A great man of the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 269 Young Man’s Sword

When Shen An first met Zhao Zhongzhen, he was still a naughty half-year-old child, leading Yang Mo around the world.

As the situation inside and outside the palace changes, this half-grown child is gradually becoming more sensible and mature.

Zhao Yunrang was old and Zhao Zongshi had a mental breakdown. In the huge county palace, Zhao Zhongzhen had to stand up and share the worries of his grandfather who loved him.

Zhao Zhen looked at him and nodded slightly.

Being an emperor often depends not on your ability, but more on your attitude.

attitude decides everything!

Zhao Zhongzhen's attitude was very serious. He spoke his opinions seriously, without fancy words, and just used the simplest way of living to describe the lives of the people at the bottom.

It's not gorgeous, but it shocked the emperor and the ministers.

They were looking at the young clan master, watching him speak seriously about his findings.

"you……"

Zhao Zhen felt that he saw some shadows of himself in the past.

But back then, he didn't have such freedom and could leave the palace and wander around at any time.

He even felt a little envious, "Why are the people suffering?"

If it was an appetizer before, now it's a feast.

The prime ministers immediately cheered up.

Zhao Zhongzhen said without hesitation: "The people suffer because of taxes."

Taxation is a sensitive topic. Zhao Zongjiang avoided this topic, but Zhao Zhongzhen chose to face it head-on.

There was more curiosity in Fu Bi's eyes. He wanted to know whether Zhao Zhongzhen was ignorant and fearless, or... confident.

Zhao Zhen was also very curious, so he asked: "Is it possible to solve it? How to solve it?"

This problem is too big, let alone Zhao Zhongzhen, even the prime ministers and assistants are helpless.

Fu Bi smiled slightly, feeling that the official's question was a bit excessive. But he also wanted to see Zhao Zhongzhen's response.

Unable to answer, still confused and confused...

This is the time to test your temperament.

There is no need for an emperor to have anything else, but magnanimity is indispensable.

Zhao Zhongzhen thought for a while, "Taxation depends on the scale. The scale of taxation in the Song Dynasty, I think, should be based on the people's ability...to survive."

These words seemed to show consideration for these monarchs and ministers, but they were like a slap in the face, causing pain on their faces.

As long as the people live, it will be fine.

Are you okay?

Fu Bi was looking at Zhao Zhongzhen, trying to see if he meant to be sarcastic.

As long as you live!

Is this too demanding?

Zhao Zhen felt a little hot on his face, "What about taxes?"

The expenses of the Song Dynasty were so great that Zhao Zhen did not dare to reduce taxes. He said he would reduce taxes every time he held sacrifices in the suburbs, but when he came down, the ministers and assistants only had to tell him that once taxes were reduced, the Song Dynasty would not be able to survive, and all his kindness would be helpless.

So he said countless times that he wanted to reduce taxes, but in the end he could only stop at words. The Song Dynasty remained the same.

Zhao Zhongzhen was a little disappointed. He remembered Shen An's words.

Take your time, we are young, don't be in a hurry. Innovation is never a simple matter. If you try to succeed once, you are either naive or have ulterior motives.

He suppressed the regret in his heart and said: "There are also local officials. Only when I went there this time did I know that in addition to taxes, the greed of local officials added fuel to the fire..."

"anything else?"

Zhao Zhen gradually became more happy.

Does this young man actually have such knowledge?

But he was worried that this was the teaching of Shen An or others, so he couldn't help but ask.

Fu Bi felt that it was almost done. It was already rare for Zhao Zhongzhen to say this.

But he was also looking at Shen An.

Are you manipulating this behind the scenes?

"The other thing is... the people are miserable, the officials are slippery, and the officials... the officials are wise."

puff!

While everyone was being serious, this fart-like laughter broke the atmosphere.

Chen Zhongheng covered his mouth, looking at those eyes, he couldn't help but feel the pain in his hemorrhoids again.

Zhao Zhen's eyes were unkind and he slowly moved away from Chen Zhongheng.

Although this guy is a bit flattering, he knows how to do things appropriately, and... and I miss the past!

Zhao Zhen decided to let him go, but as soon as he turned around, he saw the prime ministers who were holding back laughter.

The talent was about to be heavy. Everyone thought that Zhao Zhongzhen was a good young man who cared about the country and the people, but he suddenly flattered him and said that he was a wise official.

This turn of events is so fast that it makes people laugh.

Zhao Zhen also smiled and said: "For thousands of years, the people have been suffering. Politicians just want to make their hard life easier. If everyone can live a good life, how much food will they get?"

Fu Bi praised: "There is a certain amount of wealth in the world. If there are more people, there will be less in the court, so we must save money..."

He began to explain his economic theory, and Zhao Zhongzhen couldn't help but look confused: "Rich Prime Minister, how can there be a fixed amount of wealth in the world?"

Fu Bi frowned and said, "There are only so many things in the world, why aren't they fixed?"

Zhao Zhongzhen shook his head and said: "No, this is wrong. May I ask the rich prime minister, where does the wealth come from?"

Yo ho!

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but laugh, and Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang also laughed.

Fu Bi is so old-fashioned, and you actually want to argue with him...

Zhao Zhen gave Shen An a look and signaled him to stop Zhao Zhong's needle.

This young man is pretty good, at least he didn't do it half-heartedly, but completed the task of experiencing the people's sentiments by himself.

People from the Imperial City Department have been reporting Zhao Zhongzhen's every move outside the city in great detail.

That boy is very serious.

Zhao Zhen likes serious young people, which will make him forget about the situation of getting along with a group of old foxes every day.

That's why he tolerated Zhao Zhongzhen's travelogue-like description before.

It is because of the tolerance in the past that I have gained the joy now.

This young man is not bad, but he is a bit aggressive. I don’t know who he is like with this temperament.

He glanced at Shen An again, thinking of this guy's 'achievements' in court, and couldn't help but complain secretly.

If Zhao Zhongzhen learns from Shen An's hatred of evil, he may not have a good life in the future!

Fu Bi also found it funny and said: "Wealth comes from the fields and from the mines. There are roughly a number of these, and there are only so many that can be changed. How can you still make wealth?"

This is the most popular theory of wealth at the moment, and Sima Guang admires it the most, and uses it as a basis to promote his own theory that "the world's wealth is fixed."

This is such a philosophizing of economic issues!

Shen An covered his forehead, but his movements became louder and made a sound, attracting the attention of the emperor and his ministers.

Zhao Zhen coughed dryly and said, "Do you have something to say?"

This question was too big, and Zhao Zhen felt that Zhao Zhongzhen couldn't answer it, and the young man would inevitably be embarrassed, so he planned to sneak Shen Anti out as a shield.

This is an honor. I will only let you step out to block the gun if I trust you.

Shen An was itching to come out and squirt, but in the end she just regretfully stopped the thought.

Zhao Zhongzhen can handle this.

If he didn't come out, Zhao Zhen and the ministers thought they couldn't argue with Fu Bi, so they simply pretended to be stupid.

This man’s character is not good!

Aren't you the one who wears the same pants as Zhao Zhongzhen? Why has it shrunk now?

This man... is such a scumbag!

The prime ministers and assistants shook their heads slightly, but Xiao Qing was a little excited and whispered: "Where is your loyalty?"

Shen An smiled. This smile seemed to Xiao Qing to be guilty, so he felt proud.

"Your Majesty, the world's wealth is never certain."

Zhao Zhongzhen's expression was serious. He knew that every word he said at this moment would determine the future fate of the county prince's palace.

He wanted to be cautious, but a voice roared deep inside.

Get them! Let them be disgraced!

This is a kind of excitement!

Zhao Zhongzhen's complexion began to turn red.

Zhao Zhen saw it.

The ministers saw it.

Xiao Qing also saw it.

They all thought it was a blush of embarrassment.

Only Shen An knew that the boy he had trained was going to go crazy.

He smiled slightly, glanced at Zhao Zhen, and then closed his eyes, wanting only to listen to the world with his ears.

"Xiang Fu, wealth comes from the land, from rivers, from the ocean, but wealth ultimately comes from people."

Zhao Zhongzhen's voice sounded a little excited, as if he was a child who discovered wealth.

“Wealth comes from people?”

Fu Bi wanted to laugh, but held back. He had to maintain the demeanor of a prime minister. Immediately, a wave of depression rose up, causing his expression to gradually turn cold.

He said calmly: "Wealth comes from land..."

Zhao Zhongzhen interrupted him unceremoniously, "But wealth is created by people, just like fields. Without farming, there is no wealth. Besides, how much can one acre of land produce?"

His voice became louder and louder, and Shen An narrowed his eyes slightly with a smile.

What does it mean to have a certain amount of wealth?

This is purely a philosophical proposition, but you are not philosophers, right?

A group of the most powerful people in the Song Dynasty were actually lecturing on a philosophical proposition.

Idiots!

The young man I teach is like a sharp sword that will pierce your old heart.

Zhao Zhen put his hand on his thigh and stared at Zhao Zhongzhen, feeling something bad in his heart.

It's like the feeling when someone wants to stir things up.

So he looked at Shen An, and when he saw a smile on his lips, he couldn't help but feel a thump in his heart.

This guy is so calm, it's obvious that... he wants to stir things up!

Fu Bi also had a smile on his face and his attitude was very relaxed.

It's just a quibble. I will teach the young man a lesson later, but I have to control the scale well and not suppress him too much, so as not to inflate Zhao Zongjiang's arrogance.

This is balance, a required course for Zaifu.

It’s difficult!

He was sighing.

“When our ancestors practiced slash-and-burn farming, how much could one acre of land produce?”

Zhao Zhongzhen said with piercing eyes: "Is there silk at that time? Is there cloth? Is it possible to have such a grand occasion now?"

Zeng Gongliang blinked, feeling that this topic could no longer be answered.

But Fu Bi said calmly: "Wealth has a certain number, which means that the number of fields and mines has a certain number."

There is only so much land under our feet, and there are only so many minerals. At present, it seems that they are almost full, and there is no room for improvement. Isn't this a certain number?

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly. He also wanted to make the Song Dynasty richer, but the huge empire was mired in mud. Every step he took was difficult and even had to pay a huge price.

He tried hard, but Fan Zhongyan and the others failed.

There is no way!

He looked at Zhao Zhongzhen.

"What about increasing grain income? How much grain was harvested from one acre of land before? How much is it now?"

Zhao Zhongzhen asked: "Where are the hidden mines? Where are the ships that can catch more fish?"

Fu Bi shook his head and said, "But there is only so much land, and there are only so many fish... We have finished exploring and planting, what else is left?"

This was sophistry, and even Zhao Zhen felt it was a bit bullying.

But Shen An knew that this was just a matter of vision.

The vision of these monarchs and ministers is so big, like a frog sitting in a well looking at the sky, thinking that the world is only that big, with so many resources and wealth.

The most critical thing is that they ignore the role of people as wealth creators.

Zhao Zhongzhen smiled: "Then go and seize new land."

Boom!

There seemed to be thunder and wind in the hall.

Everyone is dumbfounded!

Zhao Zhen was also dumbfounded.

The argument supporting the fixed amount of wealth is that the land is fixed, and the Central Plains has been an agricultural country since ancient times, and there is currently no hope of increasing production.

If agriculture cannot grow, in the eyes of kings and ministers, wealth cannot grow.

That's why Fu Bi thought that Zhao Zhongzhen was fooling around.

But later Zhao Zhongzhen counterattacked by saying that every piece of wealth can grow, and there are arguments to support it.

Fu Bi couldn't refute, so he cunningly replied with the fixed number of land.

Look, the Song Dynasty only had so much land, how could its wealth increase?

He felt a little shameless, but Zhao Zhongzhen's answer made him confused.

Then go capture new lands!

The temperature in the palace seemed to drop instantly. UU Reading www.uukanshu.net

Fu Bi shuddered.

Chen Zhongheng's complexion turned a little pale.

Zeng Gongliang was in a daze.

Han Qi's breathing was a little rapid.