Outside the mansion gate.
The darkness loomed over a large group of scholars.
All of them come from the five provinces in the south of the Yangtze River.
The Five Prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River were originally sacred places with many officials and gentry.
If the family has some conditions, they will let their nephews read and practice calligraphy, hoping that the family can have another court official, or at least a scholar.
After all, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, as long as scholars passed the scientific examination, they could obtain honors, receive preferential treatment from the court, and do not have to pay corvee taxes.
But the problem is that times have changed now!
As soon as Emperor Wude came to the throne, not long after that, he actually took action against the gentry and Jin gentry.
What kind of "dividing a small amount into an acre"!
What kind of "gentlemen and gentry work together as errands and receive food and supplies as one body"!
It was clearly a sharp blade used to cut down the gentry!
If fame and privileges are gone, then what’s the use of studying and taking exams?
Even if you become an official, without fame and privileges, it will be difficult to support your family!
All this is because of Yang Shiqi, a sycophant!
Under the deliberate instigation of some people, Yang Shiqi's reputation became completely infamous.
And it happened that he was in Songjiang Mansion, so a famous scholar and scholar gathered here, calling for friends and companions, and today he was going to ask Yang Shiqi for an explanation!
The moment Yang Shiqi appeared, the crowd of scholars immediately became excited.
All kinds of dirty words were heard endlessly, and the scolding was very unpleasant.
Yang Shiqi, however, remained calm and looked at these Jiangnan talents with an indifferent expression.
It wasn't until they were tired of scolding and subconsciously closed their mouths that Yang Shiqi spoke calmly.
"I heard that places with beautiful mountains and clear waters often have countless talented people."
"In a place as beautiful as Jiangnan, there must be an endless number of talented people."
"However, your performance today has greatly disappointed me. Are these the so-called Jiangnan talents?"
As soon as these words came out, the scholar, who was already extremely angry, became even more furious.
Seeing this, Xiong Ben was so frightened that his face almost turned green.
This Mr. Yang is a little too courageous!
There were tens of thousands of scholars at the scene!
If these stupid young people are really angered, then their men may not be able to protect Yang Shiqi.
"First of all, I am a cabinet orderer and an official of the imperial court!"
"According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, if an official is insulted on a mission to a certain place, the person involved in the case will have a sixty stick, be arrested and questioned, and the shackles will be taken off in one month!"
"Those who insult the imperial envoys will be punished with a hundred sticks, their homes will be confiscated, and they will be exiled!"
Yang Shiqi's voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard in the ears of all the scholars, making their faces change drastically!
When the crowd was agitated, Yang Shiqi had not yet shown his face, so they took advantage of the strength of the crowd and dared to curse.
But now Yang Shiqi has come face to face and directly quoted the Ming Dynasty Laws and Orders. If they dare to curse people in person like this again, the problem will be serious!
After all, Yang Shiqi was the cabinet minister of the current dynasty and the absolute confidant of Emperor Wude!
If he really wants to argue with you, even if he beheads those who insult him on the spot, no one can say "no"!
It was only at this moment that all the scholars realized that the person standing in front of them was not some cat or dog, but a court magnate who was highly valued by the emperor!
When thinking of this, many scholars showed fear on their faces.
But there are still many brave people who do not choose to back down.
"I dare to ask Mr. Yang, why do you want to bewitch the saint to listen to Jin Xian's slander and become that treacherous minister?"
A scholar asked impassionedly, which instantly aroused the resonance of everyone.
Yang Shiqi looked at this man and asked calmly: "You said that I am a sycophant and a lucky minister, but have I ever done anything that has harmed the country and the people?"
"The gentry and the gentry all work as errands and pay for food. Isn't this the paralysis syndrome proposed by Mr. Yang?"
The scholar refused to give up and put the problem directly on the table.
After all, these scholars gathered here just to question Yang Shiqi, how dare you do this!
Aren't you, Yang Shiqi, one of the Jin gentry yourself?
So why are we proposing such vicious policies that harm others but not ourselves?
Yang Shiqi smiled with disdain.
"Paralysis?"
"Have you read the book?"
"Do you know who is most important in the world?"
Facing Yang Shiqi's questioning, the scholar's expression froze and he didn't know how to speak for a while.
"Let's put it this way." Yang Shiqi gave him a step down, "Since the implementation of the One Whip Method, have any changes occurred in the five mansions in the south of the Yangtze River? Do you understand these?"
This question is actually not difficult to answer. As long as you are not a nerd who only reads books about sages, you can basically answer it.
"There are more and more people."
"Jiangnan is also becoming more and more prosperous."
"The homeless and hungry people are gradually disappearing."
After thinking for a moment, the scholar gave the answer.
Yang Shiqi nodded happily.
"Since you have seen it all, why do you still question the court's new policy?"
"After the implementation of the One Whip Law, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and the court's tax revenue increases. This is a benevolent national policy that benefits the country and the people!"
"And what you just said personally proves this point!"
After hearing this, all the scholars fell into deep thought.
If you follow what Yang Shiqi said, then this whipping method is indeed a benevolent national policy that benefits the country and the people.
After all, they have seen the changes in the five Jiangnan mansions, and everything is developing in a good direction!
"But what does this have to do with the latest new policy introduced by the imperial court?"
Another scholar questioned.
When Yang Shiqi heard this, instead of being angry, he smiled.
After all, they are young people, they just like to criticize the current ills and give advice on the country.
"Spreading a small amount of money into an acre is actually an advanced version of the whipping method."
"Because the whip law only equalized the corvee taxes and reduced the burden on the people's shoulders, but it did not completely solve the hidden dangers in the tax system."
"The biggest hidden danger is the capitation tax, which is also known as the head tax. Whether it is taxes, taxes or servitude, the court collects them based on the population base. This is an unreasonable method!"
"In local rural areas, the largest number of people are definitely ordinary people, and they have become the main tax payer group. But the problem is that the fields under their names do not match their number, or the income of these people does not match the amount of taxes they should pay. There’s a huge difference!”
"To put it bluntly, the gentry are the kind of people you aspire to be. They have occupied most of the fields in the local countryside through various means, forcing the local people to become tenants of their manor as hard labor, and those who refuse to bow their heads The homesteaders have become the ones who bear this part of the tax difference!"
"But after all, manpower is limited, food output is also limited, and the number of people who actually pay taxes is only that small. The gentry who own most of the fields and control a large number of tenants use their fame and privileges to avoid taxation and corvee. How should the court collect taxes? "
Yang Shiqi's sincere and kind words successfully opened a door to a new world for these scholars!
"This is wrong!"
"That's right, it's very wrong!"
"The people are suffering from corvee taxes, and the court cannot collect taxes!"
Scholars and scholars started a heated discussion. As long as you think along Yang Shiqi's train of thought, it is not difficult to find out where the problem lies.
It’s all those gentry and gentry who are causing trouble!
It hurts the people, hurts the court, and makes them rich!
Looking at the blushing scholar, Yang Shiqi showed a smile on his face.
Since you are using these despicable means, don't blame me for doing the same thing!
It's disgusting, who wouldn't?
If he comes openly, Yang Shiqi will also fight back openly.
But if you act like this, then you can’t blame me, Yang Shiqi!
Wait for these passionate scholars to go home and cause a scene!
