"Dividing the land tax by acreage?" Zhang Zhengming was a little puzzled and said, "But didn't you just bring it up today?"
Your Majesty has already approved Li Fang's resignation, so how could it be linked to the equalization of land tax?
He felt it was a little unbelievable and seemed to make absolutely no sense.
"So that's why!" Song Gongwen was excited.
He stood up and continued, "That's why I say that Your Majesty is so ingenious and has calculated everything."
"Is that so?" Zhang Zhengming frowned, feeling he couldn't keep up with his student's train of thought. He could only ask, "Then tell me, what exactly is His Majesty planning?"
"Teacher, imagine this: what if Li Fang truly committed the grave crime of allowing his relatives to seize the people's land?" Song Gongwen calmed down and continued, "Who is Li Fang? He's a representative of the aristocratic families in the Jiangnan area. He's also worked for many years in the imperial court and holds a high reputation."
"What would happen if he were found and convicted? It would definitely cause a major earthquake in the imperial court and Jiangnan. Especially those who have committed the same crime as him would be deterred. Simply put, Your Majesty is just trying to scare the monkeys!"
When Zhang Zhengming heard this, he felt as if he had grasped something, but after thinking about it, he still didn't understand it, so he continued.
"Then this doesn't explain why Your Majesty waited until Li Fang retired and returned home before convicting him."
If it was just to intimidate the gentry.
Then the effect of arresting and convicting people in the capital should be similar.
It is still impossible to explain why Your Majesty would go to such great lengths.
"teacher."
"So this is where your majesty's brilliance lies."
Song Gongwen smiled and didn't answer directly. He just said, "At first, I didn't understand why Your Majesty only allowed me to choose one place as a pilot instead of implementing it nationwide when Your Majesty clearly knew that the implementation of the land-based tax system would benefit both the country and the people. It wasn't until I just reminded you that I understood. It's because Your Majesty knew that the aristocracy was powerful nowadays. If they went too far, it would be difficult to stop. Even the land-based tax system might be affected, making it impossible to continue."
Hearing this, Zhang Zhengming nodded, naturally understanding the reason.
Although the power of local gentry is smaller, they will definitely resist if their interests are violated.
Let’s not talk about the distant past, let’s just talk about myself. When I was implementing a certain reform, I experienced this kind of thing and I also understand how difficult it is to deal with local tyrants.
But he still didn't quite understand what the other party was trying to say, so he could only say, "Go on."
"But I think your majesty's considerations go far beyond this." Song Gongwen smiled and continued, "Teacher, think about it, when Li Fang retired and returned to his hometown, where did he occupy the people's land?"
"Of course it's Longyang Prefecture," Zhang Zhengming said. But the next moment, he finally realized something and couldn't help but widen his eyes as he asked, "You mean, His Majesty actually wants you to use Longyang Prefecture as a pilot for the land-based tax system?"
At this moment, he completely understood what Song Gongwen meant.
Longyang Prefecture holds an extremely important position in the Jiangnan area.
It started from the beginning of the Wei Dynasty.
There are successful Jinshi candidates every year.
Even now, a considerable number of them are serving as officials in the court or local governments.
As mentioned, Li Fang was a representative of these people before he resigned from office.
But once the other party is punished by the court in Longyang Prefecture for occupying people's land, the effect will be very different. It is like putting a knife directly on the neck, and other people will definitely be in constant fear.
What if, at this time, Song Gongwen used Longyang Prefecture as a pilot area for the land tax system?
As the saying goes, one won't cry until he sees the coffin. Because of the lessons learned from the previous experience, he lost the idea of resisting.
Therefore, the subsequent implementation will undoubtedly be much easier.
It can even be said that it is completed in a short time.
At this time, Zhang Zhengming also realized why His Majesty asked Song Gongwen to find a pilot project, because all preparations had been made long ago!
Is this your majesty's method?
"Hiss~"
Thinking of this, Zhang Zhengming took a breath of cold air.
What a smart man he is, even if he didn't understand it before.
But after thinking about it, I understood it all.
Beside him, Song Gongwen nodded, knowing that the teacher had understood what he meant, and began to sigh.
What he was thinking in his mind was also very simple.
Longyang Prefecture is the base camp of the gentry in the Jiangnan area.
The situation can be said to be complicated.
But as long as the land-based tax system is successfully implemented here, it can be implemented more smoothly across the country.
As for why His Majesty did not say it clearly, that is easier to understand. In the imperial court meeting, besides himself and his teacher, there were three other grand secretaries.
In this case, it cannot be said explicitly, because the emperor cannot express his opinion directly on certain matters.
Only in this way can we have enough space to advance and retreat, which is the so-called checks and balances!
I also thought I was smart enough to finally understand this point.
I have lived up to your Majesty's expectations.
At this moment, Song Gongwen felt even more strongly that His Majesty was truly a god. It could be said that he had revealed everything. This plan was not only deeply hidden, but also so far-sighted that it was simply unbelievable.
If it wasn’t for a flash of inspiration, I would never have thought of it!
Your Majesty is truly far-sighted.
But soon.
Zhang Zhengming felt a little puzzled and immediately asked, "But, His Majesty shouldn't have known about the idea of you proposing the tax-to-land distribution policy before? How do you explain this?"
First came the arrest of Li Fang, and then came the distribution of land tax. He just couldn't figure out the problem.
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