I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 409 Implementation
After Ma Riti's deviation, the opinions of the ministers soon returned to the right track.

Yuan Wei remained silent at first.

After all, compared with all the ministers in the court, he was just a small minister.

But seeing that Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song had expressed their support for the new tax system, Yuan Kui did not wait any longer, but took the lead and said, "Your Majesty, I think it is feasible! When the new tax system is implemented, I will be the first to support it!"

Although Yuan Wei often slacked off, his stance in public statements was always correct.

Of course, support is support, but Yuan Wei’s principle is “not daring to be the first in the world”, because he has suffered losses in the past!

Liu Bian remained silent and watched the various expressions of the ministers.

Liu Bian was not surprised by Yuan Kui's attitude. Unlike Yuan Kui, although Huang Wan supported the new tax system, he reminded Liu Bian that he hoped to postpone the implementation of the new tax system until next year when there was no disaster in various places.

Yin Xiu faced Liu Bian. Although he did not dare to refute directly, he immediately racked his brains to come up with several points why the new tax system was not as good as the current tax system - "Silk, cloth, and money, the mixed collection of these three items is too chaotic. It is very unfair to collect five liters of grain as tax regardless of upper, middle, or lower fields. Rashly changing the old system will cause dissatisfaction. Now that disaster relief is needed in various places in the north, the officials are short of manpower..."

Liu Bian had to admit that Yin Xiu had some talent in becoming the Shaofu.

In a hurry, I thought of several real problems.

But how could Liu Bian not know these issues?

If we just keep collecting money, even if we reduce the amount of money collected, the money shortage will still exist, so we need silk and cloth as general equivalents.

If we now collect grain from the three categories of land, I am afraid that there will be many high-quality fields that produce one dan per mu. In addition, the new tax system is just being established, and the simpler it is, the easier it will be to remember.

If someone is dissatisfied...

Liu Bian paused for a moment before he smiled and said, "Although the eight lieutenants of the Western Garden and the eight battalions of the Northern Army were all equipped with cotton clothes last year, they are not made of cotton, nor are they decorations for viewing!"

Having said this, Yin Xiu tactfully shut up.

This is the emperor's privilege. Even if there are ministers opposing it, he can still force it through.

But whether it can be implemented in practice is another question.

……

"Have you heard that the emperor has changed the tax system? From now on, taxation will be different from before."

"Your family only has thirty acres of land? Then you're getting a great bargain!"

"I heard that as long as the family has less than 80 acres of land, there will be no loss."

"What? Your neighbor's second uncle's uncle's nephew has more than a hundred acres of land... so he has to pay more rent... but the extra rent is not much... and what does this have to do with you?"

In Luoyang, at the foot of the emperor, news spread very smoothly.

But other places are a little different.

"Master, something terrible has happened. The fast horse that the master had sent home to report the news was stopped... It is said that the Henan Yin and the school affairs department received an order together, saying that there is a bandit problem in Luoyang, and all kinds of people need to be checked before they can leave!"

Yuan Shu? Jia Xu?
When Yin Xiu heard these two names, his heart trembled.

Henan Yin Yuan Shu was a tyrant in Luoyang. He came from a prominent family and was favored by the emperor, so he was not afraid of anyone.

The person who openly interacts with people in the School Affairs Department is mostly Wu Fu, who is upright and does not speak tactfully. As for the so-called interactions, most of them are Wu Fu seizing on other people's crimes and impeaching them mercilessly.

And because Wu Fu's department, the Ministry of Education, was well-informed, his impeachment efficiency was even better than that of the Imperial Censor, who was specifically responsible for impeachment.

Compared with the deputy second in the school affairs department, Jia Xu seemed to lack a sense of presence, but in recent years, who dared to really underestimate the low-key Jia Xu? Yin Xiu quickly asked the housekeeper: "Has he been questioned? Has he leaked any news from the mansion?"

The steward hurriedly said, "Master, don't worry. He saw people setting up checkpoints on the road and came back to report after finding out everything. He didn't act rashly!"

Yin Xiu heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and said with some fear: "May God bless you!"

"Fortunately he came back in time!"

"But... there was no tail following him when he came back, right?" Yin Xiu asked after calming down after feeling relieved.

"Master, don't worry. He is also an elder in the mansion... and his parents, wife and children are all in his hometown in Nanyang."

Only then did Yin Xiu feel relieved.

He sighed again, "It seems that His Majesty does not want the news of the tax system change to spread immediately! I just wonder if anyone can escape the checkpoint search."

After hearing this, the manager nearby wished he had no ears.

……

"Relying on checkpoints to limit the spread of news of the new tax system will not last long, but all I want is a time difference."

"I believe, and I must believe, that among the officials of my Han family in various places, there must be such a group of people - they accept the teachings of the saints, cultivate themselves internally, manage their families externally, and extend their own kindness to others..."

"They will definitely be able to tell the people of the world about the new tax system as soon as possible, so that the vast majority of people in the world can understand the advantages of the new tax system!"

"Mr. Yuan!" Liu Bian said, holding Yuan Shu's hand emotionally, "I believe these people will definitely take you as an example!"

"Hmm?" Yuan Shu frowned, realizing that things were not simple.

Cultivating oneself, managing the family and caring about others, is this Yuan Gonglu?
However, since it was said by his son-in-law, the emperor, himself, it must be him, Yuan Gonglu!

Although he thought so in his heart, Yuan Shu showed unusual modesty on the surface: "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise..."

"You don't have to be so modest!" Liu Bian held Yuan Shu's hand tightly.

"The people of Luoyang are also the first to know about the new tax system, and the people of other counties under the jurisdiction of Henan Yin will be the same. The new tax system has a long way to go. As the first to use the new tax system, Henan Yin, now everyone in Luoyang is looking here! I don't know how many of them are looking forward to the failure of you and me, the king and the minister, and waiting for you and me, the father-in-law and the son-in-law, to lose face!"

"Mr. Yuan, I will entrust my dignity to you!"

Yuan Shu had a determined look on his face, and he also held Liu Bian's hand tightly, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will definitely save your Majesty's face!"

... and my reputation as Yuan Gonglu! - Yuan Shu added secretly in his heart.

As for those idle people who had come to ask for favors with valuable gifts earlier, Yuan Shu no longer took them seriously.

Just a big rat!

After finishing the official business, Yuan Shu asked a little embarrassedly: "Your Majesty, I wonder how my daughter is doing in the palace?"

Yuan Shu's daughter Yuan Xin was a beauty in the Ye Ting, although she was young, she seemed independent and contented.

"Ehui is virtuous and respected by the people in the palace. The Queen Mother also likes Ehui..."

Ehui was Yuan Xin's courtesy name. After hearing Liu Bian praising Yuan Xin so much, Yuan Shu left with satisfaction.

On that day, under Yuan Shu's instructions, a group of county officials as fierce as tigers and wolves marched out of the Henan Yin Mansion in a mighty procession.

(End of this chapter)