Chapter 566 A Dream of Youth 98
Burning agarwood can dispel the summer heat.
Xie Ning and Yan Xi lay on a small couch reading together, with ice basins on either side. In front of the couch was a bronze incense burner, its faint fragrance dispelling the intense heat.
Yan Xi glanced at the palace maids in the distance, then pulled Xie Ning's hand and complained, "Ning, I hid behind the screen in Father Emperor's palace yesterday, and he was arguing with those old men again. No wonder Mother always has Eunuch Ding put a cup of cooling tea on Father Emperor's table."
He couldn't help but laugh as he spoke.
Now that Yanxi is a bit older, she no longer calls him "father" and "mother"; she only does so when she's being affectionate.
Xie Ning turned to the next page and asked, "What were they arguing about yesterday?"
"What else? Father Emperor is promoting new laws, isn't he? He's always arguing about this. And then there's that thing about changing officials. Some officials in the court feel it's unfair, thinking that it's too difficult to switch from military to civil officials, far less easy than switching from civil to military."
Especially my third cousin, he's a blockhead, he just can't concentrate on his studies.
However, switching from military to academic studies requires taking an exam.
Another new law. Xie Ning sighed silently to herself. Recently, due to the strict enforcement on the streets, she had carefully reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of the new law.
Although the original intention of the new law was good, the imperial court wanted to alleviate the pressure on the lower classes, curb land annexation, increase national treasury revenue, and achieve national prosperity and military strength through reforms in the economy, military and other aspects.
But she also noticed that there were quite a few drawbacks. "Yanxi, do you think the new law is good or bad?"
Yan Xi was a very intelligent child, especially since she was favored by the emperor. She could sneak into the main hall for court sessions without being scolded, not to mention that she often slept in the emperor's study where he held court.
Having been exposed to the new law from a young age, she has gained some understanding of it and has even been able to draw her own conclusions from it.
"I think it's great."
Spring is the season of rejuvenation, but it is also the season when farmers cannot afford to eat, because their wheat harvest has only been over for a short time, and many people do not have enough stored grain to eat. This is the period of food shortage.
At this time, wealthy locals would lend money at exorbitant interest rates. Do you know what loan sharking is?
“I know. I often go to my mother’s farm. Some of the weavers have mentioned this. When food is scarce, they borrow grain from wealthy households and often have to pay it back several times the amount.”
"right!"
Yan Xi turned around to face Xie Ning. She thought Xie Ning was very smart, and she liked chatting with smart children.
"My father implemented the Green Sprouts Act so that farmers wouldn't have to bear such high interest rates, could successfully survive the spring famine, and would no longer be able to exploit the poor who couldn't afford to eat."
In this way, both the people and the court will benefit. Although the interest rate is low, it still provides some income. My father worries daily about the military expenses in the north and the salaries of the officials. With this interest rate, the burden will be eased to some extent.
Xie Ning blinked and smiled, "I heard from my father that the interest earned through this method is included in the performance evaluation criteria for local officials, is that right?"
"Yeah, ouch—" Yan Xi couldn't resist eating a frozen plum, and her teeth ached.
"Because I'm afraid that local officials won't enforce the law properly, my father said that some officials might collude with local wealthy households and gentry to lend money at exorbitant interest rates."
"But..." Xie Ning asked, feigning doubt, "If I were an official, and the farmer had enough grain and didn't need to borrow, would I force him to borrow in order to meet performance targets?"
If something becomes tainted by utilitarian motives, it is easy to go against the original intention.
Princess Yanxi was stunned; she hadn't thought of that yet. "It shouldn't be... right?"
Her tone was hesitant because Yan Xi knew very well that there were all kinds of people in this world, and what Xie Ning said was quite possible.
Xie Ning continued, "The assessment must ensure that the interest rate meets the standard, or even exceeds the standard. Yan Xi, you just said that officials and local gentry will join forces to lend money. What if I lend the government's seedlings to the gentry?"
Because lending to the poor yields too little interest.
When officials lend money to wealthy gentry, the common people have no choice but to borrow from the wealthy gentry. In this way, officials not only fulfill the court's assessment requirements but also receive a portion of the "interest" offered by the wealthy gentry.
The wealthy and powerful obtained the Green Sprouts Fund and used it to lend to the lower classes. They could reap considerable profits without having to spend their own money. The Green Sprouts Law, which was originally intended to suppress them, was successfully transformed into a policy that benefited them by exploiting the farmers.
Only the people at the bottom of society suffer.
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