Chapter 612: Confucianism or Mohism
Ever since the imperial examination was introduced, a certain number of officials have been recruited in each subject, and these officials must have a place to go and a salary... This is only natural, right?
Everyone feels that way.
But today, some people in the government are questioning this natural law.
Why?
Zhao Wenhua was shocked and glanced at Yan Shifan.
There was a hint of surprise in Yan Shifan's eyes. He obviously did not expect Jiang Qingzhi's counterattack to be so sharp, and from this angle.
Lu Song accused the Mohists of being redundant, so Jiang Qingzhi should have defended them.
But Mr. Jiang did not even think of making any rebuttal, but instead pointed out the drawbacks of the imperial examination system.
This is more like besieging Wei to save Zhao.
wrong.
Yan Shifan looked at Jiang Qingzhi carefully and found that there was a calm look between his brows.
This is not a case of besieging Wei to save Zhao.
It's an attack!
Faced with the offensive of Lu Song and others, Jiang Qingzhi did not choose to fight back, but instead responded with attack.
Lu Song coughed dryly and said, "Why study? To cultivate oneself, govern the country and bring peace to the world. Since we were young, assisting the king to achieve prosperity has been our wish. All scholars in the world have this wish, so why can't we encourage them? Chang Wei Bo wants to determine the number of candidates for the imperial examination based on the number of official vacancies each year?"
This person is quite good... Jiang Qingzhi nodded.
"For example, last year there were 100 vacancies in the government, and there are more than 10,000 scholars in the world. If these people were to compete for these 100 vacancies, how many of them would feel that their future is bleak?"
Lu Song said in a leisurely voice, "This is a lot. Sometimes, there are less than a hundred officials who retire in a year, but how many scholars can participate in the Spring Examination? There are hundreds of thousands of scholars participating in examinations at all levels every year. Hundreds of thousands of people compete for dozens of vacancies. How can you expect those scholars to have the heart to study?
People are snobbish. Once they find that studying is useless, they will go into business and make money. If everyone goes to make money, who will educate the world?
——What you said, Jiang Qingzhi, makes sense, but the imperial examination is related to the overall situation. The imperial examination is not only a grand event to discover talents and fill the gaps in officials, but also an important strategic measure to guide people's hearts to be good.
Everyone wants to study and is willing to study. This is the reason why people's hearts are stable throughout the dynasties.
"If everyone is greedy and people are restless, how can the world be stable?" Lu Song said: "The imperial examination is a bait for those scholars..."
What the hell!
Even Zhu Xizhong was shocked by Lu Song's words.
Just as people later said, this was all about making money.
"Encourage people to read. The more people read, the more stable the Ming Dynasty will be." Lu Song said calmly, "Let's not talk about other things. When the world is in chaos, it is the scholars who rebel."
This is true. For example, in the late Sui Dynasty, most of those who rebelled were powerful people, such as Li Yuan.
But at the end of the Ming Dynasty, it was the postman who successfully rebelled.
Lu Song looked at Jiang Qingzhi with some regret in his eyes, and he obviously felt that this battle was not satisfying enough.
This glance immediately aroused the excitement and impulse of those Confucian officials.
"I wonder if Lord Changwei has any advice for what Minister Lu said?"
"Is Long Wilbur afraid?"
"When I saw Elder Wilbur talking so eloquently earlier, I thought he was well prepared. Is this it?"
Li Huan narrowed his eyes and prepared to leave.
It is not uncommon for father-in-law and son-in-law to serve in the same dynasty, such as Fu Bi and Feng Jing in the early Song Dynasty. Today, Lao Li is ready to fight for his son-in-law.
Jiang Qingzhi chuckled and Lu Song frowned slightly, thinking, could this guy still have a way to refute me?
Jiang Qingzhi chuckled, "Minister Lu's words are far-sighted and insightful."
First praise and then criticism?
Lu Song sneered. "What do you think, Lord Changwei?"
"First, why is there only one path for studying, which is to become an official? Why can't you do business, why can't you become a craftsman, why can't you farm?"
"Merchants are menial servants!" someone objected.
Lu Song sighed secretly, feeling helpless as to why he had such a bunch of stupid teammates.
"Merchants are menial servants?" Jiang Qingzhi felt that this man was really his supporting actor. "Do you know how many scholars in the world are engaged in business? How many powerful people, dignitaries, officials... are engaged in business?"
The official was not stupid, but just inertia... He was used to wearing the mask of a gentleman in the past. Once he mentioned businessmen, he would say that businessmen were despicable and that businessmen valued profit...
He regretted it as soon as he said it.
Jiang Qingzhi's counterattack came quickly and fiercely, "The last time I went south, in Suzhou Prefecture, in the south, I saw countless scholars doing business. Anyone who has some skills does business.
"No business, no wealth" has become the motto of the southern scholars. Come, tell Benbo, are those scholars just menial servants?"
The official's face flushed, "This official..."
"How can a scholar become a craftsman?" Someone came out at this time.
This is the real strategy of besieging Wei to save Zhao.
Even Yan Shifan felt that Jiang Qingzhi's remarks were excessive.
"Why can't scholars become craftsmen?" Jiang Qingzhi looked puzzled. "What's the point of studying? Just for fame and fortune? Yes, I have never understood the poem encouraging learning, which says that books contain beautiful women and golden houses. This emperor is either crazy or has a seizure. This is clearly telling all scholars in the world that studying is for fame and fortune. As for self-cultivation, governing the country and pacifying the world..."
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Lu Song.
Lu Song could not answer.
This is a poem written by Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty to encourage learning, and it is regarded as a golden rule by scholars all over the world. "People need to eat grains!" Someone retorted, "If you study not for fame and fortune, do you mean you should breathe the wind and drink the dew?"
Lu Song glanced at Jiang Qingzhi and saw a sudden burst of sharp energy.
This is……
"Since people need to eat grains, why can't they become craftsmen?" Jiang Qingzhi said, "As long as you have read books, you are a superior person. There are more than a million scholars in the world, so there are millions of superior people, inexplicably superior people!"
Jiang Qingzhi said, "The millions of people are unwilling to become craftsmen, have no capital to do business, and think farming is too tiring, but they have forgotten the way of farming and studying that they praised so much.
Millions of people compete for the few hundred people who are eligible to take up official posts each year. Apart from those few hundred people, what will happen to the others? Where will the grains and cereals be provided for them to enjoy?"
"Either starve to death, or... go make money!"
Jiang Qingzhi's voice echoed in the hall. The Taoist priest could hear the indignation in his voice. He knew that the idiot had entered a certain state at this moment.
What is the so-called... angry young man.
"Those scholars who could not become officials disliked farming as too hard, felt ashamed to work, and lacked the capital to start a business. They could not keep up with the money from their classmates or teachers... When they were poor, they thought of changing their ways, and some of them found a way to make money."
Jiang Qingzhi's eyes were filled with sarcasm. "That is to take advantage of the tax exemption for scholars to annex land and collect people. Come, the government collects 40% of taxes every year, you offer yourself and the world to me, and I will only collect 30% or even 20% of taxes from you every year, how about that?
People are greedy, so how can those farmers think so much? Their instinct will drive them to take their land and families and become slaves in these people's homes... Money, isn't it coming!"
Jiang Qingzhi suddenly roared, "But where are the taxes?"
"Can anyone tell me where the taxes that should have gone to the Ministry of Revenue have gone?"
Damn it!
This is... this is a counterattack!
Zhu Xizhong shuddered.
Just before this, Jiang Qingzhi was still being besieged and mocked by the crowd, and even Zhu Xizhong felt that his brother was finished in this debate.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Qingzhi suddenly gave his opponent a fatal blow from an impossible angle.
"You, Minister Lu, keep talking about unnecessary expenses, but all the great financial experts in history have one thing in common, which is that they not only need to save money, but also increase income, which is the most important means."
Lu Song was known as a miser. The most common method he used when he was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and the biggest feature of financial management was saving money, that is, being stingy.
Jiang Qingzhi opened fire on him for his stinginess.
Do you, Lu Song, think you are good at managing finances?
Then I will criticize your pride and make it worthless.
The counterattack is coming!
Li Huan's face flushed, as if he was the one standing in front of all the officials speechless.
That's my son-in-law!
There was a more strange light in Emperor Jiajing's eyes.
Yes!
Why can't scholars go farming? This generation always asks about this... We envy the elegance of our predecessors who studied and farmed, or can recite "Praise of the Humble Dwelling" by heart and praise it endlessly.
But once it is their turn, they avoid the so-called farming and studying.
Some people may own thousands of acres of fertile land and dare to claim that they are farmers and scholars.
That's a big landlord!
Jiang Qingzhi fired at full force, "May I ask Minister Lu, is there any legal basis for this tax exemption?"
There's a bird!
It's nothing more than mutual help and benefit among scholars.
For example, Xu Jie later on had countless fertile fields at home. If he really had to pay taxes, this Ninja Turtle would probably be heartbroken.
Therefore, when scholars became officials, they protected people of the same class from taxation, not only because they were of the same blood, but also because they could empathize with them.
I will protect you now. When I retire or even die, my children and grandchildren will also be protected by the officials and protected by this unspoken rule.
Lu Song could not answer.
Jiang Qingzhi chuckled and looked at the angry officials with contempt, "How much tax loss is caused every year because of this? Does the Ministry of Revenue have any records?"
The ministers were silent.
"Actually, this is really simple if we want to calculate it." Jiang Qingzhi acted like he was pointing fingers at the emperor, as if he was looking down at his ministers. "The land in the Ming Dynasty is quantified, but the newly reclaimed land is not counted every year. Then we will find that the land is decreasing every year, and the same is true for the population. If we exclude the newly added population and the dead population, we will find that... a large number of people and land are missing every year! Yes, missing!"
Jiang Qingzhi looked at the ministers and said, "Who can tell me how many fields and people are missing? If we recover these fields and people, will the Ming Dynasty... be short of money?"
If these fields and population were reclaimed, the Ministry of Revenue’s warehouse would be filled to bursting with money and grain!
"Then Benbo would like to ask one last question: who is wasting time?"
"Who is causing this redundancy?"
"Who is this person...lying on Daming's body and sucking his blood crazily?"
“Is it Confucianism or Mohism?”
Jiang Qingzhi stood at the front, with his back to Emperor Jiajing and facing the ministers.
roared.
"Can anyone tell Benber who it is?"
(End of this chapter)
