Tax Reform Storm
During the spring planting season, Wu Zetian looked at the tax ledgers presented by the Ministry of Revenue, her fingertip pausing heavily on the two characters "Hidden Fields".
(Inner monologue: Powerful families are hiding their land holdings, causing the national treasury to be depleted year after year. This problem needs to be addressed!)
She summoned the Minister of Revenue: "Remeasure all the land in the country; those who conceal or fail to report such activities will have their land confiscated."
The old minister was so frightened he almost fell over: "Your Majesty! This action could cause turmoil throughout the land!"
"Then let's start by measuring my own fiefdom," Wu Meiniang sneered. "Issue the decree: begin by measuring the imperial estates surrounding Chang'an."
When the news spread, the powerful and influential families were in an uproar.
Five surnames and seven clans jointly submitted a petition, claiming that "the empress is competing with the people for profit."
Some even spread rumors among the people that Empress Wu wanted to triple the taxes.
(Inner monologue: Public opinion warfare? I've been doing that for ages!)
Wu Zetian immediately published a "Letter to the World" in the "Great Tang Gazette," clearly outlining the new tax policy.
He then ordered storytellers to explain in the marketplace: "From now on, taxes will be paid according to the actual amount of land owned. Those with no land will pay less, and those with more land will pay more—it's fair!"
At the same time, she dispatched a surveying team composed of officials from humble backgrounds.
The newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) led the way, carrying an abacus and Taiping paper. His first stop was the ancestral property of the Wang family in Taiyuan.
"Insolence!" the Wang clan elder roared, leaning on his cane. "My family's land deeds were personally bestowed by Emperor Taizong!"
Liu Rengui calmly unfolded the map: "Then please point out, sir, where is the boundary of the granted land?"
(Inner monologue: Use magic to defeat magic!)
Just as the tax reform was reaching a critical stage, Wu Zetian suddenly fell ill.
After taking her pulse, the imperial physician's face revealed a subtle expression: "Your Majesty, this is... a sign of pregnancy."
Li Zhi was both surprised and delighted, while Wu Meiniang rubbed her lower abdomen with worry.
(Inner monologue: This child couldn't have come at the worst possible time...)
During the worst days of her morning sickness, she reviewed official documents while holding a spittoon.
Upon seeing the report from Hebei Province that "tens of thousands of acres of hidden farmland have been cleared out," he momentarily forgot his nausea.
"Your Majesty," she leaned weakly on Li Zhi's shoulder, "when this child is born, let's name him 'Xian.' May all the fields under heaven be revealed under the sunlight."
(Inner monologue: Li Xian... at least it sounds more auspicious than Li Xian.)
The powerful families launched a fierce counterattack.
On the day of the grand court session, more than ten officials suddenly knelt down and wept, claiming that the land surveying had driven the people to their deaths.
Just then, Wu Meiniang suffered from morning sickness and vomited incessantly while being supported by palace maids.
Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi) flew into a rage: "Even during her pregnancy, the Empress is still working tirelessly for the country, and you dare to deceive the Emperor!"
He immediately ordered Di Renjie to investigate thoroughly.
Three days later, the truth came to light: the so-called "people who were forced to their deaths" were actually tenant farmers hired by the powerful families in disguise.
(Inner monologue: Trying to play dirty tricks on me?)
Under the pretext of resting during her pregnancy, Wu Zetian summoned tax reform officials from various regions to the palace.
With her slightly protruding belly, she distributed the newly printed "Explanation of the Equal-Field System" to everyone: "Remember, you are not measuring fields, you are measuring the backbone of the Tang Dynasty."
On the day the autumn tax was deposited into the treasury, good news kept pouring in.
One million mu of hidden farmland were cleared across the country, and the national treasury's annual revenue exceeded ten million guan for the first time.
What's even more surprising is that the small farmers, whose tax burden has actually been reduced, spontaneously organized themselves and turned over the evil servants of the powerful families who tried to sabotage the surveying to the authorities.
Hearing the good news and feeling the movement of her unborn child, Wu Zetian suddenly smiled at Emperor Gaozong and said, "Your Majesty, this child is a lucky star."
"Yes," Li Zhi gently stroked her pregnant belly, "He showed me what true popular support is."
——
[Mini-Drama: The Turmoil of Prenatal Education]
(Li Zhi's perspective)
Even when her morning sickness was at its worst, Wu Zetian still insisted on providing prenatal education for her unborn child.
But the content of this prenatal education was truly unique—every day she would read tax data to her belly: "Listen carefully, Xian'er, today three thousand acres of hidden land have been cleared..."
(My princes were already learning mathematics before they were even born.)
That day, the aristocratic families caused trouble, and Meiniang was so angry that her fetus kept moving.
I was about to fly into a rage when I saw her suddenly laugh: "Xian'er is kicking me; she must have understood those absurd words too."
What made me both laugh and cry was that the first toy she prepared for the child was a specially made miniature abacus.
(It seems my third prince is destined to deal with numbers.)
Well, it's better than Taiping chasing after palace maids for rouge all day long.
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