The Ming Dynasty is about to die.

Zhu Yijun naturally knew about this. Not only did he know, but he also knew the year he died. This was not news to him.

However, when it comes from Zhang Juzheng's mouth, the meaning is completely different.

Is this taboo? Of course not.

In fact, after experiencing the torment of his grandfather, Emperor Jiajing, there were many voices like this both inside and outside the court.

In fact, this is the soil for the reformists!

Why did Xu Jie and Li Chunfang fall one after another? Why are the first and second ministers of the cabinet now all reformists?

It is because of the urgent internal and external pressure of the Ming Dynasty that cannot be ignored - the paper makers can no longer follow the trend of knowledgeable people.

In this context, the reformists always threatened to overthrow the Ming Dynasty.

In the first year of Longqing's reign, Zhao Zhenji, the assistant minister of the cabinet, said when he came to Shu to make a speech, "Although there is a name of public security today, it has no reality; there is no danger and chaos, but it has its reasons."

There are also words in the high-gong memorial: "The world is in danger."

Zhang Juzheng even had a criminal record long ago. He said in "Chen Liu Shi Shu" that "there are many things in the world that are difficult to counterattack".

It has been a long time since Ming Dynasty had finished speaking like this, and it would be more pleasant to hear than Hai Rui directly scolding the world because His Majesty has been unhappy for a long time.

However, this is true. The question is, why are you, Zhang Juzheng, talking to a ten-year-old kid like you who has no power?

Can I give you Zhang Juzheng a platform, or can I let you take over the position of Gao Gong's chief assistant?

Zhu Yijun couldn't figure out what Zhang Juzheng was causing trouble, so he could only cover it up carefully.

He looked suitably surprised: "Why did Mr. Ge say this!?"

Zhang Juzheng punished him with a courtesy.

He neatly took out three volumes of manuscripts from his sleeves and held them in both hands: "This is what I wrote after sorting it out all night. Your Highness will know it after reading it."

Zhu Yijun took it gently with confusion: "This is it?"

Zhang Juzheng did not show off, and bowed down and replied: "Your Highness, from the Hongwu period to the present, the Dingkou, acres, and taxes over the years are all roughly listed on the scroll. Please read it."

Zhu Yijun unfolded it and took a rough look.

It is indeed the population, the number of acres of land and fiscal revenue at various periods since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

He didn't take a closer look, but simply closed it and said shyly: "Mr. Ge, I, Deliang Youchong, don't quite understand."

Zhang Juzheng paused for a moment, then slowly said: "Your Highness, let's see, how many acres of land did we have when our country was founded?"

Zhu Yijun opened it again and followed Zhang Juzheng's guidance to read it.

When I found Hongwu in his early years, he said, "Mr. Ge, it's more than 370 million acres."

Zhang Juzheng continued to ask: "What about now?"

Zhu Yijun asked doubtfully: "More than 460 million acres, Mr. Ge, is there anything wrong?"

He didn't know if Zhang Juzheng was testing him, so he could only ask knowingly.

Zhang Juzheng sighed: "Your Highness, at the beginning of the founding of the country, the mountains and rivers were in ruins. Now that peace has prevailed for a long time, the two have not changed much. Your Highness, this is the problem."

Zhu Yijun asked curiously: "Isn't this an extra 90 million acres? Why does Mr. Ge say there is not much change?"

He stared at Zhang Juzheng with clear eyes, full of curiosity.

Zhang Juzheng was silent for a moment and then said: "Your Highness, during the Hongzhi period, the number of acres of land was 800 million acres."

The Hongzhi period, from 1488 to 1505, marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country.

Zhu Yijun realized later and looked at the corresponding time on the scroll, and then exclaimed: "Since Hongzhi, in the seventy-two years of Taiping, there are not more acres but less!?"

Zhang Juzheng nodded.

Zhu Yijun asked: "Mr. Ge, what's the truth? Is the land all deserted?"

He pretended to be confused while pretending to understand.

Zhang Juzheng shook his head and replied: "Your Highness, it's not that the land is deserted, it's annexation! It's that the acres are hidden!"

He almost gritted his teeth and spit it out heavily.

"When people are unable to pay taxes in a disaster year, they will pawn their land to wealthy families. Once they are unable to pay back the money, the land will be annexed by the wealthy families and they will become tenants."

"When large households annex acres of land, they will hide the acres and evade taxes."

Zhu Yijun was horrified: "Merging acres of land and evading taxes? Why didn't you arrest me?"

When he asked this question, he almost couldn't help but laugh.

He had a clear mind on this matter.

Of course he knew about the annexation of land.

There are two things you cannot escape in life: death and paying taxes.

But for these large asset entities, there are two other things, called mergers and tax evasion.

Is there an arrest warrant in the place? It makes me laugh out loud.

These things are covered up by local officials and have always been divided into 30% and 70%.

Not to mention arrests, people from the central government dare to go to the fields, milder ones, the files are accidentally lost, more serious ones, the imperial envoy's residence is leaked.

Can Emperor Guangwu recreate Yan Han and conquer the fields? Conquering the fields is even more difficult than conquering the world!

Otherwise, why did the center turn a deaf ear?

This is not just one town or one government, it’s happening all over the world!

This is where everything in the world becomes difficult. I am among you, and you are among me. A single move affects the whole body. Who dares to take care of it? Anyone who takes care of anyone is an enemy of the people of the world!

As for who are the people of the world? The right to interpret lies in the hands of the people of the world.

Zhang Juzheng did not directly explain why Yousi was not arrested.

Instead, he sighed and pointed to another volume: "Your Highness, this volume contains the number of people in the past dynasties."

Zhu Yijun skipped the topic just now and opened another volume.

Zhang Juzheng said: "Your Highness, you might as well take a look at the number of households and people during the Hongwu period."

Zhu Yijun found the place and read: "During the Hongwu period, the number of households was 10 million, and the number of people was 58 million."

He really doesn't know this.

On the contrary, during the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, the line about forty million compatriots was more familiar.

But the difference between more than 50 million and 400 million is probably too big.

Thinking in his mind, Zhu Yijun didn't wait for Zhang Juzheng to speak, and found out the current situation: "In the sixth year of Longqing, the number of households was 10 million, and the population was 62 million."

He raised his head in astonishment: "Compared to the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Dingkou has grown so little!?"

He demonstrated his intelligence in a timely manner and drew inferences from one instance to another.

"Your Highness is extremely intelligent." Zhang Juzheng praised him and added: "In the second year of the Western Han Dynasty, there were 59 million Dingkou."

It was the second year of Yuanshi, which was the end of the Western Han Dynasty, more than a thousand years ago.

Zhu Yijun was not ashamed to ask: "Mr. Ge, is it because after the common people become tenants, the big families will hide Dingkou?"

The Ming Dynasty now collects a poll tax.

Ordinary people do not have the ability to evade taxes, but the same is not true for large households.

If you collude with locals and have 100% of the population, reporting to the police for 30% will be enough to be conscientious.

Zhang Juzheng bowed down and said, "Your Highness, the Holy Ming Wu Guo."

Zhu Yijun quickly helped him up and sighed: "I understand what Mr. Ge means."

He deliberately pretended to be stupid and asked why the local government didn't catch the big tax evaders. Zhang Juzheng answered him with Dingkou.

Because large local households not only have land! They also have people!

Will the government dare to pursue it?

Okay, even if you are a tough guy and dare to destroy your family, what about the other big families who hide their land?

Will the rabbit die and the fox be sad? Is there any stupid young man shouting about the government forcing the people to rebel?

Even if you don't dare to go out and raise the flag yourself, if you secretly collude with each other to support some mountain bandits and water bandits, and provide people and money, it will immediately shock one party.

Are all the Southeast Japanese pirates from Fusang? Of course not.

The principles are the same.

If the big gentry households in the two capitals and thirteen provinces all contradict the central government's decree, the world will be corrupted by more than words.

Zhang Juzheng bowed and replied: "Yesterday in the palace, there were unspeakable secrets about Huguang tax affairs and public affairs. I dare to use this to clear up your highness's doubts."

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng steadily.

How many heroes are there in the world?
To be continued...