Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

But the powerful clans of Yu Province probably hadn't anticipated the tax reforms.

The more fertile land one possessed under the "Taxing Land, Not People" policy, the more taxes one would have to pay.

When Zhuge Liang thought of the Yu Province clans meticulously surveying every inch of land in Yu Province, originally perhaps to occupy more land after the clan's survey was completed, they would now fall into the predicament of owning too much land to pay taxes under the new tax system.

Moreover, with the abolition of the poll tax, the common people would naturally not have to sell themselves into slavery in batches as they had in the past. Even if the powerful clans had land, it would be difficult for them to accumulate slaves for farming at almost no cost as they had in the past.

But without farming, they would have to pay a large amount of taxes based on the land they occupied…

For the powerful clans, this was tantamount to being in a pit on both ends, with no way to advance or retreat.

When "Taxing Land, Not People" was extended from Yu Province to the entire territory under Liu Bei's rule…

Zhuge Liang's expression shifted, and he suddenly realized something.

The Jing and Yang Province clans who chose to develop on Yi Province didn't have much land in their hands. Abolishing the "Poll Tax" and implementing "Taxing Land, Not People" would actually be beneficial to the Jing and Yang Province clans.

The current choice of the Jing and Yang Province clans would undoubtedly become the best way out for the Yu Province clans, who seemed to be in a dilemma.

If they were developing comfortably within the Great Han, the powerful clans would naturally not have the idea of taking the initiative to venture overseas to seek change.

But in the Great Han's thirteen provinces, they couldn't compete in an environment full of restrictions on the powerful clans, and they couldn't even afford to farm.

With the clans of Jing and Yang provinces ahead, developing more and more smoothly, why worry that the clans of Yu and Xu provinces would not follow suit?

The more he interpreted and deduced, the more Zhuge Liang discovered that this was fundamentally a series of interconnected steps. His teacher was going from small to large, gradually touching the bottom line of the powerful clans, constantly forcing them to change.

Once the powerful clans of Jing, Yang, Yu, and Xu provinces made their choice, even if the clans of the other provinces intended to oppose, could they withstand the overwhelming trend?

Even if they were stubborn and unyielding, the teacher could also expand his hegemony, wielding the whip for the Great Han, driving the world's powerful clans to follow his will.

After thoroughly sorting out his thoughts, Zhuge Liang's still somewhat immature face said solemnly.

"This is a major event that benefits the country and the people. Liang is willing to be the vanguard for the teacher, so that 'Taxing Land, Not People' can be smoothly implemented in Yu Province."

Li Ji couldn't help but smile and then said.

"It's not your turn to be the vanguard yet. Telling Liang'er about this is just to prepare Liang'er in his heart, to urge the scholars of the Yu Province clans to focus on what direction to check when surveying the fields."

"As for how to make the Yu Province clans submit to accept 'Taxing Land, Not People', Liang'er doesn't need to act as the villain. I have someone else in mind for this villainous role."

Zhuge Liang suppressed his curiosity, but seeing that Li Ji didn't seem to have the intention of telling him proactively, he didn't continue to ask.

Immediately, Li Ji and Zhuge Liang discussed in detail many arrangements for the upcoming survey of the fields in Yu Province, until the moonlight gradually deepened, and then he left.

The matter of surveying the fields was undoubtedly better done as soon as possible, both for public and private reasons.

Not only were the Yu Province clans themselves anxious, but Li Ji also needed to thoroughly remeasure the fields in Yu Province in order to prepare for spring plowing and restore stability in Yu Province as soon as possible.

And it was also the first step in starting to implement "Taxing Land, Not People".

Therefore, this was undoubtedly one of the major events that had to be completed in Yu Province this winter.

On the second day after the end of the banquet set up by Sun Ce, Li Ji led A Dou, Li Xiang, and Li Xi back to Ruyang City, which was temporarily the seat of government.

Judging from the geographical location, city size, transportation convenience, and other factors, Ruyang City was undoubtedly not the best choice to serve as the seat of government for Yu Province.

Yuan Shu once chose Ruyang City out of necessity. Li Ji is still staying in Ruyang City now, also because most of the powerful clans in Yu Province have gathered around, in order to stabilize and deter people's hearts.

As Li Ji's statement about the powerful clans in Yu Province spread, it undoubtedly made them quite excited internally.

And the powerful clans, as Li Ji expected, had an almost unanimous attitude of support for this matter.

Wanting to get back their own land through Li Ji, for the powerful clans, it was inevitable to expose a large number of previously hidden fields.

But when they thought that the ones actually surveying the fields were the scholars of the various Yu Province clans.

Within a few days, many powerful clans thought of a large number of places to make articles in it, and began to unite and make agreements, preparing for the subsequent acquisition of benefits.

Through the channels of the Embroidered Uniform Guard alone, Li Ji collected a large number of plans that the powerful clans were preparing to implement.

These plans did not exist at the moral bottom line at all, only talked about interests.

One copy was shocking to see, and even Sima Yi frowned.

Supervising the field liquidation next, naturally Zhuge Liang alone was not enough, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard responsible by Sima Yi was even more important.

These good policies negotiated by the clans internally were undoubtedly conscience-stricken "good".

Almost treating this field liquidation as a gluttonous feast to make up for the losses during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

"Is this really treating this Marquis as a child's play? Or treating me as a high-ranking, completely blind and deaf person who can't see the common people at the bottom?"

Even Li Ji, who had expected this, almost laughed out of anger.

Sima Yi quickly persuaded him, saying.

"Teacher, don't be angry. The powerful clans mostly regard the fields as the foundation. Now that they have the opportunity to further annex the fields, they will naturally not let go of this opportunity."

"And most of them hold the fluke mentality that the law does not blame the public, thinking that even if someone is unfortunately detected, the teacher still needs the power of the Yu Province clans, it is impossible to turn against the entire Yu Province clans, at most it is just a punishment or two."

Li Ji flipped through the intelligence reports one by one, and couldn't help but laugh angrily.

"This Marquis is indeed too kind, so that they think this Marquis can't lift the knife."

"Since this is the case, then don't blame this Marquis, this Marquis will let them eat as much as they can hold."

At this moment, Li Ji had to admit that he was still too kind.

The powerful clans have almost formed a class. Unless their basic interests have been transformed, there can be no fluke mentality when conflicts occur with the basic interests of a certain class.

There are still too many buffers for inviting people to dinner, but it should be a life-and-death struggle with ruthless hands.

That is, today's knowledge is mainly mastered by the clans, and a large number of scholars from traditional clans are still needed to govern the local areas.

Otherwise, Li Ji sometimes engages in this back-and-forth tug-of-war with them, and he really does have some impulses to start a bloody purge.

However, Li Ji also knows that a blind purge is useless.

Without implementing "whip and incentive" for this group of powerful clans, and fundamentally changing their thinking and basic interests, a new batch of clans will soon be formed again.

(End of this chapter)