A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 655 Backstab
Changan.

Menxia Province, Zhengshitang.

Among the nine prime ministers, Wu Huaiyu was absent, and the remaining eight prime ministers sat and discussed politics.
The one who takes the political pen duty today is Hou Junji.
"Xianggong Wu is a carefree and dignified prime minister. Not long after he became the prime minister, he went to the countryside to harvest wheat. I heard that he was celebrating his mother's birthday, and there was a big scene where tens of thousands of people came to celebrate her birthday."

If no one picks up Hou Junji’s words,
Seeing this, Hou Junji had to stop. The last time he was beaten by Wu Huaiyu, three of his teeth were knocked out. Although he replaced the dentures made by Khotan Baoyu, Hou Junji's dignity was also knocked out by Wu Huaiyu.

In the past, others only secretly mocked him, saying that Hou Junji rose to the top because he was the emperor's companion, but now everyone mocked him, saying that Hou Junji had no ability and claimed to be brave. As a result, Li Jing, Su Lie, Wu Huaiyu, etc. were beaten three times a day.

With the emperor's warning, Hou Junji did not dare to retaliate and remained low-key and honest, but he was indeed aggrieved.

"Well, let's get down to business."

"Xiangong Wu did not go through the political affairs hall, but directly sent a memorial to heaven, asked the saint for his decree, and began to try out the new policy in Sanyuan County. His actions were so swift and violent that he threw us all aside."

"As far as I know, Mr. Wu's trial of this new method was a bit drastic. All landless people were directly registered as customers, with no rent, no transfers, no free warehouses, and no regular service.

Those who own land are classified as householders, but if their land is less than [-] acres, they can be exempted and exempted at the same rate. Those with less than [-] acres can even be exempted from rent and adjustment.

Doing this really made the common people and farmers very happy. Even tens of thousands of people went to Longqiao Wujiabao to pay homage to their birthdays and give gifts. However, this year Sanyuan County did not receive much tax revenue.

Wu Xianggong also requested an edict to exempt Sanyuan County from paying insufficient taxes in the past and write them off in one lump sum. He also prevented future taxes from being shared with neighbors. In this way, how many stones can be received and how many bolts of silk can be rented this year?
Didn't Mr. Wu use the state's taxes and the government's finances as his own favors to give away?

Is this an invitation to buy people's hearts? "

"Also, Mr. Wu said that Sanyuan was trying out a new law. Those who owned more than [-] acres of land would still be levied at the rent rate, but he took the initiative to hand it over at the rate of two liters per mu. Isn't this saying one thing and doing another? Sanyuan County What about the other landowners? To pay or not to pay?"

"If it's due, why not just set a standard?"

Hou Junji took the opportunity of presiding over the political affairs hall meeting to take advantage of Sanyuan's trial of the new law and began to attack Wu Huaiyu.
"When I was in Chang'an, I had already received many complaints from the Sanyuan landowners and gentry. Many of the gentry were officials and were exempted from classes because of the favor of the court. But now Wu Huaiyu doesn't care about it.

As a result, many families suddenly increased their taxes on grain and silk by a large amount. What is the basis for this?

Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, scholars are the foundation of the country. Wu Huaiyu wants to dig up the foundation of the Tang Dynasty with ulterior motives! "

Waiting for Hou Junji to finish the barrage of firecrackers,
But still no one picked up on him.

"Prime Minister Wei, please give me a fair word."

Hou Junji had no choice but to tell his teacher Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng still didn't answer the call. In fact, since the last time, Wei Zheng discovered that Hou Junji was a big fool, so he was reluctant to talk to him anymore. Wei Zheng felt that he was deceived by Hou Junji's illusion before, and he really thought he was a very nice person. A sincere person who is motivated and willing to learn,
He deliberately drew clear boundaries with Hou Junji to avoid being dragged into the water by him one day.

This Hou Junji is basically Yuchi Gong's second.

I thought that after the Xuanwu Gate Palace changed, Yuchi Gong had great trust from the emperor, and he had intended to push him to the front. Who knew that Yuchi Gong was so arrogant and unruly that he took the credit and was so arrogant that he didn't even know how much he weighed? Whether it was Zhangsun Wuji or Fang Fang. Xuanling Du Ruhui, the old prime minister Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, Feng Deyi, etc. are all military generals and ministers who came from the Prince of Qin's palace. They all quarrel with this guy.
It didn't take long for everyone to hate it. In the end, they even fought for a seat in the palace and almost blinded the prince Li Daozong.
Yuchi Gong was disgusted by the emperor and never had the chance to enter the center again.

Hou Junji was not in good shape.

Wei Zheng didn't want to talk to him now, for fear of infecting him with his stupidity.

Seeing that no one is paying attention,

Finally, Zhang Liang broke the embarrassing atmosphere.

"Actually, I think it is more prudent for Wu Xiangzou to ask a sage to use Sanyuan County as a pilot project. After all, it is a new policy. When the pilot project starts, some problems will be discovered, so we don't have to rush to deny him. First Just try it out, find problems, solve them, and sum up experiences."

Zhang Liang's words are very good.

In fact, he knew very well that the emperor wanted to implement the two-tax new policy. Wu Huaiyu was actually the one who had been discouraging him from slowing down. Now it is safer to use Ji County as a pilot.

In this matter, the real advocate was the emperor, and Wu Huaiyu was just the one who stood up for the emperor. As for bypassing the political hall, it was just a pilot project and not a formal implementation.

As a censor and prime minister, Zhang Liang made sure to follow the emperor's footsteps and never go against the grain.

Hou Junji said dissatisfied, "Even if it is a trial, but since problems have been discovered, then should we turn a blind eye and shouldn't we make improvements immediately?"

"I heard that Sanyuan County Magistrate Zhao Ren was originally promoted by Wu Huaiyu and placed in Sanyuan County. Many officials in Sanyuan County are from Wu Huaiyu, including the former County Magistrate Zhang Xingcheng, who was also recommended by him, as well as subsequent county magistrates. Liu Rengui,
When Liu Rengui was appointed as Chencang County Lieutenant, he actually killed Lu Ning, the commander of the local Tongjun Mansion. The imperial court summoned him to Beijing. He was originally going to be executed, but Wu Huaiyu came forward to protect him and recommended him to be the Prime Minister of Xianyang County first, and then again. He was recommended as the magistrate of Sanyuan County. From Zhang Xingcheng to Liu Rengui and then to Zhao Renben, the three magistrates of Sanyuan County were all descendants of Wu Huaiyu, not to mention the subordinate officials in the county.

This time, a new law was tried out to conduct household registration and land surveying. Some people reported that Zhao Renben and others had violated the law for private purposes and registered many upper fields as middle fields or even as reclaimed fields for the land properties of certain powerful people, in order to achieve the illegal purpose of tax reduction and exemption.

On the contrary, some landlords and common people's lower fields and middle fields are registered as upper fields and middle fields, and even newly opened wasteland is registered as fertile farmland.
Many ordinary people's families are obviously very poor, but they randomly estimate their property and classify them as middle or upper households. However, some really big families are classified as middle or lower households just because they have connections..."

Li Jing, the servant on the right, raised his eyelids and glared at Hou Junji directly, causing Hou Junji to shut up.

"I have Zhuangzi in Sanyuan, and I think I have some understanding of the situation in Sanyuan. How come I don't know what Xiang Hou said?
You can eat randomly, but you can't talk nonsense. If there is sufficient evidence for what Hou Xiang said, just use the evidence to speak out. If not, don't spit on others. "

Hou Junji did not dare to look directly at Li Jing, "Of course my words were reported by someone, and we will know if they are true or not."

"If you are upright, you are not afraid of slanted shadows."

Zhongshu Ling Wen Yanbo suddenly said, "Since Mr. Hou said that someone has reported someone, I think there is no smoke without fire, so why not check it out."

Hou Junji immediately answered, "What Xiang Wen said is that I am willing to go to Sanyuan in person and lead people to conduct a careful investigation. Right and wrong will naturally come to light.
If there are any faults, correct them; if there are no faults, then try to correct them. "

Zhang Liang reminded Hou Junji, "Prime Minister Wu is now in Sanyuan, and he has been ordered to take full charge of this matter. Now that the pilot project has just begun, Prime Minister Hou wants to intervene, okay?" He was also reminding him that you were beaten so severely last time, so Almost forgotten?

Sanyuan is Wu Huaiyu's territory, not your hometown Sanshui in Binzhou. Are you afraid of being beaten again if you run there?
Seeing Hou Junji jumping up and down, Wei Zheng felt like he had a headache and couldn't help but frown.

Everyone knows what Hou Junji has in mind. It's nothing more than nitpicking and deliberately looking for trouble. It's all for personal grudges.

No matter who does something, especially when it comes to piloting new laws like this, there will definitely be various problems. If people who don’t do anything come to pick problems, they will definitely find them. But isn’t this intentional to cause trouble?

"Xiang Hou,"

"Wei Gong,"

"Last time, there was an incident involving the annexation of the Sijie tribe. Now that they have arrived in Shuozhou, Zhang Jian, the governor of Shuozhou, reported that the Sijie tribe was very dissatisfied with the court's handling. Some people made trouble, and some broke away from Qijin's control and began to plunder the border.
Zhang Jian asked the court to send a minister to appease the Sijie tribe. If the Sijie tribe refused to obey, they would be beaten if necessary.
I think it would be appropriate for Xiang Hou to go to Shuozhou to deal with the affairs of the Sijie Department. "

Hou Junji was unwilling to buy Wei Zheng's face, and still refused to let go.

"Prince Zhang is the saint's cousin, a son of a general, brave and resourceful. Who doesn't know the Zhang family of Sanji? He will hit Si Jie when he needs it, and caress him when he needs to. The saint has already made a decision, so why hesitate.

Besides, if Zhang Jian's troops are insufficient, doesn't Yanmen Pass still have General Yuchi, the Duke of E State? As the governor of Daizhou, he has strong soldiers and sufficient food and grass. Just kill all those 4 people,"

Seeing him like this, Wei Zheng sighed and said, "Yiwu Shi has led seven cities to join us in the Tang Dynasty for ten thousand years. He is now the governor of Western Yizhou, but there are still some Sogdian Hu who are unwilling to join him, plotting to cause rebellion, and there are soldiers The defeated East Turks want to go to Gushe and Tuoshe to join forces with Gaochang and others to seize Yiwu.

The Western Turks are currently in internal strife between the two Khans, and the fighting is fierce. The Western Regions are becoming more and more chaotic. Yiwu is very important to the court. Guarding Yiwu can also protect Hexi from invasion.
The Hou Xiang is a fierce general praised by the saints, so it is better to go to the Western Regions to comfort him.

Jieli has been reduced, Yugushe and Tuoshe should not still support their troops and respect themselves. Let them surrender as soon as possible. "

"Isn't there Li Daliang in Hexi? You can't kill a chicken with a sledgehammer!" Hou Junji still didn't want to go.

Wei Zheng stared at him directly, "Do you have to go to Sanyuan County?"

"Can't I go?"

"Are you sure you want to go?"

"What am I afraid of?"

"Okay, since you want to go, then you can go, but I remind you that it is best to ask a saint for instructions before going. Don't act on your own initiative. In the end, you will not be a human being inside and outside, and you are asking for trouble."

"Is Wei Zheng partial to Mr. Wu?"

Wei Zheng snorted coldly and ignored him. Mud cannot hold up a wall, and rotten wood cannot be carved.

Even if you really want to cause trouble and find Wu Huaiyu's fault, why go out so blatantly and directly provoke trouble? You can just arrange a censor to investigate, as long as you can get what you want, that's fine. Why rush in personally.

Fang Xuanling, the left servant, sat there without saying a word from beginning to end, and Li Jing, the right servant, did not stop Hou Junji from going to Sanyuan at all.

(End of this chapter)