Chapter 153 Battle against Kong Yingda
"How dare you!"
"presumptuous!"
"Utter nonsense!"
As soon as Wei Shuyu finished speaking, he immediately drew roars from the assembled officials.
"Since ancient times, the social classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants have been clearly defined. How can they be improved just like that!"
"If all the people go into business, who will farm the land in the future?"
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu has been spouting nonsense and spreading heresy in the court. We implore Your Majesty to punish him!"
The officials stepped forward and began to vie for power in attacking Wei Shuyu.
Civil officials, military generals, gentry, Confucian scholars...
No force should remain silent!
Surprisingly, this time Changsun Wuji remained silent.
As Li Shimin's most trusted confidant, Wei Shuyu's memorial to the emperor had already proven everything.
This was something Li Shimin tacitly approved!
In the past, it was Wei Zheng who proposed it, but this time Wei Zheng was ill, so it was Wei Shuyu who made the suggestion.
Seeing his ministers so united, Li Shimin sighed inwardly.
Just as I thought...
"quiet."
Li Shimin commanded authoritatively, his deep eyes sweeping over the assembled officials.
After the court officials quieted down, Li Shimin spoke again: "My principle is to encourage open discussion, and right and wrong can be discussed later."
"Since Minister Wei has something to say, we shall let him finish speaking!"
Li Shimin looked at Wei Shuyu: "Let's continue..."
A glint flashed in Wei Shuyu's eyes, and he bowed to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, I have said what I needed to say. If any of the ministers have any objections, I will certainly answer them."
"Your Majesty, please allow me to debate this matter before the court!"
Li Shimin's face darkened.
Discussing matters in front of the palace, even if one makes a mistake, is not a serious offense; it can be considered a slip of the tongue.
Debates in the palace are a contest of wits with the court officials; if you win the debate, the proposal will naturally be passed.
But if they lose just one argument, they will face a massive backlash from the court officials.
If someone is accused of spreading heresies and disrupting the court, the consequences can range from beheading to dismissal from office!
Even Li Shimin dared not risk public outrage by protecting Wei Shuyu.
"Have you thought it through?" Li Shimin kindly reminded him.
"My mind is made up!"
"allow!"
Li Shimin stared at Wei Shuyu for a moment, but seeing that the other party's expression remained resolute, he did not stop him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After speaking, Wei Shuyu turned to face the assembled officials…
"Today I propose a policy of prioritizing commerce. If any of you are dissatisfied, disagree, or think I've made a mistake, am talking nonsense, or am just a child, you are welcome to express your views."
"However, if anyone agrees with what I've said, please refrain from further objection!"
The courtiers all looked on incredulously.
They seemed to see a familiar figure: Wei Zheng!
The two are remarkably similar in their words, actions, appearance, and demeanor.
Although the words were not harsh, they conveyed a sense of determination to achieve the goal.
"Shuyu, don't say that I'm bullying you."
Just then, Kong Yingda took a step forward.
No one expected that the first to launch an attack would be the Confucianists, and one of them would be Wei Zheng's friend.
Kong Yingda bowed to Li Shimin before turning to Wei Shuyu: "Food is the first necessity of the people. You should answer this first: if all the people go into business, who will cultivate all the land in the world?"
Wei Shuyu pondered for a moment, then looked down at the official tablet.
The courtiers did not urge them on.
Because Wei Shuyu's fate was already sealed, this proposal would absolutely not pass!
"Chancellor Kong".
Wei Shuyu bowed.
The previous Chancellor of the Imperial Academy was dismissed due to his questionable actions, and Kong Yingda was successfully promoted to Chancellor.
"Before answering this question, may I ask you a few questions first?" Wei Shuyu said unhurriedly.
"Can."
"May I ask how many bushels of grain are produced per mu in the Great Tang Dynasty now?"
"On average, it's 5-7 dou."
"May I ask again how many bushels of grain a person in the Tang Dynasty consumed per month?"
"Approximately 2-3 dou (a unit of dry measure)."
"So that means an adult eats about 3 shi a year, right?" (10 dou = 1 shi)
Kong Yingda nodded.
"So here's the question: the Tang Dynasty adopted the equal-field system, and an adult male could be allocated as much as 100 mu of land, with an annual yield of 600-800 dou, which is 60-80 shi. Let me calculate it as 60 shi for easier calculation."
"In other words, an adult male can grow enough food to feed about 20 people a year."
Kong Yingda kept fidgeting with his fingers, as if calculating whether what Wei Shuyu said was true.
A moment later, a look of shock appeared on his face.
During busy farming seasons, they might hire help, but that would hardly cost them any food.
"Facts have proven that the Tang Dynasty had no shortage of people to cultivate its land!"
"On the contrary, the imperial court's policy of emphasizing agriculture and de-emphasizing commerce may result in 19 out of every 20 people in the Tang Dynasty being idle at home!"
"With so many people staying home idly, how can the Tang Dynasty's economy possibly improve?"
"If the Tang Dynasty's economy doesn't improve, how can the national treasury be replenished?"
The courtiers began to whisper among themselves.
They hoped to find a flaw in Wei Shuyu's words, but all of them shook their heads in disbelief.
The allocation of 100 mu of land to each adult male was agreed upon after multiple discussions.
Besides supporting his wife, children, and elderly parents, he will definitely be well-off.
"If it is as you say, what benefits can traveling as a merchant bring to the Tang Dynasty and its people?" Kong Yingda couldn't help but ask.
"I can give you a very simple example..."
There are three people, A, B, and C, who own a total of 300 mu of land.
"A and B do not like farming, so they rented their land to C."
"The three then went on to work in different industries..."
"A went to sell clothes."
"B went to sell furniture."
"C is still farming."
"Excuse me, has the imperial court reduced its tax revenue? It's still taxing 300 mu of land."
"After the merchants came, they exchanged goods and traded with each other, and they had no shortage of food, clothing and furniture."
"The imperial court could only collect taxes on 300 mu of land, but now there are additional commercial taxes on clothing and furniture."
"Wouldn't this mean that the three families would earn even more, and the imperial court would also collect an extra amount of commercial tax?"
Huh?
Now that Wei Shuyu has said it, it seems to be true.
"The money comes from the sheep themselves. If their income increases, won't the lives of other people become worse?" Kong Yingda asked gravely.
“This…” Wei Shuyu rolled his eyes: “The merchants aren’t holding knives to the people’s heads, so let them buy, right?”
"The Tang Dynasty also had brocade and silk, but I didn't see everyone wearing expensive clothes, did I?"
Well……
Kong Yingda was speechless.
After thinking for a while, I realized that I couldn't refute their argument.
"Your Majesty, I have nothing more to say."
After saying this, Kong Yingda returned to his seat.
The courtiers were abuzz with discussion; no one had expected that Kong Yingda would be persuaded by Wei Shuyu.
Their expressions immediately turned serious.
"That's absurd."
Just then, another person stood up and began to refute.
Wei Shuyu looked in the direction of the voice and was surprised to see Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu bowed to Li Shimin as well, before launching into his impassioned speech...
"Farmers work hard from sunrise to sunset to cultivate the land, while merchants make huge profits without lifting a finger."
"What we're discussing is what to do when ordinary people become envious of the money merchants make and stop farming!"
The ministers suddenly realized what was happening.
People are all envious of the money that merchants make, so who will still want to farm?
I almost got caught up in Wei Shuyu's calculations.
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