"Your Majesty, you can't do that!"
The Minister of Revenue, Ying Wuyong, who was wearing a red silk robe and a jade belt around his waist, stepped out resolutely and spoke generously.
He didn't dare to offend the vassal king.
He can't afford to offend the Xie family.
But this topic is different.
First of all, it is closely related to the Ministry of Revenue that he is in charge of. No matter what happens, he is the first person responsible and bears an unshirkable responsibility.
Secondly, the treasury was already so empty it could be used to run horses, so where would he get this "year-end bonus"? You, the emperor, can just open your mouth, but someone like him has to run around...
Thirdly, whether he succeeds or not in dissuading such a ridiculous thing, he will be recorded in history books in the future.
Fourthly, the empress obviously wants to use money to reduce the military power of the princes. If a prince takes control of Jingzhou in the future, he can dissuade him from doing so, which can also be considered an achievement.
He worked in the court for more than 30 years and gradually worked his way up to the position of Minister of Revenue.
This kind of thing that kills two birds with one stone and achieves four goals at once should not be missed.
therefore.
He swept away his previous dejection and fear, took the lead, and immediately stood up and spoke passionately:
"The country has just experienced a major disaster, and people's livelihood is in dire straits. It is time to rest and recuperate with the people."
"Disaster relief, reconstruction, accommodating refugees, and reclaiming wasteland all require money."
"The combined annual revenue of all the prefectures and counties in the Great Zhou is only a thousand dan."
"Your Majesty has allocated a full one million koku to reward the feudal lords, but the Ministry of Revenue doesn't have the money!"
Ying Wuyong held his head high, ready to face Yan Jiaoran's wrath.
She could only curse him verbally, but she couldn't possibly kill him.
Just impotent rage.
But to his surprise, Yan Jiaoran's expression was very calm, and she was not angry at Yin Wen's frank advice!
And he was suppressing his anger in his chest, hiding his murderous intent, and forcing himself to be calm.
"Shangshu Ying is loyal to the country and is awarded a Qilin robe."
Yan Jiaoran smiled.
Ying Wuyong was the first to step on the landmine, and many civil officials saw that the empress was not angry.
Don't be a fool for free reputation!
So they all submitted their petitions.
"Your Majesty, the laws of our ancestors cannot be abolished!"
"Your Majesty, the treasury is empty and we simply cannot afford to pay so much money."
"Your Majesty, those who robbed and killed imperial officials in broad daylight were rebels plotting treason, not the princes. Why are you stripping them of their military power?"
"His Majesty……"
Faced with such overwhelming public opinion.
Yan Jiaoran didn't get angry at all. Instead, she listened to them patiently and waved her hand, signaling them to go back.
He slowly said, "I understand Minister Ying's concerns, but this matter requires us to change Taizu's old system."
"As for why, you might as well take a look."
Afterwards, Murong Yanran brought some palace maids and laid a large chessboard-shaped carpet on the open space in the hall.
Then, the palace maids in graceful robes came with boxes of chess pieces and placed them in an orderly manner on the carpet.
When a chess piece was placed on the first square, the ministers did not take it seriously.
When two chess pieces were placed on the second square, the ministers were confused.
As more and more chess pieces were placed, although the ministers saw the pattern, their faces were full of confusion.
What is the Empress doing?
Set up the chess game for them to see?
You can't be idle!
As time went on, some smart people had a flash of inspiration and seemed to grasp something.
The ministers immediately began to whisper to each other.
"I think this seems to be talking about the problem of the vassal kings..."
"What do you mean, Lord Left Prime Minister? Aren't these just chess pieces?"
"It's quite interesting. It turns out that after several generations, so many offspring were produced!" Right Prime Minister Yang Yingguang already understood.
So this is what Yan Jiaoran meant. No wonder she insisted on changing it.
"Right Prime Minister, what does this mean? Please tell me!"
The official beside him asked urgently.
The ministers all spoke at the same time.
Those who understood it suddenly became enlightened.
Those who didn't understand were scratching their heads and trying their best to figure out what was going on.
Yan Jiaoran nodded slightly.
Murong Yanran immediately explained it to the ministers.
“…”
"If we don't change the old system of Taizu!"
"The royal family of the Great Zhou will multiply to millions by the ninth generation. By then, the money the country will have to spend to support them will be much more than just one million dan."
The ministers were silent and shocked!
The feudal lords were even more worried about the possibility that their descendants would end up without food or clothing and sleeping on the streets because the country's finances could not support them and they themselves would not be able to make a living.
Yan Jiaoran looked at these shocked ministers with satisfaction.
Thinking back, she was also shocked by Qin Yuan.
Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west, now it’s your turn.
Otherwise, I can't be the only one who is embarrassed and ignorant, right?
As the saying goes, when one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer.
Besides, it’s all your fault, a bunch of rubbish!
That's why I can't even raise my head in front of that bastard...
Thinking about it.
Yan Jiaoran's gaze slowly moved to the Minister of Revenue Ying Wuyong.
Ying Wuyong shuddered suddenly. Why did he feel that the empress seemed to be waiting for him to... object?
Ying Wuyong said stubbornly, "Your Majesty has his reasons, but this will happen a hundred years after the Great Zhou Dynasty. The national treasury cannot afford this money now."
"It would be better to leave an imperial edict so that future generations can reform the law when the country is prosperous and the people are strong."
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