Emperor Ziqi looked at the protests and petitions floating from all over the world like snowflakes, and felt angry in his heart. His handsome face was full of anger, and he threw the memorial in his hand on the slip of paper with anger.
"Father, these gangsters are only thinking about their own interests and have no regard for the overall situation or the consideration of the Xia Dynasty.
They don't pay the [first-acre tax] and rely on the middle land to conquer the land. How can the heaven support the Nine Great Cloud Masters?
Without the followers of the Nine Cloud Masters, and without the protection of your father, the Four Wilderness Countries alone, what can we do to resist the barbarians from all directions? We are really ignorant and short-sighted."
The emperor's son Qi cursed repeatedly, angrily blaming the world's princes for their short-sightedness and selfishness. His words were full of anger and he felt deeply unworthy of his father's good intentions, and felt inexplicably sad.
The emperor, Di Mu, sat silently on the throne. Compared to the hot-blooded, impulsive and irritable Emperor Qi, Di Mu had experienced countless storms and waves and was already calm in all situations.
On the side, Situ Xixinghou and Lao Situ sighed repeatedly. Facing the emperor Qi's complaint, they felt the same, with distress and helplessness on their faces.
"What the emperor said is that the celestial dynasty is one and interdependent. If the [first-acre tax] is not introduced and the [well field system] continues to rot and collapse, I am afraid that in a few years, the celestial dynasty will not even be able to support the nine divisions of Yunshi.
When the Celestial Empire shows weakness, how much better will the lives of the princes from all directions be!"
The Marquis of Xixing was very emotional. He was also a prince, but he was very cooperative and supportive of the [First Mu Tax], not because of anything else, but because he understood the meaning of death and coldness.
If there is no such great power as the Celestial Empire, how can the small families of the various princes be preserved?
"A bunch of short-sighted rats!" Old Situ was also quite indignant. He twirled his gray beard and cursed loudly: "Especially in the Western Wilderness countries, we fought bloody battles to expel the Xirong barbarians for them, but we were ungrateful on the back and protested one by one.
[First-acre tax], hiding land privately, and disregarding the world for one's own benefit, you are really not a human being!"
"Old Situ's words are pertinent. We all work for the heaven and care for the people of the world. In the eyes of these individuals, it is we who are doing the wrong thing and doing unethical things. The thieves have been stealing the fields for a long time and actually think that they are the masters.
That’s so shameless!”
When the two old men and the young man talked about this matter, they were really angry. The more they talked, the more angry they became. Only the old god Di Mu was there, one after another, carefully reviewing the memorials of the princes from all sides. If there was something wrong,
think.
The two elders and the other felt bored when they saw that Emperor Mu had not answered the conversation, so they angrily flipped through the memorials from various princes.
However, seeing the princes from all sides either protesting or admonishing, the depression in my heart rose even more.
Especially Emperor Zi Qi, flipping the memorial book in his hand, his face turned blue and white, his teeth itched with anger, and he said angrily: "This...this country of Xi, this Marquis of Xiyun, how can it be so unreasonable? It is really unreasonable."
Emperor Zi Qi's words attracted everyone's attention again. Even Emperor Mu raised his head slightly and said, "Qi'er, what did Marquis Xiyun say?"
The emperor's son Qi looked angry: "Father, old Situ, Situ, you often say that Yao Yun is a man with a very high vision and a big picture. Humph! You have all made a mistake. Look, he is different from those people who have great vision.
What's the difference between Guan Duanqian's people? They're just the same species!"
After saying that, Emperor Ziqi's face was full of disdain, and secretly he was ashamed to be called the pride of all Xia together with Yao Yun!
Emperor Mu of the Emperor, Lao Situ, and Situ Xinghou heard the words and looked at the memorial submitted by Yao Yun. They saw that the whole text was just like ordinary princes. The whole text was to protest against the emperor's retrograde behavior and unjust tyranny. What he said was reasonable and well-founded.
, the literary talent is flying, and it is a rare masterpiece.
Old Situ and Situ Xinghou looked at each other in confusion and didn't know what to say. They thought that the Xi Kingdom was the most active in paying tribute and should be the most supportive of the [First Mu Tax]. However, they did not expect that Xiyun Hou
The reaction was so intense.
For a moment, everyone in the Imperial Garden was silent.
They did not take the protests and accusations of ordinary princes to heart. After all, the [First Acre Tax] imposed on the world was not for their own benefit, but for the sake of the entire dynasty. They had a clear conscience.
However, even Marquis Xiyun, who was the most active in paying tribute, also protested against the imperial court's per-mu taxation. They were disappointed and a little confused.
Did they do something wrong?’ Or was the method too radical?
Si Tu Xinghou: "Your Majesty, I have dealt with Xiyunhou several times. This man is definitely not as short-sighted as ordinary princes. Although this memorial is a protest, it is not a blank and unfounded accusation like other princes.
After reading this article carefully, it is not difficult to find that what Marquis Xiyun said does have some truth!"
Old Situ also nodded slightly: "Hmm~ Marquis Xiyun is still able to collect taxes per mu without supervision. One out of nine. This shows that he is not a person who is greedy for small profits and is not pursuing the righteousness. He writes a letter
The protests in China are also well-founded.
For example, it is mentioned that the yield of newly reclaimed farmland is not high, and people's survival is already difficult. If the [first-acre tax] is forcibly levied, it will be a disaster rather than a blessing for the people;
Another example is the forcible seizure of smuggled land, which harms the interests of the people. This will greatly dampen the people's desire to open up wasteland and lead to the stagnation of the development of the Celestial Dynasty..."
Faced with Old Situ's endless talk, Emperor Ziqi disagreed and said: "It's just strong words and sophistry. Although it is difficult to tax per mu, we can't stop eating because of choking. There were no iron tools in those days, and the common people survived by relying on well fields."
Now that there are so many fields for cultivation, why can’t the people survive? Huh, it’s obvious that they only care about their own interests and ignore the great righteousness!”
The emperor's son, Qi Qi, was a hot-blooded man. He believed that he was on the side of justice for the sake of the overall plan of the celestial dynasty. He stood on the moral high ground and hated the "rebellious ministers and traitors" who obstructed the implementation of the "First Acre Tax".
"Emperor, you can't say that." Old Situ shook his head, feeling in his heart that the emperor didn't know the sufferings of the people and took it for granted.
The old man still admires Emperor Ziqi very much. Young people, there is nothing wrong with your ideals!
However, when Old Situ talked about practical matters, he also focused on hard work, so he raised his hands to the Emperor Mu and said:
"Your Majesty, although what Marquis Xiyun said is not pleasant to listen to, I believe that good medicine tastes bitter and honest advice offends the ears. Now that I think about it, the [First Mu Tax] seems to be too radical and too arbitrary, without taking into account the livelihood of the people.
The problem is, why don’t we seek straightness from the song and draft the [First Acre Tax] law in depth again!”
Emperor Mu of the Emperor held Yao Yun's memorial and studied it carefully. When he heard Old Situ's words, he immediately nodded: "Old Situ's words make sense, then...how should we draft the details of the [First-acre Tax] in depth."
"This..." Old Situ pondered for a long time, but he did not dare to take on this important task.
Si Tu Xinghou remembered something and immediately said: "The person who tied the bell must be tied to untie the bell. Since it is Xiyunhou who is protesting, it is better to ask Yu Xi!"
The emperor's son Qi on the side watched his father talking with the two ministers. Not only did he not blame Yao Yun, but he admired Yao Yun. He was very depressed. For a moment, he felt like a child breaking into the adult world. The two sides seemed to be on different levels.