Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 434 The Scheme of Land Acquisition: Gains and Losses! Zhu Yunwen's Political Wisdom!
As soon as Zhu Yunwen finished speaking, Yao Guangxiao took the lead in clapping, and the crisp "clap clap" sound echoed throughout the hall.

His face showed admiration, and he said loudly, "Wonderful! Your Majesty truly deserves to be called the greatest emperor of all time. Your wisdom and talent are unparalleled throughout history. This humble monk is sincerely convinced and admires you beyond measure!"

His eyes gleamed, and his tone was full of admiration: "This method of issuing stocks is truly a stroke of genius!"

"Not only did it eliminate everyone's worries about the inheritance of their family businesses, but it also eliminated the need for the court to use a single tael of silver from the national treasury to redeem the land. Such a brilliant strategy is truly ingenious!"

Yao Guangxiao had been thinking about something for a while.

Your Majesty wishes to implement new policies and initiate land reform, intending to reclaim land for the imperial court, which will inevitably require a huge amount of funds.

Even with a national treasury as full as that of the Ming Dynasty, it would be difficult to bear such a huge expenditure.

Forcible confiscation is not feasible, so how should we break this deadlock?

When he first heard about the progressive tax system, he speculated that it was intended to force local gentry to divide up their land and sell it to the poor at low prices.

This law is too oppressive to the wealthy and powerful, and may provoke a strong backlash, making it difficult to implement the new policy.

Yao Guangxiao was a man who had renounced worldly affairs and might not have cared about the turmoil in the world, but he could not help but consider whether this strategy could truly take root.

Furthermore, do the poor really have the money to buy them?
The answer is probably still no.

Even if land prices are low, the poor still cannot afford to buy it.

No matter how powerful or wealthy a family is, they would never give away their land to the poor for free.

Hearing Zhu Yunwen explain the laws of the stock market clearly, he felt as if he had been enlightened.

It turns out that the progressive tax system was just a preemptive move. The real intention was to force the gentry to give up their land and convert it into shares in companies under the Ministry of Assets, thus protecting their interests while cleverly achieving the court's goal.

"Your Majesty's strategy has solved more than just the problem of the money needed to redeem the land!"

Xia Yuanji then spoke, his voice brimming with barely concealed excitement: "Furthermore, it has raised much-needed capital for the future development of numerous companies!"

As a high-ranking official in charge of the Ming Dynasty Bank, he had a profound understanding of the financial lifeline and the national economy.

Previously, although many companies under the Ministry of Assets of the Ming Dynasty operated efficiently and made a lot of money, they all needed to invest huge sums of money in advance to build factories and add production lines.

While the company is bound to be profitable in the future, where will the money for this investment come from right now?

Money is needed everywhere, and funds are always tight; the source of funds has always been a problem.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yuanji clapped his hands and laughed: "Your Majesty's brilliant move, using stock financing, not only relieved the heavy burden on the court's finances but also injected vigorous vitality into enterprises. It is truly a win-win situation, and one can't help but admire it!"

The other people in the hall had different expressions; some were deep in thought, while others had a look of amazement in their eyes.

The tense atmosphere dissipated quietly, replaced by a sense of awe at this grand new policy.

His Majesty always comes up with ways that they could never have imagined.

Once a stock exchange is successfully established, public offerings of stocks will allow for the direct raising of funds from the market.

Xia Yuanji, who was entrusted with the heavy responsibility of the Daming Bank, knew that this move would greatly lighten his burden.

As the only and largest state-owned bank in the Ming Dynasty, many of its loans were issued under orders from the imperial court.

To put it bluntly, the Daming Bank is a completely policy-driven bank; it's just that it operates on a commercial basis.

He had been secretly worried that if His Majesty insisted on buying back the land when the new policy was implemented, would it force the Bank of Ming to spend more money and overdraw its foundation?
Now that the worry has vanished, Xia Yuanji felt as if the pent-up frustration in his chest had been swept away, and he felt a great sense of relief, with a smile that grew even brighter on his face.

What's even better is that the products produced by the factory are currently guaranteed to sell.

With the funds raised from the stock market, the pace of building new factories and expanding production will surely accelerate significantly, and the economy of the Ming Dynasty will surely rise like the sun in the east, becoming increasingly prosperous and thriving.

Xia Yuanji, who controls the financial lifeline and has an increasingly keen understanding of the economic situation, is fully aware of this and has great confidence.

Yang Shiqi nodded slightly, his tone revealing sincere admiration: "Your Majesty's ability to devise such an unprecedented and ingenious plan is truly a genius, and I am in awe."

Yang Rong followed closely behind, cupping his hands in praise: "Such a brilliant idea, under heaven, only Your Majesty could have come up with it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen smiled slightly, accepting the compliments with composure and displaying the demeanor of an emperor.

Yao Guangxiao and Xia Yuanji's words were both to the point.

However, there is one crucial point that has not been fully explained.

Through the reform of the stock market, a large number of local gentry were transformed into capitalists!

By confiscating their land and turning it into company shares, the bourgeoisie of the Ming Dynasty was born overnight!

A massive community of shared interests was thus formed, its foundation as solid as a rock.

With the support of this huge interest group, the journey of the Ming Dynasty from the old feudal system to the new capitalist path will no longer be bumpy and rugged, but smooth and easy!

The far-reaching impact of this move is the true essence of the new policy!
Zhu Yunwen turned his gaze to Wang Zuo and Zhan Hui, who were still kneeling on the ground, and said in a deep but authoritative voice: "Minister Zhan, Minister Wang, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty..." Upon hearing this, Wang Zuo's throat tightened, and he was momentarily speechless, stammering and unsure how to answer, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

In his previous vision, His Majesty was like an enemy of the officials and gentry, and once the new policies were implemented, he would surely wield a sharp blade and strike at the heart of the powerful and wealthy.

Lan Yu's ruthless methods in dealing with the three Jurchen tribes serve as a cautionary tale.

If the Ming Dynasty were to truly follow this path of reform, it would likely trigger a cataclysmic upheaval.

The old emperor Zhu Yuanzhang always deeply resented officials and gentry, was extremely harsh on officials, and showed no mercy to local powerful figures, often suppressing them with ruthless methods.

It is not surprising that Zhu Yunwen, as his grandson, inherited this ambition.

This was precisely the speculation that Wang Zuo harbored in his heart.

Although Zhu Yunwen gradually improved the treatment of officials after ascending the throne, showing a somewhat benevolent attitude.

However, at the same time, he stripped the power of the vassal kings of their authority, uprooted all of them, and drove them overseas.

The increase in commercial taxes and the establishment of a tax commissioner to combat tax evasion had a particularly severe impact on the interests of nobles and wealthy gentry.

Furthermore, measures such as establishing leasing management agencies and strictly controlling land rents all reveal his intention to curb the power of the wealthy and powerful, making his intentions quite clear.

Compared to Zhu Yuanzhang's ruthless killings and bloodshed in the court, Zhu Yunwen's methods were much gentler, yet they were like peeling back layers, relentlessly pressing forward.

Its suppression of officials and gentry was actually a hundred times more severe than that of Zhu Yuanzhang.

For example, in combating corruption, unlike Zhu Yuanzhang who beheaded people and left corpses strewn across the fields, he achieved remarkable results through ingenious reforms of the bureaucratic system, supplemented by an increasingly rigorous whistleblowing network established after the postal service was established. The results were far more significant than the deterrent effect of killing.

In Wang Zuo's eyes, if Zhu Yunwen was determined to implement the new policies, he would definitely unleash a thunderous force.

Moreover, the public opinion campaign had already laid the groundwork and generated a great deal of momentum. If the subsequent measures were indeed as ruthless and decisive as those of the three Jurchen tribes, it would seem like a natural and logical outcome.

This was his deepest fear.

Your Majesty's ambitions are too great!
Wang Zuo never expected that when Zhu Yunwen actually implemented the new policies, his methods were far more lenient than he had previously imagined.

Contrary to his fears, he did not wield an iron fist to confiscate the land of the local gentry, but rather adopted a strategy of "shareholding" to gradually take action.

Which of the factories under the Ministry of Assets of the Ming Dynasty is not raking in profits and making a fortune?
As a high-ranking official, Wang Zuo had personally reviewed the account books and was fully aware of the situation. He made no secret of the fact that if given the opportunity to invest, while he dared not speculate on the intentions of others, he himself would certainly not hesitate to be the first to participate.

This kind of sure-fire deal is more than ten times more cost-effective than buying land!
With this solution in place, the implementation of the progressive land tax system no longer seemed so harsh.

After all, His Majesty left the gentry a way out and did not exterminate them.

Moreover, it could very well be a better, more profitable path!
Not only will their interests not be harmed, but they will also profit.

Moreover, curbing land annexation has been the "orthodox voice" in the imperial court since ancient times.

For over a thousand years, every dynasty has used this as a banner to verbally and in writing condemn the evils of land annexation.

Although their words and actions often contradicted each other, at least on the surface, court officials were required to express their opposition to land annexation.

As a minister of state affairs, Wang Zuo was no exception.

Verbally, land annexation must be opposed.

Therefore, when Zhu Yunwen said he opposed land annexation, he couldn't object.

However, despite this, Wang Zuo still felt a sense of unease lingering in his heart, as if there was a hidden worry that he could not shake off, but he could not find a strong objection for the time being.

"Your Majesty's wisdom is unique and your strategy is far-sighted, but I believe there are still some flaws."

Zhan Hui broke the silence first, his tone steady but tinged with worry: "The establishment of securities trading and the stock market are unprecedented innovations. Only Your Majesty's exceptional talent could have made them possible."

He paused, as if considering his words: "However, this method is quite different from machines such as the steam engine. Once the machine is completed, people will see its wonderful use and will naturally rush to imitate it, so its widespread adoption will be guaranteed."

"But securities trading is different from the stock market. Human hearts are unpredictable, and this matter has far-reaching implications. The Ming Dynasty cannot afford the slightest mishap; the people of the world cannot withstand the slightest turmoil. Therefore, we must be extremely cautious."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you prioritize stability and postpone the implementation of the progressive tax system."

"If securities trading and the stock market proceed smoothly, it will not be too late to gradually plan for progressive tax system reform."

"We humbly request Your Majesty to make a wise and discerning judgment regarding the advantages and disadvantages of this matter!"

Wang Zuo was startled, as if he had found a light in the fog, and quickly echoed, "Your subject agrees!"

He bowed and kowtowed, his voice short but carrying a hint of relief and urgency, as if he had finally grasped a foothold in the opposition and no longer had to bear that unspoken bewilderment alone.

Zhu Yunwen's dragon eyes narrowed slightly, and in an instant, two sharp, knife-like beams of light shot out from his eyes.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze instantly, becoming so heavy it was suffocating.

Everyone's heart raced, their throats bobbing.

Should Your Majesty unleash a thunderous rage, severely punish Zhan Hui and Wang Zuo, and crush this dissenting voice?

However, just as everyone was holding their breath, Zhu Yunwen suddenly raised the corners of his lips and smiled calmly. His tone was peaceful but not without authority: "What you two ministers say is very true. This matter is of great importance and should indeed be handled with utmost care."

"In that case, we shall proceed as you wish and establish a stock exchange first. Once the stock market is operating smoothly, we will then implement a progressive land tax system."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the hall, and raised his voice slightly: "As for the policy of merging the poll tax into the land tax, there is no need to delay any longer; it should be implemented immediately. I believe there will be no objection to this."

Upon hearing this, the people in the hall breathed a slight sigh of relief, but lingering fear remained in their eyes.

In fact, Zhu Yunwen's original plan was to first open the stock market to consolidate his foundation, and then gradually implement the progressive land tax system.

He knew full well that the implementation of a progressive tax system would be like a violent storm, with a tremendous impact.

The family business succession that Yao Guangxiao mentioned earlier is just a facade; at its core, it is still about interests.

A progressive tax system would fundamentally shake the lifeline of landlords and powerful families, directly attacking the very foundation of their interests.

If this law is implemented properly, the long-standing problem of land annexation, which has persisted for thousands of years, may be eradicated completely.

Moreover, Zhu Yunwen had made a very forward-thinking "pre-planned layout".

The land was not directly distributed to the people, but was nationalized, and the people then rented land from the imperial court to cultivate.

This measure has two advantages: first, it ensures that every poor household has land to cultivate when they need it, thus avoiding the suffering of famine.

Secondly, it gives them room for choice, so that they are not bound by the land and retain crucial flexibility.

For example, they could simply abandon their farmland and move to the city to embrace urban life.

The Ming Dynasty was undergoing a rapid transformation, and the wave of urbanization had quietly begun.

Undoubtedly, more people will shed their farmer's clothes and transform into ordinary citizens in the future.

Farming will gradually become the domain of "professional farmers," rather than a daily activity for every household.

Although there are no giant machines like those of later generations, "professional farmers" can cultivate more land with less manpower and double the grain yield per acre by relying on their superb skills and scientific management.

It is worth mentioning that later generations often take it for granted that those old farmers who have spent their whole lives farming must be skilled in farming, have superb skills, and be considered the best in the fields.

However, the truth is quite the opposite.

In this world, truly outstanding individuals are always few and far between, and even seemingly ordinary things like farming are no exception.

Cultivating fields well is by no means an easy task; the depth of the techniques involved far exceeds what outsiders can imagine.

From selecting superior varieties to fertilizing and adjusting fertilizer application, from precise pesticide use to water resource allocation, and then to weeding and protecting seedlings, every step requires ingenuity and cannot be accomplished by simply doing manual labor without following any rules.

Compared to tightening screws on a factory assembly line, the technical skill required for farming is more than ten times higher!
Among those old farmers who have toiled their entire lives, only one in ten can truly cultivate the land well.

Most people simply toil away year after year, without any method or skill, resulting in consistently low yields and a waste of time.

Therefore, selecting "professional farmers" is imperative.

The right way is to let those skilled in farming cultivate the land, and those unfamiliar with it turn to other professions.

Furthermore, compared to the general public, "professional farmers" who are skilled in technology and knowledgeable about farming are more likely to accept new scientific methods and embrace innovation.

The promotion of scientific farming will become easier, with fewer obstacles.

Of course, these are all things to be discussed later.

Zhu Yunwen's current actions are merely a strategic move to lay the groundwork for the future.

The essence of politics lies in compromise and negotiation, not in reckless action.

As an emperor, he was already confident of success. Just now, he deliberately showed a slight anger and raised his eyebrows to put on a threatening look. This was just to convey a message to Zhan Hui and Wang Zuo: I have already conceded a step and adopted your proposal. You should also know when to advance and when to retreat, and do not obstruct the matter of merging the poll tax into the land tax.

In any case, the two men remained skeptical about the stock market, but Zhu Yunwen was convinced that success was inevitable.

The resistance to implementing a progressive tax system later will be much less.

As expected, Zhan Hui and Wang Zuo exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly, and then said in unison, "Your Majesty is wise. We have no objection to implementing the land tax reform immediately."

……

(End of this chapter)