Wentang

Chapter 788 Weird changes

Passerby A: "Have you heard? Xia Guogong said that he will give a reward of [-] gold coins to scholars who pass the Jinshi examination."

Passerby B: "How is that possible? That's a thousand gold coins, enough for our family to last for several lifetimes."

Passer-by C: "Not only that, I heard that their salaries will be increased several times."

Passer-by B: "How many times? The official salary is already high, but now it has to be increased several times. This is too much."

Passerby A: "Who says it's not."

Passer-by C: "It is said that if this matter is really passed, the imperial court will spend an extra 1000 million yuan in money and food every year."

Passerby B: "Hiss, 1000 million... Wan Guan? This is impossible, right? What do you think he is trying to do?"

Passerby A: "You are stupid, he is an official and naturally wants to make money."

Passerby B: "But he is the Duke of the state, and he will seal the state in the future."

Passerby C: "Didn't he still be an official in our Tang Dynasty before he sealed off the country? He had to eat salary."

……

Zhang San: "Do you remember the tax-free privileges that those scholars fought over a few days ago?"

Li Si: "Why don't you remember, yesterday I was arguing with those scholars and almost got into a fight."

Zhang San: "There is new news. It is said that Duke Xia came to court today and gave a solution."

Li Si: "Xia Guogong? Is that the living god? If the relationship is good, he will definitely come up with a good solution."

Zhang San: "A good way? Hmph, I don't know if it's a good way, but if you know his way, you'll be pissed off."

Li Si: "If you accumulate a little virtue in your mouth, it will be a living god, and you will be careful to pay for your blessings."

Zhang San (shivering, looking left and right, lowering his voice):

"Let me tell you, Xia Guogong's method is to give a thousand gold coins to everyone who has passed the Jinshi examination, and increase their salaries several times in exchange for their tax-free privileges."

Li Si (raised his voice): "This can't be, can this stupid idea be thought of by Xia Guogong?"

Zhang San: "Keep your voice down, this matter has been spread all over the world now, but you don't know it yet."

Li Si: "Then I still don't believe it. How could Duke Xia come up with such a bad idea. Even if he thought of it, there must be something we haven't figured out."

Zhang San: "Can there be any secrets? Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry has already settled the accounts, and the imperial court exempts officials from taxes every year, which is only a few million guan."

"If he follows his method, he will have to spend more than 1000 million guan, and the court will lose 700 million guan in this round. He just wants to cheat the court."

Li Si: "Why? Isn't he the son-in-law of a saint?"

Zhang San: "He still has students. This kind of high-ranking official thinks a lot, how can he be as straightforward as us ordinary people."

Li Si: "I still don't believe it."

……

You can sit in any crowded place in the capital for a while and you can hear related discussions, but Yue Shan's reputation has been ruined by this wave, and many people jumped to scold him for being black-hearted and so on.

The powerful and bureaucrats are also discussing this matter in private.

Zhao Guogong's mansion.

Changsun Wuji sat alone in the study, silently thinking about what happened today.Others thought Yue Shan was crazy, but he didn't think so.

This incident clearly showed that Li Shimin and Yue Shan were acting, but why did they act in this play?

It is obviously not a good deal to give money to those who pass the Jinshi exam, and to increase the salaries of officials all over the world. Why do they still do this.

In other words, why the emperor would rather lose 800 million yuan in money and food every year to take back the tax-free privilege.

What kind of calculation is there.

Tax-free, tax-free, land, business...land...business...big bureaucrats, tax-free...

He wrote these words on white paper and kept thinking about them. He believed that the reason must be in these few words.

Not only was he thinking out of thin air, but he was also thinking about some records handed down from his family.

Gradually, he had a guess and captured a word: land annexation.

Land is wealth, and the two are concentrated in the hands of the powerful in peaceful times.

"Hiss." He couldn't help but gasped, and finally guessed what the emperor and Yue Shan were planning.

"Tuk tuk." At this moment there was a knock on the door, and Chang Sun Chong's voice came: "Father, are you in?"

Changsun Wuji rubbed his face to ease his expression, and then said, "Come in."

When the eldest grandson rushed in, his expression had returned to normal, and he asked, "Sit down, is there anything you can do for me so late?"

Chang Sun Chong sat down at the side and said, "I have something I want to ask you for advice."

Changsun Wuji said, "Oh, what's the matter?"

Chang Sun Chong asked inexplicably: "What is the dean doing? Why did he propose such an obviously uneconomical solution?"

Changsun Wuji shook his head and said: "Ordinary people can still understand the calculations if they can't figure it out. I'm really disappointed if you can't figure it out."

Chang Sun Chong smiled wryly and said, "You think too highly of me, my abilities are not much better than ordinary people."

Changsun Wuji said: "I'm not talking about your ability, but your vision. Ordinary people can only know about a generation or two through their fathers and grandparents. If they want to know history, they can only read books."

"But the book is too one-sided. It only records what others want you to see, and there are many things that they don't want you to see. So it is understandable for ordinary people to have narrow vision."

"You are different. How can we say that our family has been passed down by the ministers for hundreds of years, and the knowledge accumulated in these hundreds of years is more precious than any book."

"I'm so disappointed that you're sitting on such valuable knowledge and can't take advantage of it."

Chang Sun Chong said in shame: "I have let you down, and I ask for your advice."

Changsun Wuji said: "The total amount of taxes exempted by officials through tax-free privileges is only more than 300 million guan, and Yue Shan has to exchange 1000 million guan per year for their privileges. You must be surprised why he came up with such a cost-effective method."

Chang Sun Chong said: "Yes, it's not just me, many people can't figure it out, the dean is not such... such a stupid person."

Changsun Wuji sighed and said, "I am hesitant to tell you about this matter now. The involvement is too great. If it is leaked out, our eldest grandson's family will be ruined. Now I leave the decision to you, do you still want to hear it? "

Chang Sun Chong was stunned for a moment, and then his expression became serious. After a while, he said: "No, even if I know about this kind of thing, I can't do anything. It will only increase the danger. It's better not to know. I've let you down."

Unexpectedly, Changsun Wuji laughed: "Haha... no, I'm not disappointed. People, especially those who stand at the top like us, are most afraid of not being able to recognize themselves."

"I'm very pleased that you can realize the scope of your abilities and endure the temptation to live in such a big secret."

"Although you can't apply all the knowledge passed down by our family, based on your current knowledge and your self-knowledge, you will definitely have a place in the court in the future."

Chang Sun Chong's expression brightened. This was the first time his father praised him like this, which made him a little embarrassed: "Father has praised him, but I'm still far behind."

Changsun Wuji smiled and said: "Not being complacent is also an excellent quality, so let's say so much about you, let's talk about your job transfer."

Chang Sun Chong sternly said, "Say it."

Changsun Wuji said solemnly: "This time, it is neither the saint's intention nor my intention to transfer you to Beijing, but His Royal Highness the crown prince's intention."

"Your Highness? Why?" Chang Sun Chong asked puzzled.

"There are not so many reasons. You are his cousin. It is only natural for him to promote you." Changsun Wuji said.

"But...how should I deal with myself in court?" Chang Sun Chong asked.

"You will serve in the East Palace, and you will serve him as your monarch in the future." Changsun Wuji said.

"But the saint..." Changsun Chong subconsciously retorted.

"The saint is the monarch I am loyal to, the prince is the monarch you are loyal to. That's it, understand?" Zhangsun Wuji interrupted him and said.

"I...understood." How could Chang Sun Chong not understand what his father meant, which was to make himself a hero.

He couldn't figure out what happened in Beijing, why such a big change happened only a few years after he was sent to the outside world.

The sage suddenly transferred the prince back, and it was fine to take over the cabinet, and he was allowed to set up his own officials.The prince didn't know how to avoid suspicion, and blatantly cultivated a small team.

Not only did his father not object, but he also let him assist the prince with all his strength.

I don't understand, I really don't understand.

But he believed that his father would not harm him. Although he couldn't figure out what happened, he decided to do what his father said.

Changsun Wuji pointed out again: "Remember, don't make an enemy of Du He, he is the most trusted person of the prince. If you two quarrel too much, His Highness will alienate you instead of him."

Chang Sun Chong said displeasedly: "Wouldn't that make me a respondent? If so, I'd rather not go to the East Palace."

Changsun Wuji explained: "Public is public and private is private. Make this point clear. If there are differences in political opinions, just say it directly, don't substitute personal feelings, understand?"

Chang Sun Chong's expression turned better, and he said, "I understand. Don't worry, I won't discriminate between public and private."

Changsun Wuji nodded and said: "I believe you can do it, and you can also get closer to Chen Zhong. He is Yue Shan's disciple, so he will know what to do."

Chang Sun Chong said in surprise: "Aren't you and the dean..."

Changsun Wuji smiled complacently: "Yuhu came to our house as a guest the day before yesterday, and he didn't want to leave. This is the art of being an official. You still have a lot to learn."

……

After the imperial examination was over, tens of thousands of candidates who took the exam also knew the news immediately.

Not surprisingly, they were shocked, and then started a new series without taking a break.

First you have to figure out whether this thing is true or false, and then decide what to do.

In a certain house, more than ten people including Yuan Qun, Wei Yi, Liu Jingli gathered together.

They are all humble scholars who support the reformists, and because they are relatively easy to talk to, they form a small group.This small house was found by Jiaodong King Li Daoyan for them to facilitate their gatherings.

Wei Yi couldn't wait to ask: "Brother Yuan, I don't know what King Jiaodong said?"

Yuan Qun frowned and said: "The news is true. Duke Xia did indeed propose this plan in the early court."

Everyone is a little confused about his thoughts, why are you still frowning when the matter is true?It made us think it was a fake, so we worried for a long time in vain.

Wei Yi had a good relationship with him, so he asked questions.

Yuan Qun glanced at the crowd and said: "Masters, we are all people who read the books of sages and sages, in order to serve the court and benefit the people."

"Xia Guogong's policy is really... really... unacceptable. It is not a gentleman's action to harm the public and benefit the private."

"This..." Everyone looked at each other, some didn't know what to say.

Yuan Qun sighed, and said in a dispirited manner: "Think about it again, I'm tired and go back to rest." After speaking, he ignored other people's persuasion and turned to leave.

After such a thing happened, everyone no longer had the intention of gathering, and the gathering broke up like this.

……

There was also a dispute in another house, but the reason for the dispute was different.

Sima Qing said angrily: "How can you do this? You agreed to oppose this matter together at the beginning, how can you go back on your word for a little favor from the court?"

"Besides, Xia Guogong just mentioned the same thing. The sage hasn't agreed yet, and the princes in the court will definitely object. You are a little too impatient to withdraw now."

The other members were also embarrassed by what he said.

But there were also people who were said to be angry from embarrassment: "What's wrong with me just returning, Xiaoen Xiaohui? That's a thousand gold coins, which is several times the salary."

"Your Sima family's great achievements are not to be taken seriously. Our family is just a small family, but we are not as grand as you. I will leave the words here today. As long as the court follows Xia Guogong's method, I will be the first to stand up. support."

"Yes, my family doesn't have as much land as yours, so I really take this little favor from the court into my eyes."

"I also support Xia Guogong's method."

"Me too."

Sima Qing was about to go mad with anger: "You... you people who see profit and forget righteousness, I am ashamed to be with you."

"Heh...don't make yourself so noble. The objection is only because of the abundance of fields in the family. The compensation given by the court cannot make up for the loss of your family. To put it bluntly, it is still for money."

"Yes, my family's land was accumulated by our ancestors, how did your family's land come from? Don't you think that we all don't know?"

There was a small gang breaking up.

……

Soon everyone discovered a strange situation. The row that originally supported the reform became silent. Even if they spoke out, they opposed Yue Shan's suggestion.

However, a large part of those who opposed the reform before stood up and shouted for him, thinking that his method of high salary and honesty was right.

We can't just let the horse run, but also let the horse eat enough. How can we serve the court if we can't eat enough?

In this weird situation, the ministers in the DPRK did not dare to express their opinions easily.

Support will cause a commotion, and opposition will also cause a commotion. It is better to keep silent and observe and observe.

The key is that the outside world has been arguing for such a long time, and the ministers have not made a thousand or eight hundred memorials on this matter, but the emperor has not expressed his position.

Everything seemed too weird.

(End of this chapter)