The Great Grandson of the Tang Dynasty: The beginning of the slaughter of General Tiance's mans

Chapter 243 Datang Infrastructure
The two words "people are prosperous and the country is strong" and "the country is prosperous and the people are strong" seem to be similar, but in fact, there is a huge difference between them.

First of all, it is said that the country is prosperous and the people are strong. This is a commonly circulated term in today's dynasties. It is based on the country and emphasizes that the definition of the country is placed before the people. But what kind of existence is a country?

The country is the country, the ancestral foundation of the dynasty and the royal family. It is said that the emperor and the country are not separated. In the dynasty, the emperor is the country, and the country is the emperor's country.

This sentence is in line with the national conditions of the desired dynasty, that is, "country-oriented" and "loyalty to the emperor and patriotism."

The phrase "the people are prosperous and the country is strong" is exactly the opposite of the previous sentence, although the literal meaning is, "when the people are stable and prosperous, the country will be strong."

But the problem is that it puts the "people" first, before the state and the emperor. Its real meaning is "people-oriented", which is similar to the idea of ​​storing wealth in the people, both of which are Mencius' concepts.

But throughout the ages, all kings have claimed to be people-centered, but in fact they have always been king-centered.

Could it be that Li Chengdao wanted to make real changes?
Just when everyone was thinking hard, Li Chengdao just said: "If the country wants to be strong and prosperous, it cannot do without farmers or businessmen."

"Farming is the foundation of the country, and business is the key to making the people rich and the country strong."

"As long as agriculture and business are developed simultaneously, the country can be prosperous and prosperous. Otherwise, it will only be destroyed sooner or later, and there will be no talk of a strong country."

After Li Chengdao's words, everyone suddenly understood what he was thinking.

Changsun Wuji nodded and said: "What your Majesty said is indeed true, but what does it mean to promote agriculture and business at the same time? Agriculture is agriculture, and business is business. How can we promote both sides at the same time?"

"This is what I want to talk to you today."

Li Chengdao said seriously.

"First, support the development of trade, vigorously promote private commercial activities, relax restrictions, but increase commercial taxes."

"Second, use commercial taxes collected from trade to establish an agricultural subsidy fund to protect farmers' vested interests and promote it together with the Young Crops Law."

“Third, once farmers engage in business, they will no longer be able to engage in farming for generations to come.”

"Fourth, the imperial court should carry out macro-control and regulate the market economy, as well as the market prices of various crops and grain prices, so as to prevent businessmen from becoming dominant and destroying the continuity of agriculture."

"And the fifth point..."

Li Chengdao paused. At this time, Changsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, Jia Xu and others were already fascinated by what they heard. After hearing this, they asked anxiously: "What is the fifth point?"

What Li Chengdao just said about "promoting both agriculture and business" and "business makes the country rich, and agriculture makes the country strong" simply opened a new door for them!
"My dear friends, please tell me about the first four points. Can they be implemented?"

Li Chengdao didn't rush to say it, but asked.

"There is no problem. Your Majesty's policy is a true national policy for the ages! It can be implemented directly!"

"I dare to say that after this method is implemented, it will only take three years for the Tang Dynasty to double its national power!"

Changsun Wuji said without hesitation, his tone was very firm.

"My minister agrees!"

Jia Xu nodded in agreement.

"I second the proposal!" Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui all agreed and deeply believed in Changsun Wuji's words.

Why didn't they think of why agriculture, business and the country must be independent of each other? The three should be interdependent and complementary.

With the rise of trade, merchants will become rich, and the taxes paid to the state will naturally increase. Even if the state uses most of them to subsidize farmers, there will still be a lot left over.

And when farmers get benefits, they are stable and don't have to worry about being bullied. They have state subsidies and the backing of the court.

If farmers live and work in peace and contentment, farm with peace of mind, and pay taxes on time, how can the country have no money and become strong?
This is completely a virtuous cycle!

Businessmen pursue interests and status, farmers pursue stability, and the country needs money to develop military strength and improve the people's welfare system. All three needs are met at once!
"Okay, that's settled, now let me talk about the fifth point."

Li Chengdao said.

Everyone immediately cheered up and listened attentively.

"The fifth point is to attach importance to and develop technology and improve productivity."

As soon as these words came out, Changsun Wuji and others looked at each other in awe.

After a while, Fang Xuanling asked with some embarrassment: "Your Majesty, I apologize for my stupidity. What do you mean by this?"

Li Chengdao spoke a lot of terms. They could barely understand macroeconomic control and market economy, but the relationship between productivity and technology... was too advanced for them.

"It's very simple. Let me give you an example. Before the invention of engraving and printing, were books copied by seal cutting or handwriting?"

"After the invention of engraving and printing, it originally took seven to ten days to copy a book. It took ten days to print the first copy. But after the engraving was completed, it only took less than ten days to print hundreds of thousands of copies. In three days, this is the productivity improvement brought about by technology.”

Li Chengdao gave a simple and clear example.

Block printing was invented decades ago, which greatly reduced the difficulty of cultural dissemination and lowered the cost of books. It is the invention that has changed the most in people's lives in recent times.

Only when everyone heard this did they suddenly realize what Li Chengdao meant.

"The craftsmanship is never a fancy skill. In my opinion, its value exceeds tens or hundreds of millions of gold!"

“Agribusiness can make a country rich, but technology can make a country strong!”

"I want to lay track carriages all over the country. If the laying is successful, then the carriages can travel thousands of miles a day, from Chang'an to Luoyang in one day."

"Just imagine, if there were such carriages during this drought, which could continuously and quickly deliver food from all over the country to the disaster-stricken areas, how could the people panic?"

"If there is this carriage, it will be much more convenient for business wars in various places, and business development will be faster."

"If we have enough technology to create powerful weapons, then in the world, which country can withstand the edge of the Tang Dynasty?"

Li Chengdao's series of questions shocked everyone's hearts.

He stretched out his right hand, clenched it tightly into a fist, and said in a deep voice: "This is the power of technology!"

(End of this chapter)