Chapter 368: Xiaowen's Reign
The matter of deposing the crown prince was nothing to Liu Heng. Since this way of handling the matter would have the least impact on the world, he would do so.
He only has the world in his heart.
As for the people of Chang'an, they were not interested in who would be the crown prince. They only hoped that Liu Heng could live a long life and be the emperor for a long time.
Liu Heng traveled with a entourage, including Crown Prince Liu Che, as well as Luo Jing, Jia Yi, General Zhou Yafu and other important ministers.
Liu Heng walked out of Chang'an and looked along the avenue at the countless farmlands on the Sanhe Plain, among which countless farmers' figures were looming.
When they stopped to rest, Liu Heng said to Liu Che with a look of nostalgia on his face: "Do you know why I brought you here today?"
Liu Che asked, "Do you want me to experience the sufferings of the people?"
Liu Heng nodded, and said with infinite emotion: "You, my child, are a man who wants to do great things. I know that you have countless great wishes in your heart and want to achieve unprecedented achievements. For an emperor, this is natural. If an emperor has no beliefs, wouldn't he be mediocre?
Decades ago, when I was still young, King Luo Wen carried me on his back and took charge of state affairs. He was my uncle and also my teacher. King Luo Wen often took me to the countryside to watch the farmers work. When I was a little older, he let me go to the fields myself. I was very good at farming. I knew when to apply fertilizer, when to remove insects, and even the weather.
I will always remember what King Luo Wen said to me at that time. In the Han Dynasty, there were tens of millions of farmers. These people grew crops to provide food, built palaces and water conservancy projects when there was corvee labor, and followed the imperial guards to fight in times of war. It was because of these people that the emperor could live in luxurious palaces, wear silk and satin, and sit securely on the throne of the Han emperor.
God has bestowed the throne on the Liu family, but King Su loves every one of his subjects equally. These farmers are also King Su's subjects. If the emperor treats them tyrannically, they will unite to overthrow the emperor. This is the Tang and Wu Revolution!
I am very pleased that you want to accomplish unprecedented great things, but I hope you can do it within your ability. I am not measuring your own ability, but the ability of all the people in the world.
How many great things did the First Emperor accomplish?
But the Qin Dynasty perished. I don’t want you to follow this path. Go out and look at these people more often. Look at these people who regard you as their king and father. I know you will make the right choice. You are born to be an emperor.”
Liu Che nodded as if he understood, not quite. Since he was born, all he had heard was people all over the world praising Liu. From civil and military officials to ordinary people, no one did not praise Liu.
Starting from Empress Gao, the situation in the world became better and better. By the time of King Luo Wen and Liu Heng, the Han Dynasty had been prospering for sixty years, and the people of the world lived better and better.
Such a long period of prosperity had never happened before, and the Liu family's mandate and prestige had long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
…
In Changle Palace.
Liu Heng looked at the taxes for the new year with a look of satisfaction on his face. The ministers were all sitting below him. They were the most powerful people in the entire Han Dynasty.
Prime Minister Jia Yi was giving Liu Heng an annual summary of Emperor Xiaowen's forty years.
"Your Majesty, last year, according to your will, the court implemented a 40% agricultural tax throughout Guanzhong. The people all praised your benevolence. Thanks to the blessing of the King Su and your wisdom, there were no major natural disasters in Guanzhong last year. It was a bumper harvest year. Although the tax rate was reduced, the court's agricultural tax revenue was not affected. In addition, the price of grain collected by the court from the people increased slightly. The people were eager to sell their stored grain. The purchased grain filled the warehouses, and the people had more surplus money. Merchants from all over the world came to Guanzhong, so the commercial tax was also increasing, and the court's finances were thriving."
Liu Heng couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and said to everyone: "Since ancient times, most kings have always extorted money from the people in order to satisfy their own selfish desires.
Whenever I read this, I sighed, what tyrants they are! Could it be that majestic palaces, precious meals, and gorgeous brocades are more important than the food, clothing, and lives of the common people?
So after I ascended the throne, I did not do that. I supported the people with low taxes, and the people naturally worked hard. I declared my grace to the world, and the people naturally became loyal to me. This is what King Luo Wen taught me.
Prince, I will teach you this principle again today, do you understand it?"
Liu Che was sitting below Liu Heng. Hearing this, he quickly said, "Reporting to the Emperor, I know about it."
Although he said this, Liu Che did not particularly agree with it in his heart.
Although he was young, he had been the King of Liang for many years. What he had seen and heard in Liang made him believe that the court's low tax collection was just benefiting the big families.
Because the big families owned more land and more shops, they benefited more from the tax cuts from the court.
In Liu Che's view, this should all be the court's money!
Therefore, instead of reducing taxes, it would be better for the court to collect more taxes and then use these taxes to do big things, such as developing water conservancy projects and other major things that are related to the country and the people.
Moreover, when Liu Che was in Liang State, he felt that the waste of state affairs was really huge. If he did not collect more taxes, he could not even support the officials, not to mention supporting the royal army and various expenses in the royal palace. After all, not every powerful person is as frugal as Liu Heng.
This is completely a difference between two governing philosophies and also a difference between two philosophies of being a human being.
Jia Yi continued to report: "The food and weapons prepared by the general for the expedition are as follows. The cost of pacifying the Southwestern Barbarians is still within the acceptable range of the court. Please tell me the details. I will not go into details here. This is not within my scope of responsibility."
Liu Heng listened to the figures reported by Jia Yi and sighed, "There is really nothing more costly in this world than war. This is probably the truth that 'a country, no matter how big it is, will perish if it loves war.'
If these expenses were invested in Guanzhong, I am afraid that the people would be able to have a full meal. "
Marquis of Jiang Zhou Yafu felt helpless upon hearing this. Born under the current emperor, he really had no chance to achieve anything.
Now I am getting older, but I have no achievements to speak of. Even though I am rich and powerful, I still have to say that it is a very helpless thing.
It would be fine if the emperor did not trust him, but even if others did not say it, the emperor's trust in his great general was beyond doubt, and he had never stopped favoring him over the years.
The only way to receive rewards without any merit is to be loyal to the royal family. When suppressing the rebellion of the Southwestern Yi, Zhou Yafu led the troops personally, went to dangerous places to suppress and pacify the rebellion, and did his best to repay Liu Heng's kindness.
Zhou Yafu was older than Liu Heng. After all, his father was from the time of Emperor Gao. As the highest-ranking military official at the time and the leader of the group of founding heroes, he began to tell Liu Heng the details of the suppression of the rebellion of the Southwestern Yi and where the expenses were mainly used.
Liu Heng listened very seriously. Although he often said that those who love war will eventually perish, he invested a lot of resources in the army.
The three dukes and nine ministers reported on the specific work of their departments one by one, and Luo Jing, as the emperor's secretary, recorded the conversation between the two sides.
After everyone finished speaking, Luo Jing stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Marquis Ying once said that without a magnificent palace, the majesty of the emperor cannot be demonstrated. Since you took power, you have been frugal and set an example. I think that if you don't publicize your wisdom, the world will not know about it.
Whether in terms of virtue or achievements, you have reached the level that an ancient sage king should have reached. The people of the world praise you, but they don't know what to do with you.
Now we should gather all the learned people in the world to write an Ode to the Holy Kings of the Han Dynasty for you, which should list all your achievements one by one.
Then summon painters to paint for the poem, depicting the magnificent scenery under your rule, so that it can be passed on to future generations and even presented to King Su.
I believe that the whole world has received your grace, and that the counties and countries, as well as the Lingnan Kingdom and other foreign vassal states, should present you with poems and essays. I will select the best from among them and present to you the voices of all the subjects of the Han Dynasty."
Liu Heng was delighted at first, then he said with some worry, "Will this be a waste of money and manpower? I act for the benefit of the whole nation. If I were to harm the people just for a little fame, wouldn't I be ridiculous?"
Luo Jing smiled and said, "It's just the cost of some paper and ink. Half of the scholars in the world are in Chang'an. For the rest, just let them present it along with the tribute. It won't be a waste."
Liu Heng was relieved and said happily: "Let's do it this way. This matter will be handled by Dong'e Hou. I trust you."
…
[The Ode to the Great Han Sage King is born, and you have obtained 500 luck points. This is a scene of great prosperity, the prosperity of culture, the prosperity of the world, and the prosperity of all the Chinese. This is your wish, and your family is involved in it. The speed of obtaining luck points has been slightly accelerated. ]
Probably no one in this world knows what a prosperous era this was. The national strength that had been accumulated continuously was so powerful that it might be several times greater than that in real history.
————
"The Reign of Emperor Xiaowen" refers to the peaceful era during the reign of Emperor Wen of Han. It was the first peaceful era after the Chinese civilization moved from the feudal era to the imperial era. It has always been talked about by historians. The author believes that a more accurate name should be "The Reign of Emperor Gaowen", because this peaceful era began with Empress Lü.
Emperor Wen of Han ruled this vast dynasty with his noble character and outstanding talents and benevolently. The dynasty's economy continued to recover, completely emerged from decline and developed in great strides. Decades of stability and prosperity have greatly improved people's living standards and greatly enhanced the material foundation of the entire country.
At the same time, during the "Reign of Emperor Xiaowen", the political environment remained relatively clear, the system of recommendation was constantly improved, and the ruling foundation of the Han Dynasty continued to consolidate, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent prosperity.
"Xiaowen's Reign" is the benchmark of the imperial era and has become the standard for all governance. This is an immortal monument established by Emperor Wen of Han. ——"The Rise and Fall of the Han Dynasty"
(End of this chapter)
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