Chapter 105: Cleverly Designating a Name
The emperor's majesty was overwhelming, and Zhao Yue's heart was beating wildly with nervousness. She stuttered a little, "That's how it's sung in operas and plays."
Xiao Jingfan pressed on, "What play?"
Zhao Yue told several plays in succession, all of which were popular among the people, in which wronged people were vindicated and corrupt officials suffered the consequences of their actions.
According to Zhao Yue's narration, these plays all have a scene of going to the capital to file a complaint to the emperor. After the drum of reporting is beaten, the person who beats the drum will be punished.
There were nail boards, long sticks, long whips with barbs, clamps... The punishments were varied, and they mainly highlighted the misery of the person beating the drum, which was terrifying to watch.
In two of the plays, the person beating the drum could not withstand the punishment and died. Then his relatives and friends took over beating the drum and were punished as well, like a relay race.
There are many similar plays. Over time, people like Zhao Yue who watched and listened to the plays came to feel that in order to file a complaint with the emperor, they had to endure torture and lose half of their life before they could see the emperor and state their grievances.
After hearing what Zhao Yue said, Xiao Jingfan's face had become completely gloomy, and it seemed like a storm was about to come.
He asked in a deep voice, "Have you never heard the government announce that there will be no punishment for beating the drum to report the incident?"
Everyone thought Zhao Yue would shake her head, but she unexpectedly nodded and said, "I have heard it. The official read the notice and asked the villagers to go and listen."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingfan frowned, and a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes: "Then why did you ask about punishment just now?"
Now that you've heard of it, you should know that there's no punishment for filing a complaint with the emperor.
[Of course I don’t believe it.]
“No one believes it.”
Chu Liuzheng's inner voice and Zhao Yue's answer sounded almost at the same time.
Xiao Jingfan was stunned, trying not to look at Chu Liuzheng, and asked, "Why don't you believe it?"
[Why else? Loss of credibility.]
Loss of credibility? What does that mean?
Xiao Jingfan didn't understand.
He looked at Zhao Yue, hoping that Zhao Yue could give him an understandable answer.
After a few Q&A sessions, Zhao Yue discovered that the handsome emperor in front of her was not as scary as she had imagined. She became bolder and answered more fluently.
"Because a relative of an official said that everything written on the notice was a lie, just to trick everyone into beating the drum. Anyone who beat the drum would be arrested by the guards, and not only would they be punished but also exiled as a slave, doing the hardest, most tiring, and dirtiest work, and would never be able to return home until they died."
This is also the reason why she did not go to beat the drum to file a complaint, but instead begged the Princess of Western Xia to take her into the palace and then took the opportunity to file a complaint to the emperor.
She was not afraid of punishment or exile as a slave, but she was afraid that even if she gave her life, she would still not be able to redress her parents' grievances. She was afraid that her parents would not be able to close their eyes in the underworld.
Xiao Jingfan: "..."
Who would say such outrageous words and where does this put the laws of Dasheng?
The doubts in his heart not only remained unanswered but deepened, and he even felt that it was a bit absurd: "Why do you not believe the official documents stamped with the imperial seal, but believe the nonsense of an official's relative?"
He really didn't understand.
Are the words of him, the emperor, less convincing than those of some official relative?
[Tsk tsk, it's not surprising that a tyrant would ask such a question; after all, he's never been among the masses. He can play tricks on the civil and military officials, but he takes the people's reactions for granted. The emperor's status as supreme ruler is indeed prestigious, but such a title only instills fear in the people, making it difficult for them to trust him.]
[However, this isn't the fault of just one tyrant emperor. Signs of this had been present since the founding emperor's reign, and subsequent emperors had let it go. Only Emperor Ren De managed to bring some relief to his son, but only slightly.]
Xiao Jingfan's eyes darkened. He wanted to hear what this woman would say next.
Chu Liuzheng was gossiping and complaining in his heart.
[Not to mention the previous emperors. Although Emperor Rende implemented benevolent policies, reduced taxes, and enacted many policies that benefited the people, he didn't endear him to the people. Of course, it wasn't that the people were ungrateful, but rather that the officials under him pretended to obey his orders, inventing tricks to reduce taxes. While the policies reduced taxes, the burden on the people actually became heavier.]
Take the issue of grain taxation, for example. Emperor Rende, concerned for the people, ordered a halving of the tax during years of disaster, fearing that the people would struggle to make ends meet. However, while the policy was in place, the officials truly responsible acted in secret, secretly disobeying it.
Those with a bit of conscience might reduce it by a factor of 10 or 20; those with a ruthless heart would still collect the full amount, or even collect more. But regardless of which one, the report to the higher authorities is that the grain tax collection was reduced by half. So how do you balance the accounts? Simple: create more items.
Chu Liuzheng looked at the long and messy list of charges listed in the gossip and read through them one by one.
After collecting the money and grain, we need something to store it in, right? We need a warehouse, right? Wouldn't that cost a few hundred million to buy boxes, bamboo baskets, and sacks? Wouldn't that also cost a few hundred million in warehouse management fees?
After collecting the money and food, we still need to transport it. We need to charge a few billion for transportation and food and lodging for the crew, right? Before setting off, we need to burn incense and pray for a safe journey. We need to charge a few billion for incense, candles, and paper, right? If someone gets a headache or fever along the way, we need to prepay a few billion for medical expenses, right?
Wearing out boots costs money, wearing out clothes costs money, replacing saddles and shoeing them costs money, oiling axles and boats costs money, and… that's so funny! Even the transport crews have to pay for shaving! Why don't you mention that even using the restroom and using toilet paper costs money? This is outrageous! Even a stingy person who walks past these people will be stripped of every penny left!
Chu Liuzheng finally opened his eyes.
[The emperor's purse remained the same despite the billions here and there, while officials along the way became filthy rich and the common people suffered terribly.]
The imperial court shouted slogans about reducing taxes and benefiting the people, but the people's lives became increasingly difficult. The emperor, high above them, turned a blind eye to this. In the long run, who would still believe the imperial court's decrees? Who would still believe that the emperor stood on the side of the people? Isn't this how public credibility is gradually eroded?
Xiao Jingfan finally understood what "credibility" meant, but he was not happy at all.
My heart sank little by little, but the overwhelming anger kept rising up, as if it was going to burn the string of rationality.
Cold murderous intent brewed in his eyes, his angular jaw was tense, and even his breathing became heavier than usual.
Zhou Yuande, who was serving on the side, shuddered for no reason, his eyelids twitched, and he felt very panicked.
The last time he felt so panicked was when the late emperor passed away suddenly. His master, holding a bloody knife, walked step by step into the silent Yangxin Palace under the horrified gazes of everyone.
He subconsciously raised his eyes to look at the young emperor sitting on the right front side, and even his eyes seemed cautious.
The emperor's lips were tightly pursed, and his handsome, almost evil face had no expression at all. He looked the same as usual.
Zhou Yuande's heart skipped a beat as his eyelids did, as if a calm drumhead was suddenly struck hard by a drumstick, exploding in his mind with a "bang".
——I’m afraid this day is going to change.
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