Hengdao Sixteen Kingdoms

Chapter 692 Resignation

Wang Meng was transferred to the central government. In order to give the ministers in the court an adaptation period, Li Yue restored Wang Meng to his position as a school lieutenant.

Promoted Fang Kuang to be the governor of Yongzhou.

After waiting for the end of spring plowing, Li Yue and Wang Meng returned to Luoyang.

After not seeing each other for nearly a year, Li Jian became more and more calm and confident. Power is the source of a man’s confidence.

There are more and more gray hairs on Chang Wei's head. He has to take care of the west, assist the prince, and sit in the middle of the country. It can be imagined that the pressure is great and the affairs are complicated.

Wang Meng's promotion to Shang Shu Pu She sent a clear signal.

As soon as they met, without even exchanging a few words, Chang Wei began to ask for his resignation, "Your Majesty's Western Expedition has left me physically and mentally exhausted. Finally, I am at peace both inside and outside. Now that Your Majesty has returned, it's time for me to take a rest."

The tone was quite sincere.

Unknowingly, Li Yue is about to enter his mature age, while Chang Wei is already in his sixties.

"I have just come back, and your Majesty wants to resign? If the general is sent out, won't everyone in the world laugh at me for being ungrateful?" Li Yue tried his best to persuade him to stay.

In the original concept, a strong medicine needs to be tempered by a warm medicine. Chang Wei suppresses it with broadness, and Wang Meng uses it with fierceness. The broadness and fierceness complement each other, and yin and yang complement each other.

Unexpectedly, Chang Wei resigned as soon as he arrived.

"Your Majesty's loving heart, I have always known. It is not because I refuse, but because my health is deteriorating and I am unable to do what I want. I am often afraid of being old and stupid, delaying state affairs, harming others and myself. I have worked hard for decades and have not had a day's leisure. Now that I am old, I just like to have leisure time, and I hope your majesty will make it happen."

Chang Wei solemnly handed over his hand.

Having said that, Li Yue knew that he had made up his mind.

Maybe he had the intention of retiring last time, but it was just because of the busy state affairs that he had to bear it.

Now that Li Yue has come back with Wang Meng, the time is ripe. Wang Meng has an upright temperament, and it is difficult for Chang Wei to suppress him at the chancellery. From his perspective, resigning at this time is the best choice.

"Why do you abandon me?" Li Jian asked to stay.

Chang Wei smiled and said: "Your Highness is talented and intelligent, and there are people who will succeed you. Life is normal, so I'd better keep this old bone and go home to hug my grandson."

Wang Meng cupped his hands and said, "Your ambition is too big to be fierce."

"Jing Lue's unparalleled talent, given time, will definitely make Daliang surpass the Han Dynasty." Chang Wei returned the gift with his hand.

"Your Majesty..." Li Yue sighed with emotion.

It is true that Chang Wei was old and frail, and it is also true that he abdicated in favor of talents.

"Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there have been very few people who have been able to secure official positions. If I can live a long life, what more can I ask for? Your Majesty, please do not force me." After saying these words, Chang Wei's face became much more relaxed.

The height is not cold.

The political atmosphere in the two Jin Dynasties was extremely bad, with all kinds of intrigues and deceptions. Few people could abdicate safely. Many people in high positions would destroy three tribes at every turn.

The Liang Dynasty has not yet reached this point, but the overt and covert struggles have begun to take shape. The various factions are becoming more and more complex and involved. It is a good thing to retreat safely.

The words have come to this, and there is no way to hold them back.

Li Yue said: "I granted Chang Gong the title of Grand Tutor, added 3,000 households in the city, and gave him a mansion in Luoyang."

Chang Wei's becoming an official can be regarded as setting an example for Liang Guo's political circles.

The king and his ministers can live in peace with each other, and even if they retire, their honor and favor will not diminish.

The Taifu is the first of the three princes, and he is worthy of Chang Wei's dedication for so many years.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chang Wei cupped his hands, the burden on his body was lifted, and the fatigue in his voice could no longer be concealed.

Li Yue also wanted to hold a big banquet, but Chang Wei refused on the grounds that it was not appropriate to be extravagant. The monarch and his ministers had a drink from the afternoon until late at night, recalling the difficult years in the past, and they were all filled with emotion...

The most important personnel appointment and removal in Daliang Chaotang passed just like that.

Wang Meng has just been granted the title of Minister Pushe, and it is not appropriate for him to enter the Ministerial Order again.

Without Chang Wei as Shangshu Ling, Wang Meng would actually still be in charge of Shangshutai.

After the edict was issued, the government and the public were in an uproar. Both the courtiers and the people of Luoyang wrote letters to persuade Chang Wei to stay. This shows that he has won the hearts of the people during his many years in power.

And Wang Meng has always been known for being strict and ferocious. Wherever he goes, there will be a bloody storm, and the officials, common people, nobles and powerful people will naturally be flustered.

However, the edict has been issued and things cannot be changed.

At the first imperial meeting when Wang Meng took office, he presented a memorial, applying for tax exemptions and reductions in the world. "Since your Majesty came to the throne, there have been wars for many years. Although there is a virtuous government, the people are still in poverty. Now that the Northern Kingdom has been settled and the war has subsided, taxes and servitude should be reduced and reduced, and people should cultivate themselves." Regarding the power of the people, Guanzi said: If the warehouses are solid, you will know etiquette; if you have enough food and clothing, you will know honor and disgrace. If the people are prosperous, then the country will be prosperous and strong."

Now that the people have money and food in their hands, Liang's economy will also improve.

Now that the Western Region has been pacified, the Dai Kingdom in the north and the Jin Dynasty in the south cannot be wiped out in a short time.

"What does the prince think?" Li Yue asked the prince in front of all the civil and military officials.

"Reporting to my father, the weather has been going well in Daliang for the past few years. Every time I conquered, I captured a lot of prisoners. I thought that we could return to the Han Dynasty's tax system of 15 per cent to encourage the people to cultivate wasteland." Li Jian went a step further.

Chang Wei has gone, but Li Jian has grown up, and paired with Wang Meng, they complement each other.

The two have a master-student relationship, so there is no need to worry about friction between them.

But the tax is one for fifteen, which is a big step.

Li Jian cupped his hands and said: "The country has large farms in Huaibei, Hebei, and Guanzhong, which are enough to support the military. It has also established new pastoral supervisors. Every year, more than 100,000 cattle, sheep and other livestock are slaughtered. The treasury is full. There is no need for heavy taxes, and a tax of 15% has been restored. System can also attract the people of Jiangdong."

The Northern Kingdom was sparsely populated and had many slaves, so a large number of farms were set up.

Two percent of the output is given to the farm slaves, and 80 percent is collected into the national treasury. This part of the income alone is enough to offset the loss of tax reduction, in addition to the livestock for pastoral supervision.

Cui Hong is extremely capable and has included excellent pastures in Liangzhou, Hehuang, Hetao, Youzhou, and Liaodong into animal husbandry supervision. In just two years, as many as 100,000 cattle and sheep have been slaughtered.

During the reigns of Emperor Jing and Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, there was once a tax of thirty to one. With the current national strength of the Liang State, the fifteen tax to one had little impact.

Tax reductions are not tax exemptions. The exact number of people in the North is not different now. Calculated at 15 million five years ago, a tax of 15% is not a small amount.

Even if it is not enough, I will ask for more from the countries in the Western Regions and visit Mobei more often. The Jin Dynasty in the south can also blackmail me, and the pirates of Ma Gu and Lu Xun can also make a splash.

As long as the mind does not slip, there are more solutions than difficulties.

Li Yue, the Hongxing Emperor, cannot be called in vain. He has a sword and a horse in his hand, but he is still afraid that he will not be able to get a bite to eat?

Taxes are lowered and the burden on the people is lightened, which can be regarded as a disguised form of encouraging childbirth.

"Do you have any objections?" Li Yue looked at the ministers.

The prince has spoken, and if anyone still objects, there is something wrong with his head.

If you stop the tax reduction and spread the news, you will be criticized by thousands of people.

"I second my opinion." Everyone raised their tooth wats.

"The matter has been settled like this. We will write a document on the Chancellor's desk, and let the prince and the servants of the Chancellor shoot the official seal to announce it to the world."

In terms of government affairs, Li Yue did not mind decentralizing power and letting Li Jian and Wang Meng show kindness to the people, which could also be regarded as laying the foundation for them.

(End of this chapter)