Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Jie quietly.
Sure enough, these people know everything and know everything, they just sit back and watch the rise and fall of things consciously.
Xu Jie was aware of the situation, but had no intention of doing anything.
Yesterday, he presented five major evils in the world, which can be said to be a clear insight into the situation in the world.
Now, at the critical moment of life and death, he was able to talk eloquently, hit the mark on the current situation, and his insight and talent almost made him unable to help but praise him.
Was Xu Jie wrong? In fact, there was nothing wrong.
The basic operation of the Ming Dynasty was the same as that of the central government.
At the center is the emperor who controls the general direction, but the daily operations of government affairs are left to the civil and military officials.
In the Ming Dynasty, the central government built a high-rise building, while the basic local operations were completed by the government and the gentry.
The emperor cannot replace the six cabinet ministries and take charge of the world's affairs on his own.
Naturally, it is impossible for the central government to micro-manage local affairs.
This is because manpower is sometimes exhausted, and no one designed it like this.
But in this way, the powers and responsibilities are consistent. The imperial court cannot bear the responsibility of governing counties and villages, so the responsibilities and powers naturally go together and are quickly filled by the official gentry.
This is the fundamental contradiction of the Ming Dynasty today.
The basic operation of society is controlled by the gentry. The public security in the countryside, the education of young children, the cultivation and sowing, the support of orphans and widows, and even the most basic stability are all due to the gentry.
It can be said that the basic governance of the Ming Dynasty was based on this tenancy system.
At the same time, these gentry - more accurately, called official households.
Due to the imperial customs, these official households have the privilege of being exempted from taxes and hard labor. Although they still need to pay regular taxes, it is a drop in the bucket.
Moreover, because of their official background, local officials and minor officials were either connected with him, or they were simply his disciples and old officials.
Naturally, it is easy to talk to our own people.
If you have any questions, just say hello.
In addition to the formal privileges, this adds another layer of invisible privileges, which is to hide the fields and Dingkou.
The gentry and official families have been peaceful for a long time, and so many burdens have naturally returned to the common people.
When ordinary people went bankrupt, they had to surrender to official accounts to seek a chance to breathe.
In this way, official households are like a snowball: they do not perform corvee service, do not pay miscellaneous taxes, and have to hide their land and land.
The means of production did not disappear, they were simply confiscated by the government landlords.
If the central government cannot collect taxes, it will increase the tax burden again. The entire burden will fall on the people who have not contributed, and they will have no choice but to abandon the land and flee and become refugees.
The gentry is getting stronger day by day, while the common people and the center at both ends are gradually drying up.
Therefore, at the end of the dynasty, refugees often spread everywhere, the central government was powerless, and local forces spread everywhere. This is called systemic collapse.
Whose problem is it?
A gentry and official household? But from the perspective of an official household, Xu Jie has made it very clear that there must be someone to take care of things that your central government cannot take care of.
While shouldering responsibilities, it is inevitable that power will expand.
Can you blame the imperial court? But if the imperial power does not go to the countryside, is it because the emperor himself does not want to?
Geography, transportation, and administrative costs are all objective issues that are never subject to the emperor's will.
The common people? The common people are the most innocent. Anyone who denies the common people with a single word is a fool.
Each angle has its own reasons, and the world will naturally perish.
Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Jie and praised him sincerely: "Xu Qing, you are really talented. You are a beautiful woman, how can you be a thief?"
Xu Jie stood up quickly and said urgently: "Your Majesty, I am not a bandit!"
Zhu Yijun shook his head and said: "In my spare time, I read "Miscellaneous Notes on the Government and the Wilderness Since Jianyan", and I realized that the Song Dynasty was a small country. During the Xifeng years, the annual income was more than 60 million. Even at the beginning of Yuanyou, except for its harsh
Urgent, the annual income is over 48 million."
"Our country has a vast territory, but its annual income is less than half."
"The central government's finances are scarce, the people are miserable, haven't all the money been eaten away by you?"
"If you are trying to benefit the country, can't you be called a traitor to the country?"
Zhu Yijun waved his hand to Li Jin and gave Xu Jie a seat.
Li Jinjin came to the low stool, and Xu was in a dilemma when sitting or standing on the steps. He hesitated to speak.
Zhu Yijun picked up "Chen Tianxia's Five Major Misconducts" on the table, looked at Xu Jie and said: "What you just said is one of the evils in the memorial. I read it and I deeply agree."
"You said that the gentry is the foundation of local governance, I agree."
"The apportionment of miscellaneous taxes is a necessary price for the government to govern the place, and I agree."
"The people's donations to you are only for tax exemption. Most of them are voluntary, but I can still recognize them."
"but……"
He looked at Xu Jie seriously: "The world will surely perish because of this, Xu Qing, do you admit it or not?"
Xu Jie was silent.
What he said before was certainly not meant to be a quibble.
Instead, he was analyzing the current problems to the emperor and looking for their root causes.
The emperor wanted to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, but he frankly told the emperor that this was an unavoidable problem under the customization of the entire Ming Dynasty.
When evil happens, it's not just one or two people doing it.
The entire Ming Dynasty was doing the same tricks as Xu Jie, annexing and evading taxes.
The root cause is that the central government does not have the ability to govern the local area.
As long as the central government cannot cure the root cause, the local gentry will still act like this. This cannot be solved by killing the chicken to scare the monkeys.
In this case, why not let the chickens live?
However, the emperor was fixated on the reasons for the decline of the world and only asked who should be responsible for it.
The only thing left to say is that he, Xu Jie, will be responsible for the omen of the country's downfall.
It really leaves people speechless.
If he wants to argue, there is naturally room for maneuver, but he is not here to chat, but to survive, so he naturally needs to think carefully.
In Xu Jie's mind, he recalled what he heard about the emperor's temper yesterday.
As long as in the eyes of this holy king he has nothing to say, is dull and stupid, and has no self, then he will not look twice at him.
On the contrary, for example, although Gao Gong did something treasonous and unethical, such as threatening the emperor, the emperor still praised him repeatedly in private for his lofty ambition and tenacity.
Even the reincarnation of Yan Song, who is now recognized by the court, and Li Zaiting, are not simply flattering, but flattering out of his own principles and principles.
Because of this, Xu Jie just now dared to say those words righteously and from the perspective of a gentry.
This is his way of being an official, to do what he likes and to speak with truth to his words.
Now facing the emperor's cross-examination, Xu Jie had to admit his guilt. The same reason why the emperor could admit him was that the facts were always irrefutable. If it was sophistry, it would be meaningless.
However, a confession is a confession, but one must not lose one's character.
Xu Jie immediately thought of a strategy and met the emperor's gaze: "Your Majesty, all dynasties have indeed perished due to countless annexations by Xu Jie, but..."
He looked high-spirited: "The four seasons rotate, the melons ripen and fall, the wind, rain and thunder are all determined by the sky!"
"Annexation is just one of the most important aspects of the dynasty. I will not consider it a crime, but I will not obey!"
Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Jie unexpectedly.
How come he didn't know that Xu Jie had such character? It's really strange!
But I have to say that this behavior made him look down upon him.
Zhu Yijun also became interested and waved to Li Jin and others to get out.
When there was no one around, he asked, "Continue."
Xu Jie plausibly said: "Your Majesty, annexation cannot be suppressed!"
"China has a history of three thousand years. Big countries have swallowed small countries, big merchants have eaten small merchants, and big tribes have eaten small people. This has happened since ancient times, and there has never been any way to stop it."
"Money goes to many places, but the trickle of water always flows into the river."
"The center is drying up day by day, the blood of the common people is drying up, and the officials, gentry, wealthy businessmen, and landlords are expanding day by day. Even if there is prosperity and decline, or good fortune comes from heaven, they are only a handful. They have to wait until the old and new change, and then
Only after one round will things change."
"This is a link in the number of days. Your Majesty cannot hold the middle and bleed to both ends!"
Xu Jie looked determined.
This is to do what the emperor likes and what Tao Jin wants in his heart.
Annexation cannot be stopped by killing people.
Power and wealth will always gradually gather together. Although the reason is unclear, this is what he has observed throughout his life.
The so-called unity of knowledge and action, once you understand it, you will naturally join in. This is the awakening of the mind.
Zhu Yijun finally couldn't help stroking his hands and applauding.
"What a disciple of mind!"
“What a person who knows what he does and what he knows!”
"I wonder how a person like Xu Shaohu can do these things with such peace of mind. It turns out he is such a conscience!"
This is not irony, this is sincere.
Although these words seem chaotic, they also have the samadhi of class solidification.
As Xu Jie said, in general governance, resources will always tend to be concentrated, but in different forms.
The annexation of land, the monopoly of wealthy businessmen, and the three-generation watch are all based on this principle.
Xu Jie understood it and chose to join without hesitation. He could not help but praise everyone.
Seeing the emperor's reaction, Xu Jie hesitated whether he had gone too far.
What if the emperor is unable to refute and becomes angry and executes him?
While Xu Jie was hesitating, Zhu Yijun finally spoke again: "So Xu Qing thinks that the number of days is like this, so that in the past dynasties, when the four seasons are about to rotate, there is no need to struggle?"
The former hesitated for a moment and then explained: "Your Majesty, if this is not the case, the center's response is also part of the destiny."
Why do new parties begin to emerge in all dynasties when they are about to die?
Just because of prosperity and decline, there must be struggles, which is also part of the number of days.
But again, this cannot change the fate of the four seasons.
Therefore, when he was in the court, he worked hard without complaint, attended to matters related to the imperial concubine, supervised academic affairs, assisted Hai Rui, and protected King Yu.
But when he returns to his status as a country squire, he annexes acres of land, controls the countryside, and feeds the common people.
This is Xu Jie's philosophy of mind: in his position, he seeks his own things - he asks himself that knowledge and action are one.
Zhu Yijun nodded: "Xu Qing's words cleared up my doubts, and I also have something to say."
The former sat upright and had already made a plan. No matter what the emperor said, he would immediately obey him - he had shown enough, and it was time to plead for mercy.
Zhu Yijun stood up and waved his gestures habitually: "I understand what Xu Qing means."
"I have been studying history and observing politics for a long time."
“From the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the Song and Yuan dynasties, from eunuchs to ministers, from localities to the central government, we have witnessed the rise and fall of Wushu.”
"As the saying goes, 'It rises vigorously, but its demise is sudden.' A person, a family, a party, a place, and even a dynasty are all part of the cycle of the four seasons."
"In a history, there are some cases where "politics are lazy and eunuchs succeed", there are also cases where "people die and the government ceases to exist", there are also cases where "people seek glory and humiliation". In short, they are all in the rotation of the four seasons as mentioned by Xu Qing."
"Xu Qing calls it the number of days, and also believes that the merger that promotes the number of days is also unstoppable and should be followed."
"Thus, he is willing to degenerate and add fuel to the flames."
Having said this, Zhu Yijun paused: "But, in addition to Xu Qing's principles, I also have some principles."
His expression gradually darkened and his tone became incomprehensible: "First, whether the merger is inevitable or whether it can be stopped is a matter of two questions."
"In order to suppress annexation, the pre-Qin Dynasty transferred the well fields of the nobles to small farmers for self-cultivation."
"In order to suppress the annexation, the two Han Dynasties moved powerful people into Guanzhong."
"Wei and Tang Dynasties had equal land system."
"Ze Fang Tian Equalization Tax Law of Song Dynasty."
"Four seasons rotate, and we can always move forward year by year. Xu Qing, the suppression of mergers has been done by all dynasties, and each generation is more sophisticated. How do you judge that it will not be possible in the future?"
"Even if the days are truly unstoppable, how can I be willing to do so if I don't give it a try!?"
"Secondly, when you see the four seasons changing, you are willing to fall and follow the tide. I don't like it!"
"In ancient times, the animal skins of the Three Emperors were in tatters, but now ordinary rich people can wear silk and brocade clothes."
"The nobles of the pre-Qin Dynasty used bamboo slips for writing, but now ordinary scholars can also write ink on hemp paper."
"Smallpox was helpless in the Tang and Song Dynasties. After vaccination was spread in Ningguo Mansion, countless people died."
"Xu Qing, the seasons rotate, but all things have not stopped evolving."
"The number of days in the rotation of the four seasons is not greater than the avenue for the evolution of all things."
"Xu Qing, I tell you clearly, even if my empire is destined to overthrow, I will not wait to die like you!"
"When it comes to annexation, every time you do it, it will be effective, and the people will be able to breathe more. How can I stop?"
"Even if it is the day before the country is overthrown, I will not stop doing anything I have to do!"
After Zhu Yijun finished speaking, the hall fell into silence for a moment.
Xu Jie's lips moved and he closed his mouth again.
He almost couldn't help but discuss morality with the emperor, but then he thought about his situation and held it back.
At this time, his mood was very complicated.
He originally had the mentality to cater to the emperor's temperament and show him his principles and character, but in fact he had no intention of hearing any insightful opinions from the emperor.
Clinker, the emperor really exceeded his expectations.
The truth he just said, although there is some pretentiousness, is more or less coming from the heart.
Scholarly families passed down from generation to generation, increasingly wealthy landlords, and merchants from all walks of life are squeezing out newcomers.
Apart from other things, Hai Rui went to Southern Zhili to kill so many low-level officials, almost all of whom were passed down from father to son.
This is the spontaneous nature of human nature, and no one deliberately wants to cause trouble to the country.
Spontaneous means a natural trend - he doesn't think the Ming Dynasty is an exception.
I just didn't expect... Xu Jie glanced at the emperor and saw that he was really a newborn calf, he sighed in his heart.
He is high-spirited and indulgent, just as his disciples and former officials said, today, he is polite but stubborn, gentle and conceited!
He disdains the number of days and intends to use his own ability to turn things around.
He even talks nonsense about the great way, as if he is not afraid of failure and will not change his original intention!
To Xu Jie, the emperor's words were somewhat wishful thinking, but he still couldn't help but begin to admire this youthful spirit.
The emperor in front of him was like all smart people when they were young - including him, Xu Jie.
Xu Jie looked confused. When he was young, he thought that everything was like the rising sun. As long as he had the willpower, it would always be like this.
However, when he grew older and experienced too much helplessness, he finally understood what fate meant.
Thinking of this, a sense of anger suddenly arose in his heart.
The emperor has his own determination, but which smart person is not so? Who has not experienced this stage!?
Just because he is a newborn calf, he is qualified to point out his unity of knowledge and action!?
Wasn't it the same when Sejong was young? He concentrated on everything and did nothing carelessly, just like the rising sun, but what happened after that?
Why does the emperor think that he can be true to his thoughts and carry them out consistently!?
After what he has experienced and seen too much helplessness, will he still have the face to say these words?
Thinking of this, Xu Jie took a deep breath to suppress his impatience - life and death are controlled by human hands, and one cannot act casually.
However, since the emperor said this, he wanted to see what the emperor would do in the end.
Is it going to reverse the number of days, or is it going to be lost to everyone?
Who is right and who is wrong does not just depend on who has the bigger words.
Xu Jie didn't answer for a long time, and the hall was silent for a while.
It took a long time before I saw any action.
Xu Jie gathered his mind, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty has taught you the right lesson. I have already realized my sin!"
"Please forgive me for the crimes I committed when I was confused."
"In the dying years of my life, I will unite my knowledge and action for the last time. I will put the knowledge taught by Your Majesty into practice and do my best for Your Majesty's grand plan."
Chapter completed!