When Wei Min first learned about the case of the Duke of Huai's land invasion, he made a taxation plan in advance, and during that time he also privately discussed with Jiang Wuque the various possibilities after its implementation.
Now, the emperor asked Wei Min to submit a plan, and three days later, she handed it in.
Wei Min's method was simple but troublesome. She proposed to re-survey the land.
Wei Min's proposal was opposed by Zuo Xiang and others in the court. They believed that this was a bad idea. Not only would it be time-consuming and laborious, but it would also fail to truly solve the problem of uneven taxation among the people.
Wei Min clearly listed to Jiang Kunjun the benefits of implementing this law. After the land was measured, nobles, gentry and landlords could no longer hide their land and evade taxes. At that time, the court would be able to have a more comprehensive and accurate grasp of the country's land reserves, which would be beneficial to taxation.
Jiang Kunjun was aroused by Wei Min's words and wanted to use her method, but Zuo Xiang and others were opposed to it. So she thought of a compromise and asked Wei Min to make a guarantee in the court that if this move did not produce results, the issue of land measurement would not be mentioned again in the future.
This guarantee is of no significance to Zuo Xiang and others, and has no practical benefit. But the difficulty lies in that this is a step given by the emperor to save their reputation. If they do not step on it, they would be shameless.
Wei Min knew that simply surveying the land would not be enough to completely change the problems of uneven taxation and exploitation by clerks. If the taxation system was not further reformed, the stable growth of the national treasury could not be guaranteed, more poor people would lose their homes and fortunes, which would be detrimental to social stability.
Tax and corvée reform is a very tricky matter. Once it infringes too much on the interests of powerful eunuchs and aristocratic families, it may cause strong opposition. If Jiang Kunjun sides with the aristocratic families, all his efforts will be wasted.
Fortunately, two years later, the national land measurement was completed, and the available land was more than one million hectares more than three years ago. The increase in additional land means an increase in taxes, which can just make up for the empty treasury.
In the first year, Jiang Kunjun had already seen some tangible benefits of this move and was very happy. At the same time, because Liu Wen was exposed for embezzling money from the national treasury and was executed in the autumn, she appointed Wei Min as the Minister of Revenue and allowed her to continue to implement tax reforms.
Wei Min then simplified the items of taxes and labor service and the procedures for collecting them, unifying them.
The effects of this series of reforms would not be seen overnight, but the slow effects of land surveying and reforms led to a significant increase in the amount of silver and grain stored in the national treasury, reaching the highest level since Jiang Kunjun ascended the throne.
In the spring of the third year, Jiang Kunjun said that Wei Min was familiar with official duties and had good command of departments, so he was specially transferred to the Political Affairs Hall to serve as Vice-Chancellor.
The Minister of State Affairs has been known as the Deputy Prime Minister since ancient times.
It had only been three years since Wei Min returned to the capital, but he was promoted from the fourth rank of Dali Temple Minister to the second rank of Canjing Zhengshi.
At the same time, the emperor specially granted a large courtyard with four entrances and exits and many acres of fertile land to show his favor.
When A Ruan moved from the three-courtyard house he had just moved to last year, he was a little dissatisfied with the hassle, but when he saw who lived across the street, he immediately stopped complaining.
The Eighth Prince Jiang Wuque lives opposite to Minister Wei.
The small-leaf red sandalwood plaque that Feng Yu had given was naturally moved to the new Wei Mansion along with its owner, and was hung up under the personal command of Shiba.
18. Recently, I feel very happy and energetic, and I am particularly motivated to do things.
She and Erjiu had saved a lot of money in the past three years and were preparing to bring his father and sister from Zhucheng to the capital. The house had already been bought, and they were just waiting for people to come so that they could take care of her and Erjiu's affairs.
A year ago, after A'ruan learned that the two were together, she discussed it with Wei Min and bought the courtyard house with two entrances and two exits that they lived in when they first came to the capital, and gave it to the young couple as a gift.
Erjiu held the land deed in her hands, crying breathlessly. She was so moved that she almost said something like "I will never get married and will stay with my master and serve him all my life." Shiba was so scared that she quickly pulled her hand and stopped him from saying anything.
She and Erjiu are both the master's and the lord's people. Even after getting married, they will still have to live in the Wei Mansion and serve. That yard was just for her father and sister to live in, and she and Erjiu would go back there occasionally.
Eighteen thought that the academy in the capital was better and would be beneficial for Erjiu's sister's studies, so he discussed with him to bring her over. After seeing Erjiu nod, Shiba immediately sent someone to pick them up.
In addition, there is another most important reason, which is that Erjiu is willing to marry her only after his father-in-law comes.
Erjiu said that his mother was no longer around, and his father had worked hard to raise him. Now that he was going to get married, his father had to look after him personally.
Eighteen has been keeping an eye on Twenty-Nine for three years. He has seen with his own eyes that the short girl has grown taller and more beautiful over the years, and he couldn't help himself for a long time.
During this period, Shi Ba was very busy besides taking care of his father-in-law's affairs.
Wei Min was promoted to councilor and moved into a new house. It was a double happiness and countless people came to give him gifts.
Eighteen counted the gifts sent by various mansions, and when he saw the two beauties standing on the side with a shy look, his eyebrows raised slightly.
Eighteen picked up the gift list beside him and took a quick glance before realizing that these two gifts were sent by the Duke of Huai.
After the execution of Duke Lao Huai, the title of Duke was inherited by his eldest daughter. The Duke of Xinhuai resented the Master for executing her mother and stripping her of her power. She thought the Master had gained his current position by stepping on her mother's corpse, and had always been against her.
But she was a duke with no real power, so no matter how much she complained, the adults would not take her seriously.
For the past three years, my lady has only had one master by her side. Her doting on her husband is well known in the capital. Duke Huai knew this very well, but he still sent two beauties here. I guess he wanted to send them to disgust her on purpose.
It was a gift from the Duke, and the gift was from a beautiful lady, so there was no reason to return it. Eighteen could only close the gift list and have the two young masters taken to the backyard.
When the two were taken away, they couldn't hide the joy in their eyes, thinking that they might be able to become attendants in the future.
Not to mention that Wei Shangzheng is good-looking and is the sweetheart of all the men in Beijing, her limitless future is also very tempting.
Lord Wei is just a mute, and a mute who cannot have children. What’s the point of Lord Wei doting on him? When they have a child in the future, the father will be honored by his daughter, so why would he be afraid that the position will not be his?
The two young men look no more than fourteen or fifteen years old, and their minds are very immature. Most of their thoughts are revealed in their eyes, and they haven't learned to hide them yet. How can they hide them from an eighteen-year-old?
Seeing the two of them looking forward to going to the backyard, Eighteen was extremely excited. He couldn't help but shake his head and curl his lips, sneering: "You are still too young."
The young servant who led them there saw the two young masters walking with a breeze behind them, their eyes full of smiles, and he was very puzzled. They were just sent to the backyard to work, what was there to be happy about?
The backyard of the Wei Mansion was different from other mansions. It was not inhabited by beautiful ladies serving as concubines, but by a bunch of servants who did rough work.
…
When A'ruan brought the tea into the study, Wei Min was sitting behind the desk with his eyes closed and his brows furrowed. His elbows were resting on the armrests of the chair, and his fingertips were pinching his forehead.
A Ruan walked lightly, placed the plate gently on the corner of the table, walked to stand behind Wei Min, and raised her hand to massage her temples.
After Wei Min called out "A Ruan" in a low voice, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
Outsiders only saw that Wei Min's promotion in the past two years was as easy as drinking water, but they did not know how hard she worked in private, especially in the past two years, she was exhausted from working late into the night.
A Ruan felt sorry for his wife and specially learned massage techniques from the doctor in the mansion. When Wei Min was tired, he would come over and massage her to relieve her fatigue and let her relax for a while.
After A'ruan pressed for a while, Wei Min raised his hand and held his fingers. He slowly opened his eyes and said in a tired and weak voice, "Okay, A'ruan, take a break. Don't get tired."
A Ruan shook his head to indicate that he was not tired.
Wei Min sat up slightly, took A Ruan's hand, pulled him to his side, put his arm around his waist, and let him sit on his lap.
A Ruan leaned in Wei Min's arms, raised her fingertips to gently stroke the blue color under her eyes, and pursed her lips with heartache.
Wei Min kissed A'ruan's fingertips, rested his chin on his head and closed his eyes. After a while, he said in a hoarse voice: "A'ruan, I'm afraid the master will not survive this year."
The master Wei Min mentioned was Master Wei, who treated her like his own daughter when Wei Min was studying at Luoyu Academy in Qingping County. A'ruan still remembered the basket of eggs that the master gave her when they got married.
Ah Ruan straightened up when he heard this and asked worriedly:
——Didn’t you send a doctor over last time?
Ah Ruan saw Wei Min leaning on the back of the chair with a gray face, his eyes trembling slightly, his breathing paused slightly, his light-colored lips opened in disbelief, he raised his shaking hands and asked carefully:
——But...it has no effect?
Wei Min closed her eyes and nodded weakly. The teacher told her in his reply that she was getting better and there was no need to worry. However, the doctor's letter said that he could only guarantee that the condition would not worsen. As for how long she could hold on, it was up to her...
Over the years, she and her master have never stopped writing to each other. The Master knew everything she did, and sometimes even offered some different opinions.
Jiang Wuque was sometimes surprised when she saw the suggestions in the letter. She bluntly said that Master Wei of Luoyu Academy should not be confined to a small county, stay in a small academy, and be just a teacher.
At the same time, I also understood why Wei Min was able to pass the imperial examination and get the top three honors. In addition to her own intelligence, she also had a good teacher.
Wei Min and Master Wei have always had a good relationship and deep feelings for each other. That is why Wei Min felt powerless when he learned that Master Wei was seriously ill.
The money was sent and a good doctor from the capital was also sent, but there was still no improvement.
A Ruan now understood why his wife looked frustrated.
Wei Min hugged A'ruan tightly in his arms. He didn't know what he remembered. He raised his hand to tug at his clothes, then reached into his sleeve and touched his wrist. He heaved a sigh of relief when he felt warmth everywhere. He looked up at A'ruan's eyes and said without any context, "You have to take good care of yourself and don't be naughty."
A Ruan knew what Wei Min meant and her eyes turned red.
Wei Min stroked A'ruan's back and said, "After I finish my work at the court, I want to go back to Qingping County in autumn at the latest. The master has no daughter, only one son. If..."
Wei Min closed his eyes lightly, paused for a moment and said, "After the teacher leaves, only my master will be left. As a student who participates in politics, I have to go back to support them."
Orphans and widows, without a woman in the family, should not be looked down upon and bullied.
Ah Ruan nodded and raised his hand:
——I’ve been out for six or seven years, it’s time to go back.
The author has something to say: Hahaha, another chapter added (/▽╲)
As for the main point (you know), I have something to do this week and I am too busy saving the manuscript to catch up. When I come back next week, I will catch up in the old place if I can. Love you~(* ￣3)(ε￣ *)
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