Chapter 653 - 100: Putting the People First, Following Emperor Renzong’s Governance and Marquis Wu’s Spirit

And now, everything he thinks of is naturally for the entire realm of Kyushu.

It is worth mentioning that Gu Yi did not participate in this.

With the support of the "Luoshu Harmonizing Device," Gu Xuan’s internal affairs attribute has already reached 91 points, which is something Gu Yi cannot compare to.

The same old saying.

Gu Yi can command the overall situation, but this kind of detail that ultimately concerns the common people should naturally be led by Gu Xuan.

In short—leave it to the ancestors to show off, that’s enough!

.....

Luoyang Palace.

Li Yu looked at the stack of memorials in his hand, his face full of shock.

Without a moment of hesitation, he carefully read through them, and his eyebrows furrowed deeper and deeper. After a long time, he finally asked, "Grand Tutor...these..."

"Your Majesty!"

Before he could finish, Gu Xuan cupped his hands towards Li Yu and began to seriously explain, "Your Majesty! Since the An-Shi Rebellion, I have investigated the lands of our Great Tang until now—"

"Only to find that the powerful took advantage of the chaos to annex, the nobility occupied without restraint!"

"How many government troops’ surviving families and returning displaced people have no land to cultivate?"

"And the lands of the temples confiscated after the suppression of Buddhism, if not thoroughly investigated and defined, and the annexation curbed, will fall into the hands of the powerful in an instant!"

"Since the day of the suppression of Buddhism, I have been pondering this connection."

—Gu Xuan has indeed been closely watching the land.

Just to prevent these lands occupied by monasteries from being directly annexed by local powerful families, this is not a small figure, and in any case, the most correct handling method must be determined.

And what Gu Xuan is thinking now is to rent these lands to the common people.

Of course—

He also wants to use the new emperor’s ascension as an excuse to lower the overall burden of taxes and corvée labor.

Gu Xuan cannot simply distribute the land to all the people.

Doing so might help the central government gain the support of the people and could once again make the Gu Clan famous throughout the world, but if any disturbances arise, it would be disastrous.

The people who don’t receive land will reveal all their evil deeds under such circumstances.

Gu Xuan certainly won’t do such a foolish thing.

But renting the land is different; under the overall policy of the court, the people will not have to bear too heavy a burden, and this also aligns with the dual-tax system he had established before.

It can be said to be a win-win situation.

As Li Yu listened, his tightly knitted brows gradually relaxed, and his eyes sparkled with contemplation.

He was indeed a clever person.

With Gu Xuan’s detailed explanation, he naturally understood the connection, and his face gradually showed an expression of interest.

Gu Xuan’s policy indeed sidestepped the giant pitfall of "land distribution," positioning the court in a proactive stance, and genuinely benefiting the people, while cleverly suppressing local powerful families.

At the same time, it can also ensure a stable income for the treasury.

It truly is killing multiple birds with one stone!

Seeing the emperor’s interest, Gu Xuan didn’t stop; he immediately shifted the topic to another pressing cornerstone: "In addition—"

"There’s the matter of constructing water conservancy!"

"Your Majesty!" Gu Xuan’s tone carried a hint of urgency, "After the suppression of Buddhism, I traveled throughout Kyushu, witnessing the hardships of people’s livelihood firsthand."

"What I’ve seen and heard is shocking!"

"The Zhengbai Canal in Guanzhong is silted and impassable; the fertile fields once crisscrossed by irrigation canals are now barren under drought, and become a vast waterland under heavy rain!"

"The Jianghuai waterway, the lifeline of the nation, is also fraught with interruptions, making transportation difficult and delaying grain and supplies!"

"I am reminded of the words of my ancestor, Marquis Wencheng, Lord Kang—’Without water, even good fields become desert!’ "

He quotes the sage words of his ancestors, highlighting the importance of this matter: "Your Majesty!"

"Even if there are thousands of acres of good fields rented to the people, without irrigation or drainage, it will all be an illusion!"

"A single drought or flood can render Your Majesty’s benevolent governance null and plunge millions into famine once more!"

"Now that the world is somewhat stable and we wish to restore the great enterprise of the prosperous Tang, allowing tenant farmers to truly live and work in peace, the promotion of water conservancy cannot be delayed!"

This is a common trait of those skilled in internal affairs.

Even as times change.

Yet when truly considering the common people, the situations they face remain the same.

—Undoubtedly land and living conditions.

Actually, the Great Tang has always done fairly well in this regard.

After all, the various measures of Li Shimin are there for reference; he has left a very clear template for future generations.

As for the emperors after him, although they were not as capable as Li Shimin.

Learning from his various actions is quite simple.

Unfortunately, it was after Li Longji’s expansion that this current situation arose.

Gu Xuan thus returns to the fundamentals.

Based on the development of the grassroots populace, he plans for the entire Great Tang to quickly recover from this chaos.

This was an idea he had set very early on, and in these years he has even drawn up specific plans, including maps, for its implementation.

This is the extraordinary aspect of Gu Xuan’s internal affairs.

Using work-for-food projects... incorporating water conservancy and other developments into the evaluation process.

He has long prepared a multitude of strategies, considering everything in an orderly way.

Besides this—

It also includes salt policies, and upcoming management of commerce, as well as detailed taxation, among many other things.

This is precisely everything Gu Xuan has contemplated over the years.

He does not merely sit on the mountain peak overlooking the world below, but truly walks through every path, devising plans based on the different situations encountered by the locals.

Gu Xuan truly leaves no stone unturned, explaining all ideas within this memorial to Li Yu clearly and thoroughly.

Under these words, Li Yu’s expression grew increasingly solemn.

But this was not the end—

What truly stunned Li Yu was the entirely new agricultural technology that Gu Xuan intended to implement.

Aside from the upgrades the Gu Clan made to agricultural tools over the years.

The real key lies in genetic technology.

This is naturally the result of Gu Yi’s manipulation.

Of course, it is not advanced knowledge, but the idea of cultivating more bountiful grain varieties for the people.

This is a thought that arose after Gu Yi discovered the progress in the perceptions of Kyushu’s people.

He wants to pave the way for science.

In fact, even among the people of the Great Tang now, there have been some explorations in this area, slightly ahead of the original history, albeit somewhat vague.

They lack the corresponding concept.

This is also the case in the original history.

The agricultural development of our country—has been an extremely long process, from the unconscious development of early times to the maturity of selection technology and the diversification of varieties.

This indeed requires a process.

And what Gu Yi intends to do now is to compile these technologies into a book, providing more practical guidance, also paving the way for upcoming major events.

The current Gu Clan is certainly capable of achieving this.

Not to mention Yunshao Pavilion’s status, Gu Yi had long decided to establish a Gu Academy in Kyushu, intending this to be the core for the future!

Laying the groundwork for the future, attracting talent.

Upon hearing Gu Xuan’s intention to author a book, Li Yu was instantly stunned.

He stared at Gu Xuan, remaining silent for a long time before slowly nodding and then deeply exhaling a breath of turbid air—the shock was evident beyond words.

"From a young age, I studied ’Gu’s Sayings,’ deeply aware of the abilities of the Gu Clan’s sages throughout the ages, never daring to underestimate them, only endlessly yearning for them."

"Yet today, with the Grand Tutor’s abilities—"

Li Yu’s eyes shone like torches, gazing at Gu Xuan, slowly rising, and speaking word by word, "I must admit, I have ultimately underestimated the scope and means of the Gu Clan descendants!"

"Rest assured, Grand Tutor!" His voice was deep and determined, with an undeniable resolution, "If the Grand Tutor can indeed help my Great Tang restore its golden age—"

"The Grand Tutor shall be made Marquis Zhao Lie!"

"And I—" Li Yu paused, speaking with force, "also wish to serve willingly as Emperor Renzong did to Marquis Wu!"

—Marquis Zhao Lie! Emperor Renzong!

Gu Chen! Liu Shan!

Though not bound by blood, their affection surpasses that of father and son; named as ruler and subject, their friendship exceeds that of ruler and subject!

Gu Yi watched Li Yu with great interest, never imagining that Li Yu would say such words.

Clearly, he was stating his position.

Gu Yi also did not bother to ponder whether there was a deeper meaning; as his thoughts moved, Gu Xuan immediately cupped his hands towards Li Yu:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost!"

...

(Ps: Begging for monthly votes, asking brothers for support, Yu is extremely grateful.)