A long time ago, wise rulers would plan cities according to the size of the land, arrange residents according to the fertility of the land, organize various affairs in accordance with the laws of heaven, earth, and humanity, respect the changes of the seasons to accomplish various undertakings, and observe the customs and conditions of the people to adjust social order. They would encourage the development of agriculture and silk production, facilitate trade in fish and salt, climb famous mountains to mine jade, and set sail across the seas to collect pearls and gems. At noon, they would trade in the market, gathering goods from all over, first exchanging cloth and silk, then currency, with buyers and sellers getting what they needed. The "Rites of Zhou" stipulates that harmony should begin in the first month, and then education should be promulgated in places like Wei.
If a farmer owns ten acres of land, serves three days of corvée labor, and pays nine units of tax, then they implement Yang Li to promote humility, and a spring festival is held to encourage farming. Heaven values people above all, and wise rulers pursue learning. After studying the classics, they can enter government service; this is how a gentleman behaves. The "Book of Songs" states: "On the third day, agricultural tools are sharpened; on the fourth day, farming begins." Therefore, agricultural officials and water conservancy officials each have their own responsibilities, and the teachings of fathers and older brothers subtly guide the youth. By the age of fifteen, they begin to participate in labor, able to get their own clothes, with no idlers in the village and no neglected towns; this illustrates how people fulfilled their roles in ancient times. Thus, Jiang Taigong boosted commerce, strengthening the State of Qi; the talented Chi Yi Zipi was adept at managing finances, leading to the prosperity of the pottery industry.
In the past, during the Golden Age, diligent in political affairs, commanding the Spring Overseer to be in charge of farming, the Summer Overseer to be in charge of weeding, the Autumn Overseer to be in charge of harvesting, and the Winter Overseer to be in charge of storage. The Book of Documents says: "Observe the changes of the sun, moon, and stars to guide agricultural production." Ancient texts say: "Only by personally farming like Dayu and Houji can one possess the world." As all nine regions of the realm were developed, all classes of people followed the examples. Eastern Wu produced ivory and rhinoceros horns, Western Shu produced cinnabar, Yanzhou and Yuzhou produced silk, Yan and Qi produced precious stones, Qin and Bindi produced feathers of ostriches and langgan, Jingzhou, Yingdi, and Guilin produced bamboo arrows, the banks of the Yangtze River produced abundant oranges and pomelos, to the west of the Yellow River, boats and carts were plentiful, Liaoxi produced silk, and west of Congling, Pusao horses were abundant; all kinds of treasures were available.
If the upper class adhered to the celestial patterns, the lower class tirelessly developed production, utilizing the resources of heaven and earth, coordinating the products of mountains and seas, collecting only one-tenth of the tax on a hundred acres, and after nine years of farming, they could accumulate enough grain for three years, enough to raise children and support the elderly. Relying on the people to govern the country, palace construction followed standardized dimensions, and the designs of flags had hierarchical orders. Etiquette governed court visits, and there were systems in place for banquets; every household thrived, and the nation grew strong, with friendly neighbors and peace and tranquility near and far. By addressing floods and droughts and alleviating the suffering of the people, this allowed the king to enjoy lavish feasts and exquisite music. The flourishing of the Shang and Zhou dynasties relied on this approach.
King Zhou of Shang was tyrannical and extravagant, squandering the national treasury to build magnificent palaces spanning hundreds of miles. He constructed the towering Lu Tai, soaring a thousand ren high, which housed nine markets, each overseen by a female official. He imposed heavy taxes to enrich the treasury of Lu Tai, extorting the populace to bolster the food reserves of Ju Qiao, collecting rare treasures to decorate the palace, and gathering exotic items for entertainment at the sand dunes. He hung up meat, piled up fine wine, and allowed men and women to chase and frolic naked, with more than three thousand people indulging in the wine pool. The palace was furnished with brocade and silk. After King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty, he solemnly worshipped at the Yin ruins, distributing the wealth of Lu Tai and the food reserves of Ju Qiao to the people. Auspicious signs appeared in the sky, bringing great joy to the people of the Yin and Shang dynasties.
In the later years of King Nan of Zhou, the capital was moved to Western Zhou, the Nine Tripods sank, and the southern regions fell into disrepair. The debts owed to the people could not be repaid, so a high platform was built to evade responsibility, and the place where the king lived was called "Platform of Responsibility Evasion." In the past, King Wen of Zhou established the "Six Rituals," and the officials displayed nine types of tribute, storing the wealth in the inner palace for permanent preservation. However, with the decline of governance and difficulties in tax collection, the Marquis of Lu began to levy taxes on each acre of land, while the rulers of Qin collected half of the income. The exemplary governance of past kings had long been lost.
Historical records state that Ban Gu wrote the "Treatise on Agriculture and Commerce," detailing the history from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties to the execution of Wang Mang, with great detail and thoroughness. Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu was known for his kindness and benevolence, restoring peace to the realm and ending the chaos caused by Wang Mang's usurpation and the Red Eyebrows Rebellion. Even though the realm had become peaceful, the people still faced hardships until he pacified Longxi and stabilized the Shu region, enabling the common people to finally experience stability. It was then that the implementation of the five-zhu coin and a land tax of one-tenth began, with parents exempt from taxes for three years after the birth of a child.
After Emperor Xianzong ascended the throne, there was peace throughout the country, with no additional corvée for the common people and abundant harvests every year. In the fifth year of Yongping, the Changman Granary was built, and a grain storehouse was established in the east of the city, selling a hu of grain for only twenty qian. The vegetation was lush, cattle and sheep were everywhere, and the tribute items to the court were reduced. The granaries in the national treasury were heaped up like mountains, the villains had no place to cause trouble, and the atmosphere of propriety and righteousness prevailed. At that time, when the east was just bright, all the officials went to court, and the imperial relatives and nobles chased each other, with bustling scenes of busy streets and splendid palaces. It is said in ancient books: "At the beginning of the Three Dynasties, there existed the nine principles of yin and yang," this is probably the eternal law between heaven and earth.
In the third year of Emperor Andi's Yongchu, natural disasters occurred throughout the country, and the people resorted to cannibalism. The emperor lent land in Hongbei to the impoverished for cultivation. Because the national treasury was nearly depleted, the three high officials requested permission to allow officials and civilians to donate money and grain as a condition for obtaining the title of Marquis within the Pass.
In the first year of Emperor Huandi's Yongxing, many counties suffered locust plagues, and the Yellow River overflowed its banks for thousands of miles, with over one hundred thousand households of refugees. The court provided relief to the disaster-stricken people everywhere. During the Jianning and Yonghe periods, the Western Qiang rebelled, and the war continued for more than twenty years, with military expenses reaching over thirty-two billion; the national treasury was nearly depleted, and even the inner counties were affected. Emperor Huandi and Emperor Ling were incompetent and corrupt, and the court politics deteriorated.
In the second year of Zhongping, the South Palace caught fire, and the flames spread to the North Gate. The court then levied a land tax of ten qian per mu nationwide to build palaces. The emperor hailed from a noble marquis family but lived in poverty during his youth. He often remarked after his ascension, "Emperor Huandi did not manage the household and had no private funds." However, he built the lavish Wanjintang in the Western Garden to store his hidden wealth. He also entrusted his wealth to a eunuch for safekeeping, accumulating a huge fortune at home.
Therefore, the court posted notices, openly auctioning official positions and titles, with corresponding prices for officials ranging from public ministers to ordinary officials. The Minister of the Interior, Cui Lie, spent five million coins to buy the position of Minister of Works. Governors and officials of the rank of two thousand shi had to pay a huge amount of money for the construction of palaces. Large counties had to pay twenty million coins, and those who could not pay resorted to suicide. The coins minted by Emperor Xian featured four ridges along the edges. Some commented, "Is it because the capital was destroyed that there are four ridges on the coins?" Dong Zhuo scoured the land for weapons, set fire to the imperial palace, kidnapped the emperor, and fled to Chang'an. He destroyed all the coins and minted new small coins, melting down bronze statues from Chang'an and Luoyang, including those of Fei Lian, to mint coins. The newly minted coins were poorly designed. At that time, people said that Qin Shi Huang had seen giants in Lintao, so he minted bronze statues, and Dong Zhuo happened to be from Lintao; although prosperity and destruction were different, the ominous rumors bore a striking resemblance. After Dong Zhuo's death, Li Jue and Guo Si began to fight each other, directly in the city of Chang'an. At that time, food was so expensive that a bushel of rice cost five hundred thousand coins, and beans and wheat also cost twenty thousand coins. The people were so famished that they resorted to cannibalism, with piles of bones and a stench in the air, and severed limbs everywhere. The emperor dispatched Imperial Censor Hou Wen to prepare porridge using rice and beans from Taicang to aid the disaster victims. Despite a whole day's distribution of porridge, more people succumbed. The emperor then suspected that the officials had stolen the food, so he personally supervised the distribution in the palace, and those who were starving cried out, "At last, we can eat!"
The emperor wanted to return to the east, but Li Jue and Guo Si chased after the emperor's carriage and defeated his troops in Caoyang. At night, the emperor secretly crossed the Yellow River, leaving the concubines to walk behind. Just after they left the camp, the empress still held a few rolls of silk in her hand, but Dong Cheng sent someone with an order to force Sun Hui to take it by threatening him with a knife, and even killed a few palace attendants serving the empress, spattering blood on her clothes. By the time they reached Anyi, the emperor's clothes were in tatters, and they had to survive on wild dates and vegetables. From then on, Chang'an City was left desolate, with everyone having fled, and for two or three years, there were hardly any people on the roads in the Guanzhong region.
In the first year of Jian'an, the emperor's carriage arrived in Luoyang, where the imperial palace lay in ruins, and the officials were forced to work among thorns and thistles. Each province controlled powerful armies, but the court's supplies could not be delivered. The officials were forced to forage for wild vegetables, and some even perished from exhaustion in the wilderness.
At the beginning, when Cao Cao first came to power, the country was in chaos, rife with battles and territorial disputes everywhere. In order to sustain the army, they had to devise ways to raise military funds. At that time, Yuan Shao's army ate mulberries and dates, while Yuan Shu's soldiers ate wild vegetables and fruits to fill their hunger. Cao Cao enlisted commoners around Xuchang to cultivate fallow land and grow crops, and established officials to manage farmland in each province, harvesting millions of shi of grain each year to supply the army. After Cao Cao pacified Yuan Shao and captured Ye city, he imposed a tax of four shi of grain for every mu of land, and each household had to pay two pieces of silk and two jin of cotton, abolishing all other miscellaneous taxes and prohibiting any further arbitrary taxation or extortion.
In the second year of the Huangchu era of Emperor Wen of Han, due to the skyrocketing prices of grain, the five-zhus coin was discontinued. At that time, the country was still divided, and wars were constant year after year. As Confucius said, "With war came famines," which highlights the terrifying disasters caused by war, and even heaven was angry. The world was divided into three parts, and various forces sought to annex each other, constantly fighting. The common people put down their hoes and stopped farming, especially in the Yangtze and Huai River regions, which faced a severe grain shortage. Lu Xun, under Sun Quan, submitted a proposal suggesting that all the generals reclaim wasteland for food production. Sun Quan replied, "Very good! My son and I are getting our hands dirty in the fields ourselves. We're using our ox carts, with eight oxen split into two teams, to plow the land. While we may not be as wise as the ancient sages, we also want to share the labor with everyone." From that time on, the state of Wu began to prioritize agriculture and grain production.
Cao Rui, the Ming Emperor of Wei, was lazy and obsessed with the pleasures of the harem, treating his ministers like servants. The common people lost interest in farming. Later, the eastern region was hit by severe flooding, and many people lost their homes and livelihoods, yet the court insisted on sending troops to Liaoyang, stationing soldiers along the river, all due to the country's lack of money and grain. How can they justify this?
In the year 280 AD, during the first year of the Tai Kang era of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin, after the destruction of the Wu Kingdom, the national treasury was brimming. They seized a population of one million and all the wealth of the Wu Kingdom and consolidated the resources of the Shu region. The court stored all weapons in warehouses and dismantled the warships. From the banks of the Yellow River to the seaside, all the wasteland could be cultivated by the common people. During the spring plowing season, everyone worked together in the fields, and the scene was prosperous, as abundant as the clouds. Thanks to favorable weather and geography, the country developed rapidly, warehouses were overflowing with various materials, and the palace became even more magnificent, overflowing with all kinds of treasures. Thus, powerful figures like Wang Junfu, Wu Zi, and Shi Chong began to compare themselves with one another; their carriages, clothing, food, and utensils were exceedingly luxurious, even surpassing the royal family, with gold and silver piled up like mountains and coral trees everywhere. Extremes inevitably lead to reversals. By the time of the Yongning era, there were still four million bolts of satin and priceless jewels and gold and silver in the city of Luoyang.
Later, Emperor Hui, Sima Zhong, marched northward, and on his way back from Dangyin, the imperial meals consisted only of cold peaches and just one chicken. The empress had only two blankets, and they carried only three thousand coins with them; that was all they had for travel expenses. When Emperor Huai, Sima Chi, was in power, he was besieged by Liu Yao, resulting in an empty national treasury. Officials were starving, and there was no smoke from cooking fires in any household; people were turning to cannibalism out of starvation. When Emperor Min, Sima Ye, was in the Western Palace, the famine was severe; a dou (a traditional measure) of rice cost two thousand coins, and the majority were starving to death. Liu Yao's army pressed on, cutting off all communication, both internal and external. The emperor had nothing to eat but to grind ten cakes into powder to stave off hunger, and both the ruler and his ministers looked at each other, unable to hold back their tears.
After Emperor Yuan of the Jin, Sima Rui, crossed the river, the military was still in its infancy, and the southern tribes had only just been brought under control, with no stable supply lines established yet. In the imperial granaries, there were only four thousand bolts of cloth. At that time, Shi Le's power was strong, causing unrest in the Huainan region. Emperor Yuan was deeply concerned about his attacks, so he ordered the generals in various places: "Whoever can kill Shi Le will be rewarded with one thousand bolts of cloth!"
Since the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo during the Han Dynasty, the common people had been displaced, and the price of grain was exorbitantly high, with a stone of grain selling for over five hundred thousand coins, forcing many to resort to cannibalism. After Cao Cao defeated the Yellow Turban Army, he wanted to wage wars everywhere but struggled with insufficient food for his troops. Yu Linjian Zao Zhi then proposed the idea of military agricultural practices.
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao remarked, "Effective governance hinges on a strong military and ample food supplies. The Qin state unified the country by prioritizing agriculture, and Emperor Wu of Han pacified the Western Regions through military agricultural practices. These are the successful experiences of our predecessors!" He then appointed Ren Jun as the General of Agricultural Affairs, recruiting common people in Xuchang for military agricultural practices, which produced a million measures of grain. Special officials were established in various regions to manage military agricultural practices, and over the years, significant grain reserves were built up, filling the granaries. After Zao Zhi's death, Cao Cao posthumously honored his legacy by recognizing his son.
In the early Jian'an period, over a hundred thousand households from Guanzhong fled to Jingzhou. Upon learning that their hometown was safe, they all wanted to return but had no way to make a living. At this time, Wei Ji proposed an idea: "Salt is a national treasure. Since the chaos began, the management of salt has been chaotic. Now we should establish officials to specifically manage the salt trade as before, using the money from selling salt to buy oxen for plowing the fields so that the returning families could benefit. If everyone farms diligently and stores grain, Guanzhong will become prosperous, and people from distant places will surely rush back upon hearing the news." Cao Cao then dispatched a supervisor for the salt trade and transferred the Sili Xiaowei to Hongnong. Indeed, the refugees returned, bringing prosperity back to Guanzhong.
Later, Cao Cao appointed Liu Fu, a native of Pei, as the governor of Yangzhou, stationed in Hefei. He vigorously developed agriculture, built irrigation projects such as Shaobi, Rubi, Qimen, and Wutang to irrigate rice fields. Both the government and the people had food reserves, and this beneficial initiative has continued to be utilized to this day. When Jia Kui served as the governor of Yuzhou, bordering the state of Wu to the south, he strengthened defensive fortifications, built the Ru River Dam, excavated new water channels, and opened a canal over two hundred miles long, which later became known as the Jiahou Canal. During the Huangchu era, county officials everywhere paid more attention to reclaiming farmland, leading to a very prosperous national fiscal revenue. At that time, Yan Fei from Jibei served as the governor of Jingzhao. After the rebellion of Ma Chao in Jingzhao, the people had abandoned farming and lacked carts and cattle. Yan Fei urged the people to use their spare time to cut down trees to make carts and teach each other carpentry skills. Those without cattle raised pigs and sold them to buy cattle when prices rose. At first, many found it a hassle, but after a year or two, every household had carts and cattle, making field work much easier, and Jingzhao became prosperous as a result. When Zheng Hun served as the governor of Pei, the area was low-lying and frequently flooded, causing frequent famine among the people. Zheng Hun built irrigation projects in Xiaoxian and Xiangxian to reclaim rice fields, but the people in the county did not approve. Zheng Hun believed that although the project was demanding, it would bring great benefits in the long run. He personally led the people in construction, completing it in just one winter. Several years later, there was a bountiful harvest, with a significant increase in yield per acre and tax revenue doubling compared to before. The entire county benefited from this, and people erected stone tablets in his honor, calling this irrigation project Zhengbei.
During the reign of Emperor Ming of Wei, Xu Miao served as the governor-general of Liangzhou. The land in Liangzhou was dry and lacked rain, resulting in regular food shortages. Xu Miao renovated the salt pans in Wuwei and Jiuquan, trading salt for food. He also reclaimed numerous rice paddies, recruiting poor people to cultivate them. Every household was well-fed, and the warehouses were full of food. He used the surplus money from the army to purchase gold brocade, dogs, and horses to meet the court's demands. Various countries in the Western Regions also offered tributes, facilitating the flow of wealth and goods, all thanks to Xu Miao's contributions. Later, Huangfu Long served as the governor of Dunhuang. The locals were unfamiliar with plowing and irrigation, leading to significant labor and livestock expenditure with minimal yields. After Huangfu Long took office, he taught the locals to use plows and irrigation. By the end of the year, over half of the labor and resources were conserved, thereby enriching the Western Regions. In 244 AD, there was a famine in Guanzhong. Emperor Xuan of Wei petitioned the court and relocated 5,000 farmers from Jizhou to Shanggui to cultivate, while also developing the salt pools in Jingzhao, Tianshui, and Nan'an to increase the military's supplies. This resembles our current approach to addressing livelihood concerns and enhancing national defense capabilities—we must handle both aspects well! In 246 AD, the Chengguo Canal was excavated from Chencang to Huaili, and the Linjin Weir was built to irrigate more than 3,000 acres of saline-alkali land with the Qianshui and Luoshui rivers, further bolstering the country's strength. This was a significant undertaking comparable to today's large-scale water management projects, improving the local environment and increasing food production. In 247 AD, Emperor Xuan personally directed the army to attack the Wu state general Zhuge Ke, burning their military supplies and forcing Zhuge Ke to abandon the city in flight. Emperor Xuan sought to expand arable land, accumulate more food reserves, and prepare for further national unification; therefore, he dispatched Deng Ai to survey the regions east of Chen and Xiang to the Shouchun area.
Deng Ai believed that although the land in that area was fertile, water resources were relatively limited, which hindered the land from reaching its full potential. He suggested digging canals, which would not only allow for the large accumulation of supplies for the army but also facilitate transportation. He even wrote an essay called "On the Ji River" to elaborate on his ideas. He argued that during the time of suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it was precisely by storing grain through farming that a large amount of food was accumulated in Xuchang, enabling control over the surrounding areas. Now that our three borders have been pacified, the next target is Huainan. In every battle, transporting troops consumes half of our efforts, which is both costly and a lot of work.
The land around Chen and Cai is fertile, and we could change the rice fields near Xuchang to grow different crops. By utilizing the flow of water, we could have 20,000 people from Huabei and 30,000 from Huainan alternate between farming and guarding the area. The water resources there are abundant, and the grain yield is three times higher than in the west. After deducting various expenses, we could harvest five million measures of grain annually for military supplies. In six or seven years, we could accumulate thirty million measures of grain in the Huai River basin, enough for 100,000 troops to eat for five years. With such ample food reserves, what's there to worry about in battle? Emperor Xuan thought Deng Ai's suggestion was excellent and decided to implement his plan.
Thus, the Wei army set up camp along the north bank of the Huai River, from Zhongli south to just west of Hengshi, extending over four hundred miles. Every five miles, a camp was established, housing sixty people who farmed and guarded the area. At the same time, they built the Guanghuaiyang Canal and the Baichi Canal to divert rivers, connecting the Huai River and the Ying River. Additionally, large-scale water management facilities were developed in the Yingnan and Yingbei regions, with over three hundred miles of channels dug to irrigate twenty thousand hectares of land, connecting Huainan and Huabei as one. From Shouchun to the capital city, military farms were everywhere, with roosters crowing and dogs barking, creating a scene of thriving prosperity. Whenever battles broke out in the southeast, the army could travel downstream to the Jianghuai region, where food was plentiful and there was no need to worry about flooding. All of this was due to Deng Ai's efforts!
Emperor Wu of Jin wanted to stabilize Jiangnan. At that time, grain was cheap while cloth was expensive. He wanted to implement the grain equalization policy, using cloth to buy food and store it. However, some officials argued that military funding was still lacking, and expensive items should not be exchanged for cheap ones.
In the second year of Taishi, Emperor Wu issued a decree saying, "When the people have a good harvest, they spend money extravagantly; when they have a bad harvest, they become impoverished. This is a common pattern. Therefore, historical rulers adjusted their policies according to the treasury's status, distributing grain during good harvests and conserving it during bad ones. This is an effective approach to governance. However, this method has long been neglected, and people no longer know how to do it. In addition, the national warehouse reserves are not sufficient, opinions are not unified, and the circulation of money is not smooth, resulting in grain being distributed during prosperous times, which the emperor could not reclaim; when the people are poor, the country has no reserves. Wealthy merchants, with only a small amount of cash, hoard large quantities of goods for profit. Farmers work hard to cultivate the land but cannot earn money, and dishonest practices are rampant. Now we are reducing corvee labor, encouraging cultivation, aiming to boost agricultural production and encourage farmers' participation. Yet, some individuals still hoard supplies, which continues to burden farmers. It is now necessary to implement the grain equalization policy to solve the problem of food shortage. Relevant authorities should deliberate and develop specific plans." However, this proposal was ultimately never put into action.
At that time, Jiangnan was still unrestored, and the court prioritized agricultural production. In the first month of the fourth year of Taishi, on the day of Dinghai, Emperor Wu personally plowed the fields. On the day of Gengyin, he issued an edict saying: "Let everyone across the nation abandon those improper livelihoods and return to agricultural production. Who can help me achieve this goal so that the common people can live diligently and happily? It is the governors of the counties and prefectures! I want to reward them well and continuously encourage them to work hard. Whenever I think of their hard work for the country, I realize how hard they are working. Therefore, I will grant them fine horses for grazing, one for each county magistrate and prefect, as well as for the officials of the various states." That year, the Changping Granary was established; when there was a good harvest, they would purchase grain, and when there was a poor harvest, they would sell grain, making it easier for the people.
In the fifth year of Taishi, on the day of Gui Si in the first month, Emperor Wu ordered officials in various places to fully utilize land resources, banning idleness and trade. Those on leave should work with their families, and the wealthy and powerful were not to oppress the poor or collude with each other to commit fraud. In October, Emperor Wu issued an edict saying: "The Capital Inspector, Shi Jian, reported that the Governor of Jizhou, Wang Hong, cares for the people and has great leadership talent, encouraging the reclamation of over five thousand acres. In times of disaster, only his jurisdiction did not experience a grain shortage. This truly shows the ability to educate and guide the people, achieving unique results! He shall be rewarded with one thousand hu of grain and publicly commended throughout the nation."
In the eighth year, the Minister of Works, Shi Bao, reported: "Various states and counties still lack a system to evaluate and reward agricultural production. We should increase the number of officials responsible for oversight and implementation." Emperor Wu agreed. This matter is recorded in the "Biography of Shi Bao." Shi Bao was very adept at encouraging agricultural production, and the people lived in peace and contentment. In the tenth year, the Grand Marshal, Xiahou He, constructed three new canals: Xinqu, Fushou, and Youbei, irrigating a total of one thousand five hundred acres of farmland.
In the twelfth month of the first year of Xianning, the emperor issued a decree saying: "Fighting and farming have always been common occurrences since ancient times, but the consumption of war has not yet ended, and I have always been concerned about those soldiers. Now, move the officials and servants of Ye City to the new city to replace the soldiers in planting rice. Every fifty slaves and maids will form a village, with a supervisor in charge of each village, and the management will follow the same practices as village farming."
Three years later, the emperor issued another decree saying: "This year, there has been too much rain and pest disasters. Yingchuan and Xiangcheng have hardly planted anything since spring, and I am very worried about this. How should the relevant departments plan for the people? Quickly find a solution!"
Du Yu wrote a memorial saying: "I dare to consider that the flood situation in the southeastern region is particularly severe. Not only have crops failed, but even houses have been damaged. Low-lying areas are filled with polluted water, and high ground is all dry land. The people's suffering will likely extend into next year. Although the decree has sternly warned local officials to find solutions, without a large-scale plan and a clear direction to solve the problem, it is likely to be merely superficial with little effect. Now is the time for people to eat vegetables in autumn and summer, but they are already lacking food. By the time winter and spring come, with no wild grass in the fields, they can only rely on the government to distribute food to survive. This is a critical issue for the local population, and it must be considered in advance.
I foolishly believe that since the people are troubled by floods, they should utilize aquatic products such as fish, vegetables, snails, and clams, but the floods are so severe that the poor people cannot catch any. It is now necessary to vigorously clear the ponds on the eastern border of Yanzhou and Yuzhou, and dredge along the direction of the water flow. Ensure that all hungry people can access plenty of fish and shrimp. The people do not need to leave their own territory; they can forage for food in the wild daily. This is an immediate solution. After the water recedes, fill the fields with silt, and each acre of land can yield several stones of grain. When spring comes, plant grains on a large scale, and there will surely be a bountiful harvest next year."
I have previously reported that there aren't enough oxen provided by the government for farming. The old oxen that lack nose rings are completely useless and only consume the government's food and forage. Each year, very few oxen are sent for service, and none of them have been trained. These useless oxen should be sold off in large numbers and exchanged for food or cash rewards.
The imperial decree came down, saying, "Breeding livestock should not be reduced or dispersed." This issue was put on hold for the time being. Then the officials in charge of this matter were asked, and it turns out that there are over 45,000 oxen at the royal ranch! If they aren't properly utilized, having more won't help; the daily costs will still be high! In ancient times, horses and oxen were used for farming and in times of war, unlike pigs and sheep, which were less valuable. Right now, just keeping these useless oxen is a waste of money and not worth it.
The southeast region mainly grows rice, and the common folks hardly have any calves. Now that the irrigation systems are fixed, we can distribute 35,000 oxen to officials and residents in two states to help with spring planting. After the autumn harvest, each ox will have to pay 300 bushels of grain as rent. This way, unnecessary expenses are resolved, and we could collect an extra 7 million bushels of grain, which will pay off in a few years! In addition, moving people to flat land will boost both national and personal grain supplies. The remaining 10,000 quality breeding oxen can be entrusted to the Right Dian Mule Commandant and his subordinates for proper care. With more people and fewer oxen, they can work the ranch together and properly evaluate their efforts. This land near the Sanwei region can produce hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain annually, and these oxen can be trained to plow the fields whenever needed. These are all things we can do right now!
People who want to cultivate rice fields all think that clearing land with fire and irrigating with water is the most convenient method. In fact, it is not impossible, but this method is only suitable for cultivating new, weed-infested fields that are relatively far from residential areas. In the past, when the southeastern region was just developed and sparsely populated, the method of fire plowing and water weeding could bring benefits. However, now that the population is increasing, the dikes of ponds break every year, and good farmland has turned into reed-filled marshes. People live by the swamps, and neither rice paddies nor dry land are suitable. Grazing livestock have become extinct, and the trees have also died; all of this is the result of the ponds and dikes. As the number of ponds and dikes increases, the land becomes less fertile and the water becomes shallower, preventing rainwater from penetrating to nourish the land. Therefore, every time it rains, the water runs off, flooding dry fields. Some people don’t understand why and claim that this land can’t support crops. If I estimate the population of the Han Dynasty and then look at the places of these ponds and dikes, they were actually all dry fields before. Even where there were ponds and dikes before, they were built solidly and sturdily, not like the harmful things we have now. I once saw Minister Hu Wei earnestly petitioning to dismantle the ponds and dikes. Later, I saw that Minister Song Hou requested from the higher authorities to dismantle the ponds and dikes of the Si River and redirect the canal. At that time, the governor and finance officials discussed the matter together, each holding their own views, and did not adopt Minister Song's suggestion. I reviewed Minister Song's memorial, which stated that the canal could be redirected east to Shouchun, using the old riverbed, without needing to pass through the ponds and dikes of the Si River. The ponds and dikes of the Si River are located within Minister Song's jurisdiction, and dismantling them would free up over 13,000 acres of land, destroying a large amount of farmland. There are at least 2,600 tenant households in Song County required to provide labor, and they still feel that the land is insufficient for cultivation; this is all due to water damage! Everyone should be concerned about this matter, but the governor and finance officials stick to their views, not because they can’t see the situation clearly, but because they simply don’t care about the reasoning.
People have different perspectives, and their understanding of benefits and harms also varies. The military, local officials, scholars, and commoners all have different perspectives, focusing only on immediate interests and forgetting about long-term risks. This explains why things often go wrong when principles are not clearly articulated.
I have consulted the data and found that in the region of Yuzhou, the tenant farmers who were requisitioned on two occasions, including the military and laborers of the prefectures and counties, cultivated more than 7,500 hectares of paddy fields. Even if we calculate for three years of grain storage, it would amount to just over 20,000 hectares. Logically speaking, there's no need to hoard so much unnecessary water, especially given that floods are wreaking havoc. Instead of waiting for heavy losses, it's better to release the floodwaters sooner. A decree should be issued to the provincial governor and officials ranked at 2,000 bushels to repair the old ponds and valleys left behind by the Han Dynasty, as well as the private ponds in the hills and valleys, for water storage. As for those built after the Wei Dynasty, and ponds like reeds and intestines formed by flooding, the water needs to be drained. Officials should personally supervise and ensure that all labor forces participate, aiming to dry these areas out before the water freezes. Those involved in the repairs need to be registered. If the old ponds and ditches need repair or blockage, a careful search for previous traces should be conducted, following the practices of the Han Dynasty, and detailed plans should be submitted. Once winter arrives and the battles in the southeast conclude, one month should be allocated to assist in the repairs. Rivers have fixed water flows, and terrains have fixed forms. Even with the large population during the Han Dynasty, there were no water disasters. Now, we can draw on their past experiences to tackle current issues, using ancient examples to clearly illustrate current principles, which can serve as a foundation for discussion and resolution. I believe this is the most effective method at present.
The court has accepted my recommendation.
After pacifying the state of Wu, the relevant departments made another report, saying: "The edict states that 'royalty and nobles should treat the country as their own home, and there should be no more estates in the capital. Since the princes' mansions have not yet been built, some areas for passage should be left in the city, and some fields for growing fodder should be left in the suburbs.' It is now stipulated that kings and nobles may own a residence in the capital. In the suburbs, a large country can have fifteen hectares, a medium-sized country ten hectares, and a small country seven hectares. Those who do not have houses in the city but do have them outside are permitted to retain them."
It appears they have introduced another household registration system. The stipulation is that each household must pay three pieces of silk and three pounds of cotton per year for adult men, while women and underage males pay half. In remote areas, some must pay two-thirds, and even further areas must pay one-third. Ethnic minorities must pay linen, with one piece per household in closer areas and one zhang of linen in more distant areas.
Each individual is allocated seventy mu of land, while women receive thirty mu. In addition, adult men are also required to pay an additional fifty mu in land tax, adult women twenty mu, underage males half, and women do not have to pay. Those aged sixteen to sixty are considered adults, while those aged fifteen to thirteen and sixty-one to sixty-five are considered minors, and those under twelve or over sixty-six are considered elderly, weak, sick, or disabled and do not have to pay taxes. Ethnic minorities in remote areas are exempt from land taxes but must pay tribute rice, with three hu per household in closer areas, five dou in more distant areas, and money in the most remote areas, at twenty-eight wen per person.
Land distribution for officials is determined by their rank. "From first rank to ninth rank, each rank has its own allocation." A first-rank official can receive fifty hectares, second rank forty-five hectares, third rank forty hectares, fourth rank thirty-five hectares, fifth rank thirty hectares, sixth rank twenty-five hectares, seventh rank twenty hectares, eighth rank fifteen hectares, and ninth rank ten hectares. Additionally, based on the official's position, they can provide benefits to their relatives, where higher-ranking officials can benefit up to nine generations and less senior officials can benefit up to three generations. Members of the royal family, foreign envoys, descendants of sages, and offspring of scholars also enjoy the same treatment.
It can also provide for others as their own vassals and tenants! Officials above the sixth rank can support three vassals, while seventh-rank officials and certain low-ranking military officials can support two. Ninth-rank officials and other low-ranking military officials, such as bearers, scouts, and others, are limited to supporting just one. As for the number of tenant households, first- and second-rank officials can have up to fifty households, third-rank officials can have ten households, fourth-rank officials seven households, fifth-rank officials five households, sixth-rank officials three households, seventh-rank officials two households, and eighth- and ninth-rank officials only one household.
At that time, the world was peaceful, taxes were fair and reasonable, and everyone lived and worked contentedly. But after Emperor Hui, both politics and education declined, and by the time of the Yongjia era, the conflict escalated. From Yongzhou to the east, many people were hungry and poor, trading each other, fleeing everywhere, countless in number. The six provinces of Youzhou, Bingzhou, Sizhou, Jizhou, Qinzhou, and Yongzhou were plagued by locusts, devouring all vegetation, even gnawing the hair off cattle and horses. Then a great plague broke out, compounded by severe famine. The common people faced murder at the hands of bandits, with bodies floating in rivers and fields strewn with bones. Liu Yao's army approached, and the court urgently considered moving the capital to Cangyuan. Cannibalism, famine, and plague erupted simultaneously, with eighty to ninety percent of officials fleeing.
"People were content with their work and enjoyed what they did," life was quite comfortable! But good times didn't last long. After Emperor Hui, the country deteriorated day by day, "government and education were in decline." During the Yongjia years, it became even more chaotic and disastrous, truly unbearable! Just imagine, from Yongzhou eastward, hungry people were everywhere, "many people were hungry and impoverished, selling themselves and each other, fleeing and migrating countless times," life had become simply unbearable! What's even more terrifying is the "great locust plague ravaging vast areas of land in You, Bing, Si, Ji, Qin, and Yong six provinces," "grass, trees, and even cattle and horses are exhausted," how desperate the situation must have been! But it didn't end there, "there was another major epidemic, making matters worse," the epidemic and famine erupted together, adding insult to injury! The common people were forced into desperation, even becoming the innocent victims of bandits, "the common people were slaughtered by bandits, corpses filled the river, white bones covered the fields," it's chilling to even think about it! The court was nearing collapse, "facing pressure from Liu Yao, the court discussed moving the capital to Cangyuan," in this chaotic time, it reached the point where "people eat each other, hunger and epidemic prevail, and eighteen or nineteen officials are in exile," it was truly a time of ruin and despair, with people barely surviving.
After Emperor Yuan ascended to the throne as King of Jin, he focused on agricultural production, ordering all senior officials with a rank of 2,000 shi or higher to be evaluated based on their grain harvests. Those officials not responsible for protecting the emperor and important affairs should go and farm, allowing the army to cultivate land and grow crops for their own granary.
In the first year of Taixing, Emperor Yuan issued a decree saying, "The land in Xuzhou and Yangzhou is suitable for three crops of wheat a year. Encourage everyone to cultivate the land, sow in autumn, and harvest in summer, ensuring a continuous cycle of harvests to alleviate disasters. The benefits are significant. During the Han Dynasty, the envoy Fan Sheng was sent to supervise the planting of wheat in the Sanyuan area, resulting in a bountiful harvest in the Guanzhong region. We must not miss the farming season!" In the following years, despite experiencing droughts and locust plagues, the grain harvest was still higher than before.
In the second year, there was a severe famine in Jiangnan, resulting in many deaths. Deng You, the Prefect of Wu County, opened the granaries to aid those affected. Emperor Yuan also sent Yu Xun and Huan Yi, the Yellow Gate Attendants, to open the granaries to help the disaster victims and reduced certain corvée duties. All the officials submitted memorials offering suggestions, and Rear Army General Ying Zhan proposed in a memorial, "If no one farms, others will surely go hungry. Since the start of wars, military campaigns, transportation, court sacrifices, and officials' expenses have been substantial, not to mention merchants, itinerants, servants, and others who do not farm but depend on handouts—there are at least a hundred thousand such people. How can we expect a prosperous country and happy people if we neglect production? The ancients said that even Yao and Shun could not prevent bandits when people are hungry and cold, and even Gao Yao could not stop the strong oppressing the weak when there is a large wealth gap. Therefore, both the country and individuals should prioritize agriculture and grain reserves. Previously, Emperor Wu of Wei followed the advice of Zao Zhi and Han Hao to actively promote the garrison system, allowing soldiers to farm during wartime, so the people were less burdened and achieved great success. Recently, those who had fled to Dong Wu because of grain shortages there are gradually returning. There are many good fields in Jiangxi that have been fallow for some time, and they can be easily cultivated using slash-and-burn and water management techniques. We should organize these refugees, reestablish the agricultural administration, reward those who contribute, following the practices of the Wei state. In the first year, work the fields alongside the people; in the second year, set aside a portion of the grain for taxes; and in the third year, plan based on tax revenues, ensuring benefits for both the public and private sectors. The granaries will be full, and plenty of food and clothing will soon follow."
Ying Zhan said again: "In the past, Gaozu let Xiao He guard Guanzhong, Guangwu Emperor let Kou Xun guard Henei, and Emperor Wu of Wei entrusted the military and political affairs of the western regions to Zhong Yao, so that they could pacify all directions and stabilize the territory. The Central Plains are now desolate and have not been well governed, which is what the people are longing for. The area of Shou Chun is not far from here, so we should choose a governor who is both civil and military, who can revitalize the situation in the Heluo region from afar, and serve as a barrier for Xuzhou and Yuzhou from nearby, pacifying the scattered people, providing them with a sense of security, focusing on developing agricultural production, and arranging things properly. Zhao Chongguo is farming in Jincheng, pacifying the Western Qiang; Zhuge Liang is farming in Weibin, establishing a foundation for Shu Han's development. Now that the army is not fighting the enemy, we should focus on agricultural production."
In the year 330 AD, Emperor Cheng began to survey the people's fields, collecting one-tenth of the tax, with three sheng of rice per mu. This may not sound like much, but in reality...
In the year 331 AD, pirates attacked, interrupting food transportation. The Emperor then ordered that from nobles to common people, anyone capable must transport six dou of rice each. Those years were not blessed, with floods, droughts, and locusts, resulting in a very poor harvest.
During the Xiankang period (335-342 AD), after checking the accounts, oh dear, over five hundred thousand dou of rice were owed! This was an astronomical number! As a result, Minister Chuo Piao and a large number of officials were dismissed, probably taking the blame. During the reign of Emperor Mu, who often went to war, the food supply was always insufficient. Therefore, a new policy was implemented: thirteen households would pool together to lend one person to help transport food.
During the Shengping period (357-361 AD), Xun Xian became the commander of the Northern Fu, stationed in Xiapi. He reclaimed wasteland in the Shibie area of Dongyang, benefiting both the government and his own interests. After Emperor Ai ascended the throne, recognizing that the burden on the common people had become too heavy, he reduced the land rent down to two sheng of rice per mu.
In the second year of Emperor Xiaowu of the Taiyuan era (377 AD), the land tax system was abolished and replaced with a population tax. People below the rank of nobility were required to pay three measures of rice per person, but those in active service were exempt from taxes. However, this prosperity was short-lived, as eight years later, taxes were increased to five shi of rice per person.
By the late Eastern Jin Dynasty, the country was peaceful, with favorable weather conditions. The common people enjoyed peace and prosperity, enjoying abundant harvests. Every household lived a good life, truly reflecting the saying, "Grain and silk are abundant, almost to the point of satisfying everyone's needs!"
In the past, during the Han Dynasty, the currency was the wuzhu coin, which was quite convenient. However, after Wang Mang's usurpation, a new currency system was introduced, which the common people found inconvenient. Later, when Gongsun Shu declared himself emperor in Shu, a nursery rhyme circulated among the people: "The yellow ox has a white belly; the wuzhu coin will return." Some people speculated that Wang Mang's name included "yellow," and Gongsun Shu wanted to continue his legacy, hence calling himself the "White Emperor." The nursery rhyme's mention of the wuzhu coin returning implied that the wuzhu coin from the Han Dynasty would be in circulation again, and the Han Dynasty would reunify the country.
When Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu reestablished the Han Dynasty, all the disorderly currency from the Wang Mang period was abolished. In the sixteenth year of Jianwu, General Ma Yuan submitted a memorial stating, "A prosperous country is built on agriculture and commerce. We should resume the minting of wuzhu coins." Emperor Guangwu accepted his suggestion and resumed the minting of wuzhu coins, which the people found much more convenient.
During the reign of Emperor Zhang, the prices of grain and cloth increased, causing financial difficulties for the government. The court was concerned about this issue. The Minister Zhang Lin proposed, "Not only is grain expensive now, but everything is expensive because the currency is devalued. We should have all the people in the country pay taxes with cloth, conduct transactions with cloth instead of money, reducing the amount of money in circulation and naturally lowering prices. Additionally, salt is a necessity for the people, and the government could sell salt directly, a policy known as 'equal distribution,' which was implemented during the reign of Emperor Wu." This matter was sent to the Ministry of Personnel for further discussion.
Zhu Hui, the Shangshu, disagreed. He said, "In ancient times, the system was such that the emperor did not concern himself with whether there was enough, the vassals did not concern themselves with how much there was, and those on the payroll did not compete with the common folk. What’s the difference between this 'equal distribution' method and what those merchants and traffickers do? If cloth is used to pay taxes, then officials will have ample opportunities to embezzle and accept bribes. If the government sells salt directly and competes with the common folk, that’s not something a wise ruler should be doing." Emperor Zhang initially thought Zhang Lin's suggestion was sound, but after hearing Zhu Hui's objections, he got angry yet still chose to go with Zhang Lin's proposal. However, it wasn't long before he revoked it.
During Emperor Huan's reign, someone submitted a memorial stating, "Nowadays, money is not valuable, and things are expensive, which is why everyone is struggling financially. Larger coins should be minted." This issue was taken up for discussion by the four ministries, court officials, and articulate scholars in the Imperial Academy. A filial and honorable official named Liu Tao also submitted a memorial, stating that:
"I have thoroughly studied the edict on coinage and considered various opinions regarding the weight of coins, widely soliciting opinions and ensuring no suggestions from the poor and needy were overlooked. Therefore, even someone like me who lives a simple life can have the opportunity to participate in the discussion on this matter.
What everyone is really worried about now isn’t the lack of money, but the lack of food! Thus, wise kings in ancient times would organize agricultural production according to changes in celestial phenomena, teaching the people to farm on time, ensuring that men don’t have to abandon their fields and women don’t have to set aside their looms. Only then can the relationship between ruler and subject be harmonious, and the royal way can be effectively implemented. This shows that food is the country's most valuable resource and the most essential thing for the common people."
However, in recent years, locusts have eaten up all the crops, and the heavy taxes have left the common people struggling to make ends meet. What everyone is most worried about is what to eat every day, where to get salt, and who still cares about how much money there is? Even if sand became gold and stones became jade, the common people still wouldn't have water or food. Even with a wise ruler like Yao or Shun of ancient times, or a prosperous civilization like that of the Tang and Yu eras, the internal peace of the country cannot be ensured! The common people can go decades without spending money, but they cannot go a single day without food, so grain is the most important!
Some people do not understand the basics of farming; they only think about the benefits of minting currency and even want to take the opportunity to benefit themselves at the expense of the country. Once the national interests are exhausted by these people, everyone will scramble to seize them, and the troubles of minting money will follow. Even if ten thousand people mint money, one person seizing it means there won’t be enough to go around; let alone now when one person mints money and ten thousand come to rob it! Even if we use the sun and moon as fuel and everything as copper material, letting those who don’t work for their food—those who aren’t hungry—mint money still cannot satisfy the insatiable desires!
To make the common people prosperous, the key is to stop forced labor and ban plunder; this way, the people can gain without labor and have enough to wear and eat. Your Majesty, you are wise and benevolent, sympathizing with the worries of the common people and empathizing with the difficulties of the world. You wish to mint currency to unify the money supply and solve these problems, but this is like throwing fish into a boiling pot or birds into a raging fire. Water and trees are originally the habitats for fish and birds; if misused, they will surely be destroyed. I hope Your Majesty can cancel the harsh prohibitions and give up the plan to mint money.
The emperor ultimately decided against minting money.
During the reign of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Dong Zhuo once again minted a new type of coin, but these coins were lightweight and costly, with a bushel of grain costing several million coins! When Cao Cao became Prime Minister, he abolished these coins and reinstated the five-zhu coin. Since coins had not been minted for a long time, the amount of coins in circulation was low and did not increase, resulting in extremely cheap grain.
In the second year of Huangchu during the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, he abolished the five-zhu coin and allowed the common people to trade with grain and silk. By the time Emperor Ming of Wei came to power, money had not been used for quite some time, and various counterfeiting schemes were rampant. To profit, people deliberately dampened grain and traded it for flimsy silk, and even harsh punishments proved ineffective. Sima Zhi and others discussed in court, arguing that using money could both enrich the nation and curb crime. If the five-zhu coin were minted again, the nation would prosper, and crime would drop, benefiting all. Emperor Ming of Wei then minted the five-zhu coin again, and it continued to be used until the Jin Dynasty without further changes.
In the fifth year of Jiahe during the reign of Sun Quan, a new large coin valued at five hundred coins was minted. In the first year of Chiwu, another type of coin worth a thousand coins was minted. Therefore, after Lu Meng captured Jingzhou, Sun Quan rewarded him with one billion coins. However, this coin was too costly and was essentially just a token gesture, causing hardship for the common people. When Sun Quan heard that the people found it inconvenient, he cut back on minting these coins and repurposed them into objects, no longer issuing them through the government. The coins the common people held were collected and turned in to the national treasury, with prices standardized and no room for exploitation.
After the turmoil in the Central Plains during the Jin Dynasty, Emperor Yuan crossed the river with the old coins of Sun Wu. The various coins had different weights, with the larger ones called "bi-lun coins" and the medium-sized ones called "si-wen coins." Shen Chong from Wuxing also minted a type of small coin called "Shen lang qian." As money became scarce, coins grew even more valuable. In the third year of the Taiyuan era of Emperor Xiaowu, the emperor issued an edict saying: "Money is the treasure of the state. Those greedy individuals seeking profit continuously damage the currency, and local officials must pay attention to this issue. The indigenous people in Guangzhou value bronze drums highly, yet the Guangzhou region does not produce copper. There are reports that both the government and merchants are using bi-lun coins, intentionally misrepresenting the weights, bringing them to Guangzhou to trade with the indigenous people, and then melting the copper to cast bronze drums. Such behavior must be strictly prohibited, and anyone caught will face punishment." During the Yuanxing era of Emperor An, Huan Xuan was in power and sought to abolish currency, replacing it with trade in grain and silk. Kong Lin raised objections: "…
In the "Hongfan," it is said that among the Eight Political Principles, trade is secondary to food. Isn't this because trade is the foundation of wealth creation and the most important? If all the common people are busy making money, it will disrupt their normal production and daily life, so it should be prohibited. Farmers grow their own food and craftsmen make their own tools, each fulfilling their roles—who would bother to focus solely on making money? Therefore, wise monarchs have established currency not for trade, but for circulating useful goods, avoiding losses and saving transportation efforts, which is why money has inherited the functions of tortoise shells and cowrie shells, continuing to be used throughout the ages. Grain and cloth are valuable wealth originally used for clothing and food. If grain and cloth are used as currency, it will lead to significant waste. Moreover, it must endure the buying and selling of merchants, and waste and loss in transportation; these drawbacks have existed for a long time. Therefore, Zhong Yao once said: "Those cunning and deceitful individuals hoard grain to reap huge profits, producing low-quality silk as capital." During the Wei Dynasty, strict laws were used to prohibit this, but it could not be stopped. Thus, Sima Zhi believed that using currency not only enriches the country but also helps reduce crime. The reason currency has fallen out of use is due to prolonged warfare, leading to its abandonment, as was the case in the late Han Dynasty. Now that money has begun to be used again, if it were to be abolished once more, the common people would immediately lose their benefits. Now, all the country's grain is collected to solve the national grain problem. Some places have surplus grain in their granaries, while others have shortages. By redistributing and circulating resources, the poor can rely on the wealthy. The path to wealth fundamentally relies on currency; once currency is abolished, wealth is also abandoned. Consequently, those with money but no food will end up with nothing, facing starvation and cold; therefore, abolishing currency will create new problems.
Moreover, the areas that use money now aren't impoverished because of it, and the places that use food aren't prosperous because of it. People have been used to using money for quite a while now. A sudden change now would definitely confuse people. As the saying goes, "If the rewards aren't a hundredfold, people won't easily change jobs." Money is definitely more convenient than food! During the reign of Emperor Ming of Wei, currency was abolished and food was used for circulation. Eventually, people found it quite inconvenient, leading to a large-scale discussion in the court. Those talented and accomplished officials all believed that the use of currency should be restored. There were no dissenting opinions, and no opposing voices in the court. They all abandoned food and cloth and used currency, which clearly shows that the drawbacks of using food and cloth as currency were already apparent, serving as a warning.
Some argue that Wei hasn't used money for a long time, accumulating a huge wealth, and therefore wants to abolish copper coins to benefit the country and enrich the people, but this is probably not correct. Duke Wen of Jin's uncle and Xian Zhen believed that even if there are temporary gains, they don't compare to the long-term benefits. At that time, the court was filled with renowned ministers and wise scholars, all discussing major issues related to the country's safety and deliberating on key strategies for governing the country. If people really think using grain instead of copper coins is convenient, then they shouldn't ignore immediate benefits and ditch the long-established commercial model, which is absolutely unacceptable. This is really due to the country's difficulties, prompting thoughts of reform and a change in the current situation.
Thinking back to the later years of Emperor Wu of Han, the world was peaceful, the weather was mild, the people lived in peace and contentment, and food was abundant; almost every household was free from worries about food and clothing. In reality, it didn't really matter whether money was used or not at that time. However, later on, wars raged on, and disasters occurred frequently, and the people suffered from hunger and cold; this was the root of the problem. You (referring to Emperor Xiaowen of Wei) have already offered your assistance, vigorously reformed, encouraged values of honesty and frugality, developed agricultural production, followed the agricultural seasons, and enabled everyone to engage in their own work. Even those who had been idle returned to farming, no longer pursuing unconventional pursuits; everyone worked hard in farming, and the land was fully utilized. With these efforts, a peaceful and prosperous era is within reach—why worry about clothing and food? I believe abolishing copper coins is not the solution to the problem. Most ministers in the court supported Lin's view, so Xuan's suggestion was ultimately rejected.
