Xiao Qing, Ding Wu Yi, and Ning Xue Jun stared at Liang Xiao, their hearts churning like stormy seas!
Only he would dare to utter such treasonous, long-winded words in the presence of the Son of Heaven!
"Second Young Master Liang, our country is prosperous and peaceful, a time of great harmony..."
Ning Xue Jun still wanted to argue, but Xiao Qing's voice stopped her.
"That's right, prosperity and peace are merely superficial. My late father also lost sleep over this matter in the past..."
Ding Wu Yi and Ning Xue Jun felt utterly ashamed.
They were shadow guards, tasked only with supporting the emperor and eliminating corrupt officials; how could they understand such matters?
"Since ancient times, wise rulers have always accepted counsel readily. I am accustomed to praise, but few dare to point out the flaws in our system. Anything less is merely painting over the cracks of a false peace. A prosperous era is created by people..."
Xiao Qing muttered to himself, then looked at Liang Xiao again. "Does Brother have any good strategies to solve the problems of land annexation and the suffering of the common people?"
Liang Xiao said earnestly, "The ultimate consequence of land annexation is making it difficult for the populace to survive, and it also significantly reduces the state's revenue. The people who have lost their land must still pay poll taxes... Have you ever considered what a burden this is for them?"
The three servants fell silent.
A moment later, Xiao Qing sighed. "I understand. Brother means that the court and those wealthy landlords are, in collusion, pushing the populace to oppose imperial power..."
"Precisely! Too many commoners, unable to pay the poll tax, are forced to become tenant farmers or servants. Furthermore, most landlords and wealthy gentry enjoy privileges exempting them from additional taxes. Even if they had to pay, they could falsely report the number of tenant farmers and servants, leading to countless people in Da Gan becoming 'unregistered residents' outside the government's records."
Liang Xiao's words made Xiao Qing even more worried. "These unregistered residents could slowly develop into their private armies. When chaos erupts across the land, they could still carve out a piece of the pie during turbulent times, or even successfully establish new dynasties!"
In that instant, she seemed to truly grasp why the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history repeated themselves!
It was no wonder that despite the wisdom of successive emperors of Da Gan, peasant uprisings had still occurred in various regions!
Ding Wu Yi and Ning Xue Jun also sensed the gravity of the situation, their hearts filled with anxiety.
"May I ask, Second Young Master Liang, how can we resolve this contradiction for His Majesty?" Ding Wu Yi's tone was sincere.
Liang Xiao patted Xiao Qing's shoulder reassuringly. "There's no need to worry too much. You are so wise, this contradiction will not erupt for some time; it is merely a simmering undercurrent."
Hearing Liang Xiao's praise, Xiao Qing's heart was filled with mixed emotions. She mumbled, "But if one wants to resolve it, one needs a good strategy..."
"Then, when the time comes, we will implement another policy: 'Tan Ding Ru Mu' (Abolishing Poll Tax and Taxing Land According to Acreage)." Liang Xiao smiled.
"'Tan Ding Ru Mu'?" The three were astonished.
Liang Xiao explained, "First, develop the country's productivity and ensure the treasury is abundant. Then, choose a suitable time to abolish the poll tax."
Xiao Qing's brow furrowed.
The poll tax in Da Gan was not high, but it was a significant source of revenue!
Abolishing the poll tax was an extremely risky move.
However, Xiao Qing did not immediately reject it. She remembered the prerequisites Liang Xiao mentioned: developing productivity, a full treasury, and acting at the opportune moment!
"But what about those who have already become tenant farmers and servants?" Xiao Qing asked.
Liang Xiao smiled and said, "That is why we implement 'Tan Ding Ru Mu.' After abolishing the poll tax, taxes will be collected based on the acreage of land."
The three servants' eyes lit up!
This seemed like a better policy than collecting poll taxes!
"Those landlords and gentry own the most land. When they have to pay taxes based on each mu of land, even if they misreport their population, they cannot misreport their land!" Xiao Qing's face showed joy.
The problem that had been weighing on her mind seemed to have a solution!
Liang Xiao nodded. "Exactly! In this way, the common people will only need to pay land tax, and no longer the poll tax. They can also have children with peace of mind. This measure will greatly liberate productivity!"
Xiao Qing was both shocked and delighted, wishing she could implement the policy immediately.
After a brief moment of excitement, Xiao Qing calmed down and worried, "In this case, the landlords and gentry will have to pay more taxes. Won't they still collect more money from those tenant farmers and servants under various pretexts, which would still be oppression?"
Liang Xiao explained, "Firstly, at this point, the contradiction between the common people and the court will shift to a contradiction between the common people and the landlords and gentry. As long as it is handled properly, the common people will stand with you. Secondly, no matter how much the landlords and gentry exploit, they dare not be too blatant or overstep their bounds. Under the 'Tan Ding Ru Mu' policy, can the money they extort be comparable to the several taels of poll tax an ordinary family pays annually?"
Xiao Qing suddenly realized, "Brother means that between two evils, we choose the lesser one. This is a method for the state to maximize the mitigation of contradictions with the people, gain their support, and at the same time restrict the expansion of landlords and gentry!"
"Little Frosty is always very clever," Liang Xiao praised, gratified.
Xiao Qing's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the flowing river, lost in thought.
A moment later, Xiao Qing asked again, "But the country's finances do not seem to be able to support such a policy. After all, implementing policies is far more difficult than imagined."
Liang Xiao burst into laughter. "Did you forget about 'Tuntian' (Agricultural Reclamation by the Military)? The reason I proposed 'Tuntian' was precisely in the hope that the state could use it as a transition, temporarily ease existing contradictions, and restrict the expansion of landlords and gentry in a subtle way, until 'Tan Ding Ru Mu' can be promoted."
The three servants' breaths hitched; they felt as if a veil had been lifted!
'Tuntian' was beneficial to both the country and the people. Moreover, the military, which civilian officials most disliked, was also involved in military reclamation, so scholars had no reason to object.
The landlords and gentry, having their "business stolen," would not dare to openly resist the 'Tuntian' policy, even if they were dissatisfied!
Xiao Qing secretly glanced at Liang Xiao, who was watching the river scenery, and felt a pang of emotion, almost wanting to hug him and weep uncontrollably.
She had originally thought that 'Tuntian' was already an excellent national strategy, but she never expected it to be just one step!
At this moment, Xiao Qing felt a sense of hope and sudden enlightenment!
Xiao Qing couldn't help but ask with a hint of playful coaxing, "Then... Brother, please tell me, when will the country's productivity and finances be sufficient to support the promotion of 'Tan Ding Ru Mu'?"
Liang Xiao laughed heartily. "There are several methods. As for the most practical choice... do you still remember the three paintings of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn that Brother gave you?"
Xiao Qing's heart leaped. "Could it be..."
Liang Xiao explained, "Grain is an eternal, unavoidable necessity. As long as grain production increases significantly, the people will have enough to eat, the national revenue will surge, and many contradictions can be alleviated, or even resolved!"
"These three crops have high yields?" Xiao Qing's breathing became shallow.
Liang Xiao sighed. "Currently, in our Da Gan country, crops like rice only yield over two hundred catties per mu. With good fertilizer, it might reach three to four hundred catties. In areas with poor harvests, the yield is only a few dozen to a hundred catties per mu, or even nothing. That's far too little!"
"Then what is the yield per mu for potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn?" Xiao Qing asked anxiously.
"With our country's current fertilizer standards, a yield of one thousand catties per mu is certainly achievable!" Liang Xiao said, holding up one finger, then his middle and ring fingers. "With good fertilizer and a good harvest, a yield of two to three thousand catties per mu is entirely possible!"