Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 612 The First Year
Emperor Chenghui attached great importance to news from France, and whenever a ship came, it would bring back the latest local news.

News kept coming in, and both emperors carefully read the reports about the fate of Louis XVI and his wife, as well as the subsequent failed counterattacks by various European countries.

The report from the military observer group, in particular, attracted great attention domestically. From a timeline perspective, the group landed on the European continent and followed the Prussian and Austrian armies; had they not escaped quickly, they would have almost been captured by the French. The report contained numerous criticisms of the Prussian and Austrian armies' overall capabilities, the most serious being their lack of fighting spirit. The tendency of European countries to surrender so readily was utterly despicable to the group members.

Fortunately, these people had received strict discipline training before their departure, and were strictly prohibited from interfering in the affairs of other countries. They were only allowed to observe and record, and were not permitted to express any opinions.

In any case, the reports from Europe had an exceptionally strong impact on the Zhou Empire. The fact that the French army, after the establishment of the Republic, displayed courage and fighting power that made the whole of Europe tremble could not be ignored.

When Jia Lian mentioned France, Li Yuan's eyes instantly cleared, and he looked at Jia Lian with utmost sincerity, saying, "Sir, my father's will repeatedly emphasized governing the country with benevolence, and I will certainly keep that in mind."

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian gently shook his head: "Benevolence is certainly important, but it is not everything."

As they spoke, Jia Lian gestured to a small notebook and a charcoal pencil, which Li Yuan immediately handed over. Jia Lian then drew a pyramid and an oval three-dimensional diagram in the notebook.

He then pointed to the pyramids and said, “Your Majesty, please look. The current court has this structure. The top level has the fewest people, yet they possess more than 80% of the country's resources and wealth. Such a national structure means severe wealth disparity. This was the situation when the late emperor first ascended the throne. A healthy national structure should be elliptical, with a larger proportion of people in the middle, leading to greater national stability. As the saying goes, ‘Without stable property, there is no stable mind.’ Those without property have nothing to lose, so they are naturally fearless. However, their survival is precarious, inevitably leading them to take risks. The direction of governing the country should be to strive towards this healthy structure.”

Li Yuan stared blankly at the two figures without saying a word. He definitely understood them, but he didn't know how to proceed.

"What does this picture have to do with state-owned enterprises?" Li Yuan was quick to find the entry point.

Jia Lian listened with a relieved expression and said, “Your Majesty, wealth can be created. Technological advancements have led to mechanized production, making production efficiency a hundred times higher than before. The problem is how to distribute this increased wealth. If we continue with the previous model of private land ownership, a single dominant player in a particular sector is destined to emerge, even threatening imperial power. However, with industrialized production, enterprises face extremely fierce external competition. If only one type of state-owned enterprise exists, state-owned enterprises that lose internal competition are destined to fail miserably in external competition. Therefore, to ensure the competitiveness of enterprises, private enterprises must be allowed to participate in the competition. But one thing must be prevented in advance: enterprises related to the national economy and people's livelihood must not fall into the hands of private merchants. Otherwise, the situation of skyrocketing prices for disaster relief grain will inevitably erupt in all walks of life.”

Li Yuan nodded and took notes, while Jia Lian continued, "State-owned enterprises act as a ballast, similar to the Ever-Normal Granary! The profits of state-owned enterprises, after being incorporated into the national treasury, are distributed reasonably by the state to take care of the interests of the lower classes as much as possible and alleviate social conflicts. Your Highness has been to the disaster areas in Shaanxi and Gansu and knows that as long as there is food, the people will not rebel. Do the gentry in the disaster areas know this principle? Of course they do, but they are reluctant to part with their wealth and harbor illusions."

Li Yuan nodded: "That's right, the gentry are despicable!"

Jia Lian smiled but did not agree, continuing, "In the process of the state concentrating wealth through taxation and state-owned enterprises and using it for the benefit of the common people, the main role is not played by the central government, but by local officials. Your Majesty is surely aware of the concept of 'floating wealth.' For Your Majesty, while the gentry are certainly detestable and need to be guarded against, officials are even more so. On the one hand, the court needs officials to handle the taxes collected, and on the other hand, the court's money also needs to pass through the hands of officials when it is spent."

Li Yuan nodded and said, "This is why Father Emperor implemented the performance evaluation system!"

"Corrupt officials can never be completely eradicated, so the fight against corruption must be constant and never stop. Corrupt officials are like rotten flesh on a person's body; once discovered, they must be cut off, otherwise they will quickly spread throughout the body and become incurable. In the late Ming Dynasty, imperial edicts did not leave the capital because all the officials in the country were rotten, and no matter how the emperor tried to invigorate them, it was to no avail; the country could only watch helplessly as it headed for its death."

Jia Lian wasn't saying this to scare Li Yuan; he just wanted to make him understand the importance of it.

Emperor Chenghui initiated reforms, and the anti-corruption efforts during this period were relatively strict, though only to a moderate degree in the case of Jia Lian.

We live in ancient times, so it's not appropriate to have too high expectations.

"I understand! Sir, now that I have just ascended the throne, what should I do?" Li Yuan returned to reality. His most pressing concern now was securing his position on the throne, even though it seemed quite secure. However, thinking about the situation in France and those unscrupulous imperial relatives who were always eyeing the state-owned enterprises built by Jia Lian, Li Yuan's sense of urgency returned.

"Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; Your Majesty cannot rush it. The foundation left by the late Emperor is solid. Your Majesty does not need to take any obvious actions for the time being. First, stabilize the situation, adapt to the circumstances, and familiarize yourself with the personnel. In terms of policy, domestically, encourage the development of private industry and commerce to dilute the influence of the gentry class on the national treasury. Externally, strengthen the immigration policy to alleviate the conflict between population and land. Militarily, keep a close eye on the three directions of east, west, and north to prevent unrest. Among them, the west and north directions are of particular importance."

Upon hearing about the west and north, Li Yuan immediately perked up and said, "What you say is absolutely right. I have seen the report from the Ministry of Revenue that the Prince of Xining and the Prince of Mobei have not paid a single coin in taxes to the Ministry of Revenue. I have asked Prime Minister Li of the Cabinet, and he believes that this must be changed in the future, otherwise it may lead to disaster for the regional military governors."

Jia Lian immediately understood Li Yuan's thoughts. The successful governance of Nanyang had given rise to inappropriate ideas in him.

Of course, we cannot dismiss Li Yuan's intentions based on this, otherwise it will definitely cause him to feel dissatisfied, and even if he doesn't say it now, it will accumulate little by little.

"What Prime Minister Li said makes some sense, but matters vary in urgency and distance. In the early days of the Xining Kingdom, the King of Xining abandoned the Northwest and crossed the Pamir Mountains to reach the former territory of the Anxi Protectorate. Although he received some support from the court, he had conquered the region himself and requested to establish his own kingdom to guard the Northwest. The former territory of Anxi is thousands of miles away from the capital, and it is unrealistic to completely control it. It is better to send a few officials to be stationed there, and as long as the Xining Kingdom does not rebel against the court, it can be left to its own devices. If it is threatened by Tsarist Russia, the court will have to increase its support and even send troops to reinforce it. In short, with the Xining Kingdom in power, the Northwest is safe."

Jia Lian patiently explained the situation to Li Yuan, without even mentioning the tax issue. It wasn't that the tax wasn't important, but rather that they couldn't collect it. That old man Li Qing, he'd abandoned all shame just to become the Grand Secretary.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan immediately understood that he had been overthinking things. As for the northern desert, that place was even poorer.

"Your Majesty, for the next three hundred years, the court's focus will remain on the sea. Maritime transport is low-cost, and although it is risky, as long as larger and safer ships can be built, the risks can be negligible. Moreover, the development of the sea can be undertaken freely by the private sector, and bringing wealth back from overseas to spend domestically is itself a great achievement. Not to mention that if the private sector acquires overseas territories, it will expand the market for domestic products."

He spoke earnestly and patiently, without mentioning Li Qing's faults, but instead painted a picture of the future. Having spent several years in Southeast Asia, Li Yuan naturally knew the enormous profits that maritime trade could bring.

When Li Yuan sought his advice, Jia Lian only provided a general framework, which suited Li Yuan's taste perfectly, as he didn't feel like Jia Lian was giving him instructions.

The emperor and his minister had a very pleasant conversation. In a good mood, Li Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Sir, I intend to bestow an honor upon Li Heng. What do you think?"

Jia Lian's expression suddenly froze, and Li Yuan, realizing he had spoken too quickly, appeared somewhat embarrassed.

Fortunately, Jia Lian reacted quickly and adjusted his mindset. He subconsciously shook his head but didn't say anything.

"Does Your Excellency mean something inappropriate? Or is it that I am too hasty?" Li Yuan quickly tried to smooth things over.

Jia Lian continued to shake his head: "No, this is Your Majesty's family matter, and it is not something a subject can comment on. Your Majesty must remember that although the imperial family has no private matters, it still depends on the situation."

Li Yuan understood; how to deal with Li Heng's matter was a matter for outside officials not to interfere with. Seeing that the conversation had nearly ended, Jia Lian stood up, clasped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, it's getting late; this humble subject should take his leave."

Li Yuan stood up and said, "I will see you off, sir!" Jia Lian immediately said with a serious expression, "Absolutely not! Your Majesty's kindness to me is a virtue, but anything that might damage Your Majesty's dignity must not be shown to others!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan immediately stopped smiling and his face turned serious: "I thank you for your teachings, sir!"

"Your humble servant dares not; I shall take my leave!"

After Jia Lian left, Li Yuan stood at the entrance of the main hall and watched his figure disappear. Then he turned to his chief steward Hu Min and whispered, "None of the civil and military officials, or the imperial relatives, have ever said these things to me."

Hu Min replied in a low voice, "Sage, there is a saying among the people that Jia Gong's learning has brought prosperity to the country, and he can be considered a sage!"

Li Yuan smiled and shook his head: "These people don't understand you, sir. They're just talking nonsense. You won't take it seriously. You founded a state-owned enterprise and amassed a fortune that's worthless, but that didn't stop you from becoming rich. You consider yourself an ordinary person, and although you love money, you acquire it ethically. How could ordinary people understand your level of understanding?"

Europe, thousands of miles away, has been in turmoil for the past two years.

At a time of crisis for the Republic, on one hand, the people, singing the Marseillaise, rushed to the battlefield, creating a miracle of war belonging to the people; on the other hand, in Toulon, a young, short officer began his extraordinary life. After the French army repelled the first intervention, the Zhou Dynasty military delegation, which had retreated to London, held talks with the ambassador to Britain and reached a conclusion.

The war in Europe was not as simple as it seemed. As the losing side, the losses were not too great, and with Britain providing stable support, further wars were likely to break out.

A protracted war is bound to bring about new tactical changes and new weapons and equipment, all of which require a thorough understanding.

During their visit to Europe, the delegation witnessed the rapid development of various European countries, and Jia Lian's statements about these countries were verified during their on-site investigations.

Therefore, the delegation is not in a hurry to return home. They can send a few people back first to report the situation and then request that new observers be sent to replace them. They also believe this is a long-term task.

In the first year of the Qianzheng era, the new emperor Li Yuan read out an edict at the New Year's grand court assembly.

The general content is that, in accordance with the late emperor's will, benevolent governance will be practiced domestically, and expansion will continue externally...

The message on the surface is basically: no unnecessary changes! No new tricks or innovations.

A plan for the whole world was published in the official gazette (internal reference) and newspapers among the people, giving the entire nation a sense of reassurance.

What the public fears most is the constant changes in policy; that's the most dangerous thing.

Li Yuan's strategy of seeking stability pleased the entire bureaucracy the most. Of course, a few individuals were unhappy, but that was unimportant.

A rumor was circulating in official circles that Jia Lian was summoned by Li Yuan for an audience, and the emperor and his minister talked for a very long time, making him the person with the longest audience after Li Yuan ascended the throne.

Another matter that attracted the attention of officials was the issue of Li Yuan's placement of Li Heng, which remained unresolved for a long time.

Some officials, hoping to get away with it, submitted memorials requesting that Li Heng be granted the fiefdom, but all of these memorials were kept in the central government.

The ministers couldn't understand Li Yuan's mindset and were naturally very anxious, especially the Grand Secretary Lin Ruhai, who was particularly worried.

His concerns were not unfounded, after all, Li Heng had been the top choice for succession for a long time, but lost at the last moment.

It can be said that many people in the capital were planted by Li Heng. Although Emperor Chenghui had purged them once, there were still many who escaped.

In fact, Lin Ruhai's idea was to grant Li Heng a distant title, and Li Yuan initially shared the same idea, but there was one hurdle that was difficult to overcome: Empress Zhou.

After Li Yuan ascended the throne, Li Heng only appeared briefly during the funeral. Afterward, he stayed at home and refused to see any guests. He also stopped taking care of his official duties.

Regarding Li Heng's matter, Empress Zhou's attitude was also very clear: give him something to do, there's no need to send him too far away, otherwise it would be difficult for her own son to even see him.

After failing to get an answer from Jia Lian, Li Yuan naturally lost interest in the memorials from other officials. Could any of you be more insightful than the Master?
After much deliberation, Li Yuan came up with an idea and summoned the cabinet ministers to a meeting to discuss it.

At the cabinet meeting, Li Yuan presented a number of memorials requesting the conferment of titles upon Li Heng and said, “After the New Year, many ministers have submitted memorials requesting the conferment of titles upon Li Heng. The Empress Dowager is reluctant, and so am I. I would like to ask you ministers for your guidance.”

These words sounded grand and dignified, but the cabinet ministers below couldn't quite grasp what the emperor meant. Did he want to seal it off so they wouldn't have to see it, or keep it under his watchful eye?
Lin Ruhai had discussed this privately with the cabinet ministers many times, and their opinions had long been in agreement.

At this moment, Li Yuangang asked a question, and Fang Song stood up and said, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, it is appropriate to enfeoff the Imperial Brother in Xin Province. The territory is large enough to demonstrate Your Majesty's benevolence. The Empress Dowager is objecting, and we, your subjects, are remonstrating with her!"

This statement was unexpected by Li Yuan, especially the part about the Empress Dowager.

Li Yuan became wary. If you can gather a crowd to force the Empress Dowager to submit, what about other matters in the future? Will you be able to unite and force me to submit as well?
(End of this chapter)