Military farming is a major policy of the state and the foundation for accumulating grain and strengthening troops.
In essence, military farming is a form in which landless farmers are bound to land without owners, with the government providing funding and agricultural tools and livestock for production.
Now, Your Majesty even wants to abandon military farming?
Cao Rui saw the confusion and bewilderment on Huang Quan's face, and also saw his hidden unease. He continued, "The benefits of military farming are much more clear to me than Huang Zong. However, all things have their origins, and there were two essential conditions for Emperor Wu to establish military farming: displaced people and land without owners."
"At that time, there was a struggle among the warlords. If we had not established military farming and bound the people to the land, not only would there be no grain produced, but the people might have moved again. But now it's already the fourth year of Taihe. Wasn't I telling you to reduce the grain tax from the military farming in Yuzhou by ten percent before? Hasn't it turned out pretty well?"
Huang Quan hesitated, "Your Majesty, taxing military farming at four times is a different matter from abandoning military farming. If we really abandon military farming, where will the people's land come from?"
"Divide the land." Cao Rui said calmly. "The story of Guangwu measuring the fields, both of us, you and I, are well aware of it. I will not elaborate on it further. What matters is that those with steady possessions have steady hearts and, after having land, work even harder for their country. I will not mention this either."
Cao Rui looked at Huang Quan: "The people are in such distress, Huang Zong as a prefectural administrator, and I as the Emperor of Wei, although it is a temporary solution, can't we make some changes?"
Huang Quan heaved a long sigh: "If it were not for the presence of a wise ruler, such a thing would certainly not be possible. It is truly fortunate for me to serve under a wise ruler! In the past three years in Yuzhou, the military farming and the farming season are the two areas where I have put the most effort. The advantages and disadvantages of this matter, I humbly ask to explain to Your Majesty."
"And let's proceed."
Immediately after Cao Rui finished speaking, he stood up to straighten his robe and headdress. Then he sat down in the chair with perfect posture.
This is the proper attitude for an official report. Such a formality is not used for trivial matters. Huang Quan also stood up and moved forward a chi (about three feet) in front of the emperor, respectfully saluted, and then said:
"The benefits of military farming have six, Your Majesty. Please allow me to mention them first."
"Agreed!"
Huang Quan said, "The first benefit is that if there is no war, there will be no abandonment of farming, and without farming, there will be no need to defend. The second is that military farming combines the roles of soldiers and farmers, treating the farmland as defensive territory, which cannot be abandoned. The third is that by using military farming as soldiers' homes, it can stabilize the hearts of soldiers in border regions. The fourth is that military farming can gather grain for the state's use with minimal mistakes. The fifth is that soldiers in border regions can engage in long-term military farming, resting while they wait for their enemies to become weary and can respond to calls for mobilization at any time. The sixth is that grain can be stored in border regions for a long time, eliminating the need for inland mobilization."
"And there are also six drawbacks to military farming."
"The first one is that military farming officials are often greedy, short-sighted and corrupt. They often commit illegal acts and actions that burden the people. The second is that the land is not their own, so the people do not have a fixed mind, and they often become tired and slacken their efforts. The third is that the people are in great distress, with no cloth or food stored in their homes, and there is no money available in the villages. The fourth..."
"I understand," Emperor Cao Rui interrupted Huang Quan and said, "I will summarize your words for you."
"The matter of military farming, the benefits are for the state's benefits, while the drawbacks are for the people's drawbacks. To benefit the state at the expense of the people's welfare is like this."
"So I often wonder, it is not like the time forty years ago when warlords were divided. If we were to end the farming of the common people and keep only the military farming, what would Wei be like? The court would distribute farmland according to population, giving each common person their own land. With savings, they can spend money. Merchants and goods would flow through the village, and the court will gradually become wealthy like during Wen and Jing's time."
"This is the real reason I asked Huang Quan today."
Huang Quan nodded in agreement and said, "Your Majesty, I believe it can be done! However, military farming has been a long-standing practice in Wei for a long time. It is not suitable to abandon it at once. Instead, we should choose one place as an experiment and ensure there are no problems before extending it to other prefectures and counties."
Cao Rui smiled: "That's why I came to find Huang Zong! How about it? Huang Zong, do you think Yuzhou is suitable?"
Huang Quan pondered for a moment, as if making a significant decision, and then shook his head to refuse: "Your Majesty, Yuzhou is connected to Jingzhou to the west and borders Yangzhou to the east, which is an important source of grain and forage for both provinces. Due to military considerations, I believe Yuzhou should not be the first one to be changed. We should not make any mistakes that could disrupt the state's important political matters. Whether it is collecting taxes or requisitioning grain through military farming, it should not start from Yuzhou."
"I think it would be better to let the Yanzhou first try. Yanzhou is richer than Yuzhou, and there are fewer civilians cultivating land there. It would be easier to abolish it. Moreover, Yanzhou did not suffer from flooding this year, making it a good place for experimenting."
"Yanzhou?" Cao Rui was genuinely surprised by Huang Quan's words. Such a political achievement was literally being offered, but Huang Quan declined it and handed it over to Yanzhou.
Cao Rui was at a loss to determine whether Huang Quan's action was out of high principles, a fear of making mistakes, or genuinely from the perspective of stabilizing grain supplies and avoiding trouble.
"Alright, Yanzhou it is," Cao Rui said. "As Huang Zong was once a minister who served by my side, I will issue an edict and ask Sun Zhi about whether Yanzhou can handle the abolition of civilians' farming and distributing land well. After he has carefully drafted a plan, bring it back to report to me."
"Yes, the paper and pen are over there," Cao Rui pointed to a corner of the study: "Huang Zong, go ahead and draft it. Once you're done, bring it to show me, and I will seal it."
"Understood!" Huang Quan replied.
"This time, the abolition of civilian farming will actually have no impact on military farming."
What is military farming? Lu Su's Qiang troops are cultivating wheat in Taizhong, Jiang Ji oversees the five thousand Wu soldiers who have surrendered to plant rice in the north and south of Huai River, and Jia Kui lets the soldiers cultivate land around Wucheng. These are all examples of military farming.
Civilian farming refers to the practice of gathering together people who, having left their hometowns and lands during the chaos of the end of the Han dynasty, are then reassembled by the government to cultivate fields.
Civilian farming is mostly concentrated in Henan, with fewer in Hebei.
In Yuzhou, the prefectures of Yingchuan, Chen, Ruenan, Qiao, Liang, Pei and Huan are predominantly engaged in civilian farming. In the territory of Sirai under the governance of Henan Prefecture, the prefectures of Chenliu in Jianzhou, Dongjin and Jiyin in Henan Province, Jingzhao in Mengzhou under Magistrate's governance and Weizhou in Heping under Jingzhi Governorship are also heavily involved in civilian farming. Moreover, Wei Province under Hebei State Governance and Weizheng under Hebei State Governance are also areas where civilian farming is widespread. The rationale behind these practices is not entirely consistent.
In the regions of Yuzhou and Yanzhou, military farming began earliest and has the most complete system, with a correspondingly larger number of people involved. In other words, the more ravaged an area was at the end of the Han dynasty, the more extensive the military farming in that area.
While the Tuns in the area of Yan, Hebei were set up during the Battle of Wei State to provide housing and care for soldiers' families. After Emperor Cao Pei established Wei State, more than 50,000 households were moved from Yan to Luoyang. Combine this with the existing civil farming in Henan Prefecture and Sirai under Hebei's governance, making Sirai also a significant area for military farming.
In fact, from an overall perspective, the large landowners and self-cultivating farmers in Wei are still more numerous than the military farming peasants. In the ten years since the establishment of the state, prefectural governors and county magistrates have all passed the test, and counties governed by large landowners and self-cultivating farmers can also be mobilized for grain during wartime. Dividing away emergency civilian farming does not have a significant impact on the country. Moreover, since military farming is managed by the central government and local officials, it is relatively easy to abolish.
Let the military farming continue as it is.
Wei most certainly does not lack for land. With fewer people and more land, vast areas of land lie fallow, which is a problem Wei desperately needs to address. This also provides an advantage for distributing land now.
If the problem of civilian farming can be resolved in the next few years, then the next issue to address would be the aristocrats, powerful families, and high-status households. However, this issue would be much more challenging than dismantling military farming.
After sending off Huang Quan, the newly appointed imperial counselor Fu Gu entered from outside, speaking with a hint of nervousness, "Your Majesty, Chancellor and Marshal Liu are seeking an audience outside. May I know if you wish to see them?"
"Is there still a need to see them? I haven't had my evening meal yet. After sending off Huang Quan, there are two more coming. Hahaha, go tell them that I need to eat, and they also need to eat. Don't wait here. Each of you can go back and eat. Meet me here in half an hour."
"Understood." Fu Gu bowed and accepted the command, leaving with a trace of tension. This was his first time serving the emperor and his first time conversing with such high-ranking officials as the Chancellor and the Marshal. Should he repeat the emperor's exact words or summarize it himself?
In a state of confusion, Fu Gu chose to repeat the emperor's words to Sima Yi and Liu Ye, but unexpectedly, both of them were exceptionally courteous.
"Then we will come later." Sima Yi and Liu Ye nodded slightly at Fu Gu, then went to find the eunuch who would serve their meal.
Liu Xie had served as the Minister of Ceremonies for a long time, and Sima Yi, as a member of the cabinet, often stayed in the palace. Eating a meal at their place of work was a common occurrence. However, Fu Gu, standing behind them, was once again taken aback.
In the palace, it seems that the Chancellor and Marshal can act so casually.
Normally, Cao Rui would not mind dining with Sima Yi and Liu Ye. However, today is the birthday of Guo Yao and Guo Jieyin, so if he couldn't make it, that was fine. But since he could make it, he would say anything to accompany her for dinner.
The two had not seen each other for a long time, and upon their first meeting, they naturally engaged in intimate conversations for quite some time. Just like the other concubines in Luozhong, Guo Yao first congratulated the emperor on his victory over Liaodong and the establishment of Yingzhou's martial prowess. Then she expressed her longing for him. Finally, during the meal, she said more personal things.
It's likely that they all follow this pattern.
As Guo Yao continued speaking, she asked about a matter in Luozhong, "Your Majesty has another son, the third prince. I heard that he is not doing well. What exactly is the matter?"
Cao Rui replied, "There's nothing else to it. When Su Huan was pregnant, she had little appetite, and the child she gave birth to was also weak. He needs to rest often in the palace, so I gave him the name 'Longgevity'."
"Why did you ask about this, Yao'er?"
Guo Yao put down her spoon, leaning closer to Cao Rui, her shoulder and arm resting against his body. With a red lips touching his ear, she spoke softly and sweetly:
"Your Majesty, I also want a child..." (Chapter ended)
