Beginning on December 2, the first year of Zhaowu, land tax reform began rapidly in all counties of Yingtian Prefecture.

On the first two days, some troubles occurred in the farms under the names of some nobles and big landowners. But on the third day, there were very few troubles in such farms, and they even became quite cooperative with the land tax reform.

The emergence of this situation has allowed land tax reform to be implemented faster in some places.

But neither the cabinet nor the ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, as well as Xia Yunyi, Xiong Rulin and others who were responsible for specific affairs in Yingtian Mansion, did not dare to take it lightly.

"This seems to be the calm before the storm." Xia Yunyi looked at the gloomy sky outside the government office and thought of the implementation of land tax reform in various counties in the past few days. He said this.

Chen Zilong said: "Perhaps those people are planning something, but we can't stop just because the expected situation does not appear."

Xia Yunyi nodded, "You are right - not only can we not stop, but we must take the opportunity to speed up the reform of land tax.

But in a single place, the imperial court has spent so much manpower and material resources, if it fails to produce results, it will definitely make people laugh."

Chen Zilong said: "In fact, compared to those nobles and landlords, I think some clan villages that are not honored and have landlords who occupy too much land are more difficult to deal with.

Among this generation, there may be a lack of tax-exempt people, but there is certainly no shortage of talented people. The tax-exempt fields, zonal fields, and hidden fields are mixed together, making the situation complicated.

Moreover, people in places where clans live together tend to be more united and exclusive, so it would be difficult for Commissioner Qingzhang to start work in such places."

Xia Yunyi just nodded and didn't answer.

As far as he knew, local problems were not limited to these two categories, but all kinds of problems.

Therefore, if you want to push forward the land tax reform, it will test the ability of the Qingzhang commissioners.

What matters again is the ability of these mid-level officials to handle temporary incidents.

However, with the court's determination, no matter what difficulties it encounters, Yingtian Mansion's land tax reform cannot be stopped.

Any obstacles on the road to reform will be removed.

"By the way, I checked the population data reported in various rural areas these days and found that the Lijia system is indeed no longer applicable." Chen Zilong mentioned another matter, "Therefore, I am going to take this opportunity to investigate the land tax reform.

, after understanding the exact situation in Yingtianfu counties, I petitioned Your Majesty to abolish the Lijia system."

"Abolish the Lijia system?" Xia Yunyi frowned slightly after hearing this.

The Jia system in the Ming Dynasty was established by Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang. It was one of the foundations of the yellow book system in the Ming Dynasty and was also the key to the Ming Dynasty's control over the vast countryside.

Although the grain chief system, which was closely related to the Lijia system at first, was largely abolished during Zhang Juzheng's reform, due to the incomplete reform and the fact that Emperor Wanli abolished many of Zhang Juzheng's reform measures after taking office, there are still a few areas where

The grain chief system is being implemented.

This also makes the situation related to the armor system more complicated.

And the situation of the Lijia system in different places is often very different.

As far as Xia Yunyi knew, when he was a county magistrate in Fujian, he discovered that the Lijia system had been basically replaced by the local clan system. Often, the Lijiang leader and the head of Jia were the patriarchs of large local clans.

In his hometown of Songjiang Prefecture, the Lijia system existed in name only, and sometimes it became a means for landlords and evil gentry to exploit and oppress the people.

Thinking of this, he said to Chen Zilong earnestly: "The Lijia system is very complicated. If you want to abolish it in one fell swoop, I'm afraid it won't be that easy. If it is actually implemented, it will probably be more difficult than clearing the land."

When Chen Zilong heard this, he looked firm and said: "I believe that as long as it is beneficial to our Ming Dynasty, your Majesty will support it no matter how difficult it is."

···

Forbidden City, Wuying Palace.

On this day, Zhu Yuluo was discussing with the cabinet ministers another matter that seemed quite big, but was actually not very important.

"According to the information previously obtained by the Fusi of Jinyiwei North Town, Kong Yinzhi, the Holy Duke of Yuanyan, presented the "Chu Jin Wen Biao" to the Puppet Qing Dynasty in September last year, expressing his willingness to lead the Confucius family in Qufu to submit to the Puppet Qing Dynasty.

Here is a copy of the "Chu Jin Wen Biao", you can take a look at it."

After Zhu Yushuo finished speaking, Lian Qiao, the maid in the palace, distributed several prepared copies of the "New Form".

The ministers looked through it, and Huang Daozhou, the Minister of Rites, was not the first to read it, but he was the first to speak out.

I saw that most of his white beard was standing up, his face was red with anger, and he said angrily: "Kong Yinzhi really has no loyalty. He is unworthy of being the Holy Duke, and he is unworthy of the most holy teacher! He deserves to be killed!"

Deserve to kill!”

The rest of the cabinet ministers also had ugly expressions, even ministers like Ma Shiying and Zhang Youyu who usually liked to flatter Zhu Ailao were no exception.

Chief Assistant Yuan Jixian said: "Qinglu entered the capital in June, and Kong Yinzhi entered this memorial on September 1st. At that time, Yanzhou Prefecture was not in the hands of Qinglu, right? And the Nanjing imperial court had already been established at that time. He

Such behavior is simply like collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country!"

Lu Zhenfei was also furious and said: "What do you mean, like? He is a traitor to the enemy! He is a traitor! He has completely disgraced all the scholars in the world!"

Jie Xuelong was relatively calm and asked a practical question, "Your Majesty, since Kong Yinzhi led the Kong family in Qufu to surrender to the Qing captives, didn't the Qing captives not take them with them when they retreated from Shandong?"

Zhu Yuyao had already sentenced Kong Yinzhi to death in her heart. Hearing this, she sneered and said: "The Qing captives did not take into account all the Eight Banners troops when they retreated, so how could they consider the Kong family?

Knowing that there was no hope of escape, Kong Yinzhi first hid at home and acted like a coward. Nearly half a month after our army recaptured Qufu, he submitted a memorial to me to plead guilty, and resigned from the post of Duke Yan in an attempt to seek forgiveness."

After hearing what Zhu Yulao said, Huang Daozhou immediately said: "Your Majesty, such a big traitor is a shame to all the scholars in the world, and we must not spare him lightly. I think that at least he will be sentenced to death!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I also second the proposal!"

"If Kong Yinzhi doesn't die, he won't be able to explain it to the scholars in the world!"

“···”

For a time, seven cabinet ministers expressed their opinions one after another, all wanting to convict Kong Yinzhi of death penalty.

Zhu Ainao said with a cold face: "Why, if something like this happens, do you think it is enough for Kong Yinzhi to discuss the death penalty alone?

If this is the case, if there is another foreign invasion in the future, and the contemporary Yan Shenggong of the Confucius family surrenders to the enemy, will it be enough to pay the price of just one life?!"

By the end of the sentence, Zhu Aelao showed an angry expression.

The cabinet ministers were stunned for a moment, and then they realized that Zhu Yuyao not only wanted Kong Yinzhi to die, but also wanted to inflict greater punishment on the Qufu Kong family.

Ma Shiying's mind was spinning quickly, and thinking of the new policy that was being implemented now, he said: "Your Majesty, I heard that the Kong family in Qufu owns more than half of the land in Qufu, and that the Kong family not only bullies the people in the countryside, but also many people of their own surname.

Oppressive.

I believe that the sins of everyone in the Confucius family should be thoroughly investigated, and each one of them should be punished severely. In addition, if the sacrificial land is reduced, it will completely detract from the title of Holy Duke."

Having said this, Ma Shiying secretly looked at Zhu Yuluo and thought to herself: This should satisfy His Majesty, right?
Chapter completed!