The prince is more stable

Chapter 948 The Hearts of the People

The new policies of the imperial court were mostly incomprehensible to ordinary people, and their attitude towards them was one of indifference.

These days, very few people can read. Ordinary people simply don't have the means to learn to read and write. For a common family to support a literate person, it would take the savings of two or three generations.

Even with such a huge investment, the scholars cultivated are not guaranteed to achieve great success. They still have to participate in the imperial examinations just like all other scholars in the world, facing fierce competition and only having a one in ten thousand chance of passing the exams and becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest level of the imperial examinations).

If education is an investment, then this investment is too risky, and ordinary families simply cannot afford it.

Therefore, the vast majority of the people in the Song Dynasty were illiterate.

Of course, an illiterate person could not understand the meaning of the court's new policies.

Surprisingly, most of the people of Bianjing (Kaifeng) are aware of the content and significance of the "Equal Taxation Law for Field Land" that has recently caused a great stir in Bianjing.

A key figure played a crucial role here: Zhang Xiaoyi.

Zhang Xiaoyi is now the top dog in Bianjing. Even the prefect of Kaifeng has to give him some face. After all, Zhang Xiaoyi has a terrifyingly close friend. With this friendship, even the Emperor himself has to give him face.

As instructed by Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhang Xiaoyi had long ago ordered his idle men to spread the word about the Fangtian Equal Tax Law, explaining this new policy in the most accessible language.

Even illiterate people can at least understand human language. After the idlers explained the Fangtian Equal Tax Law with profound expressions, the people were immediately excited and extremely grateful to the officials.

From any perspective, the Fangtian Equal Tax Law was a benevolent and virtuous policy.

After being educated, the people finally understood that the government's insistence on implementing this new policy despite opposition was to find a way for the people to make a living, to take countless plots of land from the hands of the powerful and wealthy, and to hand them over to the farmers to cultivate.

The people of Bianjing also knew that the Fangtian Equal Tax Law was facing too much resistance. After all, no one was willing to hand over their land to the court, and almost everyone in the court was opposing the emperor.

Even today, during the imperial court assembly, the Emperor publicly announced the implementation of the Fangtian Equal Tax Law. Despite widespread opposition, this new policy was finally and resolutely promulgated throughout the land.

At that moment, the people of Bianjing who heard the news flocked to the scene. Thousands of people gathered outside the gate of Yanfu Palace. They knelt on the ground, excitedly and devoutly bowing to the closed palace gate and shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Before the founding of the Song Dynasty, the word "Long Live" was not exclusively used by the emperor. In the pre-Qin period, it was a term of celebration used by people when the army returned in triumph, just as the word "朕" (zhen) before the Han Dynasty was not exclusively used by the emperor.

The emperor and common people can also use "long live the emperor" (万岁). This word is more like a blessing when people greet each other, just like "congratulations on getting rich" (恭喜发财).

However, by the Song Dynasty, the term "Long Live the Emperor" was designated to be used exclusively by the emperor. If this term were used to address a subject or commoner, it would be directly equated with "treason."

In the early days of the Song Dynasty, there was a famous minister named Cao Liyong. He was both a scholar and a warrior, and was not only a famous general but also rose to the position of prime minister.

Cao Liyong had a son named Cao Ne. This fellow was arrogant because he relied on his father's power. Once, when he was drunk, he made his servants kneel on the ground and call him "Long live the Emperor".

Later, the incident came to light, and someone reported it to the authorities, causing a great uproar.

In the end, Cao Ne was beaten to death, and his own father, Cao Li, had his lifelong reputation ruined. His official position was repeatedly demoted, and he eventually had no way out, ultimately ending up hanging himself. He can be described as a typical negative example of a son ruining his father.

It is clear that the word "Long Live the Emperor" could not be used casually in the Song Dynasty; it could only be used when addressing the emperor.

At this moment, outside Yanfu Palace, tens of thousands of people knelt in front of the palace gate, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" like a mountain roar and a tsunami, their voices shaking the heavens.

This was the people's heartfelt worship. In the open space in front of Yanfu Palace, people dressed in various shades of gray, plain blue and white knelt down in dense crowds, as if worshipping the gods and Buddhas of temples and monasteries, bowing again and again to the tightly closed palace gates.

The palace gates opened a crack, and many court officials who had just finished their morning court session walked out of the palace. When they saw the huge crowd of people outside the palace gates, the officials were taken aback and stopped in their tracks.

Zhang Dun, Cai Bian, and the others at the head of the group looked at the common people with a look of shock on their faces. After the shock came a moment of bewilderment, and finally, everyone's expression turned to deep thought.

Cai Jing walked behind Zhang Dun, looking at the people worshipping at the palace gate, and he showed a look of joy and satisfaction.

Cai Jing put in a lot of effort in promoting and implementing the Fangtian Equal Tax Law, and from the day he was transferred to the State Affairs Hall, he stood firmly on the side of the government.

Today, the Fangtian Equal Tax Law was officially promulgated, and millions of people outside the palace gates bowed and worshipped. With the hearts of the people turned to him, they looked eastward with longing. Cai Jing, who had put in a great deal of effort, felt honored, as if he also had a share in the wishes and merits of the people who had gathered together.

At that moment, Cai Jing had only one thought in his mind: So this is what it feels like to be a good person...

"Lord Zhang, the will of the people is clear, and this situation speaks for itself," Cai Jing said, stroking his beard and smiling at Zhang Dun.

Zhang Dun's expression was complicated, and he remained silent.

Some of the court officials around Cai Jing also heard his words, and their expressions were just as complicated and unreadable as Zhang Dun's.

Cai Jing's smugness didn't last long. He knew very well that with the Fangtian Equal Tax Law officially promulgated today, there weren't many people in the court who truly supported it. At this moment, Cai Jing was basically on the opposite side of the court officials.

At this point, if he became too arrogant, Cai Jing was afraid of being punished.

"The people are worshipping the Emperor at this moment. It is inappropriate for us subjects to stand in front of the palace gate. This merit belongs to the Emperor, and we cannot accept it." "Gentlemen, I take my leave."

After speaking, Cai Jing cupped his hands in greeting to Zhang Dun and the others, then walked around the side of the palace gate.

Zhang Dun and other court officials still stood outside the palace gates, watching the dense crowds of people worshipping. Zhang Dun was filled with mixed feelings. After a long while, he sighed and said in a deep voice, "The decree has been issued. From today onwards, the State Council shall officially promulgate the Fangtian Equal Tax Law. Officials in Bianjing and the local governments shall not shirk their responsibilities, delay, or distort the law."

Zhang Dun paused for a moment, then said, "The people from the Censorate are watching us day and night. Anyone who tries to play tricks will bear the consequences. You all better watch yourselves."

After speaking, Zhang Dun gazed deeply at the kneeling people one last time, and finally, like Cai Jing, he walked around the side of the palace gate.

…………

Zhao Xiaoqian knew that the common people were worshipping outside the palace gates, but he did not show himself.

The people were well aware of his gratitude, but it was indeed inappropriate for him to show his face, as it would be seen as an attempt to gain fame.

Now that you're the emperor, you should be more composed and not show off unnecessarily.

Zhao Xiaoqian was a man of integrity and honesty. His original intention was not to receive gratitude and worship from others, but to govern the country well and lead it into a glorious era that would be remembered in history.

Of course, after the arrival of this prosperous era, Zhao Xiaoqian also had his own selfish motives.

Leaving aside the good reputation in historical records, which is a must, the main reason is that Zhao Xiaoqian wanted to spend money to acquire land and expand Yanfu Palace after the national treasury was full.

Yes, emperors of all dynasties, regardless of whether the national treasury was full or not, all wanted to build palaces, and Zhao Xiaoqian was no exception.

The current Yanfu Palace is too small. In fact, as early as the reign of Emperor Renzong, a court official submitted a memorial requesting the emperor to expand the Yanfu Palace, but Emperor Renzong at the time refused.

After becoming emperor, Zhao Xiaoqian actually wanted to expand the palace. After all, he had many women, including empresses and concubines, and with a large number of children in the future, the size of Yanfu Palace was indeed not enough to accommodate them.

However, the day to expand the palace was still far off. Zhao Xiaoqian's goal was to wait until the Song Dynasty unified the country and a golden age arrived before considering it.

The thought that he was now just a poor emperor, and a poor emperor of a regional separatist force at that, made Zhao Xiaoqian feel suffocated.

Fortunately, the imperial court was already preparing for a western expedition against Western Xia. With the imperial army sweeping away all obstacles, the fall of Western Xia was just around the corner, and the progress bar for the unification of the world would be accelerated significantly.

While the people of the land were still processing the news of the promulgation of the Fangtian Equal Tax Law, Zhao Xiaoqian and Di Ying left the palace the next morning with a small entourage. They first went to Fanglin Garden to pay their respects to their mother, Lady Feng, and brought her many precious gifts from the palace.

Lady Feng was overjoyed. After the three of them had lunch at Fanglin Garden, Di Ying stayed to keep Lady Feng company, while Zhao Xiaoqian boarded the imperial carriage and went to the Chu Prince's residence.

Zhao Xiaoqian returned to the Chu Prince's residence today not to visit his living father. He felt that his living father was living a much more comfortable life than he was, and seemed to have no need for his son's company. His living father was even busier than Zhao Xiaoqian.

Zhao Xiaoqian had other important business at the Chu King's residence.

The imperial carriage stopped in front of the Chu King's mansion, and the imperial guards on duty at the gate saluted.

Zhao Xiaoqian waved his hand and then walked into the mansion alone.

Upon arriving at the backyard of the Prince's mansion, Zhao Xiaoqian could hear a series of lewd and unrestrained laughs from afar. He sighed, knowing without asking that his father was playing games with the concubines in the mansion again.

In the pavilion by the pond in the backyard, Zhao Hao's clothes were disheveled, and his eyes were covered with a black cloth. He was indeed playing the game "Come and get me, Your Majesty!"

This game was invented by Zhao Xiaoqian, but it was his father who popularized it.

The concubines circled around him, giggling sweetly. Zhao Hao, his face flushed with desire, awkwardly turned around with his fat body, but he was no match for the nimble figures of the young concubines, and missed every time.

Zhao Xiaoqian silently walked into the pavilion. When the concubines saw him, they were so frightened that they fell silent and knelt down to pay their respects. The air suddenly became quiet.

Unaware that he was blindfolded, Zhao Hao continued to reach for air with his short arms, one stroke after another.

Finally, Zhao Hao lunged forward, clasped his arms together, and embraced Zhao Xiaoqian squarely.

"Haha, I've finally caught you! Let me see which little devil I've captured..."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "Congratulations, Father. You have captured your own flesh and blood, the only hope of our Chu Prince's Mansion, the only heir in our vast land..."

Zhao Hao was startled and immediately removed the blindfold covering his eyes. The first thing he saw was Zhao Xiaoqian's familiar face right in front of him, grinning at him.

"Are you surprised? Are you surprised?"

(End of this chapter)