Zhu Yunying's temples throbbed instantly. This man had seized the opportunity to persuade the emperor to implement 'benevolent governance.' He believed that as long as the emperor practiced benevolent teachings, there would be no problem resolving political, historical, and ethnic disputes.
Some of his naive and laughable views actually existed in the Ming Dynasty, and even in every dynasty throughout history, and there were quite a few of them. In the end, they were just some scholars who had become "foolish from reading," who naively believed that "one Analects can govern the world," and they all thought that the views of the sages were the truth.
Zhu Yunying waved his hand and said, "My dear minister, you may step down."
We still need to make this person step down, otherwise there will definitely be all sorts of lectures, and we will have to persuade the emperor to treat Confucianism better, etc.
In fact, it wasn't just Zhu Yunying who couldn't stand Mao Dafang; many civil and military officials also couldn't stand his pedantic and ridiculous behavior.
Although unwilling, Mao Dafang had nothing more to say at this point. He could only obediently step down. Even though he wanted to persuade Emperor Yingshi to develop into a true 'sage ruler,' the emperor was 'unruly,' but even the most unruly emperor was still an emperor, a sovereign and father.
Those who stepped forward one after another were actually just 'minor figures'; they might be high-ranking officials in local areas. However, in the Fengtian Hall these days, the officials are all of relatively high rank, so it's mostly minor figures who are making their appearance.
This is normal practice; it's not like there are only heavyweights appearing at the beginning. Just like in boxing, the real highlight fights have to wait; there are always some warm-up matches before the main event.
We still need to be a little patient. Joo Yoon-young is quite patient; good things come to those who wait.
It wasn't just Zhu Yunying who had this patience; many important officials were also patient, and they didn't need to step in yet.
Although it may seem that only some less important officials have stepped forward, some people are naturally in favor of the land tax reform, believing that it is a benevolent policy that will benefit many people.
Naturally, many people will raise objections. Besides the possibility that it might affect their own or their family's interests, these people may also feel that it's better to avoid trouble, or that the policy of merging land tax and poll tax has little to do with the teachings of the sages.
This is all perfectly normal. Everyone is patiently waiting, looking for the right moment in the competition to step forward and express their opinions.
Huang Zicheng, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, found an opportunity, though he wasn't a particularly high-ranking official. He was only a fourth-rank official, but that was enough to have a place in the court. Moreover, the position of Chancellor of the Imperial Academy was quite prestigious and distinguished.
“Your Majesty, I believe that the land tax system should not be merged with the poll tax,” Huang Zicheng stepped forward and said. “Your Majesty, the Two-Tax System has been in place for a hundred years and has been improved by many dynasties. Recklessly changing the Two-Tax System may cause turmoil throughout the country.”
Zhu Yunying simply looked at Huang Zicheng and asked, "Oh? Then tell me why the tax system cannot be changed."
Huang Zicheng had actually been prepared for this for a long time. Although he is now the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, he has always felt that his political ideals have not been put to use, which has buried his talent.
After all, he ranked first in the provincial examination and third in the palace examination, so there's no doubt that he was exceptionally talented. At least in the imperial examinations, he was outstanding. Moreover, his political ideas were always 'perfect,' it's just a pity that the emperor didn't give him a chance.
Teaching and nurturing people is certainly a good thing, but Huang Zicheng still hopes to have more opportunities to become a true minister who can govern the world and follow the way of the sage.
Huang Zicheng continued, "Your Majesty, the policy of merging the poll tax into the land tax will inevitably damage farmers' confidence."
Zhu Yunying laughed and said, "Oh? I suppose you can see that the tax is transferred to land, and those with more land pay more taxes, isn't that the logic?"
Seeing Huang Zicheng nod, Zhu Yunying smiled and said, "Although the Two-Tax System has been implemented in previous dynasties, land annexation has always been a stubborn problem that is difficult to eradicate. If the poll tax is merged into the land tax, wouldn't land annexation decrease?"
Huang Zicheng disagreed, saying, "Your Majesty, even if the poll tax is converted into land tax, it is unlikely to eradicate land annexation."
"I haven't strictly restricted land annexation; I've only forbidden tax evasion," Zhu Yunying laughed, then said to Huang Zicheng, "My dear minister, go back and read more books. In the later periods of past dynasties, how miserable it was for the poor to have no land. Why did the Emperor Emeritus enter Huangjue Temple back then? Don't you know?"
Old Zhu entered Huangjue Temple back then because he couldn't survive and had no choice but to become a novice monk in the temple to beg for a chance to live.
"Your father is a complete scoundrel!" Old Zhu was furious. He knew this was a big deal, so he brought Little Zhu along to 'rule from behind the curtain'. "He keeps bringing up our little affairs! We know how destitute we were when we were herding cattle, and we won't allow anyone to mention it."
Little Zhu leaned against Old Zhu's chest, full of confidence, "It's not just about herding cattle, but also about being a novice monk and begging for alms, we all know that!"
Old Zhu was both amused and annoyed. He never shied away from talking about his background and was proud of his origins and experiences. However, sometimes Old Zhu didn't like his son, Xiao Zhu, bringing it up, feeling that it was a bit embarrassing in front of his children and grandchildren.
Zhu Yunying, with a solemn expression, slowly rose and said, "My great-grandfather and great-grandmother died one after another in dire poverty. The Emperor Emeritus had no money to prepare coffins, so they could only be wrapped in tattered clothes for burial. Do you know where my great-grandfather and great-grandmother are buried? That land belongs to the Marquis of Yihui, Liu Jizu!"
At this moment, all the civil and military officials knelt down. When the emperor brought up his family affairs and ancestral matters, these officials could not stand and listen.
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