Inexplicably, after Wang Mang said a few words about the beginning of the court meeting, the hall instantly fell into silence, and everyone looked at Wang Mang, as if they were waiting for Wang Mang to ask.

Looking at the scene in front of him, Wang Mang suddenly thought that he had just arrived in this world and had just ascended to this position to participate in the first court meeting, at that time, the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty said a word, there was no room for Wang Mang to interject at all, and before Wang Mang could speak, the civil and military ministers of the entire hall were all looking for Wang Mang for money.

And now, time has passed, and no one in the entire court dares to regard Wang Mang as nothing, and all the ministers have to look at Wang Mang's face and act carefully, carefully guessing Wang Mang's thoughts.

Is this the real emperor?

Loner!

Wang Mang shook his head in his heart, then looked at Li Hong and said, "Tell me about the current financial situation of the imperial court?"

"Yes. Li Hong didn't expect Wang Mang to be the first to call his name, and hurriedly congratulated him: "Congratulations to Your Majesty, the financial situation of the imperial court is now unprecedentedly good. ”

"Is it? But there is still a matter of arrears of officials' salaries?" Wang Mang said.

"No more. Li Hong said: "Due to the abundant finances of the imperial court, the ministers have paid the officials in full the total of 2.58 million taels of silver owed by the imperial court to hundreds of officials over the years. ”

"Huh. Wang Mang smiled coldly and said, "Do you want to thank Tian'en? When you get the money, you will thank Tian'en, do you point to Sang and scold Huai when you don't get the money?"

Li Hong was frightened, knelt directly on the ground, and said very carefully: "In the past, there were indeed some discordant voices in arrears to the officials, but they were basically aimed at the ministers and the households, and this time the money was no exception. ”

Wang Mang stretched out his hand to help, and Li Hong's body stood up involuntarily, looking at Wang Mang with some horror, he couldn't understand why he stood up, and then stood there stunned, not daring to move.

Wang Mang looked at Li Hong with an unsuccessful look, and said, "How much silver is there in the imperial court now?"

"There were also eight million taels of gold, three eight-eight hundred and eighty-eight hundred thousand taels of silver, nine million wagons of grain and grass, and sixteen,six hundred and sixty thousand taels of silver for all other goods. Li Hong said a number that he still doesn't believe in, this is a wealth that Li Hong has never seen since he took office as the head of the household, Li Hong never even dreamed that he would be able to control so much wealth one day, this happened during this time, Li Hong felt like a dream, Li Hong couldn't understand how the emperor who was obviously in the army accumulated so much wealth in such a short time.

"What are you doing in the warehouse with so much money?" Wang Mang looked at the ministers and said, "Don't you have any projects that need to spend money?"

This one......

The ministers looked at Wang Mang in a daze, the courtiers of the Qin State are all poor and accustomed to it, with the national strength of Great Qin, when they make the budget, they have never considered how to spend 100,000 200,000 silver, and they will not even consider how to spend 1 million silver, and now there are tens of millions of taels of silver in the treasury inexplicably, they don't know what to do at all, they just spend money according to the previous steps, but no matter how they spend it, they can't catch up with the speed at which the treasury accumulates wealth.

Wang Mang quickly understood the situation from the whispers of some officials, and said: "It turns out that they don't cost money, Li Hong, I ask you, how much is the annual agricultural tax revenue of Daqin?"

"Last year, we collected 3.3 million taels, and this year we have collected 2.2 million taels, and we can probably collect another 1 million taels later. "Li Hong is an old treasurer, and all kinds of taxes are kept in his head.

"It's only three million taels a year. Wang Mang shook his head, looked at Li Hong and said, "Li Hong, do you think such a small amount of money is meaningful to the current treasury?"

Li Hong wanted to say that there were very few piles of sand into towers, but thinking of the mountains of gold and silver in the treasury, the inexhaustible grain, and the treasures that were constantly being transported, he finally had to say honestly: "For the current treasury, although a few million taels of silver is not a small amount, it is indeed not too much. ”

"yes, not much. Wang Mang said: "Agriculture is the foundation of all industries, without the development of agriculture, the people will not be able to eat enough, the people will not do anything else if they are not full, my Daqin land is barren, it has never been a big agricultural country, and the annual output is enough for the people to eat, in order to maintain the operation of the imperial court over the years, the farmers of Daqin have suffered a lot, do you think Aiqing thinks?"

"Your Majesty is wise, the farmers are indeed fortunate, a busy year, and in the end they can only feed themselves, which really makes me and other meat eaters feel guilty. ”

"The peasants are indeed happy, but this is also a helpless thing, my Daqin is not only barren land, but also minerals and handicrafts have nothing to do, these years the imperial court does not expect these farmers to pay agricultural taxes, the imperial court has long been unable to operate, this is what our imperial court owes to the peasants, but my Daqin can only go on like this if I can't change the overall economic status quo one day." ”

"Actually, it's not just the peasants of Daqin who are suffering, the peasants of all countries don't have a good life, who let the mainland fight for years and years, and everyone is short of food?"

Zhang Jian glanced at the ministers who were talking, then at Wang Mang, and bowed down and said, "Your Majesty, you suddenly mentioned the peasant households, there must be something to announce, right?"

"That's right. Wang Mang glanced at Zhang Jian lightly, then looked at the ministers and said: " My Daqin land is barren, the land production is not much, but my Daqin has a lot of population, a lot of wars, the annual consumption of grain and grass is a big number, and this is a further vicious circle, resulting in my Daqin's land is more barren, I heard that the Central Plains outside the Guanxi have a land fallow system, but my Daqin does not, what is the reason for this, is because my Daqin's land is not enough, if it is fallow again, then my Daqin will starve to death countless times, so I can only bury my head in the fields, I have understood, a hundred years ago, my Daqin's land could produce 200 catties of grain per mu, now it is only 150 catties, the biggest reason for this is that the land is now more barren than before。 ”

After a pause, Wang Mang continued: "I have always wanted to reward farming since I succeeded to the throne, but because my Great Qin foundation is too weak, there has been no good way, and now my Great Qin treasury is abundant, and as far as the imperial court is concerned, the imperial court can continue to operate without collecting agricultural taxes for several years, so I plan to reward farming with tax reductions, what do you think Aiqing thinks?"

"Your Majesty is wise. Zhang Jian first praised Wang Mang, and then said, "I don't know how Your Majesty plans to reduce taxes?"

"How about a tax cut for three years first?" Wang Mang said.

"It's natural to cut taxes for three years. Zhang Jian said: "It's just that there is a saying among the people that it is called Shengmi En Dou Mi Hatred, and now His Majesty has ordered a reduction or exemption of agricultural taxes for three years, so what about after three years? ”

"Do you agree to the tax cut?" Wang Mang said: "I remember that your family is a famous big landlord in Great Qin, if it is really a tax cut, I'm afraid your family can benefit a lot, right?"

"Your Majesty, the minister is dedicated to the public and has no selfish intentions. Zhang Jianlang said: "From a selfish point of view, the minister must be a hundred willing to reduce taxes, not to mention anything else, the minister's family may have an income of tens of thousands of taels of silver a year, but as far as the public is concerned, this matter is very inappropriate." ”

"Can you tell me a way?" Wang Mang looked at Zhang Jian with a flat face, he wanted to see what idea this patriarch of the Three Dynasties wanted to give him.

"Your Majesty. Zhang Jian said respectfully: "Since it is a reward for farming, the minister thinks that he can also be rewarded, and he can formulate a decree with the content of the reward, such as how much silver can be rewarded for the invention of new agricultural tools, the tax is not reduced, and a part of the tax is used to reward people, so that the people are happy, and the court is righteous, and there is no need to worry about the story of rising rice and fighting rice after a few years." ”

Ginger is still old and spicy!

Wang Mang had to admit that Zhang Jian's proposal was much better than his own violent tax cut, just as Zhang Jian was worried about, if the tax was added back in a few years, would the people really have no resentment at all? If the people had resentment in their hearts, then the money would not only be spent in vain, but also spent money to raise enemies for themselves.

"Shang Yang has arrived!"

At this moment, Deng Fang, who was guarding the main entrance of the main hall, shouted loudly.

Shang Yang, Wang Mang's most trusted minister of law change, Wang Mang is not in Chang'an these days, Shang Yang has made the various laws and regulations that have been implemented in Chang'an, and many people in Chang'an admire Shang Yang.

This time, Wang Mang returned from Cloud City, and came back suddenly, when Wang Laoshi ordered to gather the ministers, Shang Yang was leading people to Hedong to inspect the effect of the change, so he couldn't catch up with Wang Jingyao's excitement, but Shang Yang also rushed back as soon as he got the news, and rushed back at this time.

Shang Yang rushed into the main hall, walked quickly to the front of the hall, bowed to the ground three times and bowed loudly: "Minister Shang Yang see Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live!"

"Get up. Wang Mang said.

Shang Yang didn't get up, and said: "The minister is late for rescue, he is guilty, please punish Your Majesty." ”

"This matter has nothing to do with you, and I forgive you for your innocence. Wang Mang said.

"The decree, up to the emperor's relatives and relatives, down to the people and the people must strictly abide by it, not because the minister has won the trust of His Majesty, the minister's guilt will be exempted, so that the people can not be convinced, Shang Yang is entrusted by His Majesty to protect Chang'an, and now it is Chang'an chaos, this big crime, according to the law should be punished. Shang Yang bowed his head and said, "Please Your Majesty punish the sins of the ministers." ”

Many people in the hall watched Shang Yang kneel there with cold eyes, and hated Shang Yang, if Shang Yang was punished for being late, then wouldn't they all have to go to prison to watch the wall, how could it be unreasonable!

Wang Mang was also a little helpless in the face of Shang Yang's stunned straight nature, looking at Shang Yang looking at himself with a sincere face, and making it clear that he would not get up if he did not punish him, Wang Mang finally said helplessly: "I will be punished for half a year." ”

"Thank you, Lord Long. Shang Yang was willing to stand up.

Zhang Jian glanced at Shang Yang, knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, the ministers in the palace were threatened by the rebel king Jing Yao and did not dare to speak, although they did not rebel, but they were guilty, although Your Majesty forgave the ministers, but the ministers could not forgive themselves, and now inspired by Lord Shang Yang, the ministers are willing to punish for half a year, and I beg Your Majesty to allow it." ”

"The ministers are willing to punish for half a year, and I beg your Majesty's permission. ”

The ministers' eyes lit up, and all of them fell to their knees, but they had always been worried that Wang Mang would turn over the accounts that they did not resist Wang Jingyao, and now if they can expose this matter with a fine for half a year, then they can make a lot of money.

Seeing the ministers sincerely kneeling on the ground one by one and begging for half a year, Wang Mang was almost laughed at angrily, and finally glanced at the ministers coldly, and said, "In this way, it's up to you!"

"Ministers, thank you, Long Grace, long live Your Majesty!" the ministers kowtowed to the jubilant king.

The scene in front of him, I'm afraid that no one will believe it, many ministers of Daqin in the entire hall are actually happy to be fined, Shang Yang looked at Zhang Jian expressionlessly, Zhang Jian also looked at Shang Yang expressionlessly, only the two of them understood that the scene just now was actually a tacit cooperation and fight between the two.

Wang Mang clearly saw the small movements between Zhang Jian and Shang Yang in his eyes, and knew in his heart that he was afraid that a lot of things might have happened between these two people when they left Beijing, and after they retreated from the dynasty, they would have to let people inquire and not cause any trouble for themselves.

Wang Mang's mind just turned around, then he looked at Shang Yang and asked, "Shang Yang, you came just in time, I am discussing with the ministers how to reward farming, what do you think about this matter?"

Immediately, an official repeated Wang Mang's words and Zhang Jian's views to Shang Yang, Shang Yang rolled his eyes, and said respectfully: "The minister thinks that His Majesty's compassion for farmers can show the sun and the moon, and the heavens and the earth will be moved by Your Majesty's kindness. ”

With a change of words, Shang Yang said again: "It's just that Lord Zhang Jian is not wrong, Shengmi Endou Mi Hatred, Your Majesty for the people, and the ministers all know and understand, but if the agricultural tax cannot be exempted forever, the peasants will be much less grateful to the imperial court." ”

"It's not all. Zhang Han came out and said: " Your Majesty, I have been working in the local area, most of the most dealing with the people, I admit that the vast majority of the people are good, but there are always exceptions when there are many people, there are always some who like to stir up trouble, as a magistrate, to govern the people can not only be good, nor can there be only evil, you need to reward the good and punish the evil, one hand with a stick, the other hand with honey, balance the relationship between the two hands, so that the people can be governed, and now for many magistrates, the agricultural tax is a great weapon for them to govern the locality, and suddenly take this sharp weapon away from the hands of the officials, then the officials do not have the big stick to govern the people, without this means, it will be difficult for them to do a lot of work, such as laborIn the past, the government could levy and issue labor, so that the people who were requisitioned to build water conservancy and roads, but now there is no agricultural tax, and the government still wants to levy and issue labor without pulling out a dime, which is ten thousand times more difficult, after all, for most people, it is an individual who sweeps the snow in front of the door regardless of the frost on the tiles of others. ”

"This is the limitation of the people. Zhang Jian said: "This limitation is almost impossible to solve under the current situation. ”

"So you don't agree with my idea?" Wang Mang lightly swept over the ministers, who bowed their heads and did not dare to speak.

(End of chapter)