"One kilogram of the land of Qi is one kilogram and two taels of the land of Chu, and one kilogram of the land of Chu is nine taels of the land of Zhao. Your Majesty will unify the four seas, and the world will return to Qin. Such differences should be put to an end. Once unified, it will be unified for all generations. Jiang Shang asked your majesty , unify weights and measures!”
Lu Buwei, who is good at national affairs and even better at business, loudly asked for orders. The old man who had traveled all over the country to do business was very familiar with the weight of each place.
In addition to affecting the independence of previous countries like words, roads, and customs, differences in measures, quantities, and measures also affect the economic development between various places.
"Sir, you don't forget your roots."
The First Emperor learned everything that happened in Han from spies and knew about the existence of the Lu Chamber of Commerce.
He thought that Lu Buwei was admonishing because he wanted to make money and do business, just like Ying Chengyu to develop foreign wealth.
On the bright side, the businessman would benefit the most from this matter, so he said something profound.
The ministers who did not know Lu Buwei's true identity would not think about business like the First Emperor. The first thing they think of is their own interests.
They looked at Lu Buwei with even more hatred. In the area where nobles from aristocratic families were sitting, someone immediately stood up to refute.
The person who stood up was not a young nobleman, but Wei Zhang, the head of the Wei family. This thin middle-aged man had just scolded Li Si, a scholar, and seemed to be the main reason why Li Si lost Tingwei.
"On the battlefield, those who rush in to seize glory are easily ambushed. If they fail to kill the enemy, they will die on the spot. The same is true for state affairs. It cannot be done overnight. What the Prime Minister said is a pertinent statement, but it should not be implemented at this time. It can take three years. It’s better to go later.”
Compared to scolding Li Si, Wei Zhang, who didn't know Lu Buwei's details, seemed very polite this time.
No one can achieve this position. Even if he hates Lu Buwei deeply in his heart, Wei Zhang does not want to hastily make an unknown powerful enemy before there is a formal hostility.
However, Lu Buwei didn't think so. He came to court this time not to make friends, nor to come to be Marquis Wenxin, who had dominated the Qin State decades ago and led the Qin State's civil servants.
When he comes back this time, it’s a reform!
The old man will always remember what Ying Chengyu said to him in the room last night.
"Reform is not about treating guests to dinner, writing articles, or painting and embroidering. It cannot be so elegant, so leisurely, so gentle, so gentle, courteous, and thrifty. Reform is a riot, a violent action in which one class overthrows another class."
Recalling King Xiao Qin's warning last night, the domineering look similar to that of the late king made Lu Buwei's originally serious face unconsciously smile.
He faced Wei Zhang, and the heartfelt smile on his face made Wei Zhang immediately smile back and nod slightly.
[This Jiang Shang can still communicate. ]
The First Emperor, who was still slightly prejudiced against Lu Buwei, didn't want to rely on Lu Buwei in everything or provide benefits to Lu Buwei, so he nodded towards the thin Wei Zhang.
"Lao Tzu once said: Governing a big country is like cooking small dishes. Wei Zhang's words are similar to those of Lao Tzu, so this matter should be put aside for the time being."
The ministers breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that okay, okay, this Jiang Shang is still humane after all.
At that moment, Lu Buwei, with a warm smile on his face, shook his head firmly.
"No, this must be implemented immediately."
Wei Zhang's face darkened.
The faces of the officials darkened.
[This is determined to kill us! This man deserves to die! ]
Wang Wan shook her head slowly in her heart.
[Chang'an Jun lost his sense of proportion, Lu Buwei also lost his sense of proportion no matter what. Even if you really want to do something, you must consider it carefully. ]
Li Si closed his eyes to cover up the flickering light.
[Going forward without leaving any way out, is this what Si will do in the future? Only in this way can you enter the eyes of your majesty? ]
"It will be implemented in three years. Are you going to get money from the treasury for another three years? Your calculations are really better than those of businessmen!"
In this era, merchants were synonymous with lowliness, their place of origin was lowly, their status was higher than that of slaves, and lower than that of common people.
Even if the Qin State had a merchant prime minister, it would not change the fact that merchants had a low status.
Lu Buwei compared the ministers with the businessmen. The ministers felt greatly insulted, and some good people jumped up to show Lu Buwei that Qin Jianli was disadvantageous.
If it weren't for the fact that you were not allowed to bring weapons into the palace, dozens of Qin swords would have been slashing at Lu Buwei at this moment.
The First Emperor listened to Lu Buwei's unceremonious words, and when he saw that the ministers reacted so fiercely, he suppressed the hatred in his heart that was as thin as a hair.
He said in a deep voice: "How do you say this?"
"Salary, taxes."
Lu Buwei was the first to utter two words.
The First Emperor, who had just been confused, suddenly became enlightened. He looked at the roaring ministers below with undisguised anger in his eyes.
[You want to deceive me! ]
The ministers restrained their behavior one after another, as if they were afraid of the power of the First Emperor. They sat back on their seats with confused expressions as if they didn't know why His Majesty was angry again, and cursed Lu Buwei in their hearts for not being a human being.
In the state of Qin, salaries and taxes were paid in grain, and grain was measured by weight. For example, the highest salary in the Qin State was two thousand stones, and this stone was the unit of weight.
In fact, throughout the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, this was basically the case in all countries. This is because in ancient times when productivity was insufficient, food was the most reliable hard currency.
"I don't know how much this person's salary is. I think that the annual salary of someone who can go to court and dare to speak like this should be no less than two thousand dan. Your Majesty lives in Xianyang. The two thousand dan given to this person is Qin's two thousand dan. There is no objection.
"Within Hangu Pass, Qin's quantity will be enforced, and there will be no problems with salaries and taxes. But what about other lands? If Zhao's land levies 50,000 shi of grain, should it be based on Qin's quantity or Zhao's quantity? When Chu officials distribute their salaries, should they be based on Qin's quantity? , or Chu Liang?
"If measuring, measuring, and weighing are not unified as soon as possible, I dare to say that all the kings of the court will have their hands in salary and taxes. A stone measured in Chu will be equal to a stone and a half measured in Qin. If the land of Chu collects 50,000 stones of grain, the local people will measure it according to Chu. Conquer and deliver with Qin.
"Your Majesty will receive 50,000 shi from Qin, and you will receive 25,000 shi from Qin. Zhao's amount is less than Qin's amount, and one stone from Qin is equal to one and a half stones from Zhao. If there are thousands of Qin officials in Zhao, each of them should be given a salary of two hundred to pay Qin's salary. stone, the total salary is 200,000 stone.
"After leaving Hangu Pass, Zhao only had 200,000 shi left in salary, and each of the Qin officials in Zhao had only 200 shi. Zhao's 100,000 shi will be left in Hangu Pass and in the granaries at the houses of all the kings. .Your Majesty, do you think this matter should be slowed down?"
Lu Buwei's words were like a switch that controlled the expressions of the ministers. The more he spoke, the wider the switch was, and the darker the faces of the ministers became.
What Lu Buwei said was just the roughest reasonable way to make money. In actual operation, what the ministers did would be much better than what Lu Buwei said.
But the essence of the matter remains the same, which is to make money by making use of the differences in degree, quantity, and balance in line with Qin law.
"I serve as your humerus, and you treat me as your treasury."
The First Emperor was furious and looked at Wei Zhang who stood up first with cold eyes.
"Wei Zhang was demoted to the fifth rank."
PS: I went to the hospital today for an intravenous drip. It was a little late and I still have some abdominal pain.
