Since Taizu conquered the country, he formulated the idea of governing the country with culture, which has always been the mainstream idea of the Zhao family in governing the country. In view of the domineering warriors of the Five Dynasties in the late Tang Dynasty, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty "learned from the Tang Dynasty" in the political system.
"Keep the inside weak and the outside", "Strengthen the stems and weak branches",
This makes its politics gradually tend to be moderate, and the people are governed by culture (this should be distinguished from "controlling the army"). From this level, it is still the mainstream even in modern times. It is precisely the idea of governing the country by culture that
As the mainstream, the political environment of the Song Dynasty was relatively open.
From ancient times to the present, which ruler at the beginning of the dynasty was not someone who had murderous intentions and even serious intentions? None of the heroes who worked together in ancient and modern times were spared, and could not escape the fate of being cooked by cunning rabbits and dead lackeys. The founding of the Han and Tang Dynasties
Emperor Han Gaozu Liu Bang killed Han Xin, Tang Gaozu Li Yuan used excuses to get rid of Liu Wenjing, and Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang killed almost all the founding heroes.
The Song Dynasty is definitely an exception. Taizu Xiande, although he was born as a martial artist, did not use violence to fight violence, and made an oath to "swear not to kill scholar-bureaucrats", which is absolutely unprecedented. All emperors of the Song Dynasty took this statement as a commandment,
Don't dare to violate it. Under the conditions of this traditional policy, the political enlightenment and freedom of speech of the Song Dynasty have reached an unprecedented level. Under such a political system, both the economy, culture, and people's living standards have reached the level of feudal society.
the peak of.
The large-scale peasant uprisings in the Song Dynasty did not exceed the scope of one province, which was very rare in the past dynasties, which is enough to prove the relative stability of its society.
However, everything has advantages and disadvantages. The long-term rule of law has also led to the decline of military strength. Emperors from generation to generation basically adopted the idea of "sacrifice a small amount of money to protect the country" and blindly gave in, which ultimately led to the Song people to settle for pleasure, thus
It was completely destroyed by the powerful Mongolian cavalry.
If the Qin Dynasty died of harsh rule, the Han Dynasty died of war, the Sui Dynasty died of military service, and the Tang Dynasty died of separatism, then the Song Dynasty died of ease.
As I have been in the Song Dynasty for longer and longer, my analysis of the Song Dynasty has naturally become more and more objective.
I can boldly say that the Song Dynasty was actually on the eve of developing capitalism. If there really was an opportunity to develop capitalism in Chinese history, then I think it must have been the scene in "Along the River During the Qingming Festival"
The world depicted is not the few mechanics waiting for their employers on the Suzhou Bridge.
It's a pity that these newly sprouted buds were blown away by the cold wind from the north!
Of course, by the end of the Song Dynasty, the Zhao family's financial resources were basically empty, the regional population dropped sharply, the national treasury was becoming increasingly empty, the bureaucracy was corrupt, the emperors became more and more stupid, and their opponent was the most powerful Mongolian cavalry in history. These signs
It is the same as when previous dynasties collapsed.
The only difference is my presence.
During the heyday of the Song Dynasty, the state treasury obtained huge fiscal revenue not only by intensifying the exploitation of farmers, but also by the rapid development of the national economy, the extreme prosperity of industry and commerce, and the improvement of productivity levels. As a traditional agricultural country, it directly benefited a large number of small farmers.
levy agricultural tax
Taxation has always been the basis of national rule, but this situation was unique in the Song Dynasty. The proportion of taxation was no longer dominated by agricultural taxes. However, by the end of the Song Dynasty, they had to rely on the public land law to raise military expenses. This had to be
It is said to be a serious retreat and sadness.
I can only face these things calmly, I cannot move forward again.
Regarding land policy, the Song Dynasty adopted a land policy that was very different from other dynasties - "no suppression of annexation". This approach can be said to be the earliest market economy in the world. As the bureaucracy became increasingly corrupt, a monopoly of land resources was formed.
The first is the bureaucratic big landowner class. They did not obtain large amounts of land through legitimate means, but obtained it through privileges, which resulted in extremely unfair phenomena.
After careful consideration for two days, I decided to first formulate a program document for land reform, and then start the trial implementation from Fujian Road where the land had been measured.
In accordance with my will, Xiaoqi preached loudly at the end of the great court meeting in early May: "Jia Sidao, the Grand Master of Xuan, Jiang Wanli and Liao Yingzhong of the Ministry of Commerce, Ma Tingluan of the Ministry of Rites, Ma Guangzu of the Ministry of Households, Ye Mengding, Zhu Pisun of the Ministry of Affairs, and
Tang Han, Chen Zongli of the Ministry of Punishment, Wen Tianxiang and Lu Xiufu gave lectures in Chongzheng Hall. After the court meeting, they went to the side hall to wait for orders."
I asked Xiao Qi to bring chairs and let everyone sit down and then said: "Dear ladies, you are all the pillars of our dynasty. I called you here today to discuss with you the land system of our dynasty. Xiao Qi
, serve tea to everyone."
Except for Jia Sidao, whose face was calm, everyone else looked flattered. After sitting down, he hurriedly took a sip of Shifeng Longjing and said in unison: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
You must know that it is impossible for ministers to sit down and drink tea when going to court. Even in the side hall, this is an unprecedented first time.
I got straight to the point: "I intend to re-establish a complete set of land policies based on the public land law and refine the land system into a land ownership system, a land use system, a land planning system, a land protection system, a land expropriation system, and a land taxation system."
system, land management system and land supporting system, etc. Let me first talk about the land ownership system. At present, the land in our country belongs to state-owned official land and private land.
There are two types, of which the official land occupancy rate is about 20%, the large landowner class has a land occupancy rate of 70%, and the ordinary farmers have about 10%. My idea is to allocate a certain number of fields to them according to the number of registered farmers.
Part of the land is owned by farmers, and the court only collects very little tax or does not collect it at all. This kind of farmers' own land can guarantee their basic life, food and clothing, if they have
With enough time and energy, they can rent land from the Government Land Division. Of course, the tax on this part of the land will be higher. The same is true for those landlords who own a large amount of land. Their families must pay more taxes in proportion to the excess.
Land tax, if they are unable to cultivate so much land, then they can sell the land in their hands to the court, so that the forced repurchase in the public land law can be
It has become their voluntary behavior. For the refugees, local governments will apply for household registration for them as soon as possible, and they will also enjoy the land distribution from our court. The use of this part of their own land is entirely decided by them, and the court shall not interfere. For the land leased for farming
, its ownership still belongs to the state, and farmers can sign agreements with the court, either short-term or long-term, and this agreement is protected by the laws of our country. What do you think about this?"
Ma Guangzu, Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, said: "Your Majesty, I have three questions. First, can farmers' own land be bought and sold? Second, can farmers rent it from other land owners instead of renting official land? Third, is this state-owned land
What is the appropriate ratio to private ownership?”
"Since it is their own land, of course they can buy and sell it freely, but once they sell their own land, the court will not allocate it to them for free. The second point is also possible. Farmers can freely choose and their agreements
They are also protected by the law, but if the rental company they choose goes bankrupt for any reason, the government will not compensate them for their losses. As for the third point, I haven’t thought about it yet, so let it take its course.”
Liao Yingzhong asked: "Your Majesty, if the land in the hands of big landowners has no one to rent and cultivate it, will it be abandoned?"
"It is possible, but even if the land is idle, it still has to pay land tax. For those landowners who own a large amount of land, the excess tax will even be higher than the value of the land. I think these landowners generally will not let it be used for a long time.
Leave it vacant; secondly, relevant regulations will be introduced on the land use system and management system to prevent land from being abandoned."
Jia Sidao also said: "Your Majesty, I have a suggestion."
"Master, please tell me."
"The land reform involves too much. At that time, I could only try it out on the two Zhejiang West Roads. His Majesty's reform was better than the public land law. I thought it could not be implemented nationwide at once. It would be trialled on a certain road and then gradually promoted to the whole country."
"What my teacher and minister said is true. My thoughts are consistent with my teacher and minister, so when the conditions are ripe, I will try it out from Fujian Road."
"Fujian Road? No reason." Jia Sidao smiled.
"The above is my vision for the land ownership system. Do you have any other opinions or additions?"