Thief Emperor

Chapter 1144 Five-Year Plan
Li Yun was also a man who came from a military background.

Therefore, he did not think that the Tang army's actions in the Northwest were completely unacceptable. However, if he were to personally lead the troops, given his personality, he would not make such a choice.

Both methods of leading troops have their advantages and disadvantages.

The act of massacring a city doesn't necessarily mean wiping out the enemy; it's more about creating a deterrent effect. Perhaps after this one city is captured, other states and cities will be so frightened that they will surrender at the mere mention of it and dare not fight again.

This cruel method can also deter local tribes, making them dare not rebel again, at least for a short period of time.

If the war in the northwest could be ended with a massacre of a city, the casualties of the Tang army would be reduced accordingly.

Li Yun could still be that ruthless.

Moreover, the die is cast, the war in the Northwest is not over yet, and this is not the time to comment on right and wrong.

However, Li Yun felt that his son might have some problems with his temperament.

Because for normal people fighting a war, no matter who they are, once they arrive in the Northwest, the process of taking over the first battle and the first city is not too difficult, and the casualties are not too heavy.

There was no need to massacre the entire city.

The fact that this person did this without needing to massacre the entire city suggests that he is likely bloodthirsty.

If it's not bloodlust, then it's absolute calmness, a desire to end the war with minimal troops and at minimal cost.

As a parent, Li Yun was naturally worried about this situation.

He was thinking about what he would do if his son, or his future sons, really committed some kind of sin.

In fact, the probability is quite high, because he already has many sons.

In addition, he is only forty-five or forty-six years old now, and there is a high probability that he will have more than twenty princes in the future.

With twenty people, such a large number, there will inevitably be both good and bad; that's beyond doubt.

When the time comes, will Li's blade really fall on the princes?

Du Xiangong looked at Li Yun and sighed: "What Erlang is thinking about now is all unfounded. Thinking about it is just a waste of energy. What is important now is the new policy and its subsequent promotion."

"The princes..."

After considering his words for a moment, Prime Minister Du continued, "At least during the reign of Emperor Zhangwu, and for the next few decades, it won't be a major problem."

The emperor nodded silently: "We'll talk about it after He Man arrives."

He lowered his head and took a sip of tea: "If it's really as I think, then we'll have to establish rules for the royal family from now on."

Du Xiangong clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Throughout history, few emperors have thought like Your Majesty."

Li Yun shook his head: "I think this way not only for the country and the people, but also to accumulate virtue for the Li family. If we accumulate more virtue, the Li family might not suffer too badly when the country is destroyed and the family is destroyed in the future."

Looking at Li Yun, Prime Minister Du said, "If the commercial tax can truly surpass the land tax after Your Majesty's new policies are implemented, our Tang Dynasty might truly last for thousands of generations."

"Will not."

Li Yun was very frank about this, and he said calmly, "In the future, when industry and commerce replace agriculture, the land conflict will not disappear, but will only shift to other things."

"Moreover, some things we should have done back then were not completely accomplished, and land consolidation will continue. It's just that if industry and commerce are thriving, the pace of land consolidation will be slower."

Minister Du was taken aback and asked, "What is Your Majesty referring to?"

"Land is owned by the public."

The emperor looked at Du Qian and said with a smile, "This matter can no longer be pushed forward in the current situation, and if it had been forcibly pushed forward in the situation back then, I'm afraid we would have been attacked by everyone."

"Let's just forget about it."

The emperor waved his hand and said, "This is not something we should be doing."

"in my opinion."

His Majesty the Emperor smiled and said, "If future generations are capable, the Li Tang dynasty will last for at most three hundred years."

"If we don't perform well, we'll be lucky if we last a hundred years or so."

He looked at Du Qian and said, "I'm quite open-minded about this. Anyway, neither of us will be able to see it."

"What our generation needs to do is to push this country forward as much as possible, taking one step at a time, or even half a step at a time."

"This is how those who will take the stage in the future will do so."

His Majesty the Emperor smiled and said, "If we can continue along our path, the country will always get better and better."

Minister Du thought for a moment.

"What if those who come after don't continue on this path?"

His Majesty the Emperor said slowly, "That's their business."

He looked at Du Qian and said with a smile, "Even after a thousand generations, the sins will not fall on our heads."

Minister Du nodded, stood up, cupped his hands to the Emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, I will go to see Zhang Sui and the others immediately to discuss matters. You need not worry about this matter."

Minister Du paused for a moment, then continued, "To put it bluntly, no matter what His Highness Prince Qin's temperament is, as long as His Majesty is satisfied with it, it is not a problem for His Majesty or for the Tang Dynasty."

The emperor said quietly,

"I know, I know."

He sighed: "But all people are born into this world for a short time, so why deceive others?"

Du Xiangong bowed again and said, "Of the three people Your Majesty previously instructed, two have already been captured. Cao Yuanzhen has already led men to Changzhou to arrest Zhou Bing, the governor of Changzhou. The case should be closed before the end of the year." The Emperor nodded.

"understood."

…………

Not long after parting ways with His Majesty the Emperor, Prime Minister Du summoned Zhang Sui, Jinling Prefect Fei Lian, and Jiangdong Provincial Governor Geng Yong to his private quarters.

The three entered Prime Minister Du's office one after the other and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings to my revered teacher."

"Greetings, Prime Minister Du."

Du Xiangong gestured for the three to sit down, then looked at Fei Lian and said, "The accounts of Jinling Prefecture have been almost thoroughly investigated, and there are some discrepancies."

Fei Lian's expression changed instantly. He stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to Prime Minister Du, and said with a wry smile, "Prime Minister Du, I have been in office in Jinling for less than a year..."

Du Qian waved his hand: "Don't be in such a hurry to refuse."

"There are minor discrepancies, but overall it's acceptable. In a few days, I will send a document to your Jinling Prefecture, as usual, to reprimand you, and then this matter will be over."

"Going forward, try not to make mistakes in these small details."

Fei Lian breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed his head, saying, "Thank you, Prime Minister Du, thank you, Prime Minister Du."

Du Xiangong then looked at Geng Yong and said calmly, "The accounts in Jiangdong are still being checked. Governor Geng, don't go back to Suzhou for the time being. Just wait in Jinling."

Geng Yong stood up, bowed his head, and said, "Your humble servant obeys."

Minister Du gestured for the three to sit down, then looked at them and said, "Overall, His Majesty's new policies have been implemented quite well. Last year, the commercial tax revenue of Jinling Prefecture, when converted, was enough to offset 20% to 30% of the land tax."

"Although Jiangdong doesn't have that many, it still accounts for about one or two tenths."

"This is just the beginning."

He looked at Fei Lian and continued, "Nanjing is the secondary capital and is of utmost importance. Shouzheng, you will probably serve two terms in this position, which means you have five years left. During these five years, you must firmly implement the new policies."

"If it's done well."

Prime Minister Du openly declared, "No matter what others say, I guarantee you a future as a Minister of the Six Ministries."

For over twenty years since the establishment of the Jiangdong civil service system, the personnel system was personally managed by Prime Minister Du until recently when it was handed over to Minister Zhuo.

The promise made by Prime Minister Du was almost identical to what His Majesty the Emperor had said.

Fei Lian was overjoyed upon hearing this, and rose to his feet, bowing his head and saying, "Thank you for your promotion, sir. I will certainly do my best!"

He paused, then asked, "I wonder how good you mean, sir?"

After thinking for a moment, Minister Du said, "Jinling Prefecture started the earliest, has the Maritime Trade Office here, and is also the secondary capital. In recent years, it has attracted many merchants and opened many factories. My idea is that within five years, the commercial tax should ideally be half of the land tax."

"Of course, it depends on the specific circumstances."

Prime Minister Du instructed, "Do not falsify, and do not force growth."

"Otherwise, setting aside the imperial court, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of Fei Gong."

Fei Lian bowed deeply: "Your humble servant obeys!"

Du Xiang then looked at Geng Yong.

Geng Yong lowered his head and said with a wry smile, "My lord, Jiangdong is too vast, with too much land..."

"Then you'll get 40%."

Prime Minister Du said calmly, "If you can do this when you step down, I will also guarantee your future."

Geng Yong cupped his hands and bowed his head, saying, "Thank you, sir. I will do my best."

Du Xiang then looked at Zhang Sui: "You have achieved your goal."

Zhang Sui bowed his head and said, "My esteemed teacher."

"After His Majesty leaves next year, you will be responsible for promoting the new policies in the three circuits of Jiangnan. Huainan Circuit is almost done now, and the next one will be Jiangnan West Circuit."

"And the southern part of Jiangdong."

"I'll give you two or three years, and if you do well..."

Lord Du said slowly, "I have told you about your future."

Zhang Sui's eyes were piercing as he bowed his head and said, "This student obeys."

Upon hearing this title, the other two glanced at Zhang Sui, their eyes filled with envy.

"Alright, our rules are settled then. Tomorrow, you will come with me to present our report to His Majesty."

"That's what we'll say then."

All three of them stood up and bowed in unison.

"I obey your orders."

"Students obey."

(End of this chapter)