I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 268 Debate
In Zheng Xuan's small courtyard, a simulated Taixue discussion was taking place.

The representative of the opposition is Cai Yong, the representative of the positive is Cai Yan sent by Liu Bian, and Liu Bian behind Cai Yan, and beside Liu Bian is Zheng Yi, who has just become one of his own.

The referee is Zheng Xuan.

Cai Yong fundamentally denied the necessity of the existence of the equal loss method from the very beginning: "The state established the system and imitated the sage king's emphasis on agriculture and suppressed commerce, in order to reduce people's desires and make people less impetuous. Today's equal loss method , reselling specialty grains, hoarding, and plundering people's wealth. The business of merchants is not the priority of governing the country. "

Cai Yong said that both the method and the merchants were useless. Cai Yan, who had already prepared, of course mentioned the usefulness of both, and responded: "All the gains from the method are returned to the military. Merchants trade to make up for the shortcomings of the people." , used for transportation. If craftsmen smelt iron, if there were no merchants to transport and sell it, the people would still use wood plows and bamboo paper for farming. How can it be said that it is useless? "

Cai Yong said: "Businessmen cannot be banned, but they need to be restrained. Because merchants do not engage in production, their profits are greater than those of farmers. If there are no restrictions, everyone in the world will leave in pursuit of profits. The land will be barren and food will be insufficient, which is goods. What's the point of having too many goods? If there are too many goods, then the trend of extravagance will increase. If something is good at the top, it will be followed by the bottom. If you want to make the country prosperous, you must pay attention to mulberry farming."

Cai Yan retorted: "There is no doubt that paying attention to farming and mulberry trees is the right way, but where do we get military funds? If there is no equal loss of income, land rent and taxes will need to be increased, which is not conducive to more farming and mulberry trees."

"Things have to be prioritized! In the past, the equal loss method was implemented, which seemed to be good governance. However, the equal loss method deceived the subordinates and concealed the superiors. They used their authority to purchase all the goods, did not allow people to trade with each other in the market, and colluded with merchants to make profits. Today's equal loss method Businessmen are the losers. They are greedy for profit and have no moral character. They oppress the people without restraint. It has been implemented for less than a year, and the evil deeds cannot be concealed. The impeachment of the governor of Runan is inevitable! "

After all, Cai Yan was young, had little experience, and was not confident that his argument would win. Faced with Cai Yong's great principles, he felt faintly about to be convinced.

Upon seeing this, Liu Bian quickly added: "Making profits through the equalization of losses is just a temporary strategy to make up for the lack of military resources. Using local businessmen as officials is also to make profits as soon as possible."

Cai Yong immediately said: "The one who created the figurines has no descendants! Businessmen are inherently cunning, so using them as officials is no different from luring a wolf into the house."

So Liu Bian brought up the old story again: "So, where do the military resources come from?"

However, Liu Bian's statement was exactly what Cai Yong wanted. Cai Yong even took the time to tidy up his beard before saying: "The Book of Records warns against cunning summer, the Book of Changes attacks ghosts, and the sage kings attack the unruly and seek special treatment." However, there are similarities and differences, and the situation is different. The strategies of the past cannot be the same as those of today.”

"Furthermore, with Emperor Wu's far-sighted strategy and the savings of the Wen and Jing dynasties, the Salt and Iron strategy used the world's abundance to conquer all directions and make all directions submit. However, with such great achievements, within a few decades, both the officials and the people were deprived."

"Although the enemies outside today are not as prosperous as the Xiongnu or as far away as Dawan, the Qiang people have been suffering for many years. The Xiongnu in the north have gone and the Xianbei has risen again. They are blindly using troops. How does the reserve today compare with that of that time?"

After Liu Bian listened, he didn't know why. Cai Yong's statement could have been used to refute Cai Yan before, but he had to wait for himself to speak. He must have wanted to stop the war from his own heart.

At this time, Cai Yan came to his senses and added: "It's not what my father said. It's just this one time for businessmen to serve as officials. From now on, those with both ability and political integrity will be given priority."

Cai Yan probably felt that he was hesitant before, so he did not forget to fire a map cannon at the end: "Also, the governor has his own two thousand stones as a supervisor. If he is not qualified, he should be like what happened in Runan, and there will be senior officials to advocate for the people. It can also warn evil people.”

At this time, Cai Yong saw Liu Bian and Cai Yan singing in harmony.

I couldn't help but feel happy, and there was still a little bit of indescribable complex emotions in my heart. I didn't continue to struggle with the previous issue, but directly attacked the officialdom - "Little officials are greedy and despicable, and they are often driven by profit, and there are many senior officials." Incompetent people are easily deceived by petty officials..."

"The calculation of gifts is based on money, but there is still a certain amount, and it is based on special products in kind. What price should be used to avoid treating the people harshly?"

Ultimately, they are not here to decide who wins or loses.

Then while talking, both parties inevitably went off topic.

Of course, this is also normal.

There is no way that the debate is not off-topic. It is a debate about salt and iron. Didn't it develop from a discussion at the beginning to a personal attack later? That is to say, Cai Yong and Cai Yan are biological father and daughter. This is just a simulation, and even the saint's remarks are quoted relatively rarely.

The real Taixue Council is much more intense than this, but there are only so many statements in total, and there are only a few arguments and arguments.

"What do you think, Master Zheng?"

Liu Bian's attainments in Confucian classics were not sufficient, but he had to make some preparations for the Taixue discussion. He could not finish the debate, so he should not say a word.

This is the fundamental purpose of Liu Bian's simulation of this debate. He must at least have a response to those possible arguments.

……

Liu Bian returned to the palace with his harvest.

This trip once again clarified some of Liu Bian's ideas for the future of Junshufa. Of course, he had to discuss it with Lu Zhi and others in the end.

Liu Bian still has this self-awareness.

The problems that arose in the early Han Dynasty were mainly caused by the corruption of official administration, collusion between officials and businessmen, and the abuse of laws by petty officials.

Including the calculation of property taxes based on family assets and the corresponding complaints, sick cows are recorded as good cows, dilapidated houses are recorded as Guangsha... Small officials with public power face the common people who have no ability to counterattack. Act wantonly.

In the Later Han Dynasty, due to various reasons, public power left the countryside to a large extent. It changed from the situation in the Pre-Han Dynasty where the government was responsible for all the seeds and farming time, and instead transferred power to the clans tied by blood.

There may not be any caution against the former.

Therefore, scholar-bureaucrats instinctively opposed any policy that expanded the power in the hands of petty officials, and changing the calculation of taxes into real goods was one of them.

But Liu Bian had nothing to do about it. He couldn't turn other places into Luoyang where the imperial students went to the countryside.

After Liu Bian took Cai Yan back to the palace, he did not encounter any criticism from the two queen mothers, but received Liu Xie's request.

"You want to go to Taipei University?"

Liu Xie nodded quickly and said half in request and half in expectation: "I heard people talking about the Emperor's brother's plan to open an imperial college in Dongguan. It should be a grand event. I want to go and see it."

Liu Bian realized that he had indeed paid less attention to Liu Xie this year, and agreed: "It will be okay to take you with me then."

Seeing Liu Xie's face beaming with joy, Liu Bian continued: "But before that, I have to test your coursework... Please write a big calligraphy article for me to read first."

Liu Xie was not afraid at all and was eager to try.

(End of this chapter)