Chapter 1117
Growth
Of the taxes paid, people in other places only had to pay one coin, while people in Jiangnan had to pay eight coins. Of these, three coins were the amount that the court stipulated they should pay, while the other five coins were passed on to them by local gentry and wealthy households.
In recent years, Yu Qian has been working to improve the administration of officials. With the advancement of papermaking technology, the Ming Dynasty has conducted two population censuses and land surveys. Various places have been rectified and the gentry and wealthy households have to pay their own taxes and perform corvée labor. The burden on ordinary people has been greatly reduced, but in reality, this is still far from enough.
Since the establishment of community schools, the literacy rate in the Ming Dynasty has increased significantly. Basically, 70% of children with normal intelligence will study at community schools for three years.
However, after three years, the continuing education requirement drops to 30%.
To increase the enrollment rate of community schools over the next three years and the rate of further education thereafter, in addition to increasing spending on education, we must also find ways to reduce the burden on ordinary people.
Only when ordinary people have extra money will they want to send their children to school.
Only when more people are literate can more talents be cultivated, allowing the Ming Dynasty to surge forward relentlessly.
Pan Yun took the Crown Prince and his friends to see many of the hardships faced by ordinary people.
Do you really think that just because Jiangnan is wealthy, there are no poor people?
There are many poor people hidden beneath the surface of prosperity, and their ability to withstand risks is even lower than that of people in other places.
Because once they lose their land, they will become refugees, and many of them will not even have the opportunity to become tenant farmers.
Because there is little land and a large population here, there is no shortage of people.
Oh, there's a labor shortage in industry right now.
However, they could have avoided losing territory.
That was their permanent land; why should it be taken away by others?
The young crown prince also spoke out for them, submitting a memorial and writing a thick letter to his father, seven or eight pages long, with only one central idea.
Their imperial clan members all have to farm to support themselves, so how can these scholars, officials, and sons of local powerful families prey on the common people?
Father, these oppressed people are all subjects of my Great Ming Dynasty, your children!
The princes and nobles next to them also wrote letters to their grandfathers, princes, and fathers, complaining that these powerful and wealthy people were much more arrogant than them, and were exempt from taxes and corvée labor.
The sons of officials standing nearby, having thoroughly understood the Ming Dynasty's tax and labor policies and witnessed the current state of affairs among the common people, also felt indignant on behalf of ordinary citizens and ashamed of their own families.
They also wrote letters to their grandfather, father, and brothers at home.
When the imperial family members and officials in the capital received the children's letters, they had the same expression as the emperor—no expression at all!
Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but wonder: "Cheng Jing, do you think the Imperial Preceptor planned this when he decided to take the Crown Prince on a study tour?"
Cheng Jing, drenched in cold sweat, bowed and said, "How could we mortals possibly fathom the thoughts of the Imperial Preceptor?"
Zhu Qiyu pondered: "Did she foresee that this method is the way to ensure the Ming Dynasty's eternal prosperity?"
Cheng Jing dared not say anything more.
Zhu Qiyu sighed as he held his son's letter: "This method... let alone its success, I'm afraid that if it were even mentioned, countless people in the world would want to put the Crown Prince to death."
The Crown Prince proposed abolishing corvée labor for the people and reducing taxes in various regions, especially the high taxes in Jiangnan.
Abolishing corvée labor would require spending money to hire people to repair roads, build bridges, and dig irrigation canals...
Not to mention that officials had to pay people to carry sedan chairs, keep watch, and perform menial tasks in the local area.
Indeed, the imperial court spent very little on all of the above; it was all obtained by forcibly conscripting people into service and acquiring labor for free.
Expenditure increased significantly, while taxes were reduced.
The Ming Dynasty was an agricultural country. Although commercial taxes had increased and customs duties had grown rapidly, the country's largest income still came from farmers' taxes. How could such a huge gap between expenditure and income be bridged?
Therefore, the Crown Prince proposed that officials and gentry pay taxes together.
The Crown Prince said that most of the land in the Ming Dynasty is currently in the hands of wealthy families, while the common people have a large population but occupy very little land. It is unacceptable to make those who possess the fewest resources pay taxes to support those who occupy the most land.
Therefore, the Crown Prince proposed that officials and gentry pay taxes together, and from then on, taxes should be levied according to the amount of land, treating everyone equally.
This matter wasn't even discussed in the imperial court; it was just a few high-ranking officials debating it endlessly in the Imperial Study.
Cao Nai asked the emperor, "Your Majesty, the imperial family occupies the most land in the land. Does the imperial family have to pay taxes?"
Chen Xun also believed this method was dangerous, saying, "Agriculture is the foundation of the nation. Your Majesty's move is based on the belief that commercial taxes and customs duties can cover the shortfall in tax reductions. However, considering the current development of commerce, this is insufficient. Moreover, if the national treasury is empty, and someone rebels..."
Chen Xun cautioned, “The ideal of universal harmony is our lifelong wish, but it cannot be denied that most people will abandon all ideals and aspirations when their own interests are involved.”
Even Yu Qian said it was too risky; the Ming Dynasty needed reform, but it couldn't proceed so hastily.
The emperor listened in silence and suppressed the crown prince's memorial, putting the outside world at ease.
Is that so? The Crown Prince is being unreasonable; the Emperor certainly wouldn't allow it.
Everyone can relax and go about their business.
Only a few high-ranking officials, including Yu Qian, knew that the emperor had already set his sights on something. What was even more remarkable was that the crown prince and the emperor shared the same thoughts and ideas; what the current emperor could not accomplish, the next generation would complete.
What does a capable ruler fear most?
The worst fear is that the heir will not be able to inherit one's will.
Yu Qian knew that based on the Crown Prince's memorial and letter, his position would be very secure, unless one of them, father and son, changed their minds.
Otherwise, for the emperor, is there any successor who is more capable of continuing his will to govern the country than the crown prince?
No wonder the imperial advisor said that the father and son would trust each other.
Indeed, his plans were flawless.
But is this truly a flawless plan?
As Yu Qian left the palace, he pondered whether it was because he had made perfect plans, or because both the current emperor and the crown prince had inherited Pan Yun's will.
Although she was the imperial advisor, she was actually the teacher of the emperor and the crown prince.
Yu Qian slowly walked out of the palace, having already decided what he would do next.
Whether it was the policy of requiring officials and gentry to pay taxes together, or the deeper reforms that Pan Yun had once hinted at, both required an extremely authoritative emperor.
As the Grand Secretary, he naturally didn't want the emperor to have too much absolute power. Placing the nation's hopes on one person meant that if the emperor made a wrong decision, it would be utterly disastrous for the country.
However, such a major reform inevitably requires a strong and authoritative emperor; otherwise, the reform will not be able to proceed and will instead breed countless instances of corruption and factional strife.
The upheaval caused by Wang Anshi in the Song Dynasty serves as a cautionary tale.
Yu Qian thought about his current personality for a moment, then slowly shook his head. His personality meant that he was not suitable to be a tough reformer; only the Crown Prince could do it.
He vaguely understood why Pan Yun had taken the Crown Prince away on his travels; she was raising a sword.
But who will sharpen the knife?
Yu Qian gave a self-deprecating laugh and strode out.
A knife cannot be sharpened overnight. (End of Chapter)