"sit!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
After entering, from standing to kneeling, from kneeling to standing, until now, Liu Jichang finally got the treatment of sitting with him. This mood has completely calmed down from the anxiety. In contrast, he even feels comfortable.
Looking at Liu Jichang, Liu Yang raised his hand, smoothed down his sleeves, and said, "Tell me why I'm here!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Jichang immediately cheered up and responded: "I respectfully listen to your instructions!"
Liu Yang: "How much do you know about Anminfang in Nancheng?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Jichang's feeling of relief disappeared instantly. His Highness the Crown Prince would not have wandered into a neighborhood in Nancheng. Liu Jichang secretly guessed in his heart. He looked at Liu Yang carefully and saw that his expression was like this. Liu Jichang's heart suddenly sank.
After immersing himself in deliberation, Liu Jichang said: "Back to Your Highness, Anminfang is located in the southeast of Guocheng, adjacent to Kangmin, Lemin and Huimin. Most of the scholars and people living there are outsiders who make a living by helping workers in the capital. "
After pausing for hesitation, Liu Jichang continued: "The above four districts are relatively poor areas in Tokyo. The public security situation is also slightly inadequate, with constant nuisance and many crimes occurring every year..."
He looked at Liu Jichang with an indifferent gaze, and after putting enough pressure on him, Liu Yang said leisurely: "Not bad, I don't know anything about anything!"
The prince's gaze gave Liu Jichang a feeling of thorns on his back, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead unconsciously. Liu Jichang gritted his teeth and said, "This is under the rule of my ministers. It is your duty to understand the people's sentiments. I dare not slack off."
However, when he said this, he obviously lacked confidence.
Liu Yang chuckled twice and said calmly: "I visited Anminfang today, and it was an eye-opener! Anmin, Kangmin, Lemin, Huimin, the name of the village is quite good, but it is a pity that it cannot match the people's sentiments. actually!"
After saying these words, Liu Jichang's heart suddenly trembled, and his head was lowered: "Your Highness, minister, minister..."
At this time, Liu Jichang was a little confused about how to explain it. Nancheng Fourth Square can be said to be the slums in Tokyo at the moment, with chaotic security and rampant ghosts. In this matter, no matter how you defend yourself, you will easily be taken advantage of.
Liu Jichang was aware of the situation, but precisely because of this, he knew it but did not ask or turned a blind eye. And if you don't know, the nature is even worse, and the label of dereliction of duty and neglect of government can be directly slapped on the head.
With his mind spinning wildly, Liu Jichang tried to find a reason, but no matter what reason or excuse, they were all so inappropriate. However, while Liu Jichang was thinking hard about how to deal with this matter, Liu Yang had already spoken out and sighed: "The predicament in Nancheng Fourth Square is probably not temporary. It takes many years to cause it. You have only been in office for one year. , to say it’s your fault would be unfair to you!”
"Your Highness is wise!" Liu Jichang came back to his senses and burst into tears of gratitude. There is nothing more touching than a boss taking the initiative to explain for himself. At this moment, Liu Jichang felt that His Highness the Crown Prince could not be more wise.
Liu Yang obviously has a strong point in his heart. If he is held accountable in this way, then all the previous prefects including Liu Jichang will be responsible. Can he still be held accountable for this? Take the previous Lu Duan as an example. His political integrity was highly praised and affirmed. Even the problems he failed to solve can be concluded from this. The emergence of slums in Nancheng is obviously not entirely the problem of the prefect. .
"But!" Before Liu Jichang could take a few breaths of happiness, Liu Yang changed the topic and said: "After taking office for one year and observing the situation, why don't you find ways to deal with the changes?
Even if poverty cannot be saved, improvement measures cannot be taken? Can't we eliminate those ruffians and thieves who bully the poor? Why don't you restrain those officers who enforce the law roughly and beat and scold them at every turn?
If the people are poor and can still seek for themselves, the deterioration of public security and the corruption of morals are the fault of the government. I have been thinking today, if the government does nothing, how can the people be safe? "
"Your Highness is right in reprimanding you! This minister mismanaged the government and ignored the sentiments of the people in Nancheng. He is willing to accept the blame!" After hearing Liu Yang's accusation, Liu Jichang did not dare to argue and listened to the instructions honestly. His attitude was very upright, and there was a little guilt on his face.
Seeing this, Liu Yang raised his head and sighed: "Tokyo has always been famous for its purity. There are no rotten leaves on the roads and the roads are clear."
Dust, why is it that in the fourth quarter of Nancheng, there is really no clear dirt and filth everywhere? Already so poor that you don’t even want to go to the dung collector? "
"Also, speaking of it, perhaps the princes in the court can't believe that there are beggars in the city of Tokyo, at the feet of the emperor! The court has long had a policy that all those who are not productive and have no property will move to the border. Why not implement it in place?"
After hearing what Liu Yang said, Liu Jichang subconsciously said: "Your Highness, Kaifeng Prefecture has targeted relocation for the unemployed. However, it is difficult to identify the difficulties, and most of them are unwilling to move to the other side, and even deliberately avoid and escape.
As for those beggars, most of them are old, weak, sick and disabled. Even if they move to the border, they cannot survive in the difficult frontier areas. In the city, they can still get some food and clothing to survive..."
"For the widowed and lonely, Kaifeng Prefecture has no relief measures? How much food and cloth can they spend? Just ignore them and watch them, helpless and begging for food?" Liu Yang immediately asked: "In the prosperous age of Kaibao, Does it have nothing to do with them?”
Liu Yang's words were just a casual question under emotion. However, they seemed to reveal the essence of certain matters. Liu Jichang was silent. Facing the somewhat angry prince, he did not dare to disobey him. However, upon hearing this question, he couldn't help but said: "Your Highness is kind-hearted and has a mind for all people in the world. I admire him endlessly.
However, it is difficult for me to express my sympathy. However, I am in some poverty and it is difficult to provide relief. The imperial court is not omnipotent. With the financial resources of the Kaifeng government, it may be possible to provide assistance. However, this situation does not stop at Kaifeng. How can the government in the world accept it all. Even if it can, it will bring a burden to the government..."
When Liu Jichang said these words, Liu Yang's expression became a little complicated, even a little exciting. After staring at him for a while, Liu Yang said with a hint: "You are telling me the truth!"
"Your Highness!" Liu Jichang lowered his head again, looking very embarrassed.
After another period of silence, Liu Yang said softly: "It's not that I can't understand the difficulties faced by the government. I just serve the people as an official, but I don't understand the most basic principle? Among the officials, there are many who practice the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. The words of the saints ,Being poor cares themselves, being wealthy cares the world.
Your Kaifeng Mansion cannot control all the beggars in the world. Now under your rule, you can only do nothing and have no choice?
You can imagine that you are benevolent to the farmers in various counties, but the Fourth Square of Nancheng is right in front of you in Tokyo, but why do you turn a blind eye? Listen but not hear? "
"I'm ashamed!" At this time, the prince's body was shrouded in a layer of "great light and righteousness", which made Liu Jichang afraid to look directly, and he didn't know if he really felt ashamed.
Unlike Emperor Liu, who was scheming and pretentious, Liu Yang still maintained a more or less innocent heart and was even a little idealistic. In other words, he was too deeply influenced by Emperor Liu and had a deep love for the people.
I was deceived too much, but I only learned a watch. Perhaps the light shrouding Emperor Liu's body was too strong to look directly at, which also made it difficult for Liu Yang to see clearly the true nature of Emperor Liu's single husband.
Did Emperor Liu love the people? Nature is loving, even before and after his rule, and his attitude has not wavered until now. However, the purpose of Emperor Liu's love for the people is not to love the people, but to maintain governance and just show up.
Emperor Liu did a lot to treat the people well, and introduced many policies to benefit the people. However, he was never lenient in punishments, but many situations were covered up.
"I won't embarrass you. I'll give you two months. After two months, I will travel again. By then, I hope to see a new scene!" Liu Yang said calmly after hesitating for a while, but his tone was unquestionable.
Although Liu Jichang felt embarrassed, the prince had already spoken and he did not dare to respond. He sighed helplessly and said, "Yes!"
"One more thing. When I was traveling in Nanshi today, I heard something. Some people were collecting taxes from the vendors for the government. What was going on?" Liu Yang mentioned another matter.
Hearing this, Liu Jichang's face could not help but heat up, and he hesitated, not knowing how to respond.
Such a reaction naturally made Liu Yang more concerned, and his tone became a bit stern: "Why, my question is difficult to answer. Or is there some hidden secret in it?"
Seeing this, Liu Jichang shook his head repeatedly: "Your Highness is currently
, how dare I hide anything. This matter is also known to me. The reason is that it is not easy to collect business taxes. Since the abolition of the market division system, many businessmen have emerged in Tokyo. Thousands of them are distributed in the streets and alleys of various shops. They can even set up a stall in front of their home. Business matters.
These small stalls and hawkers are the most inconvenient to manage and collect taxes. There is a serious shortage of tax collectors in the government, and they can only be used in markets, docks, yards, and the workshops of large merchants. It is difficult to take care of the rest.
However, since those traders are doing business, the government should collect commercial taxes. Therefore, Kaifeng Prefecture used this to formulate policies and let some non-governmental organizations be responsible for collecting taxes from those small traders and paying them to the government... "
Speaking of this, Liu Jichang's voice became much softer unconsciously, and he was obviously a little embarrassed. Another thing he didn't mention was that this part of the income came from Kaifeng Mansion's small treasury.
"Okay, even the power of taxation can be decentralized! What a non-governmental organization, it is clearly a gang of ruffians who prey on the common people and bully the market!" Liu Yang couldn't help but get angry: "Will the Kaifeng government supervise this policy? Can the details of taxation be determined? Can you prevent the disadvantages involved?"
"Today, I witnessed with my own eyes how lawless they were!" Liu Yang burst out with anger: "In order to save convenience, you sit back and collect money every month every year. Those small businessmen in Tokyo suffer the consequences. Do you, the prefect, know how much oppression you have endured?"
Facing the angry prince, Liu Jichang felt a little uneasy.
