Long live Emperor Wu!

Chapter 62 Where is the majesty of the imperial court?
Prince Jin did not dare to think any further. He still advised him gently and considerately:
"How could you forget? Brother, think about it. If they really felt that brother was not good enough, they would have asked the father to reconsider the choice of crown prince. Especially Wei Zheng, what did he not dare to say?
But you see, although those courtiers may sometimes complain, but... most of them still understand Big Brother and don't think there is anything wrong with you. "

Prince Jin's gentle and gentle voice seemed to have the power to soothe people's hearts and was extremely convincing. Finally, he added with great seriousness:
"They're all waiting for you."

The prince turned his face sideways and saw King Jin lowering his head slightly and looking at his feet. His thick black hair was tied in a heavy single bun behind his head, giving him a gentle and quiet beauty.

It reminded him of their mother, Chang Sun.

He said in a melancholy and nostalgic voice:

"Xiaojiu...you are really good. Your temperament is becoming more and more like that of my mother. Just like her, you are gentle and strong. You can always make people around you feel at ease and become peaceful and powerful."

Prince Jin raised his head and smiled at him, like a child who had eaten candy, without saying a word.

……

……

After the matter of the prince's use was settled, the emperor seemed relieved and calmed down in "Kuo Di Zhi" again. When he saw interesting and strange places, he always wanted to invite the King of Wei to ask.

Later, in order to make it easier for him to ask questions, he directly let King Wei move in.

So when it was time to eat, in addition to King Jin, Princess and Wu Rou, another King Wei came in.

King Jin didn't know how to feel, but Princess Jinyang and Wu Rou looked at him quite awkwardly and awkwardly...

While eating that day, the emperor didn't know what he saw in "Kuo Di Zhi". He suddenly put down the book and said:
"During the Sui Dynasty, taxes and servitude were heavy, and many people resorted to self-mutilation to avoid corvée and military service. Now that the Sui Dynasty has been destroyed for more than [-] years, the population of the Tang Dynasty has increased greatly, and taxes and servitude are light. How come there are still people who do not hesitate to commit suicide to escape? This has also formed a ' Fukutemura'?
Princess Jinyang asked strangely:
"Father, what does Fushou Village mean? Do the people there live long lives?"

Before the emperor spoke, King Wei explained to her with a smile:

"It's not the lucky hand, it's the lucky hand, the hand on the arm. Some people would cut off one of their hands to avoid labor, which is commonly known as the lucky hand."

"Ah?!" Princess Jinyang covered her arm, as if she already felt that her arm was gone, with a horrified look on her face.

The emperor rolled his eyes at King Wei and complained:

"If you explain to her clearly what to do, she will have nightmares again at night."

King Wei quickly smiled and apologized:
"I was wrong, I was wrong. Sister Xizi, please forget what I just said."

The emperor withdrew his eyes, put the book aside, and asked him doubtfully:
"Fourth, is this village really real? I could understand it before. After all, the corvee was heavy. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty, he was building the Grand Canal, fighting wars, and building palaces. The schedule was tight, and he often served alone. The corvee died on the road without ever coming back.

But why is this happening now?Since I came to the throne, I have learned the lessons of the previous dynasty and tried my best to avoid all kinds of things.

Although water conservancy projects were built and several palaces were built, they were all done during the farming season. A person could serve for up to three months and be registered to avoid repeated conscription.This is already very minor...why would someone still harm themselves? ! "

The emperor became more and more angry as he talked, and finally he was so angry that he shouted out, as if all his hard work had been fed to the dog, and he was not angry at all.

Everyone present was obviously breathing lighter, and even the maids and chamberlains waiting nearby couldn't help but lower their eyes and lower their heads even more, for fear that they would make a scene and attract the emperor's wrath.

King Wei scratched his other hand with his fat hand, blinked nervously, and under the emperor's gaze, he finally said:

"Maybe it's because the information is blocked and it has become a default custom. However, father, don't be angry. It is also possible that the information collected is wrong. I will send someone to check it on the spot later."

Looking at his expression and tone, the emperor knew that he said it was an on-site verification, but in fact he intended to change the details according to his preferences.

He was unhappy, thinking that I really care about the truth, but you are trying to make me happy. Isn't this delaying things? !

But he was not happy, so he didn't say anything.

Originally, this son had low self-esteem, and he always tried to please him in everything he did, which was pitiful and helpless.

Who allowed me to adopt him out in the first place and make the child feel traumatized?
Take care of your own son.

So, with a sullen face and no words, he turned his eyes around the palace and asked:
"What do you think? Does this make sense? Is it true?"

Wu Rou and Princess Jinyang looked at each other, and Princess Jinyang said:
"I can't understand it either... breaking a hand is a lifelong matter. I miss my brother Prince..."

She stopped talking, pursed her lips, and did not continue.

But everyone knew what she meant.What a huge blow it is when a person becomes disabled. The prince is an example.

After a moment of silence, she continued:

"...How could they do this to avoid working for three months?"

The emperor looked at Wu Rou with questioning eyes again.

Wu Rou thought about it seriously and said:
"Your Majesty, it is not impossible. I heard of an example in my hometown in Bingzhou. A local merchant had an only son who was frail and sick. His father was worried that his son would die during the labor service, so he cruelly cut off three of his fingers. "

The emperor sneered when he heard this and said: "Isn't he afraid that his son will die from excessive blood loss and wound inflammation?!"

Wu Rou pulled her shawl to cover her chin, bowed her head obediently and said:

"Arou doesn't know how they measure it in their minds, but this example is true. It's someone I, Aye, know. I heard what he said."

The emperor said angrily:
"Except for the warrior Yu, there is no good merchant in this world! They are all opportunistic and selfish people!"

After hearing this, Wu Rou felt as if she had been praised and scolded. She felt uncomfortable all over and could not sit still.

The emperor turned to look at King Jin and asked:

"Xiaojiu, what do you think?!"

King Jin had been thinking about it for a long time and immediately said:
"It's not impossible. The fourth brother said that it might be because the edict didn't make sense, and it makes sense for the custom to be formed.

It had only been more than 20 years since the fall of the Sui Dynasty. There are many people who are still alive who have experienced that period of heavy servitude. In their hearts, the fear of servitude has already penetrated deep into their bones.

Moreover, most of them are now grandparents or parents, and their distrust of the court will be passed down from generation to generation. They also have control over their own children, making decisions for them and controlling their actions, which is reasonable. "

As soon as these words came out, King Wei, Wu Rou, and Princess Jinyang all looked at King Jin in surprise.

This was indeed an angle that none of them had thought of, and it was very possible.

The emperor raised his face and thought for a while, then cursed secretly and said:

"Well, if this is the case, then we can only blame Emperor Sui Yang for harming them in his eagerness for quick success. It has nothing to do with my governance!"

This makes him feel much more comfortable!

But at the end of the day, what needs to be solved still needs to be solved.

In the next few days, the court sent people to conduct on-the-spot investigations and roughly compiled statistics on the phenomenon of self-mutilation among young adults in various places.

The news was like snowflakes, turned into memorials and spread to Chang'an City.

There was a lot of discussion in the court, and they were all surprised that the number of such phenomena was far beyond their imagination.

Everyone has their own opinions on how to put an end to this phenomenon. Some people say that notices should be posted everywhere to reiterate the policy of self-cultivation and recuperation, so that people understand that it is not cost-effective to cut off limbs to avoid three months of hard labor.

Some people say that this kind of propaganda is useless, and that one example should be found and the punishment increased as a punishment.

During the discussion, the prince sat next to the emperor's subordinates, saying nothing, feeling as if he had thorns all over his body.

When the emperor asked him for his opinion, all civil and military officials in the court looked at the prince.

Under the gaze of everyone, the prince unconsciously moved his injured foot back.

After he sensed the timidity and guilt in his heart, he felt deep self-loathing and hatred. Even the meaning in those people's eyes made him feel dizzy, nauseated and nauseous.

He looked at the steps and said nothing for a long time.

The emperor frowned slightly, the jade algae under his crown swayed slightly, and shouted again:
"Prince!"

The prince came to his senses, leaned forward slightly towards the emperor's position, lowered his head, and said after a while:
"I think... I don't know."

His voice was so difficult.Even without raising his head, he could feel the emperor's disappointment in him and the courtiers' disappointment in him.

The emperor had no choice but to ask King Jin again:

"Xiaojiu, tell me, what do you think should be done?!"

King Jin looked at the prince worriedly. Qing Jun's brows were full of sorrow. He took a step forward, bowed and saluted:
"Father... I think the main thing is to focus on propaganda. Punishment will only increase their panic and make them even more afraid of the impression of the imperial court."

The emperor didn't know where the anger came from, and he cursed angrily:
"Fart! What they are afraid of is the previous court, is it the court of the Tang Dynasty? Reducing taxes and corvee is already a favor, but now they don't even appreciate the favor, and they continue to condone it. Where is the majesty of the court?!
An order was sent to the Ministry of Finance to amend the law. From now on, anyone who self-mutilates to avoid corvee taxation will have their taxes doubled, but the corvée service will remain the same!Those people who mutilated their bodies in order to escape from the corvee must not have left themselves unable to move. If they couldn't do the heavy work, they would do the light work!
I don't believe it. Once this order comes out, those people will no longer benefit from self-harm, and they will continue to be obsessed with it! "

In the court hall, Prince Jin suddenly received this scolding. He trembled with fright, pursed his lips, and almost burst into tears.

To be honest, since he can remember, he has never been reprimanded by his father. He is cautious in his words and deeds, and is self-restrained and respectful. On the one hand, his father thinks that he has a kind heart and loves him especially.

He held back his tears and silently stepped back. After thinking about it for a while, he understood.

Even if his answer was wrong, his father would not be so angry usually. This time, his anger... I am afraid half of it is because of the prince.

(End of this chapter)