got together and sent a letter of ten thousand words to Zhu Yuanzhang, asking for a suspension of the land equalization and taking back their orders.

And in order to increase their persuasiveness, they also recruited a few tenants and asked them to write a letter together with a group of big households, saying that everything is fine at home now.

Eat well, dress warmly, and have meat to eat at the end of the year.

They are willing to farm for wealthy households. They don’t have to worry about storing food, and they don’t have to pay the land tax themselves. Everything will be helped by wealthy households, which is very worry-free...

Faced with this ten-thousand-word book, Zhang Ximeng called it a good guy!

You are stealing Chinese people who dislike greasy food, how can you open your mouth?

I don't want the land I got, but I like to rent and grow the land, and pay the land rent regularly every year. Isn't this nonsense?The more this is the case, the more it proves that the rich are powerful enough to turn black and white and insult people's IQ.

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help but wanted to make a move, but when he thought that the protagonist in this scene was Zhu Yuanzhang, he endured it. Let's see what Lao Zhu will do, shall we?

Sure enough, Lao Zhu once again ordered the Changxing Prefecture Yamen to ask their opinions.

As a result, in the yamen, five of the six scribes said that it seems that they should take care of the people's wishes, and not to force the land to be equal, so as not to cause chaos...

"Geng Bingwen, you are an old man who took refuge with us at the beginning, and now, some people treat us like monkeys, what do you say?"

Geng Bingwen immediately said: "Please tell the superior, no matter what, the brothers under the last general are all ready, and they will go through fire and water for the superior, and they will do whatever they want!"

"We don't want you to go through fire and water, as long as you take over the Changxing Prefecture Yamen, if you want you to arrest those people, can you do it?"

Geng Bingwen hesitated a little, and then said: "Yes, the general has been promoting literacy in the army for the past few years, and more than [-]% of the general's subordinates can know a thousand characters!"

Geng Bingwen has more than 3000 soldiers and horses directly under him, and the fifth achievement is more than 1000.This number is indeed terrifying. I am afraid that the total number of scholars in the state government is not one-tenth!

"Okay, let's give you an order now, let's do it!"

"As ordered!"

Geng Bingwen swaggered, came out from Zhu Yuanzhang, dispatched troops decisively, and launched a thunderous blow... In just three days, Geng Bingwen arrested more than 20 wealthy households.

Together with the few tenants who were forced to submit letters, they were all found out.

In addition, the entire Changxing Prefecture Yamen, from top to bottom, was detained without any escape.

The shot is decisive and crisp, far beyond people's imagination.

When the big guy woke up, all the gentry and wealthy households disappeared, and the majestic old men in the yamen were gone.They were replaced by soldiers of Zhu's army wearing big red mandarin duck battle jackets.

Their clothes are so bright, like a fire, the sky is red.

Arresting people was only the first step. Zhu Yuanzhang issued another order, requiring all villages and towns in Changxing to immediately select personnel and come to the city. At least five people from each village must be sent from different families to discuss the specifics of land equalization. Strategy.

When this order was issued, I don’t know how many people cried, but it finally came to our heads. It was said that there were five people, but in fact, no village had less than ten people. The largest village even had three or forty people. Gather in Changxing at the fastest speed, waiting for Zhu Yuanzhang's arrangement...

269 Chapters Theory and Practice

Zhu Yuanzhang got up early and ate very simple food, a bowl not much smaller than a basin, full of noodle soup, a plate of garlic cloves, and a plate of pickles.

When Lao Zhu ate, he was like a storm, swallowing thousands of miles, sweeping across the world... Not long after, there was nothing left, only a thin layer of sweat dripped from his forehead, he wiped it casually, and went outside.

Zhang Ximeng was waiting outside, still a little sleepy, breathing with sleepy eyes.His work and rest habits are very different from Zhu Yuanzhang's.Lao Zhu is a typical early to bed and early to rise. Even if he doesn't go to bed early, he must get up early to face the rising sun and work as soon as possible. The earlier the better, lest he be delayed for a while.

Zhang Ximeng, on the other hand, was more and more used to doing things in the afternoon, and then until midnight, lighting up the lamp to cultivate immortals, and was reluctant to waste a little time.

It's hard to say which of the two habits is better, but since Zhu Yuanzhang is here, Zhang Ximeng has to change it too.

"Sir, have you had breakfast?"

Zhang Ximeng hurriedly took out an oil-paper bag from his sleeve, and said with a smile, "I ate two buns, and here are two more. If it takes a long time, I can eat them secretly while the lord is talking."

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help laughing, he dared to steal something while he was talking, and he dared to say it blatantly, Zhang Ximeng, you are so brave!

"Sir, you are well prepared. We are going to finish talking about the treat, but it is estimated that it will not be until the afternoon. You must be prepared...By the way, sir, do you still remember the last meeting like this?"

Zhang Ximeng put the bun back into his sleeve, and said casually: "Why don't you remember! It should be when you were in Lupai Village, before you entered Dingyuan City, and dealt with the Mu family... That time the eradication of Haoqiang and the distribution of land completely opened up The situation has not only stabilized the morale of the old people in Haozhou, but also took the opportunity to expand the army and have tens of thousands of elite soldiers."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "Yes, since then, we have gained confidence and thought about what we can do in this troubled world... Later, we won Chuzhou. Mr. said at that time that the prosperity of Chuzhou's industry and commerce cannot be destroyed, and so are we. The division of land was implemented, and some tyrants were dealt with. But after all, it was not so straightforward... After crossing the river, even many old people from the Yuan court, who had no serious mistakes, were retained. Mr. Li said that he would retain [-]%. But as far as we know, more than half of them are old people. The officials are like this, the rich are like this, and the gentry are naturally like this."

Zhu Yuanzhang said again: "Mr. Zhang, you debated with Liu Bowen and advocated redefining the rules and recreating the universe. You have written so many articles recently, which can be described as golden jade and good words. But we still have to say that things on paper will eventually be changed." If it is put into practice, wouldn’t it be the same as the Tao of Confucius and Mencius?”

Zhang Ximeng hastily said: "My lord's lesson is that during this period of time, I have indeed become more pragmatic. It is important to change customs, but there are still many places where filth is still hidden. If there is no thorough change, it will not work after all."

Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile: "We are not blaming Mr., you know, how horrified Mr. Fenglin was when he saw Mr.'s article! People like him are all in admiration. We are even more so. Zhu Yuanzhang is so lucky to get Sir, help me! The truth of the article, sir, is to make the knife in our hands sharper and more indomitable... How can we hesitate to kill the person who deserves to be killed?"

Old Zhu swaggered forward, with momentum like a rainbow.Stepping directly into the school grounds, Zhang Ximeng pondered for a while, and immediately followed, but in his heart, there was an earth-shattering, violent storm, and he was afraid that it was right in front of him.

At this moment, the school grounds were already crowded with people from various villages, and everyone was looking forward to it. When Old Zhu Long walked to the high platform in the middle, everyone's eyes fell on him.

What is surprising is that the people just watched, neither cheered nor kowtowed tremblingly, the big guy seemed to be examining a stranger, no one spoke, just stared straight.

There were more than a thousand people on the field, and their eyes all fell on him. Zhu Yuanzhang did not panic at all. On the contrary, he was very excited, and he felt a feeling of blood rushing.

Because Zhu Yuanzhang knew that he used to be one of this group of people. Facing the powerful old man, they had long knelt and kowtowed, trembling with fear.

Facing themselves, they didn't kneel down, but they still had expectations.

That being the case, how could we disappoint so many people!

"Our name is Zhu Yuanzhang. Many of you must have heard of it. We are Wu Guogong of Jinling. If you want to talk about what this Wu Guogong does... It is about this world. We are the ones who make the decisions. Then we will do it. What master? To put it simply, two words: Juntian!"

Old Zhu's voice was like a torrent of bells, and everyone could hear it clearly from far away.

"Under our command, there is a worldly genius, confidant and arm... He told us that in life between heaven and earth, one should have a piece of land of one's own, where one can settle down, support one's family, live and reproduce, and pass on incense to future generations. This is called destiny!"

"Whoever dares to violate the mandate of heaven will be overthrown by the people. This is the reason why countless people revolted to overthrow the Yuan court. Whoever can follow the people's hearts and distribute acres of land to the people fairly and reasonably will win the hearts of the people in the world and rule the world." , hold fate in your hands."

"We believe in this truth. Since we crossed the river, we have punished many corrupt officials, reduced exorbitant taxes, and evenly divided the land in Yingtianfu and Taipingfu. In Huizhou, Quzhou, Xinzhou and other places, we have formulated The highest land rent. Recently, a decree was announced in Jinling to allow girls to go to school..."

"Having said that, we intend to move forward step by step to realize the goal of land to the tiller, so that everyone can have enough food and clothing to live a stable and prosperous life."

"In the past, someone told us that Changxing was too close to Zhang Shicheng's territory, and we should not make a big move to avoid disaster. At that time, we believed it, but recently we thought of another layer. It is precisely because it is close to Zhang Shicheng that we have to make more drastic moves. Abolish the bad government and let the big guys live a good life, so that people will support us and prove that we and Zhang Shicheng are not the same thing."

"So, we have decided that from now on, within one month, we will completely complete the matter of clearing the acres of land, and then distribute the acres of land to each of your households equally. Let me tell everyone here that this time, there are only two words: fair!"

"Regardless of men and women, all adults over the age of 16 will be equally divided according to each village, and those under the age of 16 will be given half of the land. The land is evenly distributed, and the tax is also equal, and it is collected on the basis of one out of ten..."

……

Zhu Yuanzhang talked eloquently, and the people just listened to what he said before. When he mentioned dividing the land, the big guy's ears were pricked up, his eyes were wide open, and he focused his attention intently, for fear of missing a word.

Accompanied by Zhu Yuanzhang's words, the big guy's breathing became more and more rapid, and his eyes glowed with anticipation... In fact, as a bystander, you will find that the land equalization order announced by Lao Zhu at this time is not only different from the original one, but also consistent with the original order. The initial version after crossing the river is different.

It's not that Lao Zhu wants to overthrow Zhang Ximeng's land equalization outline... On the contrary, this is an inevitable trend of the development of the land equalization order.

In Huaixi, there were ration fields, mulberry and hemp fields, and transfer fields. The ration fields were not subject to land tax, and there were restrictions on wealthy households. The maximum land holdings could reach [-] mu, and there were differences depending on the situation in different places.

After crossing the river, Zhang Ximeng naturally canceled the ration field, and there was no entry for tax exemption.For Sangtian, the tax was increased.

When Zhu Yuanzhang came here, even these things were cancelled, and it was simply a simple average!As for wealthy households, Lao Zhu is no longer giving preferential treatment, and will not give any loopholes.

The reason is simple. There are more and more lands, and the situation is getting more and more complicated. Faced with this situation, if we continue to use the complicated land division plan, there will be a lot of loopholes in the end. The initial goodwill will definitely become rich Hu Haoqiang takes advantage of the rules and guarantees the transfer of burdens.

That being the case, then simply cut it across the board, clean and neat.

There are sure to be mistakes, but it's the lesser of two evils.

This set of ways of doing things is exactly what Lao Zhu learned from Zhang Ximeng. Complex problems must be simplified, because only simple and rude can achieve immediate results.

Those who have a little common sense about the finance and taxation of the Ming Dynasty will find that with the issuance of this order, the most criticized fiscal and taxation issues of the Ming Dynasty have undergone fundamental changes.

For example, in history, Zhu Yuanzhang set the tax for officials and people in the world. The tax per mu of official land is five liters, three liters and five scoops, and private land is reduced by two liters.

However, Su, Song, Jia, and Hu were angered by Zhang Shicheng, who were from the wealthy families and rich people as official land, and the tax amount was based on private rent books.And Sinong Qing Yang Xian also used the land in western Zhejiang as rich and rich, and increased his endowment, which doubled the mu.Therefore, the officials and people in the west of Zhejiang Province regard other places as inferior, and the tax per mu is two or three stones.

In fact, from this brief introduction, we can know that in the original Ming Dynasty, the land was divided into officials and civilians. Official lands were heavily taxed, while civilian lands were light.

The most unlucky places are Suzhou, Songjiang and other places, which were taxed in retaliation. The most serious places reached five times, and it lasted until the demise of Ming Dynasty.

The tax system is so complicated, obviously there is a problem with the Wenchen Group, neither Li Shanchang nor Yang Xian can be regarded as dedicated to the country.

Their selfish distractions are too heavy, and they have created a lot of loopholes and disadvantages.Taxing Su Song heavily is tantamount to forcing the two places to resist taxation.Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang had no problems in Japan, and Zhu Di could still maintain it, but later, tax arrears in Jiangnan became the norm.And once Jiangnan defaults on the arrears, other places will follow suit, even if it is only a light tax, they will not pay it. Do you think it is annoying?

Under Zhang Ximeng's management, Zhu Yuanzhang's views on taxes have made great progress.

The first one is that there is no distinction between official land and private land... Or simply put, all land is official land, and the landlord's name is Zhu.

The old Zhu will distribute it fairly to the people of the world. This is what Zhang Ximeng said. The duty of the emperor is to share the land equally.

Theory and practice, at this moment, are perfectly combined.

Listening to Zhu Yuanzhang's words, some people finally cried and worshiped the ground, "Master Qingtian! You are really Master Qingtian!"

2 Seventy Chapters Hu Weiyong

This is not the first time Zhu Yuanzhang has faced crowds of people crying and worshiping on the ground. He has seen similar scenes in Haozhou, Dingyuan, Chuzhou, Jinling, including Hongdu not long ago.

But after careful consideration, Zhu Yuanzhang's mentality has also undergone great changes over the past few years.

In the beginning, he was more like an avenger with a deep hatred, leading a group of poor buddies, crushing those former enemies, stepping on their bones, singing loudly, and celebrating the victory.

But gradually, as his power grew and his authority increased, he climbed to a rather high position.At this time, a group of people surrounded Zhu Yuanzhang, teaching him how to control his subordinates and how to be a qualified superior...

Just like Shi Moyisun's case, the whole family died for Da Yuan, even the servants didn't escape, they were all loyal.If you want a country to be stable, you need to praise loyalty, even the loyal officials of the Yuan court should be greatly praised.

The former Zhu Yuanzhang also wavered, maybe he should really do that, that is the pattern of a Ming emperor and a sage, and it is the means that a wise superior should have.

But fortunately, there is still a sober person beside Lao Zhu.

He tried his best to overcome all opinions, and won the successive debates, convinced the main figures in the Zhu family army morally, and wrote an article that could be called a program...

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang feels that he has entered a brand new realm, a realm that is very mysterious and hard to describe.

Others call him "superior", and the former Zhu Yuanzhang was an out-and-out "lower". .

Up to now, he has announced the land equalization decree and land policy to these people. He is neither superior nor inferior, he is a law enforcer!

A law-enforcer who respects the principles of heaven and practices equal distribution of acres.

This law enforcer can be the governor, the commander of the capital, the Duke of Wu...Of course, it can also be the king of Wu, or the emperor!

Anyway, no matter what it is called, his mission is to uphold the principles of heaven and enforce the law fairly.

What is the reason?

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but turned his head, and looked at the mysterious young man who gave him the answer... Old Zhu didn't mind turning around, and found that Zhang Ximeng was gnawing on a steamed stuffed bun, his cheeks bulging like a hamster.

There is no way, who made Lao Zhu talk so much nonsense, and the people below are staring at him intently, and he is hungry again.Before Lao Zhu stopped, the big guy leaned over to be grateful, he quickly ate two bites, and he didn't know when he would be free to fill his stomach!

Zhu Yuanzhang saw it in his eyes, what else can he say, don't waste time.

"The folks come from afar, let's treat you guys to a meal!"