Chapter 323 Your Majesty, You Are Good at Cutting the Divide

The Minister of Revenue frowned and said, "I don't have any."

"You have it, you have it!" The Minister of War suddenly felt a surge of resentment in his heart, "Minister of Revenue, the princes of Daxia each have their own armies, and the other three countries are also eyeing Daxia covetously. If we cut our own funds, it would be tantamount to cutting off one of our own arms."

The Minister of Finance sneered and said, "If we don't cut military spending, where will the money come from?"

Minister of War: "Taxes, mining..."

Minister of Finance: "Shut up! Do you know how much I have spent to balance the accounts?! The national treasury can be maintained now, but the rainy season will come soon. Do you know how many floods and disaster victims there will be in the southern part of Daxia? If the national treasury is not filled now, there will be no money to comfort the disaster victims. Then these refugees will become the sharp knife of the rebellion to stab Daxia, and Daxia will be unstable!"

The Minister of War choked up and lowered his voice: "You are cutting military spending in half all at once, that's too much! How can we maintain the stability of the military?"

The Minister of Finance softened his attitude a bit, and took out an abacus and said, "We can discuss the exact reduction. For example, 48%? Don't be angry, how about 46%?"

The Minister of War angrily said, "Are you going to the market to buy vegetables?!"

Seeing that the Minister of Revenue was about to quarrel with the Minister of War again.

The Prince's tutor suddenly came out and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I do not agree with reducing military spending."

The courtiers looked over instantly.

The Minister of Finance frowned and said, "Master Taifu, if we don't cut military spending, what will happen to the people of Daxia? Natural disasters..."

The Prince's tutor held out his hand to stop the Minister of Revenue: "Be patient and listen to what I have to say."

The Minister of Revenue was scolded.

The Prince's tutor said slowly, "The Minister of Revenue wants to cut military spending in order to fill the national treasury. But to protect the national treasury, it is not necessary to start with military spending. Recently, I have read the classics and found that since the Xia Kingdom divided the world, the princes have paid a large amount of taxes to the central government every year. But in order to show favor to the princes and stabilize the royal power, the late emperor directly reduced the taxes of the princes by nearly 80%. I think it is better to start by collecting taxes from the princes to improve the national treasury."

The emperor looked up at the Prince's tutor: This should be what the system has mentioned before, I didn't expect the proposer to be the Prince's tutor.

The Minister of Revenue seemed to be thoughtful: As long as the money can be given to the national treasury, he doesn't mind how the money comes.

The Minister of War stroked his beard and thought it was a good idea. Not only did it not require cutting military spending, but it might even mean that the military would have to fight with the disobedient princes and kings. He agreed.

Among the other court officials, some agreed, but some looked embarrassed.

At this time, the Minister of Personnel suddenly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I think this is inappropriate."

The emperor looked at the Minister of Personnel and said, "Speak."

The Minister of Personnel bowed and said, "I think this move will easily irritate the princes and cause unrest in Daxia. I think it is best to maintain the current situation and continue to implement the Enfeoffment Order. Instead of irritating the princes, it is better to cut military spending."

The Prince's tutor stood up and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I do not agree with what the Minister of Personnel said. First, a strong army and powerful horses are the foundation of Daxia's stability. Cutting military spending is like cutting off one's own arm. Moreover, I only proposed to restore the tax system set by Daxia's founding emperor. This is respecting the ancients. How can it be said that I am forcing the princes and kings? If the princes and kings rebel for this reason! I think these people are ambitious and will rebel sooner or later. Such villains..."

At this point, the Prince's tutor glared, raised his hand and clenched his fist, revealing his strong forearm muscles: "You should be executed!"

Soon, the court officials were divided into three major factions.

The court officials who supported the tax increase, led by the Prince's tutor, called for a quick victory while the central government was strong. The court officials who did not support the tax increase, led by the Minister of Personnel, cited examples to oppose the plan and wanted a peaceful evolution to avoid being caught by other countries.

The officials of the Ministry of War faction nodded to the Prince's tutor one moment and applauded the Minister of Personnel the next, just like a straw that was always swayed by the wind.

The emperor glanced at the crowd and he knew it very well.

The Prince's Tutor and the Minister of Personnel had no bad intentions, and their ideas were all reasonable. As for the Ministry of War, they were not sitting on the fence, but they knew very well that no matter who had the upper hand, they would have no shortage of battles to fight! The only difference was whether they would fight a more prosperous battle or a more difficult battle with more battlefields.

But how to do it?

If the princes had not approached Yuan Ruan this time and if there had not been a systematic exposure, the emperor would indeed be more inclined to the Prince's tutor's method, not cutting military spending and increasing taxes on the princes and kings. If they dared to rebel, they would be destroyed together.

But considering the attitude of several princes who were seeking peace and submission, the emperor came up with another idea.

With an idea in mind, the emperor coughed lightly.

The originally noisy court suddenly became quiet. The court officials lined up again, bowed respectfully, and waited for the emperor's instructions.

The emperor said: "Military spending will not be reduced."

The Prince's tutor's eyes lit up.

The emperor continued: "No additional taxes will be imposed on the princes."

The smile on the Prince's tutor's face froze.

After hearing this, the officials on both sides were confused. What was going on? No military spending? No tax increase? Maintaining the status quo?!

At this moment, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue became anxious: Your Majesty, please don’t do this! The national treasury can’t survive the rainy season! Are we going to work overtime indefinitely again? !

The emperor glanced at everyone and said, "But in order to promote the imperial examination system, I now order that all officials above the fourth rank of the princes and kings must be appointed by the central government. In addition, all officials recruited by the princes and kings must also pass the imperial examination of Daxia."

The courtiers were dumbfounded: !!!

What!

Playing so big!

During the Daxia period, the princes had great autonomy. Although their local officials would be evaluated by the Ministry of Personnel, everyone knew that it was just a formality. The princes did not refer to the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation when hiring people. They generally used members recommended by their own fiefdoms.

Now the emperor's move is almost equivalent to undermining the political system of the princes and kings.

This move gave the princes a far greater incentive than paying more taxes.

The Minister of Personnel was dumbfounded and whispered subconsciously: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, do you want a civil war this year?"

The Prince's Tutor was a little frightened by the Emperor. Although he wanted to take action against the princes, he had never thought of taking such a violent action against all of them at once.

The Prince's tutor could not help but bow and said, "Your Majesty. It is good to cut off the roots, but the timing is not right now. How about we discuss it after we conquer Chen State?"

The emperor glanced at everyone and said calmly, "What is security? Who can give me an idea that is completely secure, will not cause rebellion among the princes, and can provide money for the national treasury?"

The courtiers were silent.

At this time, only the officials of the Ministry of War were very excited.

The Minister of War patted his chest, clasped his hands and said frankly: "Your Majesty, your words are holy! There is no way to have the best of both worlds in this world. I think it's okay, Prince Yan and Prince Jing can be ignored for the time being. As for the other princes and kings, ha, they are not enough for the Lin family twins, and the seven sons of the Shi family are not enough to share..."

The Minister of Revenue did not care about the loss of etiquette in front of the palace, and clapped his hands vigorously, pushing the Minister of War away a little:... Shut up, you are stirring up trouble.

The Minister of War wanted to say something, but seeing that the Minister of Revenue was about to become angry, he kept silent.