Chapter 93 The Three Webster Sisters Worry About Life
Although Li Zhiyun knew that the old farmer's situation was not a common situation among people in the Tang Dynasty, he still felt worried in his heart.
By the end of the Tang dynasty, the land equalization system and the renting system went hand in hand.
Under the equal land system, adult men over the age of 18 are granted one hectare of land, 20 acres of permanent land, and 80 acres of divided land.
The tax system means that regardless of whether the people are rich or poor, they pay a fixed amount of tax according to the system.
Rent is the land rent, and each ding pays two shi of millet per year.
Tiao means that every ding pays two feet of silk and three liang of cotton, or two feet and five feet of cloth and three pounds of linen every year.
Yong, twenty days of corvee service, plus two days in leap years, is the official service. If the country does not need people to serve, then each ding can pay twenty cents per day according to the standard of three feet of silk or three feet and seven inches of cloth.
It is called mediocrity.
On the surface, there seems to be no problem. Fixed taxes and equal distribution of land can give the people enough time to produce.
At the same time, this also ensures the foundation of the military system.
But the problem is that once there is an overpopulation, serious land annexation, and the court does not have much land to allocate to the people, the people at the bottom have no land and they have to pay a fixed rent, which will lead to a large number of people becoming tenant farmers of the landlords. And the landlords
In order to pay less taxes, the population will be concealed and not reported.
In other words, if you want the land equalization system and rent-to-rent system to be implemented permanently, you must not only ensure that the population registration is always clear, but also prevent land annexation.
Now is the beginning of the dynasty, so this kind of worry does not exist yet, but it will gradually become apparent in a few decades.
"Which nobleman are you working as a tenant for?"
"Here, Wei Shi." The old farmer pointed to Wei Qu in the distance.
Hearing this, Li Zhiyun looked at Wei Siqi.
The latter lowered his head and said nothing.
Even though this kind of thing had nothing to do with him when he was exposed in person, he was still a little scared when it came to Webster.
Li Zhiyun did not embarrass Wei Siqi, chatted with the old farmer for a while, then got up and left.
"Siqi."
"exist."
"I have been out for a while and am very thirsty. Your home is not far away. Why don't you invite me to sit down?" Li Zhiyun said with a smile.
Wei Siqi thought that Li Zhiyun was dissatisfied with Wei because of what the old farmer said just now, so he immediately explained: "Your Highness, Wei has many branches, and I don't know who the old man was talking about just now."
"What are you talking about? I just want to have a drink of water. What does it have to do with the old man?" Li Zhiyun reassured: "Besides, selling the land was the old man's own decision, and it was not forced by others."
Hearing this, Wei Siqi felt a little relieved, and immediately smiled and said: "That's done, I will take your Highness to Wei Qu to sit down. However, I have been rewarded by Your Highness and have already lived in Chang'an. Wei Qu's hometown has not been cleaned up for some time, so I am indifferent.
Please also ask Your Highness Haihan."
"It doesn't matter."
At this time, Wei Siren said: "Your Highness, why not go and sit at my brother's house? He is still working as a farmer in Weiqu."
"Okay, you just lead the way."
"As commanded."
Everyone came to Weiqu, the house of the eldest brothers Wei Siqi and Wei Siren.
There were two children sitting at the door, playing in the mud. Their faces and bodies were dirty and they looked very sloppy.
Wei Siren stepped forward and shouted: "Da Lang."
One of the children raised his head, saw Wei Siren, and said in surprise: "Uncle Third!"
Wei Siqi explained to Li Zhiyun: "Your Highness, that child is my eldest brother's son."
"Um."
After a while, Wei Siqi's eldest brother Wei Siyan came out.
Wei Kuangbo had three sons, the eldest son Wei Siyan, the second son Wei Siqi, and the third son Wei Siren. In addition, he also had three daughters.
"See His Royal Highness the King of Chu."
"No courtesy." Li Zhiyun helped him up and said with a smile: "I'm going on a trip today, so I came here to ask for a drink of water."
"I don't dare. Your Highness is here. Your humble abode will be filled with splendor. Please come, Your Highness."
"good."
Wei Siyan's house is not big, with only a courtyard in the middle, and then two rooms in the east and west.
The living room also looks a bit shabby, but it's still clean.
After taking a sip of water, Li Zhiyun looked at the impoverished Wei family and couldn't help but sigh slightly. He also understood Wei's situation.
My wife, Wei Gui, was the daughter of Wei Yuancheng and belonged to the eldest family. After Wei Yuancheng died, the position of head of the family was passed to Wei Kuangbo, Wei Siqi's father. After Wei Kuangbo passed away, the position of head of the family was passed to their third uncle, Wei Yuan
According to.
When he was in Chang'an, he had heard that Wei Yuanzhao was greedy and stingy, but he didn't expect that he would be so stingy towards his nephew.
Wei Siyan thought that Li Zhiyun disliked his family, so he quickly felt ashamed and said, "Your Highness has been wronged."
Li Zhiyun waved his hand, "It's nothing, I never care about these things. It's you who have been wronged. I am Wei's son-in-law, so I should take more care of you."
Wei Siyan said: "Your Highness has taken great care of Wei by giving the second and third brothers a chance. I am deeply grateful."
"Are there any difficulties at home?" Li Zhiyun asked.
Wei Siyan shook his head, "My second and third brothers often help me, so there is no difficulty. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Seeing that Wei Siyan was a little nervous, Li Zhiyun said: "Don't be nervous. I just came to take a look today. After I return home, I will discuss it with Gui Niang and visit you more in the future."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Wei Siyan pursed his lips, feeling a little moved.
My own third uncle didn't really look at him, but his uncle's son-in-law took great care of them. Only he knew how sad he felt about the gap.
At this moment, a cursing voice suddenly came from outside.
"You are blessed with a pair of red hands. I deserve to serve you noble ladies. On weekdays, I have to carry a bucket of water. You can make money with your needle and thread. You don't have a penny, so you are sitting on nothing.
, your eldest brother has suffered eight lifetimes of bloody misfortune, and you noble ladies are in trouble. It is not the fate of the queen, but the disease of the queen..."
The further back he spoke, the faster he spoke and the harsher the scolding. Li Zhiyun couldn't hear clearly, and he only thought that the woman must be a shrew.
"Who is outside?"
Wei Siyan's expression changed and he whispered: "It's a shame to make His Highness laugh."
"Oh." Li Zhiyun coughed twice and said, "I will go change my clothes."
"Your Highness, please."
After Li Zhiyun left, Wei Siqi asked: "Brother, don't I often send you money? How come my sister-in-law is still saying such nonsense?"
He is not stupid, his sister-in-law is scolding his sister, and he knows it well.
Wei Siyan smiled bitterly and said, "Your sister-in-law is so kind-hearted and outspoken. I can't persuade her."
If you are henpecked, you are henpecked. What excuse can you make?
Wei Siren: (╬▔ Pan▔)convex
Hearing this, Wei Siqi frowned, "Brother, if you give way to your sister-in-law every step of the way, this is not a long-term solution. We still need..."
"What else do you need!" shouted a thunderous voice, and a middle-aged woman with a fat belly and a round waist walked in.
The light from the door seemed to be swallowed up a bit.
Seeing the woman, Wei Siqi and Wei Siren took a step back at the same time.
"Sister-in-law, long time no see."
Seeing them, Wei Siyan's wife disappeared with a bloody mouth and put on a smiling face.
"The two uncles came back today to bring food and clothing to the sisters?"
Hearing this, Wei Siqi's head was as big as an ox.
He is now living with the King of Chu. Although he does not have to pay back the mortgage, his salary is not bad, and there are benefits during holidays. Usually his cousin will help him a little, but the consumption in Chang'an is so high. If he occasionally helps his wife, it is always behind his wife's back. How can he do it?
How much money do you give to your eldest brother every day?
"Ahem, sister-in-law, be careful what you say. A noble person is coming to visit you today, so sister-in-law needs to be careful about what you say and do."
"Your Excellency?" She thought of the big men in black at the door and asked, "Who is it?"
"His Royal Highness the King of Chu." Wei Siren revealed his head from behind his eldest brother and said, seeming extremely proud.
Wei Siyan's wife paused, looked around, and asked cautiously: "But is Sister Gui's husband, the King of Chu?"