The prince is more stable

Chapter 923 Shock to the Government and the Public
The foundation of a "prosperous age" is the economy. In the Song Dynasty, an era dominated by agriculture, the foundation of the economy was land, farmers, and a system and laws that strictly limited land annexation.

If we turn a blind eye to the current situation of powerful landlords annexing land, and do not restrain or stop it, then the "prosperous age" will never come.

How can we talk about a "prosperous age" when farmers have no land to cultivate?
When Zhao Xiaoqian decided to challenge the interests of these powerful landlords, he already had a clear and rational judgment.

It's better to offend powerful landlords than peasants across the land.

The calculation is simple: when the peasants get land, the people's hearts are at peace, and the imperial power is consolidated.

Even if the powerful and wealthy landowners launch a fierce counterattack, the foundation of imperial power remains, and the worst outcome will only be temporary chaos.

However, if the interests of peasants are sacrificed in order to protect the interests of the powerful and wealthy landlords, then the consequences will be the collapse of the country, and those ordinary people will destroy everything in the most barbaric way.

Our ancestors said, "He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world." This saying has been used as a slogan for thousands of years, and it is indeed a truth. However, once the world has formed an inherent class hierarchy, there are not many people who truly regard it as truth anymore.

The next day, astonishing news came from the new administration.

The emperor issued an edict ordering officials of the New Administration Department to begin discussing the "Equal Taxation Law for Field Land".

The news spread throughout the imperial court in an instant, immediately provoking a strong reaction from many people.

No one expected that the government would dare to touch this new policy.

In everyone's eyes, the so-called "Equal Taxation Law for Fields" has almost become a dead law, and it has not been mentioned at all from the emperor to the prime minister in recent years.

When the imperial court implemented new laws, it automatically skipped this article and instead focused on promoting laws such as the Green Sprouts Law, the Labor Service Law, the Market Exchange Law, and the Baojia Law.

"Equal taxation of all fields" was tantamount to a purge of powerful officials and landlords across the land. Who would dare to touch it?

As it turns out, this official, who had been on the throne for less than half a year, dared to take action.

The court was shocked, and the officials fell silent.

What exactly is the government trying to do? It's one thing to implement new policies, but the "Equal Taxation Law for Fields" is worse than digging up my ancestral graves!
With so many officials and landlords in the country, owning so much land, how much of it is illicit, how much has been concealed from the government, how much has been legally or illegally seized and annexed—everyone knows the answer to that.

If the "Equal Taxation Law for Land" is formally implemented after being discussed by the new administration, then the shameful cover-up of officials and landlords throughout the land will be torn off. Not only will the land under the names of officials be liquidated, but it will also be much less convenient for officials and landlords to seize land in the future.

This is tantamount to the government directly challenging all the officials and landlords in the country. Even though you set the rules of the game, you are the only RMB player in the entire server, and you are the only one wearing top-tier orange gear, chasing after us free players and hacking us around.

Dude! You can't play games like that!

That morning, as soon as the new administration began discussing the issues, the city of Bianjing was already in an uproar.

Officials in various government offices in Bianjing began to connect with each other, inquire about information, and solemnly verify the truth of the rumors.

Not long after the officials finally confirmed that the emperor had indeed issued an edict to discuss the equal taxation law for the land, they could no longer sit still.

Soon, nearly a hundred officials gathered in front of the Hall of State Affairs, asking Zhang Dun to come forward and explain.

Zhang Dun was not in the Hall of State Affairs. After Zhao Xiaoqian informed him yesterday, Zhang Dun knew that he would definitely stir up a hornet's nest today, so he claimed to be sick and stayed at home instead of going to the Hall of State Affairs.

The other prime ministers in the Council of State Affairs were also completely bewildered, having no idea why the Emperor had made this decision. The officials invited several prime ministers out, but the prime ministers were also at a loss for words.

As for why the officials only gathered in the Hall of State Affairs and dared not go to the palace gate to kneel and plead with the emperor to rescind his decree...

Someone once tried this, but it became a living example of what not to do. The emperor issued a forceful decree to dismiss more than two hundred officials at once, all of whom knelt at the palace gates to petition.

Since then, no one has dared to touch the public service activity of kneeling at the palace gate to petition anymore, because everyone has realized that kneeling at the palace gate may not solve the problem, but it can certainly solve their own problems.

As a result, the Council of State Affairs was in trouble, and officials flocked to the council, demanding an explanation from the prime ministers.

This matter was too serious. Even the prime ministers were bewildered. Apart from Zhang Dun, none of the other prime ministers in the entire Council of State knew anything about it. And that old fox Zhang Dun had already gone into hiding.

The prime ministers of the State Council were clearly unable to provide an explanation to the officials; they themselves were completely baffled.

what's next?

Kneeling at the palace gate is forbidden, right? Then write a memorial to remonstrate against it.

If we reason with you, you won't just dismiss us at the drop of a hat. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, few have been punished for their words, and reasoning has always been a strength of civil officials.

Before noon, thousands of memorials flew into the Hall of State Affairs. The tone of the memorials varied, but the meaning was basically the same: they all asked the Emperor to think carefully and postpone the implementation of the Equal Land Tax Law. They argued that this law should not be established, as it would cause turmoil in the country and risk national ruin.

Inside the new administration office, the officials also looked hesitant.

These officials were unsure whether the Fangtian Equal Tax Law should be discussed, and what the outcome should be after the discussion.

It's too serious. For decades, three emperors and successive prime ministers dared not touch it, because this tax law was too deadly. It touched the core interests of too many people, and they would fight you to the death.

"How about we invite the ministers of the Council of State Affairs over to discuss this together?" an official in the new administration office said hesitantly.

"The ministers of the Council of State Affairs have all fled. Who would dare to come?" Another official said with a wry smile, "Everyone is avoiding us like the plague. Even if we reach a conclusion, who would dare to implement it?" Zheng Chaozong, a scholar of the Zizheng Hall and acting governor of the capital region, said, "The court also has the Censorate. If a decree is officially promulgated and local officials dare not implement it, the Censorate and the Imperial City Guard will handle it."

"What if there are hundreds or even thousands of officials who oppose this? Would the emperor dismiss them all? Then who would govern the country?"

"There are also various networks of interests, including those in the imperial court, local governments, and the general public, as well as the interest chains connecting officials and merchants. Large landowners in the north and big merchants in the south—this tax law has far-reaching consequences. Many interest chains will be affected. Where do we even begin to discuss this?"

Zheng Chaozong fell silent.

His colleagues were telling the truth. This matter was far too big, involving too many people and too many interests. Even if Zheng Chaozong dared to speak the truth and take concrete actions, he was ultimately outnumbered and powerless, and could not withstand the pressure and backlash from interest groups all over the world.

If even the wise prime minister Wang Anshi couldn't solve the problem back then, what virtue or ability does Zheng Chaozong have to solve it?

Inside the new administration office, all the officials' eyes were on Zheng Chaozong.

They were all sent down to the countryside and then promoted by imperial decree. They had a deep understanding of the people's current situation, hardships, and existing problems. It was because of this that they were transferred by the government to the New Policies Department to participate in the discussion and formulation of new policies.

However, everyone knows that among the officials in the New Administration Department, the one whom the Emperor admires and values ​​the most is Zheng Chaozong.

Zheng Chaozong's memorial once amazed the entire court and the emperor.

At this moment, none of the prime ministers of the Council of State Affairs were present, and the officials of the New Policy Office implicitly regarded Zheng Chaozong as their leader, waiting for him to make a decision.

Zheng Chaozong also felt a heavy burden on his shoulders. He knew very well that the emperor was doing something that would benefit future generations. This matter touched the interests of the powerful and wealthy landlords, but it would bring benefits to the common people and farmers.

After a long silence, Zheng Chaozong suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "If Your Majesty has such courage, why can't we, your subjects, do the same?"

"Go ahead and do it with confidence. The government will back us up. We are paid by the emperor, so we should be loyal to him!"

Turning around, Zheng Chaozong walked back to his desk and sat down. He slowly opened a book of new policy articles, looked around at everyone in the hall, and said, "It doesn't matter that the ministers of the Council of State are not here. Since His Majesty has issued the decree, let's begin to discuss the 'Equal Taxation Law for the Fields'."

"First, conduct a thorough investigation of the total acreage of land throughout the land..."

Inside the new administration office, the officials initially felt apprehensive and fearful, but once Zheng Chaozong officially began the discussion, their emotions calmed down, and each of them showed a resolute expression, quickly immersing themselves in the discussion.

People in the world all pursue profit, and they are willing to fight to the death for it.

But it cannot be denied that there are also a group of adorable fools in the world who are willing to go through fire and water for their ideals and beliefs.

Such fools are very rare, extremely rare.

But they exist.

…………

Yanfu Palace, Funing Hall.

Zhao Xiaoqian sat on the threshold of the main hall, holding a sharp little dagger, and was whittling wood piece by piece.

Zhao Hao sat opposite him, his clear and innocent eyes staring curiously at Zhao Xiaoqian's hands as he whittled the wood, leaving a pile of wood shavings on the ground. Zhao Hao couldn't resist picking up a shaving and hesitated whether to put it in his mouth to taste its saltiness.

Zhao Xiaoqian had already noticed his son's actions. He looked up at him warningly and said, "No, you can't. Can't you eat something normal? This stuff isn't for you."

Zhao Hao understood, obediently threw away the wood shavings, and sat quietly in front of him.

Zhao Xiaoqian whittled with his dagger for a long time, and finally, a small, cute, chubby, and round wooden sword was completed.

Zhao Xiaoqian held it in his hand and waved it around a few times. Although the workmanship was a bit rough and not as meticulous as that of a craftsman, it was a toy made by his father himself for his son, and the sentiment was more precious than anything else.

Thinking back to his past life, he planned to make all sorts of things for his son, like rocking horses, rolling hoops, toy cars, and guns and cannons.

Childhood must be complete; one must endure the necessary beatings, but one must also have the necessary toys.

Looking at the chubby, round little wooden sword, Zhao Hao got excited, stretched out his chubby little hand, and mumbled, "Dad, I want it, I want it!"

"Say thank you."

The child, who was just over a year old, understood some simple words, and Zhao Hao immediately said, "Thank you, Dad."

Come here and give me a kiss.

Zhao Hao leaned forward and gave him a hard kiss on the face, leaving his face covered in saliva.

Zhao Xiaoqian wiped his face with disgust and handed him the small wooden sword.

"You're not allowed to use it to hit people, or Dad will throw it away and you won't be able to play with it anymore," Zhao Xiaoqian warned sternly.

(End of this chapter)