jdhmnovel Chapter 636 Although I am not in the right, I am full of confidence!
Chapter 636 Although I am not in the right, I am full of confidence!
What's it like to have a father-in-law who isn't very smart?
Being a son-in-law is not easy, Yang Shaofeng sighed.
After pondering for a moment, Yang Shaofeng looked at Emperor Zhu and asked, "Didn't my father-in-law say before that during the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing of the Han Dynasty, there was no salt and iron monopoly, yet the people were still able to prosper?"
Emperor Zhu nodded.
Isn't this obvious?
Historical records praise the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing.
It is said that they had so much money that the string used to string the coins together rotted.
If it weren't for the solid foundation laid during the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, what would Liu Xiaozhu have had to fight the Xiongnu with?
Moreover, the Discourses on Salt and Iron states that Sang Hongyang was speechless when faced with the question of why the people were still prosperous during the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, despite the absence of a salt and iron monopoly.
This wasn't something Zhu Chongba made up.
However, Liu Xiaozhu was also a spendthrift. He not only squandered the wealth accumulated during the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, but it seems that even the money saved from the salt and iron monopoly was not enough for him. In his later years, he had to issue an edict of self-reproach to quell public anger.
Moreover, Liu Xiaozhu seems to be blind to the truth and mindless. Such a good prince was forced to rebel by him.
Yes, we must learn from Liu Xiaozhu's mistake and never make the same mistake.
Just as Emperor Zhu was internally ranting about Liu Che and resolving to learn from his mistakes, Yang Shaofeng chuckled and asked, "May I ask, Father-in-law, does the term 'people' in the Han Dynasty refer to those with names and surnames, or does it include those without names and surnames?"
Emperor Zhu was about to address the people of the world when he realized something was amiss.
Having a given name and having a surname are two completely different concepts.
Even surnames are two different concepts.
"Surname" represents the bloodline of a clan, originating from the maternal line and called clan surname. "Clan" is a mark of nobility and a title of the clan system. From the mid-Xia Dynasty, "clan" became a branch of "surname", indicating merit and status.
For example, King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang, had Ji as his surname and Youxiong as his clan name.
It wasn't until Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms and merged surnames and clan names that the distinction between them ceased.
Therefore, even though the distinction between surnames and clan names was no longer strictly defined during the Han Dynasty, a large number of commoners and slaves still did not have surnames.
Do commoners and slaves without surnames count as "people"?
Emperor Zhu frowned in thought, while Yang Shaofeng sighed slightly and said, "Therefore, I think the essence of the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing was actually a grand feast and revelry of local gentry and powerful figures."
"However, Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing were skillful and, through the operation of relocating wealthy households to be near the imperial tombs, they prevented the chaos that ensued at the end of the Han Dynasty."
"But it is clear that if we take Wang Mang and Emperor Guangwu as the dividing line, the Former Han and the Later Han only lasted for about two hundred years each. Apart from those few young emperors, it seems that only a few emperors could truly rule the country."
Emperor Zhu unconsciously shifted his body, feeling as if he were covered in thorns.
Damn it, we've been fooled by history books again!
More importantly, if we follow this scoundrel's line of thinking, then the matter of Crown Prince Liu Ju becomes complicated.
Could Jiang Chong be considered a powerful figure?
The powerful figures of the Han Dynasty and the local gentry of the Ming Dynasty seem to be no different.
If Jiang Chong dared to use witchcraft to force Liu Ju to rebel, what about the local gentry and virtuous people of the Ming Dynasty?
Xu Da, sitting next to him, lowered his head as if he wanted to disappear, while Lan Yu stared blankly at Emperor Zhu and Yang Shaofeng.
What nonsense are Shangwei and Yang Dianfeng talking about?
It seems that Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing of Han were quite clever, and they moved a large number of wealthy households to be near the imperial tombs.
If this can be considered clever, then why doesn't the emperor also relocate some wealthy households to the imperial mausoleum?
Of course, you can move, but you can't move everything; you have to leave some for His Highness the Crown Prince.
We can't leave His Highness the Crown Prince without wealthy households to relocate to, can we?
Lan Yu scratched the back of his head and said, "Sir, how about we move some wealthy households from eastern Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Fujian to Fengyang?"
Emperor Zhu glanced at Lan Yu with disdain, then sighed helplessly.
Forget it.
This brute is indeed a bit stupid, but stupidity has its advantages.
At least he's obedient.
They still completely favor our Biao'er.
This can be considered a good thing.
While inwardly cursing Lan Yu, Emperor Zhu looked at Yang Shaofeng and asked, "What is the connection between your question about whether the commoners and slaves during the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing could be considered 'people' and your interest in using them as laborers?"
Yang Shaofeng said matter-of-factly, "Of course there's a connection."
"During the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, there was no salt and iron monopoly, so those powerful and wealthy families could indulge themselves to the fullest."
“Now that our Great Ming Dynasty has a salt and iron monopoly, those local gentry and gentry will naturally not be willing to accept it.”
"Of course, there doesn't seem to be any necessary connection between the two."
Emperor Zhu glanced sideways at Yang Shaofeng and scoffed, "So what?"
"You're just after our laborers."
"And the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, and the salt and iron monopoly, have no necessary connection to your demand for laborers, right?"
"You bastard!"
Yang Shaofeng felt somewhat guilty after Emperor Zhu directly exposed his purpose.
But then, after a moment's thought, Yang Shaofeng, though not entirely in the right, said with great conviction, "Father-in-law, you've misunderstood your son-in-law!"
"I want to explain to my father-in-law that the salt and iron monopoly is a very necessary thing."
"To establish a salt and iron monopoly, a large number of government-run workshops are required first."
"For example, the salt fields in Dengzhou, the iron mines in Ningyang, and the coal mines in Ningyang."
“And each of these government-run workshops requires a large number of people.”
“These people are wicked and despicable, perfect for mining and road construction.”
Emperor Zhu was almost amused by Yang Shaofeng.
This bastard spouts a bunch of fallacies the moment he opens his mouth.
They've gone to extreme lengths to take these people from us as laborers.
Yang Shaofeng stared longingly at Emperor Zhu.
Have I said enough this time?
This official has stripped the powerful figures of the Han Dynasty bare.
Unless you're completely stupid, you should at least be on guard. Your great grandson, your sister, and your son shouldn't all be leaving you one after another.
I've gone to such lengths, how can you not give me my labor?
It is said that there were about a hundred brave local gentry and gentry this time.
Even if you include their extended family and relatives, the final total number might only be a few thousand.
It's a bit too little.
However, this is not too few in Ningyang County.
Send a thousand to mine coal, another thousand to iron ore, and the rest to build roads?
Just as Yang Shaofeng was mentally planning the future of these warriors, Emperor Zhu snorted coldly and said, "We have other plans for these people, so don't worry about them."
After a slight pause, Emperor Zhu said with exasperation, "You're supposed to be the emperor's son-in-law, can't you stop focusing on Ningyang and Dengzhou all the time?"
Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but roll his eyes.