(It's the beginning of the month. If you have free monthly tickets, vote for them.) Guo Chong nodded, glanced at the ministers, and said in a deep voice: "My dear friends, do you have anything important to tell me?"
The ministers were silent for a moment, and an official came out from the crowd and bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the drought in the capital has been severe recently. The imperial court ordered that water from the Yellow River be diverted to fill the lakes and rivers in the capital, but the manpower is tight and the progress is slow. The Ministry of Industry requested the emperor
It is decreed that many conscripts are allowed to participate in this matter. I don’t know whether this is possible.”
Guo Chong frowned and said nothing. The worsening drought was worrying. Reports came every day, but this matter could not be solved for a while. Diversion of water from the Yellow River was easy to say. Is it that simple to dig water diversion channels?
? Tens of thousands of people have been forced to dig canals under the scorching sun for more than a month, and they are still together fifty or sixty miles apart. This matter is actually a thing of the past.
"Lv Zhongtian, what do you think we should do? How can we alleviate the drought? Is it feasible to divert water?" Guo Chong asked.
Lu Zhongtian bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I think it is better not to waste your efforts on this matter. Tens of thousands of civilians have been recruited. If we add more labor, the people will be miserable. Besides, with the current progress, we may not be able to divert water in another one or two months.
Success. Autumn will have passed by then, so what’s the use of diverting water? I think it’s better to abandon this matter immediately to avoid a sudden waste of manpower, money and materials.”
"Then what should we do about this drought? Do nothing? What should we do if there is a famine in winter and next spring?" Guo Chong frowned.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The Political Affairs Hall has already made a plan and is doing its best to mobilize supplies and food for storage in major warehouses in the capital. There will definitely be no famine or other situations. In addition, Your Majesty does not have to worry about the current drought. I went to Si Tianjian yesterday to inquire.
Mr. Yue Zhongming, the Si Tianjian, watched the sky at night. He said that at the turn of summer and autumn, the sky predicted that there would be rain, but for some reason it never rained. The weather was ready, but what was missing might be some human opportunities. Since the drought,
The veteran has been thinking about asking the emperor to set up an altar to offer sacrifices to heaven. The veteran thought, I am afraid now is the time. Can the emperor go to the altar to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for rain? Maybe this will be the opportunity God is waiting for, and God will rain down from the sky."
Lin Jue in the crowd rolled his eyes, was Lu Zhongtian serious? Did he really want to pray for rain?
None of the ministers in the palace were as surprised and as incredible as Lin Jue. None of them regarded this matter as ridiculous, and actually nodded in agreement one by one, looking serious. Lin Jue suddenly understood and understood.
.The era I live in is still an era when science is underdeveloped. Respecting heaven and ancestors and believing in gods are the basic ideas in everyone's mind. Praying for rain may be ridiculous in future generations on earth, but it is not ridiculous at all here.
"If I need to do this, I will naturally do it, but... is it really useful? I have some doubts." Guo Chong frowned.
"Your Majesty, you can't say that. The so-called respect for Heaven all depends on the heart. Whatever the heart desires, Heaven can sense it. Whether it succeeds or not, it is God's will. We just do what we should do." Lu Zhongtian said.
Guo Chong nodded and said: "What you are saying is that I am just worried that doing this will encourage those rumors. Aren't there rumors spreading around some time ago that the severe drought in the world is due to the appearance of traitors in the court? I don't want to encourage such remarks.
.”
Lu Zhongtian chuckled and said: "What the emperor said is very true, but there is no need to worry. In fact... I feel that some things cannot be generalized. Maybe... maybe there are some things that are really unspeakable and unknown. This...
I won’t talk about these things anymore. If the emperor agrees, I will arrange for Si Tianjian to prepare sacrifices to the sky to pray for rain. The emperor will ask the Holy Will for a decision."
Lin Jue secretly glanced at the faces of Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru. Both of them had a sense of ridicule on their faces. Just now, Lu Zhongtian said something vague, saying, "Some things are indescribable and cannot be generalized" or something like that.
, that meaning can actually be heard by anyone with a discerning eye, that is, maybe the rumors on the streets are not necessarily false, and maybe it is really because of the traitors in the country that caused the world to suffer from drought. Of course, he is not implying himself, but implying
The reformists have recently become favored and their power has increased dramatically.
Guo Chong didn't seem to understand the meaning of Lu Zhongtian's words, or he deliberately pretended not to understand. He thought for a while and said: "Okay, you can make arrangements. Now there is any possibility to alleviate the drought, and I am willing to do it."
Yeah, I’m not afraid of what the people think anymore.”
"The emperor is wise and I will make arrangements for you." Lu Zhongtian returned to the train.
Guo Chong coughed twice and asked loudly again: "Does your beloved have anything to report? If not, I will announce something important."
Originally there were several officials who wanted to report something, but after hearing this, they immediately shrank back in recognition. The emperor had something important to announce, so why should he get involved? It is the most annoying thing to come out to discuss other matters at this time.
Seeing that no one spoke anymore, Guo Chong nodded and said: "Okay, then I am going to announce a big event. Seriously, Fang Dunru, come forward."
Yan Zhengsu and Fang Dunru agreed in unison and stepped forward to salute side by side.
Guo Chongdao: "I have carefully read the "Changping New Law" submitted by you two. After consulting the opinions of the important ministers in the court, I decided to approve the promulgation and implementation. This morning, you two will promulgate this law in the banquet hall.
Inform all officials and the world, and then prepare to implement it."
"I obey your orders."
Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru shouted in unison, their voices trembling with excitement. Finally, the first new law was about to be implemented. The civil and military officials below were also looking forward to it at this moment, because rumors about the reform had been circulating for too long, and the new yamen
It has been almost 20 days since it was established. Everyone is thinking, what are the people in the new government office doing, and why is there no movement? Some people even vouch for it privately, saying that the so-called reform is nothing more than
The thunder was loud but the rain was small. Yan Zhengshen and Fang Dunru just took the opportunity to seize power and took no concrete actions at all. But now, all this has really happened.
Everyone was whispering and discussing.
""Chang Ping New Law"? Just by hearing the name, you can guess that it has something to do with money and food."
"Isn't that right? It is said that the reform is to manage finances and strengthen the army, but it must not be related to money and food?"
"But hasn't Changpingcang been almost completely destroyed due to the shortage of silver? What else can be written?"
"Who knows? These two people don't know what they are going to do. Don't say anything, let's just listen."
While everyone was talking, Yan Zhengshen had already taken a dossier from Du Weijian, the inspector of the Ordinance Department. Everyone's eyes were focused on that stack of dossier, knowing that there was the content of the new law.
Yan Zhengsun glanced at Fang Dunru, and Fang Dunru nodded. Yan Zhengsun bowed to Guo Chong, turned to face the officials, and glanced at everyone with a majestic gaze, and the hall suddenly became quiet.
"My lords, Yan and Fang Zhongcheng were entrusted by the emperor to carry out reforms for the purpose of enriching the country and strengthening the army in the Zhou Dynasty. Lord Fang and I deeply feel the great responsibility. We walk on thin ice every day, as if we are facing an abyss, and we dare not make the slightest move.
In order to achieve the goal of enriching the country and strengthening the army, after a lot of investigation and deliberation, combined with my personal experience and what I saw and heard, all colleagues in the Ordinance Department worked together to compile this first new law, which is called "
"Changping New Law". Now I will try to explain this new law to you."
Everyone opened their eyes and ears and listened carefully.
"It has been more than a hundred years since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The achievements we have made have convinced guests from all over the world and are admired by the world. There is no doubt about this. But there is no need to hide the situation that I, the Great Zhou, are facing now. That day I gave
A lot has been described in the "A Hundred Years of Nothing" written by the emperor. I know many people don't like me saying bad things, but those are indeed the facts. I have reached the current situation in Zhou Dynasty, and the problems I must face can no longer be avoided.
. Covering one's ears and stealing the bell will not work. What we want is to actively improve the difficulties we face. This is the original intention of the reform."
"... Your Excellencies should be aware that one of the biggest problems we face today is the sharp decrease in fiscal and taxation money, and the court is unable to make ends meet. I think back then, my annual tax revenue amounted to tens of millions.
The national treasury is full and the world is rich. But now, the annual fiscal and tax revenue is 50 to 60 million yuan, a sharp drop of 50%. The government expenditure has more than doubled every year. Now everything is stretched and there is no money to use. Even the next year's tax revenue has been paid in advance.
If this continues, won’t all the finances and taxes in ten years’ time be spent? If this situation does not change, the Great Zhou Dynasty will be in danger.”
The officials lowered their heads and smacked their lips. Although they didn't like hearing these words, and some were even dissatisfied with the seriousness of repeating the same old tune about these scars, they had to admit that this was a fact.
"...Of course we can pretend that nothing happened, and that the great Zhou Dynasty is still in peace and prosperity. Each of us has no worries about food and clothing, and our small life is also very nourishing. But these things really happened. We can
You bury your head in the sand and act like an ostrich, but others won't. If you are strong, others can see it. If you are weak, others can also see it. Just like the Liao Kingdom in the north, the Yanyun Alliance has a hundred-year agreement to repair.
They said nothing and threatened us with weapons. Just imagine, when our country was strong, would they dare to threaten us? It is precisely because we are weak and they feel it, that they dare to be so arrogant and domineering. So, we
If you still think that the world is peaceful, then the crisis is right in front of you. As ministers of the Great Zhou Dynasty, how can we indulge in doing nothing anymore? We must take action..."
"... Everything begins with money and grain taxation. Therefore, the main purpose of this first new law is to increase finance and taxation. How to increase money and grain taxation? Some people say that increasing taxation is certainly the most convenient move, but increasing taxation will not affect the people.
How to live? If there are still people who think that the people of my country are still living a prosperous life, please ask them to go to the people's homes below and take a look. I have some data here, and I will read it to you."
Yan Zhengsu waved to Lin Jue, and Lin Jue hurriedly stepped forward, handed the file in his hand to Yan Zhengsu, and turned back to the queue. Yan Zhengsu opened the file, pulled out a piece of yellow paper, and said loudly: "Eight Days of the Dali Calendar"
In the first year of Jinxiu, the population of the Great Zhou Dynasty was 12 million households, of which 8.4 million were farmers. Among the rural households, there were 4.2 million third-class and above households. In the first year of Jinxiu, the total population of the Great Zhou Dynasty was 18 million.
There are 8 million rural households, 3.19 million of which are third-class or above. In the fourth year of Qingfeng, my household registration in Dazhou was 19.2 million. There were 7.5 million peasant households. There were less than 200 middle-class or above peasant households.
Ten thousand."
Yan Zheng shook the paper in his hand solemnly and said in a deep voice: "Can you guys see any clues from this?"
