Wang Gang wanted to bring the tenants of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty to their acres, return the fire to the public, and bring the grain to the Song Dynasty.
He had had this idea for more than a day or two. When he was an official on Jiangnan West Road, Wang Gang saw with his own eyes that farmers were being oppressed by landlords and their lives were worse than pigs and dogs. He had this idea.
But he had no power at the time and the conditions needed for reform were insufficient, so he never mentioned it.
But things are different now. Wang Gang took control of all the military power of the Song Dynasty. Once Sima Guang died, there was no one among the courtiers who could compete with him.
This is the best time to implement reforms.
However, Wang Gang still told Sima Guang his thoughts. If he could get his support, the conservative faction would be able to avoid a lot of trouble.
"The so-called sharing of land per acre means the abolition of the head tax. From now on, agricultural taxes will follow the land. Farmers with more land will pay more taxes. Farmers without land will not pay taxes.
Huohuo returned to the public, which meant that taxes from all over the country were broken into pieces and handed over to the court, and the Ministry of Household Affairs recast them uniformly to avoid losses and secondary tax collection by local officials.
Officials and gentry pay taxes as one, and the officials' families do not enjoy any privileges. Except for the officials themselves, they do not have to pay taxes, and all other relatives pay taxes."
After Wang Gang explained his ideas for reform to Sima Guang, the conservative leader was completely stunned.
"Do you want to offend everyone?" Sima Guang swallowed and asked.
Sima Guang had been fighting against the reformists all his life. After listening to Wang Gang's story, he immediately understood the difficulty of his reform.
The interests of the landlord class are affected by dividing the land into acres. It seems reasonable and reasonable to pay taxes on large fields, but how can those rich and big landowners pay the taxes obediently?
Returning fire to the public means cutting off the financial resources of local officials. In the past, local taxes were collected and the scraps of silver collected were recast, so there was always loss during this period.
The amount of this loss depends entirely on the mood of the official. He said that the loss is 50%, and the common people can only hand over the loss, and the extra money will naturally fall into the pockets of the officials.
As for the officials and gentry paying the rations together, it affects the interests of all scholars.
The Song Dynasty stipulates that any scholar who is selected as a scholar is exempted from taxes and military service. Not only can you be exempted from taxes, but your parents and wife can also be exempted from taxes.
This creates a phenomenon, that is, after a scholar becomes a scholar, a large group of people will come to recognize you as your father and are willing to be your son to avoid paying taxes.
Wang Gang's three-step plan directly offended officials, gentry and scholars.
But Sima Guang soon realized something else.
Almost all of Wang Gang's three reforms were people-oriented and country-oriented.
Although it affects the interests of the privileged class, it can benefit the people all over the world and make the country rich and strong.
"Your reforms are more radical than Wang Anshi's, and I'm afraid it will cause even greater chaos!" Sima Guang said worriedly.
Wang Gang sighed and said: "Master Sima, I know that you oppose the reform not because you are conservative, but because you are worried that if the reform fails, the people will suffer."
Sima Guang's eyes widened and he said to Wang Gang: "You actually understand?"
"Everyone in the world thinks that the boss opposes the reform because he wants to compete with the princes for power, but I know that the boss is worried about the people and is worried about the princes' reforms, and the people below him are willing to do so, which only makes the people suffer more."
Sima Guang sat up straight and looked at Wang Gang for the first time.
To be honest, Sima Guang did not have deep contact with Wang Gang. In the past, Wang Gang was too low-key. Although he was the uncle of the state, he rarely participated in state affairs and was not involved in the battle between the reformers and the conservatives.
Sima Guang always thought that Wang Gang was a relative who was good at fighting, and he was once on guard against him to prevent him from becoming a person like Wang Mang and Cao Cao.
Only today did he realize that the depth of what Wang had just learned was far beyond his imagination.
"Sheng Shanda, I didn't expect that the person who understands me best is you. Although Wang Anshi's purpose of reform is good, his personal ability is average. He even naively thinks that as long as the officials issue an order, he can implement the reform and strengthen the country.
He has never gone to see the people below. The people below have already tampered with his reforms. Instead of benefiting from it, the people have suffered greatly from it." Sima Guang took Wang Gang's hand and said:
"I am old and no longer have the energy to stop you, but I still want to advise you that reform is a double-edged sword. If you fail to strengthen the country, it will harm the country, so you should be cautious."
Wang Gang said: "Sheng admires me for serving the country wholeheartedly, but the Song Dynasty has been weak for too long. If it continues to stand still, it will only lead to its own destruction.
The Song Dynasty is different from previous dynasties. It is surrounded by powerful enemies. If it does not become stronger, sooner or later it will become the prey of others."
Wang Gang remembered that a few decades later, the Jin people conquered Bianjing, and the Han people experienced the humiliation of Jingkang. They were suppressed by foreigners for more than two hundred years, until a beggar emperor rose up to put things right.
Although Wang Gang was not a saint, he had lived in the Song Dynasty for decades. Naturally, he did not want the people of the Song Dynasty to live a life inferior to that of pigs and dogs.
"Sir, I will use the power of the army to suppress all dissent, my reforms will definitely be implemented, and I will definitely build the Song Dynasty into the strongest country in the world."
Sima Guang closed his eyes and seemed to be thinking about whether to believe Wang Gang's words.
Finally, he sighed deeply and asked Wang Gang to go to the palace to meet the saint first, while he himself called the housekeeper and summoned the close courtiers.
Soon the conservative ministers entered the Sima Mansion one by one, and left one after another after two hours.
Wang Gang had already entered the palace to meet his little emperor nephew.
When the nephew and uncle met, they naturally reminisced about old times, and the little emperor did not ask Wang Gang why he went to Sima Mansion.
Later, the little emperor also called the Queen Mother Sheng Minglan, and they all had a meal together to bond.
During the meal, the young emperor asked Wang Gang: "Uncle, the old prime minister is seriously ill and has not recovered. There are many important affairs in the court. I would like to appoint you as the right minister to lead the court."
Wang Gang said unceremoniously: "Thank you so much for your love from the officials. I will work hard and be loyal to the country."
Sheng Minglan smiled and said: "Third brother, you must help your nephew well and manage the Song Dynasty well, so that I can go to see the late emperor in the future."
The little emperor's face twitched slightly, as if he was a little unhappy, but he endured it.
Wang Gang took in all the changes in the little emperor's face.
"It seems that there is some disagreement between the Emperor and the Queen Mother?" Wang Gang suppressed his doubts, and after reminiscing with Sheng Minglan, he left the palace and returned to Sheng Mansion.
Old Mrs. Sheng's health was getting worse and worse, and she was a little confused. She didn't recognize Wang Gang when she saw him.
Sheng Hong was okay, he had resigned and went home to take care of his old age, and he was enjoying himself all day long. He was very happy.
As for Lin Sushuang, she has also changed a lot, maybe because her son is getting older and his son is more competitive and less eager to compete for favor, so his mentality is much calmer.
The person who has changed the most is Wang Ruofu. Since she returned from her hometown in Youyang, she seems to have become a different person. She eats fasting and chants Buddha's name all day long, and has no worries about the world.
Sheng Changbai is now also a third-rank official, in charge of the Yushitai. His descendants are just as good as the king. The Liu family gave birth to three children for him, two boys and one girl.
Wang Gang and Hai Chaoyun only have one daughter, Sheng Ziqiao, and they are now at the age where they are discussing marriage.
"Second brother, when I entered the palace today, I saw that Sixth Sister seemed to be at odds with the official mother and son?" Wang Gang and Sheng Changbai sat down to chat.
"Oh, the Queen Mother!" Sheng Changbai sighed, as if he had something to hide.
Wang Gang asked curiously: "Could it be that the sixth sister is greedy for power and has made the officials unhappy?"
Sheng Changbai shook his head and said, "No, the Queen Mother stays in the harem all day and never asks about political affairs."
Wang Gang asked in confusion: "Then why are the officials so angry with the Queen Mother?"
Sheng Changbai looked around and made sure there was no one there before saying: "The Queen Mother often recruits Qi Heng into the palace recently."
Wang Gang almost spit out his tea when he took a sip.
"Sixth sister and Qi Heng have no ties to each other?"
Sheng Changbai sighed again: "Just a year after the late emperor left, the sixth sister couldn't bear the loneliness. No wonder the officials were dissatisfied and made trouble for Qi Heng several times. Every time the Queen Mother protected Qi Heng, the officials became even more angry.
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Wang Gang finally understood why his nephew had a gap with Minglan. This kind of thing would make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Even before his father's body was cold, his own mother wanted to find him a stepfather. Even children from ordinary families may not be able to accept it, let alone one from the royal family.
"Didn't you advise Sixth Sister? If she acts like this, something will happen to her one day!"
"Why haven't I tried to persuade her? Not only me, but even my father has gone to the palace to persuade her. But the Queen Mother is so determined and ambiguous with Qi Heng that no one can persuade her." Sheng Changbai sighed.
Wang Gang guessed that Sheng Minglan and Qi Heng were lovers and could not get married, and he always had regrets in his heart.
Now that Sheng Minglan has become the Queen Mother and the most powerful woman in the world, she naturally wants to make up for her regrets.
For ordinary people, it is not a big deal to make up for regrets and remarry, but Sheng Minglan is no longer an ordinary person. The royal family is selfless, and many people are watching every move of the Queen Mother and the Emperor.
Sheng Minglan is playing with fire.
"Second brother, you didn't talk to Qi Heng?" Wang Gang said gloomily.
"Found it." Sheng Changbai said helplessly: "Now that Qi Heng relies on the Queen Mother's favor, no one takes him seriously!"
Wang Gang snorted coldly: "Since Qi Heng wants to enter the palace so much, why not castrate him and send him directly to the sixth sister to serve him!"
Sheng Changbai opened his mouth, maybe he didn't expect Wang Gang to be so cruel!