Chapter 287 One-Size-Fits-All
"Oh? Tell me more!" Ye Yunshu immediately became interested.
Song Zhimian smiled and knelt down.
"Your Majesty, no matter what methods they come up with or what decrees they issue, they will always find a way to deal with it."
Some people will come up with all sorts of ways to make a profit.
If the imperial court keeps issuing various decrees because of this matter, it will only make the people see the court's helplessness.
Why would those people do this? Isn't it because land exempt from land tax can bring in more revenue?
Take the former Jiangnan Education Commissioner for example. With so much land under his name, he saved at least tens of thousands of taels of silver in land tax alone each year.
If he were to pay land taxes normally, would he buy so much land?
He acquired so much land because the maintenance costs of his land were much lower than those of ordinary farmers.
Over time, farmers who cultivated their own land had to pay land taxes as usual, but they received far less than those nobles who were exempt from land taxes.
Gradually, it will become increasingly difficult for farmers to make a living from their fields.
The land they owned would also be taken over by those nobles.
If farmers lose their land and encounter a famine, they might not even have enough to eat, which would likely lead to chaos.
Instead of doing that, it would be better to let farmers feel that farming still has hope. As long as farmers have land to cultivate and can eat their fill, they won't cause trouble.
"Your Majesty, think about it, what if farmers enjoyed the same preferential tax treatment on land as those nobles at all times?" Song Zhimian looked at Ye Yunshu.
After thinking about it carefully, Ye Yunshu understood the key point.
"The same tax benefits... Yes, in that case, how can those people still think of hoarding more land by exempting land taxes and releasing land!"
"That's a good idea!" Ye Yunshu also expressed her approval.
Song Zhimian moved closer to Ye Yunshu.
"Your Majesty, isn't it possible that Prime Minister Lin could go back and have those people thoroughly investigate what their families have been up to? This would be a perfect opportunity to resolve this matter."
Those people are now wishing they could hide their heads in their pants; no matter what you do now, they won't dare to talk back.
Instead of letting those people find ways to take advantage of these benefits, it would be better to generously give them to the people!
Aren't they speaking based on the decrees of Emperor Taizu?
Sure! The founding emperor was originally a peasant, and he led the peasants in rebellion because they couldn't get enough to eat.
"Now that these benefits have been returned to the farmers, that was Emperor Taizu's greatest wish!" Song Zhimian continued.
Ye Yunshu laughed heartily twice.
“You’re right. If we return these benefits to the farmers and give them hope, then Dayu can remain stable.”
"Your Majesty, you've decided what to do, haven't you?" Song Zhimin's eyes lit up.
Ye Yunshu nodded.
"I already have a plan in mind, but I still need Lin Xiang's help to handle these matters."
"Oh, right, Song Zhimian, there's something else I need to tell you." Ye Yunshu suddenly sat up straight.
Song Zhimian's heart skipped a beat. If the empress was speaking so seriously, it must be something important. Could it be that something had happened somewhere that she didn't know about?
"Does Your Majesty have any instructions?" Song Zhimian quickly knelt down.
Ye Yunshu gestured for Song Zhimian to move closer.
"The King of Qi sent a letter back from the southwest the day before yesterday," Ye Yunshu said softly.
Song Zhimian's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that something had happened in the southwest?
"He asked me for someone in his letter!" Ye Yunshu continued.
Song Zhimian was even more surprised.
Should we ask His Majesty for the prisoners?
"Who do you want? Which military officer from the capital? Isn't the Huangfu family always stationed in the southwest? A military officer from the capital..." Song Zhimin asked subconsciously.
“It’s a woman!” Ye Yunshu said, looking at Song Zhimian.
Song Zhimian's eyes widened.
Asking for a woman to go... doesn't mean...
"Should we send Princess Yongxin or Xiao Ruanruan? Xiao Ruanruan is currently organizing the affairs of the Merchant Guild. Once everything is sorted out, she will definitely set off for the Southwest."
Princess Yongxin...Isn't Wei Yanli over there? Song Zhimian could only think of these two people.
Ye Yunshun chuckled.
"He wants my personal lady-in-waiting, Song Zhimian, the Palace Attendant!"
Song Zhimian...
"Is he sick?" Song Zhimin blurted out subconsciously.
Ye Yunshu...
My younger brother... seems to be sick, and quite seriously so.
"He said you're smart and that you could outmaneuver those small tribes in the Biao Kingdom. He wants you to be his advisor."
Song Zhimian, are you going or not? If you want to go, I'll have to give up my wish.
"Who told me to rely on this younger brother to protect the southwest of Dayu!" Ye Yunshu joked.
Song Zhimian shook her head without even thinking.
"No way! I'd have to be crazy to go!"
Ye Yunshu was even more surprised.
Prince Qi... he is a prince, he has real power, and he is also my own younger brother. Even if Jue-ge'er ascends to the throne in the future, his status will not be affected.
Another point is... my younger brother is quite good-looking, and he is admired and desired by many young ladies in the capital.
Who wouldn't want to be the Princess Consort of Qi!
Ye Yunshu originally thought that Song Zhimian had stayed in the Southwest for quite some time and had become familiar with Xiao Huaijin. As a young girl in love, she would probably have some feelings for him.
If that's really the case... she could be a little accommodating.
But Song Zhimin's attitude now...
"Really not going?" Ye Yunshu asked again.
“I definitely won’t go! His Majesty is pregnant now and has many things to be careful about. He needs people around him right now, so how can I leave now?”
Also... the southwest is good, but compared to the capital... it's still a bit lacking.
Why would I give up a good life in the capital and run off to the southwest?
He's supposed to be a staff officer? He already has Wei Yanli by his side, okay? What would I do there? Wherever I go in the capital, everyone who sees me has to respectfully call me Lady Song!
I went to the southwest to help him come up with ideas to trick people... I need to make sure they don't notice and then secretly deal with me.
"I'm afraid of dying, I don't want to go!" Song Zhimian admitted frankly.
"He said he'd give you two large estates and even arrange for the people you want to work on them!" Ye Yunshu continued.
Song Zhimian paused for a moment.
"Well... we can't go now. We have to wait until things are more stable here with His Majesty before we can go."
Your Majesty, Wei Yanli can handle things in the southwest, so you don't need to worry too much!
Here, the Imperial Hospital has sent some medicine to help prevent miscarriage. Would you like to drink it now or wait until it cools down...?
...
A day later, Prime Minister Lin led a group of officials, all of whom looked pale and sickly, to the Phoenix Heaven Palace.
Upon entering the Fengtian Palace, all the officials pulled out a memorial from their sleeves and held it high above their heads.
"I am guilty!"
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