The Tang Dynasty started from saving Empress Changsun

Chapter 147 Give Eye Salve to the Gentlemen
Once people get busy, the time will pass quickly, and it will enter April without knowing it.

The Taoist innovation is progressing very smoothly, and more and more Taoist temples choose to join when the benefits are clearly seen.

"To be able to go so smoothly is to create a good momentum. In fact, most people are fools, and they will follow whoever is strong." Chen Jingke said excitedly:

"The addition of the Maoshan School, the Loudao Temple, the Chongxuan School and the Jingyun Temple has directly affected a large number of people."

"Mmm." Li Shimin said indifferently.

Chen Jingke understood in seconds, and immediately said: "Of course, everything is the work of His Majesty. Any innovation must be completed with the support of the hero. Without your support, the innovation will not be so smooth."

"I am most fortunate to have met such a talented and wise monarch as you, who dared to carry out drastic reforms. Otherwise, no matter how powerful I am, I would be powerless."

"Pfft!!!" Changsun Wugou burst out laughing.

Li Shimin's expression, how should I put it, was very uncomfortable.Want to laugh but can't laugh, want to be angry but don't know how to be angry, finally said angrily:

"Go back and practice your flattering words, don't show them to shame."

"Haha..." Changsun Wugou smiled even more happily.

Chen Jingke smiled "hehe" and said: "This is a compliment from the bottom of my heart, who wouldn't want to meet..."

Li Shimin said: "Shut up and talk about business."

"Eh..." Chen Jingke couldn't help asking himself, is my level of flattering really that bad?All that can be said are words of praise.

But it seems that it really hit the horse's leg, forget it, and continue to talk about business: "The reason why the innovation is going so smoothly is that there is one more important thing, the right to speak."

"Printing played a vital role. We printed a large number of innovative books and spread them all over the country. Anyone who can read and write can see them."

"By relying on these books, we have occupied the entire public opinion market and seized the right to speak, creating a situation where the reformers have won an all-round victory."

"Those scumbags were influenced by public opinion and chose to join the reformers. It has to be admitted that the scumbags always occupy the majority, and whoever they support can win."

Li Shimin showed a thoughtful expression, and so did Changsun Wugou.The two of them are people with ten eyes, and they can easily be associated with politics from here.

But then Chen Jingke made it clear to them directly: "The public opinion market is there, and if you don't occupy it, others will occupy it. And once who gets the first opportunity, they can lead everywhere."

"Why do the gentry stand still? Because they have the right to speak. The government's decrees must be promulgated after considering whether they will touch their interests."

Li Shimin's face became gloomy. Although the situation in the Zhenguan Dynasty was not very serious, the situation of the gentry restricting the court did exist.

Once the court showed signs of weakness, the children of the gentry would immediately flood the court and directly interfere with the country's major policies.

Chen Jingke continued to add fuel and vinegar: "Your Majesty, have you ever thought about why peasant uprisings occurred, and why the court's tax revenues became less and less at the end of the dynasty?"

"Although the gentry cannot be attributed all the responsibility, they are indeed an important factor. Controlling the government, annexing land and wealth, so that the poor have no place to stand."

"The common people have become tenant servants of the gentry, and their allegiance is no longer to the imperial court but to the gentry. The population directly controlled by the imperial court has decreased, and taxes and soldiers cannot be collected."

"However, the gentry can avoid paying taxes by various means. This is actually the same for all the powerful... The result is that the poor get poorer and the rich get richer."

"In times of calamity, the imperial court can only increase taxes on the people who are registered, but these people are already poor and can't afford to eat. Where can they get the money to pay taxes? Either sell themselves to the nobles of the gentry as slaves, or sell their children and daughters."

"The final result is that the government forces the people to rebel... The imperial court wants to suppress the rebellion, but what should I do if I don't have the money? Increase taxes. And tax increases will lead to more people rebelling, and eventually the country will perish."

"And what about the gentry? For them, it's just a new emperor, and they still enjoy the glory and wealth. That's why they dare to despise the imperial power."

"If the imperial court wants long-term stability, it must attack the nobles and dignitaries, and distribute more land to the common people."

"Only when there are more self-cultivating farmers directly under the control of the imperial court, can we collect enough taxes and recruit enough soldiers."

Li Shimin looked serious, nodded slowly and said: "Continue."

Chen Jingke knew that he was tempted, and said: "But the court can't suppress it blindly, it must have a strategy, otherwise it will only have the opposite effect. Political struggle is nothing more than pulling one faction against another, and the court will take advantage of the fisherman's interests."

"The power of the Tang Dynasty is divided into two groups, one is the cultural gentry group headed by the Shandong gentry, and the other is the Guanlong military aristocratic group headed by the children of Guanlong."

Li Shimin frowned, this statement is very novel, but very incisive.If it is divided according to this standard, the situation of Datang will become clear immediately.

"It is undeniable to say that our Tang Dynasty started with the Guanlong military aristocratic group as the team. This is the foundation of the Tang Dynasty."

"So the Guanlong military aristocratic group is naturally an ally of His Majesty. If you want to attack the gentry, you must rely on the power of Guanlong."

Li Shimin's face was a little unnatural, but he didn't refute it. The Li family was indeed from the Guanlong military aristocratic group.

"On this point, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was quite stupid. He actually wanted to attack the nobles and the Guanlong army at the same time."

"What's even more stupid is that the target of his attack first was not the unrelated gentry, but the nobles of the Guanlong Army who are allies."

"The result is that Guan Long no longer supports him, and the nobles also treat him as a fool, and finally the country is ruined."

"Your Majesty has done a very good job on this point. He stabilized the Guanlong army, but at the same time restricted them."

"I think what His Majesty should do next is to use the Guanlong army to attack the gentry. Use a group to fight against a group, and you will be a fisherman."

"Maybe it can weaken the power of the two major groups at the same time, and finally complete the arbitrariness of centralization."

Changsun Wugou's complexion changed, and he scolded: "Kids, don't talk nonsense, fighting against a fisherman is not what a gentleman does."

Li Shimin waved his hand to signal her not to worry, and said, "This must be the plan of your family's elders, right?"

Chen Jingke asked curiously, "How do you know I didn't think of it?"

This is indeed the analysis of some bigwigs in the previous life. He just pretended to be a doctrine, but he was exposed directly unexpectedly.

Li Shimin glanced at him, and said indifferently: "With your intelligence, you can't think of this in your life."

"Eh..." Chen Jingke was embarrassed.

Seeing that he was not angry, the worry in Changsun Wugou's heart was also put down.

Li Shimin was indeed very angry at first, but when he heard that the two groups fought against the fisherman for profit, his anger disappeared immediately, and he was very interested in this strategy.

"What else did your elders say?"

(End of this chapter)