Since the late Tang, war and disorder have followed one upon another. To fill the coffers, taxes grew ever hea…
Since the late Tang, war and disorder have followed one upon another. To fill the coffers, taxes grew ever heavier, until those who tilled the land no longer dared labor in earnest, much less reclaim wasteland. Tax and corvée came one after the next, and the people's livelihood worsened by the day.
Yet now the realm has been brought to order. Your Majesty cherishes the people, practices frugality, and honors the root while restraining the secondary. Thus the people may live in peace, and the markets of Kaifeng flourish. This is proof enough of the success of Your Majesty's rule.
Though I dwell far from court, I still often hear of the hardships of common life. I therefore venture to submit two humble proposals:
For the people, let those who plant mulberry and jujube in abundance, or reclaim wasteland, pay only their former tax and never be reassessed thereafter, so as to encourage farming and sericulture.
For prefectural and county officials, let those who can call back runaways and fugitives, and promote cultivation and planting, be rewarded, so that abandoned land may be tilled again and the displaced regain their livelihood.
Note: Sound and well reasoned. Adopted. Once the turmoil has been settled, these two measures shall be put into effect. Who authored this memorial? Summon him at once.