This is not a trivial matter, because the villagers of Chenjia Village not only gathered to make trouble, but also burned down other people's cargo ships, and even burned down the wharf.

Although the villagers who made trouble had already gone to the Civil Security Bureau to confess their guilt and confessed to their crimes, the problem was that there were too many people, and there was a way to do it, and the Xuzhou Shi class also stood up and accused those businessmen of disturbing the lives of the people.

The Civil Security Bureau couldn't deal with it at all, they had just arrived here, and the royal police had only come to five people in total, plus more than ten officials, in fact, even those villagers who made trouble could easily solve them, so they immediately reported the situation here to Chang'an.

In addition, celebrities and scholars in Xuzhou also wrote letters to their friends and relatives in the court.

Therefore, the news of this matter quickly spread to Chang'an.

This incident shocked the government and the public.

Because since the founding of the country, nothing like this has happened.

Moreover, Xuzhou is in a strategic location, and if there is chaos there, this is really terrible.

Wu Meiniang had no choice, so she held a pivotal meeting overnight to discuss how to deal with this matter.

"How can this be reasonable, those Diao people are really lawless, in broad daylight, they dare to burn other people's property, although the law does not blame the public, but if the court does not stop it immediately, someone will follow suit, the minister thinks that the court must severely punish those Diao people, if the Xuzhou Civil Security Bureau can not deal with it, it will be escorted back to Chang'an."

Wei Siqian took the lead in standing up and said extremely angrily.

Xu Jingzong stood up and said: "Doctor Wei's words are wrong, those villagers didn't go to burn the merchant ships for no reason, if they robbed the merchant ships, then the imperial court would naturally have to punish them severely, but they burned the merchant ships, this is completely out of anger, it can be seen that the news from Xu Zhou is not a lie." The reason why those villagers were angry was because the merchants had killed their livelihoods, so they did such a rebellious thing, and the people of Xuzhou were now in a very high mood, if the court did not consider it carefully, it might cause even greater chaos. ”

Wei Siqian said: "If they are not satisfied with this, they can explain to the government how they can burn other people's merchant ships, they are legitimate traders and traders, this is illegal, if the court does not strictly enforce the law, who will pay attention to the law at that time." ”

Although he was born in a noble family, he has always stood on the side of justice, and there is only black and white in his eyes.

Xu Jingzong smiled slightly: "On this point, many celebrities in Xuzhou have written to the ministers of the DPRK and the Central People's Republic of China to explain the reason for this matter, and I have also received letters from some celebrities, in fact, they have not explained to the government, but as you said, people are also legitimate traders, and the government cannot prevent people from coming, and at that time, the imperial court also supported businessmen to go to various places to do business, it is precisely like this, those villagers have been grudging for a long time, and they will commit such a big crime, in my opinion, this is understandable." ”

Wu Meiniang said again: "The criminal department is still in the book." ”

Lu Chengqing stood up and said, "The minister is here." ”

Wu Meiniang said: "What do you think? ”

Lu Chengqing thought for a while, his face was embarrassed, and said: "The minister thinks that if the news from Xuzhou is true, the imperial court should deal with it carefully, if it punishes so many people at once, it will definitely arouse the resentment of the local people, and the consequences will be unimaginable." ”

Wu Meiniang frowned and said, "But I think what Dr. Wei said is also very reasonable, if those people are not punished, some people in other states and counties may follow suit, and the consequences will be unimaginable." ”

Xu Jingzong said: "Queen Shengming, if you want to solve this matter, the minister thinks that you have to trace it back to the source. In the final analysis, all this is caused by merchants, and such a thing has never happened since the founding of our dynasty, so it can be seen that the cause is still in the merchants. ”

Xu Yushi frowned and said: "Blaming the businessman for this matter is a bit arbitrary, this business is exquisite, you and I are willing, and the businessmen who went to Xuzhou did not buy and sell, if they didn't buy, the businessmen naturally couldn't do it, it can be seen that there are still people who buy their goods." ”

"But herein lies the problem." Xu Jingzong said: "Merchants have money and people, you go to see those workshops in the suburbs, how much cloth can be woven on this day, how many clothes can be cut, the price is naturally cheap, and ordinary people, if you want to weave a piece of cloth, but it takes a lot of effort and time, not to mention cutting into clothes, if you sell it at a price with the merchant, the people will only lose their money." That Xuzhou has always produced silk, but it still can't be sold to merchants, let alone other places. There is nothing wrong with businessmen, but businessmen are harming the interests of the people of the world by doing so! ”

Master Xu was speechless by Xu Jingzong, in fact, he didn't understand this aspect very well, nodded and said: "Xu Shizhong is reasonable, this is indeed a problem. ”

Wu Meiniang said anxiously: "Then I don't know if you have a solution?" ”

Several of the cardinal ministers could not make up their minds for a while.

Because it is really difficult to judge which is right and which is wrong, you have to say that the people have done wrong, but the people are also for their own livelihood and for their own food. But the merchant is not wrong, and the merchant is still a victim, hundreds of goods are burned like this, and the loss is huge.

Wu Meiniang waited for a while, and saw that there was no reply, and said: "This matter should not be delayed for a long time, otherwise, the Xuzhou Civil Security Bureau may not be able to support it, and there may be a civil uprising at that time, and the court must immediately come up with a way to deal with it, you are all the pillars of the country, can't you even solve this matter." ”

Everyone is embarrassed to say this, because it is the truth.

Lu Chengqing and Xu Yushi thought in their hearts, it's a pity that Han Yi is not there, if Han Yi is here, he will definitely have a way.

Li Yifu suddenly stood up and said, "Empress Qiyu, do you think that this problem can be solved by levying commercial taxes." ”

Wu Meiniang was stunned for a moment and said, "Business tax? What is the relationship between these two things? ”

Lu Chengqing and Xu Yushi also looked at Li Yifu curiously.

Li Yifu said: "Didn't Xu Shizhong say that those villagers burned the merchant ships because the merchants' goods were cheap and robbed them of their livelihoods, if the merchant tax was levied, it would increase the cost of the merchants, and the merchants' goods would naturally not be sold too cheaply, so they might be able to calm the people's anger." ”

Wu Meiniang nodded slightly and said, "This is not a bad idea." What do you think? ”

Because Li Yifu had mentioned the collection of commercial taxes before, and now it is just a rehash of the same old tune, so Xu Yushi and Lu Chengqing were not suspicious, they just made eye contact, and then nodded one after another, because in their opinion, the collection of commercial taxes is actually a matter of course, and they have no better way.

Wei Siqian said: "Queen, the minister thinks this is inappropriate, and the minister does not object to the collection of commercial taxes, but it cannot be levied at this time, because of this incident, the businessman was the victim, and now the imperial court not only does not punish those troubled people, but instead collects commercial tax, which is too unfair to the businessman." ”

Xu Jingzong said: "Even if it is unfair, the imperial court has to take care of the overall situation, is it possible that the imperial court will offend the people of the world for the sake of a few businessmen?" ”

"No, no, no." Wu Meiniang said: "I think Dr. Wei's words are very reasonable, businessmen are also ordinary people, if this is the case, it will be too unfair to businessmen." ”

Speaking of this, she said to Wei Siqian again: "But Doctor Wei, what Xu Shizhong said is not unreasonable, the imperial court has to do something to calm the people's anger." I think we can adopt the words of the two at the same time, on the one hand, to collect commercial taxes and calm down the people's anger, but on the other hand, to give some punishment to the people who make trouble, and maintain the authority of our Tang Dynasty law. I think those people are also for their livelihood, and since the imperial court has decided to levy a commercial tax, they have already won what they want, and they will naturally be willing to be punished. ”

Wei Siqian pondered for a moment and said, "Empress, this matter is very important, and the minister thinks that it is up to His Majesty to make the decision. "This is said very strongly, but you don't give Wu Meiniang any face, you are now sitting in the Liangyi Palace, that is a special situation, and ordinary government affairs are fine, you are not qualified to call the shots for this kind of sensitive matter.

Lu Chengqing and Xu Yushi nodded slightly, not daring to be too obvious.

Wu Meiniang was not annoyed at all, where did she not know Wei Siqian's character, since you want to use him, you will accept these, and Wei Siqian said it very reasonably, nodded and smiled: "Everyone, please rest assured, this matter is very important, even if Dr. Wei doesn't say it, I will want Your Majesty to explain this matter, after all, taxation is a major national matter, and only Your Majesty can call the shots." ”

Lu Chengqing and the others were even more relieved when they heard it, if Li Zhidu nodded, then of course they would not object.

After the meeting, Wu Meiniang immediately went to report to Li Zhiyu.

In any dynasty in ancient times, collecting taxes was a very important thing, and with Wu Meiniang's current prestige, she really didn't dare to make decisions without permission, which must be agreed by the emperor.

"The concubine has betrayed His Majesty's trust, and I ask Your Majesty to punish her."

After Wu Meiniang informed Li Zhi of this matter, she hurriedly pleaded guilty, because Li Zhi had only been in power for a long time, and she was of course to blame for such a thing.

"You didn't do this, how can I blame you." Li Zhi lay on the couch and waved his hand, of course he wouldn't blame Wu Meiniang, because he couldn't blame Wu Meiniang for this matter, and asked, "Xu Jingzong, have they thought of a countermeasure?" ”

Wu Meiniang said: "Li Yifu proposed to levy a commercial tax to appease the anger of the public. ”

"Collecting business tax?" Li Zhi asked curiously.

Wu Meiniang told Li Zhi again the reason for the levy of commercial tax.

Li Zhi hesitated when he heard this, and sighed: "It would be nice if Han Yi was here." ”

Wu Meiniang said: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that Han Yi actually informed Your Majesty of the solution a long time ago." ”

Li Zhi was stunned for a moment and said, "Where did you start talking about this, Han Yi is now in Yangzhou, and he probably doesn't know about it." ”

Wu Meiniang said: "Your Majesty still remembers that there was a debate in the imperial court about this commercial tax, and Han Yi also thought that the commercial tax must be levied, and it was unfair to not collect the commercial tax, but to tax the farmers, but at that time, in order to promote development, it was decided not to collect it for the time being." The concubine thought that since this had happened, why not take advantage of it to collect commercial taxes. ”

In this regard, Li Zhi's most trusted Han Yi, now that Han Yi is not there, he is a little uncertain, but he also knows that this matter cannot be delayed, and it will change later, and after thinking for a long time, he nodded and said: "You can levy commercial taxes, but you can't collect too much, the purpose is only to calm down the anger." ”

Wu Meiniang nodded and said, "The concubine thinks the same way." ”

Li Zhi said: "I'll leave this matter to you." ”

"The concubine obeys."

Wu Meiniang asked again: "Your Majesty is in better health these days?" ”

Li Zhi smiled: "It's a lot easier, but it's hard for you." ”

"Your Majesty's words can be seen outside, the concubine, as Your Majesty's wife, should share your Majesty's worries, if Your Majesty pities the concubine, then hurry up and take care of your body."

Li Zhi smiled and nodded.

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