On the sixth day of November in the fourth year of Taichu, there was a violent storm in Shenyang City, and the water in the Hun River surged to Guangji Gate.
Thunder boomed outside the Taisho Palace, dark clouds enveloped the imperial city, and streaks of lightning filled the sky, turning the night into day.
At dusk, Emperor Wu Ding sat high on the dragon chair, his eyes slowly scanning around the hall. The high priest Francisco, the chief internal officer Dongfang Zhu stood on the left and right, and Pei Dahu, Lin Yu and others were guarding him with knives.
In the main hall, shaded by candlelight, a large crowd of people stood, including officials from all provinces and frontiers of Da Qi, divided into two groups: civil and military.
Liu Zhaosun saw many familiar figures in the crowd:
Governor Chen Xin of Shandong, Governor Ge Yewen of Henan, Governor Huang Delun of Huguang, Governor Zhu Dingwen of Jinzhou, King Zhu Youxiao of Shunyi, Chief Officer Deng Changxiong of the Second Corps, Qi Jin of the Third Corps, Qin Jianxun of the Fourth Corps, Pu Gang of the Fifth Corps... ···Wang Zengbin, Jin Yinghe, Zheng Yishi, Zhao Lejiao, Zhongzhenhou Bumubutai, Liu Yuer, Yang Tong... Even Wu Aheng and Lu Demin who were far away from overseas rushed back.
Li Hao, the son of the King of Korea, and Zheng Zhilong, the Marquis of Jing'an, these two hostages who were abandoned by their relatives, were brought to the Da Zheng Palace today to make an exception to observe this highest-level meeting of the empire.
A group of civil servants quarreled from day to night, tirelessly admonishing the Supreme Emperor and proposing various national policies they thought were appropriate, only to be rejected by their colleagues or the Supreme Emperor.
The theme of this discussion is to revise and improve the "Qi Dynasty Land Acquisition System", as well as discuss the restoration of private property and the resumption of scientific examinations. In addition, there are also reforms of farmers' associations, chambers of commerce, workshops, and schools...
The empire's territory was vast. As of October 4, the fourth year of Taichu, Daqi's territory extended to Jianghuai in the south, Sakhalin Island in the north (may have expanded to the Bering Strait), North Korea in the east, and Shaanxi in the west. In addition, most of Mongolia It was also ruled by Da Qi.
In this vast territory, there are ten provinces and more than 70 states and prefectures. There are hundreds of governors and prefects alone. In addition to the officials from various chambers of commerce and workshops, there are more than 200 officials in total this time.
Chief Assistant Kang Yingqian informed everyone in advance that when meeting the Supreme Empress, they must advise Qi Dynasty on the land and property system and the private property system. Everyone must express their attitude in the main hall, whether they support or oppose Da Qi's new policy.
In fact, without the instigation of Chief Kang, the officials in Guan Guan would talk endlessly. Many of them were holding back their anger. Over the years, the empire had appointed them to implement the New Deal in various provinces and governments, implement the land-acreage system, and implement policies. It can be said to be difficult.
Several elderly prefects described it:
"Mother Xipi, (the New Deal) is more troublesome than when Zhang Taiyue cleared his father-in-law's land!"
Of course, most people just cursed in their hearts, wondering what to do. After all, their arms couldn't twist their thighs, and no one was stupid enough to openly challenge the authority of the court.
When these local officials who were dissatisfied with the imperial decrees and violated the laws openly and secretly, when they heard that the new chief minister was going to summon officials from all over the world to discuss state affairs, they immediately rushed to Shenyang without stopping.
This topic about the direction of the imperial system has been hotly debated from the beginning.
About 30% of local officials, chamber of commerce treasurers and directors strongly demanded all-round reforms: they suggested that Daqi’s existing land-acre system be immediately abolished, all fields be redistributed to the people according to the degree of fertility and barrenness of the land, and land leasing be resumed. Protect the private property of the people·······
The ideas of these officials are quite similar to the best suggestions proposed by Kang Yingqian in front of the Emperor. Of course, the officials' ideas are more exaggerated, and the Emperor may not be willing to accept them.
About 30% of the officials resolutely oppose any reform. They advocate maintaining the status quo. If necessary, they should further strengthen the land system and the abolition of private property, and severely crack down on various black market transactions and smuggling activities. If necessary, they can use troops stationed nearby to Corps. The Supreme Emperor also cannot accept such an idea. The remaining 40% are the silent majority. They choose to watch the limelight and help whoever wins.
The ministers put forward various suggestions, covering all aspects of land, private property, imperial examinations, military, diplomacy, and trade.
The little eunuchs who were responsible for recording the proceedings wrote more than 2,000 pages of rice paper recording the opinions of the officials.
It can be seen that the complexity of this topic discussion is no less than that of a large-scale military war.
Over the past two days, even an energetic demigod like the Supreme Emperor, under such repeated bombardments, heard the noise in his ears from early morning to sunset for three consecutive days, and he began to feel drowsy.
The peaceful Taisho Palace in the past was dimly visible, and those energetic officials had no intention of taking a break.
After all, it was the first time for many people to see the Supreme Emperor, the first time to see this legendary emperor.
At this moment, Liu Zhaosun was leaning on his chin, and the noise around him continued in his dazed mind.
To be fair, he doesn't have much hope for this reform (or regression), because there will be struggles between different interest groups, and this reform is destined to be bloody, even though it has been peaceful so far.
In the past two days, ministers from other places sent various memorials to the Supreme Emperor and asked for money, food, and firearms, but Liu Zhaosun rejected them all.
So far, the Supreme Emperor has not let go. He is afraid that once he lets go, more "beggars" will swarm in.
What happened next was beyond his control.
~~~~~
The first assistant Kang Yingqian sat next to the emperor's dragon chair, closest to Liu Zhaosun, showing the irreplaceable important role of Lao Kang.
Sitting next to Kang Yingqian were Wang Huazhen, Yang He, Lu Xiangsheng, Huang Gongfu, Du Yinxi, Hou Xun and others.
These are the members of the new Da Qi cabinet. In just one month, the original cabinet group with Sun Chuanting and Ma Shiying as the core has been completely eliminated from the highest level of imperial power.
In the previous cabinet, many people unfortunately became the cost of the empire's trial and error and became veritable scapegoats. Emperor Wu Ding was quite lenient to these scapegoats and did not even order the execution of any of them. He just exiled them far away and sent all their families into exile. Protected...
Kang Yingqian, who is in his sixties or seventies, seems particularly energetic now.
As the saying goes, power is the best aphrodisiac, and this sentence couldn't be more appropriate for Lao Kang.
Over the past three days, Kang Yingqian helped the Supreme Emperor withstand countless "attacks" from ministers - the so-called attacks refer to the suggestions of ministers, and the suggestions of some local officials were too outrageous and were undoubtedly a shameful attack - Kang Yingqian is still full of energy, his small eyes are staring around him, looking at his cabinet colleagues over and over again, whether to show off or to remind everyone to pay special attention.
I wonder if Lao Kang took the ancestral secret medicine Vajra Powder tonight, so he was so energetic.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Kang Yingqian, who was very satisfied with his ambition, suddenly caught a glimpse of the Supreme Emperor taking a nap on the dragon throne, and called out softly:
"The Great Emperor,"
After shouting several times in a low voice, Liu Zhaosun remained motionless, and then a low snoring sound was heard.
The ministers were far away and could not hear the Supreme Emperor's snoring.
Kang Yingqian looked embarrassed and waved to his cabinet members, telling them to be calm.
"It's okay. Maybe the Emperor was tired last night..."
Kang Yingqian made a pun. He habitually searched for it in his sleeves, preparing to take one so that the Supreme Emperor would no longer be sleepy.
At this moment, His Highness heard a deafening shout:
"Your Majesty! Cut it off immediately! No more hesitation! Immediately issue an order to resume the scientific examination. There is still half a year until the next spring exam, and the scholars can prepare in advance. I sincerely request..."
Kang Yingqian glanced over there. It was Chen Xin, the governor of Shandong. Old Kang grunted and straightened his back.
Chen Xin, the governor of Shandong, talked endlessly in front of the Emperor about his plan to resume scientific research.
Chen Xin had been governor of Shandong for five years, and Ju was born in Huainan. At this moment, he seemed to be a descendant of Confucius. What he wanted to restore most was the imperial examination.
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