Everything in the world has its own laws of development. Only by proceeding step by step and gradually correcting the direction during the development process can we finally evolve to a flawless state. On the contrary, if it is achieved overnight, it often means inevitable mistakes, which will lead to the final result.
It deviates or even completely contradicts the original intention.
The speed with which a person accepts new things does not depend on the difficulty of the thing, but only on the extent to which his own interests are at stake.
In short, if this matter is good for me, then even if it is difficult to understand, I will be able to accept it quickly, or even accept it first and then slowly understand it; if it is not good for me, even if it is very simple, I will not be willing to understand it, let alone accept it...
…
A policy that touches all classes and almost everyone in the world has changed the views on a certain matter throughout the ages. Understandably, you can imagine how much opposition and obstacles it will encounter.
When the flood hits the shore with mighty waves, anything in the way will be torn to pieces and then submerged.
…
Fang Jun drank and asked: "So in your opinion, as long as someone objects to something, it is wrong and you can't do it?"
Ma Zhou said angrily: "Is that what I mean? I was born in a poor family, and with the help of noble people, I have made my way up to where I am today. However, I have never been lucky. Instead, I always remind myself not to be complacent, let alone contented. Life is full of grass and trees.
You should try your best to do things that are more meaningful to the country and the people. But this is different from risking the world's disapproval. Some things you know are good, but when you do them, they may not have a good result."
Besides, where can anything in this world be either black or white, good or bad?
Everything has two sides. The so-called good policy only has more advantages and less disadvantages. How can there be a flawless good policy?
Risking the disapproval of the world for the sake of a policy with more advantages, you may pay a very heavy price, and the gain outweighs the loss.
Fang Jun put down his wine glass, thought for a moment, and asked, "Do you know what the most noble ideal is in my heart?"
Ma Zhou was puzzled: "With tens of thousands of mansions, the world will be opened up and all poor people will be happy? Or should the young be taught, the old be taken care of, and the sick be cured?"
The two are close friends. They often exchange ideas and are very familiar with each other, but they have never talked about each other's specific ideals. After all, the word "ideal" is too vague for people of their level.
Fang Jun smiled, raised his eyebrows slightly, and said: "How can it be so noble? My ideal is just that farmers in the world cultivate land and no longer have to pay land taxes."
Ma Zhou was shocked and speechless. Even Wang Fangyi, who was immersed in eating and drinking, raised his head in surprise to see if his commander had drunk too much and was talking in his sleep...
No need to pay taxes on farming?!
Absolutely impossible!
Since ancient times, agriculture has been the foundation for the existence and operation of dynasties, and its taxation has been the main force supporting the operation of state institutions. Without agricultural taxes, how would the country pay officials' salaries, support the clan, and recruit soldiers for war?
Moreover, the agricultural tax is not only the foundation for maintaining the operation of the country. Various local assessments, exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes are all dependent on the agricultural tax. If the agricultural tax is abolished, everything else will no longer have a basis for existence, and the interests of local governments will suffer huge losses...
Once farmers do not need to pay taxes for farming, the entire empire will suffer losses for all classes except farmers. How can this be realized?
Fang Jun drank wine, took in the expressions of the two of them, and said with a smile: "Does it sound like a foolish dream? But you have to believe that this day will come eventually."
Ma Zhou was a little stunned. He simply couldn't imagine what kind of glorious age it would be like to be a farmer without paying taxes.
*****
The trees are bleak and the chill is oppressive.
In a house in Yongpingfang, after hearing the news just delivered by colleagues from the Ministry of Industry, everyone in the house felt as if they had been struck by lightning and were panicked.
The head of the family, Pei Datong, was sitting on a chair in the main hall, looking worried, while his son Pei Yan was sitting at the bottom, filled with indignation.
Pei Yan said angrily: "Fang Er is so wanton and crazy! His second uncle, a dignified official of the Ministry of Industry, was actually taken down by him on the spot and sent to Baiqisi. Where is the king's law and where is the law of heaven? I am the Pei family from the east of the river.
Never give up!"
Pei Datong sighed and said, "We cannot represent the Pei family in Hedong."
The Pei family of theirs was born in the Pei family of Hedong, and is a descendant of Pei Mao, the minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Pei Hui, the eldest son of Pei Mao, served in Cao Wei and was the governor of Jizhou. Many of his grandchildren were officials in Xiliang, so he was named Xijuan. Pei Hui Si
His grandson Pei Juan returned to his hometown of Hedong County from Hexi and lived in Ximachuan, Jie County. His descendants called him Xima Pei, also known as Hedong Pei's Xima stable. The population was not prosperous, and there were no big figures who were famous throughout the ages.
, but it has been passed down for a long time.
But in the final analysis, it is only one branch of the Hedong Pei family and cannot represent the entire Hedong Pei family. The main branch of the Hedong Pei family is the branch of the Zhongjuan Pei and Pei Xingjian...
Besides, what if the entire Pei family in Hedong stood together to oppose Fang Jun? That person was a figure that even the powerful men in Guanlong, Shandong, and Jiangnan didn't pay attention to.
Pei Yan said: "Even if Fang Er is arrogant, we can't just sit back and wait for death. If we allow bullying, where will there be room for us?"
Although he has just reached the age of dancing elephants, he is already married. His wife is from the Liu family in Pengcheng, the daughter of Liu Demin, the governor of Tanzhou, and the niece of Liu Dewei, the former Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice...
There are already a lot of grievances between the wife family and Fang Jun, and now the feud between his family and Fang Jun is added to the mix. How can the hot-blooded Pei Yan endure it?
Pei Datong asked: "How are you doing?"
Fang Jun was so arrogant and domineering that he captured his second brother Pei Yi on the spot. If he had been handed over to the Ministry of Justice or the Jingzhao Mansion, he would have been able to find connections to take care of him, but he was sent to the "Hundred Cavalry Division" and was really helpless.
Pei Yan said: "Father, don't worry. Even if the second uncle is in power again, he can't control the sky with one hand, can he? I will go to the censor's platform and sue him in front of the censor. I will rescue my second uncle no matter what!"
If not, go to the Chengtian Gate to complain and demand justice!"
Where is the "Hundred Cavalry Division"? Although it claims to be responsible for the stability of the Gyeonggi region and external military intelligence, it is actually the emperor's "eagle and dog minions" to maintain the imperial power. It is best at torture and extorting confessions. If Pei Yi was forced to do so under Miki
According to Fang Jun's wishes, he confessed some untrue things, and the whole "Xi Ma Pei" would be implicated, and the whole family would suffer.
Pei Datong could only reluctantly admit that he was just a captain of Zhechong Prefecture before, and now he is injured and idle at home. What can he do about such troubles in the court?
Fortunately, my son has always been smart and decisive, so I simply left it to him, and the whole family would be responsible for any consequences.
…
When Pei Yan arrived at the Yushitai, it was already close to Shenshi, and the ordinary yamen were already on duty, but yamen like the Yushitai received reports, tried cases, impeached officials and other affairs all day long, as long as it was not for Xiu Mu.
On the day, the value will often not be lowered until the imperial city is locked in Youshi.
When he came to the door, he handed over his name card and said that he had something important to do and asked to see the imperial censor.
When the official at the door saw the name "Pei Yan" on the name card, he politely asked him to wait, and then went inside to report. Pei Yan studied at the "Hongwen Hall" and was praised and praised by several great scholars of the dynasty. He was very famous.
Such people came to the Yushitai to complain, and officials naturally did not dare to neglect...
Not long after, the officials returned and invited Pei Yan in. As expected, the imperial censor received him.
Pei Yan followed the clerk inside, but did not enter the main hall. Instead, he turned left and passed by brightly lit rooms, stopping in front of the last duty room on the east side. The clerk smiled and said: "Shangguan specifically told me that you don't need to go through the door when you come."
Pass it on and you can come in immediately."
Although Pei Yan is young, he is not an inexperienced boy. He usually interacts with officials in the Hongwen Hall. He has a lot of experience and bows to express his gratitude. Then he tidies up his clothes and walks proudly into the duty room.
At this time, it was still almost dark, and there were candles burning in the check-in room. A person was burying his head on the desk facing the door. There was a pile of memorials and official documents on the desk, and there were stacks of documents on the ground next to it.
, making the entire value room seem to be stacked in a sea of Wenshan desks.
Pei Yan took a few steps forward and stopped three steps away from the desk. He bowed to the ground and said respectfully: "Pei Yan, a student of Hongwen Hall, has met Shangguan."
"oh,"
After writing the document, Liu Xiangdao raised his head, took a look, responded, and then buried his head in the document again.
Pei Yan had not heard the words of shouting, so he could only keep his posture of bowing and bowing. After a while, his back was sore and his hands were numb. He was hesitating whether Liu Xiangdao had forgotten him and whether he should give a warning or simply stand up...
…
Only then did Liu Xiangdao put down his brush, picked up the teacup on the side and took a sip of herbal tea. His voice was slightly tired: "Tell me, if you don't study in Hongwen Hall, why are you here?"
Pei Yan took out a pre-written pleading from his arms, presented it to the desk with both hands, and said in a deep voice: "My uncle is Pei Yi, an official of the Ministry of Industry. He was angered by Yue Guo Gong Fangjun for no reason, and was escorted to the 'Baiqisi' in order to torture him."
Because of the frame-up, I have no choice but to come here. I hope that the superior officer will not be afraid of power and enforce the law impartially."
After saying this, Liu Xiangdao looked at Liu Xiangdao behind the desk with some anxiety.
He knew that Fang Jun was so powerful and prestigious that no one dared to provoke him. Even if he knew that he had committed crimes and violated the law, it would be difficult for the lower judicial institutions to maintain justice, so they could only pin their hopes on the Yushitai.
I hope that the imperial censor who supervises hundreds of officials can demonstrate fairness.
Liu Xiangdao drank tea, took the paper and read it at a glance, then threw it on the table and said calmly: "According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, if a person who files a complaint is proved to be a false accusation, the crime will be increased. Do you know?"
Pei Yan was a little nervous: "I have read the law thoroughly, and it is very clear."
Liu Xiangdao nodded: "I have heard your name before. You are a smart and motivated child with a bright future. Because of this, I will give you a chance. Do you want to take back this petition?"
Pei Yan was sweating. What did he mean by this? Did he think that this was a false accusation that he had fabricated to make him stop at the brink? Or was he pretending to be a temptation so that he would be so angry that there was no room for change?