Chapter 34 Land Equalization Method
"The purpose of the government's existence is mainly to serve the rule of the imperial court." Ma Su coughed twice and began to analyze facing the officials.
"The basis of local governance lies in taxation and corvee. These two items are tied to household registration and cultivated land respectively. Only enough cultivated land can receive land tax, and only enough population can pay head tax and perform corvee."
"But the population is also tied to the cultivated land. When farmers own the land and grow enough food for one year, they can pay the poll tax to the court. Only when a family has enough to eat can they serve the government. Corvee.”
"When Prime Minister Zhuge governed Sichuan, he first improved water canals, promoted farming, and improved farm tools. The people in Sichuan had a good harvest every year, so he was willing to serve as the prime minister's vanguard and follow the army out of Sichuan."
When Ma Su said this, most of the Shu soldiers present subconsciously nodded in agreement.
Before Liu Bei entered Sichuan, their lives were spent in a hurry. After Liu Bei took over Yizhou Mu, the life of the people in Shu improved at a speed visible to the naked eye.
During the three years since Liu Bei's troops conquered the state and fought the Battle of Hanzhong, the corvee taxes in Shu were getting higher year by year. But the people in Shu had no big impact other than being tired. Anyway, they never went hungry again.
"So the stability of local governance depends entirely on how many Guizhou leaders own their own land. Only when a good family has a family business and farmland can they know how to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic." Ma Di nodded and then added.
"If you have enough food and clothing, you will know the etiquette. If you have enough food and clothing, you will know the honor and disgrace. What the local government should do is to feed the people, and then the taxes will increase without any increase."
"Obviously, Longxi County has not done this. From Didao County to Longxian County, I can't even see a self-cultivated farmer working in his own field. You said that in this case, they would be willing to register their household registration and provide services to the court. Pay taxes?”
Ma Su's words were understood by everyone present, and the county magistrate suddenly realized it.
"The governor's words are true, the government is like a boat on the water, and the head of Guizhou here is like the water under the boat. When the water rises, the boat will rise, and when the water falls, the boat will also fall."
Ma Su was stunned for a moment by Jun Cheng's words. He felt a little familiar, but it didn't seem right.
That's right. In the Three Kingdoms era, it was a bit crazy to say that water can carry and capsize a boat. It's pretty good to say that a rising tide lifts a boat.
"That's right. This is exactly the truth." Ma Su nodded and agreed with Jun Cheng's point of view.
"What Li Juncheng said is true, the people...wait a minute, your name is Li Mu?"
Ma Su paused suddenly, and the topic suddenly jumped to Jun Cheng's name, which made Jun Cheng stunned for a moment and nodded subconsciously.
"That's right, a certain Li Mu, named Ziwen, and his father is Li Guang, the prefect of Zhu Ti."
Ma Su suddenly understood and stared at the county magistrate in front of him.
He suddenly understood why this county magistrate seemed to be unknown, but his level was very good.
Li Guang, the governor of Zhu Ti, also had an important identity in history.
He is Li Mi's grandfather, the one who wrote the petition to Yin and Yang Sima Zhao.
And the man in front of him, if he is not wrong, is Li Mi's biological father...
Well, the boss is by my side!
"It turns out that I haven't paid attention to him since he was the governor of Li. No wonder he is so talented." Ma Su was very satisfied and handed over to the county magistrate with difficulty.
"Ahem... I am just a county magistrate now, which is a disgrace to my family." Li Mu responded with a wry smile and cupped his hands.
"It's okay. If I die, you will be the governor of Longxi."
"Um?"
"No... I mean, after I am transferred, I will definitely write to the Prime Minister and recommend that you be appointed as the Governor of Longxi." Ma Su immediately changed his mind and almost said what he really meant.
But seeing a great talent next to him, Ma Di felt more confident to go out. Even if he dies, Li Mu can hold up Longxi and prevent those aristocratic families from turning upside down.
"What I just said is correct. A rising tide lifts all boats, and a rising tide lowers all boats." Getting back to the topic, Ma Su directly stated the main contradiction.
"So if the Han Dynasty cannot let the head of Guizhou have his own land, even if he gets his household registration back, it will not only increase the burden on the people."
"The late emperor couldn't do this kind of thing, your majesty couldn't do it, the prime minister couldn't do it, and I can't do it either."
"So what the governor means is that we want to distribute the land to the head of Guizhou? Or rather, distribute the land of those Longxi aristocratic families to the people?"
Li Mu was certainly not a fool, and he had already heard Ma Di's overtones.
To put it simply, it means to attack local tyrants, divide the fields, and let the resources be distributed again. When the head of Guizhou owned land, he was able to pay the poll tax and allocate people to serve as corvees.
A win-win situation is a win-win situation for both the court and the people, only the noble family is injured.
This is the so-called land equalization law, which is a top-down reform of the feudal dynasty.
In the original history, due to the Jin Dynasty, the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the power of the aristocratic families was unprecedentedly strengthened, and no one dared to attack the rich people of the aristocratic families.
Therefore, it was not until the Northern Wei Dynasty that the land equalization method appeared. In the Sui and Tang dynasties, the power of the aristocratic families plummeted and it was gradually implemented.
But now, Ma Su asked him to appear hundreds of years in advance and be the first to implement it.
However, understanding is understanding, but Li Mu does not think Ma Su's concept is appropriate.
"Ming Gong, I think it's too dangerous to do it now, and the Longxi clan will definitely not agree. If they make a desperate move and cause trouble, when the Qiang people come, I'm afraid..." Jun Cheng was silent for a while, and then spoke cautiously. Although it was to veto Ma Su's intention, judging from the change of title, Li Mu agreed with Ma Su's approach.
The land equalization law was theoretically an enemy of most of the people in power, but it was just to get more money for the court. This kind of thing is the most dangerous at any time, especially when the person who proposes it is likely to be forced to commit suicide.
"What's more, once the family is pushed into a hurry, it is very likely that they will take risks. Ming Gong is still weak, so he may easily get into trouble!"
"Let them come! Even if I frown, I'm not a gentleman!" As soon as the accident was mentioned, Ma Su immediately became interested and waved his hand very boldly.
"As for the Qiang people, they are not afraid. Even Zhang He didn't dare to fight me at the street pavilion. I can definitely defeat him by fighting in person!"
"I, Ma Su, are just throwing these words here. I want me to compromise as a child and become a corpse forever. As long as I am alive, I must implement what I have learned and thought throughout my life!"
Ma Di's speech made everyone, including Li Mu, tremble. The officials and soldiers with civilian backgrounds below all looked at Ma Di with great admiration, but Li Mu and others hesitated to speak, their eyes full of worry.
"Okay, everyone understands what I mean. Let's come up with a charter as soon as possible." Ma Su waved his hand and said straightforwardly.
"Today I will formulate the outline of the Land Equalization Law, and then implement it together with the Han Law!"