In the Song Dynasty, female households and single households, like monks and Taoists, were the targets of discrimination by the government.

Because these people all have one characteristic in common - they cannot reproduce for the country.

Naturally, he will be hit hard!

This was especially true after Wang Anshi’s political reform.

Now, Han Jiang is also interested in these people.

Zhao Xu would not stop him.

After all, these people are also very annoying to Zhao Xu.

They are neither willing to remarry nor start a family, and some even become monks, Taoists, nuns...

Do not increase taxes on these people and force them to remarry, start a family, and establish a career.

Isn’t this Song Dynasty a pill?

However, these words cannot be said.

Especially not in front of the two palaces!

The reason is very simple, it involves monks and Taoists, and the two palaces worship Buddhism.

Therefore, Zhao Xu said: "My mother-in-law, my mother-in-law, judging from my son, although Xianggong Han's regulations will increase taxes on female households, single men and monks, it is not much..."

"The salary for a fifth-class household or below is only a few hundred cents a year..."

"After halving, the amount allocated to female households, single households, and monks will only be two to three hundred cash per year..."

This is the truth, but it is also a lie.

Because, one household is indeed like this, but how many fifth-class households are there in total in a county?

After all, there are probably two to three hundred households!

The total number of female households, singles, monks and Taoists in this county is definitely far less than that of fifth-class households.

What's more, Han Jiang also halved the service fee for rural households with third-class or above status, but with less than 20 acres of land and less than two sons.

In this way, the labor money spread on the heads of female households, monks and Taoists, etc., may be a bit too much.

But, what does this have to do with anything?

Rich people can definitely afford it.

If you can't afford it, then remarry, get married, and return to secular life!

Anyway, it is better to let these people cry than to let the fifth-class households cry.

This is also the case for those who can do it!

The mathematics of both palaces are not very good, and they are also far away from the folk.

How do you know the twists and turns in this?

Seeing that Zhao Xu was serious about what he said, and feeling that it did make sense, he nodded.

"As for the remaining money..." the Empress Dowager asked, "Does the official family have any ideas?"

In addition to reforming the collection of labor law, Han Jiang's Labor Law Regulations also reformed the labor law collection.

All the labor money (exemption money) for households below the third level in rural areas and the fifth level in cities was levied in half, and the burden of these people was passed on to female households, singles, and monks.

The most important change is to increase the amount of local government surplus money.

Needless to say, this touched the sensitive nerves of both houses.

Because even if the two palaces live in a deep palace, they don't know the sufferings of the people.

But they must know what the foundation of the Song Dynasty was.

Strengthen the trunk and weaken the branches, centralize power!

However, easing surplus money was a supporting policy to increase local financial supply during Wang Anshi's reform.

In other words, it was a carrot used by Wang Anshi to bribe local grassroots officials and promote new laws.

Now, Han Jiang's draft regulations have further increased the amount of leftover money for local leniency.

The two palaces were naturally very afraid of this.

Because this may shake the entire financial system of the Song Dynasty!

In Zhao Xu's previous life, he once ruled the world and held great power. Of course he understood what the two palaces were worried about?

Therefore, after he pondered for a moment, he said: "Mother, Sun Chen thinks that what Mr. Han said is reasonable..."

"I recently attended a sutra banquet at Jiying Hall, and the gentlemen also talked about the financial system of our ancestors..."

"This is a strategy of strengthening the trunks and weak branches to stabilize the world and eliminate the disasters of feudal towns!"

The two palaces listened and nodded with smiles.

"What the officials are saying is..." The Empress Dowager even said: "This is the ancestral system. Back then, Cisheng Guangxian and Yingmiao both warned me and the late emperor..."

"The disaster of the five dynasties was not only caused by arrogant soldiers and strong generals, but also caused by local finances and taxes being too heavy and not listening to the orders of the central government!"

After the mid-Tang Dynasty, vassal towns were divided into separate regimes.

It is not only the army that is divided, but also local finance and taxation!

The obedient feudal town would regularly pay tribute to Chang'an and send money, goods and food.

If you are not very respectful, it depends on your mood.

The most disrespectful ones just kept talking to themselves behind closed doors.

Each feudal town is an independent economic circle.

Let alone the fifth generation!

Therefore, after the establishment of the Song Dynasty, in view of the disaster of vassal towns and the lessons of strong local forces, centralization of power began.

Therefore, in the Song Dynasty, not only all the military command, but also the mobilization and listening center.

All fiscal revenue also goes to the central government!

Local autonomy is compressed to the limit.

"What the empress said is..." Empress Dowager Xiang agreed.

Zhao Xu nodded: "What the mother-in-law said is true. This is where the wisdom of our ancestors lies! The gentlemen in Jiying Hall also praised it a lot..."

"It's just..." Zhao Xu looked at the expressions of the two palaces and said, "My grandson thinks that everything that goes too far is not enough!"

"These days, Sun Chen often consults with Master Fan (Fan Chunren), Lu Shitao (Lu Dafang) and other gentlemen at the Sutra banquet about local affairs..."

"It is said that the disadvantages of local areas are that they have little money and are difficult to deal with..."

"Especially small things, trivial matters, often due to lack of money, cannot be done... we can only sit back and watch them gradually deteriorate!"

Speaking of this, Zhao Xu sighed: "Therefore, Sun Chen thought that Han Xianggong had also considered this..."

"If you want to ask the local government to have more money to do things, you don't have to discuss everything with the court."

When the two palaces heard this, they were also somewhat relieved.

But they were still worried.

After all, if a local government has more money, it may be able to get rid of the central government and do its own thing.

This is the lesson of the Tang Dynasty!

Why can An Lushan rebel? Because he has military power on his left hand and financial power on his right hand.

So, he said to the Queen Mother: "My mother-in-law and I are both worried that the local power is too big and it will be difficult to control it in the future!"

Zhao Xu smiled and said: "This matter is easy to handle. Let's set a rule and stipulate that these new funds can only be used for trivial matters, small things, and can only be used for repairs..."

"For example, in a battle of twenty or thirty people, anything beyond this limit can only be decided by the central committee!"

The two palaces listened and felt that it made sense.

Zhao Xu took the opportunity to continue to persuade: "Besides, it's just a trial run in Kaifeng Mansion."

"If there is any inconvenience within the capital, we will make adjustments immediately!"

The two palaces were finally convinced.

The Empress Dowager said: "Let's see the results!"

…

Dodo.

Han Jiang stood in the garden behind the imperial hall.

Looking at the yellowing and withering vegetation in the garden, he felt a little uneasy.

Does he know what he is challenging?

But he had to do it.
To be continued...