There were three old ministers sitting in front of him, Shangshu Ling Nangong Xi, Hubu Shangshu Wei Changfeng, and Xingbu Shangshu Zhai Xiu.
The four of them, plus Sun An, who was serving tea and water, had been studying for an entire afternoon about tax deductions and the feasibility of merchants setting up schools for poor students to deduct taxes.
What Nangong Xi means is that it is theoretically possible, but not practical.
What Wei Changfeng means is that it is feasible in practice, but it may not work.
What Zhai Xiu means is, anything is fine.
Huang Laosi is so angry that he can't do it.
The conclusions of the three people are highly consistent, which is really unacceptable.
As for the tax exemption for merchants, it was Chu Qing and Wei Changfeng who first proposed it. Lao Wei thought it was okay at the time, but now he is a bit murmuring, either because he failed to convince the emperor, or because everyone was confused.
After Chu Qing said it in the court yesterday, Huang Laosi was very excited, and then asked three old ministers to test the tone of the ministers, and now they have come to the conclusion that it is not possible.
Huang Laosi took a sip of tea, and the fire in his heart began to rise.
"How about force?"
Nangong Xi shook his head: "Your Majesty, if you force the laws to be revised, it's okay for Beijing and the Central Government to do so, but the states should not be able to do so. Either the decrees are unreasonable or they are violated in secret. Even if there are merchants who open schools, the powerful families and powerful gentry will definitely
It is regarded as a thorn in the side.”
Zhai Xiu sighed: "If you come from a poor family, you won't be able to take the imperial examination after all."
Wei Changfeng took a deep look at Zhai Xiu and sighed.
This is not to say that children from poor families cannot take the imperial examination. Chang's laws and etiquette do not say that only children from aristocratic families can participate in the imperial examination. The main reason is that children from poor families do not have the hardware conditions.
This is just like a female bathhouse recruiting bathers, so why do you need to specifically say that it only recruits women?
The imperial examination will not specifically admit only sons of aristocratic families, but everyone knows that ordinary people cannot participate in the imperial examination.
Let’s not talk about issues such as the number of places to participate in scientific examinations, but only about reading and writing. How can ordinary people’s children have the opportunity to read and write? Books are luxury goods, and the same is true for the four treasures of the study. It’s not that they are pleasant to read, but these four “treasures”
It's really valuable, but it's expensive and ordinary people can't afford it.
"Your Majesty." Wei Changfeng asked tentatively: "What if... the imperial court sponsors and opens a school?"
Huang Laosi thought Lao Wei was very clever.
The imperial court can host it, and such a decree can be issued. The emperor will sign it, the ministers will sign it, and the officials of the six ministries will nod.
Then, who is going to do this?
Then it must be the officials below to handle this matter. Where did the officials below come from? Aren't they from aristocratic families?
I have never heard of the director of a crematorium throwing food into the stove directly for his mother in order to improve performance. Officials put in the effort to do this. What is the difference between that and throwing the pot at home?
Seeing that Huang Laosi did not understand what he meant, Wei Changfeng explained: "Your Majesty, I think it is better to find an office to take charge of this matter, just like the inspector of the Ministry of Rites."
Nangong Xi shook his head slightly: "Whoever dares to take over the six divisions and nine temples will take over. It is also a violation of the law."
Huang Laosi did not say a word, tapping the slip of paper with a thoughtful look on his face.
Matters such as school inspection are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. Merchants opening schools is logically considered one of the responsibilities of the school inspector and falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites.
But looking at the current situation, the Ministry of Rites is definitely not up to the task.
Wei Changfeng: "Master Nangong, what I am talking about is not the Six Divisions and Nine Temples."
Zhai Xiu's expression moved slightly: "Qianqi Camp?!"
"Yes, the Emperor's own army, the Qianqi Battalion, is in charge of this matter." Wei Changfeng looked at the Emperor: "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Huang Laosi smiled bitterly: "Inspector of Qianqiying... it's inappropriate."
"Your Majesty, at first, this matter was mentioned by Chu Qing, the deputy commander of Qianqiying. Regarding the issue of merchants opening schools to deduct taxes, I also expressed concerns. I thought it was too far-fetched. However, Chu Qing said that the courtiers had already
If you don’t cooperate, then you will bypass the courtiers, even if you set up a separate government office to supervise schools.”
Nangong Xi interjected: "Whether it's being run by the Qianqi Camp or being run by the New Yamen Office, the real resistance is the courtiers and the aristocratic families."
"Yes, that's true." After a pause, Wei Changfeng looked at Huang Laosi again: "Your Majesty, Chu Qing once said something to the old minister. These words were a bit extreme, but they were reasonable. If the old minister said it
…”
Huang Laosi knew Chu Qing's virtue very well and waved his hand casually: "That's all."
"Chu Qing asked the old minister if he wanted to create a prosperous world today. The old minister said yes. Chu Qing asked again if he wanted to create a prosperous world. Should the family members have to be eliminated? The old minister still said yes. Chu Qing finally said, that's the case.
, that is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As long as His Majesty opposes all opinions and opens schools for poor families, once the poor people come to the fore, they will try their best to suppress the noble families, because these poor people know in their hearts that they can study and express their ambitions.
, it is precisely because the emperor pushed against all the opinions and faced tens of thousands of resistances to promote this situation. It was His Majesty who gave them the opportunity to study. This opportunity was originally something that the aristocratic family wanted to kill. These poor scholars were far away.
Far more loyal to your majesty and the country than ministers from aristocratic families..."
"Well said!" Huang Laosi looked shocked: "Does Chu Qing have a charter?"
"Money!" Wei Changfeng showed a wry smile again: "Chu Qing said that there are two difficulties in this matter. In addition to the courtiers of the famous family, it is money."
Nangong Xi laughed dumbly: "That's true. Although Chu Qing is young, he has such high opinions. Every word is precious, not mentioning the courtiers, but where does this money and food come from?"
Wei Changfeng remained silent again.
Even the Minister of Hubu didn’t know where the money came from, let alone the Minister of Punishment.
"It all depends on people." Huang Laosi was quite optimistic and said cheerfully: "I don't mention whether there are regulations for this matter, or whether it will be feasible in the future. Just talking about Chu Qing's words makes me a little confused.
I have a feeling of mist in the clouds. If we want to create a prosperous age, we need to get rid of the clans of this family. Oh, the clans of the family, although they are aristocratic families, are still clans. Be loyal to the family first, and then talk about the family and the country. Chu Qing, coincides with me, Chu
The Qing family is worthy of being my trusted general..."
Before he could finish his praise, a young eunuch hurried in.
"Your Majesty, Cao Wu, the Minister of Rites, Yu Tianlun, the minister of Honglu Temple, Zhengnan Rubai, the director of the Imperial Academy, Zhou Kui, the prisoner, and Zhao Jin, the doctor of the Ministry of Personnel, have come to the palace to ask for an audience."
Nangong Xi's expression changed drastically: "What happened outside the palace?"
"It was said that the Qianqiying Yamen Office forcibly kidnapped a total of 68 merchants from central Beijing to the southern suburbs. They also said that just now, the detectives from the Qianqiying Yamen Office entered the city again to look for the relatives of those merchants and demanded a large amount of money."
Nangong Xi was stunned, and Zhai Xiu was also shocked: "Is this Chu Qing so rampant?"
Only Wei Changfeng, whose face was filled with bitterness, roughly knew what had happened.
Huang Laosi suddenly stood up: "But what auction house is that?"
How could the little eunuch know this? He shook his head and couldn't explain clearly.
Zhai Xiu was very angry: "If it is really because of the southern suburbs auction house, I know something about it. Originally, Qianqiying sent an invitation to the courtiers and merchants, but the courtiers shied away or ignored it. The same was true for the merchants. I want to come.
, Chu Qing became angry from shame, so he forcibly tied up those merchants. That was all. He also took away the money requested by his relatives. It is shocking that Qianqiying did this. Your Majesty, if you don't punish them severely, it will be hard to stop everyone from talking. "
Zhai Xiu is not targeting Chu Qing, but he feels that this kid is too arrogant. If the merchants don't go, you kidnap him, and don't say anything about the kidnapping, but also ask his family members to pay ransom. This is no longer lawless, this is simply
That is to say, there is no kingly law.
"Sun An!" Huang Laosi said angrily with a sullen expression on his face: "Prepare regular clothes for me."