Chapter 1297 The first discussion on the abolition of slavery
In late November, a heavy snow fell one after another, covering the city of Chang'an with a layer of crystal white snow. The auspicious snow was auspicious and brought some expectations for the upcoming New Year and the new emperor's enthronement.
In the past few days, the streets of Chang'an were talking about the Kunlun slaves. Many Chang'an people even made a special trip outside the city to see the Tianzhu prisoners of war who were being sent from Longyou.
There are also many Tianzhu people in Chang'an, at least several thousand, who basically make a living by juggling and practicing medicine. There are also tens of thousands of black people who are sold as slaves. These black slaves are called Kunlun slaves.
Although these Kunlun slaves are all black in appearance, their races and origins are different. Thirty percent of the Kunlun slaves were selected by the Sogdians from African prisoners of war and sold to the Tang Dynasty. They were tall and strong, and most of them worked as gatekeepers or for wealthy families.
Driving a carriage or something like that.
The other 70% were bought from Tianzhu by Giantuoluo merchants and sold to Chang'an as slaves. These Giantuoluo merchants are today's Pakistanis, and Giantuoluo is Islamabad.
Because these Giantuoluo merchants claimed to be Kunlun merchants, the Tianzhu black slaves they sold were called Kunlun slaves. They usually worked in the manors of wealthy families.
Although they are both from Tianzhu, Tianzhu jugglers and Tianzhu monks are basically the third-level caste kennels, while Kunlun slaves are almost all fourth-level Shudras, even untouchables, that is, Tianzhu untouchables
, so the Tianzhu people in Chang'an looked down upon their compatriots even more.
Of course, Tianzhu is not a country, but dozens of small countries. These Tianzhu people have no concept of compatriots.
In the past two days, the court was also discussing the Kunlun slaves. Li Ye was inspired by this group of prisoners of war that they could recruit laborers from Tianzhu to develop overseas territories.
In the meeting hall, Li Ye smiled at the senior officials and said: "I plan to use the Japanese and Silla people to develop Liaodong. The climate, water and soil there are similar to theirs at home. They can adapt, but they cannot in the tropics.
I originally wanted to use Nanyang laborers for the Luzon Islands, but I had concerns. First, I was worried that their respective countries would be in conflict. More importantly, I was worried that they would occupy Nestlé. When we completed the construction, these Nanyang people would swarm in.
They came here, or refused to leave. We worked hard but made wedding clothes for them. How can this be done?"
Zhang Li said with a smile: "Your Highness, why aren't you worried that people from Tianzhu will swarm in?"
Li Ye smiled and said: "First, Tianzhu is too far away from Luzon Island. Only our ships can reach it by cutting through the waves, and their small boats cannot go there.
Secondly, when we recruit workers, we must look for those who have wives and children at home. They only want to make money and go home to buy land and build houses, instead of staying in Luzon.
The third is that the people of Tianzhu are servile, easy to manage, and more easy-going. If you send them back, they will go back honestly."
Wei Jiansu asked: "Your Highness, how many years will it take for these 70,000 prisoners of war to be released back home?"
Li Ye hesitated and said: "I read Longyou's investigation report on 70,000 prisoners of war and found it a bit difficult. These prisoners of war are from several small countries in the north of Tianzhu. They were captured by the Tubo invasion. They don't know where their hometown is.
They don’t even know the name of their own country, and they have basically never traveled far. If we send them back to Tianzhu, they will not be able to find their hometown, and they will still live in a foreign land and become slaves."
"Then what does Your Highness plan to do?" Pei Zunqing asked.
"So I thought about waiting five years and giving them a choice. If they want to go back to Tianzhu, send them back. If they don't want to go back to Tianzhu, I can change them into laborers, and then find some Nanyang women or Tianzhu women to make a home for them. If they behave well,
, we can give them Tang household registration, and their people can live in Luzon and become overseas civilians of the Tang Dynasty. I think our overseas states also need some people at the bottom, and some menial and rough work also need people to do it."
Wei Jiansu sighed: "Now I understand why His Highness values population so much."
This is not only Wei Jiansu's personal sentiment, it has actually become the consensus of the political hall.
That's why the household tax reform was implemented so quickly. Everyone found that the household tax has another benefit, which is that it can encourage the birth of children. If a couple has two or more children, the whole family can be exempted from the household tax.
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If you are single or have only one child, you will have to pay household tax. This will also help to promote the remarriage of widows. After reaching a certain age, which is stipulated to be fifty years old, the household tax will be directly exempted.
The household tax reform, just like the Qing Dynasty's shareholding system, will promote a large increase in population. Of course, there is a prerequisite, that is, food production must keep up.
Many high-yield crops must appear, and corn and sweet potatoes are two crucial varieties.
Corn has a great impact on the high yield of dry fields in the north, while sweet potatoes are of extraordinary significance to mountainous areas. The south is mountainous and food cannot be grown in mountainous areas, so sweet potatoes can be grown to produce several kilograms of land per acre, which is delicious and filling.
It can be said that the population explosion in the early Qing Dynasty was closely related to high-yielding crops. Of course, social stability was also very important.
Therefore, Li Ye was eager to develop shipbuilding and steam engines, and was preparing to send people to the United States to find high-yielding crops.
Even if the poll tax is relaxed and grain production is increased, many social policies must be coordinated. Political stability is the most important. The Anshi Rebellion reduced the Tang Dynasty's population by 20%.
The political stability is not a big problem. Now that the world is peaceful, some bandits and bandits can be wiped out forcefully.
Then there is the abolition of slavery, which can at least increase the Tang Dynasty's population by 10% out of thin air.
It is necessary to enter the civilian society of the Song Dynasty in advance. The biggest problem with the abolition of slavery is the obstruction of vested interests, mainly the powerful and aristocratic families. Fortunately, neither the military nor the civil servants are vested interests. This matter cannot be delayed and must be implemented as soon as possible.
To prevent military generals and senior court officials from quickly becoming vested interests.
The second issue Li Ye wants to discuss with everyone today is the abolition of slavery.
Li Ye took out the information he had prepared in advance from his document bag. The nine members of the Zhengshitang immediately understood and took out the same information from their bags.
This is the "Recommendations on the Abolition of Slavery" drafted by Li Ye himself. It is a Class A top-secret document and was sent to all senior officials in the Political Affairs Hall a few days ago.
All the senior officials knew this very well, and this was probably the main topic of the meeting at the political hall held by the regent today.
"Everyone must also know that it is imperative to abolish slavery. The reason is also clear to everyone. Hebei needs a large number of homesteaders, otherwise the barren land will not be able to regain its vitality. In addition, slaves are also the root of domestic soldiers. If this root is not eliminated,
Don’t know when the next turmoil will occur?
More importantly, we need a population. There are many slaves. They want to migrate overseas, but they are not qualified. Isn't this a pity?
Therefore, after the tax reform, I want you to discuss the issue of abolition. Of course, I will not make a blanket decision. It will not work if we declare the abolition of slavery today and free all slaves tomorrow.
Therefore, we need to find a reasonable and orderly plan that is neither hasty nor procrastinating. What I am showing you is the plan I proposed. If you have seen it, you can freely express your own ideas."
Li Ye glanced at Wei Jiansu. He was the right prime minister and he should take the lead.
Wei Jiansu chuckled, "Then I'll just say a few words and try to spark some good news!"
He cleared his throat and said slowly: "There are three steps to the abolition of slavery proposed by His Highness. The first step is to prohibit the emergence of new slaves and implement it immediately. The second step is to abolish underage slaves one year later. The third step
Three years later, all slaves were abolished and converted into civilians.
First of all, my personal attitude is very clear. I firmly support the abolition of slavery, including the Wei family. Before March next year, all slaves will be converted into free citizens. But I am not only the head of the Wei family, I am also the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty.
The responsibility lies not only with the family, but also with the world."
"Wei Xiangguo said it well!" Li Ye praised Wei Jiansu's clear attitude very much.
Wei Jiansu bowed slightly and continued: "My suggestion for the plan is to combine the first and second steps, abolish all slaves under the age of eighteen, and at the same time stop human trafficking in various parts of the Tang Dynasty.
New slaves will appear, and then all slaves will be abolished after one year!"
