I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 58 Let’s talk about reforms again, should we curb land annexation?

afternoon.

In the hunting ground in the south of the city, in front of the big tent, civil and military officials were listed on the left and right.

Zhao Zhen sat in the upper position, looked at the bound middle-aged man below, and said: "Who are you, and what imperial complaint do you want to file?"

"I'm a farmer from Yang Village. I...I want to sue Yongjia County Prince, General Zhao Yundi of the Right Prison Sect!"

hiss!
As soon as these words came out, all the officials looked surprised, and some even took a breath.

A farmer actually wanted to sue the royal family.

Zhao Yundi is the grandson of Taizong and the son of Zhao Yuanyan (the Eighth King) of Zhou Gongsu who just passed away last year.

"In June of this year, Zhao Yundi forcibly bought and sold eighteen acres of my family's fertile land at a price of one hundred cents per mu. The common people came to argue with him and were beaten by his servants. In desperation, the common people had no choice but to break into the hunting grounds to meet the officials! "

Near Bianjing, an acre of fertile land costs at least two thousand dollars.

And it was sold at a price of [-] yuan per acre.

It was almost a steal!

On the side, Du Yan, Ouyang Xiu, Su Liang and others frowned slightly. They were not surprised by this incident.

Because in the Song Dynasty, too many such things happened.

The root of everything comes from: the Song Dynasty did not inhibit land annexation.

Zhao Zhen looked gloomy and said: "Xuan Zhao Yundi!"

Zhang Mao looked at Prime Minister Du Yan for help.

Du Yan immediately understood and said: "Guan family, if the Yongjia County Prince comes, I'm afraid it will take more than an hour. It's better to go back to the palace to discuss this matter!"

"Let's discuss it here!" Zhao Zhen shook his head with a firm tone.

Hear this.

Zhang Mao quickly ordered people to declare Zhao Yundi.

The reason why Zhao Zhen was so angry.

It was because after the death of the Eight Great Kings last year, Zhao Yundi ordered female actors to sing and dance indoors during the mourning period, and was then reported by his wife Qian.

Therefore, Zhao Zhencai demoted Zhao Yundi to the rank of General of the Right Prison Gate.

This position is a sinecure and is only used for receiving salary. Zhao Yundi usually lives in a private house in the east of the city.

The welfare benefits of the royal family members of the Song Dynasty were very good, and they did not hold power alone.

But once you make a mistake.

Even for a benevolent king like Zhao Zhen, the punishment given to them is very severe. This is the ancestral family law.

At this moment, Ouyang Xiu suddenly stood up.

"Guan Jia, this matter is not an isolated case. I guess, if the officials ask Yongjia County Prince why he forcibly seizes farmers' fields?"

"He will definitely say that what he bought was a piece of salty land. After his irrigation improvements, it became fertile land. The original value was only about one hundred cents per acre."

"It's not an exception, what do you mean?" Zhao Zhen was a little confused.

And this moment.

Du Yan, Chen Zhizhong, Wu Yu, Su Liang and others all knew what Ouyang Xiu was going to say next.

"Officials, in recent years, all the wealthy officials and gentry in the Song Dynasty have been buying fields. Those with good character will buy the field at market price. Those with inferior character will call the purchased land a land of salty brine and dross, and then pay a low price. Buy it at a high price, but the people are forced to sell it even if they don’t want to sell it!”

"Today, I am afraid that there are no ordinary farmers around Bianjing City who have even half a share of the land. They can only rent land and farm, and it is difficult to survive!" "The reason is that our dynasty never restrained land annexation. Officials, our dynasty initially did not Suppressing land annexation is to enfeoff heroes and encourage land reclamation, but if it is not suppressed now, I am afraid that the gap between the rich and the poor will become wider and wider!"

"In the current Song Dynasty, the rich have plenty of fields, and the poor have no place to stand. In recent years, people have rebelled, mostly because of the fields. The rich will even drive up prices during the lean years, and use a variety of illegal means to leak money. Paying business taxes is a great harm to the country!"

"Officials, our dynasty's land system must be reformed!" Ouyang Xiu handed over his hands heavily.

Ouyang Xiu's biggest purpose in staying in the court was to remind the officials that they must continue to reform.

Now that he had this opportunity, he couldn't help but vomit.

Since the failure of the Qingli New Deal, no one in the court has mentioned reform.

Now, Ouyang Xiu suddenly mentioned it, some were happy and some were worried.

At this time, Jia Changchao stood up.

"Officials, Ouyang Xiu is completely alarmist. Do the tens of millions of people in the Song Dynasty have no land to farm? This is just an example, he is completely making use of the topic!"

Immediately, Jia Changchao looked at Ouyang Xiu and said coldly: "Ouyang Xiu, don't you know the harm of rash reforms? If land annexation is suppressed, do you know how many scholar-bureaucrats and officials will be dissatisfied, and how many wealthy merchants will resent the court? In your eyes, , the poor people are common people, aren't they the common people of our Song Dynasty? Are you still thinking of causing chaos in the court and making the people miserable? "

Immediately afterwards, Li Ding, the supervisory censor, strode out.

"Sister Ouyang, there are rich and poor in the world, not because of land annexation, but because of intelligence. If poor people don't have land, they can go into business. Our dynasty has a rich business environment. Even if you go to the street to sell sesame cakes or pears, , it can also wrap your belly, you have proposed reforms again, do you want your cronies to return to the government?"

Li Ding's words were extremely sinister.

When he mentioned "cronies", Zhao Zhendang frowned.

How could Ouyang Xiu be bullied verbally?

He immediately retorted: "I only mentioned the need for change, but did not propose how to change it. You are so anxious that you immediately attacked me with cronies. Could it be that there is a lot of hidden property in your family, and you are afraid of losing it again?" official?"

At this time, Wang Gongchen stood up.

"Sister Ouyang, aren't the lessons of the past two years enough to prove that reforms are useless? Fan Zhongyan's policy of equalizing land is to suppress land annexation. What is the use of it? You can ban officials from purchasing land, but you can ban merchants Should the rich buy land? Only when land is flowing can it bring benefits. Your so-called reform is pure nonsense. It just forces the rich to give money to the poor, just like giving money. What's the use?"

As soon as Wang Gongchen finished speaking, Tang Jie stood up.

"I dare to ask Wang Zhongcheng, what should be the explanation for this matter when a wealthy family gains land, leaving the poor people poor, losing their family and land, and having no choice but to rebel?"

"Most of this is done by unruly people, just clear them out!" Wang Gongchen said.

"Purge? Nowadays, there are rebellious people in our Song Dynasty every month. Is purge a strategy to eliminate the root cause?"

"boom!"

At this time, Zhao Zhen suddenly slapped the table.

The surroundings suddenly became quiet.

Zhao Zhen said expressionlessly: "One thing comes to another. After I deal with Zhao Yundi first, we will discuss whether to restrain the land annexation!"

At this moment, Zhao Zhen was in a very unhappy mood.

An hour later.

Zhao Yundi, the king of Yongjia County, came to the camp in a panic. Judging from his confused expression, it was clear that he didn't know what was calling him.

"I wonder why the officials called me here?" Zhao Yundi asked with an anxious look.

"A farmer from Yangcun in the south of the city sued you to forcefully purchase his land. He forced you to buy eighteen acres of his farmland at a low price of a hundred cents per acre. But what's the truth?"

"Guan, I am wronged! I did buy eighteen acres of land in Yangcun, but it was a salty land, and one acre is only worth a hundred cents. Now, after I have made many irrigation improvements, it has become fertile land. !”

Zhao Yundi's answer was exactly the same as Ouyang Xiu's guess.

(End of this chapter)