Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 110 Ten Thousand Embroidered Robes Guard the Country, A Wildfire Spreads, Who Will Be the Emperor?
"His Majesty."

"Our dynasty has light taxes and levies, and adopts an decimal system. Taking the 25,621 hectares of fertile land in Jizhou as an example, each hectare produces about 3.5 shi (196 jin) of grain, which is equivalent to about 2 liang of silver. The land tax is about 200 wen, which is 512 million liang of silver."

"After a nationwide investigation of all garrisons, the amount of farmland will probably reach five million hectares, and the total amount collected will be at least eighty million taels."

"With two capitals, thirteen provinces, and the jurisdiction of the Governor-General of Gansu, the garrison numbered 80. How could they not afford to support them?"

Wu Sidao, in his wheelchair, noticed Emperor Yongping's hesitation and spoke solemnly.

In fact, throughout history, there has been instances of embezzlement of tax revenue, which was most serious in the Ming Dynasty. At the end of the Ming Dynasty (during the Chongzhen era), land tax and poll tax amounted to about 2000 million taels of silver, while other taxes amounted to about 300 million taels of silver.

In theory, the revenue potential of the Ming Dynasty could reach more than 2.5 million taels of silver, but the actual amount collected was only about 1/10 of the potential, mainly due to the large loss of revenue due to land annexation.

The current dynasty inherited the problems of the previous Ming dynasty, and its tax system was in a complete mess. This is why Emperor Yongping wanted to reform the system; otherwise, it would inevitably collapse.

"How could I not understand your meaning, sir?"

Emperor Yongping looked troubled and said helplessly, "The current number of fertile fields in the country is about 4 million hectares, but the tax revenue is less than 20 million."

“These military garrisons and garrison farms are handed over to military households for cultivation. What I am worried about is that we will repeat the same mistakes, and the tax revenue collected will be less than one-tenth of the original amount.”

"Officials colluded and worked together in concert."

"His Majesty."

Just then, Su Peisheng handed over a memorial: "The Marquis of Wu submits a memorial today."

"Jia Yan?"

With a slight frown, Emperor Yongping took the memorial, opened it, and his expression shifted rapidly. The contents of the memorial precisely addressed the problem he was most worried about, a problem that he, as the emperor, could not find a solution to.

"His Majesty."

Seeing this, Wu Sidao couldn't help but ask curiously, "What does Marquis Wu mean?"

"Sir, please see for yourself."

Emperor Yongping handed the memorial in his hand to him.

'rustle!'

After reading it, Wu Sidao solemnly said, "Appointing county officials and yamen runners from among the grassroots generals and soldiers of the garrison is not a bad idea."

"Let the Embroidered Uniform Guard inspect local prefectures and counties. If there is even the slightest vacancy, they can directly find the relevant prefectural or county officials."

"In this way, Your Majesty will not need to worry about these military households not being able to collect taxes from their land reclamation."

"As long as the taxes are collected in the first year, the current situation of the dynasty will be broken."

"Your Majesty was able to carry out sweeping reforms and reorganize the two capitals and thirteen provinces."

"Does Your Excellency believe I should agree?"

Looking at Wu Sidao, Emperor Yongping said inexplicably, "Based on this memorial from the Jia family, the Embroidered Uniform Army is no longer focusing on external matters, but rather on internal ones."

“One province has one thousand households, one prefecture has one hundred households, one county has one general banner, and one township has one small banner.”

"Spanning the entire country, with at least 100,000 Jinyi Army soldiers, it has already caught up with the scale of the Jinyiwei during the Ming Dynasty."

During the Ming Dynasty, the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) was notorious. At the beginning of the new dynasty, the Jinyiwei was renamed the Jinyi Army, which was responsible for intelligence gathering and other matters, in order to eliminate the preconceived notions of the Jinyiwei in people's minds.

If the manpower is expanded in this way, it will surely cause panic among the people. How can he, as the emperor, maintain his rule?

"Does Your Majesty believe that the Censorate is capable of undertaking such an important task?"

"Can the thirteen circuit censors effectively investigate local areas?"

“If we don’t let the Embroidered Uniform Army do it, then who can guarantee that the fertile land left after these garrisons are abolished won’t be embezzled by others?”

"Even if all the newly appointed prefectural and county officials are drawn from humble backgrounds, are they really sure they won't oppress and exploit the people?"

"I believe that the emergence of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is not necessarily a bad thing. It serves as a reminder to the nation and ensures that the country can collect taxes."

Wu Sidao said in a deep voice.

"It was I who was being old-fashioned."

Emperor Yongping sighed, a resolute look in his eyes, and issued an edict: "Issue the decree that all garrisons and guard posts be abolished. Those without bad records shall be promoted from garrison commander to prefect, from deputy commander to prefectural deputy commander, from deputy commander to prefectural prefectural prefect, from garrison garrison commander to county magistrate, from commander of a thousand households to county assistant, and from deputy commander of a thousand households to registrar."

"The centurion was promoted to patrol inspector, the centurion was promoted to clerk, the captain was promoted to prison officer, the junior captain was promoted to post station manager, and the best soldiers were selected to fill the three shifts and six offices."

"The imperial commissioner will be in charge of the entire process. After the list is finalized, it will be compiled and submitted to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue for filing."

"The military pay of the border troops and the garrison troops is the same as that of the capital troops. Of the confiscated property, three million taels will be allocated to the Jizhou Garrison, two million taels to the Hebei Garrison Troops, and the remaining eight million taels will be escorted to the capital and handed over to the Imperial Household Department for inventory."

"Yes."

The attending eunuch in charge of writing immediately responded.

"Your Majesty, Marquis Wu has submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of the Military Equipment Bureau."

Su Peisheng reported another piece of news.

"Armament Bureau?"

"What is he going to do?"

Emperor Yongping's face showed a look of surprise and doubt.

"His Majesty."

Before Su Peisheng could answer, Wu Sidao said with a smile, "The Marquis of Wu was young and impetuous. Before going to the northern desert, he inquired about firearms at the Ministry of Works and also led the reconstruction of the three major camps in the capital. He must have a special interest in firearms."

"That's fine. The weapons of the 12th Battalion are not manufactured under the supervision of the Ministry of War or produced by the Ministry of Works, but are supplied by the Military Equipment Institute of the Imperial Household Department."

"It would be better to hand over the weapons and armor of the three major camps in the capital to the Imperial Armory. The Imperial Armory has a large and complex staff, and it is not easy for them to do something without being discovered."

'I see! ’

Emperor Yongping then lowered his guard, waved his hand, and casually said, "If Marquis Wu wants to establish an armory, then let him be."

"From now on, all the weapons and armor of the three major camps in the capital will be under the responsibility of the Military Equipment Bureau. The Director of the Military Equipment Bureau will be a fifth-rank official, and the Deputy Director will be a fifth-rank official."

"One million taels of silver will be allocated for military equipment research and development."

As early as the reign of Emperor Shunkang, the nine border towns had workshops for repairing and manufacturing weapons and armor. Most of the weapons of the border troops were not produced by the Ministry of Works, and sometimes they were simply made by the troops themselves. This was especially true for the Twelve Battalions.

The Imperial Household Department oversees the Military Equipment Bureau, one of the three bureaus specifically responsible for the manufacture and management of saddles, bridles, armor, weapons, and other equipment for the palace. All the supplies needed by the Twelve Battalions came from here.

History has shown that firearms are effective for city defense, but they have obvious shortcomings in battlefield combat. The firearms of the Ming Dynasty were powerless against the bows and arrows of the Jurchen Tartars, and the Qianlong Emperor did not pay much attention to them from the beginning of his reign.

Moreover, Emperor Yongping had just received a large sum of money; he was very wealthy. How wonderful it would be if he could use a mere one million taels to lead Jia Yan astray.

"Yes."

Su Peisheng tactfully agreed and went to draft the imperial edict.

In mid-May of the seventh year of the Yongping reign, a transformation began quietly in Jizhou, one of the nine border towns.

Emperor Yongping and the retired emperor reached a tacit understanding that the court would only know to abolish five of the nine important garrisons, retaining only Gansu Garrison, Xuanfu Garrison, Jizhou Garrison, and Liaodong Garrison, and establish the Tianjin Navy to defend against maritime threats in the Bohai Sea and the East China Sea.

Neither the Six Ministries nor the Censorate realized that a radical change was taking place in local administration. Emperor Yongping appointed Marquis Niu Jizong, Marquis Liu Fang, and Marquis Hou Xiaokang as imperial envoys, bestowing upon them the imperial sword, granting them the power to execute first and report later, thus bypassing the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War.

The three men went to Beizhili, Shaanxi, and Guizhou respectively to abolish the garrisons and establish prefectures and counties. They even used garrison officers as officials, without needing to go through the court or the influence of civil officials, and started from scratch.

By the time the court officials realized what was happening, one-third of the prefectures and counties of the dynasty had undergone a complete overhaul. The policy of merging the poll tax into the land tax was already in effect, and the taxes from more than five million hectares of fertile land went into the emperor's private treasury instead of the national treasury.

The instigator, Jia Yan, disappeared from the world's sight and entered the Xuanzhen Temple in the Western Hills.

"Old man." "You're stuck in this godforsaken place all day long, don't you get tired of it?"

"My sister doesn't even remember that she has a father."

Jia Yan joked.

A few days ago, he personally gave Jia Jing a detox formula. A lot of heavy metals were expelled from Jia Jing's body, and he looked radiant, unlike before when he was ashen-faced. He could live at least ten more years.

"You have arranged for your brother She to be assigned to the Beijing Garrison, to command the three major garrisons."

"If I were to step out of the Xuanzhen Temple, would that person in the palace be able to sit still?"

Jia Jing shook his head and said.

"Right."

With his hands shrugged, Jia Yan revealed a rare roguish and shameless demeanor.

"You didn't come all this way just to see me make a fool of myself, did you?"

When do you plan to deal with that piece of land in Chengde?

"Nine million taels of silver is neither a lot nor a little. If we don't spend it, the Emperor Emeritus will probably not be able to sleep soundly."

A mocking smile appeared on Jia Jing's lips. The fact that Emperor Yongping was wary of him and Emperor Shunkang was wary of the Jia family was undoubtedly a continuation of the same lineage.

"Just like that?"

Jia Yan looked at his cheap father with a half-smile.

"With you in the Jia family, their influence is already at its peak."

"The title of Lord Wu'an is combined with that of Marquis Wu, and he also has a fiefdom spanning a thousand miles."

“I have heard about what you have been doing lately. It is true that the descendants of the Eighth Branch have wasted their lives over the years.”

“That unambitious Zhen’er has turned Rong’er into what he is; it’s impossible to expect him to protect the Ningguo Mansion’s foundation.”

"As long as I am alive, the Ningguo Mansion will still exist. If I die, what difference does it make whether the Ningguo Mansion exists or not?"

"The Jia family has now opened its third branch, and it is time for the Wuhou Mansion to replace the Ning and Rong Mansions in the eyes of the world."

"You are the hope and the future of the Jia family!"

With piercing eyes, Jia Jing said with unprecedented seriousness, "Simply doing these things is not enough."

"The Qin family's inherently mean-spirited and ungrateful nature makes it impossible for them to allow you to wield power that threatens them."

"It's time to hand over the Black Clouds to you, Shang Ze."

"Owner!"

A dark figure appeared silently in the Sanqing Hall.

'Half-step into the Transformation Realm!'

Jia Yan narrowed his eyes and noticed the Black Cloud Commander in front of him.

"Let Hei Yun take charge of Chengde's affairs and settle his family in Wu'an Marquisate first."

"With these tens of thousands of people, the framework of the Marquisate of Wu'an will be established. Then, with these nine million taels of silver, we can bring in landless refugees from Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan. By pouring in large sums of silver, the population will reach one million in less than two years."

“First, build a capital city around Chengde, then reclaim wasteland, establish counties and villages, and set up several prefectures over a thousand miles. That’s roughly the same.”

"This will allow Black Cloud to provide cover for your men and divert other people's attention."

Jia Jing explained his thoughts one by one.

Upon hearing this, Jia Yan was deeply moved. The Black Cloud Capital was the foundation passed down through generations of the Jia family. It was this power that allowed them to survive three emperors without defeat. In order to create the impression that the Jia family was in decline, Jia Jing ruthlessly threw the Black Cloud Capital away.

Indeed, with Hei Yun heading to Chengde, everything about this force will be revealed to outsiders. Neither Emperor Yongping, nor the retired emperor, nor Prince Yizhong know that the underground force established by Jia Yan is even larger and more terrifying.

For at least a while, they would believe that the Jia family had poured everything into the Marquisate of Wu'an, a vast territory that could elevate a family to a higher level.

Moreover, since all nine million taels of silver were invested in the construction of the Marquisate of Wu'an, everyone would assume that Jia Yan had kept only a small amount for daily expenses, thus numbing the eyes of external forces.

"Old man, are you willing to do that?"

Jia Yan asked somewhat uncertainly.

"What do I have to be reluctant about?"

Jia Jing laughed heartily: "My life has ended, while yours has just begun."

"Dark clouds are of little use to me now."

"But how effective would it be to take out all the black clouds?"

"I understand."

Jia Yan nodded and looked at Shang Ze: "From now on, you will be the prime minister of the Marquis of Wu'an. First, establish a cavalry force of three thousand men, still named Heiyundu. Heiyundu will be used to maintain the stability of the Marquis of Wu'an."

"I don't care where the nine million taels of silver should be used, there's only one thing: let everyone see the Jia family's business acumen."

"Yes."

Shang Ze replied with a serious expression.

The Black Clouds represent the hard work of several generations of the Jia family. These people and their families have moved to the Marquisate of Wu'an, which will inject a powerful boost into the development of Chengde. The massive construction project cannot be concealed; everything must be openly displayed.

Only by convincing everyone that the Jia family is going all in will they shift their attention away from Jia Yan.

"Old man."

"It's getting late. I should go back."

"The longer you stay here, the better it may not be for you or the Jia family."

"Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Looking at Jia Jing, Jia Yan's expression was very sincere. Although he didn't have much affection for this cheap father, Jia Jing had done everything he could for him. People are all made of flesh and blood, how could he not be grateful!

"You are better than me. I have nothing to teach you on this journey of life."

"Keep a close eye on Gu Xichun. Don't bother with that good-for-nothing Zhen'er."

"You can get involved in the Jia family's affairs if you want, or just leave them there if you don't. It doesn't matter."

Jia Jing gave his heartfelt advice.

"Ah."

Nodding slightly, Jia Yan turned and walked out of the Sanqing Hall.

"My lord!"

The waiting guards led a Ujumqin horse to him.

"drive!!!"

Jia Yan mounted his horse and rode away the way he had come, without looking back.

Jia Jing was left watching his young son's figure recede further and further into the sunset until it disappeared from sight.

(End of this chapter)