Chapter 59: They’re All Landlords…

“In the regions of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, it is common to see peasants being forced to sell their land at low prices and become tenant farmers. In order to avoid heavy taxes and to survive, many resorted to entrusting their land under the name of the officials and wealthy gentry, this has become prevalent…”

“If we do not find a way to restrain this phenomenon, the land of the entire country will become the land of officials and gentry, and the farmers of the entire country will become the farmers of officials and gentry!”

During the court assembly, Fang Xiaoru read aloud Hu Jun’s memorial titled “A Petition on Behalf of the Million People in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.”

Zhu Yunwen’s face darkened as he scanned the courtiers and shouted sternly, “On the Lantern Festival, We promised prosperity for the people! Yet, within ten days, We receive such a memorial. Haha, is this the true state of Great Ming? How can We face the world with such shame? Huang Zicheng, as the Minister of Revenue, what is your view on this matter?”

Huang Zicheng stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Your Majesty, every word in Hu Jun’s memorial is deeply alarming. I believe that if the situation in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is true as described by Hu Jun and others, with land consolidation and the trend of entrusting the land under another name, the court should implement strict measures and investigate the lands of the gentry to impose restrictions.”

Zhou De, the left assistant censor-in-chief from the Censorate, stood up and opposed, “Investigation? Officials are exempt from land taxes on their official salaries, while wealthy farmers and gentry enjoy partial tax exemptions on their land. This is the system established by Emperor Taizu! Your Majesty, I believe that poor agricultural management or crop failures leading to financial ruin is a common occurrence among farmers. By relying on the support of the gentry, they can sustain their production and livelihood. The words of Hu Jun are excessive and intended to intimidate the court. He should be punished accordingly!”

Huang Zicheng turned abruptly, his anger rising. I, a Minister of Revenue, haven’t finished speaking yet, and now you, a mere assistant censor, dare to interrupt?

“Assistant Censor Zhou’s words are reasonable, Your Majesty. Throughout history, farmers have depended on land, and land depends on the wealthy landlords and the government. Even if some self-cultivating farmers become tenant farmers, it may not necessarily be a bad thing. After all, they still have land to cultivate, and the court only needs to collect the corresponding taxes and silver. Taxes and silver are not in short supply, and everything can be resolved.”

Fan Jun, the right assistant censor-in-chief from the Censorate, stepped forward to support Zhou De.

Huang Zicheng grew furious, retorting sharply, “If the common people have no self-cultivated land and completely depend on the gentry, then whom they belong to, are they the court’s, Great Ming’s, or the gentry’s? Assistant Censors Zhou and Fan, you should know that even if tenant farmers produce two dan of grain per mu, they still have to submit one dan, or even one dan and five dou!”

“Aren’t there still five dou left? They won’t starve!” Zhou De said coldly.

Huang Zicheng clenched his fists and shouted, “According to the Single Whip Method, if they cultivate the land themselves, they only need to submit one dou and three sheng of grain as agricultural tax for two dan of grain! “

“Just one dou and three sheng? Haha, Minister Huang, according to the system established by the founder, the agricultural tax is only 1/30, so for two dan of grain, it should be six sheng at most. Why has it increased to one dou and three sheng?” Zhou De counter-questioned.

Huang Zicheng exclaimed, “With the Single Whip Method, the agricultural tax has been reduced from 1/30 to 1/15. This matter has already been decided by the court! Why do you bring it up again? The Grand Secretariat has explained it clearly and even provided investigations from North and South Zhili. Although the agricultural tax seems low at thirty percent, the various corvées imposed on the people each year have long exceeded 1/10, even reaching 1/7 or 1/5!”

“With the Single Whip Method, although the agricultural tax appears to increase, it actually reduces the burden on the farmers, eliminating various corvées and disturbances. Zhou De, you should know that tenant farmers pay 1/2 ratio! Yet, you still support such outrageous actions and even utter the phrase ‘they won’t starve.’ Are you truly serving the people as an official?!”

Huang Zicheng was furious. He had seen reports from South and North Zhili, as well as Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The number of self-cultivating farmers in the lower class had sharply decreased by at least thirty percent compared to ten years ago. In other words, out of one million self-cultivating farmers, at least three hundred thousand had lost their land!

These lost lands were not the result of their poor management but the result of collusion among the gentry. Under the guise of adhering to the old system, they repeatedly levied taxes and imposed corvées. Using various means, the self-cultivating farmers had already lost their means of sustenance. At this point, what else could they do?

They sold their own land at extremely low prices, and in turn, they sold themselves and their families!

Selling their lives was only the first step; in the years to come, they would no longer be humans but cattle, horses, and donkeys!

Subject to beatings and humiliation, tirelessly working on the land, devoid of freedom!

Huang Zicheng was enraged by the methods used against the lower class, but as the Minister of Revenue, he cared more about tax revenue. The conversion of three hundred thousand self-cultivating farmers into tenant farmers meant a significant loss of tax revenue for the court!

Calculating at ten mu per person, it amounted to three million mu of land. According to the old system of 1/30 tax, collecting six sheng of grain tax per mu would yield nearly eighteen thousand dan of grain, and this was the lowest estimate. The actual figure was likely several times higher.

After all, the officials have their official fields, which are exempt from taxation. And during the time of Zhu Yuanzhang, the court even granted partial tax exemptions to the wealthy gentry.

All the land of the common people has fallen into their hands, yet they either pay no taxes or pay minimal taxes. How can the Ministry of Revenue collect taxes under such circumstances?

In this situation, don’t talk about single whip method, even if you break the whip, you still can’t strike the gentry!

Although the Single Whip Method has protected self-cultivating farmers and prevented the gentry from forcefully seizing and plundering. the lower class has its own methods. The madness over land among these people cannot be suppressed!

Unless the court implements strict policies!

These officials from the Censorate, one after another, talk nonsense and believe that the conversion of self-cultivating farmers into tenant farmers is a good thing. They even think that the gentry has done good deeds!

In the end, it’s all about interests!

Behind these officials, there must be a large amount of land.

They are speaking out to protect their own interests!

Not to mention, during the implementation of the Single Whip Method, although it hasn’t yet affected their interests, it has already raised their vigilance. They are opposing it now to hold back the court and avoid further investigations!

The court is in a state of turmoil, with no definite conclusion.

Zhu Yunwen’s gaze is cold. When he thinks about it, these people are officials, but once they take off their official robes, they are all landlords…

Those who came from humble backgrounds and entered the court have also become landlords by buying and occupying land. As landlords, it is only natural for them to protect their own interests.

But these landlords are too greedy. They want to eat the meat, gnaw the bones, and take away even the dregs of the fertile land, without giving a single bit to the court!

These people, who study the teachings of the sages, have become no different from ruffians when it comes to taking action.

They have double standards.

Well, very well!

Since these new landlords disregard martial virtue, then let them bear the consequences.

“Enough!”

Zhu Yunwen shouts loudly.

The court falls silent, and the ministers who were standing in the wrong positions also return to their places.

Zhu Yunwen solemnly says, “Hu Jun’s memorial will be copied five times by the Grand Secretariat and ten times by the six ministries! The remaining will copy twenty times! Let it be transcribed here! This matter will be further discussed tomorrow.”

The eunuchs, unsure of whether to announce “the end of the court session,” look at Zhu Yunwen and hesitate.

Seeing this, the ministers kneel and shout their salutations.

Xie Jin instructed the palace attendants to prepare writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, wearing a smile on his face. Yu Xin and Zhang Dan also relaxed, at least the Emperor didn’t mention anything about executing someone. That made things easier to handle.

Yu Xin holds Hu Jun’s memorial and says, “What Hu Jun said is correct. If the issue of land in the prefectures and counties is not addressed, there may not be any immediate chaos, but a hundred years later, it will become a great problem.”

“Heh, it’s not easy to solve this problem.”

Zhang Dan furrows his brow and sighs.

Xie Jin looks at Zhang Dan’s worried expression, leans closer, and whispers, “Official Zhang, are you implying that the royal family occupies the most land? Hehe, believe it or not, the officials in the Six Ministries will make this matter clear tomorrow.”

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