Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 265, Section 264: Constant Advice
Constantly offering advice is not a likable persona.

Even the wise Emperor Taizong of Tang found it difficult to tolerate, let alone Ji Heng, who was even more autocratic.
However, when Qin Shi complained that he wanted to earn more money, even Ji Heng couldn't feel any aversion.

There's no other reason than that the national treasury is truly too poor.

However, the "Prohibition of Mount Chize" is essentially about taking away his assets, which is not easy to tolerate.

He frowned, saying, "Glass is precious, and if it is to be sold to the wealthy, the price cannot be low. The common people are poor and are not suited to buy these things. Even if the ban on mountains and marshes is lifted, how can they have the energy to engage in this business?"

This was not Ji Heng's excuse.

Since Shang Yang's reforms, poor people have had very few opportunities to work hard for themselves.

First, they had an annual corvée labor service called "Gengzu".

This means that one must serve a month in the county or prefecture, building houses, repairing roads, digging, cutting down trees, and so on.

Secondly, there is the once-in-a-lifetime "Regular Soldier," which lasts for one month and requires participation in military training and maintaining local security within the county or prefecture.

It sounds reassuring, but in reality, even after returning home from military service, local officials are still required to conduct regular assessments.

If someone fails to meet the requirements, the neighbors and local officials will be punished.

The most terrifying form of service was that of a garrison soldier.

Although both were once-in-a-lifetime events with a one-year term, stationed in the capital or on the frontier, the sheer number of soldiers due to numerous wars meant that many often served beyond their term and were never able to return home.

Moreover, ordinary people received no money for military service. In addition to military service, they had to prepare their own clothes, shoes, socks, and even daily rations for the long journey.

Not only do they not produce for their homes, but they also take food from their homes. Where would they find the extra energy to go to the forests and lakes to obtain anything?

Qin Shi laughed and said, "Hasn't Your Majesty already exempted the Epang Palace and the southern garrison from corvée labor?"

Today, the Qin state has a population of over 2000 million.

The construction of the Great Wall in the north required the conscription of over 300,000 laborers, while the defense of the Five Ridges in the south required the conscription of over 500,000 laborers. The original plan for the construction of the Epang Palace and Mount Li was to conscript 700,000 laborers.

There were also construction projects such as imperial highways and straight roads, which involved the levying of approximately 300 million laborers.

Compared to the total population, 300 million doesn't sound excessive. However, after years of fighting, the majority of the original 2000 million people are now elderly, women, children, and infants.

The total number of young and middle-aged adults is less than 400 million.

Ji Heng was not unaware of these data, but now that Qin had just unified the world, the six states were already filled with resentment. If there were any changes, those with ulterior motives would stir up trouble and cause further turmoil.

Now that the campaigns against the Baiyue have ceased for the time being and the construction of the Epang Palace has been suspended, approximately 70 young men can be freed up here.

The Queen again urged tax reductions—starting with coal, but it's already in the process.

Now, Ji Heng also holds Qin Shi's hand:

“I know that the Queen is benevolent to all, but Qin has been practicing Legalism for 135 years. If we rush into conflict, local officials will be torn between their own interests, and the people will also cause trouble.”

"Haste makes waste; we need to plan this out carefully."

Qin Shi knew he had a point, but there was another saying she also held dear: "Ten thousand years is too long; seize the day."

Therefore, he boldly asked, "Does Your Majesty have a good plan in mind?"

Ji Heng pondered for a moment: "Before spring, I intend to implement Lord Shang's land decree throughout the country. In the past, land in Qin could be rewarded or bought and sold, but this was not the case in the other six states. Now I want to [make the common people declare their own land], and have them declare their share of land to the government, so as to avoid confusion in land rent and prevent people from taking the opportunity to cause trouble."

At the same time, it also ensured that the people of the six newly conquered states had a clear source of property, thus putting their minds at ease.

Qin Shi smiled and said, "Your Majesty is also benevolent."

Implementing land privatization nationwide, followed by land registration—a policy so prone to unrest—is only something that Ji Heng, now in control of the Qin state, can confidently say he will complete before spring.

However, while the Qin dynasty praised "benevolence," it didn't necessarily increase the happiness index of the common people by much.

Because the land belonged to the Qin state, the taxes naturally also belonged to the Qin state.

The taxes in Qin were like endless corvée labor, too heavy. With various bonuses from military achievements and corvée labor, a family of five could own about a hundred acres of land if they were to have private ownership.

The harvest from a hundred acres is no more than a hundred bushels of millet.

Of these 100 bushels, 10 bushels are to be paid as a tax.

[Oral tax] 120 coins per person, approximately 4 shi (a unit of dry measure).

In addition to these two, there are also various miscellaneous taxes levied temporarily under different names by local governments and counties.

She hesitated for a moment, and her words of advice became repetitive.

If we want Ji Heng to reduce taxes, the national treasury and private treasury need to be full.

However, the main source of income for both the national treasury and private treasuries is still taxes.

She thought for a moment, then changed her perspective: "The remnants of the six kingdoms still harbor the desire to restore their nation, and there are also short-sighted individuals within the country attempting to sow discord among the people—"

"Your Majesty has unified the world and accomplished unprecedented feats. He has also performed the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai and proclaimed himself Emperor. All these actions are unprecedented."

"In that case, why not grant a general amnesty and exempt the people from taxes for a year?"

"In this way, we can both reassure the people and teach them to be grateful for the king's blessings. At the same time, we can also keep them calm and prevent them from being easily swayed by these people."

"When the time comes for the Fengshan ceremony, won't we see common people everywhere shouting 'Long live the Emperor!' and praising his benevolence?"

Ji Heng chuckled slightly, but also felt a little displeased.

The queen was too benevolent and truly favored the common people. As the queen of Qin, she should have been more decisive to show the grandeur of the Qin Dynasty.

but.

The Queen's words make sense. My journey is unprecedented, and what I intend to do is also unprecedented. In that case, how can it be worthy of my life's achievements if the scale and momentum are not grand?
However, the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai coincides with the spring plowing season. If commoners were forcibly driven to offer their congratulations, it would inevitably delay the dynasty's fate.

But if he saw the people along the way expressing their heartfelt gratitude, then it would be a different story in his heart.

He frowned for a moment and didn't say anything more.

But given his personality, if he were displeased, he would have immediately reprimanded him. Since he hasn't scolded him, there is hope.

Qin Shi then said, "Anyway, most taxes are not collected in full these days, so what's the harm in exempting them for a year?"

After promoting the curved plow, she also planned to leverage the existing connections of the two merchants to promote seed drills, simple iron farm tools, and so on.

With the scientific planting methods being tested in the experimental fields, some results should be expected this year.

After a year of tax exemption, although some miscellaneous taxes still apply, the people are generally able to eat their fill and stay warm.

The following year, the population reported to have increased again, and there were significant increases in revenue from commodities such as glass, coal, and snow salt. It was then advised that Ji Heng be persuaded to change the tax rate from one-tenth to one-fifteenth, and after a few more years when money was no longer a concern, to change it to one-thirtieth…

Oh.

It's true that modern education is too traditional; it taught her the art of slaying dragons, but not how to govern a province and accumulate experience.

Now we can only rely on the development experience of the Han Dynasty from our memories and explore step by step.

　I got carsick and then my cervical spondylosis flared up too...

　　Here it comes! Here it comes!

　　The data might be a bit dry, so please be patient!

　　The privatization of land was established by Shang Yang and initially implemented in the Qin state. After unifying the six states, Qin Shi Huang implemented it nationwide.

　　[Regarding the accumulated experience of governing a province, the great man actually taught us! There's a book called "*** Teaches You How to Be a Provincial ***"]

　　Sorry for the asterisks!
　　(End of this chapter)