165: Chapter 165 Distinguishing Between Agricultural and Non-Agricultural Household Registrations

The main force of the Qin Army was defeated by that super-powerful man, Xiang Yu.

The Great Wall Legion led by Wang Li did not achieve any impressive records when facing Xiang Yu.

But if it had been Meng Tian acting as the commander, the Great Wall Legion would surely have shone brilliantly.

First, use highly mobile cavalry to implement kite-flying tactics.

You chase me, I run.

Once you stop, I use the arrows in my hand to shoot you.

Great Qin had thirty thousand elite cavalry, and their horse archery skills were not inferior to the Xiongnu people.

This was because Great Qin was located on the northwestern frontier and dealt with the Hu people all year round, developing superb horse archery skills.

If Xiang Yu couldn't stand this harassment tactic and led a superior force to conduct a strong attack, then use war chariots to hold the front and Qin Crossbows for volleys from behind.

With the Great Wall Legion under Meng Tian's guidance, it would definitely not have been so easy for Xiang Yu to defeat them.

Once Xiang Yu was suppressed, the other rebel armies would be like a rabbit's tail—unable to last long.

Zi Ying might have been able to lead the Great Qin Empire to glory.

It's just a pity...

Zhao Fusu shook his head again.

This unlucky child was not a chosen one like Liu Xiu.

"His Majesty the Head of State..."

Zi Ying's brow furrowed; he always felt that His Majesty the Head of State was looking at him with sympathetic eyes.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

After coughing, Zhao Fusu said, "What you're worried about is nothing more than the issue of population mobility, which is also easy to solve."

"Oh?"

Seeing Zhao Fusu's confident expression, Zi Ying's curiosity was piqued; he didn't know what method Zhao Fusu had.

"I would like to hear the details."

Zi Ying assumed an attitude of listening respectfully.

"You know about household registration, right?"

Zhao Fusu asked.

Zi Ying nodded.

The household registration system of the Qin Dynasty recorded detailed information such as population location, family status, place of birth, noble rank, name, family property, and category.

Back then, when Liu Bang entered the pass and arrived in Xianyang, various generals went to loot treasures, but only Xiao He went to organize and collect the household registrations and various archives of the Qin Dynasty. This was also the main reason why Liu Bang could quickly restore rule and national governance after seizing the world.

"We will distinguish the household registrations Inside the Pass, dividing them into agricultural and non-agricultural registrations."

Zhao Fusu brought out the method he had thought of to limit population mobility.

He said, "Strictly limit the migration of the rural population to major commanderies and counties."

"How to strictly limit it?"

Zi Ying asked.

"First, we can bind them through resource allocation."

Zhao Fusu said, "Household registration is linked to food supply, employment, education, medical care, and other social welfare, with urban residents enjoying priority protection."

"Control population mobility."

"It's still similar to the Travel Permit system."

Zhao Fusu copied the dual urban-rural household registration system established during the planned economy era, which was purely out of necessity.

Present-day Great Qin's grain output was still far too low.

Just as Zi Ying said, if the rural population all ran to the major commanderies and counties, who would farm the rural land?

Who doesn't know that cities offer more development opportunities?

But if all the rural people ran to the cities, Great Qin's grain production, which was already low, would become even lower.

With a large influx of rural population into the major commanderies and counties, wouldn't the grain supply fail to keep up? Then a large number of people would starve to death, or even resort to theft just to get a bite to eat.

This would bring about serious social order problems.

Although the solidification of the urban-rural dual structure would make household registration a status label, widening the urban-rural gap, leaving farmers at a long-term disadvantage in fields like education and medical care, and making it difficult for migrant workers to settle in cities—leading to issues like left-behind children and household registration discrimination...

But at this stage, Great Qin's grain output is too low, so this is the only way.

Not everything can be perfect; where there is a good side, there must be a bad side.

It still depends on whether it is appropriate.

In the future, when Xu Fu returns from Fusang, I will have him lead a fleet of steamships across the ocean to the Indian South Continent to load up and bring back the seabird guano that has been dormant for eons to increase Great Qin's grain production. After that, we can consider partially loosening the commandery and county household registrations versus rural ones, allowing farmers to work in cities through a Temporary Residence Permit system, though without enjoying full citizen benefits.

"Zi Ying, what do you think?"

Zhao Fusu asked Zi Ying.

"His Majesty the Head of State."

Zi Ying said, "This is excellent!"

He meant it from the bottom of his heart.

He looked at Zhao Fusu with a gaze of immense admiration.

With this household registration system, there would be no fear of the rural population flooding into the commanderies and counties, leading to untended farmland, overpopulation in the counties, and grain supply shortages.

"His Majesty the Head of State."

In his excitement, Zi Ying couldn't help but say to Zhao Fusu, "My admiration for you is like the waters of the Great River, flowing on and on, or like the flooding of the Yellow River—uncontrollable once it starts!"

Hearing Zi Ying's heartfelt admiration, Zhao Fusu said with a modest face, "Not at all, you overpraise me."

"Zi Ying."

Zhao Fusu said, "I want to entrust the matter of distinguishing between agricultural and non-agricultural household registrations in the Great Qin Empire to you. Can you complete the task?"

"Ah!"

Zi Ying was startled.

"Zi Ying, I think very highly of you."

"I could tell at a glance that you are no ordinary person."

Zhao Fusu patted Zi Ying's shoulder and said, "You have the talent to govern the world!"

"Is... is that so?"

Hearing Zhao Fusu say this, Zi Ying felt somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

But he was still very excited in his heart.

"Yes."

Zhao Fusu continued, "Distinguishing household registrations into agricultural and non-agricultural, and placing restrictions on non-agricultural ones, is extremely important."

"Are you up to the task?"

Zhao Fusu's voice suddenly rose.

He widened his eyes, looked directly at Zi Ying, and asked, "And will you strive for the establishment of the great Great Qin Empire?"

"Zi Ying... Zi Ying is willing!"

Under Zhao Fusu's persuasion, Zi Ying nodded repeatedly.

"Good, very good, excellent!"

Zhao Fusu patted Zi Ying's shoulder with his large hand and said, "I truly did not misjudge you."

After seeing Zi Ying off, Zhao Fusu did not immediately abolish the Collective Responsibility System.

Instead, he decided to follow the process of a modern legal proposal.

From proposal to final effectiveness, it usually goes through several stages: proposal, deliberation, voting and passage, signing, and announcement.

Therefore, the time from the introduction of a legal proposal to its taking effect often takes several months or even years.

This provides enough time for various groups in society to discuss it and prepare themselves mentally.

Zhao Fusu felt that those who would oppose it must be those who support the privileged class.

He could just have the Ministry of State Security conduct secret investigations on these people to see if they were committing any crimes.

Once confirmed, he would post Big-character Posters, then denounce the tyrants and redistribute their land. After binding them, he would hold Public Trial Meetings to criticize their crimes while distributing the tyrants' wealth and land to the local people.