Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 92 If you take too big a step, you'll become a rebellious traitor!
The servants of the Xun family bowed their heads as they moved about, serving and removing millet wine, leaving only the lingering aroma of the wine. With Xun Shuang's words, "Let's fight to the death," the gazes between the Taiping Dao disciples and Xun family members on either side of the table immediately turned hostile. However, the two elderly men in the center of the table remained solemn, their eyes calmly meeting.

This debate between the two is far from over; it has reached a crucial moment where their arguments are incisive, substantial, and mutually beneficial. Even if they turn against each other in the future, they must now clarify the principles of "Heaven" and distinguish between the principles of "Humanity."

"Master Zhang, what you just said about the way to peace for the people is based on changing the land system and equalizing the wealth of the world?"

"Indeed! Lord Xun, the crux of the problem in this world lies precisely here. No change is enough to save the world, and inequality cannot save the people."

"Ah."

The great Confucian scholar Xun Shuang sat upright at his seat, meticulous in every detail. He nodded slightly, but his words were critical.

“Master Zhang, what you say is not unfounded. However, the slogan of equalizing wealth is still too violent. This is different from making a few empty words to criticize an immoral emperor, but it truly touches upon the foundation of powerful families! Matters of state always require caution, as if walking on thin ice. You are a seeker of the Way, and you just said the principle of ‘governing a large country is like cooking a small fish,’ so how can you be hasty, how can you be so violent?”

"."

Upon hearing this, the great teacher Zhang Jiao raised his eyebrows. While the affairs of the world should not be rushed, the millions of common people suffering from disaster and plague across the north and south of the Yellow River could not wait that long, nor could they live that long. However, he ultimately did not say these words aloud, but instead looked into the old and clear eyes of the great Confucian scholar Xun Shuang and asked in return.

"Lord Xun, you have traveled extensively throughout the land, possessing both the wisdom of the imperial court and the broad knowledge of the countryside. Do you have any insights to share with me on how to improve the land tax and finance system of this land?"

“Master Zhang, I have traveled the world for over thirty years and spent ten years studying on the banks of the Han River. I have indeed gained some insights into the tax reform of this great Han dynasty.”

"Appreciate further details!"

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao straightened his robes and solemnly bowed. Then, before Xun Shuang could speak, he looked at his youngest disciple Zhang Chengfu and said in a deep voice.

"Chengfu, you take the pen and record this!"

"promise!"

Zhang Cheng bowed respectfully twice, first to his teacher Zhang Jiao, then to the great Confucian scholar Xun Shuang, before taking out yellow paper and a charcoal pencil. Xun Shuang raised his old eyes, looked directly at the young Taiping Dao youth, and then slowly began to speak. "The emperor is greedy for money, levying exorbitant taxes like a tiger or wolf, with the eunuchs acting as his henchmen. Today, the burden of taxes on the common people is heavy; the in-kind rent of land and grain is secondary. It is the poll tax and the corvée labor tax that truly crush the people! Each adult male and female is taxed 120 coins per year, and each child is taxed 23 coins per year. The corvée labor tax is 300 coins per adult male. This totals 886 coins per household! And with each layer of officials adding their share, at least 3% of that becomes an exorbitant tax on the common people, amounting to 1200 coins. Since the common people have little access to copper coins, to come up with 1200 coins a year, they must sell grain at low prices, borrow at high interest rates, and pay over 2000 coins in kind just to barely make ends meet. Therefore, the imperial taxes, when placed on the shoulders of the common people, become more than double the burden!"

"Besides the three taxes of calculation, population, and change, local prefectures and counties, especially those controlled by eunuchs, also impose additional taxes of ten coins per mu, surcharges, and price increases on salt monopolies. Each of these tax increases demands copper coins! This forces ordinary people to borrow money and spend double or more of their wealth. Lending to ordinary people is the most lucrative way for local powerful families and officials to amass wealth, and it is the greatest flaw in the tax system!"

Zhang Cheng listened intently, his eyes showing surprise. He carefully noted down the numbers given by the great Confucian scholar Xun Shuang, then pondered for a moment before writing down the words "crude and impolite" in simple regular script on the yellow paper.

"The impact of monetization on the cash flow of small farmers was the biggest drawback of tax collection in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Those who exploited the people and made huge profits included not only the central government officials, but also officials at all levels, as well as local powerful families and gentry."

"Master Zhang! The problems of wealth disparity and tax burdens in this world actually emerged at the end of the Former Han Dynasty. Wang Mang, the traitor, also promoted the 'restoration' policy in the name of 'equalization' to suppress 'annexation' in an attempt to change the accumulated malpractices of the world. But his final fate is known to all. Do you know why all of Wang Mang's policies failed?"

Upon hearing of Wang Mang's failed reforms, the great virtuous teacher Zhang Jiao seemed thoughtful. The Xin Dynasty was only two hundred years after the end of the Han Dynasty, and its corrupt practices were precisely what the scholars of the Eastern Han Dynasty had repeatedly discussed and studied. Faced with Xun Shuang's question, Zhang Jiao paused briefly before answering solemnly.

"Lord Xun, the first reform of the Xin Dynasty was the establishment of the 'Royal Land—Private Property' system, which prohibited the buying and selling of land and slaves throughout the land as the foundation for governing finances and the people. 'The land was renamed Royal Land, and slaves were renamed Private Property, and neither could be bought or sold.' Secondly, the 'Five Equalizations and Six Controls' were established. The Five Equalizations were implemented to stabilize grain prices, and the Six Controls were established to collect salt, iron, coins, and mineral resources, which were then managed by the court, with government-managed price adjustments and monopolies. 'Wang Mang implemented the Five Equalizations to stabilize market prices and established the Six Controls to enrich trade.' The original intention of these two policies was to equalize the land and benefit the people. However, in practice, they became harmful policies that harmed the people, causing widespread resentment."

"Later on, the Xin dynasty repeatedly reminted its currency. First came 'One Knife Equals Five Thousand' and 'Great Spring Fifty,' then 'Small Spring One' and 'Goods Cloth.' However, these currencies issued by the court ultimately became worthless, plundering the people's wealth and becoming a nightmare for ordinary citizens. Ban Gu once said that the Xin dynasty 'ostensibly restored the past, but in reality, it was a flawed system.' What the Xin dynasty wanted to do was 'suppress land annexation—strengthen control—control trade.' But in the end, 'suppressing land annexation' remained on paper, 'strengthening control' actually disrupted livelihoods, and 'controlling trade' became plundering the people's wealth. After all this turmoil, when the people could no longer endure it and popular uprisings broke out everywhere, the Xin dynasty became known as the 'Rebellious Mang.' Although the initial intention was good, it only brought chaos to the world in vain, didn't it?"

After summarizing, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao paused, a subtle change in his expression. Xun Shuang's mention of Wang Mang at this moment, and his deliberate inquiry, clearly carried a profound meaning; he was subtly hinting at something! However, while the specific circumstances at the end of the Former Han Dynasty and the signs of chaos following the current Han Dynasty were similar, they were also different; how could they be generalized?
"Master Zhang, you are absolutely right! Wang Mang's policies, though well-intentioned, are all superficial and utterly unenforceable! His prohibitions on buying and selling, restrictions on land ownership, the imperial monopoly, and the control of currency—each policy is intended to suppress powerful clans. But once these policies fall into the hands of local powerful families, loopholes and collusion between superiors and subordinates create chaos. The end result is that it harms the livelihoods of ordinary people while failing to affect the interests of powerful clans, ultimately leading to widespread resentment throughout the land! What good are good policies? What good are good intentions? Without officials at the grassroots level to implement them, how can they be realized? In other words, without a network of scholars connecting the upper and lower levels, and without the assistance of officials in these prefectures, kingdoms, and villages, how can the situation in this land be easily changed?"

At this point, the great Confucian scholar Xun Shuang sighed leisurely, as if he had seen through the reality of the court's governance and local administration. He shook his head slightly, smiled at the solemn-faced Great Teacher Zhang Jiao, and asked meaningfully.

“Master Zhang, great and virtuous teacher! Your original intention of the Way of Great Peace is indeed the great righteousness of the people of the world, to equalize the wealth of the powerful families. But without the assistance of the powerful families and scholars of the world, without these literate and arithmetic practitioners, who can you rely on to achieve these ‘great righteousness’?”

"Things in the world cannot be rushed; haste makes waste. Taking a hasty step will only lead to a fall. The lessons of the past are not far off, as seen in the reign of the Xia dynasty. The events of Wang Mang are still fresh in our minds. I think your Taiping Dao will ultimately have to compromise, lower your standards, and take smaller steps. The Jing Family's Yi Studies is also a righteous path of classical studies, and it may very well become the core of the Taiping Jing!"

(End of this chapter)