Chapter 40: The Necessity of Developing the Productive Forces

Chapter 40: The Necessity of Developing Productive Forces

"The Great Tang has just been established, and class contradictions are not yet obvious. There is no need to rush; taking it step by step will suffice."

The implication was clear: I know you are anxious, but you don't need to be—the Great Tang isn't going to collapse anytime soon.

"In your opinion, brother, how should the first step of the Great Tang’s reform be taken?"

"Actually, the problems faced by the Great Tang, in the final analysis, are nothing more than the dynastic cycle." Li Qing reached out and displayed a chart within the holographic projection. "Don't think of this as some high-minded issue. Let me give you an example: the Great Tang is in its infancy, and with a sparse population of only ten million."

As he spoke, data began to populate the chart in sync with his words.

"At this stage, there are many resources but few people, so contradictions are not yet apparent, and land annexation is not yet severe."

"However, as time passes, the population grows. The rate of land cultivation cannot keep up with the population increase. Coupled with the annexation of land by small-to-medium landlords, the bureaucratic class, and noble families, more and more farmers lose their land. Eventually, pop..."

Li Qing snapped his fingers, and the chart in the projection exploded like fireworks.

"Brother Li, you should know the consequences. It’s like the Yellow Turban Rebellion—peasant uprisings become increasingly fierce, ultimately leading to a change of dynasty. The cycle repeats: a new dynasty is established, land is annexed, the dynasty collapses..."

"Of course, this is only one of the reasons. There is also the issue of social mobility being long-controlled by vested interest groups, the corruption of the bureaucracy, and various fiscal problems. These all intensify as the dynasty progresses."

"And the first step we must take is..." Li Qing smiled, "the most urgent priority is to develop productive forces—that is, technology. As the saying goes, productive forces determine the relations of production. Only when productive forces advance can the relations of production steadily improve."

"What are 'relations of production'?" Li Shimin, as always, asked when he didn't understand.

"In layman's terms, it’s the form of wealth creation and distribution." Li Qing tried to use language Li Shimin could grasp. "Let me give you an example. Take the 'Rule of the Three Dynasties' praised by the Confucians; there are always people clamoring to restore the Well-Field System."

"The so-called Well-Field System meant that eight farming households worked nine plots of land together. Because it looked like the character for 'well,' it was called the Well-Field System. Eight of the plots were private fields for the eight families to feed themselves, and the ninth was public land, which was effectively the tax."

"The productive forces of that time were not great. They used tools called 'lei' and 'si' to turn the soil bit by bit. A single household couldn't manage it alone, so they had to form groups of eight families, contributing a dozen or twenty able-bodied workers, chanting in unison to work together, while women and children gathered to cook and fetch water... This was the collaborative relation of production constrained by the productive forces of that era."

As Li Qing spoke, images of farming from the pre-Qin era appeared on the screen. Li Shimin watched the bustling scene, feeling as if he were there in person.

"The appearance of ox-drawn plows and iron farm tools shattered the old relations of production. Even if a household had only a single able-bodied farmer, they could cultivate enough land to sustain themselves. Therefore, the greatest necessity for the Well-Field System's collaborative labor vanished. Consequently, a new relation of production formed: farmers, as individual households, rented land from landlords and paid rent based on a percentage."

"This gave birth to a new class: the landlord class. During the Han Dynasty, they were called powerful landholders; during the Wei, Jin, Sui, and Tang, they were called noble landlords... And you, Brother Li, are the biggest landlord in the whole world, the representative of the landlord class."

Li Qing teased Li Shimin with a gesture as he said this.

"So, what does this have to do with the dynastic cycle?"

Li Shimin understood the explanation, but he didn't grasp the connection between the two.

"Isn't that easy to understand? From the perspective of class narrative, landlords and peasants are two opposing classes. In the early years of a dynasty, the two are in a relative balance. When the class contradictions between them sharpen—especially due to the heavy taxation and tyranny of the feudal regime—a large number of farmers are driven to desperation, leading to large-scale peasant uprisings, which ultimately cause the dynasty's collapse."

"Every major peasant uprising strikes a blow to the landlord class to varying degrees, pushing for adjustments in feudal relations of production, which in turn facilitates the recovery and development of the social economy. Then, the new dynasty repeats this cycle. It's like a dead knot."

Li Qing's perspective was novel and thought-provoking. Li Shimin understood almost immediately.

"So, brother, you mean to break the dead knot of the dynastic cycle by developing productive forces?"

Li Qing took a sip of cola to moisten his throat and continued: "If productive forces develop to a certain level—like the tractors and harvesters we saw earlier—then even a small amount of labor can produce enough grain to sustain the Great Tang. Furthermore, industrial development requires a massive amount of labor. Factories can absorb the many desperate, landless farmers, turning them into workers, which prevents them from being driven to armed rebellion."

"Of course, I still suggest that Brother Li takes good care of the workers' treatment. If you push them too hard, the energy that explodes will be far greater than any peasant uprising."

"I understand, brother," Li Shimin nodded heavily.

Li Qing nodded with an air of authority: "With Brother Li handling things, I am at ease."

"Also, regarding Li Zhi and Li Xian, you should have them do this too... but don't rush. Wait until the Zhenguan era is relatively mature before providing assistance. For now, focus on basic education. As the saying goes, 'It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred to cultivate a person.' Education is the cornerstone of technological progress."

As he spoke, Li Qing felt he couldn't just give everything away; he had to collect some interest.

With a twinkle in his eye, he patted Li Shimin on the shoulder and said, "Brother Li, do you remember Li Xian?"

"Ah! That coward!" The mere thought of Li Xian soured Li Shimin's mood.

Damn it, how did such a worm end up in my lineage?

Seeing his emotional value rising, Li Qing secretly chuckled. He continued, "Actually, you don't know this, but Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, is known as the 'Six-Emperor Pill'..."

"What does that mean, brother?"

This term "Six-Emperor Pill" completely baffled Li Shimin.

"It means his father was an emperor, his mother was an emperor, he himself was an emperor, his younger brother Li Dan was an emperor, his son was an emperor, and his nephew was an emperor. That’s why he’s called the Six-Emperor Pill."

"Of course, there is also another 'Six-Emperor Player,' the Empress Xiao from the previous Sui Dynasty..." Li Qing steered the conversation off course: "After Emperor Yang of Sui died, she served Yuwen Huaji, Dou Jiande, Jiali Khan, Jieli Khan, and then you..."

Li Shimin's face turned red again.