Zhao Xin naturally noticed the subtle changes in the two people's expressions, but he didn't care.
He continued, "Qingyu, Yuyan, think about it, the Great Qin has a vast territory and abundant resources, but why does the imperial court have no money or food at all?
This was certainly due to Cui Cen's previous incompetence in governing the country and the excessive number of officials and staff.
But the fundamental reason is that the world's population, land, and even industry and commerce are controlled by aristocratic families and powerful people.
However, these powerful families colluded with local officials. Some of these local officials were actually descendants of their own clans. No, they were nominated by them and were their benefactors.
Who would then be able to collect taxes from them?
Since the taxes could not be collected, they had no choice but to pass them on to ordinary people.
As a result, a family with only 50 mu of land had to pay taxes on 500 mu.
If they couldn't pay it back, they would have no choice but to hand the land over to the wealthy and powerful families.
So the people became serfs and the land was lost.
Over time, the number of people in the world became fewer and fewer, while the number of slaves increased. The government reclaimed wasteland every year, but the amount of farmland decreased day by day, and the tax revenue also decreased day by day.
If this continues for a long time, where will the imperial court have money?"
When Su Qingyu and Lin Yuyan heard this, they felt a buzzing in their heads.
There were also waves of fear in my heart.
They have never thought about these issues carefully in the past.
Even though they saw that the government was deteriorating, they only felt that it was due to treacherous ministers or corrupt and incompetent officials.
I always feel that as long as Your Majesty is wise and employs more gentlemen of moral character and is less close to villains and treacherous ministers, then the Qin Dynasty will naturally prosper in the future.
After all, that's what they've been taught.
But when they heard the emperor's words, they suddenly realized that things were not as simple as they had imagined.
It seems that the world can never be changed by talking about whether it is a foolish ruler, a wise ruler, a treacherous minister or a loyal minister.
"Then can't they be severely punished?"
Lin Yuyan couldn't help but ask.
Zhao Xin shook his head and said, "No."
"for……"
Lin Yuyan subconsciously wanted to ask, why not?
But then he thought of what Zhao Xin had said before, that officials in this world are either from aristocratic families or recommended by aristocratic families.
So, asking these officials to severely punish those powerful families is equivalent to asking them to severely punish themselves, isn't it?
"That……"
The two wanted to speak, but suddenly they didn't know how to say it.
Zhao Xin couldn't help but sneer, "What's even worse is that they exploit the people in the name of the imperial court and me.
The common people did not know that the reason they had to pay so much taxes and perform such heavy labor service was actually because those aristocratic families passed the burden on to them.
They will only think that I am a tyrant who is extravagant and greedy, or who is fond of showing off.
I am the one who is exploiting them!
Therefore, as I sit in this position, I must do nothing. If I do anything, I will be blamed for everything.
If you don't do it, you're just waiting to die.
Because the powerful families not only control land, resources, and officials, but also control the right to speak."
"If they only controlled the land and resources, it would be easy to deal with. As long as I still have the army, I can just kill them all and then distribute the land and resources to the people.
But because they still hold the power of speech, if I want to get rid of them, the first enemy I will face is not the powerful families, but the people who have been fooled by them.
How ridiculous..."
Zhao Xin sneered, but there was no smile on his face.
"In that case, then... then doesn't that mean we can't do anything to them?"
Su Qingyu couldn't help but turn pale.
Lin Yuyan also frowned.
"Of course not."
Zhao Xin smiled faintly and said, "If there really is no other way, why would I tell you all this?
I say this because there is a way."
As he spoke, he pointed to the books on the table and said, "The solution lies within."
Then he smiled mysteriously and said, "I know that during the past two days since I returned to the capital, I knew that the drought in the capital was severe, but I did not order the court officials to provide disaster relief.
Are you copying and compiling these manuscripts here instead?"
Hearing him ask this, both of them couldn't help but shake their heads.
In fact, both of them had these questions in their minds, and they also knew that the ministers outside were waiting to be summoned by Zhao Xin.
I didn't ask any questions because the harem shouldn't interfere in government affairs.
But after hearing what Zhao Xin said, the two of them had already understood something.
But it's still a little vague.
However, they understood one thing, that is, Zhao Xin planned to use these manuscripts to break the deadlock, but how to use these manuscripts to break the deadlock?
“Don’t underestimate these manuscripts.”
Zhao Xin smiled slightly and pointed to the loose pages that contained the Tiangong Kaiwu transcripts. "I've already explained the uses of these craftsmanship skills to you before, so there's no need to elaborate.
The two textbooks I just gave you and this one are the weapons I use to compete with them for the right to speak.
Since the current officials are all their people, I must cultivate talents who are of the same mind as me.
So Yuyan, you not only have to teach those children well, but also have to teach more children like them in the future.
They don't need to have a high level of education, as long as they can read and do accounting. Of course, if there are talented people among them, that's another matter.
Although these have no immediate effect, they will be very useful in the future.”
When Lin Yuyan heard this, she suddenly felt a heavy burden on her shoulders, and she felt uneasy but happy at the same time.
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