After several negotiations, Li Xiaoshan paid the price of a year's harvest and took back his land from Mr. Zhang.
Li Dashan asked him, "Do you regret it?"
"I regret it, I regret it. If the imperial court had implemented the ten percent tax rate a few years earlier, I would definitely not have offered my land to Mr. Zhang." Li Xiaoshan held the newly issued land deed and laughed.
Li Dashan asked him again, "All the harvest of the year has been given to Mr. Zhang's family. What are you going to do next?"
Li Xiaoshan looked at Li Dashan eagerly, "Brother, please help me!"
"Get out!" Li Dashan was furious. This bastard was relying on him.
"Brother, brother, if you don't help me, my family won't be able to survive! The food rations at home will be gone by next month!"
"I told you to get out! With such a large mountain to guard, I don't believe you can't find food. The rest stop collects mountain products every day, and Sihai Meat and Vegetable Shop also often goes to the countryside to collect mountain products. If you go into the mountains more often, you will have food."
“But, but…”
"Don't tell me but. Others say you're stupid, but I see you're full of wits, how can you be stupid?"
Li Dashan left very resolutely.
Even though Li Xiaoshan was crying behind him, he did not look back.
Similar situations are happening in every prefecture, county, township, and village within the Great Zhou.
Because of the 10% tax rate, everyone went crazy.
The common people were desperate to get back the land they had donated.
The rich landlords were desperate to keep their land.
The imperial court cannot be so cruel and cannot impose heavy taxes.
Even a three-year reprieve is not acceptable.
As the autumn harvest approaches, the countryside becomes increasingly bustling.
Personnel from the Ministry of the Interior, the Imperial Household Department, and the Jinwu Guard had already been dispatched to investigate the situation in various prefectures long before the law was promulgated.
Just wait until the first of August arrives and start taking action.
Of course, the assistance of Sihai Meat and Vegetable Shop is indispensable for this.
If we were to ask who in the world knows best the land size, land ownership, population size, and land ownership of each state and county, it would be none other than Sihai Meat and Vegetable Shop.
After nearly twenty years of hard work, the harvest has finally arrived.
Chen Erzhuang was very proud. He could proudly say that the guys from Sihai Meat and Vegetable Shop had visited every village in the world.
Sihai Meat and Vegetable Shop can be found in any village in any corner or in any village in the mountains.
All the people and lands in the world were recorded, and the account books piled up like mountains.
The Shaofu sent hundreds of accountants to the Baijiafang Archives to copy the population and land account books of the world.
Two large warehouses housed tens of thousands of account books, each containing records of prefectures, counties, towns, and villages, with dates also included.
These are the essence of Sihai Meat and Vegetable Shop's years of hard work.
Looking at the full warehouse account books, all the accountants in the Shaofu were shocked.
The archive staff were so cheerful, it was like looking at a bunch of ignorant rubes.
"The fruits of many years of hard work are all here. Please copy them for yourselves."
"This, so much?"
"This is already a collated number. If it were the original data, it would be ten times more."
The accountant of the Shaofu felt very panicked.
This is too much work.
They admired Sihai Meat and Vegetable Shop's efforts over the years and its travels to every village, which is something that ordinary people cannot do.
I just admire you.
Everyone was a little trembling at the thought of completing such a huge amount of work in a short period of time.
"There is a printing room at the back that you can use." The archive staff kindly reminded.
"Thank you very much."
When they heard that printing was possible, everyone in the Shaofu Accounting Office breathed a sigh of relief.
There was a tough battle to fight next, so everyone was afraid to relax and quickly divided the work and started working.
…
Chang'an Palace.
Deng Cunli asked to see the Empress and was invited into the study after being informed.
The maidservant beside the Queen has a new face.
The previous maids all got married and had children, and now have other jobs.
Deng Cunli bowed and greeted him.
Only after Gu Jiu called him did he sit down on the small round stool.
"How are things going?"
"Thanks to the Queen, things are going smoothly." Deng Cunli said with his head down.
"There's only half a month left until the first day of August. If you have any difficulties, please feel free to ask me. If you wait until the first day of August to ask for help, I will definitely not forgive you."
Gu Jiu's face was serious.
The new land law is a major move she has been planning for many years.
In order to gain the consent of court officials, many concessions were made.
If the plan fails, she will want to kill someone.
Deng Cunli was fully aware of the importance of this matter. "Reporting to the Empress, the personnel have already been dispatched. With the help of the Sihai Meat and Vegetable Shop, the situation in each prefecture and county has been basically ascertained. By the first day of August, as long as the Jinwu Guards and the Ministry of Internal Affairs work together well, we will definitely be able to have a successful start."
The main problem at present is the fierce conflict between the common people who donated their land and the wealthy families. One wants to take the land back, the other refuses to let go. Similar cases are reported to the government offices everywhere every day. With the first day of August approaching, I am worried that if the Ministry of Personnel does not intervene in time, it may lead to a major case.
Gu Jiu tapped the table lightly. "I've heard of several incidents recently. With the autumn harvest approaching, the common people will have to pay a huge price to get their land back. It's said that some of the crops are only for one year, and some are even for two years. Regardless of whether it's just one or two years, handing over the grain means these common people will go hungry. This winter was tough, and next year's lean months will be even tougher. And with those who are fanning the flames, there's a risk of civil unrest."
"Your Majesty, are you worried about a rebellion?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "We must be prepared! The Shaofu Grain Store must start operations in advance, and let the Sihai Meat and Vegetable Store cooperate with you to find out the financial situation of the common people who have donated. After the autumn harvest, issue a notice that the grain store will lend grain at a ten-year interest rate, and will also lend next year's grain seeds. This is a good opportunity to promote the high-quality grain seeds that have been selected."
Deng Cunli frowned slightly. "The Shaofu Grain Store is under a heavy burden. We need to calculate our profits after the autumn harvest next year, and the entire court is waiting for the dividends. Lending grain to ordinary people and charging only 10% interest is too low, isn't it? If we don't meet our profit target, we'll have to pay the Shaofu Grain Store back next year."
Gu Jiu shouted, "Which is more important, profit or the promotion of the law? You are an elder by my side, you should know the difference between the important and the unimportant. In order to promote the law, even if you don't want interest, you have to lend the grain, do you understand?"
The law of 10% tax, one for all, cannot tolerate the slightest error. A mere sum of silver is nothing compared to this law. If the Ministry of Grain is short of money next year, I will personally subsidize you. But if the law of 10% tax, one for all, is not being implemented effectively, I will punish you one by one, starting with you. No one, from the Ministry of Grain to the Ministry of Grain, will be spared!"
Deng Cunli's face turned pale. "Your Majesty is right. I will not disappoint your Majesty and will resolutely implement the ten-tax-one tax system."
Gu Jiu's expression softened slightly. "Regarding the profitability of the Shaofu Grain Store, the grain can be transported to Xiliang and the grasslands. There are huge profits there. The Shaofu Grain Store's winery can also be put into operation in advance. The Shaofu's wines must occupy at least half of the market. Those wealthy families hold a large amount of land and grain, and the grain-based wine market is almost monopolized by them. I want you to break the wealthy families' monopoly on grain and wine and force them to sell their land."
"I obey your command! I am not worried about the market, but I am worried about the disturbances of the wealthy families."
"Don't worry about it. It's better to worry about the common people starving and turning to banditry, bringing disaster to their neighbors, than to worry about the powerful causing trouble."
"Your Majesty is right."
Gu Jiu frowned.
Deng Cunli asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, are you worried that the law won't be implemented smoothly?"
Gu Jiu nodded. "The first year is of utmost importance. Everyone is staring at the first day of August. If the Shaofu doesn't go smoothly, then those officials who are like quails will all jump up. Then, Your Majesty and I will be under pressure from officials and nobles all over the world. Therefore, the burden on your shoulders is very heavy. I also place my hopes on you. I hope you will not let me down."
Deng Cunli could already feel the pressure like a mountain pressing down on him. "I understand. I will personally sit in every county seat in the capital, watching my men measure the land and calculate the taxes. I will ensure the smooth implementation of the ten-tax-one-national-tax policy in the capital. As long as there are no problems in the capital, the world will be halfway stable."
Gu Jiu nodded, "The remaining half is in Jiangnan. I specially sent Bai Zhong, the Third Prince, and Qian Xiang to Jiangnan. I hope they will not disappoint me."
After a pause, she continued, "His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi will be with you in the capital. You don't have to feel any pressure, just follow the plan. His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi will arrange his own schedule."
When Deng Cunli heard that His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi would be in charge of the capital with him, he felt under tremendous pressure.
It is basically certain that His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi is the crown prince.
How should he treat His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi? This is a question worth pondering.
Gu Jiu reminded him, "Just remember, you are my servant, so do what you are supposed to do."
Deng Cunli shuddered and came to his senses.
"Yes! I will obey you, my lady."
He secretly despised himself. The older he got, the more muddy his heart became. It was not as clear as it used to be.
The Shaofu is a place that really corrupts people's character.
He reminded himself to reflect on himself often and not lose the trust of the Queen.
Gu Jiu sent Deng Cunli away and prepared to rest for half an hour.
Eunuch Ma Xiaoliu quietly entered with an account book, "Your Majesty, the archives have already produced a preliminary tax collection budget."
"Give it to me."
According to the principle of "one ten taxes are paid by the whole nation", after deducting the land that needs to be tax-free for the three-year buffer zone, the amount of tax for this year's autumn harvest can be estimated based on the number of acres of land registered by Sihai Meat and Vegetable Store.
As long as tax collection goes smoothly, the deviation will not be too large.
The account book is quite detailed, with statistics based on county governments.
Gu Jiu turned the pages one by one, his expression becoming more and more solemn.
Ma Xiaoliu's heart tightened, "Is the Queen not satisfied with this budget?"
"No, I am very satisfied."
Precisely because of her satisfaction, she knew that the Shaofu would have to bear ten times more pressure than she had expected.
Why?
Because everyone pays one-tenth of the tax, although the tax rate is low, according to the budget, the tax revenue collected will be five to ten times more than in previous years.
This data is terrible!
If the news of this budget leaked out, all the officials in the country would be furious and might even rise up in rebellion against the Liu Dynasty.
Why?
Because the extra taxes come from the pockets of officials all over the world.
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