"Since ancient times, people have been divided into different classes based on their social status: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants."

"Even if this is unavoidable, it doesn't make things easier for them."

Inside the Zhangtai Palace, the wicked man spoke with unwavering conviction.

There is indeed no fairness in this world; the saying "everyone has their own destiny" is no exception. But at least there should be some degree of relative fairness.

“Your Majesty, from ancient times to the present, wealth will always be in the hands of a few, always sucking the blood and bones of the poor, neither enriching you nor making the people suffer more.”

"The fact that officials and gentry pay taxes together is only the first step. Once the six kingdoms are unified, commerce will surely flourish, just as I said before."

“Focusing on agriculture only ensures that people have enough to eat. Only the development of commerce can drive the progress of the country and civilization. At that time, it will be necessary to increase commercial taxes.”

"Taxes are the foundation of a nation, and they must be paid fairly!"

The wicked man stood upright, like a stabilizing pillar in a raging storm, unconsciously giving Ying Zheng a strong sense of security and trust.

He continued, "There is no such thing as fairness in this world. The purpose of the state and the monarch is to maintain stability as much as possible and to treat everyone fairly."

"Thunderous measures can be used, but not against the poor and lowly. What power do they have to resist?"

Ying Zheng was quite troubled, constantly rubbing his temples. He had also been caught off guard by his wicked husband. This kid hadn't consulted anyone beforehand and had put forward such a shocking plan, which would surely cause a huge upheaval.

After pondering for a long time, Ying Zheng gritted his teeth, as if making a decision: "To make good tools, one must first sharpen them. If internal affairs are not well managed, how can we talk about expanding eastward?"

The wicked man revealed a smile and reassured Ying Zheng in a relaxed tone, "Your Majesty, it's true what they say, it's easy to get by with a wise ruler. The advantages and disadvantages are obvious at a glance, and I don't need to waste my breath explaining."

"There is no need to worry about any disturbances. With the Qin sword in hand, I have the world at my command. As far as the morale of the army is concerned, the soldiers are not agitated. No matter how fierce the storm, we will suppress it with force."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng revealed a bitter smile, unmoved by his flattery, and muttered to himself, "So you really intend to kill the powerful and wealthy with every stroke?"

However, although this kid seems to do things haphazardly and impulsively, he can actually do them very reliably.

Putting aside other factors, the Qin soldiers were all from poor peasant families, and the Qin soldiers themselves, as well as their relatives and friends, benefited from the land tax reform and other policies.

As long as they don't move, no matter how powerful you are, you can't make a ripple.

Otherwise, why would he tolerate such a wicked husband?

"Let's do it!"

Ying Zheng, no longer hesitant or troubled, said in a deep voice, "I'll wait and see if my Qin state can become different."

The wicked man held up two fingers and declared emphatically, "In at most two months, we will see the Qin Kingdom flourish. Your Majesty, please wait and see."

......

More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

Feudal dynasties had their advantages. Once the king issued a decree, no one dared to disobey. Their efficiency was extremely fast, even surpassing that of later generations with advanced information technology in some aspects.

The land tax reform was implemented at an extremely rapid pace. Land surveys are currently underway in various regions. Once this is completed, arable land can be distributed equally among the people.

Correspondingly, some problems that the wicked husband had not expected have also surfaced.

The practice of officials and gentry paying taxes together was like a boulder thrown into water, causing a huge uproar. Court officials would complain bitterly every time they went to court.

All sorts of things had exhausted the wicked man. If it weren't for the help of Li Si and Feng Jie, and the support of Ying Zheng to suppress the rebellion, he would probably have drowned in the spittle of the courtiers.

On this day, the morning court session began.

"Your Majesty, the land tax reform is fraught with problems that have yet to be resolved. Wealthy families across the country are being wiped out one after another, causing widespread panic. If this continues, the consequences will be unimaginable."

As soon as Ying Zheng sat down and found a comfortable position to lean back in the chair, before he could even catch his breath, more than a dozen court officials stood up.

"This chair, you wicked husband... it's quite nice, very comfortable!"

Ying Zheng ignored their complaints and instead softly praised the tables and chairs developed by his wicked husband.

Knowing that Ying Zheng was passing the buck, the wicked husband stepped forward. In the past two weeks, he had become much more haggard and disheveled, and had even lost his previous high spirits.

"So what if they're wiped out? One whale falls and all things are born. Their deaths benefit most of the people. It's a good deal." The wicked man glared coldly at the dozen or so people.

Previously, his ruthlessness only existed on the battlefield, which could not be considered true ruthlessness.

Nowadays, he doesn't care about right or wrong, only the interests of the country, and acts with thunderous force without showing any sentimentality. He has become a true politician.

"Natural disasters and man-made calamities, yet you never speak up for the people."

“When foreign enemies invade, you show no sign of anxiety.”

"You're asked to pay taxes, and now you're suddenly concerned about the common people? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."

The wicked man's cold eyes swept over the assembled court officials, and he said in a chilling voice, "Today, I'm putting my words here: anyone who dares to obstruct the advancement of national policy should prepare their own coffin, because I will personally come to take their life."

"you?"

"Or is it you?"

"Those who don't want to pay taxes, step forward!"

Those whose fingers he pointed at trembled and lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

The wicked husband was truly fed up. Already exhausted, he had neither the energy nor the time to deal with their petty squabbles. So, he decided to go all out and resort to threats.

These people are shameless; they turn cowards when you actually get serious.

The wicked man sneered and said disdainfully, "You have ministers like Wang Wan in civil affairs and generals like Wang Jian and Meng Ao in military affairs, yet they haven't stepped forward. Does that make you think you're so capable?"

"Tell me, if the pillars that hold the tripod in place don't fall, can't the soil underneath just be replaced as easily as you say?"

The threat was made no attempt to conceal.

The Qin Dynasty was ultimately too early. The number of court officials and advisors was limited, and the number of departments was small, making it far less complex than later dynasties.

Ultimately, whenever something happened, it was always these few people who consulted with the emperor; the other officials were merely executors. To put it bluntly, anyone with a quick mind could have taken on this role.

"Won't you be crushed by PUA?"

Seeing them all looking dejected and silent, the wicked man felt nothing but disdain. Luckily, he wasn't a seasoned career manipulator, otherwise he could have easily manipulated them into feeling inferior.

"Your subject agrees with the Commandant of the Guards' plan!"

"This old minister agrees as well."

"....."

Those named, including Wang Jian, all spoke up in agreement, expressing their own attitude.

"Your Majesty!"

At this moment, Meng Yi, who looked quite young, stepped forward from the very back of the court officials' line and bowed, saying, "Before General Meng Wu and General Shangjiang left Xianyang, they gave me many instructions."

"In all matters of the court, everything shall be done in accordance with the will of the Commandant of the Guards. The entire Meng family respects the decisions made by the King and the Commandant of the Guards."

The wicked man took a closer look and saw that Meng Yi, who was new to the court, still showed a hint of timidity. He immediately gave him a smile of approval and reassurance.

"You are all so righteous, and it is my great fortune to have your assistance!" Ying Zheng looked around at these old ministers with sincere expressions, and his heart was filled with emotion.

"Now that things have come to this, does anyone still have any objections?"