Chapter 481 Strategies for Enriching the People and Integrity-Maintaining Allowances!
Shen Lanxi raised her hand in a gesture of support: "Grand Tutor, please rise. I was just being polite. I still have something to say." She raised her hand.
Wang Bao submitted another memorial.
"These are the complaint documents that the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice have received in the past two years. They are all complaints against corrupt officials who prey on the people. If they were rewards before, they will be punishments this time."
“Sun Zhang, the chief clerk of the Dali Temple, condoned his brother-in-law’s harassment of a woman and murder and bury her body. In order to cover up his crimes, he did not hesitate to hire someone to kill ten members of the woman’s family. Afterwards, he pretended to commit robbery and murder and hastily closed the case.”
"Zhang Changshu, a clerk in the Ministry of Justice, used his position to forge documents and find a death row inmate to take his place. He was discovered and, after being caught, killed him to cover it up..."
"Lin Fan of the Ministry of Rites forged documents and abused his power for personal gain..."
"Li Zhong of the Ministry of War embezzled rations and paid salaries, and used inferior goods as substitutes..."
"Xia Jian'an, Minister of Revenue, is embezzling..."
Just right, after reading out all twenty names, Shen Lanxi tossed the memorial aside.
“These corrupt officials committed countless atrocities during their reign, and their crimes are too numerous to recount. Even a hundred deaths would not appease public anger. Your Majesty is heartbroken, the court officials are heartbroken, and I am heartbroken as well!”
Officials: "..."
"These corrupt officials will be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice for investigation. The ringleaders who are guilty of heinous crimes will be executed and their crimes will be displayed to the public. If the victims have relatives, they can be contacted to watch the execution together, so that they can vent their anger and the people can also vent their anger."
Some officials were secretly wiping away sweat.
Shen Lanxi: "Those who have made merits will be rewarded by the court, and those who have committed offenses will be punished by the court. Your salaries are all made from the blood and sweat of the people. I know that in the beginning, you may have only taken risks because you needed to support your families and bribe your superiors, which led you to gradually become corrupted."
"After years of studying hard, who doesn't want to stand out from the crowd, bring honor to their ancestors, give back to their family, and repay their hometown? I was wealthy in my youth, but my whole family was exiled afterward. I have experienced the hardships of ordinary people and can put myself in your shoes. After much consideration, I have decided to set up a reward mechanism."
The officials standing at the very back quietly raised their heads.
Shen Lanxi: "Upright and honest officials will be selected from the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers to serve as supervisors. Officials from poor families can exchange their achievements for silver. A very few poor individuals can also apply for an advance on their salary. If someone is exceptionally talented, they can also exchange their advice for silver. The amount of silver will be determined based on the amount of their contribution."
"For example, someone skilled at solving cases will be paid a certain amount of money depending on the severity of the case."
"For example, they can improve farm tools, improve farming methods, and manage water..."
"Even those without a special skill can teach at the academy and be paid according to the number of hours they teach."
The officials listened intently, completely absorbed.
Shen Lanxi changed the subject: "If, under these circumstances, one still chooses to embezzle, then that person truly deserves to die!"
The officials were alarmed.
Shen Lanxi continued, "The Great Zhou Dynasty has not explicitly prohibited officials' families from engaging in commerce. Today, I will give you a clear answer: officials' families are allowed to engage in commerce, but officials are not allowed to help their families engage in unfair competition."
"Furthermore, the taxes levied on family members of officials who engage in business will be higher than those levied on ordinary merchants. The starting point for taxation will be determined later with specific plans."
"Regarding itinerant merchants, I would like to offer you a few ideas. Merchants who set up workshops provide jobs for the people and help them make a living, which is also a contribution to the Great Zhou. The court will issue special regulations, and the more jobs a workshop provides, the more tax reductions the Ministry of Revenue can provide. The Ministry of Revenue will discuss and formulate specific regulations for me later."
Shen Lanxi concluded solemnly, "Only by making the people prosperous can our Great Zhou Dynasty flourish. After you return, think carefully about what I have said."
When the court session ended, Shen Lanxi kept the people from the Ministry of Works behind.
The officials were so confused that they even forgot to voice their opposition to Shen Lanxi's reforms.
The novel ideas she proposed alone were enough to keep them trying to understand for days.
Afterwards, dissenting memorials flooded onto Shen Lanxi's desk like snowflakes.
With a wave of her sleeve, Shen Lanxi led Cheng Zheng and the students of Qinglan Academy into the small inner chamber.
The massive amount of memorials were processed swiftly and without a sound.
Shen Lanxi would always show a satisfied smile whenever she passed by.
Two more months passed in the blink of an eye, and the resistance that Zhou Ruyuan had anticipated not only failed to materialize, but the streets of the capital became increasingly lively.
Boys and girls went to the academy in groups, merchants and vendors operated in an orderly manner, guards from the capital passed through the streets from time to time, and girls of school age walked to the girls' academy in groups of three or five. There was no beggar to be seen on the streets anymore.
Zhou Ruyuan didn't notice anything while walking down the street; it was only when Jiang Wuyai reminded him that he became anxious.
“Your Highness, if this continues, the entire capital will only know Shen Lanxi, and no one will know Your Highness anymore!” Jiang Wuyai’s lips were dry from speaking.
Zhou Ruyuan began to regret it again. He should have listened to Mr. Jiang and taken over the forces left behind by the Eighth Prince instead of returning to the capital when he quelled the rebellion.
It's now difficult to find a suitable reason to leave the capital.
These past few days, the court sessions have been filled with discussions on strategies to enrich the people and allowances for officials to maintain integrity. He hasn't been able to get involved at all, and it seems he's about to become a leisurely prince.
"Tomorrow, I will be going to the palace to see my mother, and I will also be going to see my father. Have you found any news about the person I asked you to investigate?"
The surname Ban is very rare. He searched for half a year but found nothing. Ban Sicao was elusive; every time he sent someone out, they would be outmaneuvered.
"Your Highness, that Ban Sicao is not important at all. The most important thing now is to secretly build up an army." Jiang Wuyai was already exhausted and didn't want to say anything more.
I really don't understand how His Majesty could go against his conscience to bestow the title of God of War upon him. How could he not even understand the principle that whoever holds the military power can determine victory or defeat?
Zhou Ruyuan understood this principle, but he couldn't openly recruit soldiers. Each prince could only keep a limited number of private soldiers, and now countless eyes were watching him. He absolutely couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
"I have decided to contact the Southwest Army."
Jiang Wuyai's eyes lit up; the prince had finally made a wise choice.
"Your Highness, as long as we have troops, we can accomplish great things!"
The next day, Zhou Ruyuan brought gifts to the palace to see Consort Shu.
"Mother, are you feeling any better these days?" Zhou Ruyuan asked with concern.
Having vented her anger, scolded, and even hit, Consort Shu has regained her composure in the past two days.
"My son, your father can't help you at all now!"
Although Zhou Rulin, that bastard, died silently, it still couldn't quell the hatred in Consort Shu's heart.
Zhou Ruyuan said with a wry smile, "Even if Father Emperor were to be well, I would not be the person he has in mind!"
Consort Shu said coldly, "Shen Lanxi is now in control of the court. If we want to break this deadlock, we must start by targeting those around her!"
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