Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 274 Li Shimin: Is this rebellious son preparing to be canonized?! [Seeking monthly votes]

In fact, Li Chengqian was very clear that proposing reforms now was a bit hasty and quick to gain benefits.

But think about it from another perspective, does he have a better opportunity to reform than now?
Because of all the previous preparations, the direction and momentum of the entire court meeting were all on him, and even Li Shimin had to avoid his edge.

If reforms are not proposed at this time, it will be difficult to find such an opportunity again in the future.

Therefore, no matter what kind of resistance he will face next, he must put forward the idea of ​​reform.

Even if the final result is not satisfactory, he wants to let everyone know what plans he has for the future development of the Tang Dynasty.

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, the ministers in the court immediately began to discuss.

Some ministers had ashen faces and glared at Li Chengqian as if they wanted to eat him alive.

Some ministers frowned, their eyes revealing unspeakable worry, as if they were thinking about the consequences of these reforms.

More ministers were shocked by Li Chengqian's audacity, who dared to propose such a shocking reform.

You know, the existing imperial examination system is the only way for children from poor families to change their destiny and stand out.

However, Li Chengqian intended to abolish the Confucian selection criteria based mainly on Mingjing and Jinshi, which was undoubtedly a suppression of those Confucian disciples.

If they cannot adapt to this reform, they will most likely remain at the bottom of society forever.

Looking at the land reform, the policy of prohibiting the sale of land undoubtedly touched the fundamental interests of the aristocratic families.

Although Li Chengqian launched an unprecedented massacre of the five surnames and seven families on the night of the Double Ninth Festival.

But in addition to the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Clans, there were many other aristocratic families in the Tang Dynasty.

And it was impossible for Li Chengqian to kill all the aristocratic families.

Therefore, the land reform policy proposed by Li Chengqian was undoubtedly a further suppression of the aristocratic families throughout the world.

Just ask yourself, which wealthy family does not own tens of thousands of acres of fertile land?

Once the sale of land is banned, how will they continue to expand their business and maintain the prosperity of their family?

The aristocratic families control a large amount of land resources. Banning the sale of land is undoubtedly a direct deprivation of their interests.

As for the reform of the marriage law, it shocked all the civil and military officials in the court, and even made them speechless for a while.

Strictly prohibiting intermarriage between aristocratic families, isn't this an attempt to disintegrate all the aristocratic families in the world?

Although the people of the five surnames and seven families revealed Li Chengqian's ambition on the night of the Double Ninth Festival banquet, most people did not believe that Li Chengqian would do so.

Because the consequences of doing so are simply unimaginable.

Adjusting the marriage age for men and women and prohibiting human trafficking are measures that undoubtedly challenge the traditional rules and order of the entire society.

It can be said that any one of these three reforms would be enough to cause an uproar throughout the Tang Dynasty and make society boil.

And now, Li Chengqian proposed three reforms in one breath.

What he did was simply challenging fate and going against the will of heaven.

How could this not be shocking?

"Your Highness, are you trying to bring chaos to the Tang Dynasty?!"

Finally, Kong Yingda was the first to step forward and question Li Chengqian, "Of your three reforms, let's not talk about the others. Just take the reform of the imperial examination system. You've abolished the Confucian standards for selecting scholars based on Mingjing and Jinshi. What will scholars learn in the future, and how will they be assessed?"

"And your so-called engineering and medicine are just low-level stuff. What's the point? Do we in the Tang Dynasty still need to rely on a bunch of craftsmen and doctors to rule the world?"

"Yes, Prince, it's okay to have a military examination, at least it can select a general. Why is the imperial examination reformed so randomly?" The Minister of Personnel Gao Shilian couldn't help but stand up.

After all, the imperial examination has the greatest relationship with the Ministry of Personnel.

If Li Chengqian was allowed to "randomly" reform the imperial examination system, the consequence would be that the Ministry of Personnel would find it difficult to select suitable officials in the future.

However, before Li Chengqian could respond to the minister's question, Li Shimin looked at him with a sullen expression and said, "Prince, do you know what you are doing?"

"Before answering your Majesty, I would like to ask you a question. Throughout history, which dynasty that achieved great things did not achieve prosperity through reform?"

"This"

Li Shimin was slightly stunned when he heard this.

But then Li Chengqian said to himself:
"Guan Zhong's reforms made Qi one of the Five Hegemons of the Central Plains. Shang Yang's reforms made Qin a tyrant, ultimately leading to the unification of the six kingdoms by Qin Shi Huang. Emperor Wu of Han's reforms made the Han Dynasty synonymous with 'strong Han'."

"And what about the Tang Dynasty? Can't we become the most powerful dynasty after the Han Dynasty?"

"Your Highness, this is wrong!"

Li Chengqian had barely finished speaking when Yu Shinan, Grand Secretary of the Hongwen Academy, stepped forward and declared sternly, "Although Guan Zhong's reforms enabled Duke Huan of Qi to become the first hegemon of the Spring and Autumn Period, with the potential to 'unite the nine states and bring peace to the world,' Qi's chaotic land taxation system, coupled with rampant corruption in the salt and iron monopolies, left the state without ambition. Therefore, Qi has lost its ability to contend for hegemony since Duke Huan of Qi!"

"Shang Yang's reforms made Qin a fierce and ruthless country, but the laws were harsh and the people suffered. Even when Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, he still perished because of his tyranny!"

"As for Emperor Wu of Han's reforms, they were even more militaristic. Although he earned the title of 'Strong Han,' he didn't live up to the reputation. How could he be called a prosperous dynasty?"

Wow!
As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

Some people clapped and cheered, echoing loudly.

Some people looked at each other in confusion.

I have to say that educated people are different. They speak very clearly and logically, which is much more powerful than those incompetent roars.

It is obvious that Yu Shinan's powerful remarks gave the ministers hope of opposing Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian looked at Yu Shinan deeply and sighed, "Master Yu is truly a learned man!"

"I dare not. I am just speaking based on facts. I think the three reforms proposed by the prince still need long-term consideration!" Yu Shinan said modestly.

"Yes, Prince, your three reforms concern the foundation of the country and the future of our Tang Dynasty. How can you be so careless?" Changsun Wuji also agreed helplessly.

Although he had always supported Li Chengqian in his heart, Li Chengqian's three reforms not only affected the interests of the aristocratic families, but also the interests of the Guanlong clan like him.

For example, if there are two officials in the court within three generations, they cannot marry into other official families.

is it possible?

He also planned to marry his daughter to the son of another minister.

Could it be that Changsun Chong will no longer serve as an official in the court?

This doesn't seem possible!

Therefore, for his own interests, he had to stand up and oppose Li Chengqian's reforms even when facing his own nephew.

At this moment, the newly appointed Minister of Revenue, Li Xinqi, stepped forward, holding his hu tablet and saying, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I believe that reform, while difficult, is inevitable for national development."

"Thinking back, Jiangling also achieved its current prosperity through continuous reform."

"That's right! The prince's three reforms directly point out the various current ills of the Tang Dynasty. If they can be successfully implemented, they will surely make our Tang Dynasty a new look!" Ma Zhou also stood up and echoed.

Immediately afterwards, Cen Wenben shouted loudly: "Your Highness, I am willing to fully support you, the Crown Prince, to face the national crisis together and achieve great things!"

"Let's face the national crisis together and work towards a great cause!"

As officials from the Eastern Palace stepped forward one after another, officials from Jiangling also stepped forward.

For a moment, the entire court was clearly divided.

Seeing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly.

Ministers such as Gao Shilian, Zhangsun Wuji, Yu Shinan, and Kong Yingda immediately felt considerable pressure.

But then Li Chengqian spoke calmly again: "Just now, Master Kong asked me what the scholars should learn and what they should be tested on after the reform of the imperial examination. I can answer you now: learn the new knowledge and be tested on the new knowledge."

"What is new learning? It's new knowledge that meets the development needs of our Tang Dynasty. Not useless knowledge that studies how to become an official all day long!"

"I don't want the Analects, a book with dozens of annotations, to become a classic for scholars to study!"

"Also, Master Kong said that engineering and medicine are low-level subjects. Well, I'm going to refute you here. The so-called low-level craftsman and doctor you mentioned, one built the Shenwei Cannon, and the other might save your life!"

"This"

When Kong Yingda heard this, he was stunned.

Li Chengqian continued, "As for what Lord Yu said, I admire your knowledge, but I think you are too pedantic, like one of those pedantic scholars who has become stupid from reading too much."

"Don't you know the saying that goes like this? It's better to have no books than to believe everything in them."

"You're talking about Duke Huan of Qi, and that's fine, but you're blaming the fall of the Second Qin Emperor on Qin Shi Huang. Aren't you just stupid because of all your reading? I'm telling you, the fall of the Qin wasn't due to tyranny, but rather to the mismatch between the implementation of the system and the laws!"

"Then may I ask Your Highness, what is the mismatch between the implementation of the system and the law?" Yu Shinan asked curiously.

He didn't seem to be angry because Li Chengqian called him a corrupt scholar.

Li Chengqian then said calmly, "As for the so-called system, we must first understand what system the Qin State used before it unified the six kingdoms. The answer is obvious: the farming and warfare system!"

"And this farming and warfare system was created by Shang Yang's reforms!"

"Then why is it incompatible with the law? Because after Qin unified the six kingdoms, it adopted the county system." "Master Yu, please think about it. Can a law created for the farming and warfare system be applied to the newly implemented county system? Obviously not, because they are completely incompatible!"

"So, more and more problems and contradictions arose, eventually reaching a point where they were irreconcilable. Add to that the reckless behavior of the Second Emperor of Qin. Therefore, the Second Emperor of Qin fell."

"This"

Hearing this, Yu Shinan immediately fell into deep thought.

The rest of the ministers could not help but look at each other in confusion.

Especially Li Shimin, his eyes looking at Li Chengqian changed a little.

However, not everyone understood what Li Chengqian said.

For example, Kong Yingda.

But then he said indignantly, "Your Highness, you are talking nonsense. Qin Shi Huang was a tyrant. This is a recognized fact!"

"Who recognized it?"

Li Chengqian asked with some amusement.

Kong Yingda was stunned for a moment, then said with a straight face, "This has been passed down through the dynasties, and this is also recorded in history books. Could it be that Your Highness the Crown Prince is questioning the history books?"

"Ah!"

Li Chengqian couldn't help but sneer and said, "Just now I said that believing in books is worse than having no books at all, but Master Kong didn't listen to a word I said!"

"Then I ask you, who wrote the history books?"

"Of course it's Taishigong!"

"Which dynasty did Taishigong live in?"

"Of course it's the Han Dynasty!"

"Then how did the Han Dynasty come about?"

"It was established by Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang after the overthrow of the tyrannical Qin Dynasty"

"That's right, isn't it? The Han Dynasty overthrew the Qin Dynasty. Do you think the people of the Han Dynasty could praise Qin Shi Huang so much?"

"It's just like our Tang Dynasty. Who dares to praise the Sui Dynasty?"

"This"

Kong Yingda was instantly choked by Li Chengqian's words.

Li Shimin's look at Li Chengqian became more and more complicated.

He was certain that ever since that coma, Li Chengqian must have grown a rebellious bone on the back of his head.

You dare to say such things.

Even more outspoken than myself.

He privately condemned Emperor Yang of Sui and Emperor Wen of Sui, and he directly analyzed the essence of the change of dynasties in front of all the civil and military officials in the court.

In fact, who doesn’t know?
Isn't it normal for this dynasty to be dark and the previous dynasty to be dark?

Is it necessary to put it so bluntly?

Although Li Shimin was complaining about his son in his heart, when he saw Kong Yingda was speechless after being refuted by Li Chengqian, he stood up and said, "Prince, I need to carefully consider the three reforms you proposed. I will not make a decision here. I will make a decision after I have thought it through!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he was ready to adjourn the court again.

But Li Chengqian was not willing to give up.

But then he said in a deep voice: "Father, this is wrong!"

"As the saying goes, time waits for no man. Now we are surrounded by enemies. If we don't unite as one, how can we achieve our goal?"

"You still know that we are surrounded by enemies?!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's face was instantly filled with fury. He glared at Li Chengqian with a piercing gaze, his tone questioning, "Do you realize how much turmoil these three reforms will cause? How many people's interests will be impacted? With such a hasty decision, where does the stability of our Tang Dynasty lie?"

Facing Li Shimin's questioning, Li Chengqian did not back down, but responded pointedly: "Father, I naturally know the current situation of the Tang Dynasty, but I will not carry out reforms immediately. I want to finalize the reforms first so that everyone can be prepared and cooperate with me.

Furthermore, I also understand the difficulty and complexity of these three reforms. But precisely because of this, I am even more determined to implement them.

If the Tang Dynasty wants to maintain long-term peace and create a prosperous and glorious era, it must get rid of its ills and keep pace with the times.

Doesn't the Emperor want the Tang Dynasty to become better?"

"Why do you think your reforms can make the Tang Dynasty better?" Li Shimin asked coldly.

Li Chengqian suddenly said seriously, "Just based on my reform achievements in Jiangling, just based on my invention of firearms, just based on the fact that Jiangling's annual tax revenue is more than that of the Tang Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was speechless.

He naturally knew about Li Chengqian's reform achievements in Jiangling, but he still felt that the three reforms proposed by Li Chengqian were too radical and difficult for him to accept for the time being.

And at this moment, Fang Xuanling, who had been silent all the time, finally stood up.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, please listen to my sincere words. I believe that reforms concern the foundation of our country and require careful consideration.

However, I also believe that the three reforms proposed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, although seemingly radical, are also for the future of our Tang Dynasty.

Why don't we first call together the important officials in the court to discuss and find a more stable reform plan? "

Fang Xuanling's words were quickly approved by Li Shimin's ministers.

But the officials of Jiangling did not agree very much.

Liu Rengui was the first to speak up, "The Minister of the Central Secretariat is wrong! All the civil and military officials are present at court today. Can't we, with so many ministers, come up with a more reliable plan?"

"Yes! We are all here. Can't we offer suggestions for the Tang Dynasty?" Another Jiangling official stepped forward and echoed.

But as this Jiangling official stood up, Li Shimin's ministers also stood up one after another.

But Ge Ping immediately retorted, "What advice can you offer? You all support the prince. Do you think about the country?"

"Yes, I think you are dividing this country. You deserve to be punished!"

"Hahaha! You say we are worthy of death. I guess you are just reluctant to give up your little piece of land! Are you afraid that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will use a knife on you?"

"You bastard, what is your official position? What is my official position? How can you allow me to be so presumptuous?"

"Is it so great just because you hold a high position? If you have the guts, challenge me in a one-on-one duel!"

"Let's fight alone"

"enough!"

Although the history books recorded the brawls between Tang Dynasty ministers, Li Chengqian had no interest in watching them. He stopped them immediately, then glanced at Li Shimin, then looked around at the ministers and said, "No matter what, I have made up my mind. Reform is imperative!"

Wow!
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience fell silent.

But the atmosphere in the entire court was becoming increasingly tense, as if a more intense quarrel would break out at any time.

In fact, Li Chengqian was not unaware that if he forcibly pushed through these three reforms, it might trigger a political storm in the Tang Dynasty.

But he knew better how important these reforms were to the long-term development of the Tang Dynasty.

The reform of the imperial examination system can break the monopoly of Confucian students on official careers and allow more talented people to display their talents.

For example, medical talents, engineering talents, and even talents in other fields can all flourish and develop, which is not comparable to Confucian students who only know how to study how to become officials all day long.

The implementation of land reform is mainly to curb land annexation, protect the interests of the people and stabilize the social foundation.

As for the adjustment of the marriage law, it will promote the improvement of social atmosphere, enhance the status of women and promote social progress.

After all, the low fertility rate in ancient society was largely related to early marriage and incomplete physical development.

Therefore, no matter how difficult and arduous the road ahead is, he must keep going forward with determination.

Looking at the angry expressions of the ministers, Li Chengqian took a deep breath and slowly said, "My dear ministers, I understand very well that these reforms will affect the interests of many people."

"but."

Then he changed the subject and said in a resounding voice, "If I must find a reason to implement these reforms, I can only say four things: establish a mind for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, carry on the lost knowledge of the past sages, and bring peace to the world for all eternity!"

Boom!

When these words were spoken, it was like the sound of a huge bell, shocking everyone.

Gao Shilian, Zhangsun Wuji, Yu Shinan, and Kong Yingda were all stunned on the spot, their faces filled with shock.

Li Shimin clutched his sleeves tightly, muttering to himself, "Is this rebellious son preparing to be canonized?"

(End of this chapter)