The Great Han Dynasty: From Crown Prince Li to Emperor of All Ages!

The following day, at Weiyang Palace, in the Xuan Shi Hall.

"I summoned you all here to discuss this memorial."

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, stood on the steps of the palace, looking down at the assembled officials.

None of the three high officials and nine ministers, including the Left Chancellor Liu Quli, the Right Chancellor Er Kuan, the Imperial Censor Bao Shengzhi, the Grand Minister of Agriculture Sang Hongyang, and the Minister of the Imperial Treasury Zhao Yu, spoke up. They were unsure of the emperor's attitude, and the fear and awe brought by Emperor Wu of Han were deeply etched in the hearts of the ministers.

"Grand Minister of Agriculture, what's your opinion?"

"His Majesty."

Sang Hongyang stepped forward in response, bowed, and said, "I believe that those with constant property have constant resolve, while those without property have neither fear nor apprehension."

"550,000 refugees from Guandong poured into Guanzhong, with the Sanfu region bearing the brunt."

"Um?"

Emperor Wu of Han's eyes narrowed, and his gaze fell upon the Three Auxiliary Regions.

"Your Majesty, this is my report."

The Prefect of Jingzhao, Fan Xi, bluntly stated: "There are 2.4 million people in Guanzhong and 500,000 people in Chang'an."

"The number of soldiers under the jurisdiction of the Three Auxiliary Regions is only a few thousand, and it is already difficult to control them."

"I second that proposal!"

"I second that proposal!"

Zuo Fengyi Tianren and You Fufeng Jiren both came from similar backgrounds and echoed this sentiment.

The biggest factor limiting the ability of the Three Auxiliary Regions to control the Guanzhong region was the number of soldiers. To support the soldiers, money and food were the biggest problems.

Unfortunately, the central and local finances were on the verge of collapse. Even with the efforts of Sang Hongyang and others to strengthen the salt and iron monopoly and introduce a series of measures, it was impossible to completely reverse the situation. It would take time to recover.

The Three Auxiliary Regions had 3,000 soldiers and several thousand reserve troops, who jointly undertook the defense of the capital region. This was the maximum that the Three Auxiliary Regions' finances could support.

"Um."

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, did not say much, remaining expressionless, giving people an indescribable sense of oppression.

"His Majesty."

Sang Hongyang continued, "In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken."

"The Crown Prince's proposal to establish the Office of the Director of Agriculture to oversee the resettlement of 550,000 refugees from Guandong is perfectly acceptable."

"There is one problem: it is inappropriate that migrants from the Kanto region are exempt from paying taxes and performing labor services."

"What does the Grand Minister of Agriculture think should be done?"

Emperor Wu of Han clearly took his advice to heart and continued to ask questions.

"Three years, at most three years."

"Those under the jurisdiction of the Agricultural Commissioner must pay taxes to the state."

"Moreover, they must not be equated with ordinary local people."

"I believe that after three years, the area under the jurisdiction of the Director of Agriculture will no longer need to pay a poll tax, but will only need to pay a land tax of 50% of the total land tax."

"According to His Highness the Crown Prince, these 550,000 refugees from Guandong can cultivate at least 10,000 hectares of fertile land, producing at least 3.5 million shi of grain annually."

"The delivery of 1.75 million shi of grain to the Three Auxiliary Regions will greatly alleviate the pressure on the capital region."

Sang Hongyang said meticulously.

"Whoa!!!"

The court officials were all speechless. Paying half of the land tax was far too much.

The eyes of Fan Xi, the Prefect of Jingzhao, Tian Ren, the Left Fengyi, and Ji Ren, the Right Fufeng, lit up. One million seven hundred and fifty thousand shi of grain could do so much.

"Left Prime Minister, Right Prime Minister, any objections?"

Immediately, Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, turned his attention to Liu Quli, the Left Chancellor.

"The Grand Minister of Agriculture's words are all gems, and all are words of wisdom for governing the country."

"I second that opinion."

Liu Quli replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

The court officials present had a different impression of this Han Dynasty Left Chancellor who came from the imperial family. He was a smart man who, without understanding the situation in the court, was cautious, only observed from the sidelines, and never expressed his opinions, so as not to offend any party.

"Issue an imperial edict!"

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, waved his sleeves and proclaimed loudly: "I care for the people and have moved 550,000 refugees from Guandong to Guanzhong to cultivate the Shanglin Garden."

"The position of Director of Agriculture was established to oversee all affairs. He was ranked as a third-grade official and received a salary of three thousand shi (a unit of grain).

"Huo Guang, who was appointed as Attendant-in-Ordinary, Commandant of the Imperial Carriage, and Grand Master of the Palace, was promoted to Director of Agriculture."

"Your Majesty is wise."

The assembled officials bowed in unison and exclaimed in praise.

"The Grand Minister of Agriculture, please stay."

"promise."

Before long, only Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, and Grand Minister of Agriculture, Sang Hongyang, remained in the Xuan Shi Hall.

"His Majesty."

Sang Hongyang turned slightly to the side, seemingly waiting for Emperor Wu of Han's instructions.

Emperor Wu of Han descended the steps of the imperial palace and stood before him. A deep baritone voice then rang out: "Grand Minister of Agriculture."

"I noticed that you seemed to have some reluctance to speak just now."

"Do you think the Crown Prince is inappropriate, or this memorial is inappropriate?"

*Whoosh!*

Su Wen, the eunuch outside the door, had sharp ears and immediately caught the last sentence, his pupils dilating instantly.

"His Majesty."

Sang Hongyang spoke frankly: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is very good, and this memorial is even better."

"The role of the agricultural official is not only limited to resettling displaced people, governing local areas, and consolidating the frontier."

"However, if this plan is implemented, it will inevitably provoke opposition from the feudal lords, nobles, wealthy households and powerful families throughout the land."

"The Shanglin Garden covers an area of ​​only 45,000 hectares (3000 square kilometers), but the palaces, gardens, and mausoleums occupy too much space."

"Otherwise, it would be no problem to cultivate 40,000 hectares of fertile land, and the annual grain output would be more than ten million bushels."

"The Guanzhong Plain, stretching for 800 li (36,000 square kilometers), and the Hedong Plain, stretching for 320 li (16,000 square kilometers), together with the Hongnong, Henan, and Henan prefectures, are in no way inferior to the Qin Plain. If all of them were used for reclamation, there would be more than a million hectares of fertile land, and the yield would be at least 35 million shi."

"These places alone are enough to support tens of millions of people, so why are they now struggling to support even a few million?"

"Because most of the fertile land in Guanzhong and Sanhe was in the hands of nobles and powerful families, the common people had no choice but to become tenant farmers."

"The appearance of 550,000 refugees from Kanto underscores the dire situation in Kanto, where the local warlords oppressed the region with unparalleled cruelty!"

"If this continues, the country will cease to be a country, the people will cease to be people, and the scene at the end of the tyrannical Qin Dynasty will be repeated."

"The Han Dynasty is in grave danger!"

The last four words resounded throughout the Xuan Shi Hall like a bolt from the blue, and all the eunuchs quickly lowered their heads, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, remained expressionless. These words came from Sang Hongyang, yet he was not angry. If it had been anyone else, their entire family would have been executed long ago.

"You want agricultural officials to appear in every corner of the land?"

"Yes."

Sang Hongyang's face was full of determination as he said resolutely, "The Han Dynasty's treasury is already running a deficit."

"Although the Imperial Treasury still has mountains of money and silk, it cannot buy grain."

"If conditions permit, 500,000 refugees can cultivate 100,000 hectares of fertile land, producing at least 35 million shi of grain per year."

"If half of it is handed over to the national treasury, that would be 17.5 million shi, enough to support 5 million people."

"Our great Han Dynasty has a vast territory, with large plains and fertile lands in Hebei, the Central Plains, the Jianghuai region, and Nanyang."

"If agricultural officials were appointed in these areas, those who have lost their livelihoods due to land annexation would flock there. Even if they only have to pay half their grain tax, it would be far better than becoming tenant farmers. Why wouldn't they be willing?"

"As for the local powerful families, the Agricultural Commissioner has soldiers under his command, so why should he fear these greedy hyenas?"

"I understand."

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, did not express his opinion, but only replied with four words.

Establishing agricultural officials throughout the country is no small matter. It will face hostility from nobles, powerful families, and the most severe threat comes from the Liu family princes, who are the largest landlords and powerful families in the world.