On the occasion of rebirth Zhou Sui

Chapter 255 Tax reduction or exemption

Sun Anzu's situation was not an isolated case. It was precisely because the people had less and less land, but the tenancy remained unchanged, and the land equalization order changed from a good government to a bad law.

Allocate 20 acres of land and pay 140 acres of tax. People are trying their best to avoid paying taxes on the land.

Yang Jian had also noticed this phenomenon long ago, but the method he adopted was not to adjust taxes, but to strike hard at the evaders. This was the law of losing citizenship implemented in the fifth year of Emperor Kaihuang's reign.

The age of the people is determined and their information is registered. When they reach the age of 18, the government will automatically grant them land without them even having to apply for it.

Seven years passed like this, and by the 12th year of the founding of the Emperor, the conflict between man and land in the north had reached a level that could not be ignored.

On the one hand, the number of household registrations in the world is increasing year by year, and the areas in Jingfu and Sanhe are small but crowded, and food and clothing are not provided.

On the other hand, in August of the same year, the official in charge of the treasury reported:

"The state's treasury is so full that there is no place to store the property, so it has to be temporarily piled in a wing outside the treasury."

Yang Jian was greatly surprised. In the past, whether he was conquering Chen or quelling the Jiangnan rebellion, he had given out a large number of rewards.

Especially in the battle against Chen, 520,000 troops were mobilized, and the civilian population was even more incalculable. Such a huge consumption, not to mention the emptiness of the national treasury, would not be enough to fill the entire treasury.

What's more, he is a benevolent king who loves the people, and he only uses light corvee and low taxes. How can the country have such a high income?

In fact, if according to the land equalization order, each household was actually granted 140 acres of land, the Sui Dynasty could indeed be called a small endowment.

But if 20 acres of land is used to bear a fixed amount of tax, it is a heavy tax.

Although Yang Jian is narrow-minded and cannot listen to advice, he has one good thing: he loves reputation.

In mid-August, before the autumn taxes were collected, Yang Jian issued an edict:

"It is better to accumulate wealth in people than to store it in the treasury. This year, in Hebei and Hedong, the land rent will be reduced by one-third by one-third, the military service will be reduced by half, and all transfers will be waived."

For the people in Hebei and Hedong, one-third of the land rent was reduced, and for the soldiers in the government, half of the land rent was reduced, and all of them were exempted from household transfer.

But it exists and is limited to this year, which is the twelfth year of the founding of the Emperor. It is treating the symptoms rather than the root cause.

When the decree was issued in Hebei and Hedong, the people were all jubilant. Regardless of what happens next year, at least they can have a good year this year.

Sun Anzu had already packed his bags and headed to Anping County to try his luck.

Fang Xuanling accompanied Cui Che to play chess in the side room.

Cui Che is a bad chess player, but during the period of mourning, he is not allowed to attend banquets, watch songs and dances, or play games and laugh in front of others. He must find something to kill his time.

Fang Xuanling dropped a son and said doubtfully:

"Since the saint knows how difficult people's livelihood is, why don't they take advantage of the situation to reform the tax system?"

Cui Che was concentrating on considering the chess game. When Fang Xuanling asked a question, he said without thinking:

"The saint is a heroic leader who wants to do great things.

"It's better to keep things in people's hands than in the treasury.

“But what I am thinking about is that wealth is better accumulated in the treasury than among the people.

"Everything has to be spent. How can we really reform the tax system and reduce the revenue of the state treasury?"

Fang Xuanling was thoughtful.

The two played chess and met their opponents. Compared to Cui Che, Fang Xuanling obviously had a harder time.

It can neither make Cui Che's loss look too ugly, nor let it be too obvious.

Cui Che, who was kept in the dark, always thought that he was so good at chess that he could fight Fang Xuanling inextricably.

At the end of the game, the two counted their numbers, and Cui Che regretted losing one.

"If Xuanling hadn't distracted me by asking questions, I would have defeated you in this round."

Cui Che said with regret.

A smile appeared on Fang Xuanling's lips. Just as the two were about to play chess again, a maid came in panic:

"Master, the princess is giving birth."

Cui Che didn't care about playing chess and walked quickly to the main courtyard.

Speaking of which, Cui Che had given birth to two sons and three daughters, but he was not present at any of them.

When Bodhisattva was born, Cui Che was chatting with his staff in the Qingzhou Governor's Mansion. He only got the news when his eldest son was born.

When his second son Cui Erlang and his three daughters Cui Wenhui, Cui Wenyan and Cui Wenxiu were born, he was all in a different place.

The daughter born to Yuchi Chifan was named Cui Wenxiu by Cui Che, and Cui Erlang born to Miaorong was also named Cui Yanzong.

Cui Yanzong celebrated Cui Yanzong's first birthday in private just a few days ago. Cui Che is also about to welcome his sixth child besides Yuwen Ying'e.

Cui Che arrived in the main courtyard in a hurry, and everyone in the house except Zhang Lihua, who was expecting child, also came here.

After stopping everyone from seeing the ceremony, Cui Che was so anxious when he heard the shrill screams in the room that he wished he could take his own life.

He was pacing back and forth outside the courtyard, unable to stand at all, mumbling words to pray for safety.

Even women who have given birth to children are at risk when giving birth again.

Gao Huan's wife, Lou Zhaojun, encountered dystocia when giving birth to her fourth son, Gao Qiu, and almost died on the bed.

As the sun went down, Yang Lihua's painful wails in the room became hoarse.

But fortunately, when night fell, the baby's cry finally came from the bedroom.

Po Wen took the fetus out. With a smile on her face, she announced the good news:

"Congratulations to Mr. Yan! Congratulations to Mr. Yan! The princess gave birth to a little boy for Mr. Yan. Mother and son are safe."

Cui Che finally felt relieved. He didn't care about having a boy or a girl. In Cui Che's opinion, this was far less important than Yang Lihua's safety.

He just glanced briefly at his second son in Po Wen's arms, and walked into the bedroom impatiently.

Yang Lihua collapsed on the couch, obviously exhausted.

Cui Che took the hot towel from the maid's hand and wiped the sweat from Yang Lihua's face.

"Has Cui Lang seen the child?"

Yang Lihua cheered up and asked.

Cui Che nodded:

"I've seen it before."

"I am lucky enough to live up to my destiny and give birth to an heir for Cui Lang."

There was a hint of pride in Yang Lihua's words.

Cui Che shook his head and said:

"The princess worked hard to conceive for ten months and risked her life to give birth to my blood. Whether it is a son or a daughter, I am full of joy."

After saying that, Cui Che ignored the presence of the maid and lowered his head to kiss Yang Lihua's forehead.

Yang Lihua's pale face due to childbirth showed a blush.

Cui Che knew that she was exhausted now, so he didn't disturb Yang Lihua's rest anymore. He asked his maid to take good care of her before going out.

The baby was now held in Cui Zhaorong's arms. Cui Che stepped forward to take it. The newborn baby was wrinkled like a little monkey.

Cui Che held his third son in his arms and said to Fang Xuanling who accompanied him:

"In the last game, you and I ended up in a draw."

Fang Xuanling didn't understand why Cui Che said this. Cui Che explained:

"Before, I lost one piece to you, and now I have another piece. Isn't it a draw?"

Everyone burst into laughter. Logically speaking, joking and talking are not allowed during the period of filial piety, but there are exceptions to everything. On a festive day like today, you can't have a sad face.

It should be gone today, I will think about the follow-up plot.

The remaining three days of this month will still be updated four times a day.

(End of chapter)