The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 154 But what does this have to do with cracking down on aristocratic families and supporting poor families?

In July of the sixteenth year of the Zhenguan era, the summer heat in Chang'an was at its peak.

An imperial edict issued from the Liangyi Hall unsettled Li Chengqian.

The edict was concise and to the point, and in the eyes of the vast majority of officials in the Tang Dynasty, it was perfectly reasonable and beyond reproach.

"During the decline of the Sui Dynasty, the corvée labor was excessive. Some people even mutilated their own limbs to avoid this labor, which was called 'lucky hands' or 'lucky feet.' This practice has continued to this day and is a lingering poison of the previous dynasty's corrupt policies, which is intolerable under the laws of the state. From now on, anyone who injures themselves in this way will be punished according to the law, and their taxes and labor will still not be exempted!"

The edict, issued by the Secretariat, was strongly worded and intended to eradicate this malignant tumor left over from the Sui Dynasty and maintain the seriousness of the national tax and labor service system.

Strengthen the imperial court's control over local areas and the registered population.

When the news reached the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian was reviewing a report on the promotion of agriculture and sericulture in Huainan Circuit.

When the eunuch respectfully presented the copied imperial edict, he initially paid no attention to it, taking it as just a routine government announcement.

However, when his gaze swept over the glaring words "lucky hands" and "lucky feet," and the cold conclusion of "punished according to the law, still subject to taxes and corvée labor," the fingers gripping the report involuntarily tightened, and his knuckles turned slightly white.

An ice chest was placed inside the hall, and the cool air dispelled the summer heat, but Li Chengqian felt a strange sense of unease rising from the bottom of his heart, stuck in his chest, with nowhere to vent it.

He dismissed the palace servants standing in the hall and stood alone in silence before the copy of the imperial edict.

My mind was uncontrollably filled with memories of what I saw and heard during my trip to Shandong a few months ago.

Those farmers, dressed in rags and with pale faces, those people hunched over on the ridges of the fields, struggling against the elements for food...

They paid taxes and performed corvée labor; they were the humblest yet most indispensable cornerstones supporting the Tang Dynasty's golden age.

The terms "lucky hands" and "lucky feet," which sound absurd and ironic, are backed by countless acts of despair that drive people to choose self-harm as an extreme way to gain a moment of respite and pray for that elusive "blessing."
From the perspective of the imperial court and the standpoint of upholding the law and order, is there anything wrong with this imperial edict from the Emperor?

It seems not.

This trend is indeed a bad habit of the previous dynasty. If it is not strictly prohibited, everyone will follow suit, the foundation of the country's taxation and labor service will be shaken, and how can we talk about conquering the four directions, building palaces, and controlling floods?
Where is the imperial court's authority?
Those censors, those ministers and officials, and even the vast majority of officials who studied the classics and received salaries from the court, would probably praise the emperor for his wisdom, decisively eradicating the deep-seated problems, demonstrating the majesty of the court, and maintaining the social order.

But Li Chengqian felt a mix of emotions, like a jumbled mess of flavors.

He recalled Li Yichen's mention of the "class" distinction, how the thoughts, joys, and sorrows of those in high positions of power were so vastly different from those of ordinary people living far from the court.

In the eyes of the court officials, "being lucky and smug" was a bad habit of unruly people escaping the law, a crime that must be severely punished by law.

But in the eyes of those people who were forced to raise axes and chisels to chop at their own hands and feet, this was perhaps the only, and most tragic, way they could think of to resist the heavy corvée labor.

What the imperial court wanted was order and taxes.

All the people want is to survive.

The emperor saw the breakdown of order and the loss of taxes and corvée labor, so he issued an edict to strictly prohibit these practices and use the law to maintain order.

This seems to be the emperor's natural responsibility.

But Li Chengqian couldn't help but wonder: why would someone have "lucky hands and feet"?
Why did it exist in the previous dynasty, yet the current dynasty still hasn't been able to eradicate it?
It even required the emperor to issue a special edict to reiterate and increase the punishment.

Is it simply because the people are ignorant and terrified of labor?

The emperor often compared himself to Yao and Shun, boasting of "light taxes and levies." Since the Zhenguan era, he had indeed reduced taxes and suspended corvée labor on several occasions to allow the people to recuperate.

However, "light taxation" is not the same as "no taxation".

The emperor never seemed to think that there was anything fundamentally wrong with the corvée system itself.

He merely adjusted the "degree," balancing leniency and strictness, like riding a wild horse, sometimes loosening the reins and sometimes tightening them.

A complex mix of pity, confusion, and a hint of instinctive skepticism about his father's decisions churned within him.

He found that since waking up from his illness, he could no longer simply accept this "wise" decree as he had in the past.

He needs someone to help him clear his mind, someone who can see through the surface of things.

"Summon Li Yichen." Li Chengqian's voice rang out in the empty hall, carrying a hint of barely perceptible hoarseness.

"I wish to see him alone."

A moment later, Li Yichen arrived as summoned.

He was dressed in the light blue official robe of a Siyilang (a high-ranking official), and with steady steps, he entered the hall and paid his respects according to etiquette.

"Your subject, Li Yichen, pays his respects to Your Highness."

"Please excuse the formalities, sir. Please have a seat."

Li Chengqian pointed to the seat next to him, his gaze never leaving his face.

Li Yichen thanked the emperor and sat down, keenly noticing the gloom in the crown prince's eyes and the expression on his face that was different from when he discussed state affairs.

It was a deeper kind of bewilderment, mixed with a certain...sympathy for those of the same kind?

"Have you read this imperial edict, sir?"

Li Chengqian pushed the copied imperial edict in front of Li Yichen.

"I have already reviewed it," Li Yichen said calmly, glancing at it.

When this edict circulated in the Secretariat, he, as a Consultant, was already aware of it.

"What are your thoughts, sir?" Li Chengqian stared intently at him.

"Students should listen to the truth."

Li Yichen pondered for a moment, but instead of directly commenting on the edict itself, he began to explain it from the root, like peeling a bamboo shoot.

"Your Highness, the custom of 'good fortune and good luck' is indeed a continuation of the previous dynasty's bad policies and a product of the distortion of human nature under extreme oppression. However, its root cause is not the unruly nature of the people, but the cruelty of the labor service and... the rigidity of the system."

“Institutional rigidity?” Li Chengqian frowned slightly.

“Exactly.” Li Yichen’s gaze was calm, but his words began to reveal their sharpness.

"When our dynasty was founded, it inherited many systems from the previous dynasty, one of which was the rent, labor service and tax system. At its core, rent was the land tax, tax was the household tax, and labor service was a substitute for corvée labor. On the surface, it seemed clear and logical. However, this labor service, or direct corvée labor, was the source of the 'good fortune and wealth' policy."

He paused briefly to allow the crown prince to process the information before proceeding with a more in-depth analysis.

"Your Highness, consider this: what is the root cause of the conscription of labor services?"

“The imperial court’s construction of palaces, fortifications, road openings, transport of provisions, and defense of the frontiers all require a large amount of manpower.”

"The national treasury's revenue, especially monetary revenue, is limited. It is impossible to hire laborers to complete all projects entirely with monetary funds, so it is necessary to directly conscript laborers, which is one reason."

"Secondly, the court needs to firmly control the civilian labor force to ensure that there are enough people to deal with various affairs at any time, especially war and large-scale projects."

"If the people are left to their own devices, the court's mobilization capacity will be greatly reduced."

"Thirdly," Li Yichen said in a slightly cold tone.

"Perhaps this is also what some officials and even local tyrants would like to see. There is a great deal of room for manipulation in the process of conscripting laborers."

"Quotas can be manipulated, construction periods can be extended at will, and wages can be arbitrarily deducted. Even worse, people can be used to exploit the labor force for personal gain. The people fear labor like tigers, which leads to the tragedy of being 'lucky to get rid of labor,' and the practice of bribing officials to avoid labor. The malpractices here are deeply rooted and complex, and there is more than one problem."

Li Chengqian listened intently and couldn't help but press for an answer. "In your opinion, sir, is this corvée system truly unchangeable? Even the Emperor often levies light corvée labor; why can't it be completely abolished?"

"Your Highness, should it be abolished completely?"

Li Yichen shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a cold realism.

"Given the state of the nation in the sixteenth year of the Zhenguan era, it was absolutely impossible."

He counted on his fingers, his points clear and logical.

"Firstly, population and labor force. Although the population of our dynasty has increased significantly since the end of the Sui dynasty after the Zhenguan era, it is still scarce compared to the vast territory and huge demand."

“If labor is hired entirely with money, how much money and silk would the court have to pay? Moreover, for many remote and arduous tasks, even if there were money, I'm afraid no one would be willing to go.”

"Direct conscription, which is mandatory, is the only way to ensure the supply of manpower."

"Secondly, the imperial treasury. The annual revenue of the national treasury is mainly in kind, such as silk and grain, while monetary income is relatively limited."

"If all the corvée labor in the country were to be converted into money, the court would first need a stable and sufficient source of currency; otherwise, it would be empty talk. At present, the court does not have such financial resources."

"Thirdly, there are limitations in technology. Many projects, such as large-scale water conservancy and road construction, require a large number of people to complete in a short period of time, which cannot be accomplished by a small number of hired craftsmen."

"Conscripting laborers is the most effective organizational method under current technological conditions."

"Fourthly," Li Yichen said sharply.

"A single hair can affect the whole body. The corvée system was closely related to the equal-field system and the militia system, forming the cornerstone of the court's rule."

“A sudden abolition could impact the entire ruling system. Your Majesty’s implementation of ‘light taxes’ is a benevolent policy that is well-considered and does not undermine the fundamental principles.”

“But abolishing it would be revolutionary, and His Majesty would never take the risk.”

Li Chengqian remained silent.

Li Yichen's analysis dissected the hard and cruel reality beneath the surface of "light taxes and levies".

It's not that Father doesn't want to, but that he can't.

The operation of the Tang Dynasty still relies on this system of corvée labor, which is steeped in blood and tears.

A feeling of powerlessness came over me.

Are we just supposed to watch helplessly as this edict is issued, and watch those people who may have genuine grievances either continue to suffer the hardships of forced labor or face the risk of further punishment after self-harm under the pressure of the law?

"Is... there really no way at all?"

Li Chengqian's voice carried a hint of bitter resentment.

"Should we simply allow this edict to be issued and then hope that local officials will show some compassion in enforcing the law? Or should we expect that Father Emperor will reduce taxes more in the future?"

Seeing the struggling light in the Crown Prince's eyes, Li Yichen knew the time was right.

Only by destroying their illusions can we establish new understanding.

“Your Highness, if you only wish to follow the rules and be a heir to maintain the status quo, then accepting the status quo and occasionally advising His Majesty to ‘reduce taxes’ is all you can do.”

His tone was calm, yet every word he spoke was like a hammer blow.

"But if the 'unpleasant feeling' in your heart is not just a momentary affectation, if you truly believe that although this edict is in accordance with the law, it may not be entirely reasonable, if in the future... you want to do something that even His Majesty has not been able to do..."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice low, yet carrying a strange penetrating power.

"So, while it is impossible to forcibly change this system at present, it is not impossible to find a way to gradually replace it, or even eventually dismantle its foundations."

Li Chengqian suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

"How to gradually replace it? How to undermine its foundation?"

Li Yichen did not answer immediately, but instead asked a question in return.

"Does Your Highness know who benefits most from this corvée labor system while it keeps the court running, and who suffers the most?"

“The beneficiaries are naturally the imperial court. The victims… are naturally the common people who serve in the military,” Li Chengqian replied.

“Your Highness only got half of it right,” Li Yichen said calmly.

"The imperial court is the obvious beneficiary. However, in the process of conscripting labor, are those powerful and influential families who control local areas, collude with clerks, use the rules to profit themselves and their relatives, and even turn state labor into private slave labor, also hidden beneficiaries?"

Li Chengqian's pupils contracted.

"The biggest victims, besides ordinary farmers, are those with no background who can only rely on their own labor to make a living, yet they are conscripted for a long time without pay, unable to concentrate on their skills and livelihoods..."

“The poor and common people, as well as the urban commoners who are struggling to break free from the shackles of the land and trying to make a living as craftsmen or small merchants. Their time, their skills, and their meager capital are all swallowed up by this irregular and unpaid corvée.”

"They are forever stuck at the bottom of society, with little chance of upward mobility."

Li Chengqian never considered corvée labor from this perspective!

It is not merely a conflict between the imperial court and the peasants, but also... a tool for the state and local powerful families to compete for human resources, and for aristocratic families to suppress the upward mobility of commoners!
"So, sir, your solution is..." Li Chengqian's voice was slightly hurried.

Li Yichen's gaze was calm as he began to outline his systematic and bold strategy:

"Your Highness, my strategy is not to abolish corvée labor immediately, that would be unwise. Rather, it is to feign one approach while secretly advancing another. The core of this strategy lies in eight words: 'Turn corvée labor into silver, and slaves into laborers.'"

"Turning corvée labor into silver? Turning slaves into laborers?"

Li Chengqian repeated the unfamiliar words, his eyes filled with doubt and anticipation.

“Exactly,” Li Yichen explained.

"The so-called 'converting corvée labor into silver' means that in some areas and on some projects, a system of 'paying for service instead of performing it' was piloted. Those who were obligated to perform service were allowed to pay a certain amount of money or silk in lieu of physical service."

"The court then used these funds and silk to recruit willing craftsmen or laborers to complete the project."

Li Chengqian immediately raised a question: "Didn't you just say that the imperial court lacks funds and that no one is willing to go on remote and arduous campaigns?"

"Your Highness's concerns are very valid. Therefore, this method cannot be accomplished overnight; it must be implemented step by step."

Li Yichen responded calmly.

"First, select pilot projects. These can be piloted in prosperous places such as Chang'an and Luoyang, or in projects that require certain skills and offer relatively high rewards, such as canal transport, weaving, and mining."

“In these places, there are a large number of artisans and merchants who have left the land, and they would rather pay money than delay their livelihood. At the same time, there is also a sufficient amount of free labor willing to be employed in exchange for wages.”

"Secondly, differentiate treatment. For ordinary farmers, the main form of labor service will still be physical labor, but they can be allowed to apply for paid labor service in special circumstances. The standard for the labor service fee should be reasonable and not too high."

"Furthermore, the funds must be used for their designated purpose. The silver collected for labor service must be strictly used to hire workers, improve the treatment of laborers, and enhance the efficiency of projects. It must never be used for other purposes, otherwise corruption will inevitably occur, and good laws will become bad policies."

Li Chengqian seemed to be thinking about something.

"This move... seems feasible. But what does it have to do with cracking down on powerful families and supporting those from humble backgrounds?"

(End of this chapter)