Chapter 159: The New Tax System

"What system?"

"The Emperor of Zhao intends to reform the new tax policy, which has met with opposition from a large number of ministers. However, the Emperor of Zhao has a very strong will and seems determined to see it through."

"Therefore, I suppose the new reform policy will soon be promulgated nationwide."

"Past tax policies involved the imperial court scraping silver from the common people, but the Emperor of Zhao wants to change that and scrape silver from the noble families instead."

"Take the farmland tax, for instance."

"According to the Great Zhao's new tax policy, no individual may hold more than three mu of arable land. Once that limit is exceeded, a fifty percent tax must be paid. After deducting the cost of seeds and labor, even in a bountiful year, one would retain only about a ten percent profit. In an average or poor year, not only would there be zero profit, but one would actually have to dip into their own pockets to make up the difference."

"Brother Su, you also know that in a good year, the tenant farmers and the estate families share the yield on a three-to-seven ratio. The farmers keep thirty percent, pay fifty percent to the officials, and have twenty percent left over. A portion of that remaining twenty percent must be set aside for seeds to be used the following year."

"What about a disaster year, though?"

"The farmers must be given seventy percent; otherwise, they won't survive and will die off. Labor costs would then rise, forcing you to offer even more the following year just to get someone to work for you. Furthermore, if peasants are driven to starvation, the realm will fall into chaos, and there might even be a backlash from the tenants."

"The Emperor of Zhao's idea is to return the fertile land currently in the hands of the wealthy gentry back to the peasants. This way, every farmer in the realm can be guaranteed not to starve. As long as they don't starve, no one will rebel, ensuring that the Great Zhao will endure for tens of thousands of years."

"However, by doing this, the Emperor of Zhao has offended the powerful families, encountering immense resistance."

"Yet, in the current realm of Great Zhao, only the Emperor of Zhao has reached an indescribable legendary realm, so no one dares to brazenly provoke him."

"Perhaps this system can truly be implemented."

Ren Tinghe recounted the recent changes at court, though a trace of distress crossed his face as he added, "My family also owns a fair amount of fertile land. If this is truly implemented, I'm afraid I'll have to sell all of it."

"That is truly ruthless!"

"Yet it is also a good thing. This is excising a malignant tumor; a bit of pain must be endured."

"The Emperor of Zhao is the founding sovereign, currently at the height of his power, and his martial prowess is unmatched under heaven. This decree should be pushed through, though whether it will succeed remains to be seen," Su Yang remarked.

"Aside from this, there are several other reform decrees. I wonder if Brother Su will be surprised if I mention them."

"Go ahead."

Startled for a moment, Su Yang quickly replied, "The Emperor of Zhao is certainly making quite a stir."

"The household bondservant tax."

"Anyone who keeps domestic bondservants in their household must, in addition to paying their monthly wages, pay a bondservant tax of one liang of silver for each servant. Yet the monthly wages we masters give our servants amount to merely fifty wen of silver."

"Furthermore, the wages of workers employed by any merchant or wealthy household cannot be lower than half a liang of silver, regardless of the industry."

"In addition to the bondservant tax, there is also the property tax. The living area used by each person in a household is regulated; any area exceeding the limit will be subject to taxation. As for unclaimed real estate, it will be directly confiscated by the state after three years."

"Young Master Su, tell me, can this be easily enforced?" Ren Tinghe asked with a profound tone.

"This is no longer excising a malignant tumor; this is practically lopping off the heads of the wealthy families."

Su Yang let out a long sigh and said, "Since you already know about this news, I suppose it will soon be promulgated and enforced?"

"My father says it will likely be promulgated within this month."

"Well, if your family owns farmland, you'd better sell as much of it as you can. In the future, as long as the imperial court doesn't become too severely corrupt and the reforms succeed, the lives of the common people will be much better off."

Su Yang said, "It benefits the state and the people; it's a good thing."

"Brother Su, seeing that you are only twenty this year, I wonder if you have any wives or concubines at home?"

Ren Tinghe suddenly asked.

"Oh, why do you ask?"

"As it happens, I have a younger sister at home, who is also my father's only daughter. She is headstrong and willful, immensely passionate about the martial arts, and possesses formidable talent. She is currently about the same age as Young Master Su, and having once encountered a stroke of great fortune, she has already entered the fourth rank."

"Therefore, I wish to arrange a match between you and my younger sister."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid this sister of mine might never find a husband in her lifetime."

A look of helplessness appeared on Ren Tinghe's face as he picked up the teacup before him, drained it in one gulp, and continued.

"Why is that?"

"Young Master Su may not know, but my sister has a rule: anyone who wishes to marry her must first defeat her in combat, and he must not be more than three years older than her."

"She encountered a fortunate opportunity and her strength skyrocketed. I reckon it won't be long before she has a chance to enter the third rank. By then, I'm afraid not a single suitable candidate can be found in the entire Su estate, and only Young Master Su has the means to subdue her."

Ren Tinghe looked at Su Yang full of hope, but did not receive the expected response. Instead, Su Yang replied, "My family already has a principal wife."

"Ah, then we lack fate."

Ren Tinghe shook his head helplessly. To ask his sister to become a concubine for Young Master Su—if his father were to find out, he would surely break both his legs.

"Young Master Su, after we finish our tea, I shall take you for a stroll in the back garden. A new batch of flowers has recently arrived, and they are exceptionally vibrant."

"Very well!"

...

Half an hour later, having enjoyed a pleasant conversation, Su Yang and Ren Tinghe headed toward the back garden.

"Eldest Young Master, the master asks for you."

Just as Su Yang and Ren Tinghe were walking toward the back garden, a servant hurried over and reported.

"What is the matter?"

"The master says it is a matter of great importance and cannot be delayed. He asks you to go over immediately."

"Understood!"

Seeing the steward so anxious, Ren Tinghe knew it must be a matter of genuine importance. He turned to Su Yang and said, "Young Master Su, I am truly sorry. I will have a maidservant guide you, and I shall come looking for you shortly."

"Go ahead and attend to your business."

After Ren Tinghe left, Su Yang followed a maidservant toward the back garden.

One had to admit, even the maidservants in the prefectural governor's residence were remarkably attractive, every single one of them a budding beauty.

Soon, Su Yang was led to the newly arrived floral plants in the back courtyard to admire the blossoms.

Time ticked away, and before he knew it, noon had arrived. Su Yang sat on a stone chair to rest, while the maidservant stood respectfully to one side.

"Swish, swish, swish...!"

At that moment, a black rabbit suddenly darted past Su Yang. Its entire body was pitch black with only its tail being white; its fur was exceptionally long, and its eyes were not the usual crimson of a rabbit, but a striking azure blue.

A blue-eyed black rabbit!

"Swish...!"

The next second, a pebble flew from Su Yang's hand, striking the rabbit squarely on the head. The rabbit struggled twice on the ground and then completely lost all signs of life.

A blue-eyed black rabbit was a rare delicacy, rumored to have the most succulent and tender meat of all rabbits.

He would skin it, set up a fire, skewer it on a tree branch, and roast it while regulating the heat. Since he happened to be hungry, he could enjoy a hearty meal.