" 'Subject, the nation's people do not mention it, I almost forgot that you said in Yong'an that you would draft a "Tianchao Land System," why hasn't it been produced yet?"
"Hong Xiuquan, the 'carefree King,' enjoys his position very much. Every day, besides playing with thirty-six queen consorts, he holds a copy of the 'Old Testament' that he 'secretly requested' from Lu Xiaoquan and randomly makes changes to it."
As for other things, military affairs were handed over to Yang Xiuqing and Xiao Chaogui, civil affairs to Feng Yunshan and Wei Changhui, and Shi Daka opened up as a standby to run errands everywhere.
And for the "Tianchao Land System," which involved the fundamental system of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, of course, it was left to Feng Yunshan to contemplate, as no one else could figure out such a complex issue.
In history, Feng Yunshan lost "the future," and the other senior officials of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom found a copy of the "Tianchao Land System" from Feng Yunshan's remaining manuscripts, and then sloppily began implementing it. It was not until later when Hong Renchu arrived that the next version of the "Tianchao Land System" - "The New Political Strategy" - emerged.
However, because the foundation of the "Tianchao Land System" was not properly laid, Hong Renchan's "New Political Strategy" could not be put into practice.
However, now, Feng Yunshan is still alive, and there is Lu Yaoguo, who has studied "Heavenly Ways" and can offer him advice and direction. The newly revived "Tianchao Land System" will naturally be different.
The draft of the new "Tianchao Land System" is now carried by Feng Yunshan, ready to be presented to Hong Xiuquan for review at the right opportunity.
Now, hearing Lu Yaoguo's words, although he thought it was inappropriate to let Xiao Chaogui handle the affairs of dividing land and fields, he still took out a bound volume and handed it with both hands to Hong Xiuquan, who was kneeling.
Hong Xiuquan picked up the volume handed by Feng Yunshan and opened it, starting to read.
The core of this version of the "Tianchao Land System" is four points.
The first point is to divide fields, land and floating assets - with the principle that ordinary farmers should receive less and Tingjun warriors more. However, the distribution was not ownership of land but use rights. So the land obtained was prohibited from being sold!
If the individual is unable or unwilling to cultivate the land, they can also lease it out to others.
In addition, the floating assets of those who were loyal to the Qing Dynasty, such as local magnates and petty officials, will be seized and distributed after being divided into three parts, with farmers receiving three and Tingjun warriors receiving seven.
The seven parts received by the Tingjun warriors are also subject to distribution and cannot all be deposited in the sacred treasury. As for how to divide it, Feng Yunshan did not explain it clearly in the "Tianchao Land System."
The second point is to establish a rural governance system for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom - this is a big deal just like dividing fields, land, and floating assets!
One could even say that dividing fields, land, and floating assets, as well as establishing the rural governance system for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, are one and the same thing.
Without dividing fields, land, and floating assets, the local magnates and petty officials cannot be eliminated, the impoverished peasants cannot be mobilized, and there can be no possibility of establishing a base for the Heavenly Kingdom. Without a base for the Heavenly Kingdom, it is difficult to implement the division of fields, land, and floating assets smoothly. Even if some measures are forced through, the interests of peasants cannot be protected in the long term. The remnants of local magnates and petty officials will make a comeback sooner or later!
The first step in establishing the grassroots level is to set up provincial branches of the Society of Heavens' Church, prefectural branches, county temples, and town branches and temples, etc., forming a hierarchical management structure.
The second step is to use the Society of Heavens' Church at all levels as the core, relying on the support of the Tingjun Army, to strike local magnates and petty officials who hold land and people but do not want to worship God, replacing them in local power.
The third step is to rely on the various branches and subdivisions of the Society of Heavens' Church to form the farmer's unions in each county and town, using them to absorb "bully" individuals among the impoverished peasants, and then relying on them to expand the Tingjun Army and advance the division of fields, land, and floating assets.
The fourth step is to transform the county and town farmer's unions under the leadership of the grassroots temples and branches of the Society of Heavens' Church into small local administrative offices that can manage production, education, taxation, public order, disaster relief, and military conscription.
The third point is the management of the cities in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom - this is also a must-do task!
Historically, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom failed to manage the rural areas well, let alone the cities. If it had managed the cities well, it could have used the cities as a center to exert effective control over surrounding rural areas.
And it was Lu Yaoguo, or rather Feng Yunshan, who proposed the method of urban governance in the new version of the "Tianchao Land System."
Unlike the rural policy of hitting local magnates and supporting small farmers, the urban policy proposed in the "Tianchao Land System" is to lure wealthy merchants.
To achieve this, it is necessary to establish the provincial branches of the Society of Heavens' Church and the prefectural branches led by them. It is also necessary to absorb leaders from societies such as Tianzhi and Gaohelp into various levels of chambers and rely on chambers to formulate policies to protect industries and promote urban development, as well as impose reasonable taxes on industries.
However, the chambers in the new version of the "Tianchao Land System" will not become official government offices, but rather serve as consultative bodies to assist the county, prefectural, and provincial governments of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in their work.
However, before the provincial, county, and municipal offices of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom can truly be established and learn to handle urban affairs, the chambers can act as a temporary agency.
Four is to eliminate illiteracy and provide education.
That's also a big deal!
Historically, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom did establish quite a few church buildings to follow Hong Xiuquan's twisted version of the "Book of Heaven," but they didn't establish formal primary, secondary, high, or university education, nor did they set up illiteracy classes to help illiterate Tingjun warriors like Yang Xiuqing.
Lu Yaoguo values education highly!
Lu Yaoguo firmly believes that education is important, as he would not have been able to study history or become a professional Tingjun angel and instructor of the Society of Heavens if he had not received a good education.
So, following his advice, illiteracy eradication and education became a key part of the "Tianchao Land System"! Not only in the Tingjun Army but also in the cities and rural areas under the rule of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom would illiteracy be eradicated!
While eradicating illiteracy, schools must also be established! Within the Tingjun Army, military academies would be set up as well. On the local level, primary schools, secondary schools, and universities would be established. Of course, the primary schools, secondary schools, and universities could be delayed temporarily; the immediate priorities are still illiteracy eradication and the military academies within the camps.
Lu Xiaoqing must be appointed as the head of the school as soon as possible!
"Mountain dwellers, this 'Tianchao Land System' is quite different from what you mentioned before?"
Hong Xiuquan has finished reading the new version of the "Tianchao Land System" and is not very satisfied!
Hong Xiuquan frowned and said, "Although it is true that there is no reference to returning everything to the Lord, why did you remove the content about building churches, prohibiting idol worship, and worshipping God?"
"Regarding the land system, " Feng Yunshan stammered, "Of course, it should prioritize people's livelihood and local governance.
Yang Xiuqing seized the opportunity and immediately asked, "Yunshan, how many Confucius temples, Guan temples, Buddhist temples, Taoist temples, and ancestral halls did you destroy in theDaozhou area?"
Feng Yunshan could not answer.
Hong Xiuquan, the man who opposes idol worship and smashes Confucian temples, Guan temples, Buddhist temples, Taoist temples, and ancestral halls everywhere, has certainly accumulated a lot of resentment. In the past, Feng Yunshan was arrested by the local officials of Guangxi for this reason. Hong Xiuquan had to flee to Guangdong and "lie down," leaving the believers of Taiping Heaven's Church in purple mountains without a leader. It was during this period that Yang Xiuqing and Xiao Chaogui took advantage of the opportunity to practice divination and take power.
Although this line of smashing temples and accumulating hatred has done nothing to help the cause of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Hong Xiuquan is entitled to go mad because, after all, he is the Heavenly King. Moreover, his "religion theory" is especially profound; he can alter the Bible!
While others might be able to do so but daren't - Feng Yunshan is not able to change things because he does not believe in God or Jesus.
Dare to do so but cannot - Yang Xiuqing and Xiao Chaogui are not very literate and would need to attend illiteracy eradication classes, so they are unable to alter the Bible!
So, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's religious approach that incurred resentment continued to do so until its downfall.
But Lu Yaoguo does not tolerate Hong Xiuquan's behavior of smashing idols. Destroying temples is a thing that even the Pope of the Catholic Church in the future would not dare to allow others to do. How many disciples does he have?
So, when he saw Feng Yunshan could not answer, he decided to take over himself and said with a serious face, "Your Majesty, my younger brother has ordered people not to destroy Confucian temples, Guan temples, Buddhist temples, Taoist temples and ancestral halls."
"What?" Hong Xiuquan flew into a rage immediately, "How dare you! Don't you know that the Heavenly Father hates it when people worship idols?"
Yang Xiuqing saw the opportunity and immediately said, "Now that we are on the same side, we should follow the will of the Heavenly Father."
So he immediately played the role of "God's wrath" and ordered in a solemn voice: "Bring in the person! Strip away the pants of the angel Lu Yaoguo and beat him with one hundred sticks!"
The several guards stationed outside the hall heard the "call of God" and rushed in immediately, pouncing on Lu Yaoguo together.
While Lu Yaoguo was calm and collected, he picked up a short stick and struck it loudly on the "Zi Jin Bowl," producing a loud "bang." Then he yelled out, "Brother Ji Duder, come quickly!"
