Traveling to Daliang Kingdom starts from falling into the water

Before Zhou Banxia could even ponder the meaning behind Qian Huaizhi's words, Gu Wenxuan abruptly changed the subject, saying that this year's summer tax could not be paid in silver instead of grain.

She wasn't surprised by this; it was something she had expected.

Ultimately, the heavy rains in southern China have impacted the harvest, highlighting the importance of grain.

Furthermore, Qingyang County is different from its neighboring counties.

It was the new county magistrate's turn to take office. Although the former county lieutenant had not emptied the Taiping Granary, the quantity had certainly only met the standard.

This year, another batch of grain will be replaced in Taiping Granary. If some people choose to pay their summer taxes in silver instead of grain, where will the grain merchants get the new grain to replenish the amount of old grain?

As a local official, Qian Huaizhi could not possibly have failed to consider this point in advance, especially since the grain reserves in Taiping Granary this year certainly could not just reach the standard level.

After all, last summer, when Uncle Qi passed through Zhoujia Village, he was involved in investigating the grain reserves in various places in Zhengding Prefecture Province, which shows that there was a problem with the grain reserves in some place.

Even if it were just to put his imperial uncle at ease, Qian Huaizhi would never allow the grain reserves in the Taiping Granary under his jurisdiction to not be overflowing.

Furthermore, regarding the Taiping Granary surrounding Qingyang County, "did he say that only Qingyang County's summer tax could not be paid in silver instead of grain, or that the entire Zhili region's summer tax could not be paid in silver instead of grain this year?"

"According to his prediction, it is very likely that not only Zhili, but the entire Daliang territory, excluding the disaster-stricken areas, will be unable to pay summer taxes in silver instead of grain this year!"

"What?"

"Of course, once this plan is fully implemented, the only entities that cannot pay taxes in lieu of grain will be large-scale farm owners in various regions."

For ordinary farmers, like my third uncle and my second uncle's families, who together own less than fifty mu of land, if they aren't allowed to pay in silver instead of grain, what will happen if grain prices rise and they go hungry?

I was almost scared to death!

That's more like it. Food is the foundation of the country and should be treated equally. Do you think the people are all fools?

Once the order is given, who wouldn't rush to stockpile grain? Even ants can kill an elephant if there are too many of them, let alone the people of the entire Liang territory. If the grain shops have no grain to sell, how can the price of grain still be controlled by the court?

Once things get out of control, chaos will ensue.

"Don't you feel bad?"

what?
Zhou Banxia almost didn't react for a moment before realizing, "You said it was limited to large landowners, I almost forgot that my husband and I are included too."

I've already donated grain, so why would I care about the taxes I was supposed to pay? As long as there's no disaster year, whether or not we can get silver in lieu of grain won't have a big impact on our family.

Unless there are three to five consecutive years of disasters, and the imperial court increases land taxes, then it's not just a matter of feeling the pinch, it's a real strain on their resources.

Will we encounter three to five years of disaster?

Gu Wenxuan couldn't guarantee anything, but he was certain that the imperial court would increase land taxes!

"As long as the border is stable and there is no need to increase troops, the court will not raise land taxes. Even if the situation becomes unfavorable, the court will not raise land taxes, no matter what other exorbitant taxes are imposed."

Zhou Banxia raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

Seeing this, Gu Wenxuan raised an eyebrow and gave him a double wink.

Zhou Banxia smiled, rubbing her forehead.

"You're happy now?"

"Getting back to the main point, the reason?"

"It's so simple!" Gu Wenxuan said, gesturing for Zhou Banxia to wait while he poured the freshly squeezed juice into the juice glass. He poured the juice quite quickly, but what did this guy think she had such a huge capacity for juice? He actually handed her a glass filled to 1000 ml!
"The reason is simple: look at who controls all the land in the country. Why would an emperor increase land taxes and lose the people's support? Why not just let these people pay the lion's share?"

That makes so much sense!
Land was mostly owned by powerful officials and nobles.

These people are all so fat they're practically dripping with oil; it wouldn't be right if they didn't bleed a little.

"Therefore, your reply to the gentleman was very well written. All that talk about the nobles and the royal family being together, the Great Liang being safe and sound, and the heroic spirit of our ancestor, the Duke of Liang, living on forever."

There's also that poem about receiving the emperor's grace and not only enjoying the fruits of his labor, but also showing respect for his meager efforts. Today, Brother Qian's study has that poem hanging on the wall.

Crucially, he didn't learn about it from Qian Shibo or any other member of his school through letters; rather, his maternal grandfather passed the poem on to him after hearing his imperial uncle praise him so highly!

"...Am I about to be used as a tool by the one on the throne?"

When Gu Wenxuan saw Zhou Banxia hesitate for a while, he thought she wanted to say something. It turned out that she was timid when she should be bold. He immediately burst into laughter.

Zhou Banxia rolled her eyes.

"very funny?"

"Haha, a bit, you think I'd use you as a tool?" Gu Wenxuan tried his best to suppress his laughter. "It's not that bad. I'll say something you definitely won't like to hear."

You are not a man, and you have neither a mandate of heaven nor a title. You are not even qualified to be used as a tool by the emperor. Use you to suppress his subjects, but do not humiliate anyone.

Don't be skeptical; the fact that most of the imperial bestowals upon women throughout history were granted by imperial edicts rather than decrees reveals a lot.

The reason why the current emperor praises you is because my wife is so good at choosing the right time to express her opinion and speaks so well. How could he not be overjoyed?

So what if he was an emperor? He was still human, and no human being dislikes being flattered. My wife is so good at flattery; she proactively donated grain and pledged her loyalty!

If it were an ordinary woman, how would she understand to suddenly elevate herself to the point that the descendants of the Duke of Liang would inevitably share the fate of the Liang royal family, and even say that her master had always taught her this…

Tsk, look how proud you are. You just said I wasn't even qualified to be someone's tool, and now you're all smug and excited.

Outsiders might not know, but you certainly do! My uncle had previously hinted that I should make a good impression in that reply, and I even asked you for advice!

"...Besides all these, there is another reason: whether it is because of Mr. Yin or your master, he treats you as a junior to some extent."

Brother Qian said that his maternal grandfather was so pleased to hear his imperial uncle praise you that it was enough to prove that he wasn't praising you in the imperial court, and that it wasn't to the point of pushing you out to be used as a tool.

The possibility of even using you as a scapegoat to secure your supporters is slim. At most, Prince Rui or someone else might spread his praise of you, indirectly giving those wealthy officials a chance to shine and thus prompting them to donate silver and grain.

"How is this any different from using me as a target to secure the support of your ministers? In the end, it's just inviting hatred. Oh well, since we've already done it, why bother saying anything more?"

"Regret it?"

How can it be!

Zhou Banxia chuckled and shook her head, "Before donating the grain, not to mention that you analyzed the potential impact for me, I had already considered it carefully myself."

Compared to my uncle's safety abroad, what does donating grain matter? I would give up everything I own, even if it means ending up as a knife in the hands of the emperor.

Who isn't anyone's weapon? If you really want to use me as a weapon, you'd better give me something in return, right? You'd have to give me a title like a county princess before I'm even considered respectable—"

"Shh, that's enough. Who's more noble than whom?" Gu Wenxuan reached out and covered her mouth. "Donating grain would put you in danger. Not to mention me, you wouldn't get through to the master either."

Even if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, the master would never agree to your grain donation. Didn't he make it clear that you can bully others, but you can't be bullied? (End of Chapter)