After reading Yang Biao's letter, the two remained silent for a long time, because the implications of Yang Biao's proposals to investigate the population in various places and to collect taxes by the acreage were too great.
The former involves a large workload and is too difficult to operate. In the past, the infant mortality rate among the people was very high, and many people deliberately concealed their population in order to avoid poll taxes and various corvée labor.
A thorough investigation would inevitably provoke resistance and even revolt from the common people and all powerful clans.
Taxing by the mu (unit of land area) is very beneficial to the national treasury revenue, but it is not so easy for powerful landlords to accept.
After a long silence, Chen Fan spoke up: "Your Majesty, I believe that levying taxes on a acreage basis may be feasible, but it should be adapted to local conditions. As for the population census, it requires further consideration."
"Alright, let's start collecting taxes by the acre from You, Bing, and Liang."
Hu Guang also stood up and said, "Your Majesty should also explain to the outside world that because the three regions are often harassed by barbarians, the people suffer heavy losses and the population is lost in large numbers, the policy of collecting taxes by the mu (unit of land area) is adopted to ensure the income of the national treasury."
"Situ's words make sense, let's do it this way! We can deal with the rest when the time is right!"
Liu Hong nodded. In his opinion, the existence of powerful landlords was not wrong. They had accumulated their wealth over generations. Liu Hong could ruthlessly eliminate those who committed evil deeds, but what about the kind ones?
In fact, the biggest problem with powerful clans is not exploitation, but the struggle for population and productivity. Liu Hong needs population and productivity to support his country and his ambitions, so he has no choice but to take action against these powerful clans.
Because existence itself is an error!
Subsequently, the Ministry of Personnel issued three urgent edicts, which were sent to Duan Jiong, Zhang Huan, and Lu Zhi respectively. They were instructed to send troops to assist in collecting taxes, which would be used as military rations and expenses. Anyone who dared to conceal or be greedy could be executed on the spot.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
