Chapter 4462: Coercing Hostages
"What did he really say?"
On the long street, the carriage was swaying. Xiao Yu and Cui Xin were sitting opposite each other in the carriage. After hearing Cui Xin's words, Xiao Yu felt more and more uncomfortable.
It seems that the ultimate goal of all the actions and plans of the court now is to measure the acres of land...
But even if all the acres in the world were measured, what would be the use?
Population is the fundamental thing...
Cui Xin was a little slumped, nodded and said: "That's true... This treacherous son has no longer paid attention to the Shandong family. If he were not still afraid of his reputation, I am afraid that I would not even meet him if he came to visit in person."
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I felt so regretful. Who would have thought that an unsuccessful "counterintuitive plan" not only failed to achieve its goal and made Cui Dunli side with the Shandong family, but also made Cui Dunli form a deadly feud with the Shandong family and killed the most outstanding child of the Shandong family. Pushed into the opposing camp, the chess move is a bit different...
However, the matter has come to this, what can we do?
Xiao Yu rubbed his forehead and sighed: "This must be a strategy that His Majesty has already planned. He uses the children of Shandong to coerce the Shandong family to cooperate in measuring the acres. With such a large-scale war and careful planning, the imperial court is determined to win the matter of measuring the acres."
Suddenly, a bright light flashed in his mind, and he subconsciously said: "...could the court want to link land with taxes?"
Cui Xin was stunned and then shook his head: "In the past, has there ever been a precedent of using land to pay taxes? The land is constant, but the population is more or less. When the population is large, the taxes will be reduced, which is not good for the court. When the population is small, it will inevitably lead to heaven and earth. If you abandon the land, it will be difficult to pay taxes..."
After thinking about it carefully, he said decisively: "There is no precedent for this matter. If you want to implement it, it will be a huge change that overturns all the old systems. It will be difficult to reach the sky. Besides, when collecting taxes by head, the population can be hidden and the land can be paid." Taxes can also hide land, and the pros and cons are equal, so why bother?”
Xiao Yu deeply believed it, and also felt that his sudden idea was a bit unrealistic.
If land is used as the basis for taxation and there is no precedent to follow, then a taxation method that is realistic and has no loopholes needs to be designed from scratch. Moreover, this taxation method cannot be imagined out of thin air. After it is designed, it must be tested and run. During the operation process, loopholes are constantly found and patched until they are perfect before implementation.
This process cannot take several years, ten years, or even decades. After all, the empire is vast and has vast territory. There are huge differences in the amount of land in various places, whether it is barren or fertile, whether it is mountainous or fertile land, etc. If you want to be among them, Searching for patterns and formulating a set of policies that are compatible with various places is as difficult as reaching the sky...
Isn't it just asking for trouble to abandon the existing "renting regulations" that have already been proven to be almost perfect, and instead to create an unprecedented policy?
"It's not just my imagination, but the court's land measurement is too weird. I can't figure out His Majesty's real intention. I really can't sleep or eat well..."
Xiao Yu sighed.
Cui Xin is also worried, but he has not yet thought about the real intention behind measuring the acres. The most important thing is to bring back the tens of thousands of captured Shandong children, and for the last time he has to find out how the court plans to deal with it...
When the carriage arrived at the gate of Chongren Square, it was stopped by the gatekeeper. The servant who drove the carriage handed over the name card of Duke Guo of Song. The gatekeeper quickly saluted and then let the carriage go, allowing the carriage to drive through the gate and arrive at the gate of Duke Liang's mansion.
The servants of Duke Liang's Mansion saw a magnificently decorated carriage coming from a distance, and hurried out to greet it. When they got closer, they saw the emblem on the carriage and recognized it as the carriage of the Xiao family. They greeted Xiao while letting people in. Yu and Cui Xin got off the car.
Fang Jun, who had just returned home, was waiting outside the main hall. Xiao Yu looked at Fang Jun who was saluting on the steps, feeling filled with emotion.
Once upon a time, he used a "charity" mentality to win over Fang Jun, hoping that he could be used for his own purposes and enhance the power of the Lanling Xiao family in the court. Facts have proved that his vision was right, and he overcame all opinions and made the Xiao family's direct descendant It is not a loss for a woman to marry Fang Jun as a concubine.
However, today, Fang Jun's height is already high enough for him to look up to him. Now that the King of Jin has been defeated, he is in disrepute and is trembling with fear. Fang Jun assists Li Chengqian to put down the rebellion. He has made great achievements in battle and has a bright future. Under the decline of one and the other, there is quite a feeling. The loss and depression of things being different and people being different...
Faced with Fang Jun's courtesy, Xiao and Cui did not dare to offend him and quickly returned the courtesy. Although they were still the leaders of the two most powerful families in the world, Fang Jun was now the right servant of Shangshu and the general of Jin Wuwei. , concurrently served as Minister of Industry, nominally the second person in the dynasty, but in fact the emperor's confidant and the head of all ministers.
Fang Jun did not show his official authority in front of the two of them. He invited them into the main hall, served fragrant tea, and asked with a smile: "You two are here, what do you want to teach me?"
Xiao Yu and Cui Xin looked at each other, and the former said: "This time the King of Jin's army remonstrated and we were defeated, we relied on the traitors and our sins are unforgivable. However, Your Majesty tolerated a lot and did not punish severely, and allowed me to retire and return to old age. Xiangzi, this kindness Mountains are like the sea, and there is no reward. I should have returned to the south of the Yangtze River immediately and made preparations to measure the acres of land. I have done my best, but there are still some bonds that have not been completed, so I have to delay the time. "
Fang Jun took a sip of tea, glanced at Xiao Yu, thought for a while, and did not embarrass the other person, but asked in cooperation: "I wonder if there is any other bond?"
Xiao Yu and Cui Xin were relieved when they heard this. If Fang Jun didn't say this and instead talked about him, they really didn't know how to continue the topic. Since Fang Jun cooperated with the question, it means that Fang Jun actually understood the two of them. purpose, and will not deliberately avoid it.
Xiao Yu cheered up and said: "Speaking of which, I have to ask Erlang's opinion on this matter... This time the King of Jin raised an army, and the Shandong family rebelled, raising 100,000 private soldiers to enter the customs. The result was horrific deaths and injuries. Only After the tens of thousands of Shandong disciples returned and surrendered, they were imprisoned in the camp of the Sixth Leader of the East Palace, without any control over their life or death. , The future is uncertain. Jiangnan has made such mistakes before. Although they failed to go north to Tongguan in the end, people all over Jiangnan are inevitably worried about what kind of punishment they will suffer... I came here with Cui Gong today just to ask Erlang. , How does Your Majesty intend to deal with it? ”
Cui Xin also said on the side: "There was great chaos in the late Sui Dynasty. Shandong was the place of the Four Wars. Originally, the people's livelihood was in decline and the fields were barren. After more than 20 years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, after the Wude and Zhenguan dynasties, Shandong's population has recovered, but After this battle, countless young people were injured. If these tens of thousands If the children of Shandong cannot return to their place of origin, all parts of Shandong will cry and be miserable and desolate, and it will take decades to recover! Think of kindness! ”
After saying this, he stood up and left his seat, bowing his head to the ground.
At this time, he could not take care of his own dignity at all. He could only show his greatest sincerity, groveling in front of Fang Jun, trying to get Fang Jun's help to release tens of thousands of captured Shandong private soldiers back to their places of origin...< br>
Fang Jun picked up the tea cup and sipped the tea slowly. He remained silent for a long time and allowed Cui Xinzuo to bow his head.
Endless grief and indignation arose in Cui Xinxin. As the leader of the Shandong family, he considered himself to be a nobler being than the Li Tang royal family with Barbarian blood. He boasted that Huaxia Zhengshuo, Yanhuang Zhengshuo, and the whole world Which of the wealthy families is not asking for a marriage with Mr. Cui?
However, today I have to suffer such humiliation in front of such a junior, and I have to endure it without even daring to show the slightest expression of anger...
Xiao Yu, who was on the side, moved his buttocks and felt uncomfortable all over. Although the Jiangnan noble family was not the same as the Shandong noble family, and it was Cui Xin who was suffering humiliation now, not him, but he still felt the same.
I couldn't help but cough lightly and whispered: "Erlang, this matter..."
Fang Jun then put down the teacup, waved his hand to stop Xiao Yu's words, and sighed: "Except for me not wanting to lend a helping hand, I really can't help you. Oh, Mr. Cui, please come up quickly. How can I bear such a great gift?" Get up? It’s killing me!”
Cui Xin: You can’t bear it and you’ve endured it for so long? Something unworthy of a son of man...
Due to old age and lumbar muscle strain, I finally straightened up, returned to my seat, and asked eagerly: "Erlang is your Majesty's confidant, and now he has made great achievements and is powerful in the world. If you think about it, there must be a solution for a trivial matter!"
Ritual means that when you ask for something from someone, you should give it first. The good thing of courtesy is also... Although I am still angry in my heart, but since "Zuo Zhuan" said that it is right to do so, what can I not tolerate?
Fang Jun shook his head and said: "These Shandong private soldiers are said to be 'anti-justice', but in fact they are prisoners of war. How to deal with them must be decided by the whole court. I dare not interfere."
Cui Xin argued: "Erlang's words are wrong. The Duke of Song and the old man together led these disciples to 'act up' before the defeat of King Jin, and took the initiative to draw a clear line with the rebels. They were not defeated and captured."
Xiao Yu also said: "Although we have never turned against the King of Jin, it was because Erlang was brave and unparalleled and defeated the King of Jin first. This cannot deprive us of our 'contributions anyway'. Otherwise, how can we win the trust of the world?"< br>
"Anyway" and "captured" are two absolutely different concepts, and they also mean completely different treatments. This is a matter of principle and cannot be disputed.
Moreover, it is simply unreasonable for Fang Jun, with his red lips and white teeth, to wipe out all his "contributions"!
If he hadn't asked for help at this moment, Xiao Yu might have turned against him on the spot...
Fang Jun smiled and said nothing, asked the maid to change a pot of hot tea, and then said calmly: "You and I know the truth very well, why bother to dwell on those one or two words? But I am not prevaricating. Your Majesty, the Holy Spirit It has been decided that these Shandong private soldiers cannot return to their place of origin before the land boundary measurement in Shandong is completed.”
The Jiangnan nobles could use sea trade to force them to cooperate in measuring the acres of land, but the Shandong noble families did not regard sea trade as their main source of income. If they did not hold on to these Shandong private soldiers, would they just let them go and wait for them to go against the imperial court again? Prevent the measurement of acres?
Measuring the land is crucial to the ground-breaking reforms that will follow. No matter what means are used, they must be implemented. No matter who dares to stop the reform, they will be crushed into powder and their bones will be thrown into ashes... (End of this chapter)