After entering, from standing to kneeling, from kneeling to standing, until now, Liu Jichang finally got the treatment of sitting with him. This mood has completely calmed down from the anxiety. In contrast, he even feels comfortable.
Looking at Liu Jichang, Liu Yang raised his hand, smoothed down his sleeves, and said, "Tell me why I'm here!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Jichang immediately cheered up and responded: "I respectfully listen to your instructions!"
Liu Yang: "How much do you know about Anminfang in Nancheng?"
As soon as he heard this, Liu Jichang's feeling of relief disappeared instantly. His Highness the Crown Prince wouldn't have wandered into a neighborhood in Nancheng. Liu Jichang secretly guessed in his heart and looked at Liu Yang carefully. Judging from his expression, it should be like this.
Liu Jichang's heart suddenly sank.
After immersing himself in deliberation, Liu Jichang said: "Back to Your Highness, Anminfang is located in the southeast of Guocheng, adjacent to Kangmin, Lemin and Huimin. Most of the scholars and people living there are outsiders who make a living by helping workers in the capital.
"
After pausing for hesitation, Liu Jichang continued: "The above four neighborhoods are relatively poor in Tokyo. The public security situation is also slightly inadequate, with constant nuisance and many crimes occurring every year."
After looking at Liu Jichang with an indifferent gaze, and putting enough pressure on him, Liu Yang just said leisurely: "Not bad, I don't know anything about anything!"
The prince's gaze gave Liu Jichang a feeling of thorns on his back, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead unconsciously. Liu Jichang gritted his head and said: "This is under the rule of the minister. It is your duty to understand the people's sentiments, and you don't dare to slack off."
However, when he said this, he obviously lacked confidence.
Liu Yang chuckled twice and said calmly: "I visited Anminfang today, and it was an eye-opener! The name of Anmin, Kangmin, Happy People, Huimin, Lifang is quite good, but it is a pity that it cannot match the people's sentiments.
actually!"
After saying these words, Liu Jichang's heart suddenly trembled and he buried his head even lower: "Your Highness, I, your Majesty, your Majesty."
At this time, Liu Jichang was a little confused about how to explain it. Nancheng Fourth Square can be said to be the slums in Tokyo at the moment. The public security is chaotic and ghosts are rampant. In this matter, no matter how you defend it, you will easily be taken advantage of.
Liu Jichang was aware of the situation, but because of this, he knew it and did not ask, and turned a blind eye. And if he did not know, the nature would be even worse, and the label of dereliction of duty and neglect of government could be directly slapped on him.
His mind was spinning wildly, and Liu Jichang wanted to find a reason. However, no matter what reason or excuse, they were all so inappropriate. However, when Liu Jichang was thinking hard about how to deal with this matter, Liu Yang already spoke up and sighed leisurely: "
This predicament in the Fourth Street of Nancheng is probably not a temporary situation. It must have occurred over many years. You have only been in office for one year, so it would be unfair to you to say that it is your fault!"
"Your Highness is wise!" Liu Jichang came back to his senses and immediately burst into tears of gratitude. There is nothing more touching than his superior taking the initiative to explain for him. At this moment, Liu Jichang felt that His Highness the Crown Prince could not be wiser.
Liu Yang obviously has a strong point in his heart. If he is investigated in this way, then all the prefects including Liu Jichang will be responsible. Can he be held accountable for this? Take the previous Lu Duan as an example. His political integrity
It is a problem that has been praised and affirmed, and even he has not been able to solve it. From this, we can draw a conclusion that the emergence of slums in Nancheng is obviously not entirely the problem of the prefect.
"But!" Before Liu Jichang could take a few breaths of happiness, Liu Yang changed the topic and said: "I have been in office for one year and have seen the situation. Why don't you find ways to deal with the changes?
Even if the poor can't be saved, can't we come up with improvement measures? Those ruffians and thieves who bully the poor can't be eliminated? Why can't we restrain those poor officials who enforce the law rudely and often beat and scold them?
If the people are poor and can still seek for themselves, but the public security has deteriorated and the morale has deteriorated, it is the fault of the government. I have been thinking today, if the government does not do anything, how can the people be at peace?"
"Your Highness is right in reprimanding you! It's because I mismanaged the government and ignored the people of Nancheng, so I am willing to accept the blame!" After hearing Liu Yang's accusation, Liu Jichang did not dare to argue and listened to the instructions honestly. His attitude was correct and his face was full of emotion. A little bit of guilt.
Seeing this, Liu Yang raised his head again and sighed: "Tokyo has always been known for its purity. There are no rotten leaves on the roads and no traces of dust on the roads. Why is it that in the fourth square of Nancheng, there is really no clear excrement and filth everywhere? We are already so poor that we even collect excrement. No one wants to go there?"
"Also, speaking of it, perhaps the princes in the court can't believe that there are beggars in the city of Tokyo, at the feet of the emperor! The court has long had a policy that all those who are not productive and have no property will move to the border. Why not implement it in place?”
After listening to what Liu Yang said, Liu Jichang subconsciously said: "Your Highness, Kaifeng Prefecture has targeted relocation for the unemployed. However, how to identify the difficulties, and many are unwilling to move to the border, and even deliberately avoid and escape.
As for those beggars, most of them are old, weak, sick and disabled. Even if they move to the border, they will not be able to survive in the difficult frontier areas. In the city, they can still get some food and clothing to maintain their survival."
"There are no relief measures in Kaifeng Prefecture for the widowed and lonely. How much food and cloth can they spend? Just ignore them and watch them, helpless and begging for food?" Liu Yang immediately asked: "In the prosperous age of Kaibao, Does it have nothing to do with them?”
Liu Yang's words were just a casual question under emotion. However, they seemed to reveal the essence of certain matters. Liu Jichang was silent. Facing the somewhat angry prince, he did not dare to disobey. However, after hearing When I asked this question, I finally couldn't help but said: "Your Highness is kind-hearted and has a mind for all people in the world. I admire him endlessly.
However, it’s not because of the sympathy of the ministers, but it’s just that some people are in poverty and it is difficult to provide relief. The imperial court is not omnipotent. With the financial resources of Kaifeng Prefecture, it may be able to provide relief. However, this situation does not stop at Kaifeng. How can all the government officials in the world be able to provide relief? Storage. Even if it can be done, it will bring a burden to the government."
When Liu Jichang said these words, Liu Yang's expression became a little complicated, even a little exciting. After staring at him for a while, Liu Yang said with a hint: "You are telling me the truth!"
"Your Highness!" Liu Jichang lowered his head again, looking very embarrassed.
After another period of silence, Liu Yang said softly: "It's not that I can't understand the difficulties faced by the government. It's just that I serve the people for the sake of the officials. I don't understand this most basic principle? Among the officials, there are many who practice the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. The words of the saints ,Being poor cares themselves, being wealthy cares the world.
Your Kaifeng Mansion cannot control all the beggars in the world. Now under your rule, there is nothing you can do but do nothing?
You can imagine that you have extended kindness to the farmers in various counties, but the Fourth Square of Nancheng is in Tokyo, right in front of you, but why do you turn a blind eye? Listen but not hear?"
"I'm ashamed!" At this time, the prince's body was shrouded in a layer of "great light and righteousness", which made Liu Jichang afraid to look directly, and he didn't know if he really felt ashamed.
Unlike Emperor Liu, who was scheming and pretentious, Liu Yang still maintained a more or less innocent heart and was even a bit idealistic. In other words, he was deeply influenced by Emperor Liu and had a deep love for the people.
He was deceived too much, but he only learned one thing. Perhaps the light shrouding Emperor Liu was too strong and he couldn't look directly at him, which also made it difficult for Liu Yang to see clearly the true nature of Emperor Liu's single husband.
Did Emperor Liu love the people? Of course he did, even before and after his rule, and his attitude has not wavered until now. However, the purpose of Emperor Liu's love for the people was not to love the people, but to maintain governance and just show up.
Emperor Liu did a lot to treat the people well, and introduced many policies to benefit the people. However, he was never lenient in punishments, but many situations were covered up.
"I won't embarrass you. I'll give you two months. After two months, I will travel again. By then, I hope to see a new scene!" After thinking for a while, Liu Yang said calmly, but his tone was unquestionable.
Although Liu Jichang felt embarrassed, the prince had already spoken and he did not dare to respond. He sighed helplessly and said, "Yes!"
"One more thing. When I was traveling to Nan City today, I heard something. Some people were collecting taxes from the vendors for the government. What was going on?" Liu Yang mentioned another matter.
Hearing this, Liu Jichang's face could not help but heat up, and he hesitated, not knowing how to respond.
Such a reaction naturally made Liu Yang more concerned, and his tone became a bit stern: "Why, my question is difficult to answer. Or is there something hidden in it that cannot be made explicit?"
Seeing this, Liu Jichang shook his head repeatedly: "Your Highness, how dare I hide anything now? I also know this. The reason is that it is not easy to collect business taxes. Since the separation of cities and towns, many businessmen have emerged in Tokyo.
Thousands of them are distributed in the streets and alleys, and even in front of your home, you can set up a stall to do business.
These small stalls and hawkers are the most inconvenient to manage, and it is difficult to collect taxes. The government has a serious shortage of tax collectors, so they can only be placed in markets, docks, yards, and the workshops of large merchants. It is difficult to take care of the rest.
.
However, since those traders are doing business, the government should collect commercial taxes. Therefore, the Kaifeng Prefecture used this to formulate policies and let some non-governmental organizations be responsible for collecting taxes from those small traders and paying them to the government."
Speaking of this, Liu Jichang's voice became much softer unconsciously, and he was obviously a little embarrassed. There was another point he didn't mention, that is, this part of the income came from the small treasury of Kaifeng Mansion.
"Okay, even the power of taxation can be decentralized! What a non-governmental organization, it is clearly a gang of gangsters who bully the common people and bully the market!" Liu Yang couldn't help but get angry: "Will the Kaifeng government supervise this government?
Can the details of taxation be determined? Can you prevent the disadvantages involved?"
"Today, I witnessed with my own eyes how lawless they were!" Liu Yang burst out with anger: "In order to save convenience, you sit back and collect money every month every year. Those small businessmen in Tokyo are suffering.
Do you, the prefect, know how much oppression you have endured?"
Facing the angry prince, Liu Jichang felt a little uneasy.