Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3925 All Under Heaven Returns to Benevolence, and the World Is One
Seeing Cao Cao's reaction, Fei Qian raised his teacup in a gesture of respect.

Cao Cao glanced at the teacup, initially seemed to hesitate slightly, but quickly picked it up and drank it all down as if it were medicine, even shaking the bottom of the teacup at Fei Qian.

Fei Qian chuckled, pretending not to understand Cao Cao's meaning, took a sip of tea, and then said, "Fourthly... Brother Mengde is attempting to reform the tax system..."

Cao Cao waved his hand, "You may speak frankly about its drawbacks!"

Fei Qian nodded and continued his methodical explanation, "Brother, you changed the Han Dynasty's poll tax and calculation tax to a household tax, with a land rent of four sheng per mu, and each household contributing two bolts of silk and two jin of cotton. This simplifies the tax items and reduces farmers' dependence on money; the initial intention is quite good."

Although Cao Cao outwardly told Fei Qian to directly point out the drawbacks, he felt somewhat pleased after hearing Fei Qian's assessment that his tax reform was a relatively practical and successful measure.

This is praise from our opponent!
Especially praise for such a formidable opponent...

Taxation is a persistent pain point that unified dynasties have to face!

Due to war, the Han Dynasty suffered from a sharp decline in population and land abandonment in various regions, making it difficult to implement the original tax system based on population and land.

Although the previous tax revenue wasn't much either...

Cao Cao needed a stable supply of materials for his army and the operation of his regime, so he implemented the household tax system by directly collecting taxes in kind, which to some extent avoided the impact of monetary economic disorder.

At the same time, efforts were made to minimize the impact of the Philippine monetary system...

First, Dong Zhuo's corrupt currency led to the collapse of the economic and monetary system. Then, local governments minted coins privately, causing uncontrollable inflation. In many places, people reverted to a barter system.

Therefore, Cao Cao's decision to abandon monetary taxation and directly collect taxes in kind was a pragmatic response to the ineffectiveness of currency.

The in-kind tax system reduced the number of currency circulation links and also reduced the space for powerful clans to profit through financial means.

In addition, Cao Cao implemented a new tax system in Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and Jizhou, which was accompanied by a policy of "checking household registration" to investigate the population, weaken the control of powerful clans over the labor force, and distribute the tax burden more fairly. However, the effect was obviously not ideal.

Fei Qian did not shy away from acknowledging Cao Cao's progress in tax reform, but he also pointed out Cao Cao's shortcomings in the household registration system...

"The people of the world live in different places, with varying mountains and rivers. How can every household cultivate the land and produce grain for taxation? How can every household raise silkworms and weave silk? Where will the taxes come from for landless tenants, refugees, and urban artisans? They will have to sell their other earnings or borrow copper coins to buy silk in the market to pay their taxes. In this process, wealthy merchants exploit them, and officials extort them, adding burdens at each level. The cost will far exceed double the tax itself. Brother Mengde's system, while initially stabilizing the government's in-kind revenue, may not be a blessing for the lower classes; on the contrary, it will increase their burden."

Cao Cao's breathing was slightly heavy.

The drawbacks of taxation extend to the grassroots level of implementation; how could he be completely unaware of them?
Cao Cao originally believed that every system has its drawbacks, so under the premise of stabilizing tax revenue and ensuring the operation of the court, some minor shortcomings at the grassroots level seemed to be tolerable losses for him...

Or is it just a matter of letting ordinary people endure it a little longer...?

However, this problem has now been concretely pointed out by Fei Qian, who has made it clear that these drawbacks ultimately place a huge burden on the people, causing more poor households to go bankrupt due to the household tax system. Cao Cao is inevitably somewhat annoyed.

But that's not all...

"Fifthly," Fei Qian finally spread all the fingers of one hand and shook it, "Brother Mengde is personally frugal, sets an example by advocating simple funerals and opposing extravagance, serving as a model for the world. I admire him greatly."

What?
Bronze Sparrow Terrace?
Let's leave that aside for now.

Cao Cao was indeed a pioneer in reducing funeral expenses; historically, he himself instructed on his deathbed to have a simple burial…

Of course, from the perspective of another tomb raider, Cao Cao might also be worried about putting too much gold and silver in his own tomb...

However, in this world, most things are judged by actions, not intentions.

What?
What is there to discuss in terms of the heart?
That would require asking certain American judges who only care about testimonies...

Regardless, Cao Cao's advocacy of simple burials and opposition to extravagance and waste can indeed be seen as going against the Eastern Han custom that "the more elaborate the funeral, the greater the filial piety," which certainly required considerable courage.

"However, Brother Mengde, advocating without enforcing the law will ultimately lead to nothing..." Fei Qian said slowly. "To change the outdated custom of blind filial piety, we must forcefully criticize and explicitly prohibit it! Before, there were absurd acts like 'leaping carp from a spring,' which were passed down as tales of virtue; later, there were foolish and harmful acts like 'lying on ice to catch carp,' which were hailed as models of filial piety. Scholars promoted these practices, and the common people blindly followed, wasting their wealth for empty fame and harming themselves for outdated customs—how harmful! Since Brother Mengde considers this a great evil, why not free the people from this shackle?"

"Criticism? Hmm, that's quite apt... However..." Cao Cao glared, "As for why there were initiations but no orders... you're asking a question you already know the answer to!"

Fei Qian laughed heartily, poured himself some tea, and began to slurp it down.

Cao Cao stared at him for a while, and then he too fell into deep thought.

The questions raised by Fei Qian are all true.

Although Cao Cao had various measures and intentions to pacify, benefit, and govern the people, his core often served more pressing military and political goals rather than truly working for the benefit of the people.

Although there have been improvements and adjustments, they have failed to address the most fundamental issues.

No matter which aspect of the problem, they only scratched the surface.

Cao Cao's measures may have alleviated the extreme suffering of the chaotic times and stabilized his regime, but there was still a huge gap between them and truly rescuing the people from their dire straits and preventing their bones from being exposed in the wild.

Fei Qian quietly observed Cao Cao's ever-changing expression and added calmly, "What I have said above is all based on facts, but there may be biases or omissions. Brother Mengde has personally experienced and held the reins of power for many years, and is well aware of the intricacies and abuses involved. If there are any omissions or errors, please feel free to add a few points, and I would be happy to hear them in detail."

Cao Cao pondered, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

Cao Cao poured himself some more tea, sipping it as he pondered. When he put down his teacup, he looked up at Fei Qian and said, "Ziyuan, do you really believe that a single proclamation to the people, an order for the new land system, or a single Qinglong Temple is enough to bring peace to the land?"

Fei Qian cupped his hands in greeting and said, "May I ask your guidance?"

Cao Cao spoke slowly, his voice low and deep, like an ancient sword drawn from its sheath, carrying the chilling glint of history and the cold sharpness of reality: "The letter to the people speaks of many things, beautiful as they may be, but alas… heh heh, it hangs in the void, I fear it will be difficult to implement! Even if it were implemented, changes would surely occur, ultimately leading to collapse!"

Cao Cao stared at Fei Qian, seemingly wanting to pour his insights from his experiences navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom and wielding power into his words: "Firstly, the selfishness of human nature is an age-old truth that is difficult to change!"

"You wish to separate power and establish checks and balances, to prevent abuses through systems. However, power and interests ultimately reside in the hands of individuals! Who knows if today's upright officials will not be tomorrow's corrupt officials? Take Cao Cao's establishment of the Imperial Academy, for example; wasn't its initial purpose to monitor illegal activities? Yet, it inevitably became a tool for factional struggles, a shortcut to wealth accumulation! Under your command, you may be of one mind and one heart today, but once the world is at peace, your positions are secure, and interests intertwine, how can you guarantee that no one will abuse their power for personal gain or form cliques? At that time, nothing more than new elites will rise! Then, the so-called 'sons of the people' will be nothing more than plaques on doorframes; the so-called separation of power will be nothing more than a chessboard in the court!"

Cao Cao's gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Fei Qian. "Moreover," he said, "the regions are vast, and government orders are often delayed! Your idea to extend the new system to the countryside is excellent, but from the central government to the prefectures and counties, and from the prefectures and counties to the villages, the mountains and rivers are high and the rivers long, making communication difficult. A decree, clear when it leaves Chang'an, may become blurred by the time it reaches the prefectures and counties, and by the time it reaches the villages, it may be completely unrecognizable! So-called supervision is even more ineffective! Local officials are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, deceiving their superiors and subordinates—this is a chronic problem that cannot be solved by a new decree or a few instructions! At that time, good governance will turn into bad governance, and what benefits the people will become a nuisance. The people's resentment will ultimately be directed at the court and at your new system!"

Cao Cao's words grew increasingly harsh, directly addressing the core contradictions of Fei Qian's reforms and the potential for a violent backlash...

"Secondly, what you have done is not merely reform; it has destroyed the ancestral property of the powerful and wealthy clans, and severed the foundation of officials in hundreds of counties and prefectures! By abolishing the recommendation system and implementing the imperial examination system, those from humble backgrounds may be able to rise in rank, but this will cut off the Confucian scholars' generations-long monopoly on public opinion! By surveying land and curbing land annexation, you may be able to equalize wealth, but this will seize the manors, hereditary households, and private armies of the gentry and powerful! How can they tolerate this!"

"Even worse, you intend to replace hereditary officials with appointed ones, to break down personal relationships through performance evaluations, and to make your decrees reach every corner of the countryside... Hahaha..." Cao Cao laughed loudly, "If this plan is implemented, from the village magistrates to the prefectural officials, from the noble families of Ying and Ru to the powerful chieftains of the borderlands, all those with land, clan prestige, or private interests will regard you as an enemy! They may not dare to openly resist, but they will secretly comply, slack off, obstruct operations, and even collude to launch a counterattack, following you like a shadow! It is only expected that the new policies will be difficult to implement! What harmed the Former Qin was not only its tyranny, but also its desire for prefectures and counties! And then Emperor Gao... Hahaha, do you know where the title 'Emperor Gao' comes from?" Cao Cao's voice carried an unspeakable heaviness. He seemed to be mocking Fei Qian, and also mocking himself.

Fei Qian was not angered by Cao Cao's rebuttal; he listened calmly and even said, "Please enlighten me, Brother Mengde..."

"The First Emperor, the High Emperor!" Cao Cao laughed, slamming his hand on the table. "If the Hegemon-King of the past had won, there would be no emperor in the world!"

Fei Qian couldn't help but frown slightly.

Seeing Fei Qian's expression, Cao Cao laughed even more heartily, "Why the First Emperor? He is Qin Shi Huang! The First Emperor of Qin! Not the emperor of the six states! And what about Emperor Gaozu? Military ranks were rampant! Rampant! Hahaha, how many five-rank officials are there in a single county? Hahaha, even the entire country couldn't divide them! Emperor Gaozu killed meritorious officials, how could he not kill them? There was no land left to divide! Hahaha! Why Emperor Gaozu? Because he claimed all the credit! No merit is greater than that of an emperor! Even so, the early Han dynasty was still in great chaos!"

Cao Cao stared at Fei Qian, then mimicked Fei Qian's gesture of raising a finger. "Therefore, fourthly, the benefits of your new policies extend far beyond the local areas. Those meritorious officials in the court who deserve rewards of land, houses, and servants—can their benefits be taken away? Even if you are self-disciplined, can you guarantee that you will be free from powerful relatives after your death? Will their families be content with obscurity? All these things—meritorious officials, feudal lords, powerful relatives, aristocratic families, and strongmen… Hahaha, even if you are a genius, can you suppress them for a time, can you control them forever? When the pressure accumulates, there may be natural disasters, or external threats—it will lead to man-made calamities and national turmoil! The new policies, hahaha, the new policies will inevitably collapse!"

Cao Cao smiled and shook his head, "Fifthly! There's no one else who can be used!"

"How many people can a single Qinglong Temple and a single Shoushan Academy possibly employ?!" Cao Cao laughed, a laugh tinged with years of hardship and bitterness. "Hahaha! Human greed is insatiable! It has been so throughout history! Your rash implementation of new policies is like a tree without roots; it will not last long! When the new system is hindered, problems will arise, public resentment will rise, and a backlash is inevitable! And then... it will be like the Han dynasty's system of commanderies and kingdoms—commandery? Kingdom? Beneficial? Harmful? Hahahaha!"

Cao Cao's smile gradually faded, his gaze sharpening like a blade piercing Fei Qian. "What's worse, your actions will surely allow some cunning individuals to lie in wait… Once they seize power, to avoid becoming easy prey, they will inevitably become even stronger, more greedy, and more unscrupulous! This is truly driving fish into the deep, and birds into the thicket! At that time, the world will completely fall under the control of powerful clans and local aristocrats! Is this what you, Ziyuan, desire? Is this what you desire—the peace and stability of the world?! Is this what you call the well-being of the people?!!"

Cao Cao was not making baseless accusations, but rather making a prediction based on his own experience, his profound understanding of Han Dynasty society, and his comprehension of the nature of power and people's hearts...

This is also true in history.

When the reactionaries launch their counterattack and settle scores, they will be even more brutal than before!
"Therefore..." Fei Qian said, holding his teacup, "that's why Brother Mengde sent so many people to Chang'an?"

Cao Cao suddenly raised an eyebrow, then readily admitted, "Indeed! My worthy brother, don't you wish to implement new policies? If you follow them, it will be beneficial; if you don't, it will bring you glory."

Fei Qian burst into laughter, and Cao Cao laughed along with him.

Below the high platform, whether it was Xu Chu, Dian Wei, or any other soldier, they couldn't help but look upwards...

"Brother Mengde's words are pearls of wisdom, all truthful, and indeed, a chronic problem." Fei Qian slowly suppressed his smile and spoke deliberately, enunciating each word clearly, "Human selfishness, obstacles to government orders, rebellions by powerful clans, changes in the system… Looking back over the eight hundred years since the Zhou dynasty moved east, and even the four hundred years of the Qin and Han dynasties, hasn't this been a recurring, endless cycle? But Brother Mengde, have you ever considered the root cause of this predicament?"

Cao Cao sneered, "Could it be another case of the ways of the common people and the skills of craftsmen?"

Fei Qian laughed and said, "This is merely the surface! If you seek the root cause... it is the system!"

"Another new civil law from Nitta Sei?" Cao Cao scoffed and snorted twice.

Fei Qian remained unperturbed and continued slowly, "From the Zhou dynasty's enfeoffment system, which granted land and people, to the Qin dynasty's establishment of prefectures and counties, and the early Han dynasty's parallel system of prefectures and kingdoms, why was this? How was a system established? And how was it reformed?"

Cao Cao rolled his eyes twice, stroked his beard, and fell silent.

"Customization is intended to strengthen imperial power and consolidate central authority! Reform, on the other hand, aims to prevent division and maintain peace in the regions!" Fei Qian gestured vaguely on the table, constructing a scale. "Emperors, generals, and strategists alike have exhausted their efforts to balance these two... but alas..."

Fei Qian reached out, seemingly pushing aside the fabricated scales of justice. "But this path is a wrong one, this very thought is a fallacy! How so? Each side stands on one end, the balance is ephemeral, constantly shifting! It depends on the personal will of a wise and powerful ruler, the resourcefulness of capable ministers, and only then can the common people at the bottom maintain a temporary existence, barely surviving… Once the ruler is incompetent and the ministers are mediocre, or the political landscape changes, the balance will crumble instantly!"

"It will either be a tyrannical rule or a chaotic war of division!" Fei Qian said in a deep voice. "Power is inherently bloodthirsty, only knowing expansion and never knowing how to yield! When one side gains power, it will inevitably devour the other, until the balance is completely crushed! Therefore, from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the Spring and Autumn period, from the Warring States period to the Qin and Han dynasties, this has always been the case! Where is the talk of balance? There is only a brief stalemate, followed by cyclical collapse! Even without the First Emperor, there will inevitably be a hegemon!"

Fei Qian's voice gradually rose, becoming firm and powerful: "The various problems you mentioned, Brother Mengde—the corruption of powerful officials, the ineffective implementation of government orders, local disobedience, and the rise of powerful clans—all stem from this!"

"Heaven and earth establish their positions, and yin and yang compete; ruler and minister are divided, and power contends. Consider the central government, like the North Star governing the eight directions; the powerful and influential in the prefectures and kingdoms, like the stars surrounding the Purple Court. Yet, the art of checks and balances inherently contains flaws! Mutual suspicion between the court and the people breeds policies that hinder progress; mutual distrust between ruler and minister creates a state of wrestling. Even if embroidered-robed governors are appointed to oversee the entire realm, and tiger-suppressing tallies and imperial axes are used to control the Five Mausoleums, it is still like holding scorched firewood to a raging fire."

"As for the examination records, they only increase the labor of pen and ink; the supervisory regulations only breed pests. Old ailments remain untreated, while new problems arise one after another, ultimately causing the imperial laws to gradually become like ants breaching a dike, and the entire royal domain to turn into a prairie fire. When the state is on the verge of collapse, and the land is stained with blood, then we see the new dynasty replaced by scorched earth, and the red flag replaced by black amidst the ruins. Yet, the mechanisms of checks and balances still follow the path of previous dynasties, and the methods of weighing power repeat the mistakes of the past. Cycles of change repeat themselves, like the endless cycle of day and night! The rise and fall of dynasties revolve, like the ceaseless flow of a river!"

"Alas! Simply cutting firewood to stop boiling water won't extinguish the fire at the bottom of the stove; replacing pillars and straightening beams won't fix the cracks in the palace foundation. Therefore, Jia Yi's weeping wasn't for the Han dynasty, and Chao Cuo's reduction of the fiefdoms wasn't for the Wu kingdom. What we should worry about is that even the most skillful scales cannot measure Mount Tai, and even the most comprehensive legal net cannot reach the hearts of the people!"

Fei Qian waved his arm, as if to cleave the ancient world in two, 'Therefore, Brother Mengde, the old path is closed, the old methods are exhausted! Since the method of balancing is useless, merely wasting the blood and tears of countless people and the wisdom of brilliant minds, why stubbornly persist in changing it and perish with it?! It should be abandoned!'

"Discard it?" Cao Cao tried to make the mung bean swell up into a soybean.

"The alternation of Yin and Yang has caused chaos in the world. Why not return to oneness?" Fei Qian said in a deep voice.

Cao Cao's heart skipped a beat, and he hesitated before repeating, "Why not unify them?"

Fei Qian looked up at the sky, 'Since we can never control or balance everything, why not seek an unchanging core? Not the imperial power of one family or clan, nor the private interests of local tyrants, but the very foundation of China—'

"Unification!"

"The soul of China lies in unity! From its mountains and rivers, its policies and education, its cart tracks and written language, its weights and measures, and the unity of its people, all should be of one mind! All people under heaven, from the emperor and high officials to the common people, should share one will: the unity of China!"

"When the North Star is in its proper position, all the other stars pay homage; when the furnace is forged, the metal melts. The way of governance today is not like a game of chess, full of struggle and conflict, but rather like a harmonious zither and lute playing in perfect harmony. The prefectures and counties are like hands and feet protecting the head of state; government decrees are like blood vessels flowing through the entire body. The responsibility of safeguarding the borders is not merely about distributing weights and stones; it is truly about emulating rivers flowing to the sea, and spreading rain and dew on the spring fields."

"As for those adorned in crimson robes and yellow sashes, they are not plotting to build a stronghold; those with bronze tallies and black ribbons are meant to serve as messengers. Consider the virtuous officials, like whetstones, who uphold the imperial court and guide the people; and the capable ministers, like stars, who turn the celestial pivot and respond to the eight winds. The fate of the powerful and wealthy depends solely on their true nature. Like hemp growing among weeds, they are upright and benefit the hemp; like pine trees growing in brambles, though tall, they hinder the construction of beams and pillars."

"Thus, the law hangs like a bright mirror, reflecting beauty and ugliness in the Yu tripod; the people gather in the blue sky, distinguishing between the fragrant and the foul in the Chu thicket. Those who divide their villages and towns cut themselves off from the warmth of spring; those who obstruct the king's rule will ultimately perish on the frost's edge. Why must we use scales to measure owls and phoenixes? Why must we use measures to gauge the vast ocean? For the way of harmony lies in the stars each following their orbits, and the Yangtze and Han rivers flowing together to the east. When the nine regions breathe together, and the people share the same blood, then peace will naturally prevail, without the need for chopping chalk or wielding axes."

Fei Qian's gaze refocused on Cao Cao, his tone resolute: "Only when China is unified can it truly be China; only by unifying China can we unify all nations!"

The old-fashioned concept of balance was to allocate a limited amount of sludge to a stagnant pool.

The path to unification in the new era is to dig canals, bring in fresh water, cleanse the filth, and nourish all things!

Water that is active will not stagnate, and water that flows freely will not stagnate.

There may still be stubborn rocks blocking the way and hidden reefs, but the mighty river flowing eastward cannot be stopped by a few bends.
This stands in stark contrast to Cao Cao's pessimistic view, which was based on warnings of the collapse of the old order.

One aims to mend the cracks, adjusting seats on a ship destined to capsize; the other advocates building a new vessel and sailing to a wider ocean.

The ideological divide here is no longer a strategic disagreement, but a complete divergence of paths.

Only in this way can we break free from the cycle of order and chaos, and lay the foundation for lasting peace!

As Fei Qian's voice fell, the heavens and earth seemed to respond, the clouds calmed, the wind stopped, and the sun shone brightly!