；“Where is the Grand Chancellor Huang Quan?” The voice of Cao Rui continued from the palace hall.
When Ji Jì stood up to return to the queue, he unconsciously turned his head and looked at Huang Quan, who was walking outwards.
Since I had just been appointed as the Governor of Yang State, and Henan State also had a vacancy at the moment.
Then, is it time for Huang Quan to become the governor?
When Cao Rui watched Huang Quan leave the queue, he looked hesitant, and couldn't help but smile.
Four Grand Chancellors had different personalities, and although they could be compared to each other with a hierarchy, different people always had different uses.
Liu Xie was perceptive and quick-witted, but he intended to be overly loyal.
Xin Zhi was clear and upright, but he was not good at unusual strategies.
Chen Jiao was expert in routine affairs, but not skilled in grand strategies.
Huang Quan was simple and straightforward, but he always worried about gains and losses, and his thoughts were too heavy.
“Huang,” Cao Rui looked at Huang Quan and smiled: “During this southern campaign, I have discussed many times with you about the people's affairs.”
"Your insights, Huang Qing, always resonate deeply with me," Cao Rui said. "In your opinion, what are the key tasks in governing Yuzhou at present?"
Huang Quan stood in the hall hesitated for two moments.
Cao Rui did not hurry. He sat quietly in the palace hall watching Huang Quan's shadow.
Huang Quan lowered his head and glanced around. After slightly lifting his head, though he was too far away to see the emperor's face clearly, Huang Quan felt that the emperor's gaze was upon him.
Can't be concerned about so many things anymore!
Huang Quan bit his teeth slightly and began to respond to the emperor's question.
"Honorable Emperor," Huang Quan said, bowing, "I believe there are three key tasks for Yuzhou at present: agriculture, military farming, and population."
Cao Rui smiled lightly, indicating that Huang Quan had basically passed his test.
Huang Quan, although hesitant, would truly get things done if pushed into a corner.
"Huang Qing also has three points? Elaborate on them," said Cao Rui.
"I shall follow Your Majesty's command," Huang Quan said, loud and clear, standing tall in the hall and speaking loudly: "I believe that national affairs should be based on agriculture and industry. Yuzhou is a strategic location, bordering on Yangzhou to the east and Jingzhou to the west."
"Improving water conservancy and encouraging agriculture are the foundation for Yuzhou to support Yangzhou and Jingzhou."
Cao Rui nodded lightly but remained silent.
Agriculture and industry are the fundamental matters. Although it is the most basic task in governing a state, it is not necessary to talk about it extensively in the court.
"Secondly, it is military farming," Huang Quan continued. "Since the establishment of military farming in the first year of Jian'an, each prefecture and county has set up military farming officers, allowing displaced people to reside on land and farm for accumulation. In this way, the King's troops can conquer everywhere without the labor of carrying supplies."
"But the old military farming system now needs to be adjusted according to the new circumstances."
As soon as Huang Quan finished speaking, the officials in the hall sensed a subtle change in the atmosphere.
Military farming policy has been in place for more than thirty years. Which state, which county does not have military and civilian farming?
To change it? How to change it? Can military farming be changed?
The officials in the hall were either looking at each other, whispering, or questioning Huang Quan's words.
But from a high position, Cao Rui only felt that the court was filled with humming noises, which did not sound pleasant to the ear.
Cao Rui raised his hand, and the Grand Marshal Hua Xin, seeing this, stepped forward. Looking around at the ministers in the hall, he said in a voice that was weathered but authoritative, "Silence!"
When order was restored, no one else dared to speak up as the first to make a stand, and Huang Quan finally continued his statement.
Huang Quan continued: "Military farming displaced people have always carried a heavy burden. According to the laws of the imperial court, if military farming households have their own plough oxen, then their annual income is divided in the ratio of official five and commoner five. If military farming households use official oxen, then their output of grain and rice is divided in the ratio of official six and commoner four."
"Besides paying grain as tax, military farming households must also bear corvée labor. During the years of Jian'an and Huangchu, frequent wars meant continuous corvée labor, which has exhausted the people greatly."
"Therefore, Your Imperial Majesty," Huang Quan said loudly, "I suggest that one state be chosen to reduce the burden of military farming. The tax burden for military farming households should be lowered by ten percent to show the great prosperity of the Daxia and the wisdom of the Taihe era."
"Use the private plough oxen of military farming households, official five and commoner five should be changed to official four and commoner six; use the official plough oxen of military farming households, official six and commoner four should be changed to official five and commoner five."
Just as Hua Xin had stopped the noise in the court, the discussion spread again. Helpless, Hua Xin turned to look at the emperor, but Cao Rui subtly shook his head to indicate that Hua Xin should wait a moment.
A minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, if the military farming tax rate from five-fifths to four-sixths is changed, the reduction in taxes for official agencies in each state and county will not be just one tenth, perhaps causing food shortages in various places."
Following that, an old minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is the system established during the time of Emperor Wu, which has become a convention. It cannot be changed!"
Cao Rui said, "Huang Qing, some ministers oppose your opinion. What do you have to say?"
"The minister naturally has a counterargument," Huang Quan said, turning to speak after being pushed to a corner. "During the time of official five and commoner five, many military farming households' annual income was only enough for the second year's food."
"Now Your Majesty has a great victory in the south of Huainan, and the rebel Wu state has not dared to invade the borders for several years."
"Reducing the military farming tax and allowing the people to rest appropriately can not only increase the people's income and demonstrate the benevolence of the Taihe era, but also preserve the strength of the people for future military affairs."
"Understand, I ask you all, do you not want the people to gain a little more food?"
Cao Rui shook his head and smiled on the palace hall, Huang Quan has also been forced to come up with quick wit, human potential is really worth exploring.
Just now, Huang Quan linked the reduction of taxes with 'benevolent governance' and 'great victory'. According to Huang Quan's logic, there are two reasons for reducing taxes.
The first is that because the Eastern Wu has been defeated by Your Majesty, they dare not provoke any border incidents or invade the Great Wei, so they do not need as many grains.
If someone still feels that the five-five division of grain collection rate is needed, it means questioning whether Your Majesty has subdued Eastern Wu? How can the great victory just now be calculated?
The second reason is that reducing taxes is the first act of benevolent governance after Your Majesty changed the era name to 'Taihe'. Resting the people and lightening the burden of corvée and taxes are in line with Confucian values.
If one dares to question Your Majesty's 'benevolent governance', is it not a form of rebellion?
The Grand Marshal Hua Xin spoke to Huang Quan: "Huang Zhongshu doesn't need to be so sharp in his words. Just state the facts."
Zhong Yao, the Marquis Zhong, is unable to attend court meetings anymore. As the head of the three ministries, Hua Xin is responsible for maintaining the order of the court.
"Understood," Huang Quan bowed to Hua Xin and continued.
"Honorable Emperor," Huang Quan continued: "The third point that I mentioned is to clear the hidden population and use the population found to military farming."
When Huang Quan spoke these words, the court was silent. Although there were some who opposed the previous discussion of military farming, no one spoke up against the proposal to clear the hidden population for military farming.
There are very few fools who can survive in the court of Daxia, and everyone is a genius.
If a minister can avoid offending the emperor at all costs, then from another perspective, that minister must have already known all the points that would anger the emperor.
Since the end of the Han Dynasty, many governors or prefects who wanted to make a name for themselves have been fighting against the issue of hidden population.
During the period of Jian'an, countless heads were rolled in various states and counties for this matter.
What is meant by "noble families" and "powerful magnates"? Land, estate workers, tenant farmers — these are the fundamental assets of powerful magnates.
Since Emperor Wu ascended to the throne of Wei after the establishment of Daxia, the Great Wei has not conducted a census for many years.
There may be many reasons. Whether it's because of the threat of foreign enemies, not wanting to cause unrest in the country, or consolidating public opinion and pacifying local scholar families, in any case, the matter of conducting a census has been at a standstill in Daxia for many years.
During the period of Emperor Pei in Huangchu, the previous emperor Cao Pi did not even mention it.
Now Huang Quan has brought up this matter again. Could it be that the emperor has hinted……?
Of course, it is an indication from the emperor.
Cao Rui's voice echoed from the hall: "Huang Qing, you said it well!"
"Reducing taxes and allowing the people to rest is the correct way to accumulate national strength," Cao Rui said. "During my southern tour, I personally asked soldiers from Yuzhou and Yangzhou, as well as laborers from various places who are subject to corvée labor, one by one."
"The military farming households that use official plough oxen, with a tax ratio of official six and commoner four, almost never have any surplus grain left by the end of the year."
"Although the tax ratio of official five and commoner five is better, the grain earned is not enough to buy the clothes for the whole family."
"May I ask the ministers, do you have half-drachma coins at home?" Cao Rui spoke slowly: "What I learned from the people is that in the state and county people, as well as military farming households, the half-drachma coins are almost no longer in circulation!"
"Why isn't there money in circulation in the countryside? It's not because they are not poor enough! Too much tax, too little income — why would they need coins? Barter is enough."
Cao Rui shook his head: "Isn't there a minister who said that I slightly resemble Emperor Han Geng? During the time of Emperor Han Geng, the granary was full and the string holding the bronze money had rotted. Were the people in Han as poor as the subjects of Daxia?"
"Jia Kui, the former Governor of Yuzhou, has been sent to Wankou to lead troops by me. The position of the Governor of Yuzhou is now vacant."
"Huang Qing." Cao Rui looked at Huang Quan, who stood in the hall.
The emperor spoke, and the ministers were all silent. Huang Quan stood alone in the hall, like a tree standing in the wind and rain. Although he stood upright, his anxiety could not be hidden.
Now that he has received the emperor's call, the heart that has been hanging in suspense can finally be at ease for a moment.
"I am here," Huang Quan bowed respectfully.
Cao Rui nodded: "I command you to be the Governor of Yuzhou. Starting from today, I will make Yuzhou a pilot area to reduce military farming taxes."
"I will give you three years. Only when the people have more harvests can the national strength increase. There has never been a reason to deplete resources for a one-time gain. If you do well, then you can spread this practice to the other states."
"Can you do well, Huang Qing?" Cao Rui did not ask Huang Quan like he asked Jiang Ji, but directly gave the order.
Huang Quan said with a firm tone, "If the emperor entrusts me with the task of one state, I will certainly do well for Daxia and for the emperor within three years."
"Please watch over my efforts, Your Majesty. If I fail to do well, I am willing to bear the blame."
Cao Rui nodded satisfactorily: "Yuzhou is a strategic area of the country. If problems arise during the implementation of policies, you can naturally come to ask for help from the emperor."
Huang Quan bowed and said: "I accept the order."
(Chapter ends)
