History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 518 Emperor Gaozu's Good Governance 2
When he first entered Luoyang, Shi Jingtang reduced the salt tax. In his edict, Shi Jingtang denounced the previous dynasty's oppression of the people, saying that he "knew the hardships of the people very well", so he wanted to reduce the price of salt by ten coins per kilogram in accordance with the actual market situation.

Less than half a year after entering Luoyang, he lowered the rules to benefit the people:

——A general amnesty, “release all criminals, no matter how serious or light”;
——All the old tax arrears will be written off;

——Xingyang County, Zhengzhou, exempted rent and taxes because Shi Jingtang saw locusts eating crops on the roadside and the drought affected the growth of mulberry trees and wheat seedlings. The people suffered too much, so they exempted them from taxes;
-- For all elderly people over 80 years old, one of their sons will be exempted from corvée labor, and the local governments should provide corresponding material subsidies;

——The crimes of the fugitives and wanted criminals who had previously fled to avoid war or fear of crime were wiped out and they were given two months to return home and engage in productive labor. Those who did not return after the time limit would be "convicted as before."

Just one month later, another decree was issued:

——This year’s summer tax revenue has been reduced by 20% “due to a slight drought.” Witnessing the mild drought near Zhengzhou, Shi Jingtang first exempted Zhengzhou’s rent and taxes, and then reduced summer taxes by 20% for the entire affected area.

During his stay in Zhengzhou, the defense envoy Bai Jingyou presented sacrificial animals and utensils. Shi Jingtang asked with concern: "Isn't it using the people's labor?" Is it not exploiting the people?

Bai Jingyou replied: "I am afraid of your majesty's decree and dare not disobey it. I paid for all these with my own salary."

So Shi Jingtang accepted it.

From this little story, we can see that Shi Jingtang was very concerned about the suffering of the people and was unwilling to let his officials give him gifts by plundering the people and squeezing their fat. And from Bai Jingyou's words, we can also infer that Shi Jingtang must have issued red-headed documents to promote the spirit of integrity and self-discipline of the central government.

In August of the second year of Tianfu (937), Shi Jingtang once again announced a general amnesty. Except for the serious criminals who were "unforgivable" in the traditional sense, all other prisoners were released. He also issued an edict to amend some laws, such as allowing "medical parole", stipulating that in the future, all prisoners who fall ill in prison, as long as they are not serious criminals who are extremely harmful to society, will be allowed to return home to recuperate and be released on medical parole; if a prisoner sentenced to caning falls ill, he will have to wait until he recovers before being punished.

The following month, a bad social habit - making trouble at funerals - was rectified. At that time, on funeral days, there would always be some so-called folk artists who would stop the funeral procession, play musical instruments, sing, and perform various talents, demanding money from the family, and refusing to leave unless they were paid.

This kind of social chaos still exists in some places today, usually with groups of uncles and aunts blocking wedding cars and asking for wedding money.

During the time of Shi Jingtang, the imperial court had issued an order to strictly prohibit this practice, and violators would be thrown into prison!

During Shi Jingtang's reign, "general amnesty" was very frequent. In response to this, Zhang Yin, the left imperial attendant, submitted a memorial, "Refuting the Amnesty", which severely criticized and questioned this practice of "broadly showing kindness". Shi Jingtang praised it highly, handed it over to the History Museum, and ordered it to be recorded in the history books.

Even so, the "Refutation of Amnesty" did not change the status quo, and Shi Jingtang still frequently issued amnesties after that. Influenced by TV dramas and novels, many people have a misunderstanding about "amnesty", that is, no matter what crime you commit, you will be acquitted if you encounter amnesty. For example, Cheng Yaojin in the storytelling novel, who smuggled salt and killed two anti-smuggling policemen, was released from prison after the amnesty...

In fact, the "general amnesty" in the feudal period had clear regulations, that is, crimes such as "the ten evils and five heinous crimes, arson and robbery, killing with a stick, making poison together, and official corruption" were not included in the amnesty, which is what we often call "the ten unforgivable crimes." Murder, arson, poisoning, etc. were unforgivable crimes in all dynasties.

Those who can enjoy the grace of "amnesty" are generally minor criminals, such as petty thieves, or those who default on rent and taxes or evade taxes. These people are less harmful to society, especially those who are arrested and imprisoned for defaulting on rent and taxes. Instead of being hated, they are sympathized with.

Pardoning these people and releasing them from prison, in addition to pursuing the superficial joy of "broadening benevolence" and universal celebration, also has positive significance for productive labor, allowing them to devote themselves to work as soon as possible, turn over a new leaf and create wealth for society.

As will be mentioned later, during Shi Jingtang's reign, the feudal lords repeatedly rebelled, and after each rebellion was suppressed, Shi Jingtang would order the tax reduction of the region and pardon the people who were coerced. This was also a common practice during the feudal period.

In short, when faced with disasters or wars, there would be amnesty and tax reductions. Shi Jingtang fully understood the suffering of the people and his policies were quite enlightened.

However, some sources, such as Baidu, accuse Shi Jingtang of being extravagant and ostentatious, saying that he built a lot of buildings, decorated his luxurious palaces with gold and jewelry, and was dissatisfied with the dilapidated palace in Luoyang, so he moved the capital to Bianzhou...

As for his relocation of the capital to Bianzhou, I will mention it later. The reason was not because he disliked the dilapidated Luoyang. Is it possible that an emperor moved the capital because he disliked the palace for not being luxurious enough?
Shi Jingtang did order the renovation of the Luoyang Palace because Li Congke and his entire family burned themselves to death here. Although Li Chongmei prevented the comprehensive and systematic destruction of the palace, the North City Gate Tower was a "haunted house" after all. No matter what, it had to be renovated, right?

In June of the third year of Tianfu (938), Gao Xingzhou submitted a memorial suggesting that the palace in Luoyang be renovated. Xue Rong, the Left Counselor, dissuaded him, saying that although the palace had suffered a fire, it was still very luxurious compared to Emperor Yao's thatched cottage. Although the renovation budget was not much, it was still more expensive than the terrace built by Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng. Besides, the country was in financial difficulties and funds were tight. If Your Majesty insisted on renovating it, it would not be too late to wait until the world was at peace and prosperity arrived.

Shi Jingtang thought what he said made sense, so he issued an imperial edict to praise him, and the project of rebuilding the palace was immediately cancelled (the construction was stopped).

Both "Zizhi Tongjian" and "Old History of the Five Dynasties" recorded this incident. I really don't know what classics those who say that Shi Jingtang built a lot of buildings and was extremely extravagant are based on. There is no smoke without fire.

In June of the fourth year of Tianfu (939), Wang Wu, a commoner in Chen County, accidentally dug up several gold cakes while working in the fields. When the local officials heard about it, they forcibly took them and handed them over to the national treasury, saying, "These belong to the country!" Shi Jingtang said, "The things hidden away are not talismans and should not be brought into the palace." He ordered the local officials to return the gold to the commoner Wang Wu.

Shi Jingtang explained the meaning of "national treasures". Generally speaking, if the common people discovered things such as imperial seals and things used by the emperor, they should hand them over to the court. These "cultural relics" were regarded as "talismans" and auspicious signs. People with bad intentions liked them very much and thought they were the will of heaven to usurp power. The common people who presented these "talismans" would receive a high reward far exceeding the value of these antiques and cultural relics. Therefore, at that time, once the common people found gold seals and other things, they would hand them over without hesitation.

(End of this chapter)