His intentionno doubtwas to put the dynasty back into
Politics: The Genius of T’ang49
1403_934576_03_cha02.qxd 6/25/2004 1:45 PM Page 49
its heartlands before the rebellion had time to consolidatebut the
strategy may have prolonged the war unnecessarily as decisive
victory in southern Hopei proved elusive. NeverthelessLi Mi’s diplo-
macy had provided an army for the empireeven though Kuo Tzu-i
found the Uighurs dif?cult allies.
10
The next problem was ?nance.
11Once back in China troops could
be raisedbut how could they be paid given the virtual independence
and consequent non-payment of taxes of so many of the provinces?
It was this concern which was addressed by Liu Yenaristocratex-
amination graduate and technocrat. His solution was the salt ad-
ministrationan institution both ?scal and economicwhich was
subsequently maintained not just for the lifetime of the empire but
down to the establishment of the People’s Republic. Liu Yen grasped
that a large ?scal output could be obtained from salt by a small input
of administration. Salt was consumed universallybut it was only pro-
duced in a few areas: coastal marshes and interior lakesspringswells
and mines. Control those areas,
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