"What are you doing standing here? Sit down!" Emperor Liu said to Liu Yang as the father and son were alone in the palace.
"Yes!" Liu Yang gestured with his hands, lifted his robe and sat down.
Looking at the well-behaved prince, Emperor Liu pondered for a moment and said leisurely: "I heard that in the past two years, there has been a trend in Tokyo of riding in soft sedan chairs and shoulder carriages. Officials with a little bit of power have all This is the way to go. Not only in the officialdom, but also among the people in general, it has become a common practice to travel in sedan chairs. Some people are even competing to see whose sedan is more gorgeous, more exquisitely made, and more expensive. Is this a matter of fact!"
Hearing Emperor Liu mention such a thing, Liu Yang was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said: "It is indeed true. However, traveling on the shoulder has been around since ancient times, and the imperial court has not banned it. It has only become popular in recent years."
"You didn't find any problems from it?" Emperor Liu said calmly.
Liu Yang was immediately concerned and responded with his hands raised: "Please tell me!"
Emperor Liu's tone was a little cold: "In my opinion, people who like to ride in sedans are lazy people and are the beginning of degeneration. They like to be held and carried, right? In this way, they can show their power, identity, and status?" Does it seem like they are superior to others?
Even if we don't mention these, at least two people are needed to travel in one sedan, let alone those four-carrying or eight-carrying sedans. I heard that Liu Shu built a Huayu that could be carried by sixteen people, and with accompanying escorts, he could travel with dozens of retinues.
Zoom in to the whole of Tokyo and the whole Han Dynasty. Have you ever thought about how much manpower is wasted because of riding in sedan chairs? If so many people are used in production, how much food and products can be created, and how much value can be generated? You may have considered it? Don’t you think it’s a pity that so much manpower is wasted in such a vain? "
After hearing what Emperor Liu said, Liu Yang's expression gradually became serious. After thinking about it for a moment, he had to admit that what Emperor Liu said was quite reasonable. In addition, in recent governance, the imperial court has begun to attach importance to encouraging mulberry farming and expanding production, while at the same time trying to reduce and control the urban population as much as possible.
As for the habit of riding a sedan chair, something that was commonplace in daily life, after Emperor Liu said this, it also reflected a waste of manpower. This was indeed ignored by Liu Yang.
Emperor Liu continued: "The Han civilization has a long history and a splendid culture, but some things, in my opinion, are just dross, such as the shoulder culture, which should be abandoned and swept into the garbage dump of history!"
"I'm so ashamed!" Liu Yang stood up and said, and then habitually followed his train of thought and asked: "In my opinion, how should this situation be rectified?"
"From now on, the Han Dynasty prohibits officials and civilians from riding sedan chairs!" Emperor Liu said with a somewhat stern tone: "Anyone who commits a crime, no matter who they are, will be demoted to the prison camp! How many people are required to carry it, how many years of hard work will it take!"
After listening to Emperor Liu's opinion, Liu Yang hesitated for a moment and said, "It's just that some of the old ministers are very old. If they don't have a palanquin to ride on, I'm afraid they'll have difficulty traveling. Is there any extra mercy for them?"
Glancing at Liu Yang, Emperor Liu said coldly: "Can't we ride in a car? Can't carriages, donkey carts, and ox carts provide travel convenience? Those young and strong civil and military men can't even ride horses?"
"Yes!" Liu Yang lowered his head, thought for a moment, and then said: "However, there are some places where access is restricted, but they are beyond the reach of vehicles and require manpower."
"If there was such a place, wouldn't the young and middle-aged people have legs? Wouldn't they be able to walk? Old people, why would they go to such a place? Ordinary people, who would be willing to ride in a sedan chair, and who would have the conditions to ride in a sedan chair, even if they encounter injuries, etc. In an emergency, there are many ways to travel, such as carts and trolleys, even if they are carried on people's backs. Do you need such a shiny and useless thing as a sedan?" Emperor Liu said with a hint of irritation in his tone:
"Don't bother me about the minutiae anymore. In short, I don't want to see or hear any more people with good hands and feet traveling in sedan chairs! If you find a case, punish it. If a noble official violates it, the crime will be increased! In this matter, you Supervise it personally!”
"Yes!" Hearing this, Liu Yang couldn't help but smile bitterly and responded helplessly. He is not opposed to this opinion, he just wants to discuss it more and consider it more comprehensively.
"And!" Emperor Liu thought of something and said to Yan Tuo, who was standing beside him: "You order to go down and burn all the carriages and carriages in the palace! The matter of banning sedan chairs starts with me. , starting from the palace!”
"Yes!" Yantuo naturally did not dare to question Emperor Liu's order and responded without hesitation.
But Liu Yang couldn't help but persuade: "Father, you set an example, and I admire you. However, it is inconvenient to destroy all the steps. I thought that all subjects in the world can ban riding in sedan chairs, but the emperor is different, so please Think twice!”
"What are you thinking twice about?" Emperor Liu retorted, "Could it be that you also think that my legs can't walk anymore?"
Liu Yang was startled and said quickly: "I never meant this!"
"That's it!" Emperor Liu waved his hand impatiently: "After decades of founding the country, everything has really happened! Let me tell you, there are some things and some customs that I just can't stand, and they should be banned. If it is prohibited, it should be severely punished!”
"yes!"
While agreeing, Liu Yang sighed silently in his heart. Emperor Liu's changes in the past two years have become more and more obvious. There is no doubt that he is headstrong and even arrogant. Although he has delegated great power, he does not allow others to make irresponsible remarks on his own ideas and opinions.
Taking the style of riding a sedan chair as an example, Liu Yang also felt that it was reasonable and could be banned, but the severity and roughness shown by Emperor Liu made people feel chilled.
"I'm reporting to the official family, King Xu is asking for an audience!" the chamberlain's announcement alleviated some of the awkwardness between father and son.
By the time the chubby Liu Chengyun entered the palace, the atmosphere had already returned to harmony. Liu Chengyun paid homage to the emperor and said, "I wonder if your Majesty has summoned his ministers to give you any instructions?"
Looking at King Xu, Emperor Liu did not hesitate and directly ordered: "There is something that needs help from Brother Yun to use his brain!"
"Your Majesty, please don't say this, but please give me your instructions!" Liu Chengyun immediately expressed his stance with full respect.
Emperor Liu didn't care about this and said: "Like the Mobei Khitan, they sent envoys to the south again to seek peace. I basically agree and plan to choose a daughter to go to Mobei and marry the Khitan King Yelu Longxu.
However, you also know that all the girls under my knees are not of the right age and have already been married. Therefore, I can only choose a suitable person from among the girls of the clan.
You are in charge of Zongzheng and have a good understanding of each company's situation. Do you have any suggestions? "
As soon as Liu Chengyun heard this, he understood what Emperor Liu meant. Although Emperor Liu told the truth, his youngest daughter was the Seventh Princess Longqing Princess Liu Hui. She was now twenty-two years old, married to Murong Chengtai's son, and had even given birth to a child.
However, even if there was an unmarried woman of suitable age, Emperor Liu would not be willing to marry far away due to his temperament. This kind of political marriage with the nature of "marriage" has to be selected from the daughters of the clan. Judging from the current situation of the Han clan, the one with the right age is probably Liu Fei, the eldest daughter of Prince Liu Xu.
Liu Fei was born in the seventh year of Kaibao and is now under the age of 28. Although she is a little older than Yelu Longxu, she is exactly the same age. However, Liu Chengyun did not dare to make such a discussion. After much deliberation, he could only choose from the side branches of the clan.
There is also a precedent for this. The princess of Goryeo Wangwang was his daughter Liu Chengyun. After thinking for a while, Liu Chengyun asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, my brother Liu Chengxi's family has a daughter Liu Lin. She is eighteen years old and has not yet been married. She has a dignified appearance. What do you think?"
"Liu Chengxi" Emperor Liu thought for a while before he remembered which one it was: "What is his condition now?"
Liu Chengyun said: "Your Majesty, back then, Liu Chengxi was deprived of the post of governor of Xiazhou and demoted to a commoner because of the civil unrest in Xiazhou. Now he is just a commoner!"
Hearing what Liu Chengyun said, Emperor Liu came back to his senses, looked at him, and said meaningfully: "Brother Yun, this is also well-intentioned!"
"Shame on you!" Seeing that his little thoughts were seen through, Liu Chengyun smiled honestly.
"Yes!" Emperor Liu agreed without thinking too much: "Liu Lin married far away and has made great contributions to the country. As for Liu Chengxi, he can be reinstated and will be sent by the Ministry of Civil Service Examination Committee!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
(End of chapter)
