During this time, people from both sides repeatedly tried to plead for them, but the Third Prince's people always managed to deflect their pleas.
Of course, there are also the centrists, led by the Han family.
It wasn't until almost noon that Emperor Qingyuan, feeling hungry, coughed lightly.
He made a sound and took a sip of tea.
The palace eunuch standing nearby understood and called out.
"Speak if you have something to say; otherwise, the court is adjourned!"
The ministers thought to themselves, "Finally, he's gone." They had been spitting out their saliva. Several times before, they had been at a loss, but Emperor Qingyuan just wouldn't leave the court. They could only find something to continue the conversation, but they couldn't bring up anything too big, lest a huge fight break out and someone else benefit. They also couldn't bring up trivial matters that would offend the emperor.
Well! This morning, they used up all the enemy's weaknesses they had accumulated over the past year.
Seeing that there was no sound from below, Emperor Qingyuan got up and left with satisfaction.
Those who were close to the two princes quickly helped the eldest and fifth princes up.
After kneeling for two hours, the First Prince and the Fifth Prince's legs felt like they were being pricked with needles, and they had to be helped out.
Despite the advice of the two princes, Emperor Qingyuan maintained the same attitude, demonstrating his strong determination to exploit the powerful and wealthy families.
Objectively speaking, raising the tax by 20% won't hurt them much. They are all century-old families, or at the very least, wealthy merchants for decades. The majority of their income comes from their own businesses, and the harvest from the land is just icing on the cake.
The reason they refused to budge was simply because they feared that Emperor Qingyuan would take advantage of their position and then target the powerful families, thus undermining their power.
Little do they know that the clash of power is inherently a matter of who is stronger and who is weaker.
The title of king is determined by merit. In the past, when the country was weak, many great scholars and resources were controlled by powerful families, and Emperor Qingyuan could only endure this frustration.
The economic situation has changed. To put it bluntly, he has money, weapons, and generals. He has become more powerful. If the powerful families still want to openly or secretly hinder Emperor Qingyuan, how could Emperor Qingyuan tolerate them, especially since they are trying to obstruct his development?
If the powerful families continue to act recklessly and attempt to manipulate Emperor Qingyuan, a bloody upheaval will inevitably occur sooner or later. Either Emperor Qingyuan will eliminate the powerful families, or the powerful families will replace Emperor Qingyuan.
Either outcome will cause turmoil.
This upheaval will inevitably have a direct impact on the development of the Great Qi Dynasty over the next few decades.
Everyone understands this, but they still made their choices based on their own interests.
The fact that the Third Prince and Han Zhongyu repeatedly encountered setbacks outside shows that the power of aristocratic families should not be underestimated.
On this basis, they also want to get involved in new products. Once they have monopolized all profitable businesses, the poor will become poorer and the rich will become richer. At that time, they will decide the workers' wages and control the land. Human nature is greedy, and one day the people will be forced to have no way to survive.
Although aristocratic families may have a few virtuous individuals, behind these virtuous people stand a group of ordinary people. And it is precisely these ordinary people who control the lives of ordinary people.
Therefore, the fundamental solution is to ensure that ordinary people have land in their hands. With land comes food, and food is not only the foundation for people's survival but also the cornerstone of the nation.
The Third Prince was the legitimate son of the emperor and was personally tutored by the Grand Tutor, a famous and upright official named Du Zhiheng, who was personally selected by Emperor Qingyuan. Du Zhiheng came from a family of farmers and scholars. His family was a small landowner family. They were not very wealthy, but they were not worried about food and clothing and could afford to send him to school.
This man was exceptionally intelligent. He began his studies at the age of five and became the top scholar in the imperial examination at the age of twenty-six. Emperor Qingyuan kept him by his side as a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat for three years. He observed the man's character and found that he was compassionate, concerned about the people's livelihood, and had a firm will. He had also studied under a famous teacher for three years and was learned and talented. He also had some insights into governing the country.
He served as an official in the imperial court for more than ten years, achieving remarkable political achievements, before being assigned to serve as the Grand Tutor to the Third Prince.
Through his words and deeds, the Third Prince also paid close attention to the people's livelihood and the state of the country.
When Emperor Qingyuan issued the decree to increase land taxes for powerful families, Du Zhiheng had already analyzed the pros and cons with the Third Prince. Therefore, the Third Prince strongly agreed with Emperor Qingyuan's measures. When the matter was still unresolved, he decided to try his luck with Xie Yushu.
Although the eldest prince and the fifth prince also had tutors and teachers from the Imperial Academy, the eldest prince always felt that he was closest to that position and would not be satisfied if he did not strive for it. Therefore, he began to work towards that goal very early on, and his studies and work were all mixed with a strong sense of purpose.
Influenced by Consort Chu, she was obsessed with seizing the throne, seeking revenge, and becoming second only to the emperor. Her nature had long been subtly altered, and the policies of governance taught by the Grand Tutor and the Master had long been forgotten.
Even if there's some left, how could someone with a mind solely focused on power struggles possibly grasp such profound insights?
It can only be said that the environment shapes people, and everyone makes their own way in life. People who start from the same point end up with vastly different outcomes.
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