Li Banghua did not need to ask; he already knew the answer.
The first thing people did when they had money was to buy land. This mindset was deeply ingrained in the hearts of the common people. It was not just the ordinary folk; even he, the Senior Grand Secretary, harbored similar thoughts.
When commoners acquired wealth, they bought land. Once the wealthy sold that land at high prices, they would collude with corrupt officials to squeeze the common people, offloading their own tax burdens onto them. Unable to bear the crushing weight, the commoners would have no choice but to sell their land. Then, the wealthy would reacquire the land, and the process would repeat—a cycle without end.
Emperor Chongzhen watched the shifting expressions on Li Banghua’s face and smiled bitterly to himself. The thoughts of the lower classes had two layers of meaning; the land issue the Senior Grand Secretary spoke of was only the first. The second layer was far too cruel to be spoken aloud.
"That is why these new policies proposed by Grand Secretary Li, while seemingly ideal, are so difficult to implement," Emperor Chongzhen said. He closed the memorial on his desk, stood up, walked over to Li Banghua, and placed it in his hands. "Grand Secretary Li, this matter cannot be rushed. Especially in the Jiangnan region—it must not be thrown into chaos."
Chapter 237