My aunt is Queen Ma

Chapter 44: Hidden Lines of History 2 (asking for monthly tickets)

A hidden thread buried by history?

Before Empress Ma said anything, Zhu Biao became excited.

Yes, that's it.

Sort out similar historical events and then summarize the patterns.

"My cousin really didn't let me down. Tell me what this hidden thread is."

Queen Ma was about to speak, but when she heard her son speak, she gave up the idea.

Sometimes, letting young people communicate on their own may help them gain more.

Zhu Biao could also learn valuable knowledge from it, which was actually the reason why he was present.

Ma Yu first glanced at Empress Ma, and seeing that she had no intention of speaking, he said:

"Before I talk about this, I'll tell you a few special words so you can understand what I'm going to say next."

“Productivity is the ability to produce all materials…”

"economy……"

"Means of production..."

“Production relations…”

"Production tools..."

As Ma Yu explained, Empress Ma and Zhu Biao became happier and learned many new concepts.

Of course, what made them even happier was that Ma Yu’s elders had indeed conducted systematic research on these things.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to invent so many new words.

I can't help but feel more excited for the next hidden plot.

After making sure they understood the words, Ma Yu spoke again:
"Now let's put aside the concept of dynasties, all emperors and sages."

"Reinterpreting the changes in production relations solely based on productivity."

“Only in this way can we understand why different land and population systems emerged in history and why they collapsed and were replaced by new systems.”

Having said that, he paused again to give the two time to digest it.

After all, it was the first time they heard these new concepts, and it took Empress Ma and Zhu Biao some time to understand what he meant.

After the two nodded in understanding, Ma Yu finally began today's lesson:

"Due to the backwardness of productivity, the means by which humans can obtain resources are relatively limited."

"It's mainly farming, animal husbandry, fishing, hunting, handicrafts, etc."

"Agriculture is the most important of these. The Chinese have been an agricultural people since ancient times."

"All dynasties have regarded agriculture as the foundation of everything."

"This gives many people the illusion that land is everything."

"Most dynasties would formulate corresponding systems based on land."

Zhu Biao couldn't help but ask, "Isn't it?"

Ma Yu said: "This is just superficial. What really determines the development of the system is productivity."

Both Empress Ma and Zhu Biao looked puzzled, but it was no wonder they were not to blame.

Firstly, it is the first time they hear so many new words and concepts, and they need time to understand them.

Secondly, Ma Yu’s own ability was limited and his explanation was not concise and straightforward enough.

Ma Yu also knew this, so he didn't get bogged down in these words.

I continued to explain, and they naturally understood as they listened.

So this time he didn't pause to give the two of them time to digest it, but continued:

"Let's start with the situation during the Xia and Shang dynasties."

"Based on research from the data left over from the Spring and Autumn Period, our elders estimated that the yield per mu during the Xia and Shang dynasties was only 30 to 40 kilograms."

Zhu Biao was surprised and asked, "It's so low?"

Ma Yu nodded and said, "It's very low. Firstly, it's because of the seeds, and secondly, it's because of the backward production tools."

Seeds need to be selected and bred. Through artificial screening, the seeds of crops are getting better and better, and the yield is getting higher and higher.

In the past, archaeologists found wheat from the Western Han Dynasty in ancient tombs and discovered that the fruit-bearing rate of wheat ears at that time was only half of what it is now.

The only things that could be buried in a tomb as burial objects must be carefully selected ears of barley.

This also means that the fruit set rate of ordinary wheat during the Western Han Dynasty was more than half lower than that of modern times.

Maybe even only one-third of the modern size.

Anyone who has grown crops knows what this concept is.

Although wheat was not grown during the Xia and Shang dynasties, no matter what they grew, the seeds could not be compared with those of today.

Not to mention compared with now, even compared with the Ming Dynasty, it is far inferior.

The backwardness of production tools is easier to understand.

A series of tools that are common now, such as plows and sowing hoes, did not exist at that time.

There are only two ways people work.

One is to use a hoe to turn the soil, then dig a ditch and throw the seeds into the ditch.

Secondly, you don’t need to level or turn the ground. Just use a wooden stick to poke a hole in the ground, throw the seeds in and bury it.

There is no fertilizer, at most I just water and weed.

Low production is very normal.

After a detailed explanation, Empress Ma and Zhu Biao finally accepted the data.

Even so, they still found it incredible.

The yield per mu is only 30 to 40 kilograms. Now, I'm afraid we can't even collect the seeds.

They finally had a direct understanding of the backwardness of the Xia and Shang dynasties.

At the same time, he began to doubt the Three Dynasties' rule praised by Confucianism.

With this level of productivity, how good can people's lives be?

Ma Yu didn't know that he just wanted to talk about the development of productivity, but he accidentally achieved such an effect.

Seeing that both of them accepted this output, he continued:
"To feed one person, one needs about 350 kilograms of grain (a Ming Dynasty unit of weight) each year."

“We also need to save seeds for next year.”

"That is to say, a person needs to cultivate 20 mu of land to barely support himself."

"Let's talk about the total population and land at that time."

"According to estimates, the population during the Xia and Shang dynasties was around four million at its lowest point, and around six to seven million at its peak."

"At that time, the countries did not directly border each other, and there were large tracts of barren land between them."

"Such a vast land, with such a small population, can be described as a vast land with a sparse population."

"So at that time, talent was the most important means of production, not land."

Because there is too much land, anyone can just reclaim it.

"The primary task of every nation is to control population; land is less important."

"If nations want to become stronger, the most direct and effective way is not to invade other countries, but to increase their own population."

"With people, you have everything." "That's why during the Xia and Shang dynasties, there were relatively few wars of annexation among the nations."

Empress Ma interjected, "Where the people prevail over the land, then efforts should be made to open it up; where the land prevails over its people, then efforts should be made to attract people."

This is a quote from "The Book of Lord Shang". If there are many people and little land, we encourage land reclamation; if there are many lands and few people, we attract immigrants.

Ma Yu shook his head and said, "This strategy was only effective during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It wouldn't work during the Xia and Shang Dynasties, at least the last sentence wouldn't work."

"The primary task of the nations at that time was to control their population, and they would not allow their people to migrate."

"Plus, productivity is very low, so everyone has to work together and cooperate with each other to produce more products."

“So the main method of production at that time was centralized labor.”

"The state will concentrate the population in villages and manage them uniformly."

“The people belong to the state, the land belongs to the state, and even the farming tools belong to the state.”

"Of the grain produced, we keep enough for our own consumption, and the rest must be handed over to the state."

"This system lasted for more than a thousand years until it was replaced by the well-field system during the Western Zhou Dynasty."

Zhu Biao asked at the right moment: "This system seems quite fair."

"The unified national distribution of food rations also solves the problem Confucius mentioned, 'It's not the lack of food that worries us, but the inequality of food.'"

“Why was it replaced by the well-field system?”

Ma Yu explained: "After more than a thousand years of development, production tools have become increasingly advanced."

"Tools we are familiar with now, such as plows, harrows, and rakes, are gradually becoming popular."

Moreover, after so many years of breeding, the seeds of crops have become better and better.

Due to a combination of factors, the yield per mu has increased significantly.

The increase in productivity made food abundant for the first time.

Zhu Biao was even more puzzled: "With increased productivity and more food, wouldn't everyone's life be better?"

"We can continue to use the centralized production model. Why should we change to the well-field system?"

Ma Yu felt a little thirsty, so he picked up the teacup to drink some water, but found that the cup was empty.

Just as he was about to reach for the kettle, he found that Queen Ma had picked up the kettle first and poured him a cup of tea.

Everything looks very natural.

Ma Yu quickly thanked him, feeling extremely proud.

Empress Ma personally poured me tea, so I asked her if it was awesome.

If I could travel back to my previous life, I would brag about it for the rest of my life.

I drank several mouthfuls happily and felt that the water was very sweet.

After being secretly happy for a while, he put down the cup and continued:
"In the past, productivity was low, and everyone worked very hard to make enough to eat. No one would be lazy."

"Now that productivity has increased and food is plentiful, some people have developed evil intentions and started to cheat and act cunningly."

“When one person slacks off, others tend to follow suit.”

"To solve this problem, the nations had no choice but to send officials to supervise the people's work."

"As the saying goes, there are policies from above and countermeasures from below."

"Even if there are supervision, it is still difficult to prevent people from being lazy."

"The state can only send more officials and formulate various rules."

"However, those officials are also human beings and have their own relatives and friends."

"Will they engage in corruption? Will they seek benefits for their relatives and friends?"

"It's almost inevitable."

"In order to prevent officials from engaging in corruption, the state has to send another group of people to supervise them."

"One thing leads to another, and the number of officials who are not engaged in production is increasing."

"This also means that management costs are constantly increasing."

“When one day, the cost of management exceeds the value it can create, the system will naturally collapse.”

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from the next room: "Everyone is self-centered. Today I understand the true meaning of Han Feizi's words."

Ma Yu thought to himself that Zhu Yuanzhang was indeed hiding nearby and eavesdropping.

Humph, you are sneaking around, you are unworthy of being a king.

Now that he had spoken, Zhu Yuanzhang did not hide any more. He walked straight out of the small room next door and sat down next to Empress Ma.

"Your explanation... well, your elders' explanation is unique, yet it aligns with the truth. It's truly a testament to their talent."

Ma Yu felt angry when he heard this, but...he would endure it for now and wait for an opportunity to settle the score.

Empress Ma glared at Zhu Yuanzhang unhappily, then changed the subject:
“When there’s not enough food, we can still unite as one.”

"There's enough food to eat, and life has gotten better, but instead, evil hearts have arisen."

"No wonder Zhuangzi said, 'In an age of supreme virtue, people tie ropes together for use... They are all free from desire; this is called simplicity.'"

Ma Yu shook his head and said, "This is the shortcoming of Taoism, and it is also a common problem among all schools of thought."

“I would rather live in a ‘good life’ where I have no food to eat and no clothes to wear than live in a ‘bad life’ where food is plentiful.”

"The Qin and Jin schools of law inherited this aspect of Taoist thought and further proposed the idea of ​​exhausting and impoverishing the people."

"This is just a huge joke."

"They are high up in the world, living in luxury, while the people suffer."

"They also claim that this is the best way to govern the world and that it will benefit everyone."

“There is no greater hypocrisy than this.”

"Everyone says Confucianism is hypocritical, but at least Confucianism still values ​​dignity, while the French have lost all dignity."

Having said this, Ma Yu turned his gaze towards Zhu Yuanzhang and asked:

"Your Majesty, don't you also think that the Legalist idea of ​​the poor is good?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's face suddenly turned dark.

He had just praised Han Fei Zi, so Ma Yu's words were equivalent to calling him a hypocrite.

The key is that he really agrees with the ideas of the Qin and Jin School of Law in his heart.

This is what makes him most uncomfortable.

But since the topic had come to this point, he couldn't refute anything, otherwise it would be considered as a case of taking things personally.

I could only glare at Ma Yu fiercely:
If the stuff in your stomach wasn't useful to me, I would have chopped you into meat sauce long ago.

Humph, just wait, we’ll settle the accounts together in the future.

Looking at the two people who were angry with each other, Queen Ma looked helpless. It was true that they had to insult each other every time they met, right?

"Ahem." Zhu Biao coughed dryly, breaking the awkward atmosphere and said:
"Ahem... What my cousin said really opened my eyes. I can't wait to hear what comes next."

Ma Yu also stopped while he was ahead, and continued with the previous topic:
"Because of the high management costs caused by the advancement of productivity, the centralized labor model has actually collapsed."

"The Western Zhou Dynasty summarized its experience and lessons and formulated the well-field system to solve this problem."

“The core of the well-field system is not to divide the land into nine plots for cultivation.”

“Its essence is actually decentralized labor, as opposed to centralized labor.”

Zhu Biao asked doubtfully, "Doesn't the well-field system also require concentrated labor? How can we disperse it?"

(End of this chapter)