Qianqing Palace West Warm House.

Zhenwu came back from the next dynasty and changed into a regular clothes, took a few sips of hot tea, and Bao Fuquan bowed in to present the daily Beijing Bao Ningbao, during this time, the debate between Ning Bao and Beijing Bao has shifted from the reasons for the death of the Ming Dynasty and the pros and cons of the new deal to the opposition and unity of the Confucian rule of man and the rule of law of Legalism.

This was led by Zhenwu, and some Confucian ideas that were not conducive to the rapid economic development of the Qing Dynasty and were not conducive to the Qing Dynasty's overnight prosperity must be slowly corrected through the newspapers, and the debate between the rule of man and the rule of law is a test for gradually increasing the intensity of the rule of law in the future.

After a cursory sweep of the two newspapers, Zhenwu began to review and review step by step, and he was not very concerned about the debate, to put it bluntly, the so-called debate at the moment was just a means of public opinion propaganda.

During this time, there was nothing going on in the court, but at the beginning of the afternoon, Zhenwu finished reading the fold and was about to tell Bao Fuquan to report the secret fold, but Bao Fuquan bowed in and reported: "Zhang Pengxi, Xiao Yongzao, Song Zhu, Fu Ning'an, the minister of the upper study, and Chen Yuanlong, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and other five people handed over signs to ask to see them. ”

Listening to Chen Yuanlong, the secretary of the Ministry of Etiquette, Zhenwu knew that several people were coming for the debate between the rule of man and the rule of law, so he nodded immediately and said, "Let them in." After speaking, he got up and moved slightly, these people must have sniffed a little from the debate between Beijing Daily and Ning Daily, worried that he would be strongly inclined to the rule of law, and came to the ring before.

Hearing the sound of footsteps outside the hall, Zhen Wucai sat down cross-legged on the kang, Zhang Pengxi, Xiao Yongzao, Song Zhu, Fu Ning'an, and Chen Yuanlong came in to say goodbye, he said lightly: "No courtesy, give me a seat." Then he commanded, "One person will enjoy a cup of hot tea." ”

"Weichen and others thank the emperor for his grace." After the five people thanked the gift, they got up in front of Zhenwu and sat down, and the five people came to see that there was indeed a heart to fight in the ring, and there was a slight dissatisfaction in their hearts. Zhenwu didn't say a word at all. It was only when they saw the newspaper that the debate began, and they realized that this was the tail of Zhenwu's hand again.

As for the debate between Beijing Daily and Ning Bao, they naturally knew what was going on, so they were deeply frightened by the debate on the opposition and unity of the rule of man and the rule of law, and they were worried that Zhenwu would play bigger and bigger.

After you sit down. Zhang Pengxi bowed down and said: "Your Majesty, the Qing Dynasty established the country with etiquette and ruled the country with virtue, Confucianism is the foundation, and since the Han Dynasty, etiquette and law have been used together. The Ming and Confucian secret law of the moral lord and the criminal auxiliary is the only law of the continuation of the country, the emperor has been lenient for many years, and there is a grand occasion of the Qing Dynasty today, and the ministers and others earnestly pray for the status of the emperor without the legal system. ”

Xiao Yongzao also followed closely: "Your Majesty, the punishment cannot be abolished in the prosperous era, and it is also unacceptable in the prosperous era. ”

Seeing that as soon as the two of them sat down, they went straight to the topic, and made a fuss about the prosperous world. Zhenwu shot back disapprerovingly: "The Tang Dynasty's 'Zhenguan Zhizhi' is a prosperous age. Isn't Tang Taizong Li Shimin strict in law enforcement? He said, 'The law is not the law of one person, but the law of the world.' 'Haven't you heard?' Shengshi is not about being blindly relaxed. It has always been a perfect fit between the rule of man and the rule of law. ”

Seeing that Zhenwu used Tang Taizong Li Shimin's 'Zhenguan Rule' to refute it, several people were stunned, and no one dared to say that 'Zhenguan's Rule' was not a prosperous era, and Tang Taizong Li Shimin was indeed very strict in law enforcement.

Song Zhu replied stiffly: "Back to the emperor, Tang Taizong also followed the principle that morality and etiquette are the foundation of politics and religion, and punishment is the use of politics and religion, emphasizing ethics and morality as the foundation of governing the country. ”

Zhenwu glanced at him and took a sip of tea, but he no longer refuted, but asked rhetorically: "Have you ever thought about the implementation of the spread into the mu and what the consequences of the rapid expansion of overseas will bring?" ”

Listening to this question, the five people lost their voices at the moment, and what does it have to do with overseas expansion and the rule of law? The purpose of apportioning the land into the mu is to ensure the income of the imperial court, and the overseas expansion is to expand maritime trade and expand overseas territories, which is simply something that is not related to the wind and horses.

Zhang Pengxi thought of the population at once, and the poll tax was abolished, and the population would grow sharply, which is what Zhenwu has been pursuing, and overseas expansion can also be said to alleviate the contradiction between population and land, but what does this have to do with the rule of law? He couldn't help frowning slightly, this master's mind was really elusive, but he was thinking extremely long-term.

After being silent for a long time, seeing that no one spoke, Zhang Pengxi said tentatively: "Your Majesty, with the abolition of the poll tax and the expansion of overseas, the population and economy of the Qing Dynasty will inevitably grow violently. ”

"I have no intention of enforcing harsh laws." Zhenwu said slowly: "You are my ministers, everything should be long-term, think comprehensively, the Qing Dynasty will develop rapidly and prosper in the next ten years, and will also encounter a series of problems, and many of them are new problems, and everything cannot be conservative."

After the merger of the land into the land, the shackles on the peasants will be lifted virtually, and the mobility of artisans, untouchables, and landless peasants will be greatly increased, and the population of the cities and towns where commerce is flourishing will increase dramatically.

What will be the consequences of the influx of a large number of unemployed and landless people who are illiterate but have lost the constraints of their clan conventions and township rules into the towns?

The rapid expansion of overseas will not only bring vast land, but also huge wealth, and will greatly promote the development of commerce and trade, thereby driving the influence of the Qing Dynasty to all classes to become rich rapidly, within a few years, a large number of gold, silver and goods and agricultural products from the Americas, Africa, South Seas, Australia and even Europe, as well as a large number of slaves will begin to flow to the Qing Dynasty, and countless people will quickly become rich.

What will happen to the merchants and craftsmen who are quickly getting rich? What kind of mindset will it be? What will happen when the rich class and the destitute class who have poured into the towns and lost the shackles of the clan and the village rules are concentrated in the towns? How will the imperial court respond? Can social stability be maintained by relying only on the existing rule of etiquette and morality? ”

Listening to Zhenwu's series of questions, the five of them were all surprised, they never thought about this situation at all, no one dared to be sure that overseas expansion could bring huge wealth to the Qing Dynasty, however, Zhenwu said that it was indeed reasonable, when a large number of overseas gold, silver, commodities, agricultural products, and slaves began to pour into the Qing Dynasty, it would inevitably greatly stimulate the development of workshops and handicrafts in towns, and would inevitably attract a large number of artisans and peasants to pour into the towns, which was not alarmist.

After a slight groan, Zhang Pengxi bowed down and said: "Your Majesty, if this is the case, why not take advantage of the industrial and commercial miscellaneous tax innovation to increase the tax rate of commerce and trade, so that it can not only increase the revenue of the national treasury, but also effectively curb the merchants and craftsmen, and the small people get rich too quickly, so as to avoid a big gap between the rich and the poor in the towns." ”

Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, this method is good, it can be said to be counted in one fell swoop, but Zhenwu's reputation may be damaged because of this, so although several people secretly agreed, no one was willing to echo it.

Heavy tax policy? Zhenwu glanced at it, he reacted quickly, but this method is a little too early now, after taking a sip of tea, he shook his head slightly, and said: "Raising the industrial and commercial miscellaneous tax rate will inevitably inhibit the development of commerce and trade, which is not in the interests of the Qing Dynasty.

The income from commercial taxation will rise year by year, and may eventually exceed the positive tax of the Qing Dynasty, which should not be suppressed at present, but should be vigorously supported, only in this way, the imperial court's annual income can grow steadily, and at the same time, overseas expansion will also accumulate huge wealth for the imperial court, and the imperial court does not need to raise the tax rate at present, whether it is agriculture or commerce, at present, it is necessary to insist on recuperating with the people.

In addition, as far as the Qing Dynasty is concerned, it is now an era of sudden wealth, but those who have the courage, ability, and insight to devote themselves to commerce and maritime trade can quickly become rich.

Therefore, in order to solve this possible crisis and contradiction, we must start with the law of morality! ”

Listening to Zhenwu's words, the five of them are all estranged, and the commercial tax will exceed the positive tax of the Qing Dynasty? Is this possible? Zhenwu is this ready to value business over agriculture?

Zhenwu glanced at a few people, paused slightly, and then continued: "Governing the country with virtue is not to deny the rule of law, but to overcome the disadvantages of relying solely on the legal system with the education of virtue.

Establishing the country with propriety, governing the country with virtue, and ethics and morality as the foundation of governing the country are fundamental, and I will not be shaken, but we must also improve the rule of law on this basis, one is to improve the "Great Qing Huidian" and "Great Qing Law", and the other is to increase the publicity of the rule of law. Although I do not advocate harsh punishments, if we do not lenient the criminal law, we must enforce the law strictly! Legislate with virtue and promote virtue with law. ”

Listening to Zhenwu's words, several people couldn't help but feel at ease, although the criminal law is not lenient, but as long as it is not a harsh law, do not shake the foundation of establishing the country with etiquette and governing the country with virtue, Zhang Pengxi was afraid that someone would not know how to advance or retreat, so he hurriedly bowed down and said: "The emperor has far-reaching thoughts. ”

Zhenwu waved his hand and said: "Since you are here, you will write a few articles to the Beijing Daily on the topic of legislating with virtue and promoting virtue with law, so as to help the debate." ”

"Wechen and others obey the order." A few people were busy bowing down, but they were secretly complaining in their hearts, and Chen Yuanlong, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, was even more slanderous, and was pulled by several ministers of the study to back his back, not to mention, and he had to write articles when he went back, and it was not a good job to write articles for the Beijing Daily.

Seeing that a few people were no longer silent, Zhenwu said, "Kneel down." ”

After Zhang Pengxi and a few people withdrew, Bao Fuquan bowed in and said, "Your Majesty, it's past noon, do you want to pass the meal?" ”

Zhenwu stood up and paced a few steps, groaning slightly, before he said, "Let someone go to Xianfu Palace to spread the word, and I will go to Concubine Qi for dinner." (To be continued.) )