Wentang

Chapter 787 It's Too Much To Give

"Duke Xia, please tell me." Both the reformers and the opposition hope that he can come up with some practical solutions.

Yue Shan said unhurriedly: "The prosperity of the world is all for profit, and the hustle and bustle of the world is for profit. You needn't deny it. Your disputes are all about the word 'profit'."

"Duke Xia's remarks are wrong. We are waiting for fairness." A reformist official retorted immediately.

"We are for the law of the ancestors." The opposition also disagreed.

Yue Shan didn't argue with them either: "Okay, you are for fairness, you are for the law of the ancestors. No matter what it is for, interests are involved in it. Does anyone object to this?"

Although neither side wanted to admit it, they also didn't want to anger Yue Shan, so they both kept silent and did not argue.

"Since interests are involved, let's put aside other things for the time being and start talking about interests first. The rich and powerful have indeed gained more benefits from the tax-free privilege. Is there any objection to this?"

Neither the pros nor the pros spoke, apparently agreeing with this point.

"When there is a national law that doesn't remain fair and just, it's problematic."

"A certain degree of amendment is needed to make it relatively fair and just. You don't object to this, do you?"

Another moment of silence.

Yue Shan didn't wait for their answer, and continued: "Since both parties think that there is a problem with this article and that certain adjustments need to be made, why are there still disputes? Let's work together to discuss an acceptable change method. Is it okay?"

The more the opposition heard it, the more they felt that something was wrong, and they returned to reform after talking about it.What's even more strange is that I actually think what he said makes sense.

The reformists were amused when they heard it, and it turned out that Duke Xia was on our side.

Li Shimin, who had long been impatient to hear their quarrel, quickly said, "Then I wonder if Cuilan can adjust it?"

Yue Shan said: "There is a way. It can not only make up for the losses of high-ranking and wealthy families, but also allow officials from poor families to get benefits."

Li Shimin cooperated and said, "Then tell me quickly."

Only then did Yue Shan come up with the solution he had prepared long ago: "From the current imperial examination as a boundary, those who have become officials before will continue to retain their tax-free privileges, and those who become officials in the future will no longer have tax-free privileges."

"But as a compensation, the imperial court directly rewarded all those who passed the Jinshi examination with a thousand guan, and increased the salaries of officials to support honesty with high salaries."

"The salary of those below the seventh rank will be increased by five times, that of those below the fifth rank will be tripled, that of those below the third rank will be doubled, and that of those above the third rank will be doubled."

"Hiss..." Both supporters and opponents in the court could not help but gasp.

Zhang Hong, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, jumped out directly: "This is absolutely unacceptable. If this method is followed, the imperial court will spend nearly ten million yuan more money and food every year. The national treasury really can't afford it, saint."

"This is impossible." Many people also stood up and opposed it together.

Faced with this situation, neither the reformists nor the opposition dared to speak out.

It was really this handwriting that frightened them. The tax-free privileges of all officials in the world are added together, and the annual exemption of money and food is only a few million.

With just one mouth, Yue Shan gave out two or three times the amount of money and food, and it was still the same amount every year.Are they solving problems for the court, or are they digging holes for the court?

In this case they say nothing.

The reformers didn't dare to support it anymore, even if they had the guts to support this kind of thing that was obviously cheating the court.

The opposition doesn't want to oppose it either.There are only a small number of bureaucrats who really work hard on ten thousand hectares of land. Most of them have a few thousand hectares of land, and the annual tax exemption is only tens or even hundreds of guan.

If the imperial court really followed what Yue Shan said, and gave every bureaucrat a thousand guan money and increased their salaries several times-they would be willing to exchange their tax-free rights.

Those who are still firmly opposed are only a few powerful families with ten thousand hectares of land.But there are too few such big families, and they became a minority in an instant.

Li Shimin didn't directly agree with Yue Shan's method, but feigned anger and said: "Nonsense, I asked you to help the court find a solution to the problem, not to help the court spread its money."

Yue Shan argued: "How can it be called nonsense? The tax-free privilege was originally a benefit promised by the court to the courtiers. Now the court wants to go back and take it back. How can it be done without giving enough compensation?"

"The Holy Son of Heaven must be reasonable in governing the country. You can't let your subjects suffer in vain. Otherwise, who would have the mood to govern the country for you?"

"Bang." Li Shimin slapped the armrest of the chair angrily, and said, "Shut up, you're talking nonsense, believe it or not, I'll beat you out."

Yue Shan hurriedly made an apology and stepped aside.

Seeing him back down, for some reason, the officials who were originally opposed to the reform suddenly felt very disappointed.

Why did you, the majestic Xia Guogong, cowardly fight with the emperor?As long as you persist, we will stand up and support you. Whoever wants tax-free privileges is our enemy.

However, Yue Shan did not stand up again, and the early dynasty ended under Li Shimin's fury.

All the ministers began to discuss, and the center of the topic was neither enfeoffment, nor the extermination of Nanyang sea lords, nor the abolition of tax-free privileges, but the method Yue Shan just proposed.

Zhang Hong was the first to find Yue Shan, and said, "Mr. Xia, you are so confused, can't you see this simple comparison?"

"If you really follow your method, the imperial court will have to spend 1000 million more money and food every year, and this is the case every year."

"Even if the tax-free privilege is abolished, the imperial court can only collect two or three million yuan in taxes from the officials, which is simply not enough to fill this big hole. In the long run, there will not be enough money in the national treasury."

The surrounding officials all heard their conversation, and although they had different thoughts, they all agreed with Zhang Hong's words.

This is digging a hole for the court.

"Of course I know, but do you think there is a better way to solve the problem?" Yue Shan spread his hands.

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, just now they thought Yue Shan was confused, but after thinking about it now, it was actually the best solution.

Zhang Hongdao: "Then don't solve it. The rules that have been like this for thousands of years naturally have their own reasons. Why must they be changed?"

Zichen Palace.

Li Shimin sat comfortably on the chair, holding a piece of icemelon in his hand, not to mention how happy he was, and he didn't look a little angry.

On the side, Li Chengqian calculated the account and asked the same question: "Why did we spend such a large price to solve this problem?"

Li Shimin waved his hand to Zhao Meng, and Zhao Meng tactfully led all the waiters back out.Li Chengqian's expression also became serious, he knew it was time for class.

After all the servants left, Li Shimin said, "You have also read history books, how much do you know about land annexation?"

Li Chengqian didn't know what this question had to do with tax-free privileges, but he replied seriously:

"There is a process of land annexation. At the beginning of the founding of the country, due to turmoil and other reasons, most of the land was concentrated in the hands of the imperial court, and the imperial court distributed it to the people..."

"As time went by, a large number of people began to lose their land, and more land was gradually concentrated in the hands of the powerful and powerful..."

Speaking of this, it was as if a thunderbolt flashed through Li Chengqian's mind, breaking through the fog in an instant.Finally, land annexation and tax-free privileges are linked together.

I finally understand why it is necessary to use a seemingly uneconomical sum of money in exchange for tax-free privileges in the hands of bureaucrats.

A satisfied expression appeared in Li Shimin's eyes, but it quickly disappeared, and he asked lightly, "Have you figured it out?"

"Understood, my father is so far-sighted, I admire him so much." Li Chengqian said sincerely.

"If you understand, do it. This is the best opportunity to abolish the tax privilege. If you miss it, you may never have it again." Li Shimin said.

"Here."

"Since we've talked about this matter, let me take this opportunity to tell you something, lest you don't know anything."

"You say."

So Li Shimin told him the theory of productivity, production relations and dynasty change that Yue Shan had told him, as well as some of his own research experience later.

Li Chengqian was stunned when he heard that, he didn't expect that his father and Yue Shan were actually researching this matter, and they really made unprecedented results.

Although I don't know if it is feasible, it is more practical than the respect for the ancients, the respect for the old and the old, the closeness to the virtuous ministers and the villain, and the down-to-earth rule that others talk about every day.

The abolition of bureaucratic tax-free privileges has such a far-reaching plan, and it can even be said to be only a part of the whole plan.

At this time, he really got a glimpse of his father's inner world, and just seeing this corner gave him a feeling of looking up from a high mountain.

If he saw the whole picture, he couldn't imagine what it would be like.He really admired his father from the bottom of his heart.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Li Shimin was very pleased with his son's adoring eyes, and smiled.

"Yes, I... really don't know what words to use to express my mood at this moment. You are my eternal role model." Li Chengqian said incoherently.

"Haha... Do you now understand why I said you still have a lot to learn?" Li Shimin couldn't control his complacency anymore, and laughed.

"Understood, I was too short-sighted before." Li Chengqian said in shame.

Li Shimin shook his head and nodded again: "Using the old standard to ask you, you are indeed an excellent prince rarely seen in history, and you will definitely be a wise king in the future."

"However, the times have changed, and what we are about to face is a major change unseen in a thousand years. You can no longer use the old standards to demand yourself."

"You have to become even better in order to steer the big ship of Datang and let it advance in the direction of victory."

"I understand, I must study hard from my father." Li Chengqian said.

Li Shimin shook his head and said: "Don't learn from me. According to Yue Shan's words, I am already an ancient person in thought, and my thoughts, thoughts and actions are all done according to the standards of the ancients. I have not kept up with the times. gone."

Li Chengqian said displeased: "It's really arrogant, my father just loves him too much."

Li Shimin was not angry at all, instead he persuaded: "Don't be angry, never be angry with a person who can see 1000 years later, in his eyes, you and I are both ancients."

"If you get angry with him, ignore him, alienate him and fear him, you are not a qualified emperor. A qualified monarch will trust him, tolerate him, and give him a stage to show his abilities."

"Because the whole country, the whole royal family, you, me and our descendants will benefit in the end. Can you understand this truth?"

Li Chengqian wanted to nod, but...

"I disappoint you, my heart is not as open as yours."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Haha... yes, it's better than anything else to be able to admit your shortcomings."

"I used to be afraid of him, and even wanted to kill him. If your mother and Lizhi didn't need him to live, I would have killed him 20 years ago."

"But the killing intent in my heart gradually faded after getting in touch with her more. Later, marrying Lizhi to him was considered to completely cut off the intention of killing him."

"Later, I began to trust him and gave him the opportunity to display his talents, and only then did I have the situation in Datang today."

"You don't need to learn from me, because you can't marry your daughter to him. But I hope you can try to accept all his abnormalities, and don't treat yourself as a king or a minister in front of him."

"When you can do this, you can use him like I did."

"Of course, there are still precautions that should be taken. Reuse him and give him everything but not let him take power, understand what I mean?"

"I understand, thank you father for teaching me." Li Chengqian said thoughtfully.

"Where did we talk just now? Oh, by the way, don't imitate me. In fact, what Yue Shan said is correct. I am indeed a little behind the times." Li Shimin sighed:

"The current changes in Datang are dizzying. I can't understand many things, and it is very difficult to deal with them."

"But I clearly know that these changes are good and will make Datang stronger and more brilliant, so I will support Yueshan in establishing a museum."

"It doesn't matter if we don't understand, as long as there are people who understand. We just need to gather those who understand and manage them well, and then put them in the most suitable position."

"The most important ability to be a monarch is to know and employ people. As long as you can do this well, the monarch is qualified."

"Yes, I understand." Li Chengqian said.

"In the future, when you have nothing to do, go to the museum more often. You don't need to understand much. At least you need to know what happened there, so that you won't be confused when you deal with it in the future." Li Shimin said.

Li Chengqian nodded yes.

"Do you know why I sent Xiang'er to Yueshan Mansion? He is indeed good at teaching apprentices, but the real purpose is to let Xiang'er learn new knowledge and his way of thinking from him."

"There are still many, many things in Yue Shan's stomach that we haven't told us. Don't force him to speak out. Sometimes knowing too much can lead to bad things. He is a measured person, and he will naturally say what he should say when the time comes."

"Even though the elephant is young, in some respects he knows far more than the two of us, but don't force him to ask. That's what he needs to do when he gets to where you and I are today."

Today, the father and son talked for a long time and talked about many topics, such as the change of dynasties, the struggle for hegemony, the closure of the country, reform... They also talked about many people, Yue Shan, Changsun Wuji, and many people in the court.

……

The method proposed by Yue Shan to resolve the disputes between the reformers and the opposition in the court hall spread throughout the capital as quickly as possible, and quickly spread to the whole world.

Unsurprisingly, this method of 'high salary to support honesty' has aroused discussions among the ruling and opposition parties, and the topic has surpassed the abolition of tax-free privileges to become the most popular topic.

(End of this chapter)