Zhongli looked at Xu Jiawei and said, "To solve the issues of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, the first thing to address is food."
"Food is the most important need of the people. When they can eat their fill, the issues of clothing, shelter, and transportation can also be resolved."
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiawei nodded thoughtfully.
In the eyes of most nobles, as long as the commoners didn't starve to death and could have one meal a day, that was enough.
This was considered a blessing from the noble lords!
It's worth noting that nearly 99% of the land in the entire Douluo Continent was controlled by the nobility, whether they were minor nobles, major nobles, or even the royal family. The commoners had no land of their own.
To give the commoners a bite to eat was naturally seen as a "kind act" in the eyes of the nobility.
"To solve the food problem, we must first address the issues of land and taxation."
"Re-survey the land, distribute it equally, and then implement the '"Commutation of the Poll Tax into the Land Tax' policy…"
Xu Jiawei shuddered and looked at Zhongli with disbelief.
He didn't understand what ""Commutation of the Poll Tax into the Land Tax" meant, but he understood the rest.
Re-survey the land and distribute it equally?
This… this still involves the interests of all the nobility, and among them, the royal family will be the biggest victim!
"Wait, no…"
"If we do this, the royal family… the royal family doesn't seem to be the victims!"
Xu Jiawei seemed to realize something, his eyes lighting up.
Farming also requires taxation. If the land was distributed equally to the people and then taxes were collected from them, it would be entirely beneficial to the royal family with no downsides!
In name, all the land within the Star Luo Empire belongs to the Star Luo royal family, but in reality, most of it was controlled by various nobles!
The royal family collected taxes, the nobles collected taxes, and naturally, the commoners would worry about their next meal.
But if this were done, wouldn't it offend all the land-owning nobles?
"Lord Martial God, I am ignorant. What does '"Commutation of the Poll Tax into the Land Tax' mean?"
Hearing this, Zhongli explained, "It means collecting individual taxes based on the amount of land one owns. The more land one has, the higher the land tax. The less land one has, the lower the tax, or even no tax at all."
"This is also to prevent the nobles from consolidating land again."
Xu Jiawei suddenly understood, a glint of insight flashing in his eyes.
If implemented as Zhongli suggested, as long as the taxes weren't too heavy, the commoners would naturally become prosperous and no longer be exploited layer by layer, and the issue of food could be properly resolved.
Xu Jiawei asked a few more questions before leaving the hotel satisfied and returning to the palace.
Upon returning to the palace, however, Xu Jiawei fell into deep thought.
He truly wanted to solve the people's livelihood issues, but if he implemented this, he would become the enemy of all the nobility in the Star Luo Empire.
What should he do?
He tossed and turned, unable to sleep all night!
After some time, Xu Jiawei made a decision.
The Xu family's throne was essentially "picked up." If he could successfully implement this, he would win the hearts of all the commoners in the Star Luo Empire.
Even if the Xu family were to perish, the commoners would never forget him as the Star Luo Emperor!
"Take a gamble. Whether I become an emperor for the ages or a tyrant depends on fate!"
If this succeeded, Xu Jiawei would undoubtedly become an emperor for the ages. If it fails…
"It seems that providing free martial soul awakenings for the commoners is still necessary, even if it might give rise to many people with ulterior motives."
"It is I who will give them a happy life. Presumably, most of the soul masters among them will support me!"
"Win over the majority, and the minority will no longer be a threat."
Understanding this, Xu Jiawei finally realized why Zhongli had connected this matter to the issue of people's livelihood.
After all, the Douluo Continent was not an ordinary world. It had supernatural phenomena and extraordinary martial power, so it couldn't be managed using the of an ordinary world.
While making the people prosperous, securing the hearts of the majority of the commoners was the strategy for long-lasting stability.
"Everything will be done after the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Competition ends."
Xu Jiawei murmured to himself, then planning began how to implement these strategies.
"Birds leave traces, people leave names. I will become the emperor for the ages!"
Time flew by, and the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Competition quietly began.
This was a grand event held once every five years. Just as dawn broke, the area outside the Star Luo Great Soul Arena was already packed with people waiting to enter or cheering for their supporting teams.
All the teams were ready, full of spirit, except for the Shrek Academy team.
They hung their heads, like defeated roosters. Even though the battle hadn't started, their hearts had already lost.
"Students, the ten-thousand-year glory of the academy is entrusted to you. Please do your utmost to defend the honor of Shrek Academy, your honor!"
Wang Yan spoke with a serious expression, but the contestants were deeply discouraged, lacking any fighting spirit.
They were destined to fail in defending the honor of Shrek Academy!
The events of the past few days had made them see Shrek Academy clearly. They wanted to leave, but their sense of righteousness wouldn't allow them to abandon it.
Shrek Academy had shown them kindness. To leave now would make them no different from ungrateful beasts.
"Yes, teacher."
Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er frowned at the listless state of the students, but they hesitated, wanting to say something.
They wanted to scold the students, but the fact that they were willing to face certain defeat to defend Shrek Academy's last shred of dignity was already commendable.
Xuan Zi held a wine gourd, taking occasional sips, his face filled with sorrow. He was drowning his sorrows in wine, but it only made them worse.
"Oh, isn't this the elite students of Shrek Academy?"
At that moment, a playful voice reached the ears of the Shrek team, making the already silent group feel as if they had been greatly insulted.
"What a pity, not being able to fight the Shrek Seven Monsters is truly a regret."
The speaker was none other than Xiao Hongchen from the Sun Moon Royal Academy. His words did contain a hint of genuine regret.
After all, for the past four thousand years, Shrek Academy had been the Sun Moon Royal Academy's greatest rival.
After four thousand years of patience, they had finally seen the hope of openly defeating Shrek Academy again, only for Shrek Academy to face a major upheaval.
Yes, in the entire four-thousand-year history of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Competition, the Sun Moon Empire had only won once!
"Junior, are you provoking Shrek Academy?"
Yan Shaozhe's face darkened as he looked at Xiao Hongchen, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
This was a genius from the Sun Moon Empire. Killing him would be no big deal.
"Elder, my brother isn't provoking Shrek Academy!"
"Everyone knows that Sun Moon Royal Academy and Shrek Academy are mortal enemies. Is there anything wrong with my brother's behavior?"
Meng Hongchen stepped forward, speaking bluntly.
Everyone: "…"
••••
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