The Reborn Lao Tzu Is the Emperor

Chapter 187 Beating Nobles
She didn't expect that the emperor would bring back such a result when he went to the empress dowager's bedroom.

She looked into Zhao Dongting's eyes regularly, "Your Majesty, is this true?"

"You have no jokes."

Zhao Dongting nodded with a smile, and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, "Would you like to marry me as my concubine?"

Ying'er's pretty face flushed, and she lowered her head in shame and joy: "Ying'er doesn't ask for fame, as long as she can be by the emperor's side, she will be satisfied."

In a word, the daughter's thoughts are fully revealed.

Seeing her like this, Zhao Dongting sighed slightly in his heart, feeling more and more indebted to Ying Er.

It turned out that I had unknowingly taken Yinger's care and service for granted, but completely ignored her thoughts.

The most difficult thing to bear is the beauty's kindness. At this moment, I suddenly realized that it would be a lie to say that Zhao Dongting was not moved.

The evening wind blew, and the willows in the courtyard swayed gently, creating a somewhat sensual atmosphere.

Zhao Dongting sat by the lake, smiled softly and said, "If you wish, I will let you stay by my side for the rest of my life."

Ying Er bowed her head and remained silent.

In the early morning of the next day, Zhao Dongting officially announced the appointment of Na Yinger as a concubine, and the civil and military courts were all delighted.

They don't care who the emperor marries, they only care about the emperor's marriage and the preliminary setting of the harem.In this way, the hearts of the people can be stabilized.

Just after the early court, Zhao Dongting went to the side hall of the Yizheng Hall to meet the local nobles in Leizhou.Lu Xiufu and Liu Hongyi, one literary and one military, walked together.

Naturally, there was some intention in this, and those nobles would have to weigh it in their hearts when they saw Liu Hongyi's casualness.

After sitting in the hall for a few minutes, an eunuch came with dozens of nobles and gentry from Leizhou.

Most of these people are the shadow of the ancestors, with humble titles on their heads, but in this land of Leizhou, they are used to domineering.Even in the past, the former Zhizhou Geli Jun raised his private soldiers and developed his power, and he relied more on them.These people are more or less related to Mr. Ge Li, but they are not as close as those who were beheaded.

Perhaps because of this, coupled with other favors from the court, when the land distribution system was implemented, they endured it.

But at this time, they couldn't bear it no matter what.

The emperor pressed on every step of the way. Although he didn't kill them, he was destroying their foundation.

The untouchables are gone, who will work hard to make money for them?
So at this time, the nobles and gentry who followed the eunuch were all filled with righteous indignation.

With their titles, they couldn't be seen by the imperial court at all.But right now the imperial court is like a hairless phoenix, inhabiting this land of Leizhou, they still have some confidence in their hearts.At this moment, seven out of ten of the imperial court's tax money comes from them. If the imperial court dares to take action against them, who will the imperial court pay taxes to?
Wealthy and cowardly, they control the economic lifeline of the imperial court, so their spirits are naturally high.

When they arrived in front of the hall, the nobles saw Zhao Dongting sitting high in the hall, but knelt down on the ground in accordance with the etiquette, "Kowtow to the emperor."

No matter how stupid they are, they will not make mistakes in this kind of thing.This will give Zhao Dongting an excuse to clean them up.

Zhao Dongting glanced at these nobles, especially the one at the head, and after a few seconds, he said slowly: "Everyone, let's get down!"

The nobles took advantage of the trend.

Zhao Dongting's eyes fell on the nobleman at the front again.He seemed to be the backbone of the nobles.

This person's name is Zhang Tingyao, with a protruding forehead, thick eyebrows and big eyes, round earlobes, and a handsome face.

Speaking of his family, his family is not simple. Someone in his ancestors was granted the title of Marquis of Leizhou, and it was hereditary, so he was extremely honored and favored.Although it has been passed down to the present and only holds the title of Viscount, his family background is the top among the nobles in Leizhou.Of course, there are no nobles above viscount in Leizhou.It was Lord Ge Li who was sent from the capital to Leizhou to take on the important task. At that time, the court only compensated him with the title of Viscount, just to express comfort.

In the Song Dynasty, the centralization of power was very serious, and titles were not easily awarded. There were very few hereditary ones, and there were never any hereditary successors.

Among these nobles, in fact, some families no longer hold titles at all.However, their family is still considered noble by the people of Leizhou.

Zhao Dongting didn't speak, and all the nobles stood there with their heads down, like a bird, not giving Zhao Dongting a chance to attack.

After a few minutes, Zhao Dongting finally spoke, "I heard that you all have some objections to my Boon Order?"

The nobles raised their heads.

The leader, Zhang Guangyao, organized his words a little bit, and said: "Your Majesty, the untouchable system is an ancient law. We believe that it should not be abandoned easily."

Zhao Dongting said: "Currently the country is suffering, it is the time when a thousand wastes are waiting to be rejuvenated, I need the power of the people, why can't the untouchable system be abolished?"

Zhang Guangyao did not hesitate, and replied: "Everything in the world is born with high and low. Big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp. The untouchable system is the law of heaven."

"Oh?"

Zhao Dongting couldn't help being quite surprised.

He didn't expect Zhang Guangyao to say such nonsense, and he said it loudly.

Then he said deeply: "However, I don't know if you have heard that many ants can kill an elephant?"

Liu Hongyi snorted beside him in a timely manner.

This made the nobles notice his existence, and their eyes changed slightly.

Zhao Dongting changed his policy to Huairou, and said: "I know that the matter of the Boon Order has made you worry. I am worried that I will completely abolish the untouchable system in the future and turn all untouchables in the world into good people. This will harm your interests and will make you feel untouchable. There is no one in your family to drive. However, I urgently need the power of the people to fight against the Yuan Dynasty at this time. Have you ever thought that your titles and wealth are all bestowed by the court, and now I just want to restore the freedom of the untouchables in your family? , are you reluctant to part with it?"

All the nobles dared not answer this question.

How to answer this?
Could it be that I and the others really don't want to abandon the humble people in my family for the sake of the overall situation of the court?

If this is said, it is no different from rebellion.Zhao Dongting was able to cut them down immediately.

After being silent for a while, Zhang Guangyao finally said: "Your Majesty, we are naturally willing to share the Emperor's worries. It's just that without the untouchables, our family's business will be left unattended. Our family's decline is only a trivial matter, and we are afraid that we will no longer be able to pay taxes for the court and support soldiers." .”

He said this politely, but in fact he was undoubtedly killing Zhao Dongting's soldiers.

Row!
You want to abolish untouchability, right?

In the future, there will be no one in our family to work, and we will not be able to earn money. It depends on where you can find money to support the army.

Zhao Dongting could naturally hear the meaning of Zhang Guangyao's words, and he was inevitably a little angry. He snorted softly and said, "Without the untouchables, your industry cannot continue? Can't you spend money to hire people to do things for you? Even if I don't abolish Untouchables, now they eat yours and live in yours, and you spend a lot of money for this, right? Besides, after I abolished the untouchables and they regained their freedom, you can charge them rent, which can also make up for it A lot of expenses, right?"

All the nobles were stunned, and then they all looked at Zhang Guangyao.

Zhang Guangyao also did not expect that Zhao Dongting would even think about their future, his eyes changed, and he said, "Your Majesty, if this is the case, what are the similarities and differences between us and ordinary merchants?"

Zhao Dongting chuckled: "Then when the shadows in your home are gone, what similarities and differences will you have with ordinary merchants?"

He squeezed his fingers lightly, "Now you are obeying my Boon Order. I won't move your family property, and you can still be the top people in Leizhou. When I fight against Yuan Dynasty and restore Song Dynasty, maybe I will still miss you to help the country If you have meritorious service, I will let you repeat the honor of your ancestors. However, if you oppose my new policy in every possible way, don’t blame me for not paying attention to my ancestors. If you don’t pay taxes, I will rob you by force. Do you believe it or not?”

"emperor!"

Zhang Guangyao was so frightened that he fell to his knees on the ground, followed by all the nobles.

They were terrified at this moment.

Where is the emperor?

They are clearly no different from bandits.

They originally thought that Zhao Dongting would not break his face with them no matter what. After all, they were nobles, the center of society, and the court's support.Since ancient times, there is no imperial court that is not on the side of the nobles.But it never occurred to Zhao Dongting that because of those untouchables, he would actually plan to tear his face off with them.The words just now revealed a murderous intent.

This made their hearts all beat up.

Really continue to resist?
If the emperor is angry, if they really cut off their heads, it will only be dozens of heads.

After they die, a new big family will emerge and continue to pay taxes to the court.And their children in the army may not be able to protect them.

The emperor is not only the army of Huanglong Forbidden Army.The rest, such as the Beggar Army and the Forbidden Army in front of the palace, did not have any children from their families serving.

These nobles suddenly discovered that Zhao Dongting had the troops capable of dominating Leizhou's slaughter in his hands, and they didn't seem to have the capital to make him stalk the rat.Even if they were tied together, it would not be enough for Zhao Dongting to chop them down.

rebel?

But now that the court and the people want it, can those children in the family who serve in the army stand up to it?
And Zhao Dongting said softly at this time, "Go back and think about it first, whether you should continue to eat and drink with your title in peace, or fight against me for the untouchables who stayed at home, you take it yourself My idea. I hope that after this New Year's Eve, I won't hear any more news about people resisting paying taxes, after all, after the New Year's Eve, it should be festive, isn't it?"

All the nobles left with different expressions.

(End of this chapter)