Xiao Lingtian already knew that his seventh son had some talent, but he had always liked Fengyue's affairs, and when he came to this court meeting to observe, he always yawned and dozed off, but he didn't expect that he would stand up and be the first to oppose it today. In fact, not to mention Xiao Lingtian, even Xiao Yichen and Xiao Muxing were a little surprised, but they were more stable in their hearts.

From Xiao Muxing's standpoint, if the agricultural tax is reopened, it will be tantamount to competing with the people for profit, which he does not want to see. Xiao Yichen thinks more far-reaching, but from any point of view, he is also on the side of the opposition. It's just that the matter of agricultural tax seems to only concern ordinary people, and even farmers, but the more far-reaching significance is in the major wealthy clans.

From the perspective of balancing and balancing the wealthy clans, the agricultural tax is like a sharp blade, if there is no agricultural tax, then the actions of these clans to enclose land and make profits will be eased. But if everyone needs to pay taxes, then the peasant households attached to these wealthy families will become a tool for them to borrow chickens and lay eggs and earn something for nothing.

However, from another point of view, once the agricultural tax is introduced, it can indeed greatly alleviate the financial pressure of the empire. After all, the population of the empire is too large, even if everyone only eats half a catty of rice grain a day, the tax income is astronomical, and this fiscal revenue is still zero.

Although he knew the pros and cons, and Xiao Yichen was still on the opposing side, he did not hesitate to stop Xiao Muxing from coming forward, in fact, the greater purpose was to protect his eldest brother. The agricultural tax is related to the interests of almost all the wealthy families, and Xiao Muxing's previous Tui En Decree has been greatly opposed to these clans, if the agricultural tax is confronted again, I am afraid that it will be more difficult for him to sit in the position of the prince. Xiao Yichen understands the powerful relationship in this, and Xiao Muxing understands it, so he temporarily suppressed it in a few eye contacts.

Now that Xiao Weigeng has come out to block the first shot, and he is also an idle prince on weekdays, this is undoubtedly the best choice.

It's a pity that Xiao Jinglu, who was kneeling in front, obviously didn't think so, and was even more reluctant to put forward a "good policy" of "benefiting the country and the people", but was blocked by his powerless younger brother.

Xiao Jingxuan, who was originally planning to compete with Xiao Yichen and others in the court,

sneered, and said with a little disdain: "Seventh brother, I'm afraid he is wrong." If agricultural taxes are reopened, not to mention the abundance of the national treasury, the military strength can also be greatly increased. Now, the Star Army has already shocked all countries, and even if it is the birthday of the emperor, all countries have to send envoys to congratulate them. If so, the empire's military strength will be stronger and its national strength will flourish, and other countries will not be able to bow down to their vassals? If so, what will those civilian peasants in the country have to worry about? What more people dare to easily raise the anti-flag? Even if there is, as long as our imperial god of war is present, it will be easily suppressed. Brother Sanhuang, are you right?"

"Ridiculous!" Xiao Yichen rose up angrily, raised his hand to Xiao Jinglu, raised his sword eyebrows, and shouted with anger on his face: "Hundreds of millions of people of the empire, in your eyes, are they slaves who work for the empire? I don't think about how to enrich the country and strengthen the army, so that the people of Li have clothes for the cold and food for the hungry, and you just want to suppress them with a brutal government! As a prince of the empire, you have studied the history and policies of the country since you were a child, have you never learned the truth that 'the country is easy to change, but the people are difficult to collect'? Have you never heard the famous saying that 'water can carry a boat and can also overturn a boat'? The people of the empire don't need to know whether the Xiao clan, the Li clan, or other cats and dogs are loyal to! They just need to know whether the royal family that controls this piece of stars is thinking about them, whether they let them have their own houses, their food, their old to rely on, and their young to teach! If not, even if they hold a bamboo pole, they will poke our royal family into a pulp!"

"Your Royal Highness's words are very good!" The old Longzhong's Ministry of Rites Shangshu Zhong Liyi, trembling and trembling, got up, knelt in the middle, and said to Xiao Lingtian after saluting: "Your Majesty, the people-oriented, the way to govern the country. Even in a desperate situation, the ancestors of the past dynasties never wavered from the national policy of no tax for farmers. Nowadays, the empire is getting stronger and stronger, and it seems that it can crown the stars, but it wants to put the common people in dire straits, is this the way of the Ming monarch? The old minister asked His Majesty to put the people first, and not to fall into petty profits and mislead the society. ”

"Lord Zhongli said this, isn't it that if you don't listen to you, you're misleading the country?" For the sake of the security of the country, His Royal Highness has asked for an increase in the number of Star Troops several times, and we also know his heart. However, it is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice, and the treasury is not abundant, how can it be changed

Your Majesty is wise, now that we want to develop the eastern frontier and expand the military and strengthen the country, why do we not need financial support? As the Fifth Highness said, the reopening of the agricultural tax is indeed a policy for the benefit of the country, so why should each side obstruct it? If it is true benevolence and love for the people, it is enough to eliminate the agricultural tax when the many industries of the empire can support the huge expenses. Now, it's just a temporary levy, so why not. ”

After hearing his words, Xiao Yichen instantly turned his gaze, glared at his face and shouted: "The defeat of the country is due to the change of the order of the dynasty! The people's hearts are scattered and scattered in the anthill! Today's reopening of agricultural taxes will disperse the people's hearts." If you close the agricultural tax one day, will the people's hearts be returned?"

"This ......" the squire was so poor that he didn't know what to say for a while.

"Hehe, don't be excited, Your Royal Highness, we're just discussing. Yuwen Xiucheng got up and went out of class, first bowed his hand to Xiao Yichen, and then said with a smile: "After all, what to choose and what to give up, it still depends on the will of the Holy Monarch." ”

"Yuwen Xiucheng, this king respects you and is also an old minister, and he doesn't want to embarrass you. But when you speak, be careful with this king, if you are armed with a gun and a stick, you are afraid that you can't afford this king's means!" Xiao Yichen raised his eyebrows, his eyes gradually turned purple, and he was obviously really angry.

Yuwen Xiucheng's beautiful eyes swept away, and he immediately clenched his fists and said: "Don't blame the Third Highness, the old minister did not intend to charge His Highness, if the words are reckless, please forgive the Third Highness." ”

After speaking, seeing that Xiao Yichen was just staring at himself and not speaking, Yuwen Xiucheng turned to Xiao Lingtian, who was always listening, but did not say a word, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that the first thing to bear the brunt of now is to ensure the treasury." Whether it is the use of troops everywhere or the opening of the territory, it is really difficult to continue without financial support. Your Majesty may think carefully, for example, in the eastern frontiers, where the time of attachment is limited, and the people's will is uncertain, if the empire does not have a strong financial force to develop it vigorously, quickly, and perfectly, and they see the wealth of the central star region and see their own poverty, what will they think at that time? However, their total population was close to the inherent sacred land of the Empire. Now, wouldn't it be to give up some of the agricultural taxes and take back some of them for the sake of reopening the agricultural tax and using it in the eastern frontier? ”

。 m.