At the beginning, his wife came to him, and he became rich by selling kidney treasures.

privilege?

Wen Yan was stunned and asked, not really understanding, "This public land system does not conflict with the land grant system, so how can it conflict with their privileges?"

"Your Majesty, the reason why I say that the public land system will conflict with the privileges of the nobles is because the common people have never had the right to own land, and only the nobles, nobles, and some wealthy merchants can own land."

"They also regard owning land as a class privilege," Ren Hao explained to Wen Yan.

From the past to the present, only princes and nobles have been able to own land.

The land of princes and nobles was either inherited or received as rewards for military merit.

But after Emperor Zulong of the Former Qin unified the country, he not only abolished the hereditary system of the old princes and nobles, but also abolished the feudal system and established counties.

In order to prevent rebellion, nobles, craftsmen, farmers, merchants were not allowed to own land, and Qin's princes and nobles were not allowed to buy and sell land. If anyone dared to violate the rules, their title would be confiscated and they would be demoted to commoners. Otherwise, they would be punished with corporal punishment and exiled.

In addition, Zulong also kept all the princes and nobles of the old country near the Qin capital to prevent them from causing chaos.

As the saying goes, the world’s disputes ended because of the unification of the country by Zulong, and the world collapsed with Zulong’s death.

As soon as Zulong died, people all over the country rose up in rebellion. Did they really want to overthrow the tyranny of the Former Qin Dynasty?

No.

Rather, they seek to restore their privileges and enjoy their benefits.

The Emperor Hanzu of this world has one thing in common with Emperor Han Gaozu of the previous life. In order to gain the support of the princes and nobles of the old country and the gentry and merchants, they not only returned the land of the princes and nobles of the old country, but also allowed the gentry to have the privilege of owning land and liberalized the buying and selling of land.

Those who owned land were exempt from grain tax, and the imperial court relied entirely on donations for grain collection.

In an era dominated by royal families, princes, nobles, and gentry, how did the new elite of local families come into being?

All of this was formed due to the trading of land and the gradual intermarriage between merchants and the gentry.

Among them, the Huaixi Xu family is a typical representative. They were born into a merchant family, and later owned land through land trading. They then intermarried with local gentry and nobles, forming the first generation of Huaixi family.

When everyone's interests are tied together, everyone will be willing to contribute money and food.

But without the war, the disadvantages will be infinitely magnified.

Although Emperor Zu of Han gained the world through such means, it also laid the seeds of disaster for the future.

The court needed grain but no one was willing to donate, so it could only use silver to buy it from everywhere.

Previous emperors had all wanted to change the land grant system, but this time they were all obstructed and failed.

Although the public land system does not conflict with the interests of the land grant system, it does conflict with the privileges.

When the common people reclaimed wasteland and owned land, it was equivalent to the common people also having class privileges.

This is undoubtedly a challenge to class privilege and a major innovation.

Ren Hao did not do anything too radical to directly abolish the land grant system because of the needs of the times, and the public land system was also a transition towards nationalization.

If the public land system could be successful, the imperial court would no longer have to beg for food from everyone when it needed it. It could be self-sufficient relying on the public land system, and the people would no longer have to be exploited by class privileges.

Wen Yan fell silent at this time. This was indeed a very big challenge.

If this is not handled properly, the already precarious Han Dynasty will become even more turbulent.

Seeing the emperor wavering, Ren Hao asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to be a tyrant who owns the world, or do you want to be a wise ruler who upholds class privileges?"

"A wise ruler who supports class privileges will sooner or later perish under the class. Your rule is built on the support of the class. When you conflict with the class's interests, they can unite and rise up to drive you out and change the dynasty."

"As for the tyrant who owns the world, those who obey me will prosper while those who disobey me will perish, and he will become the real controller of the class."

"My dear Minister Ren, I understand what you said, but the court is now in turmoil and there are wars abroad. If the land system is changed too radically, I'm afraid it will become even more turbulent." Wen Yan sighed. She had been scolded as a foolish ruler and a tyrant several times before for trying to get Ren Hao into the court and for establishing the four departments of the Ministry of Revenue.

Although the idea of ​​the current land system reform is good, once it is implemented, it will not only be a challenge to the aristocratic class, but a challenge to the entire class.

I am afraid that this will provoke strong resistance from the entire class.

"Your Majesty, the court is now facing internal and external troubles, so we should make drastic reforms. Only in this way can we truly continue the Han Dynasty."

"Changing the system is a challenge to the privileges of the entire class. You may be branded as a tyrant and cruel, but future emperors and people will remember you."

"As the saying goes, sins committed in this generation may bring merits to future generations." Ren Hao made another appeal, hoping that the emperor would not waver any more but make up his mind to reform.

Ren Hao brought up the unification reforms of the Former Qin Dynasty again. Although Emperor Zulong was scolded by people all over the world at that time, people in later generations enjoyed the benefits brought by the reforms of the Former Qin Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, now is the time for you to take this step." Ren Hao continued.

"well said."

"What a great crime committed in this generation, yet merited by future generations."

"But as for the reform, it may be difficult for just you and me to accomplish it." Wen Yan sighed.

Although she could approve the plan to reform the land system and was willing to act as a tyrant, what would she do if the people below did not implement the land reform?

"Your Majesty, it's not just the two of us. We have people supporting us," Ren Hao comforted.

"Oh, then tell me who supports the reform of the land system?" Wen Yan glanced at him, somewhat incredulous.

"The Imperial Censor Chen Hui, the Marshal's son Xu Qing, the representative of the Confucian school Ma Qian, the foreign relative Li, and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Shen He." Ren Hao reported their names to the emperor.

Wen Yan burst into laughter, feeling like she had heard the funniest thing in the world.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Wen Yan waved her hands.

Among the names mentioned by Ren Hao, Wen Yan thought that only Shen He would support him.

After all, Shen He was from Linnan and had no land in the court, so he was alone.

Of course, he fully supported the reform of the land system. After all, he could achieve great things from it.

As for the Marshal's son Xu Qing and the Li family, their in-laws already enjoyed class privileges. Even if Li Shiji, Xu Qing and Ren Hao had a good relationship, the interests of the family were damaged at this time, and I am afraid that the three of them would become alienated and would never support the reform of the land system.

As for the Confucian scholar Ma Qian, he would be even less supportive. They are just a group of stubborn and conservative Confucian scholars.

"Although Li Shiji and Xu Qing both have class privileges, they are also loyal supporters of Your Majesty, especially Li Shiji, who is Your Majesty's die-hard fan."