Chapter 601 The Game (Argument)
The official from the Ministry of Rites, with his handsome beard, spoke with such righteous indignation that he looked every bit the good official who cared for the country and its people.
This official from the Ministry of Rites was a representative figure among the Confucian scholars in the court. The most famous thing about his family was that, knowing that the groom of the family they were to marry was sickly, they still married their daughter off to him in order to keep their word.
Less than a year later, the young man passed away.
In a normal family that cares for its daughter, they would bring her home, wait a year, and then arrange another marriage for her, finding a good family for her to marry into.
Moreover, the fact that this Minister of Rites, Wang, insisted on marrying his daughter to a sickly man had caused quite a stir among the upper-class families.
Some people said, "Even if it's for the sake of keeping one's promise, that young man is sickly. How could he really bear to let his daughter go to live as a widow?"
The engagement can be cancelled, and the other party can be compensated financially or otherwise.
Why would you send your own daughter to suffer for nothing?
"Are we just going to waste the woman's entire life like that?"
The most remarkable thing is that, although Wang Langzhong did bring his daughter back home from the man's house after the man's death, he did not let his daughter remarry. Instead, he built a Buddhist shrine at home and let his daughter become a lay Buddhist.
They actually didn't want their daughter to get married again!
Is this how a human being does things?
Even the Vice Minister or the Minister of Rites would have to shake their heads at what Wang Langzhong had done.
Both men had expressed their opinions in private, believing that what Dr. Wang had done was not something a father should do.
Therefore, when the people in the court saw that Physician Wang had questioned Xu Jingzhen, they looked at each other in bewilderment and remained silent, watching to see how the two would continue their performance.
Empress Wu, seated at the head of the table, watched Xu Jingzhen and Physician Wang with great interest. She wanted to see how Xu Jingzhen would refute Physician Wang's questions.
Xu Jingzhen first bowed to Physician Wang, then stood up and said apologetically, "Physician Wang is absolutely right!"
Judging from the information that Wang Shuzheng presented today, this woman can only give birth to a healthy baby during her first childbirth after her body has fully developed.
Otherwise, even if a baby is born, if you can't raise it, it's still useless.
Furthermore, it has also delayed the woman's own health. Not to mention the harm this has caused to her body, and whether it will affect her ability to give birth to the next child, even though the woman is not as strong as a man to farm, I suppose that Doctor Wang should know that because General Shi has won a great victory in attacking the Western Turks, our Great Tang and the Western Regions will be conducting large-scale trade, and the commercial activities brought about by this trade will require a lot of manpower.
This includes tasks such as feeding cattle and sheep, and processing wool to make sweaters.
Not to mention, the cloth mills, dye houses, and wool mills outside Chang'an City needed countless young women.
Dr. Wang, women are not only responsible for childbirth; they can also create value in other areas.
Just like Wang Langzhong's mother, was her greatest achievement in life simply giving birth to you, Wang Langzhong?
Just like a sage, who, as a woman, not only devoted herself to the Tang Dynasty but also cared for her children; she was both an emperor and a mother. Could such remarkable qualities be related to the fact that she was a woman?
The hall was completely silent at this moment. Who would have thought that Xu Jingzhen was so incredibly audacious!
How dare they bring up Emperor Wu in conversation?
Xu Jingzhen had already dragged Emperor Wu into this mess, so how could Physician Wang dare to say a word?
Xu Jingzhen seemed oblivious to the fact that he had overstepped his bounds by talking about Emperor Wu. He continued speaking to Physician Wang: "We are all subjects of the sage, so why must we distinguish between men and women?"
As long as one can serve the Tang Dynasty and considers oneself a Tang person, regardless of gender, height, weight, or whether one is from the Central Plains, the Western Regions, or the South, one is a Tang person!
Those are all the people of the sage!
With such subjects, how can my Great Tang not prosper?
As Wang Shuzheng said, "What's wrong with even if all nations came to pay tribute, let alone all nations?"
"Ha ha ha ha."
The laughter emanating from the head of the hall brought an abrupt and eerie atmosphere to the otherwise silent and unresponsive hall.
At this moment, Doctor Wang was so nervous that his lips were trembling and sweat was pouring down his forehead.
"Alright, Minister Xu, stop scaring Physician Wang. Look, he can't even speak."
Physician Wang knelt down before Emperor Wu with a thud, bowing deeply and saying, "Your subject, your subject..."
"Yes, the Martial Emperor was a woman, a woman who had married into the Li family!"
What Doctor Wang just said really shows a complete disregard for women; his words implied that women are subservient to men, and everything must be done in accordance with men's interests.
The other courtiers in the main hall each had their own thoughts. They exchanged glances carefully, but all kept their heads down, afraid to look up at Emperor Wu and be questioned by him.
"Xu Aiqing, tell me, based on what Doctor Wang said, do you think we should raise the marriage age for young women?"
"The sage is wise and discerning!"
I believe it can be viewed on a case-by-case basis.
If a family has some wealth and can afford to pay the individual single tax, they can keep their daughter at home for two more years until she is fully grown before letting her get married.
If a family is poor and has no means, then this will not be the case; they will simply follow the old customs.
In this way, by proceeding step by step, when the strength of our Great Tang Dynasty rises to another level, we will surely be able to protect more women and give birth to more healthy babies, laying the foundation for the arrival of countless nations to pay tribute to our Great Tang Dynasty!
"At that time, our Great Tang Dynasty will surely be an even more prosperous and flourishing land!"
Empress Wu smiled. She had seen through Xu Jingzhen's strategy. Xu Jingzhen deliberately provoked the opposition first, then used Empress Wu's status as a woman to pressure them, and finally compromised by asking to act separately, rather than completely adhering to the demand to directly raise the marriage age of women.
It's important to know that daughters from wealthy families typically marry later than those from ordinary families, as rich families often keep their daughters at home.
Xu Jingzhen's words were essentially bringing what was done in secret into the open, allowing those with some wealth in the common people to openly keep their daughters.
Xu Jingzhen also said that if a woman is to be kept, a single tax must be paid, which would add some money to the national treasury.
Those who pay money are not short of money, and those who are short of money will not pay money to keep their daughters. They will still follow the old custom of marriage promulgated during the reign of Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi), which stipulates that men should marry at the age of 20 and women at the age of 15.
So, it's no wonder Emperor Wu gave Xu Jingzhen power; what smart person wouldn't love that?
"Alright, then let's do as Minister Xu says."
Minister Yao, having been implicated, consulted with Minister Xu and decided to add these two points to the memorial as soon as possible and send it to all prefectures and counties so that all the people of our Great Tang Dynasty would be aware of it.
"Yes, sage."
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