vrcanaries Chapter 220 Official Administration
Chapter 220 Official Administration
People from other timelines, upon hearing this, couldn't help but recall the reforms implemented by the fourth prince of the Qing Dynasty during the last live broadcast, which all involved taking a huge bite out of the local gentry and landlords.
The process itself is not easy; those who carry it out need to use some tricks!
However, Liu Xiu has always been lucky, so he will definitely be able to achieve this in the end!
……
"Faced with local disobedience, Liu Xiu, to some extent, experienced the predicament Wang Mang had faced with the powerful clans. After the local powerful clans expressed strong resistance, the four provinces of Qing, Xu, You, and Ji saw the most intense rebellion."
"Those officials who come down for inspections aren't just on official business; they're on their way to the lower levels! The powerful clans in Hebei are quite influential, so they often eliminate inspection officials they dislike!"
"But the problem is that this land survey is definitely inevitable, and it's impossible for the local powerful clans to know everything about the land and population situation across the country, while the emperor is not very clear about it!"
"Therefore, he introduced several policies that benefited local powerful families. For example, Liu Xiu decentralized the salt and iron monopolies that had been taken over to various counties."
"As you all know, salt and iron can make money very quickly. Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty used methods such as salt monopoly to exploit the people and make money in the process."
"Furthermore, in order to attack the Xiongnu, it is well known that the entire country mobilized its resources. The money required for frequent wars must have been enormous. Therefore, in order to earn more military funds, the pig also had its eye on salt and iron."
Liu Zhuzhu (0.o): I did this to fight the Xiongnu…
Liu Qi, the chess player of the Han Dynasty: So Liu Xiu relinquished this part of the power to powerful clans?
General Judy, the Northern Expeditionary Army: As the saying goes, "He who eats your food is bound to be subservient; he who takes your money is obligated to do your bidding." This way, things will be easier to get done!
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"Although this salt and iron business is profitable, if some of the benefits can be given to powerful clans so that they will not easily cause trouble, Liu Xiu believes that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and it is not a losing proposition."
"As mentioned before, the position of governor is often held by local powerful families. Because of their status, they not only have private armies, but also have power other than that of the prefect."
"The most obvious example of this is the Gongcao (meritorious official) and the Commander of the Commandery. Previously, when Kou Xun, the Gongcao of Shanggu, retrieved the seal of office for Geng Kuang, the Prefect of Shanggu, it was clear that the Gongcao actually held much more power than the Prefect!"
"Therefore, Liu Xiu did not remove the position of Gongcao (a high-ranking official), abolished the position of Commander of Commanderies and Kingdoms, and left military power to the Prefects. In this way, military power was effectively kept in the hands of the imperial court."
"So even if local powerful clans wanted to cause trouble, they could only rely on their own private armies, which were still not as large as the imperial army."
"Liu Xiu's approach to local powerful clans, using both soft and hard tactics, can be considered friendly. Unless you're really out of your mind and insist on going against him, don't you even look at how many of those who went against him are still alive?!"
A studious young man from the Song Dynasty said: "There's a saying: 'Those who understand the times are heroes!'"
A bystander in the Ming Dynasty commented: "I'm afraid of people who want the salt and iron monopoly but don't want to pay land tax and poll tax!"
In another timeline, some powerful clans who were planning to seize the salt and iron monopoly and then push their luck fell silent upon hearing Lin Ke's last words, and finally withdrew their tentative steps!
After all, everyone knows that salt and iron will bring in much more substantial revenue, while the land tax and poll tax below are just little brothers in comparison!
If we insist on going head-to-head with Liu Xiu, we might lose our salt and iron income and our own family fortune!
That's not worth it!!!
……