The fiercest soldier of the border army

The crown prince was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting him to approach the matter from this angle.

He turned to look at an aide beside him, who replied without hesitation, "There is a post station every thirty li, and a total of 639 such stations throughout the country."

Tang Shun nodded, then asked, "How much silver is needed each year?"

The aide immediately replied, "Many officials travel to and from the post stations around the capital, and the annual expenses can reach a thousand taels."

"If it's a remote post station, it's only twenty or thirty taels a year. In the entire Great Qian Dynasty, the post stations alone cost around two hundred thousand taels a year."

Upon hearing this, Tang Shun no longer hesitated and said loudly, "Your Highness, I have a plan that can save the post stations from waste and also benefit the court."

The crown prince raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

Tang Shun spoke calmly and logically: "The post stations were originally set up to deliver official documents, pick up and drop off officials, and provide rest for soldiers, but nowadays, eight or nine out of ten post stations are empty and useless."

"Each post station has seven or eight people stationed there, several horses to raise, daily grain consumption, and monthly silver payments, but only two or three soldiers are actually on duty."

"The rest are all idlers who draw salaries without working. Instead of spending 200,000 taels of silver every year to support these redundant officials, it would be better to reform the system."

He paused, then continued, "A checkpoint will be set up every thirty li, and in addition to its original functions, three additional tasks will be undertaken."

"First, ordinary people can send letters home; second, merchants and travelers can stay overnight; third, goods can be temporarily stored and rent will be collected daily."

"Letters were delivered by a special person, who charged five to ten coins depending on the distance. The letters were handed over at each stop and stamped with an official seal to ensure they were not lost."

"Food and lodging are also inexpensive, not necessarily fancy, just enough to fill you up, and storage of goods is priced according to size."

"In this way, the post stations were no longer a burden that cost money, but instead became institutions that could generate money."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Crown Prince's eyes flickered, clearly showing that he had lost his usual composure.

He exchanged a glance with his advisor, but neither of them interrupted Tang Shun.

Tang Shun continued, "Furthermore, if merchants are allowed to transfer goods between post stations, the imperial court can establish a 'Postal Transport Office' to manage it and take a 30% cut."

"In a busy place, one could potentially earn 100,000 taels a year. Even with a conservative estimate, one could save at least 150,000 taels in expenses."

"This is only the immediate, paper benefit."

"In the long run, people will have convenient communication, family ties will remain strong, trade routes will be unimpeded, the flow of goods will be accelerated, local information will be transmitted more quickly, and government orders will be implemented more smoothly."

"It kills three birds with one stone, why not?"

After Tang Shun finished speaking, he received no response.

There were only faint breathing sounds.

The advisor paused for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, this method... is feasible."

The crown prince slowly rose and paced around the hall.

He walked very slowly, each step as if he were weighing something in his mind.

"You even have such a clear understanding of how the post stations operate."

The crown prince finally stopped, turning his back to him. "How did you come up with all this?"

How did you come up with that?

Tang Shun accelerated the arrangement in his mind again.

You can't say that everyone knows about express delivery and logistics, can you?

"When Xiushui was defending the city, I saw people risking their lives to deliver food to the walls, just so that their loved ones could survive in the army."

"Some soldiers also wept every night, wanting to write a letter to their families."

"At that time, I thought, if there were a road that could deliver a letter a thousand miles away, how many families would no longer have to worry day and night?"

"During the Great Harmony period, merchants were seen to suffer losses and go bankrupt due to delays caused by checkpoint inspections, resulting in spoiled goods."

"Then I thought, wouldn't it be even better if there were a place where things could be stored safely, allowing people to travel with peace of mind?"

"Post stations are already widespread throughout the land; with just a few modifications, they can be put to use by the people."

Tang Shun cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, this is not my idea, but the thought of the people. I am relaying it on their behalf."

The crown prince remained silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "What a fine way to relay the people's message."

He turned and sat down, his gaze returning to Tang Shun's face, now devoid of doubt, only inquiry:

"You say the common people are burdened with heavy shackles. If the travel permit system isn't lifted, are there any other ways to lighten their burden?"

This question goes deeper.

Tang Shun took a deep breath. "Yes, but it requires killing someone."

The crown prince's eyes narrowed.

"Abolish the poll tax!"

Upon hearing this, the prince's advisors behind him looked up abruptly, their faces filled with disbelief.

The crown prince did not get angry; instead, he asked in a deep voice, "Why?"

Tang Shun spoke softly, but his words were like a thunderclap: "All people in the world, as long as they are alive, must pay taxes."

"The rich own vast tracts of land, while the poor live in abject poverty, their children starving to the bone, yet they are required to pay the same taxes per capita."

"Is this fair? A person is born with a debt, and spends their whole life repaying the imperial court with this 'deed of life,' selling their children, fleeing and wandering, all of which stem from this."

He paused, then said, "So my subordinates said we must kill people, to kill those thousand-year-old rules. If we don't kill them, the chaos will continue."

The air in the guest room seemed frozen.

After a moment, the black-clad advisor frowned and said, "The poll tax has existed for a thousand years, passed down through generations, and has never been lightly discussed. Why do you think there's a problem with it?"

Tang Shun refused to back down: "It is precisely because it has remained unchanged for a thousand years that it most needs to be changed."

"If an ox has been used for plowing for thirty years, can it still be used? If a knife has been used for thirty years, can it still be used for cutting? Systems are like tools; they need to be replaced after a long time."

"The people are suffering now, and nine out of ten households have fled. This is because the tax system is outdated. If we change to a land tax, those with more land will pay more, those with less land will pay less, and those with no land will not pay at all. Then we can expect peace and prosperity in the world."

His voice rose: "When people no longer have to worry about the poll tax, they will naturally be willing to farm, work, and do business."

"Some went to trade goods, some went to open workshops, and some simply organized caravans to run long-distance routes."

"As long as people can move around and goods can circulate, money will generate itself. This is the true way to a prosperous country."

The crown prince's eyes lit up, his previous composure gone, and he murmured, "So that's how it is... so that's how it is!"

He suddenly stood up and stared at Tang Shun: "If we could truly integrate the poll tax into the land tax, and determine the tax based on land area, reducing the burden on the poor and increasing the burden on the rich, wouldn't that solve all the long-standing problems in the country in one fell swoop?"

Tang Shun nodded: "Exactly."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The crown prince laughed loudly, so excited that he lost his composure and raised his hand to slam the table.

"Ahem!"

The aide coughed hurriedly, and the crown prince then realized what was happening.

He forced himself to remain calm and waved his hand, saying, "Let's call it a day."

He looked at Tang Shun with a complex expression, a mixture of shock and admiration.

Such a person shouldn't just be a team leader.

"Tang Shun, you truly have great talent."

"Originally, Shi Hanshan was promoted to Commander-in-Chief, and you could have been promoted to Commander as well."

"But I'll give you a chance. Tell me yourself, what reward do you want?"

Tang Shun's heart was racing.

From causing trouble in the guest room to finally achieving the desired effect!

This moment will determine your fate!

If he were to obtain a military rank and be promoted to commander, he would still be under the jurisdiction of Commander-in-Chief Wang Jinda.

Desiring gold, silver, land, and houses is merely the ambition of a mediocre person.

What he wanted was to leave the military, truly grasp real power, and accomplish something significant.

He quickly weighed the options in his mind: although the commander was high enough, he had no right to interfere in government affairs.

Why not—take a gamble!

Tang Shun knelt on one knee and said, word by word, "Your Highness, I have heard that Lingzhou is in disaster. I am willing to recommend myself as the governor of Lingzhou to go there, stabilize the people, and restore their livelihood."

As soon as the words were spoken, the crown prince froze, unable to react for a long time.

The aide's eyes widened, and he blurted out, "What did you say?"