Tian Qian dared to talk eloquently in front of the prince and proposed it to Zhu Pingjin as an important solution for the return of taxes and silver, because he knew very well about the situation of the drought in the south of the Yangtze River. And the source of the news is his friend Li Yongjing.

Li Yongjing was born in the official family of Suzhou Mansion in the south of Zhili. His father was an official in Hanzhong, and later Wei Zhongxian, a powerful eunuch, was in power, and his father was stripped of his official clothes because he did not attach himself to the eunuch party in time, and since then the family has stayed in Hanzhong Mansion.

Li Yongjing received a letter from his cousin a month ago, saying that there was a severe drought in Nanzhili, and that Suzhou Prefecture, the center of the arid area, had not rained since the beginning of summer in April, the soil in the fields had cracked, and all the seedlings had died, and it was estimated that there would be no harvest of autumn grain this year. Last year, Nanzhili suffered a flood, but fortunately, the disaster did not end the harvest, and the government and large households still had some grain in stock, so they could gather the seeds and grain. This year's disaster is again, and it is already difficult to gather early rice seeds this winter and next spring. Now the tragic situation, the old people in Suzhou say that they have never seen it in their lives, I am afraid that only Zhu Yuanzhang defeated Zhang Shicheng back then, and the October siege of Suzhou Mansion can be compared.

The Li family was a large local family and had a clear idea of what the gentry thought. What the gentry are most worried about is that the disaster situation will continue to develop, the social situation will get out of control, and more and more people on the streets will eventually take risks and come desperately to grab food and big households. At the beginning of the year, it was also rumored that the imperial court had a motion to move the capital to Nanjing, and now the disaster in Nanzhili has made the proposal to move the capital disappear immediately......

The discussion of moving the capital of the imperial court was once very loud, but it has recently disappeared. I see!

Zhu Pingjin nodded vigorously. However, he still had a question, so he asked Tian Qian:

"The fields and soils in the south of the Yangtze River are unparalleled in the world. Even if there is a major drought in a year or two, how can so many people starve to death? ”

Taizu hated Jiangnan for supporting Zhang Jiusi, so he heavily taxed Jiangnan. But the heavy exploitation of the government is only one of them. The second is that the price of silk cotton was high, so the people changed their fields to mulberry for cotton. Nowadays, in the south of the Yangtze River, there are many mulberry fields and cotton fields but few grain fields, so the people have little grain storage. Huguang Province ......"

……

As early as when Yazhou and Hong Qihui discussed donation, Zhu Pingjin was very suspicious that grain, a strategic material that everyone just needs, could completely rely on the market for self-regulation.

Is the invisible hand really that magical?

Bullshit!

In fact, there are limits to the self-regulating role of the market. It relies on a stable external environment, sufficient operating space, smooth logistics and transportation, and rational market participants, which can ensure the effectiveness of market regulation. Throughout history, there are many examples of market self-regulation failures.

The south of the Yangtze River was devastated by the disaster, and there was little food and more silk. Huguang and Anhui (not a province in the Ming Dynasty, but with governors) also suffered from a nationwide drought last year. Shandong, which was close to the Henan battlefield, was even more miserable, and the letter from the governor of Caoyun, Zuo Mao (MAO), to the emperor was clearly published in the palace newspaper: a stone of grain in Linqing was sold for twenty-four taels of silver, and "when people die, they take it for food", that is, the living eat the dead!

The surrounding provinces are too busy to take care of themselves, how can there be surplus grain to sell to Jiangnan?

In the affluent south of the Yangtze River, there is a lot of mulberry but little grain, and when there is a drought, people starve to death, and this is the disadvantage of the market economy.

Zhu Pingjin smiled slightly and said to Tian Qian: A few days ago, the chief steward of Wangzhuang in Jintang County submitted a submission, saying that he had signed a donation agreement with the gentry of Huaikou Town, Jintang County, stipulating that the gentry must sell the surplus grain to the palace and only keep 10% for themselves. Although he approved it at that time, he did not say anything about the purchase of surplus grain. Now it seems that the truth is on the side of Chief Steward Qiu.

"The minister thinks that the move of Qiu Da Steward should be fully implemented in my Shu Palace!" Tian Qian was stunned and categorical: "As the saying goes: one year of drought, three years of famine." If there is chaos today, those who have food will rule the world! ”

Zhu Pingjin did not take Tian Qian's stubble, but used Tian Qian's logical contradiction to cross-examine: "Does that gentleman advocate that this son of the world is now selling grain to Jiangnan?" ”

Tian Qian was stunned, and the fan stopped in the air. When he spoke again, Zhu Pingjin found that he was obviously stammering: "We still have to sell some grain, otherwise we will cover the taxes, how can we have extra silver taels...... It's just that this grain can't be sold more...... Benevolence loves people......"

Seeing Tian Qian's embarrassed appearance, Zhu Pingjin laughed, and the limelight that was robbed by Tian Qian just now completely returned to him.

Waiting for Tian Qian to bow down, Zhu Pingjin said to Tian Qian, last year, the palace sent a batch of grain to Chongqing Mansion, sold some of it, and kept about tens of thousands of stones in the warehouse. Originally, this batch of grain was reserved for Chen Youfu's third battalion. Once they were surrounded by local thugs on land, the grain from Chongqing could be transported directly to the Xinzheng Dam through the Jialing River waterway to relieve their urgent needs. Now that we have to collect the taxes, the silver must of course be recovered, and this batch of grain can be used to try out all aspects.

"The grain of ten thousand stones, for the people of a province and a government, is just a drop in the bucket, and it is better than nothing." Tian Qian bowed and said, "However, as far as the hearts of the people in Jiangnan are concerned, the income of the Shu Wangfu is far greater than the silver taels. ”

"The people's will is important, and the silver taels are also important." Seeing that it was not early, Zhu Pingjin walked towards the horses and said with a leisurely smile, "Mr. has a good idea." Miss Luo originally wanted to open Huitong Qianzhuang to Beijing, but it seems that the north and south are the two capitals, and it is only right that the south and then the north are the right. As for the collection of taxes, the stakes are very high, and we still have to discuss it, and I can't eat hot soup in a hurry. In short, we can't do what we suffer. ”

"Shizi, this tax collection ......" Tian Qian said for a long time, but the prince did not accept his tax collection strategy, and he couldn't help but be a little anxious.

"However," Zhu Pingjin changed his words, "since Mr. is conclusive and willing to make a military order, why don't you pay a county and Mr. first?" ”

"The minister is willing to make a military order!" Still didn't say it in vain, Tian Qian was suddenly arrogant.

Zhu Pingjin did not immediately explain which county Tian Qian was trying, nor did he accept the military order he made, but said in a flat tone: "There are also Renshou and Pengshan counties to try." After collecting the taxes first, let's cross the river by feeling the stones! If we don't suffer, we will take it, what if the imperial court adds another amount next year? ”

"We can ...... with the government every year"

"It's just that Luzhou is a state and a county, and we can't do it if we don't want to!"

The prince did not answer Tian Qian's words, but sighed to himself: "The high judge of Luzhou sent a message that there are 650,000 mu of land in Luzhou, and less than forty percent of the crops have been planted; Of the 25,000 acres of land in Naxi (Note 1), less than half of them were planted with crops. It seems that we are going to lose a lot of grain this autumn. ”

"The levy should be requisitioned, and the gentry and the people will naturally vote for the ...... of the royal palace."

"This is exactly what this son is worried about Mr."

Zhu Pingjin suddenly turned around without warning, stared at Tian Qian and said:

"The king is not food, not soldiers, not strength, but the hearts of the world!

When Mr. arrives in the county, he must not use his strength to benefit from benevolence, but to use benevolence to benefit from benevolence! This son of the world takes it as his responsibility to protect the country and the people and the peace of the world, not to call the king the king to dominate the world!

He who is not a king is a king, and he who is a king will die!

Lang Lang Qiankun, the way of heaven is clear, and the people cannot be bullied!

We collect taxes and make a fortune is not the goal, the purpose is to clean up the people's confidence in the Ming Dynasty and the confidence in the Shu Palace. For those gentry who resist taxes, and for those people who steal grain, think more about them, and see if you can find a way to not only let them pay grain taxes, but also make them happy and convinced!

The tax of 10% is the upper limit, and if it is levied too much, how can the people make a living? Even if our royal government loses money in taxes, we can't make up our minds about the people's rations and seeds!

Please remember this point, Mr. Tian! Please also ask Mr. Tian to learn more from Mr. Li Chongwen and Mr. Li!

Mr. Li has neither eloquence nor intelligence, and his qualifications are only average. However, Mr. Li regards the people as the sky in everything, and the people do not eat and they do not eat, and the people do not wear clothes and they do not clothe. Thousands of miles away is for the people's livelihood! Take the son of the world as the king, and the people as the sky! This time, Mr. Li was transferred out of Renshou County, and the people in a county who saw him off knelt for 20 miles! Ben Shizi once asked Mr. Li about his ambitions. Mr. Li replied: I am willing to learn from Zhuge sages, do your best, and die! That's right! ”

Zhu Pingjin's words were sharp, which made Tian Qian suddenly understand what he was wrong.

For politicians, benevolence and righteousness are always fundamental. And profit and force, power and technique can only be the means to achieve benevolence and righteousness. The order of master and slave must not be reversed. If the fundamental spirit of benevolence and righteousness is lost, the people under the rule will learn the same way, and the same power and skill will be used to deal with the ruler, and the country will be in chaos!

Thinking of this, Tian Qian could no longer shake the goose feather fan that Zhuge Liang once used. He knelt down to Zhu Pingjian, threw his fan aside and said:

"The benevolence and righteousness of the ministers, the false benevolence and false righteousness; The son of the world is benevolent and righteous, true benevolence and true righteousness. The minister is willing to learn from the sages of Zhuge and is willing to learn from the great benevolence and righteousness of the son! ”

"Sir, don't blame yourself! Mr. is full of tricks, to learn from Kong Ming's labor, but also to learn Kong Ming's wisdom! To protect the country and the people, you must have big ideas and great wisdom! ”

……

Zheng Anmin, Shu Guoping and Yin Jialin, who came to greet the prince, led the horse and stood under the big tree on the side of the road, without rashly disturbing the conversation between the prince and Mr. Tian.

Seeing Tian Qian lying on the ground, Zheng Anmin smiled and said to Shu Guoping: "The heroes of the world are all in my master's bag!"

Shu Guoping said: "The prince of the world is upright and treats people with sincerity, so the righteous people and gentlemen tend to him, and the traitors and ministers can't get close!" ”

He has always been loyal to the king, and he has a rare extra sentence: "From this point of view, the court and China are full of traitors, is it not a crime today?" ”

Zheng Anmin smiled, and nodded solemnly: "The thieves will attack Kaifeng again." I'm afraid that it won't be long before the emperor will issue an edict to punish himself again! ”

Only Yin Jialin did not speak.

The reorganization of the left guard went smoothly on the whole. The military salary of one tael of silver per person per month, as well as the subsidy of five acres of land and two buckets of grain per month, far exceeded the monthly salary of one tael to one or two cents per month for the battalion soldiers, attracting a large number of sergeants who joined the army. So far, more than 20 hereditary officers and more than 300 sergeants have been qualified to train caravanserais. In addition to the Huazi recently purchased by the palace in the Dongmen market, the displaced people who took the initiative to protect the army to the left and the households of the Wangfu Zhuang, the number of new soldiers has approached 1,050, and it is estimated that the number will increase in the future.

Just looking at the numbers, this result should be good, but there are still many problems that Yin Jialin can't deal with by himself, and Zheng Anmin and Shu Guoping can't make up their minds, so they can only wait for Shizi to make a decision in person. He couldn't figure out the world's attitude towards this, so he was a little apprehensive.

……

The county that Zhu Pingjin handed over to Tian Qian was the Anyue County that He Qiukou personally led his troops to recover not long ago.

Anyue County was changed to Anyue County during the Tang Tianbao period, from which it was named. After that, the place name and the jurisdiction were changed back and forth, and finally stabilized in the early Song Dynasty. Anyue County was originally a necessary road on the Chengdu-Chongqing Ancient Road, but it is not a wealthy county in Sichuan, but on the contrary, it is a well-known traditional poor county.

Anyue County is located in the watershed of Tuojiang River and Fujiang River, there are many hills in the territory, accounting for more than eighty percent of the territory, and the remaining less than two percent of the land, and most of them are gentle hills, and flat dams are scarce. In the era when watering the fields depended on the sky and the water was picked, the arable land area of Anyue County was not large, and the contradiction of more people and less land and less land was very prominent.

Since Pan Yihong's rebels deceived the gate of Anyue City and ransacked the county seat, the government of Anyue County has been completely paralyzed. The magistrate was frightened and sick, and the legend was that he was already unconscious; The county lord was angry because he had ruined his only daughter, and he hung himself on the beam of the house in shame; The only remaining civil official Jiupin master book, it is said that he was taken hostage by the rebels, and in short, he disappeared.

He Qiu Kou Pegasus sent a message to report that Zhu Pingjin and his wife were worried about the difficulty of placing this Yun Ge'er's teacher, so they decided to transfer him to Anyue County and let him show his skills to prove himself. The conversation between Zhu Pingjin and Tian Qian just now was not only a question of policy, but also an organizational conversation before Tian Qian's transfer. It's a pity that Tian Qian regarded it as a rare edict of the monarch and ministers, so he sprinkled it with joy and told what he thought in his heart, and as a result, he was both praised and criticized, in short, he learned a profound lesson.

"In the name of the prefectural shogunate, Mr. is in charge of the administration of Anyue County, and he can do his best to govern freely. The three counties of Anyue, Lezhi and Suining are located in the south of Tongchuan and have an important location! Mr. is also the steward of Wangzhuang in the three counties, and he is also promising! The backbone battalion of the Tongchuan Guardian Corps will stay here, and some veterans will also be transferred to the two prefectures of Tongchuan and Shunqing. The three counties of Anyue, Lezhi, and Suining should quickly organize and train the brigade and the city guard team to appease the local ......

Mr. Ben Shiziguan geography exam paper, I feel that it is still unfinished. Mr. is a native of Hanzhong Mansion, if you have time, you may wish to write down the important things in Hanzhong Human Geography Pass in detail, as well as the Rui Wangfu ......"

Zhu Pingjin is like a mother-in-law with a broken mouth, explaining all the tasks of Tian Qian after taking office. Tian Qian nodded like a student. It was easy to wait for the prince to finish speaking, and Tian Qian hurriedly seized the opportunity to make a request.

He said that Sichuan carried out a tax reform during the Jiajing period, which was called "a handful of companies." Later, in Wanli years, Zhang Juzheng carried out the reform of "one whip", and many contents relied on the practice of "one company". Now that the tax is collected in the three counties of Anyue and the unified tax in kind is implemented, please also take a name.

The little trick that Mr. Thirty-six Tiangang always played made Zhu Pingjin smile slightly: "Mr. Tian has already made up his mind, can I hear of it?" ”

Tian Qian hurriedly said, since the focus of the levy is on the gentry, can it be named "the official gentry pays grain in one"?

After speaking, he waited for the affirmation of the son of the world. Who knew that Shizi pondered for a moment, shook his head and denied it.

"There are many famous gentry in Anyue, including Zhang Renxue, the chief soldier of Jinshi, who seized the post, Dou Kejin, the former deputy envoy of Yunnan Armament, and Wang Qi'e, the same Jinshi of Dou Kejin. There are more famous gentry in Suining and Lezhi, and Longfu Lu Daqi is a Suining person. Mr. is going, the strength is the key! It's light, it's heavy! Since we pay attention to hard work, and we pay more attention to coherence in naming it, the meaning of this son is better to call it ......"

Zhu Pingjin paused at this time, and then swiped down with his palm, bringing a gust of wind:

"One size fits all!"

Note 1: According to the "Luzhou Chronicles", in Yongle, Luzhou has 647,277 acres of land; Naxi has 24,905 acres of land. The figures for the last years of Wanli Qingzhang and Chongzhen have not been found.