12dz Chapter 267: Local Responses to the Policy
Chapter 267: Local Responses to the Policy
After the meeting in the Wude Hall ended, the entire Tang Dynasty court began to run at high speed like a sophisticated machine, and everyone began to implement the plan in full swing.
The policy of equalizing the land tax was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing huge waves.
Instead of choosing a pilot project as several civil officials had suggested, the policy was rolled out all at once. This swift and decisive approach shocked the entire Tang Dynasty.
This was Li Chengqian’s bold suggestion.
He knew very well that if he wanted to truly change the current situation of the Tang Dynasty, he could not be timid.
If you are going to do it, make it bigger. It would be best if you could provoke strong reactions from some of the aristocratic families, or even rebellion.
In Li Chengqian's view, aristocratic families have long occupied a large amount of land and resources, and often secretly disobeyed the court's policies.
Only through such a drastic approach can they truly realize the determination and strength of the court.
In this way, the imperial court could take the opportunity to kill the chicken to scare the monkey again and let the aristocratic families see the firepower of the imperial court.
In this way, many obstacles will be reduced when implementing any new policies in the future.
With the full implementation of the policy of equalizing the land tax, the land system of the Tang Dynasty began to undergo profound changes.
After learning that they would no longer be required to pay head tax, the people became more resolute in their support for the imperial court.
The aristocratic families fell into panic and began to discuss countermeasures in an attempt to resist the implementation of this policy.
However, the court had already made adequate preparations.
The troops in various places and the flintlock troops that have been sent to major cities are ready to deal with possible rebellions at any time.
At the same time, the imperial court also strengthened the guidance of public opinion, allowing the people to understand the benefits of the policy of equalizing the land tax and winning their support.
In this turbulent time, the future of Datang is full of uncertainty.
But Li Chengqian firmly believed that as long as the court was united and resolutely implemented reforms, it would be able to overcome numerous difficulties and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Tang Dynasty.
But as time went on, the reactions of the aristocratic families were beyond Li Chengqian's expectations.
They did not react as expected.
Although they felt helpless about collecting taxes based on the amount of land, they also clearly realized that with their current strength, they could not compete head-on with the imperial court.
In addition to the previous examples of the Cui family of Qinghe and the Wang family of Taiyuan, no one dares to be the first to speak out.
It's nothing more than paying a little more tax. With the wealth of the family, they can still afford this amount of money.
However, they could not pay the land tax in vain.
When they learned about the large-scale maritime trade launched by the imperial court, they all showed great interest.
The aristocratic families sent representatives to Chang'an to inquire about the specific situation of maritime trade.
Especially the families living near Dengzhou and Laizhou, they have the deepest understanding of maritime trade.
They saw with their own eyes the machinery and equipment being transported in continuously, as well as the large docks and gantry cranes being built in the dock.
All this clearly shows that the imperial court really wants to vigorously promote the great maritime trade.
They know very well that although trade has risks, even a fool can see the profits.
The noble families began to weigh the pros and cons, thinking about how to get a share of the upcoming wave of maritime trade.
The imperial court was also closely watching the movements of the aristocratic families, preparing to guide them to participate in maritime trade in a timely manner to achieve a win-win situation.
However, after arriving in Chang'an, the representatives of the aristocratic families were not received by Li Shimin.
The imperial court did not issue any decree and just left them alone.
This filled the representatives of the aristocratic families with confusion and anxiety.
"This is playing hard to get. The court is doing this to make us anxious first."
An experienced family representative analyzed.
"So what should we do now? We can afford to pay so much land tax, but it is like a slow knife cutting people. If there is no other compensation, we will suffer a great loss."
Another representative said, frowning.
"Now it's not a matter of whether it's a loss or not, but the court has introduced new policies one after another. Don't you think about what the court's ultimate goal is?"
One of the wiser delegates raised the key question.
"You mean the court's ultimate goal is to completely destroy our family?"
Everyone was startled; this guess made them feel terrified.
If the imperial court really has such an intention, they will face an unprecedented crisis.
The representatives of the aristocratic families fell into deep thought, and they began to re-examine the court's series of actions.
From the previous collection of books and armor, to the distribution of major mining areas, and now to the introduction of the land-based tax system and the promotion of great maritime trade, each policy is indeed like a precise arrow, pointing directly at the aristocratic families.
The people in the aristocratic family are increasingly aware that they must come up with a countermeasure as soon as possible, otherwise the future of the aristocratic family will be shrouded in heavy haze and full of endless variables.
However, every time the imperial court implemented a policy, it seemed to leave some room and did not kill them with one blow.
This gave the family a glimmer of hope in their difficult situation.
"No, I think the ultimate goal of the court is not to destroy the aristocratic families, but to change them. It should take away the power in the hands of the aristocratic families, but it should not stop us from making money!" A sharp-minded representative of the aristocratic families suddenly said.
Everyone was stunned, and then nodded. They began to think carefully about this idea, and the more they thought about it, the more they thought it made sense.
"It's just as you said, but now we have lost those rights. If the imperial court is unhappy one day, won't they just deal with us?" someone said worriedly.
"Yes, this is exactly what I am worried about. The ultimate goal of the court is centralization, and they don't want the power in their hands to be constrained by families like us. But judging from the current situation, we don't seem to have any better way." Another representative echoed.
The people of the aristocratic family were in deep entanglement.
They neither wanted to lose the power in their hands nor did they want to completely confront the court and cause their family to fall into an irretrievable situation.
In this ever-changing situation, they must carefully weigh the pros and cons and find a way to preserve their family while achieving a certain balance with the court.
At this moment, an unexpected news came. The Eastern Palace sent people to convey a message to the representatives of the major families, saying that the prince would be waiting for everyone in the Eastern Palace early the next morning.
Everyone was shocked after hearing this. Their already uneasy emotions were like a lake surface where a huge rock was thrown into, causing ripples to form.
Although they were wary of His Majesty the Khan, they had a deep-seated fear of the Crown Prince.
Since His Majesty redeemed him for his failed rebellion, the Crown Prince has shown courage, wisdom, and foresight, which has made the noble families feel pressured every time they confront him...