While Fu Xiaoguan was still discussing the equal-field system with Zong Shiji, thousands of miles away, in Yunlai County, the most remote and poorest county in Jiannan East Road, the first equal-field system policy in the history of the Yu Dynasty was born!
At the same time, the first family planning policy in the history of the Yu Dynasty was born!
However, this family planning policy is quite ridiculous. When Fu Xiaoguan found out about it, he couldn't help but laugh out loud three times.
"According to my estimation, if we take the entire barren land of Yunlai County, there would be at least millions of acres of farmland!"
"At the end of last year, I exchanged a letter with Brother Xiwen. He said that Xishan... that is, Xishan of Linjiang, where Lord Fu made his fortune, now has a new crop called sweet potato. He said that this crop is not picky about the land and can produce at least 5,000 kilograms per mu!"
"Don't look at me like that, it's creepy. Anyway, that's what Brother Xiwen said. And I believe it, because it was something that Fu Xiaoguan tinkered with."
"So I thought, it's definitely too late this year, but we have to catch up next year, so we need to get some sweet potato seeds... Brother Xiwen said we're going to raise seedlings, and then we can ask a few farmers from Xishan to come and give us guidance. You say, if we can make use of this land, plus we have such a high-yield sweet potato, then the problem of food will definitely be solved, right?"
The purpose of all this is for the people! So let's introduce another policy to encourage people to have children... not encourage them, but force them. Remember, every household where a couple is under 40 years old, regardless of how many children they already have, must have at least one more!
Those under the age of 30 must have at least two more children!
Anyone under the age of twenty must give birth to a child for me every two years!"
The firelight from the stove illuminated Zhuo Liuyun's face, which was bright red. It was unclear if it was because he had drunk too much or because of the burning firelight.
At this moment, his expression was very serious, and his eyes were fixed on the charcoal fire in the stove with great determination.
Yan Gao hasn't seen such an expression for more than half a year. This is enough to show the county magistrate's determination to change Yunlai County. However... can the issue of having children be forced through policies?
If someone doesn't want to give birth, can you strip them naked and press them onto the bed?
Besides, do you believe that the sweet potato yield is 5,000 kilograms per mu?
I have lived for most of my life, and I am buried in the soil up to my neck, but I have never heard of a yield of over a thousand kilograms per mu, let alone five thousand kilograms. My lord, you must be drunk.
"This...what if they don't give birth?"
Zhuo Liuyun's eyes were stern. "Not giving birth? If not, then they'll be forced to do labor service. Build a road. Yes, there's only one fucking road from Yunlai County to Jinyuan City in Shuzhou. It's only about two hundred miles, but there's not a single foot of flat ground in this two hundred miles. Let alone when it rains, even on ordinary days, this shabby road is difficult for even a carriage to pass through. Tell me, who would dare to invest in a place like this?"
Even if goods are produced, they have to be transported by mules and horses, or carried by people. How do we calculate the cost?"
As if he had made up his mind, Zhuo Liuyun sobered up a little. He stood up and paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.
"I still remember Lord Fu's 'On the Youth of the Yu Dynasty'. Therefore, the responsibility today does not lie with others, but with me, the youth. I am still a youth, am I not? Your Majesty has appointed me as the magistrate of Yunlai County. I do not want to waste any more time. I must take on the responsibility of revitalizing Yunlai County.
This matter is settled. Tomorrow at 11:00 AM, we will assign the task to all officials and carry it out. Please take the trouble to think about the details of these two policies, formulate a plan, and promulgate it for implementation!"
"This...hasn't been approved by the Ministry of Personnel?"
"No, it will take who knows when they approve it. Let's just... execute it first and ask for permission later!"
…
…
The next day, Yu Wenshu slept until noon.
He stretched and got out of bed. He took one look at the hard, old bed and suddenly laughed.
This person is such a mean person!
How could I possibly sleep on a bed like this and with a quilt like this?
But now, after being in trouble for many days, I feel that this bed is extremely warm.
He pushed open the window, and a chill blew in from outside, and also a ray of sunshine hit his face.
He suddenly felt extremely relaxed at this moment, and suddenly felt that such a life was also very good. It would be even better if he had a stable income.
Thinking of this, he left the room, went downstairs, rested for two more days, and sat down in a corner of the empty lobby to have a quiet lunch.
Then he walked out of the inn and onto the not very busy street. Suddenly he saw a notice posted on a wall and a lot of people gathered around it.
He walked over and saw not the arrest warrant for his arrest, but a notice.
This notice was that the Yunlai County government would survey all the barren land on the third day of the fourth lunar month, take it back as its own, and redistribute the land based on households.
The notice stipulated that male adults and middle-aged men were to receive 100 mu of land, 30 mu of which was to be permanent land and could be passed down to descendants. The remaining 70 mu was to be government land, which was exempt from tax for five years and returned to the government upon death.
Old men and disabled people will receive 30 mu of land, widows and concubines will receive 20 mu of land, and if they are the heads of households, they will receive an additional 20 mu of permanent land.
Official households receive half the amount of land as good laborers, and those engaged in industry and commerce receive the same amount as official households.
If there is a soldier in the family, an additional 30 mu of permanent land will be added.
Those who have made meritorious service in the army will be granted land ranging from one hundred to one thousand acres according to their merits.
This announcement caused a lot of discussion among people. It was undoubtedly a good thing. Those barren fields were liberated. If they could be allocated so much land and not have to pay taxes for five years... many people were immediately tempted and calculated how much their family members could get.
At this moment, several more yamen runners came over. Yu Wenshu was startled, lowered his head, and his hand fell on the hilt of the sword.
"Make way, everyone, there is good news coming!"
These yamen runners squeezed into the crowd and posted another notice: Regulations on increasing population and production!
A man who looked like a legal advisor stood under the notice. "Everyone, be quiet. This is called the Population and Production Regulations. It's stamped with the big red seal of the county magistrate and has the force of law. Listen carefully!"
The lawyer read it out word by word, and amid the uproar of the crowd, he further explained:
"Be at ease, be at ease... Isn't it just about giving birth? This is what the county magistrate is thinking about you!"
"If you have more children, you'll get more land. And Yunlai County has been covered in snow for four months straight. Why not have children?"
"Those who refuse to have children will indeed be forced to do corvée labor. Please make sure you understand this. Go back and look up your birth charts to see how many children you should have according to the standard. Hurry up! If you get pregnant now, the birth will be in February, which is the slack season for farming."
"And those who have reached the age where they are still unmarried, you... the one in white,"
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