Chapter 339: A Rich Country and a Strong People

The Regent Zhao Defang looked at the anxious Lu Mingda and stopped Feng Xiaochun who wanted to confront him with facts.

"I will explain to you why the agricultural tax was reduced by 20%, but the tax revenue increased. The ownership of land of more than 500 mu was taken over by the state and distributed to the people for cultivation, which reduced the tax by 20%, but the number of acres of land that could receive tax increased many times.

You can avoid paying taxes if you pass the exam to take over the land of others. In addition to the land of the owner, he will not only desperately buy more land, but you all know how many people have registered their land under his name.

The aristocratic families and the wealthy The powerful and wealthy landlords have occupied a large amount of land, and you know how much they have to pay in taxes.

Now, after the implementation of the new policy reform, the people are living better than before, and everyone can eat their fill, but the country's agricultural taxes have increased. Lord Lu, do you think this new policy is good? "

Lu Mingda was choked and his face turned red and his neck became thick. He couldn't speak because his throat was choked. He wanted to roar: The people's lives are better, and the country's agricultural taxes have increased, but our lives are not easy! He held it back and didn't dare to say it out loud.

The Regent's face turned cold, and he asked, "Lord Lu, do you think this new policy is good?"

[Regent, you are going too far. Why do you have to force me to admit that the new policy is good? 】

Lu Mingda had a hard time speaking out his pain, and dared not vent his anger, so he pinched his nose and cried and squeezed out a sentence, "The new policy is not

bad." The little emperor Zhao Wuji almost laughed out loud, and followed his uncle to ask, "My dear ministers, do you think the new policy is good?" "

The new policy is good!..." "The new policy... is good."

The answers were excited and joyful, and there were perfunctory voices of pinching noses and suppressing anger.

Looking at those officials who were frustrated and angry, but were forced to shout out the new policy, "Hahahaha..." The little emperor laughed out loud, it was fun!

The proud little emperor waved his hand and said, "My dear Feng, please continue reading!"

Feng Xiaochun's voice became even louder and louder, "The commercial tax has increased three times, and the total commercial tax collected is 101,368 guan!"

The ministers gasped! A total of more than 100 million taels of silver, how could it be so much?

Then, there was a burst of wild joy! This is the symbol of a strong country!

Prime Minister Xue Juzheng was one of the few ministers who knew the details of this year's tax revenue. At this moment, he still couldn't hold back his tears and knelt on the ground, shouting: "The country is rich and the people are strong, the Song Dynasty is lucky, His Royal Highness the Regent is wise, and the Emperor is wise! Long live the emperor!"

"The country is rich and the people are strong, the Song Dynasty is lucky! Long live the emperor!..." All the ministers knelt down in a rush, excited and crying with tears in

their eyes, shouting long live the emperor! The officials who were unhappy because their interests were damaged also knelt down and shouted "The country is rich and the people are strong, long live the emperor!

" "Hahahaha..." The little emperor Zhao Wuji, who rarely showed his joy in front of the court officials, couldn't help laughing for the second time today. It was so refreshing! So refreshing!

Regent Zhao Defang also smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, although he was full of confidence and determined to push the new policy reform, he didn't know the final effect. Would the tax revenue not be as good as expected and the finances fall into trouble?

Now, the effect of the new policy reform is much better than expected. In two years, the Song Dynasty will be rich and strong!

Regent Prince Zhao Defang said in a loud voice, "The implementation of the new policy reform must be completed before the end of the year. The treasury is abundant and the people are rich. If there is no strong army to defend and protect the victory, the rich Song Dynasty will be nothing more than a piece of tempting fat meat in the eyes of the enemy.

This king still advocates the elite army system and implements the plan to strengthen the army. The main combat forces of the Song Dynasty will implement the high military pay elite army system. However, the people of the Song Dynasty The conscription obligation still needs to be fulfilled. The local security forces in various places are mainly responsible for the volunteer soldiers. The elite soldiers guarding the borders and the main combat forces are selected from these volunteer soldiers every three months and become soldiers after intensive training. "

The civil and military officials whispered again. The military generals were very excited. His Royal Highness the Regent's plan to strengthen the army was to prepare for the expansion of territory after recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun!

After the new emperor ascended the throne and His Royal Highness the Regent took over the government, the trend of suppressing military power and promoting culture in the Song Dynasty was completely curbed. Military generals were no longer inferior to civil officials. No civil official dared to criticize the military generals who led the troops to fight, or to ride on their necks and shit.

The morale of the Song army was high, and the fighting power was bursting. The military generals, who had no worries, were eager to go out and make achievements.

Where there are happy, there are angry and worried. The two previous emperors, Taizu and Taizong, adopted the good policy of suppressing military power and promoting culture. The will to rule the world together with the literati still existed. After the new emperor ascended the throne, the authoritarian and domineering regent Zhao Defang turned it over.

Seeing those military generals excitedly discussing the plan to strengthen the army, the civil officials missed the good old days.

A fifth-rank civil official could point at a first-rank military officer and scold him. A civil official supervisor could hold the imperial sword and make the commander

of an army obey his orders unconditionally and execute the battle orders transmitted from the imperial palace. Even if a war breaks out, the commander-in-chief has no right to mobilize troops without the tiger talisman issued by the emperor. This is the best way to prevent the military officers from rebelling and treason and ensure the long-term stability of the Song Dynasty!

Although the civil officials who are well-read in poetry and Jinshi look down on those rough soldiers, they understand better than anyone that whoever controls the army controls the highest power.

When it comes to governing a country, one must rely on a group of talented and capable civil servants. But if one does not have the highest power in hand, how can one prevent the possibility of military commanders using their own troops to gain power, and how can one govern the country with peace of mind?

Listening to the dissatisfied discussions of his colleagues, but no one dared to speak out in opposition, Lu Mingda stiffened his neck and stood up again.

"Your Majesty, your plan to strengthen the army has been implemented for a long time. Although the tax revenue has increased a lot this year and the treasury has become richer, it cannot withstand such a warlike policy, which has emptied the treasury and harmed the people!

Although the number of new troops is not large, the military pay is twice as high as before, and the military supplies such as horses, armor, weapons and rations are even more extravagant.

May I ask, Your Majesty, with such a plan to strengthen the army, are you not afraid of The treasury was emptied, the people were angry, and the Song Dynasty was ruined?

I know that since His Royal Highness the Prince Regent took over the country, he has been authoritarian and domineering and does not allow anyone to question or speak out. Today, for the stability of the Song Dynasty and to protect the millions of people in the Song Dynasty from being harmed, I risk my life to make a suggestion!"

Lu Mingda said passionately, knelt on the ground, took off his official hat, and held it on his head, looking like a loyal minister who risked his life to make a suggestion to the tyrant.

"I second the proposal. Your Royal Highness the Prince Regent, please think twice!"

"I second the proposal. Your Highness, please think twice before you act!"

Seeing someone taking the lead, the civil servants who were dissatisfied or worried in their hearts knelt down one after another.

The little emperor Zhao Wuji's face flushed, but he knew that this matter was difficult and had to be handled by his uncle.

The regent Zhao Defangsi was not angry at all, and said calmly, "Lord Lu, you risked your life to give me advice, but I will not execute you. Instead, I will continue to implement the plan to strengthen the army in an authoritarian and domineering manner.

You are dissatisfied with the new policy reforms and strongly oppose them. I will use facts to prove that the new policy is good.

You are dissatisfied with the plan to strengthen the army. I will use another year to prove to you that the plan to strengthen the army is good.

Let's not discuss other government affairs today. The court is dismissed!"