Chapter 430 When the First Emperor appeared, who could rival him!
"certainly……"
Li Shimin then changed the subject: "Although I cannot provide financial assistance, as long as you can persist on your path for twenty years..."
"As for manpower, however many you need, I will provide them!"
Huh?
So generous?
This is unlike Li Shimin's character.
"May I ask Your Majesty, who are these men...?" Wei Shuyu asked, puzzled.
"Corvée labor".
Li Shimin smiled and said, "The New Year has just passed, and the Tang Dynasty can collect corvée labor again."
"People would be very happy to serve in the military near their homes."
Corvée labor?
Wei Shuyu frowned.
In the Tang Dynasty, apart from military service, other forms of corvée labor were what the common people feared most...
Military service includes meals and offers the possibility of promotion.
Ordinary corvée laborers not only received no wages, but also had to bring their own food.
Just like when Emperor Yang of Sui opened the Grand Canal, he levied a large amount of corvée labor, causing widespread resentment among the people.
The wealthy could pay to be exempted from corvée labor, but for the poor, it was a terrifying ordeal.
The corvée labor in the Tang Dynasty was generally twenty days, with an additional fifteen days if there were special circumstances.
"Your Majesty, are these corvée laborers not paid and not even provided with meals?" Wei Shuyu suddenly asked.
"yes."
Li Shimin smiled and said, "Doesn't this save you another big sum of money?"
"If you can really build this road, I will not only promote you, but also grant you a noble title!"
Li Shimin began to launch sugar-coated bullets.
What others can't do, Xiao Wei might be able to do.
We need to draw up a picture of this pie first.
“That won’t do,” Wei Shuyu said, frowning.
"Still not satisfied with promotions and titles?"
Li Shimin frowned: "As long as you do a good job, it's not impossible for me to bestow another princess upon you."
"..."
The courtiers remained silent.
Selling daughters at the slightest disagreement, Tang Dynasty princesses are worried about getting married!
"Your Majesty, I did not mean promotion or advancement."
Wei Shuyu put on a stern face: "What I mean is, how can these corvée laborers not be paid!"
ah?
Li Shimin was stunned.
Are you stupid?
Why would we pay money for free labor?
"Moreover, if my official position and title were obtained by exploiting the people, then I would rather not have them," Wei Shuyu said solemnly.
The overt corvée labor was not the most terrible thing.
Even more terrifying is the oppression and exploitation by lower-level officials.
Many officials did not treat those who performed corvée labor as human beings at all.
"presumptuous!"
Changsun Wuji stepped forward and rebuked, "What do you mean by 'exploited'? Are you saying that the Tang Dynasty exploits its people?"
Isn't that so?
Wei Shuyu retorted sharply, "Not only are there no wages, but they don't even provide meals. This is even more hateful than exploitation!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's expression darkened.
But he did not reprimand him.
Based on his understanding of Xiao Wei, there must be more to the story.
Most importantly...
Changsun Wuji has emerged.
"You bastard."
Changsun Wuji, his face dark with anger, rebuked, "Do you know what you're saying? Corvée labor is just like taxes; it's the foundation of a nation!"
"Without corvée labor, there would be no one to build bridges and roads, dredge rivers, reclaim wasteland, or construct water conservancy projects..."
"Your words are shaking the very foundations of the nation!"
Upon hearing this, the courtiers echoed and agreed with it.
One by one, they began to attack and annihilate Wei Shuyu.
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu is wicked and attempts to undermine the foundation of the Tang Dynasty. I urge Your Majesty to execute him."
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu is spreading heretical rumors in the court. We implore Your Majesty to expel him from the court!"
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu is ignorant of state affairs and speaks arrogantly. I request that Your Majesty dismiss him from his post."
Wei Shuyu was also mentally exhausted.
Every time a new policy is introduced, there are always a lot of people making a fuss.
"Who said we're no longer required to perform corvée labor?"
"I'm talking about paying wages for corvée labor. You're all distorting the facts. Do you even deserve to be my subjects?"
Wei Shuyu stepped forward and stood in front of Gao Shilian: "I'm talking about you..."
"At such an advanced age, he's still stirring up trouble in the court. Doesn't he fear ruining his entire life's reputation in an instant!"
Damn it!
So many people here are criticizing you, why are you only pointing at me and yelling at me?
Gao Shilian's beard trembled wildly.
"There has never been any pay for corvée labor!"
Gao Shilian retorted sternly: "Wei Shuyu, you are causing chaos in the court!"
"Who says that corvée labor has never been paid?"
Wei Shuyu suddenly stepped forward: "During the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang not only provided food for the corvée laborers, but also paid them wages!"
The more you learn about him, the more you'll discover that Qin Shi Huang's charisma is unparalleled.
Unifying the world, standardizing cart axles and writing, building the Great Wall...
He never killed a meritorious official and even paid corvée laborers.
It can be said that Qin Shi Huang laid the foundation for everything he could accomplish for posterity!
“Everyone just knows that this has always been the case.”
"Getting paid for work is the only true and traditional way of things!"
"Apart from Qin Shi Huang, no emperor throughout history has ever truly thought about paying the laborers for their work, which is a sign of a strong nation!"
Upon hearing this, all the officials fell silent.
Immediately, they began to whisper among themselves...
Did the First Emperor pay wages to those who performed corvée labor?
"His Majesty."
Wei Shuyu bowed to Li Shimin and said, "It doesn't matter how much money you have; the court can do what it can."
"But if even food is not provided, the people will have no sense of belonging to the Tang Dynasty."
"They might even develop an extreme aversion and fear towards the imperial court and government officials!"
"When incited by someone, they can easily develop rebellious intentions..."
As the saying goes, "Peace and prosperity for the nation..."
“Harsh corvée labor.”
Even in times of peace and prosperity, the people will still find it difficult to live in peace!
Li Shimin frowned.
He really didn't know anything about Qin Shi Huang paying wages to corvée laborers.
Turning his head, he looked at the historian in the corner and asked, "Is there any record of this in the historical books?"
"Your Majesty..."
The historian rose and bowed: "When Qin Shi Huang unified the world, in addition to the people of Qin, there were also a huge number of criminals and slaves."
"Qin Shi Huang certainly didn't pay these people their wages."
"But his own people..."
The historian paused, then nodded and said, "The treatment is excellent!"
Wow.
No one could believe it.
Qin Shi Huang, known for his tyranny, actually paid wages to corvée laborers!
"No way, no way..."
Cheng Yaojin stirred up trouble again: "Wasn't Qin Shi Huang a tyrant? Wasn't Meng Jiangnu crying at the Great Wall a criticism of him?"
The historian rolled his eyes at Cheng Yaojin: "You idiot."
"Who are you calling an idiot?"
Cheng Yaojin pointed at the historian and shouted.
I'm calling you an idiot!
The historian revealed a look of disdain.
How dare you play such vulgar word games in front of me? You're such an idiot!
But seeing Cheng Yaojin start rolling up his sleeves, the historian quickly explained, "Meng Jiangnu is just a fictional character. Her prototype was the wife of Qi Liang from the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. Qin Shi Huang was from the Qin Dynasty, and her weeping at the Great Wall has nothing to do with Qin Shi Huang..."
is that so?
Cheng Yaojin turned to look at Yuchi Gong.
Why are you looking at me?
Yuchi Gong replied with a serious expression, "It's shameful that you didn't even know that the two of you were more than a hundred years apart!"
"Cough cough..."
The historian kindly reminded him: "Meng Jiangnu and Qin Shi Huang lived about three hundred years apart."
Yuchi Gong's face darkened even further...
"Shut up!"
"Don't I know?"
"I was just testing Zhijie!"
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