Chapter 293 Further Discussion
Zhao Zhen looked around and saw two riders, one on the left, wearing a bright green water-cotton shirt with threaded sleeves, a crimson bag, and a pair of black leather oil-shouldered boots. , riding a black horse, bright eyes, dark and thin, not who Shi Qian is.
The one on the right is different. He is dressed in military uniform, with a silver helmet and silver armor, and rides a five-color yellow horse. Look closer: white teeth, red lips, handsome eyes, clear eyebrows at the temples, slender waist and broad shoulders like an ape. He doesn't look like a tough minister, but he is a handsome Confucian general.
Seeing Zhao Zhen and his party in the distance, the two of them were the first to mount their horses. Hua Rong stood up and dismounted, and everyone went to the Jingyang Town military camp, holding hands with each other.
After some negotiation, it was Wu Yong who said, "Please take the senior official seat. Brothers Huazhizhai and Fu Yu will take the main seats on the left, and we will all sit on the guest seats on the right."< br>
Everyone sat down as instructed.
Hua Rong said: "Recently, I have heard a lot of the names of high-ranking officials in Qingfeng Village, and I admire them very much. I don't want to meet my brother here one day."
Zhao Zhen also said: "I have also heard from many merchants here that there is a young man who knows the village in Qingfeng Village. With a silver gun in his hand and a bow and arrow on horseback, he protects one side. The strong men in the three evil mountains dare not come close to plunder. They have long wanted to make friends, but they are stymied by the miscellaneous affairs in the county. , I never have time to relax. How can I get together with my brothers if I don’t have my brother Wu on my behalf?”
“A banquet has been prepared for my brothers today, and I want to celebrate my brother’s appointment as Zhizhai. From now on, we can always reunite."
After that, Wu Yong stood up and introduced the few heroes who came with him. After a long greeting, everyone went to the back to have a feast.
The sergeants who came with Hua Rong and their families were also resettled. After drinking till night, Zhao Zhen and others rested in Jingyang Town.
On the second day, Hua Rong came to Zhao Zhen and said: "Master, I have been operating in Qingfeng Village for many days. The more than 300 people who came with me are all capable of swinging swords and bows, and are skilled in martial arts. After these people joined the army, their families had to be resettled by senior officials to reassure them. "When Yun Tianbiao from Jingyang Town left, he also took many of his close soldiers with him. Unfortunately, the land was all gone. He was asked to sell it to a wealthy family in the town, but there was not much land in the town. If there was anyone willing to do business, there were still some vacant shops in the town. If he wanted to farm, he could only go to Liangshan County or Dulonggang. There are a lot of wasteland in the two places, which can be settled by oneself, but they are thirty or fifty miles away from here."
While the two were talking, Wu Yong came in shaking his feather fan. Seeing Zhao Zhen frowning, Wu Yong asked. Pan, laughed and said: "Why have the officials forgotten that after the Xiang Army in Jingyang Town was disbanded, they all moved to farm in various places in Liangshan County. When I reorganize and train the Forbidden Army in the past few days, I have informed the town that Liangshan In addition to purchasing land and houses, villages in the county can also rent 30 acres of land. The taxes are low and there are no excessive taxes. Many landless households and fifth-class households have signed up to move to Liangshan and rent farmland in the county next year. The wealthy households do not have enough farm laborers to farm. I also secretly publicized Liangshan’s land policy, and many wealthy families are ready to sell their excess land to the government.
Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "This is the best. The sergeant's family is on one side, and Xiu Mu can also be reunited."
Wu Yongdao: "Master, this Jingyang Town is not a newly built place after all. There are three first-class households in the town with more than 400 acres of land, seven second-class households with 150 to 400 acres of land, and 50 to 150 acres of land. There are 24 third-class households. Unlike the Li Ying brothers and Hujiazhuang, these families are farmers and heirlooms, and they are not engaged in business. Although they also consulted on the land policy of Liangshan County, they also said that they would sell their excess land. To the government, their expressions are all dissatisfied. Now we and the soldiers are fine, but I am afraid that these people will collude with outsiders and cause harm in the future."
After hearing this, Zhao Zhen frowned deeper: "Brother. We have never considered this matter. After all, Liangshan County is an emerging area. Most of the farmers originally had no land to cultivate. Now there are so many landowners in Jingyang Town. If they cannot be properly handled, there will be resistance to expansion in the future. I don’t know how big it will be. Brothers, do you have any countermeasures?”
Wu Yong said: “We were thinking about this obstacle, so we didn’t make any move.”
Hua Rong said: “ Isn't it the case that taxes are levied based on the amount of land? "
Zhao Zhen said: "Brother, we understand this, but the reality is not like this. Rich households have more land and earn more every year. As time goes on, the poor will become richer, and the poor will become poorer. If this continues, the poor will have no place to stand, and they will rise up. ”
"With this in mind, since the establishment of the county, I have decided with the military advisor, the county magistrate and others that ordinary farmers in the county can only purchase 20 acres of land, and military households can purchase ten acres more. If there is more land, they will have to serve in the county, such as Brother Li Ying only kept 300 acres of fertile land in his hands, and the rest was sold to the county at the land price. "Wu Yong continued, "Unfortunately, not everyone is like Brother Li Ying. For example, these wealthy households have no land. It has been accumulated by several generations, and now it is suddenly handed over. I am afraid there will be many complaints. Now it seems that the land policy of Liangshan County was still insufficient and did not take into account the current situation. "
Hua Rong listened and said: "This kind of land needs people, right? As long as the land rented in the county has a lower rent, I think farmers will rent land in the county first. If rich households There is no one to plow the land, so I just buy it myself."
Zhao Zhen thought for a while and said, "It's a good idea, but it still needs some thought. After all, it has a bad reputation."
< br>Wu Yong smiled and said: "Official, after hearing what Huazhizhai said, I think it is feasible, but it is not about lowering the land rent."
Zhao Zhen asked hurriedly: "Speak quickly, scholar."
"Officials, many people in the world are seeking profit. I think the Tao does not need to limit the acres of land, but only needs to set limits on the price of the land. Today's officials The fifth-class households with less than 30 acres are considered semi-self-cultivated. Those with 30 to 50 acres are enough to be self-sufficient. It is better to limit the land to 50 acres. The current price for purchasing land below 50 acres is 150 to 150 acres. The price per mu is doubled, then doubled from 150 acres to 400 acres, doubled again from 400 acres, doubled again from 1,000 acres, and doubled again from 10,000 acres, which naturally limits the purchase of land by the county government. Just levy taxes according to the acres of land."
Zhao Zhen said: "With 5 acres of paddy fields, wouldn't the 10,000 acres of land cost 160 acres per acres?"
Wu Yong said: "That's it. The county also recognized the land in the hands of wealthy households, and then handled it accordingly. In order to prevent private transactions, future land transactions must go through the county government. All private transfers are strictly prohibited, and the land cannot be given away in any form. Once discovered, The land will be confiscated and a heavy fine will be imposed. And once the family is divided, if the land exceeds 400 acres, no less than 50 acres will be distributed to the children to ensure the children's daily needs after the family is separated. As for marriage, etc., land donations are also required. "Impose heavy taxes."
After hearing this, Zhao Zhen said: "We still need to discuss it with the county officials and implement it. Brother Li Ying is at a disadvantage here. You can discuss it with Xiao Rang and other brothers. Fan, just return the land to Brother Li Ying.”
Wu Yong nodded in agreement: "There is a solution to this matter. I am here today to remind the officials that it is time to prepare for the trip to Tai'an Prefecture."
"Du Dao Wu Mr. Yong is smarter than Zhuge. I didn’t believe it. When I saw him today, I heard that the military advisor said that the high officials are going to Tai’an Prefecture to burn incense?” When Zhu Renyuan invited people from all over the world to compete in sumo wrestling, Hua Rong said: "I have also heard that Ren Yuan is a great hero. When the senior officials were leaving, I happened to take my wife and younger sister to burn incense."
Zhao Zhen said: "Today is the 24th. Let's go to see if there are many brothers who want to go. I will go and take a look. Prepare today and set off tomorrow."
Wu Yongdao: "There is no need to go all of them, just leave half of the brothers to sit in charge and go next year. Senior officials, Brother Hua Rong wants to bring his family members with him. I wonder if my wife is going?"
"In the past few days, I have only been thinking about the arrival of Brother Hua Rong. I will go back and ask questions, and I will also ask the brothers to bring their families. In this case, I am afraid that I will not be able to reach Tai'an Prefecture in one day. All the necessary things on the road must be prepared. ."
Zhao Zhen asked Hua Rong to prepare, and took his escort back to Baishi Manor.
(End of this chapter)