Chapter 203: The Gospel of the nations 2

Because once Zheng launches an attack, it will inevitably attract revenge on the Chu State behind Chen State. Jin State is not yet prepared; Jin State has finally put down the East and the West through years of war; Jin State is currently facing a great famine and needs the support of the princes of various countries to survive the famine; Jin State is not ready to go to war with the superpower Chu State again, and Zheng State's attack will only disrupt Jin State's plan.

Shi Xia was stuttering on his neck and planned to continue the debate. Zhao Wu immediately persuaded him: "This matter might as well be discussed. Now that the envoys of the vassal states have arrived, since we do not need to attack Qi, let us end the war so that the nations can take a breath.

While the envoys of all countries are here, I will announce one thing first. Now that the Central Plains have been pacified, I estimate that there will be no large-scale wars in China in the next few years. In this case, let us reduce the burden on all countries - I plan to reduce the taxes paid by various countries. In addition, our Jin State will also give back to the princes who are entrusted."

When Fan Yi ascended the throne, he greatly increased the burden on various countries, and regarded the princes of various countries as their own slaves, and drove them to scold them at will, and never gave back. Zhao Wu's words laid the foundation for the "tributary" system of Chinese civilization in the following years - the vassal states accepted the tribute, and those who accepted the tribute also gave the concession to the concessionists.

This system finally developed to a pervert. In the Ming Dynasty, it was stipulated that the tribute taxes for vassal states should be given ten times the value. As a result, the pepper offered by merchants who pretended to be tribute envoys made the court unable to reward them. The treasury was completely empty, so the salary given to officials was pepper.

However, Zhao Wu is not that perverted. He does not intend to give back ten times the value, or even to give back equivalently.

When they heard that Jin State was willing to reduce the burden on various countries, the eyes of the princes of various countries were lit up. They straightened their backs and listened carefully to Zhao Wu's words, for fear of missing one of them. Zhao Wu continued: "I'm sorry, Jin State suffered a severe drought this year, so I can't promise too much. We will gradually reduce the amount of taxes paid by various countries with a five-year period. For example, this year, I suggest reducing five percent this year - Jin State is really in a difficult situation now, and we must rely on the support of various countries."

Zhao Wu seemed embarrassed when he said this - he pretended.

Stop and wait until the envoys from various countries digested the news, Zhao Wu continued: "Next year, let's take a look at the specific situation first! If the famine continues, then we will continue to reduce 5%. If the famine stops, we might as well take a step bigger and reduce it by 10%; the third year will still be 10%, and the fourth and fifth year will decrease by 5%. After five years, we will discuss the amount of taxes collected by the countries. I believe that at that time, I will give each country a satisfactory explanation."

Zhao Wu was not discussing with the envoys of various countries. He was announcing his policy and attached several prerequisites to this policy.

But even so, the envoys from all countries were very excited. They whispered to each other and whispered to each other, feeling relieved that the whole north was in a great famine after the drought, and all countries themselves were in trouble.

Zichan was not good at speaking at this time because he had just debated with Shixia. If he stood up again, he would inevitably leave the impression that he was targeting Jin everywhere. Therefore, he frequently encouraged Shu Sun Bao from Lu with his eyes.

Shusun Bao was forced to ask, "The State of Jin is planning to give gifts to various countries. I don't know what this gift is? Is it money or food?"

"Priceless treasure!" Zhao Wu waved his hand and signaled his servants to bring a bunch of files. The servants shuttled in front of the envoys of the countries and each of them gave a scroll. The envoys of the countries rolled up the sheepskin scroll in confusion and found that two maps were drawn on it.

When Zhao Wu saw that everyone had opened the scroll, he pointed to the scroll and explained: "Now there are severe droughts everywhere, and many people's fields are short of water and wheat seedlings cannot be irrigated, which causes the grain drought to die, resulting in large-scale production reductions. This scroll contains two types of watering equipment, one is called the wind turbine and the other is called the keel water wheel. You envoys from all over the country can go back and make this water wheel according to the map to water the fields with higher terrain to ensure that they can overcome the famine together.

If countries cannot understand this map, I allow countries to send their own craftsmen to study in Jin. We will teach you how to make these water trucks, assemble them, and how to use them. My Zhao family relies on these irrigation equipment. Although this year, food crops have increased their harvests…”

Essential cultivation began in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the Spring and Autumn Period still retained the original method of burning wasteland and reclamation. Zhao has many years of continuous pioneering experience. With the expansion of the reclamation area, some intensive cultivation techniques have been studied in recent years. Although this technology is relatively coarse, it is equivalent to the extensive cultivation technique of planting and harvesting in the Spring and Autumn Period. It is simply a big leap in agricultural technology. Therefore, even if it encounters a once-in-a-thousand-year drought, even if the yield per mu is pitifully small compared to modern times, Zhao still has richer harvests than most lords.

Zichan keenly felt the value of these two maps, and he exclaimed first: "It is indeed a priceless treasure! Our Zheng State plans to send 100 people to come to Zhao to learn and make these two equipment, and also ask Zhao for the intensive farming technology of agriculture..."

Zichan opened his mouth, and the envoys from various countries suddenly realized and followed. Zhao Wu came without hesitation. He pointed to the map and said, "Although this severe drought is rare, relying on these maps, I believe that all countries can barely cope with the famine, so I decided to reduce the tax quota by only 5% in the first year. By the second year, even if the drought continues, our irrigation technology is also improving. If not unexpected, I think: Even if the drought continues, all countries can restore their original grain output."

In the Spring and Autumn Period, the land was vast and sparsely populated, and tigers and sika deer were scattered on both sides of the road at any time. Wild animals were very rich. Historically, it was precisely because of this severe drought that elephants completely extinct from the Central Plains - but how many tons of grass elephants eat every day, where elephants exist, also means that the vegetation in the Central Plains of this era was extremely rich, no less than tropical grass.

Therefore, this severe drought seemed difficult to deal with in the Spring and Autumn people, but in Zhao Wu's opinion, it was nothing, because there was too much food to satisfy hunger in the wild. As long as you develop more and deal with this famine, it was not difficult at all.

"In order to cope with this drought, our Jin State plans to use labor instead of relief and build various projects on a large scale. Our manpower is not enough, so I ask the countries to use human resources to offset the tax quota - the main subordinates of the princes of various countries are "collected". Perhaps there is no extra money and grain payment during the famine years, but they still have "military tax" resources on hand, so let them transfer these "military taxes" to us. Our Jin State needs a lot of manpower.

Of course, as a reward for the nations, we received military taxes paid by the nations (the lords who work for the lords on behalf of the leaders) and would pay a certain salary for military personnel from the nations accordingly. As for this salary standard, we will discuss it again..."

What are the countries now lacking? What are food and money. In this era of famine, everyone is not short of manpower, but feeding these people is a headache for the lords from all over the country.

Under such circumstances, the lords of various countries have more or less reduced the voluntary service period of their people because they really cannot support these voluntary service people. Now Jin is willing to use money to repay these volunteer workers under the lords in various places. What else can the lords complain about? Their expectations are not high. Even if they don’t pay a salary, as long as Jin is willing to bear a few meals, it will be a help to the lords. At least those people don’t have to be hungry.

Xiang Rong of the Song State ignored Fan Yang and was also present, and couldn't help but exclaim: "Wu Zi is benevolent and righteous! How could Marshal Fan Yi have thought of the suffering of our small country? It is a blessing for all countries to have Wu Zi in power now. In this great famine period, the overlord Bo Guo was willing to reduce our burden and help us raise our people. It is a great favor..."

For a moment, the field was flattered.
Chapter completed!