HLnovel Chapter 219 Internal Affairs
Chapter 219 Internal Affairs
In addition to the policies mentioned above, Liu Xiu also streamlined local administration, his aim being to alleviate the suffering inflicted on the people by Wang Mang's reforms and years of warfare.
"Therefore, in June of 30 AD, Liu Xiu ordered a significant reduction in local officials and soldiers, resulting in a sharp decrease in the population."
"But the number of county magistrates and other similar positions remained the same, so he issued an edict to reduce the number of officials in the local areas."
"For counties that don't involve many officials, we can reduce or merge troops. In one year, we reduced more than 400 counties and merged ten prefectures. At the same time, we also reduced a large number of officials. The following year, we further reduced the size of the army."
Liu Xiu: Listen to what I have to say, we don't need so many people becoming officials or soldiers anymore, let's go home and farm!
"Liu Xiu dismissed a large number of military officers, including those in light chariots, cavalry, and military service, and told them to go back to their hometowns to farm. At this time, the people need people to engage in agricultural production, and they need strong young men like you!"
"Therefore, he sent large numbers of soldiers back to their hometowns to engage in agricultural production, which ultimately reduced military spending and provided a large labor force for agricultural production."
"After all, Liu Xiu himself was a master at tending crops! He knew all too well what the people needed most in farming!"
A scholar-official from the Han Dynasty: As expected of Brother Xiu!
A skilled farmer from the Song Dynasty: How did Wang Mang, who was also an emperor, end up like this?!
A spoiled young man from the Tang Dynasty: Another control group, hahaha!
A Ming Dynasty official said: Wang Mang's restorationist approach was never going to work; just look at the results!
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"Since we've come up with farming, as mentioned before, one of the reasons for the fall of the Western Han Dynasty was land annexation. This problem seems to have existed in every dynasty, but it appears to have been particularly severe in the Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Bajie of the Ming Dynasty: ...
Around 39 AD, Liu Xiu ordered a nationwide investigation into land and household registration. Soon after, officials from various prefectures and counties were required to come to Liu Xiu's court to report on the situation in their respective regions, essentially giving a report to their superior!
"The official document from Chenliu states: Yingchuan and Hongnong can be questioned, but Henan and Nanyang cannot be questioned."
"However, this is understandable. Firstly, Liu Xiu's hometown was Nanyang, and secondly, Luoyang in Henan was the capital."
"No matter which aspect you look at it from, it's not easy for the officials in charge of the investigation to find out the truth. It's probably a tough job for them!"
"However, since Liu Xiu is going to do this, he will definitely see it through to the end. Even though Nanyang and Henan are his hometown and the location of his capital, that will not stop him."
"Subsequently, Liu Xiu used Luoyang as a model, hoping to use Luoyang as an example for the whole country in order to achieve his goal. However, after Liu Xiu killed the governors of the various prefectures in Henan one after another, the effect of killing the chicken to scare the monkey was not obvious, and the locals continued to do as they pleased."
"Take Hebei for example, the place where Liu Xiu first rose to power. Back then, many powerful clans in Hebei chose him, which means they could also rebel against you now. They have the confidence to do so."
"Back then, Wang Mang also had a group of powerful clans standing behind him. But as soon as he came to power, he wanted to restore the old system, which greatly infringed on their interests, so things ended up the way they were!"
A lazy official in the Song Dynasty: Wang Mang did the same thing back then, turning his back on people and ending up in trouble. We have to be careful!
A scion of a prominent family in the Ming Dynasty: This is something that cannot be avoided.
A scion of a prominent family in the Song Dynasty: After all, you're touching their interests, so they have no choice but to listen!
A romantic scholar from the Tang Dynasty: That's why Liu Xiu's prowess is highlighted!
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