Yuan Qianyao has been friends with Yuwen for a long time, so he naturally hopes that he can show his talent and rise to the top. Seeing that Yu Wenrong looked thoughtful after hearing Li Longji's question at the court meeting, he was a little absent-minded even when he was eating under the supervision of the hundred official corridors, and Yuan Qianyao knew that he must have an idea. As soon as the meal under the corridor ended, he ignored Yu Wenrong's denial and refusal, and dragged him to Zichen Palace.

"Enlightened saint, there is one minister who wants to recommend."

Li Longji said very sensitively: "Is Prime Minister Yuan's recommendation for the sake of the population?" ”

Yuan Qianyao nodded solemnly: "Exactly." Yuwen Yushi has a social heart and a great talent, so he must be able to help the saint. ”

After entering the hall, Yu Wenrong, who was silent except for saluting, heard this, turned his eyes and glanced at Yuan Qianyao, there seemed to be a touch of reluctance in his eyes, although the action was small, but it was still captured by Xiao Jiangyuan and Li Longji.

was recommended to show his talent in front of the Son of Heaven, and had an extra opportunity to be promoted to meritorious service, but other low-level officials couldn't ask for it, what was he unwilling to do?

Although the superintendent of the imperial history is only eight grades, he is also a permanent counselor, and he has to enter the palace every day to see Li Longji. When Yu Wenrong was the supervisor of the imperial history, he was very untalkative, giving people a feeling of cherishing words like gold, although compared to other imperial histories who spoke at length at every turn and expressed dissatisfaction with the subjects of the Son of Heaven, he seemed to be less loyal to his duties, but because of this, he was very liked by Li Longji - who would like those who always pointed out their shortcomings?

But that's what Yushi does, not only can Li Longji not be angry, but if people scold him well, he also has to give a reward. Yu Wenrong was silent, neither making Li Longji unhappy, nor using Li Longji to break the bank, which was exactly what Li Longji wanted. But because of this, Li Longji always thought that Yuwenrong's talent was mediocre, and he never thought that one day, he would be recommended by Yuan Qianyao in front of him, for the sake of a big problem that the Manchu Dynasty civil and military did not dare to talk about easily.

The talent he has been looking for turns out to be by his side?

Seeing that Li Longji stared at Yu Wenrong and didn't speak, and Yu Wenrong didn't speak, Yuan Qianyao was embarrassed for a while, and touched Yu Wenrong with his arm with some hatred, signaling him to take the initiative. But Yu Wenrong didn't feel anything, he still looked at his mouth and nose, like a stone sculpture. Yuan Qianyao was desperate and hurriedly looked at Xiao Jiangyuan for help.

Xiao Jiangyuan also felt that it was not a matter to be so silent all the time, so he whispered to Li Longji: "Everyone, it seems that Yuwen Yushi is indeed as Yuan Xianggong said. Isn't this kind of little temper that is different from ordinary people exactly the self-confidence that that talent can give? He is both talented and very likely to help you solve this most important problem, and as a monarch, Corporal Lixian should also be. ”

I think that when Li Longji worshiped Yao Chong as his prime minister, wasn't he also pinched by Yao Chong? He knows this kind of thing, whether it is a courtier who raises his value, or a person who is afraid of guarding against others like Yao Gong, it can indeed corroborate what Xiao Jiangyuan just said. Li Longji said: "Yuan Xianggong said, you can help me, is it true or false?" ”

Yu Wenrong said: "It's true." ”

"Do you have a plan in mind?"

"Yes."

"And how are you going to help me?"

Yu Wenrong stopped talking again.

Yuan Qianyao was a little anxious, and said in a low voice: "The sage is asking, but you are talking!" ”

Li Longji and Xiao Jiangyuan glanced at each other and smiled in surprise. Li Longji thought for a while and asked, "Are you worried that your official position is too low and you don't have the qualifications to discuss this matter?" ”

Yu Wenrong shook his head.

Li Longji asked again: "Then you didn't open your mouth when you saw the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, you are just an eight-grade imperial history, so you don't dare?" ”

Yu Wenrong shook his head again.

"You won't be ...... Don't want to tell me, do you? Li Longji's smile was still there, but his voice was getting lower.

Xiao Jiangyuan said at this time: "A saint is a person who loves talents, if there is anything you want to say, it doesn't hurt to say it." The saint not only will not punish the sin, but will also give a reward to repay the loyalty of the imperial history to the Tang Dynasty and the saint. ”

Who says I can't be punished? He teases me like this, and I reward him? Li Longji's heart was constantly in the hustle and bustle, but he could only smile and suffer this dumb loss, so he heard Yu Wenrong sigh secretly and said, "The minister is unwilling." ”

"Why not?"

"The minister is worried that it is useless to say it, not only will the saints not approve of it, but the Confucian ministers of the Manchu Dynasty will probably also scoff at it."

Li Longji couldn't help but laugh a little: "You don't have confidence in yourself like this? ”

Yu Wenrong said lightly: "The minister has no confidence in the saint and the Confucian ministers of the Manchu Dynasty. ”

What did this Yu Wenrong say just now? Li Longji couldn't help but be a little unconvinced, and for a while he forgot that some courtiers liked to speak surprisingly at the beginning to attract the attention of the monarch, such as Wang Ju back then. He immediately said: "Then please Yuwen Yushi talk about it well, I should study with an open mind and listen to it." ”

Yu Wenrong still didn't say, but asked first: "The minister dares to ask the sage, are you determined to solve this matter?" ”

"Of course."

"So can the sage agree to the minister's suggestion as long as it is feasible and effective?"

Are you still talking about it? Li Longji couldn't help but slander, and said on his face: "Of course! ”

Yu Wenrong finally stopped sparing words like gold, and began to talk at length. He told Li Longji that he only needed to do two things well, and this problem could be effectively solved, one was to inspect the fields, and the other was to bracket households.

The so-called field inspection is to inspect the farmland of the whole country, first, to see how much of it has been bought and sold and is no longer recorded in the name of the original people, and how much has become wasteland that no one cares about, so that it can be redistributed and managed; The second is to re-enter the barren land that has been reclaimed after the escape from home into the household file and start a new round of taxation.

The so-called "bracket households" means that the household registration of the whole country should be thoroughly checked, and specific officials should go deep into various localities to investigate them one by one, with the aim of finding out all those households that have fled and even those who have run away. As a result, there was more farmland than ever before, more people were paying taxes, and over time, the financial problem was solved.

"That's it?" Li Longji's appetite was a little big by Yu Wenrong, but it was just that providing the easiest way to solve the problem couldn't satisfy him, "If it's just such a simple and direct way, the Manchu Dynasty civil and military can also think of it." ”

Yu Wenrong's eyebrows raised slightly, and he smiled faintly: "They can think of it, but they don't want to think about it, and the minister not only thinks about it, but also says it, this is the difference." ”

"This is new, since you also admit that they can come up with such a solution, then why don't they want to think, are they not willing to do things for the country and the people?"

"They are willing, but not willing to do so."

"Then aren't they afraid of angering me?"

"They're afraid, but they're even more afraid of not being able to do well, and even worse, they're just going to scoff at all." Yu Wenrong knew that Li Longji still wanted to ask why, so he took the lead in replying, "Three reasons, difficult and troublesome, are not tolerated by the Confucian concept of scholars." ”

"Definitely. There are not many people like you who dare to speak out, don't look at your colleagues who don't stop talking on weekdays, but it's really not as straightforward as you who don't like to talk. Li Longji nodded in agreement, "The method you just said, if implemented properly, is indeed the most direct and effective, but it is indeed difficult and troublesome." There are many things that need to be discussed in detail, have you thought about all those details? ”

Yu Wenrong said honestly: "The time is still short, and some ministers don't have time to think about it." ”

Hearing him say this, Li Longji had the heart to test him to see if he could frustrate his proud attitude: "Let's not talk about anything else, how should those fugitives be dealt with?" In order to avoid taxes, military service, etc., they moved with their families, defaulted on taxes for an unknown number of years, and checked their household registration for the purpose of re-taxing, which increased the burden on those who fled to the households, would they be willing? After all, they have broken the law, and what is the way to say that they should be investigated now? Will they be punished according to the law and let them return to their places of origin, or what? ”

"Times have changed, and the imperial court cannot be blindly tough and too idealistic. What the saint wants is to deal with it properly and increase taxes, not to provoke the people and arouse the anger of the people, so that the people should consider what they think and give appropriate satisfaction, and then the saint will get the reward he wants. ”

"For example?"

"Most of those who fled had no choice but to do so, and for many years they were unable to obtain the recognition and protection of the state because of their status. The saints can exempt them from all their sins, including all the taxes they owe before, let them enter their household registration in the local area, and give them the legal status of the people of the Tang Dynasty. ”

Li Longji thought about it and said happily: "Yes." ”

Yu Wenrong didn't expect Li Longji to agree so happily, he was stunned for a moment, and when he saw Li Longji waiting for him to say it seriously, he dared to be sure that Li Longji was not perfunctory, but really adopted his opinion. His chest suddenly rose and fell more obviously, and for the first time, he felt nervous in front of this monarch.

He took a deep breath, calmed down a bit, and continued as lightly as he could, "At the same time, for a certain number of years, the saints can appropriately reduce their taxes. At present, each man has to pay 1,900 yuan a year, and even if those who run away only pay 1,500 yuan, it may add up to a lot of taxes. And in the eyes of the people, the saint is giving benefits to the people, and the people will not only not oppose it, but will also vigorously support it, and it will be easier to implement. ”

The corners of Li Longji's lips hooked: "But this matter is so cumbersome and complicated, not only does it require the coordination of the household department, but also the cooperation of various states and counties, involving many officials, and when it comes to implementation, it will be restricted everywhere, how can this be good?" ”

"This ......" Yu Wenrong finally shook his head.

Can't answer, right? Li Longji was secretly proud and said, "This is easy to do." As long as I give the officer in charge of the matter sufficient authority. ”

"But in addition to the presiding officials, there are many officials who want to go deep into the localities, can the saints also give them the same enough power?"

"Why not?" Li Longji asked rhetorically.

"That'...... Isn't the court in chaos? ”

"Then I'll let you and them not be under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, but directly to me, in this way, what does Yuwen Yushi think?"