Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

Chapter 125
This argument put forward by Fan Li is really impeccable.

The state of Qi has five different local administrative divisions: genus, county, township, death, and euphemism, and government orders can be issued at all levels without hindrance.

However, although the state of Wu has different administrative divisions such as counties, towns, townships, and capitals, they do not belong to each other!
Not to mention that the country has encountered a war, I am afraid that it is an ordinary government order transmission, which will delay a lot of time on the road.

Therefore, Qingji urgently wanted to establish a county system in Wu State. The county governed several townships, capitals, pavilions, and lis, each with a head, so as to strengthen the connection between Wudu and other places.

All the ministers and officials could not refute Fan Li, but they were not convinced!

Because what they are dissatisfied with is that a prince like himself must obey the orders of the county magistrate in the local area in the future and must not interfere in local government affairs!

For their own fief, they don't even have the most basic right to govern, how can they be reconciled?
"Let's talk about the Pingbu method."

Fan Li struck while the iron was hot, and before the ministers could react, he revealed it, saying: "In good years, the government buys surplus grain from farmers at a fair price to prevent merchants from lowering prices and hurting farmers; The price hurts the people, prevents the low price of the grain from hurting the peasants, and the high price of the grain hurts the people.”

"Why not?"

After a pause, Fan Li sneered again at Shen Xi, Li Li and other officials, and said: "The second and third sons are so strongly opposed to the state government's implementation of the flat purchase law. Could it be that they have long been colluding with those profiteers who have neglected their righteousness and plotted to take advantage of it?" In a year of famine, will you make a fortune?"

"I……"

All the officials and officials present were speechless by Fan Li's words, and they faltered and couldn't speak.

The senior doctor who came back to his senses was so angry that he blew his beard and stared, and reprimanded: "Fan Li, you don't spit blood here! I am a lord, a minister of the country, how can I criticize you for being a shabby householder? of!"

"Exactly! Fan Li is slandering!"

"How can you defile someone's innocence out of thin air!"

"Your Majesty, by slandering the courtiers, Fan Li is contemptuous of the court and the King! Your Majesty begs the King to punish Fan Li as an example to others!"

The ministers and officials couldn't argue with Fan Li, so they could only hold onto Huatou, begging Qingji to punish him.

But how could Qingji fulfill their wish?
From the beginning to the end, Qing Ji sat high on the majesty's platform, with a posture of calm and prestige, without saying a word.

This kind of silent silence is actually in solidarity with Fan Li!

Fan Li immediately replied, "Why are you so annoyed? I just said casually, whether the second and third sons colluded with officials and businessmen for personal gain, I know in my heart."

Hearing this, all the officials and officials who had ghosts in their hearts were dumbfounded and dared not speak.

Seeing this, Shang Dafu had no choice but to bite the bullet and reply: "Governing the internal history of millet, even if the flat purchase method can be applied to our country of Wu, isn't it absurd to compete with the people for the monopoly system of salt and iron?"

"The state of Wu lives in the southeast corner, adjacent to the sea, rich in fish salt, and has mines of copper and evil gold (iron)."

"Since ancient times, most Wu people have made a living by fishing, producing salt, and forging copper. Now the government has arbitrarily nationalized the right to trade salt and iron, lest the people of the country will change, and complaints will spread!"

"Exactly!"

The doctor on the side, Shen Xi, immediately echoed: "Cutting off a person's wealth is like killing one's parents! We can't share our hatred!"

"Don't you see that since the promulgation of the salt and iron monopoly policy, there are still many traffickers who are desperate to smuggle salt and iron? Therefore, the salt and iron monopoly law must not be done!"

"If you insist on implementing the salt and iron monopoly system in Wu State, you may fear that the Wu people will riot and bring disaster to the country and the people!"

"The doctor's words are wrong."

Fan Li chuckled, and said, "The system of monopolizing salt and iron was not the first of Wu's. In the past, when Guan Zhong ruled Qi, he created the system of monopolizing salt and iron. The Qi people could accept it and fill the treasury. Why can't the people of Wu not?"

"This……"

Shen Xi was stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth and replied: "The national conditions of Wu and Qi are different, so we should adapt our measures to local conditions. I am from Wu, and I seldom learn the etiquette of the Central Plains."

"And Qi borders the Central Plains, benefiting from its superior geographical location, so it has been baptized by the customs of the Great Zhou all the year round, and there is nothing wrong with accepting the monopoly system of salt and iron!"

What Shen Xi said was not without reason.

Qidi, which originally belonged to the Dongyi tribe, has been in constant conflict with Huaxia all year round.

The Xia and Shang dynasties have been trying their best to expand eastward, trying to conquer the Dongyi people in the east.

It wasn't until the time of King Shang Zhou that the Huaxia people forced the Dongyi tribe to surrender, but as King Wu defeated Zhou and Zhou destroyed Yin and Shang, the Dongyi people rebelled again!
As a last resort, Emperor Zhou could only send Jiang Ziya to establish a state in the east, which is the state of Qi.

After Jiang Shang established the country, he respected the customs and habits of the Dongyi people, and then assimilated them with Zhou rites. Since then, "the industry of commerce and industry has benefited from fishing and salt", which made Qi State leap from a small country with a small population to an economical one. A rich and populous country.

In the generation of Duke Huan of Qi, the state of Qi was even more vassals, governing the world under one roof, which was due to Guan Zhong's reform.

However, at present, Shen Xi insists that the salt and iron monopoly system is applicable to Qi State, but not to Wu State, Fan Li does not agree!
Fan Li squinted his eyes and said, "Master, in my opinion, the monopoly system of salt and iron is the same as the flat-purchasing method, and it is applicable to any country in the world!"

"The second and third sons strongly oppose the government's implementation of the flat purchase law and the monopoly system of salt and iron. They only talk about competing for profits with the people? Who is this 'people'? Is it a gentleman? A farmer? A craftsman? A merchant?"

"Or all four? Or none of the four?"

After a pause, Fan Li said loudly: "Everyone knows that the industry of salt and iron is a business of huge profits! Therefore, everyone can take risks for such huge profits and pursue sudden wealth!"

"My great Wu has been inherited for six hundred years. Salt and iron are all produced and sold by private individuals. The government only collects taxes, but not much profit from salt and iron."

"That's why, for a long time, the state of Wu has only been strong and powerful, but the national treasury has never been full! This salt and iron monopoly system, what it does is to absorb the benefits of salt and iron, fill the national treasury, and achieve the country's long-cherished wish of making the country rich and the people strong .”

"The second and third sons are so strongly opposed, what is the intention? How can you disregard the righteousness of the country for your own self-interest?"

"color!"

Ji Ran, Sun Ping, Sun Wu, Bo Tong and others immediately applauded and supported Fan Li.

"you!"

Both Shen Xi and Bei Li couldn't argue against Fan Li, and he was unwilling to give in, so he could only grit his teeth and say, "What a eloquent fellow!"

"Fan Li, even if you are right, how can the state encourage consumption?"

"The old man only heard that in a country that governs the world, everyone should strive for self-improvement through diligence and thrift, and the trend of extravagance cannot last long. If this trend continues, I fear that the people of the country will become more chasing fame and fortune, greedy for pleasure, and unable to perform their duties and indulge in extravagance and waste Yea!"

"The doctor's words are even more ridiculous."

Fan Li argued unhurriedly: "Since our country of Wu wants to open trade with the world, it is natural that we should have things and needs. If not, how can the flow of goods be unimpeded?"

(End of this chapter)