The scholar family and the royal family were not a complete community of interests.
Not long after arriving here, Liu Chan fully realized this.
In many cases, the imperial power was on the opposite side of the aristocratic families, so Liu Chan always wanted to weaken the aristocratic families. In Lao Liu's opinion, it was very normal, and even a reflection of his good teaching.
The political game and even military struggle between the imperial power and powerful local families has not stopped since the founding of the Western Han Dynasty by Emperor Gaozu, and it became even more intense in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The excessive land annexation and expansion of power by powerful families has always been a sword hanging over the head of the imperial power.
Liu Chan knew this very well.
"Father, Uncle Zhuge, I have some thoughts in Zen, and I won't express my displeasure."
While Lao Liu was happy, Liu Chan planned to tell some of his thoughts to these two decision-makers who he could absolutely trust, and discuss them among the three of them first.
Unlike themselves, they do not have the vision of future generations as a time traveler.
But precisely because of this, he can more accurately judge the reactions of other courtiers and powerful families, so as to consider a plan that is more acceptable to others and will not cause an uproar.
Lao Liu was tasting what his son just said, and he felt that the more he tasted it, the more delicious it became.
He was a strange man in troubled times who could say "people-oriented" when he was leading people across the river. However, he had always been limited by the times and vision, and always felt that he couldn't do it right, but he didn't know what the crux was.
At this time, many new ideas emerged from these words.
Lao Liu was just playing brainstorming with himself, when he heard the words and said happily: "Oh? Do you have any ideas? Tell me, father?"
Zhuge Liang was also very curious. Most of the discussions he and the prince had along the way were about weapon upgrades, formation improvements, and tactical ideas.
He rarely touched on these government matters, and he looked very interested when he heard this. Even though he had been running around for more than a month, he was still in high spirits and did not feel tired at all.
"The orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty declined, and the children often think about the reasons in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes." Liu Chan clarified his thoughts and said, "I will give you a few words here for the reference of my father and Uncle Zhuge..."
"Hey~ There are no outsiders here, why should my son be too modest? Tell me quickly." Old Liu waved his hand.
"First, the local tyrants just mentioned engage in land annexation and expropriation, causing the people to lose their land and become their vassals, which in turn strengthens their power."
Lao Liu and Zhuge Liang nodded. They naturally knew this and had dealt with it before.
As for Liu Chan's "ladder taxation" system in Nanzhong, we can also watch the aftereffects of Nanzhong and consider whether to implement it in other places.
Liu Chan continued: "Secondly, the imperial court's election and selection system is controlled by local governors and the like. Are there more noble and selfless people, or are there more selfish people? In selecting officials, relatives and retainers are often chosen, and the family is growing stronger.
"In addition to being loyal to the court, those who are elected must also be loyal to the person who promoted them. Most of the officials in each county consider the private interests of the local big families, instead of taking into account the interests of the country and the people. Eventually, the central government and the local governments are in conflict and competing for profits."
These words were a bit more profound, and Lao Liu frowned.
The current inspection and promotion system has this shortcoming, and he is also aware of it. However, the people in various places know best where there are talents and who has the ability. Aren't they the local county guards and wealthy families?
Bypassing them, how can we tell who is a talented person and who is a mediocre person?
Besides, the people who are most capable of studying are the children of wealthy families.
In Lao Liu's opinion, this is an unsolvable knot.
Zhuge Liang was thoughtful, and he had already connected this point with the first point Liu Chan said. The whole thing was connected together, which gave him a lot more thinking.
He knew all these problems, but Zhuge Liang was once a member of a wealthy family, even though his family was not an aristocratic family that could change everything.
Limited by his identity and the shackles formed by the inertia of his thinking, in the past, although he had thought about it, he had only scratched the surface.
Now, with the expansion of Lao Liu's power, he has gradually raised his vision to the level of the king's auxiliary and the ruler of a country, no longer limited to the rise and fall of one family.
After learning more about Liu Chan, I immediately felt that my thinking was clear.
[Zhuge Liang’s favorability +1] (97)
Zhuge Liang stood up suddenly, as if meeting a close friend for the first time.
He stared at Liu Chan and said excitedly: "The big family monopolizes educational resources, then uses elected officials to gain political power, uses power to gain wealth, uses wealth to annex land, and uses landless farmers to gain military strength... In the end, the big one cannot lose.
"However, these tycoons who occupy a large amount of land use their power to resist taxes and avoid military service for their subordinates. The local tycoons enrich their private lives, leaving the national treasury empty and unable to maintain a large army. However, the powerful private armies are growing day by day!"
Liu Chan said with a smile: "What Uncle Zhuge said is absolutely true. The more powerful people oppressed us, and those who did not want to be slaves or shelters went up to the mountains to become bandits. As a result, bandits were everywhere, road bullies were rampant, and people's lives were becoming increasingly miserable.
"And the imperial court, with its treasury empty and unable to maintain a large army, had to rely on local powerful forces to suppress bandits and decentralized military power. The bandits separated themselves and caused chaos in the world... The Han Dynasty declined."
Zhuge Liang paced back and forth, then suddenly stopped and turned to Liu Chan: "Then the declining imperial power had to rely on relatives and even eunuchs to compete for power and profit, intensifying conflicts and eventually leading to chaos!"
Liu Chan cupped his hands and smiled and said: "That's it. Zen may have some imperfections in thinking, but it's generally like this."
Zhuge Liang also handed over: "The prince is quick in thinking and can sort out such chaotic and disordered things. He has great wisdom."
Old Liu half-opened his mouth, looking at his son and the military advisor, and the chaos of the world suddenly became clearer with each other's words.
Let him say it himself, he couldn't make such a fast turn in a short time, but he understood everything.
At this time, Lao Liu's eyes shone brightly, and he stood up and said: "So when encountering the shortcomings of reform, we need to start from three aspects: culture and education, official selection, and tax system! The tax system treats the symptoms, while selecting officials treats the root cause, and culture and education... are the basis for selecting officials!"
Liu Chan looked at Lao Liu in surprise.
"Old man, it's okay. He hit the nail on the head and applied inferences to other cases. It's hard to imagine that you and Gongsun Zan played with dogs and horses and did fashion shows when you were in school."
How could a man who was so deeply troubled by Boss Cao when he was down and out have only benevolence and no other strengths?
"One word from my father is worth more than a thousand words from mediocre people. How wonderful." Liu Chan immediately flattered him.
"The king is so talented that he has unrivaled talent, so why worry about the Han Dynasty not being prosperous and the Central Plains uncertain." Zhuge Liang also cupped his hand and slapped him.
Old Liu's face turned red with joy. He managed to keep his expression calm and pointed at the two of them: "You guys, it's better to speak more advice and less flattery."
The three of them looked at each other for a moment, but Lao Liu couldn't hold himself any longer, and all three of them laughed.
"Your Majesty, the banquet is ready."
"Okay!" Old Liu, who was a little drunk before he drank the wine, grabbed the arms of his son and the military advisor as when he came in, "Let's go, let's drink and talk. Hahaha..."
The three of them walked arm in arm, dismissed the waiter during the banquet, poured themselves a drink, and continued to talk about the restructuring.
But Liu Chan planned to stop there for the time being.
Today, he only planned to raise the problem, and he wanted Lao Liu and Uncle Zhuge to further discuss the matter of solving the problem, and even discuss it with Fazheng and other wise men.
He doesn't want to use his existing concepts to interfere with their thinking just yet.
Wait until they have their own ideas and solutions, and then express their thoughts when the time comes. The two contrast each other and complement each other.
In this way, it can appear more natural, so as not to cause Liu Chan to suddenly have a complete set of solutions in his mind, which will cause rumors and extraneous matters.
It also prevents the ministers from suddenly hearing about the new policy, finding it difficult to accept it, and causing many conflicts.
Each of these things is of great importance, and it is better to let the water flow slowly. As the saying goes, you can't eat hot fat in a hurry.
"By the way, father, I'm going to Nanzhong now, and I'll bring you a gift back." Liu Chan said suddenly.
Old Liu put down his wine cup and was stunned for a moment before saying: "...Oh? What is it?"
My son had always brought gifts for his mother wherever he went before. When would he get a share?
Whether Yong Kai's family wealth is good or his war horses and cattle are plowed, these are all official affairs and cannot be counted.
At this time, he didn't know what expression to make.
And Liu Chan was a little crazy in his heart: "Is it wrong? My throat is about to smoke. I even gave gifts, but this can't get the last bit of favorability?!"
A little depressed, he took out a strange-looking straw man and sent it over.
Old Liu took this little person who was not exactly exquisite, but he smiled happily: "What is this?"
"This is a witchcraft doll from a tribe in Nanzhong. It is said that it can block the father's troubles at critical moments."
"Hahaha, very good, very good, my son is interested." Old Liu grinned almost to his ears, took her into his arms solemnly, and asked smoothly, "What did you bring for your mother?"
Liu Chan was speechless when he heard this.
Zhuge Military Advisor, who was a little drunk after drinking some wine, looked at the prince's expression and asked narrowly: "Liang vaguely remembers that it seems to be a jasper Ruyi with fine workmanship, exquisite materials, and no trace of variegation in the whole body?"
Old Liu's smile suddenly froze on his face...
(End of chapter)
