pdf-ebookys Chapter 162: Times Change
Chapter 162: Times Change
Before Emperor Jing could think about it, he heard Shen Tang continue to speak:
"Emperor Gaozu established this system to reward meritorious officials. We continue it today, and it will still work with minor modifications.
As long as you have made contributions, you will naturally be able to enjoy corresponding tax reductions and exemptions.
If you think you are superior to others because of your ancestors' achievements, you will be wasting the trust of the emperor and the people."
Master Gu waited for Shen Tang to finish speaking, then immediately continued:
"Your Majesty, I believe that Marquis Ning'an's words make sense.
The common people wear coarse clothes and wear linen cloth, and eat coarse grains. Those who are poor may not eat meat for a whole year.
As the head of all officials, I cannot sleep or eat peacefully whenever I think of these things."
The Taifu was a man of integrity, frugal throughout his life and incorruptible.
He enjoyed extremely high prestige both in the court and among the people.
"I believe that officials should be the first to worry about the world's worries and the last to rejoice in it.
The desert wind blows fiercely, and the frost and snow outside the Great Wall are cold. The soldiers who defend Great Qi for us should enjoy tax exemptions, as should those upright, incorruptible officials beloved by the people... They should not only enjoy tax exemptions, but also be rewarded.
Instead, those who go out to order servants around, spend lavishly on wine and women, and those who rely on their ancestors' influence to commit crimes can enjoy tax exemptions."
Shen Tang's words were very blunt, like a knife stabbing into the hearts of those in power in the aristocratic families.
"Shen Tang hasn't read much, but he knows that a true man should be worthy of heaven, earth, and his actions. Shen Tang is naturally inferior to the learned and profound knowledge of the masters. However, they also know that Shen Tang's success today is due to his contributions to the country and the people."
When the Qingliu people heard Shen Tang's speech, they were all very excited.
Shen Tang met the gazes of those people from the aristocratic families without any sign of retreat.
"If Great Qi wants to achieve true prosperity and become a great nation that all nations come to pay tribute to, the first thing we must do is to reward people based solely on their own abilities, rather than shamelessly asking for rewards.
What Da Qi needs are capable people, not those good-for-nothings."
Ministers: It’s too dirty, the insults are too filthy.
But what Shen Tang said was right. Aren’t the useless nephews and nieces in their family just good-for-nothings?
Aren’t they just relying on the protection of their ancestors?
Everyone looked at Shen Tang with angry eyes.
Shen Tang also knew how shocking what he said today was.
She didn't want to say it, but seeing her working hard for the welfare of the people, but thinking that in the end the taxes would fall into the hands of these people who did nothing, Shen Tang couldn't help but provide for them.
"Institutions are static, but people are dynamic. When Emperor Gaozu pacified the chaotic world, the institutions and rituals he used were naturally different from the peaceful and prosperous era that Your Majesty has ushered in.
When times change, the situation changes; when the situation changes, the feelings change; when the feelings change, the methods change."
After Shen Tang finished speaking, he stood respectfully below and said nothing more.
When times change, the situation changes; when the situation changes, the emotions change; when the emotions change, the methods are different.
These dozen words made Emperor Jing's eyes light up.
Everyone looked at Shen Tang with a hint of fear in their eyes amidst their anger.
Such words actually came out of the mouth of a teenage girl.
"When times change, the situation changes, and when the situation changes, the feelings change..."
Master Gu kept muttering to himself, and finally knelt on the ground with a plop.
"I congratulate Your Majesty on gaining such a good minister!"
Grand Tutor Gu stood up and raised his eyes with red rims. He had experienced three dynasties.
He passed the imperial examination three times in the imperial examination, which was an amazing achievement. He was the leader of the upright elite, but he was old and would retire soon.
Once he retires, the aristocratic families will definitely fight back, and return the oppression they have endured over the years to the common people and the upright.
But God sent Shen Tang.
What they worry about most is not that they will be suppressed, but that the lives of the people may become difficult again after so many years.
However, unexpectedly, Shen Tang appeared from the sky, and the people now have no worries about food and clothing, and most of their anxieties have been resolved.
As long as taxes do not increase, the people will naturally live a good life.
Since the interests of the aristocratic families have been pried into, they naturally have to find ways to make up for it. The biggest way is to take the opportunity to increase taxes.
The excuse is: Nowadays, every household has tens of thousands of kilograms of grain stored, so taxes should naturally be increased.
But they miscalculated.
When Shen Tang said this, it was not just a puncture wound, but it also exposed the underwear of those aristocratic families.
It just so happens that these people's contributions are not as great as Shen Tang's, and what they say is the truth.
"Your Majesty, I have been diligent and hardworking for decades since I entered the court. Even if I have no merits, I have worked hard.
Now, what Ning An Hou said makes all the hard work we, the gentlemen, have done over the years seem worthless.
I, a humble official, have never suffered such a great humiliation."
Shen Tang thought to himself: Here it comes, he’s starting to play the victim.
But he was not in a hurry. Shen Tang tilted his head and looked at the minister:
"You know you can only do hard work, so why don't you make room for capable people who can make contributions?"
"But isn't it a virtue that adults can recognize their own limitations?"
Shen Tang turned to the other ministers with a smile:
"If other gentlemen are like this gentleman and can clearly recognize their own incompetence, they can also report it directly to the emperor and stop working so hard and go home to enjoy a peaceful life.
Didn't you all say you wanted to share happiness with the people? Why not come back with me to Jiangnan and plant cotton together?
The other adults, whose eyes were red and who wanted to play the victim, immediately held back their tears.
Damn, you are the only one who says all the good and bad things.
Shen Tang was like a genius who was completely beyond their understanding, ignoring and breaking the rules, but able to escape unscathed under the imperial power.
Emperor Jing sat at the top, looking at Shen Tang alone, and the aristocratic families were speechless.
What should I do? I feel secretly happy.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to hand over 20% of the cotton produced to the national treasury for the construction of some infrastructure in Da Qi, including road construction, dam construction, and school construction..."
Originally, the 20% profit was intended to be used to establish connections with the imperial court, but now it seems that this money does not need to be paid.
Ministers: After scolding us, you still want to donate money to the national treasury. Are you still human? Do you want to let others live?
"Without the trust of the Emperor and the people, there would be no Shen Tang. Everything Shen Tang has is given by the Emperor and the people. I am willing to serve Da Qi!"
When the minister heard this, he suddenly realized what a terrible statement this was.
The person in power now is Emperor Jing, not Emperor Gaozu!
Emperor Jing stood on Shen Tang's side, and now the people have enough food and clothing and are no longer afraid of turmoil. Isn't it only a matter of time before he wants to deal with them?
Those who thought it through in an instant immediately lowered their heads and stopped talking.
What they need to do now is to reduce the losses of the aristocratic families and nobles, rather than confronting Emperor Jing's upright faction head-on.