Chapter 30: First Encounter with Gao Shi

Li Heng understood what Huangfu Weiming meant by tax law.

In the early Tang Dynasty, taxes were collected through the rent, labor and tax system, which was based on the number of people. The so-called "if you have land, you have to pay rent; if you have a body, you have to pay labor; if you have a household, you have to pay tax".

But up to now, with the aggravation of land annexation, the equal-field system has been severely damaged, and the population has either fled, become conscripted soldiers, or hidden in the wealthy families. Against this background, the Tang Dynasty not only did not adjust the tax law, but also required neighboring guarantors to pay rent and labor service on their behalf, which forced more farmers to become fugitives.

The order issued by Li Longji at the beginning of the year for the fugitives to surrender showed that the problem had reached the point where it had to be resolved.

However, Li Longji's order was only a temporary solution. If we wanted to further solve this problem, reform was imperative.

However, cutting off someone's source of income is tantamount to killing his parents. Historically, attempts to reform the economic system have been accompanied by resistance, unrest, and even war.

Now that the Tang Dynasty was at its peak, Li Longji obviously had no intention of reforming the system.

Thinking of this, Li Ying sighed.

The soldiers stepped forward and dragged Huangfu Weiming away. Wang Zhongsi watched silently without saying a word.

Li Ying led the soldiers to drag the people away and said, "Now that the people have been arrested, General Wang will review them and report to the Ministry of Justice."

"Yes." Wang Zhongsi accepted the order and asked, "Your Highness, are you still farming?"

"Of course." Li Ying nodded.

Li Heng would naturally not miss the opportunity to gain fame.

He walked to the middle of the field and said to the people, "At the beginning of last year, the saint personally plowed the field and set an example for the world. As his son, I should follow suit. Now that you have just returned to your fields, I will be the first to plow the field. I hope that this year will be a good year for you and all the villagers will have a good harvest."

When the people heard that the prince was going to plow the fields, they all applauded.

Li Heng had experienced plowing in his previous life, so he was quite good at it. However, he felt sore in his back and waist after just plowing a furrow.

It has to be said that in ancient times without mechanization, people really suffered.

If it were just suffering, it would be fine, but they also have to endure heavy oppression and exploitation.

Wang Zhongsi saw that Li Heng was exhausted after plowing the field, so he stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, you are not feeling well, so you should not work too hard. Just start plowing."

"Okay." Li Heng did not try to be brave and pushed the plow to Wang Zhongsi, saying, "General Wang, come and try it. After that, we will return the land to everyone according to the previous plan."

"Wang Zhongsi was startled when he heard this.

He had never done this kind of work since he was a child, but since Li Heng had said so, he couldn't refuse, so he said, "Yes."

He answered and started to work. After plowing a furrow, he was also very tired.

But considering that Li Heng could plow one furrow even when he was sick, he had to plow a few more furrows.

So I had to grit my teeth and persevere.

On the other side, Yang Yuhuan wiped the sweat off Li Heng's face and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that my husband would also farm, but it's a pity..."

"What a pity?" Li Ying asked.

Yang Yuhuan said: "It's a pity that I can't weave, otherwise we can still live a life where men farm and women weave."

Li Ying smiled and said, "Planting beans at the foot of the southern mountain, the grass is lush but the bean sprouts are sparse. If I really go to farm, I guess I won't be as good as Mr. Tao Qian." Then he took Yang Yuhuan's hand and said, "Your hands are so charming when playing the piano, but if you weave, I'm afraid I won't be able to wear a new set of clothes in a year."

Yang Yuhuan chuckled at Li Heng's words and said, "If that's true, then we can be considered a match made in heaven."

As the two were talking, a man in his thirties dressed as a scholar came over and respectfully saluted Li Ying, saying, "Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Shou, and to the Princess." Hearing this, Li Ying looked at the scholar in front of him curiously and asked, "Who are you?"

The scholar said, "I am Gao Shi, courtesy name Dafu, from Bohai."

Li Heng was not familiar with this person, but he was quite familiar with this name, because in his previous life, he had recited Gao Shi's poems many times.

In addition to his great achievements in poetry, Gao Shi also had outstanding political talent. He served as a military governor, quelled the rebellion of Prince Yong, and was granted a title of nobility and appointed a general.

Unfortunately, he started his career too late, entering politics only when he was nearly fifty years old.

"It's Mr. Duff." Li Ying replied politely.

Gao Shi heard Li Heng's tone and seemed to know him. A hint of surprise flashed across his eyes and he asked, "Your Highness, do you know me?"

Li Heng said: "I drove the horses north of Jimen, and the horses on the border wept in the north wind. The vast and distant mountain pass, the open and broad Hu sky. The five generals have penetrated deep into the enemy's territory, and the front army has only half turned back. Who will pity me for not being satisfied, and returning alone with my long sword?"

In fact, Gao Shi is not very famous nowadays.

In order to get a government position, Gao Shi had visited Li Yi, Wei Ji, Xue Ju and others along the way, and even wrote poems for them. It was a pity that he was not valued.

So when Gao Shi heard Li Ying casually mention the poem he had written, he was both happy and moved. He said, "I wrote this poem two years ago. I didn't expect Your Highness to remember it."

Li Ying smiled and said, "Mr. Dafu failed the exam last year. I thought he went to the north. How come he is in Lanzhou?"

Gao Shi said, "To be honest with you, Your Highness, I was traveling with Zhang Changshi before, and I heard that Your Highness was investigating a shocking case in Lanzhou, so I came to take a look."

The Zhang Changshi that Gao Xu mentioned is Zhang Xu, a great calligrapher.

"Then you are late. The case has been investigated." Li Ying said with a smile, and then said, "But if you don't mind, we can talk more later."

"Of course, of course." Gao Shi said quickly.

If the literati in the Tang Dynasty failed the imperial examination and had an ordinary family background, they generally had the habit of seeking help everywhere, just as Du Fu later said: "Knocking on the door of the rich man in the morning and following the dust of fat horses in the evening."

Therefore, Li Heng's polite invitation to Gao Shi was considered a great honor to him.

For Li Heng, it would be a good choice if he could win over such a person who is both literary and politically and militaryly talented.

Because in this way he could use the excuse of exchanging poetry and prose to make Li Longji think that he was surrounded by non-threatening people.

Li Heng looked at Gao Shi in front of him, and then looked at the people whose faces were filled with joy because they were allocated land, and once again denied his own doubts from the previous few days.

Who said he hasn't changed anything?
At least he did something for the people and improved his own reputation.

He was originally a prince and had the influence of Concubine Wu Huifei. Many people had already wanted to curry favor with him. Now he could only improve his reputation and avoid being afraid of talented people not coming.

While Li Ying was lost in thought, Wang Zhongsi finally finished plowing the field.

Wang Zhongsi came up to Li Heng breathlessly and said, "Your Highness, today I understand how difficult it is to farm."

After saying that, he sat down on the edge of the field out of exhaustion.

"General Wang, you have worked hard." Li Ying consoled him with a smile, and then said, "By the way, General Wang, let me introduce you to Mr. Gao Shi, who is quite talented."

Li Ying's words could be considered as an introduction to Gao Shi.

(End of this chapter)