Hubu Shangshu listened to Qin Ming's words and immediately nodded: "So, Weichen understands." ”

Qin Ming snorted, and suddenly said: "The transition of the emperor's relatives and relatives to pay money is a reason, but the treasury is empty, it shouldn't be just them, right?" ”

Hubu Shangshu sighed and said: "Since the beginning of spring, all localities have been actively collecting taxes, but many places are not ideal. ”

"Oh? Why is that? Qin Ming was puzzled.

Hubu Shangshu said: "It may be that this year's harvest is not good, the income of the people everywhere is not very optimistic, after statistics, this tax, it is estimated that it is only 50,000 taels of silver." ”

"What about last year?" Qin Ming asked.

Tobe Shangshu said: "Last year, it was 70,000 taels of silver. ”

"In this way, it is indeed a lot less, have you found out what the reason is?"

"This ......" Hubu Shangshu hesitated for a moment and said, "The commercial tax and grain tax are basically normal, and this is it...... There is a bit of a problem with the people's taxes, and many places show that the people in some places can't afford to pay them. ”

"Isn't the tax revenue of my Chu State always very low? Why can't you pay it? What is the meaning? Could it be that this year, the people's income is so bad? Qin Ming became serious.

Hubu Shangshu sighed: "Your Majesty, some people don't have much grain harvest because they have very little land, and the money they sell is not enough, so naturally, they can't afford to pay taxes." ”

Lack of land?

Qin Ming said: "Now, how much land do the people have for farming? ”

Hubu Shangshu said: "Your Majesty, let me tell you this, now, 90% of the land in the whole country of our Chu State is in the hands of rich gentry, and the land controlled by ordinary people is only about 10%.

This led to the fact that the rich gentry held a large amount of land outside the country, so as to exploit the common people, resulting in the ordinary people having less land, and they could only work for the rich gentry to get a little income and barely have enough to eat. This is a serious problem. ”

Qin Ming's face sank, and he said, "Then these rich gentlemen, aren't they just like the little toasts in some small places in the southeast?" ”

Hubu Shangshu said: "It's really a bit similar, but it's generally a village, with one or two rich gentry, and they are not too much under the laws of Chu."

But because they have a lot of land under their hands, and the common people for various reasons, most of them end up working for the squires and rich people, so gradually, the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger and bigger. ”

When Qin Ming heard this, he said: "Even, some people give their fields to the squire, which leads to a situation where they are completely dependent on the squires to survive? ”

Tobe Shangshu nodded: "That's right, Your Majesty, you also understand this complicated situation." ”

Qin Ming sneered, thinking to himself what the hell is the difference between this and the landlords of the old society?

"This problem must be solved, and these people cannot be allowed to control the land, otherwise, the life of the people at the bottom will not be easy, and it will be difficult for the people to get rich." Qin Ming said.

"But Your Majesty, this problem has never been solved for many years, and it cannot be solved. ”

Qin Ming smiled and said, "Naturally, there is a way, and that is land reform." ”

"What do you mean?" Tobe Shangshu was puzzled.

Qin Ming said: "To formulate a set of land laws and let the local governments implement them, what we need to do is to take back all the land that can be used for cultivation, and then distribute it evenly according to the number of people in the area."

This must be divided according to the number of people, not to mention more, at least one person can get two acres of land, which is the most basic. In addition, the bill should clearly stipulate that land cannot be sold, but can only be rented! ”

After Qin Ming finished speaking, Hubu Shangshu was still a little confused, and then said: "Your Majesty, if you forcibly take back the land, will those so-called landlords you call dissatisfied?" ”

"Not convinced? They oppress the people, exploit the people, and they dare not accept it? If the regulations go down, those who are not satisfied will be locked up for a few days, and there is no need to be polite to these capitalists! Qin Ming said indignantly.

Hubu Shangshu knelt down: "The minister obeys the order!" ”

Then, the head of the household book left, but Qin Ming thought about it for a long time in the Qingxin Palace.

If the land of the people at the bottom is secured, then economic development will not be difficult.

But this process will certainly not be too simple.

Qin Ming really wanted to participate in person, but now that he had just become an emperor, would he leave the imperial court......

Thinking of this, Qin Ming's eyes lit up.

Since you want to clean up those imperial relatives and relatives, and also want to clean up some ministers who don't support Qin Ming in their hearts, why not leave for a while?

Now that the throne is firmly seated, these ministers who should move should also move.

By the way, if you leave, you can also go to see the land reform.

When you come back, there must be some restless guys who will show their disgusting side, and when the time comes, it will be extinguished.

With his mind decided, Qin Ming cleaned up and went back to Anning Palace to rest.

The little princess still lives in Anle Palace, and for the time being, Qin Ming doesn't have the energy to marry her.

In addition, during this time, her father had just died, and she accompanied her mother every day, Qin Ming had a lot of business, so she was rarely together.

So, in the next few days, Qin Ming asked the six ministries to improve the land bill, so that everyone could implement it as soon as possible, and told everyone that during this time, he was going to make a private visit to Weifu, and everything in the government would be represented by King Cheng.

Everyone must be against this, but Qin Ming has already made up his mind, and no one can change his meaning.

So, a week later, Qin Ming quietly left the palace alone.

Since you want to govern the world, you have to understand it from the bottom.

Before leaving the imperial capital, he went to the Qin Mansion and met Luo Ziyi and them.

The fat man said to Qin Ming that it had been two months since they came out this time, and they had almost experienced it, and their strength and knowledge had improved, so they were ready to return to the Holy Land.

was led by Luo Ziyi, and after saying goodbye to Qin Ming, he left.

When leaving, Luo Ziyi looked at Qin Ming and said after a long time: "Qin Ming, don't forget that you promised the Fourth Elder, you are also from our Holy Land. ”

Qin Ming smiled bitterly: "Got it!" ”

After saying goodbye to them, Qin Ming was alone and started a private visit to Weifu.

First, he went to some villages near the imperial capital.

Along the way, I heard countless people talking about the new emperor, and basically, there was no one near the imperial capital who didn't know Qin Ming.

For Qin Ming to be the emperor this time, the people are very recognized.

At this moment, Qin Ming was sitting drinking tea by a tea stall set up on the side of the road, and he heard some people sitting down to drink tea, all talking about him, the new emperor.

For example, there were several pairs of middle-aged men and women at the opposite table, and one of the men said:

"During the reign of the first emperor, the people of our Chu State had a good life, and then there was a Qin Ming, who served the country and the people as soon as he became an official."

Immediately, a man next to him took over the conversation: "That's, if you want to say this Qin Ming, it's really comparable to the sages and saints, every one of his exploits is enough to go down in history and let future generations praise and praise it." ”

When Qin Ming heard this, his waist straightened unconsciously, with a fluttering smile on his face.

(End of chapter)