"Investigate for this old man. Find out who planted cotton in their grain fields."
The next day after Li Yi and Li Longji returned to Zhuangzi, Bi Goo, the Minister of Revenue, received Li Longji's notice and slammed the table in his office.
The people in the Ministry of Revenue started to get busy. They checked the brochures and went out to look for land to plant cotton.
It was already past the time to plant cotton. Cotton was planted two months ago.
People who wanted to plant cotton dug out the seedlings that should be thrown away and moved them to other fields.
Some people were smart. They saw that the imperial court's policy was good and the demand was high.
They wanted to plant more. Even if the imperial court didn't accept them, it would be useful for them to keep them in their hands.
These people had a lot of land at home. They collected rent according to the land they were given.
Some people annexed other people's fields. They paid rent for the land they were given, but they didn't pay rent for the land they bought later.
As for those who sold Yongye Fields for various reasons, they paid the rent by selling their fields or simply ran away and became fugitives.
For example, the migrant workers in Li Family Zhuangzi were mostly people who didn't have land.
Originally, the annexed land would grow grain. If there was more grain, they would naturally sell it. Overall, the capital's grain consumption was stable.
If cotton was planted, the overall grain income would decrease.
If it wasn't controlled, people would see that planting cotton was more profitable than planting land. They would change their grain fields to planting cotton. At that time, there would be no grain to eat.
The Ministry of Revenue started to investigate. The next night, Bi Goo went to Li Family Zhuangzi.
"Xiao Yi, it's shocking. Guess how many fields are planted with cotton?" Bi Goo drank wine. There were cold dishes on the table.
"Compared to the total amount of cotton planted in the capital, one-fourth of the grain fields are planted?" Li Yi thought and gave a number.
"How do you know?" Bi Goo showed a surprised expression.
"The survival rate of the seedlings is not high. They planted their own cotton immediately after the seedlings were digested. The seedlings taken from other people or bought at a low price will die easily."
Li Yi explained his analysis. Cotton was sown, but they had to change it to transplanting seedlings.
The key point was that they couldn't use the seedling transfer tool. They weren't specialized in growing seedlings.
"That's right. Even so, many of the grain fields have been invaded. Now that we've plucked the cotton, there's not enough time to plant anything else. "
Bi Goo was vexed. Now that he mentioned what the Li Family Zhuangzi wanted to do, the commoners immediately thought that it would be profitable.
Li Yi drank a mouthful of wine with him. "Since it's already been planted, the Ministry of Revenue will send someone to manage it. From now on, hire someone to look after the cotton in the field. Confiscate it."
"Yes, they should be confiscated. At the same time, they should be punished to pay more rent. They have more land, so the rent they pay is less. The land annexation has caused the rent collected by the Ministry of Revenue to decrease."
Bi Goo made up his mind to punish him and earn more rent for the Ministry of Revenue.
Li Yi lowered his head in thought, as if he was making a decision. When he raised his head, he looked at Bi Goo and said, "Old Bi, I have an idea."
Bi Goo put down his wine cup and looked at Li Yi seriously. "Something big?"
"It's average." Li Yi nodded gently.
"Can this old man bear it?" Bi Goo was lacking in confidence.
"Not now, but in a few days, it'll be fine." Li Yi smiled.
"Speak." Bi Goo took a deep breath.
"Investigate the land of the Tang dynasty. Collect rent according to the number of mu. Those who don't have land won't be charged." Li Yi threw out the idea of paying rent.
In fact, after the An Lushan Rebellion of the Tang dynasty, one of the two tax laws was exactly the same. However, there was an additional household tax.
If there was no household tax, it would be a good policy to pay rent.
Bi Gou stared at Li Yi and swallowed his saliva. He finally knew what it meant to be 'of average age'.
According to Li Yi, how many people's interests would be affected?
"Rent must be paid in advance. It can't be converted into money. Otherwise, the commoners will sell their grain at a low price during harvest season to raise money."
Li Yi continued to talk about how to collect "taxes" and asked for money. The harvest season was the time for merchants to lower the price.
Bi Goo slowly shook his head. "It's difficult. People with a lot of land will oppose it."
"It can be done." Li Yi was certain. When the court was determined, there was no problem.
This was not the Song dynasty. There were no messy new policies like the Qing calendar.
It was also not like Wang Anshi's Bao Ma method or Qing Miao method.
It was directly done in one step and paid rent.
"Local officials are likely to make false reports, hide, and lie when paying rent, especially for upper, middle, and lower fields."
Bi Goo actually thought of how to pay rent and divide the land into good and bad.
Li Yi shook his head. "As long as the court is stable, the following matters are easy to deal with. The Emperor is determined and has the Winged Knights and the sixteen guards."
"Wait a moment. After the tax matter is pushed back, we'll work on this."
Bi Goo was afraid that if he pushed two big matters together, he would not be able to do one well.
"We can try it out in the capital office first. The capital office is easy to use." Li Yi liked the capital office more and more.
Everything could start from there. Under the eyes of the Winged Knights and the sixteen guards, who would dare to disobey?
Yao Chong drank a cup and did not eat. He lowered his head and thought.
After a few breaths, he raised his head. "Try it?"
Li Yi gave Yao Chong an encouraging look. "It's no big deal. Who would dare to rebel?"
"Your Zhuangzi, do you want to pay rent?" Bi Goo's first thought was to pay rent to the Li Family Zhuangzi.
"Old Bi, I thank you. The land that my Zhuangzi bought before is not good land. Some of it is used to build industries, and some of it is used for farming. Pay rent. "
Li Yi agreed. The Li Family Zhuangzi was too big of a target. The people of the capital office were all watching.
However, he continued, "I want to make some plans. A part of the land is for military use. Take this part out. As for the rest of the land, take it out."
If Li Yi was willing to pay rent, then so be it. He did not have much money.
He wanted to make the properties of the land clear. Otherwise, what would the land be used for in the future? It would be considered as occupying grain fields.
"One month. In one month, this old man will definitely pay rent to the capital office. Starting from this year, this old man will start collecting rent."
With Li Yi's support, Bi Goo made up his mind.
Once all the land in the Tang dynasty was paid, it would be a huge amount of rent.
Mediocrity was no longer needed. The people would have more time to do other things.
After the meal, Bi Goo did not stay at the Li Family Zhuangzi. He took his own carriage home. The city gates were not closed, and people could enter and leave as they pleased.
The 16 guards and the Winged Knights set up camp outside the city gates. It was said to be training, but in reality, it was to prevent problems.
After returning home, Bi Goo began to write memorials.
On the morning of the new day, he did not mention the amount of land in the capital office. He was going to collect rent according to the amount of land and the condition of the land.
Everyone else had left. He signaled Li Longji to leave Yao Chong and the other two behind.
Yao Chong and the other two looked at Bi Goo. What do you want? You went to the Li Family Zhuangzi last night. What did you throw out today?
"Your Majesty, the land annexation is serious. The number of refugees fleeing is increasing. Just yesterday, the capital office investigated the cotton plantation. Many people have too much land …"
Bi Gou started to talk about the matter. He rambled on for a long time before he finally said, "I would like to invite the Imperial Magistrate to survey the land. The land will be classified as third class, and the land will be rented out."
Yao Chong and the other two closed their eyes at the same time. It was over. Sure enough, Li Yi had not caused trouble for a long time. When he did, he would turn the sky upside down.
Li Longji picked up the tea and drank it. When he put down the cup, he nodded, "Okay!"
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