Chapter 105: Clever name
The power of the emperor rushed towards her face. Zhao Yue was so nervous that her heart beat wildly and she stuttered a bit when she spoke: "It's sung like this in operas and operas."
Xiao Jingfan asked: "What drama?"
Zhao Yue talked about several dramas in succession, all of which were popular among the people, in which the wronged people were redressed and the corrupt officials reaped the consequences.
According to Zhao Yue's narration, all these plays without exception have a section where they go to Beijing to complain. After the drum is beaten, the person who beat the drum is punished.
There are nail boards, long sticks, long barbed whips, clamping sticks... There are various kinds of punishments, which mainly highlight the misery of a person who plays the drum, which makes people's hearts tremble.
In two of the plays, the person who played the drum could not bear the punishment and died, and then his relatives and friends continued to play the drum and then were tortured, just like a relay race.
There are many similar dramas. Over time, people like Zhao Yue who watched and listened to the opera felt that before they could complain to the emperor, they had to endure some torture and lose most of their lives before they could see the emperor and state their grievances.
After listening to Zhao Yue's words, Xiao Jingfan's face had completely darkened, and he seemed to be in danger of a storm coming.
He asked in a deep voice: "Have you never heard the government's announcement that there will be no punishment for beating the drum?"
Everyone expected Zhao Yue to shake her head, but she unexpectedly nodded, "I heard it. The official read the notice and asked the villagers to listen."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingfan frowned, and there was some real doubt in his eyes: "Then why did you ask about punishment just now?"
Now that you have heard of it, you should know that there is no penalty for filing a complaint.
[Of course I don’t believe it. 】
"Everyone doesn't believe it."
Chu Liuzheng's voice and Zhao Yue's answer sounded almost at the same time.
Xiao Jingfan was stunned, tried not to look at Chu Liuzheng, and asked: "Why don't you believe it?"
【Why else? The loss of credibility. 】
Loss of credibility? What's the meaning?
Xiao Jingfan didn't understand.
He looked at Zhao Yue, hoping that Zhao Yue could give him an answer he could understand.
After the previous few questions and answers, Zhao Yue found that the good-looking emperor in front of her was not as intimidating as she imagined, so she became bolder and answered more smoothly.
"Because a relative of the official said that everything written on the notice was a lie, just to trick everyone into beating the Dengwen drum. Anyone who beats the Dengwen drum will be arrested by the guards, and not only will they be punished, but they will also be exiled. Being a slave, doing the most painful, tiring and dirty work, you will not be able to go home until you die.”
This is also the reason why she did not beat the drum, but begged Princess Xixia to take her into the palace, and then took advantage of the opportunity to file a petition.
She was not afraid of being punished, nor was she afraid of being exiled as a slave, but she was afraid that even if she took this life, she would still not be able to avenge her parents. She was afraid that her parents would not be able to close their eyes while underground.
Xiao Jingfan: "..."
Who said such outrageous things and where did they place the Dasheng Law?
The doubts in his heart not only remained unanswered, but deepened, and even felt a bit ridiculous: "You don't believe official documents with a big seal, but you believe the nonsense of an official's family member. Why?" He really didn't understand.
Isn't it possible that the words of his emperor are not as convincing as the words of a relative of Laoshi Ziguan?
[Tsk, tsk, it’s not surprising that the tyrant can ask such a question. After all, he has never gone deep into the masses. He can play tricks on civil and military officials, but he takes the people's reactions too much for granted. The Nine-Fiveth Emperor is indeed famous, but such a name will only frighten the people and make it difficult for them to believe him. 】
[However, this is not the fault of a tyrant and an emperor. It had already begun to show signs of development when the founding emperor was in power. After that, several emperors left it alone. Even Emperor Rende helped pull his son back a little bit, but only a little. 】
Xiao Jingfan lowered his eyes, he wanted to hear what this woman would say next.
Chu Liuzheng complained in his heart while turning over the gossip.
[Not to mention the previous emperors, although Emperor Rende implemented benevolent policies, reduced taxes, and promulgated many policies to benefit the people, he did not make the people love him very much. Of course, it's not that the people don't know what's good and what's wrong, it's that the officials below are acting against the will and making clever excuses. The taxes on the policy have been reduced, but the burden on the people has become heavier. 】
[Take the collection of grain taxes as an example. Emperor Rende was worried about the people and ordered the grain taxes to be halved every time there was a disaster, fearing that the people would not be able to survive. However, the policy is in place, but the officials who are really responsible are violating it and working secretly. 】
[Those who are more conscientious will receive a slight reduction of 10% or 20%; those who are arrogant will still be charged the full amount, or even more. But no matter which one is reported, the grain tax collection is halved, so how to balance the accounts in the middle? It's simple, just set up more names. 】
Chu Liuzheng looked at the long list of messy charges listed in the Bagua, going down one by one.
[After collecting the money and food, someone has to show off, right? Do you need to find a warehouse to put it in? Then you shouldn’t charge 100 million yuan to buy boxes and bamboo baskets, bamboo baskets and sacks? Not allowed to collect 100 million point warehouse management fee? 】
[When all the money and food are collected, transportation still has to be carried out. We have to collect 100 million points in transportation fees and food and accommodation fees for the troops, right? Before setting off, you have to burn incense and worship Buddha to pray for a smooth journey. You have to pay hundreds of millions of incense, wax paper and candles, right? If you meet someone with a headache or fever on the road, you have to collect hundreds of millions of medical expenses in advance, right? 】
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[It costs money to wear out boots, it costs money to wear out clothes, it costs money to change saddles and forge iron shoes, it costs money to oil axles and ships, let... Frog Fun! Even the people responsible for transportation have to pay for facial trimming! Why don't you say that people have to pay for toilet paper when going to the toilet? His father is outrageous! Even if the iron rooster walked in front of this group of people, it would be plucked to the last hair! 】
Chu Liuzheng finally opened his eyes.
[There are hundreds of millions of dollars left and right, and the emperor's pocket is still the same, but the officials along the way have become extremely rich, and the people are miserable. 】
[The imperial court shouted slogans of reducing taxes to benefit the people, and the people's lives became increasingly miserable. However, the emperor turned a blind eye to this. In the long run, who would believe the imperial decree? Who would believe that the emperor is on the side of the people? Isn’t this how credibility is lost little by little? 】
Xiao Jingfan finally understood what "credibility" meant, but he was not happy at all.
His heart sank little by little, but the overwhelming anger surged upward uncontrollably, seeming to burn out the string of reason.
Cold murderous intent brewed in his eyes, his angular jaw tightened, and even his breathing became two times heavier than usual.
Zhou Yuande, who was waiting on the side, shuddered for no reason, his eyelids jumped, and he felt very panicked.
The last time he was so flustered, the late emperor died suddenly of illness, and his master walked step by step into the silent Nourishing Heart Hall, holding a bleeding knife under the horrified stares of everyone.
He subconsciously raised his eyes to look at the young emperor sitting upright on the right front, even his gaze seemed cautious.
The emperor's lips were tightened, and his handsome and almost evil face showed no expression at all. It seemed to be the same as usual.
Zhou Yuande's heart jumped heavily as his eyelids, as if the calm drum head was suddenly struck hard by a drumstick, and a 'bang' exploded in his mind.
——I’m afraid things are going to change today.