Fairy, please let me explain

Chapter 740 Half Moon
Benefiting from decades of Jiajing's rule, the Pingxian Tax Law was spread to local government offices throughout Dayan with extremely high efficiency. However, just like a bomb dropped into water, it will explode after a period of silence. During this period, the fourteen states of Dayan fell into a strange silence.

The last calm before the storm.

Half a month had passed since the day of the Northern Hunt.

A lot of things have happened in the capital these days.

Although the Pingxian Tax Law caused a huge stir in the court, 99% of the common people were still unaware of it. Even until the war broke out, they did not know the reason.

Therefore, perhaps the two decrees that had the greatest impact on the common people in the city were the withdrawal of the golden armored guards outside the city and the relaxation of entry and exit control in the capital by the Imperial City Administration.

The country has been peaceful for a long time, and the situation of military control has not happened for decades. Now that normality has returned, it is natural that the literati and scholars in the taverns and brothels will talk about the reasons for these political decrees.

Some people said that these imperial guards were transferred to the front line to prepare for war, others said that these imperial guards were there from the very beginning to prevent the prime minister's office from usurping the throne. Now that the new law has been promulgated, there will be no conflict between the royal family and the prime minister's office in the short term. Others said that the emperor has already eliminated the thief prime minister, so there is no need to be on guard anymore.

These are all Confucian scholars and literati who analyzed their own insights based on some one-sided information and some mental calculations.

If you say something wrong, nothing will happen.

If you are right, you will be considered a prophet, which is enough to gain fame.

But the speaker is unintentional, but the listener is intentional.

All kinds of rumors filled the streets and alleys of Di'an City for a while, but it was also these rumors that alleviated the solemn and depressing atmosphere that lingered over the capital.

Of course, the above are just the views of ordinary people.

The solemn atmosphere in the imperial capital had indeed dissipated a lot, but that was actually because the wealthy businessmen and small and medium-sized families in the city had received accurate information from the court.

Although the Heisen Tax Law was a disastrous national policy, it was at least the worst of the bad news.

Since the beginning of autumn, the imperial guards have sealed off the city, and they are the most nervous people in the city.

These wealthy businessmen and small and medium-sized families are not as good as the royal family. They are not qualified to place bets in advance at the gambling table. If they want to become "informed people", they have no way to register their names and rely on others. However, the wealth and power they possess allow them to know more than the common people below.

This is really desperate.

What people fear most is the unknown.
As a force, what it fears most is the change in national policy.

As long as the court officials hadn't made a national policy, no one dared to act rashly. Now that the outcome has been decided, they can finally put their minds at ease.

Since the shadow of war is inevitable, what remains is everyone's risk avoidance ability. Moreover, as the capital, Di'an should be a relatively safe area in Da Yan for a long time in the future.

But just as they were thinking this these days, the news coming from the Imperial City Bureau made them panic again.

The second prince in the north of the city led his troops into the city.

Moon stars are rare.

During the past half month, Xu Yuan has been staying in Moyin Pavilion, reviewing memorials that have been pouring in from all over the place like snowflakes.

Most of them are matters related to the Heisen tax law.

Although the letter memorial he presented in the court that day was titled "The Law to Balance the Immortal Tax", it actually had no actual content. It only generally stated the necessity of passing the immortal tax from both macro and micro levels.

If the Pingxian Tax Law is a bullet, then Xu Yuan is just the person who pulled the trigger.

The real Pingxian Tax Law is a huge system, which has been improved step by step under the leadership of that old man over the past few decades.

The document contains more than a million words, covering hundreds of new laws, thousands of new regulations, various guiding opinions, implementation procedures and thousands of emergency plans.

and.

Two parts, one virtual and one real.
Being false to the outside world is the way the Immortal Tax is implemented overtly, with the cooperation of the sect as a prerequisite.

Internally, the main focus is on preparing for war, with the sect raising troops as a prerequisite.

The room was silent, the inscription lamp emitted a cool dim light. After reading the last file on the desk, Xu Yuan leaned back in his chair with a frown, gently pressing his slightly swollen brows, recalling the contents of the memorials these days, and finally sighed.

If one had to use one word to describe his evaluation of the implementation of the new law, then "chaotic" would undoubtedly be the most appropriate word.

If the soldiers and horses are not moving, the grain and grass will go first.

Even if all kinds of preparations have been made, when the moment of implementation really begins, hundreds of problems will instantly erupt.

What you learn from books is always shallow.

The warehouses are empty, the mines are collapsing, the martial arts halls can't recruit enough martial artists, the herbs and spirit stones are not produced enough, etc.
Just entering a state of combat readiness, the chaos below was enough to make Xu Yuan feel suffocated. If a real fight broke out, he didn't dare to imagine how chaotic it would be.

However, the only thing to be thankful for is that these disturbances are still within the acceptable range of the Xiangguo Mansion, or the people who formulated the "Pingxian Tax Law" have anticipated that such incidents will occur in the future, so they have reserved a large part of the margin in advance.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Yuan thought about these ridiculous things and laughed out of anger:

"These insects really should be dragged out and beheaded."

"If you kill them, there will be no one to work for you."

A charming voice came from outside the top floor of Moyin Pavilion.

Xu Yuan opened his eyes and Lou Ji pushed the door open and walked in.

She was wearing a white robe tonight, but she still maintained the habit of saving fabric. The fairy-like white color and the temperament of this old lady formed a different kind of charm.

Coming to the table, Lou Ji smiled and raised her hand.

then,

"Boom!"

There was a muffled sound,
More than a dozen stacks of two-foot-thick files were piled up in front of the desk that Xu Yuan had just cleared.

Lou Ji said with a smile:

"My sister has reviewed the latest news from the Black Scale Guard for you. Please take a good look at it yourself."

Xu Yuan swallowed subconsciously: "So many again?"

Lou Ji shrugged and said with a teasing smile: "It is said that Hua Hong has already piled up a whole room of them. They are going to send them to you tomorrow."

Paper really doesn't cost money, right?

After complaining in his heart, Xu Yuan finally forced himself to cheer up and prepare to start a new round of study.

After casually opening a file and seeing the events inside, Xu Yuan started to feel a headache, and once again confirmed the problems with the Prime Minister's Office system.

In a village under Tianshui County, Pinglin Commandery, which is under Guanghuai Prefecture, a clan elder led a group of people to cause trouble and surrounded the autumn harvest convoy. Wouldn't it be enough for the village officials to handle such an incident and report it to the county?
It would be fine if it involved military, political and commercial affairs, but could such trivial matters be sent directly to the capital?
Is this reasonable?

Xu Yuan read half of it and subconsciously wanted to say something to Lou Ji, but he finally held back. Even if the "monarchy core system" established by his father had big problems, it was impossible to change it before the war. Everything had to wait until the war was over.

He continued browsing with gritted teeth. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lou Ji sitting down on a chair nearby. She had no intention of leaving immediately, so Xu Yuan asked, "What's the matter with you?"

"How's my father doing?"

After Xu Yinhe returned from the Northern Hunt, he went directly into seclusion in the secret room of the underground black prison in the Prime Minister's Mansion. At that time, Xu Yuan was still in the bedroom of the bound-breasted princess, reminiscing about the past, drinking wine and discussing the world with her, and just happened to miss the old man.

The old man has been in seclusion for half a month, and no news has been received so far.

Lou Ji shook her head and said:
"I don't know."

Xu Yuan clenched his fingertips slightly when he heard this.

There was a huge gap in the Prime Minister's Mansion's intelligence about what happened during the Northern Expedition. Although there were spies planted by the Black Scale Guards in Li Zhaoyuan's Wugui Army, their levels were not high enough. They only knew that a battle had broken out, but did not know the details of it.

He suspected that the old man had unlocked some of the sealing secrets during the battle and was being targeted by the thing in the sky again.

Lou Ji saw Xu Yuan's worry and said in a clear voice:
"Changtian, you don't have to worry about your father. Besides, I saw him that day, so he shouldn't be a big deal."

Xu Yuan did not explain this to Lou Ji, because even if the other party knew about it, there was nothing he could do. He said:
"Okay, sister, you've been so busy lately, and now you're staying with me, so you must have something to say, right?"

Among the core senior officials of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Lou Ji and Hua Hong were the closest to him and they both came to deliver the files in person, but at this critical moment, Lou Ji and Hua Hong had a heavy burden on their shoulders. He Xu Yuan only needed to take a look, but they needed to make decisions for the direction of the Prime Minister's Mansion, so generally, after delivering the files, they would either make a few teasing remarks or say a few words of concern and encouragement and then leave.

Hearing this, Lou Ji sat up slightly straighter, twirling her long hair with her slender fingers, and said:

"Changtian, I received some information about Beishu today."

"Northern Hunt?"

Xu Yuan murmured, raised his eyes and said, "National Master?"

Because the old man was in seclusion, there were three unsolved mysteries in the Prime Minister's Mansion regarding the Northern Expedition.

How will the emperor respond to Xu Yuanqiang's plan to exceed the immortal tax?

Is the Prime Minister injured?

as well as,

The national teacher is alive or dead.

The answer to the former was revealed on the day of the Northern Expedition. The emperor withdrew the imperial guards from the capital and did not issue an edict to overturn the decree, which meant that he was ready to accept the alliance with all his might.

The person involved had no problem telling the story orally, but the fact that he had been in seclusion for half a month inevitably aroused suspicion.

As for the latter.
Apart from the prime minister who was in seclusion, there were no other channels to obtain information within the prime minister's residence. After all, one couldn't just ask the emperor himself, right?

After thinking for a moment, Xu Yuan reacted very quickly and said:
"News from the sect?"

"Ah."

Lou Ji nodded, and considered the words for a moment: "With the cultivation level of the National Master, ten days is enough for him to return to Tianyuan Mountain Range from the capital, but in the past half month, there has been news that the National Master has returned to the sect, and combined with the news sent back by the Black Scale Guards' spies within the sect, it seems that the National Master has..."

Having said this, Lou Ji stared at the young man behind the desk with her purple eyes and said nothing more.

The scent of sandalwood slowly rises, and there is a moment of silence.

Xu Yuan opened his mouth, his eyes flickered, and finally he sighed:
"I see. Anything else?"

As the Prime Minister, Lou Ji was very satisfied with Xu Yuan's reaction, but as a person, she was still a little worried, but she did not express it, and just continued:
"Changtian, didn't you ask me to pay attention to the rumors in the market before?"

"Any progress?" Xu Yuan recalled briefly and realized that this was what she had discussed with Lou Ji when she returned to Beijing.

Since there are extraordinary people in this world, the dynasty does not pay too much attention to the propaganda and public opinion of the common people at the bottom of society. The control of public opinion is also a simple and crude brainwashing. The emperor's grace is so great that the emperor is never wrong about anything in the world, and people should thank the emperor for being alive.

Therefore, in the past few decades, all kinds of blame have been put on the head of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and rumors of a treacherous and evil prime minister have been heard one after another.

In years of good harvest, people are grateful for the emperor’s kindness; in years of bad harvest, people curse the prime minister for causing chaos in the country.

No matter whether it is a natural disaster or a man-made disaster, it is always right to scold the prime minister.

Thinking in my heart,

Xu Yuan also put down the file and said seriously:
"In the past, it would have been fine if they had scolded us, but now that war is about to begin, if the Prime Minister's Mansion continues to maintain this image among the common people, many things will be hindered."

Lou Ji thought for a moment and replied:
"I have discussed this with Zong Qingsheng and others. There is no need to let this matter affect the relationship between the emperor and the prime minister."

"You mean, this is part of the deal with the royal family?"

"It's not a deal, it's a tacit understanding."

"Is this so"

Xu Yuan murmured, thought for a moment, pushed the file he had just read forward, and asked:
"Sister, my Xu family's grain collection convoy was surrounded by the local tribesmen. What do you think?"

Lou Ji took a glance and said without hesitation:

"Violent suppression is sufficient. The common people of the world all fear power rather than virtue, and it will not affect the overall situation in the end."

Fear power but not virtue
Xu Yuan was silent.

The origin of the world is that violence determines everything, and extraordinary violence is not something that mortals can resist. Therefore, the imperial dynasties have always ruled the country mainly by force rather than virtue since ancient times.

But after thinking about it for a while, Xu Yuan still asked:
"What if I insist?"

Lou Ji rolled her eyes and said unhappily:

"If you insist on doing this, then you can only go down and execute it."

"."

Xu Yuan, who had already prepared himself to be rejected, was stunned when he heard this.

Lou Ji said earnestly:
"Your father said that during his seclusion, all matters except military affairs will be decided by you. But Changtian, remember, this is for your father's sake. Without him, your prestige would not be enough to convince the people."

Speaking of which,
Lou Ji changed the subject and said with a smile:
"Of course, sister will still stand by you~"

Hearing this joking remark, Xu Yuan felt complicated and troubled.

He understood why the old man was so eager for him to gain merit and establish his authority. Without achievements that convinced the public, if what he wanted to do was vetoed by the ministers in the prime minister's office, it would never be possible for the news to spread outside the Mo Yin Pavilion.

This is the case even for such minor matters as public opinion, let alone major military and financial matters.

He also suddenly understood why some emperors would rather trust treacherous people than wise and honest people. The mere fact of being obedient was enough to allow them to promote treacherous people to high positions.

If he becomes the head of the Prime Minister's Mansion in the future and has not accumulated enough prestige, he will probably appoint people based on personal connections, and even expand the power of his cronies such as Lou Ji, forcing them to send the Black Scale Guards to supervise the army.

Thoughts flashed through his mind, and Xu Yuan nodded slightly:
"Then go and implement it."

"Can I ask why?"

Lou Ji said with a smile.

But this question is not an inquiry, but a concern.

This method of public opinion is the first national-level decree issued by Xu Yuan as the "Regent". Although it will not consume too many resources of the Prime Minister's Office, it may as well be done. However, if it fails, it will always affect his prestige in the Prime Minister's Office.

Xu Yuan didn't think too much about it, nor did he hide it:

"As long as the cultivators are alive, the common people will not be able to influence the overall situation at a macro level, but they can transmit it layer by layer at a micro level. If you have the support of the people, military rations, taxes, and even intelligence on the enemy's formation will accumulate into a large amount, and the war will come. Don't ignore small things."

After listening carefully, although Lou Ji wanted to refute, she did not say it.

When the prime minister's office sent troops, it was naturally in the name of the imperial court.

How could ordinary people tell the difference between the "royal teacher" and the "royal teacher"?

Moreover, all these reasons can be solved with the violence that cultivators have. When the mind sweeps over, all traces of the enemy's formation will appear. Once the illusion is performed, even a mortal can tell you his or her family tree.

But on second thought, what Changtian said makes sense.

If he wins the support of the people, he can focus all his energy on the battlefield, and it will be more legitimate when he usurps the throne in the future.
After thinking of a good reason and sorting out what she said when she took the blame for Chang Tian after the failure of this policy, Lou Ji also stood up from her chair:
"Okay, sister will take care of this matter. Do you have anything else to say?"

Xu Yuan thought about it and suddenly said:

"Sister, who is in charge of Wenshu Monastery?"

Wenshu Temple, the Silijian of the Prime Minister's Office, has an overall review of various file reports and the internal affairs of the Prime Minister's Office.

"Zhou Xianlin."

Lou Ji casually mentioned the name of a senior official in the prime minister's mansion.

Xu Yuan has become familiar with these senior executives these days. After briefly recalling their resumes, he said:
"Bai Muxi has broken through the origin, so let's arrange for her to work as an accountant in Wenshu Monastery."

Lou Ji glanced at Xu Yuan and said nothing.

Xu Yuan sighed upon seeing this:

"Isn't it okay?"

"Humph."

Lou Ji snorted in annoyance.

Arranging his own eunuch to work in the office of the chief steward of internal affairs in the prime minister's residence was obviously an attempt to seize other people's power.

"Consult your father about this matter. Wenshu Monastery is not under the jurisdiction of your sister."

"That's it."

Xu Yuan nodded, but there was no surprise on his face.

These days of "Regent" had given him some ideas on placing his confidants into key institutions of the Prime Minister's Office, but it seemed that it was clearly not the right time yet.

Looking at Xu Yuan's expression, Lou Ji thought for a moment and added:
"But Changtian, if you are willing, you can send the enchanting soul body called Su Jinxuan to my sister. I like her very much."

The meaning is very clear. The Black Scale Guards are not afraid of you seizing power, so they sent you here to be trained by your sister.

Xu Yuan shook his head and refused, saying:

"She will help the little girl of the Feng family for the time being. We can discuss this matter later."

Seeing this, Lou Ji did not mention the matter any more. She seemed to remember something and said:
"By the way, Li Zhaoyuan entered the city today. Did you know?"

Xu Yuan nodded:

"I received the news yesterday."

Lou Ji blinked at Xu Yuan and asked:

"What do you think?"

Xu Yuan restrained his expression and said:
"As the crown prince, he is difficult to deal with, but he is qualified to be a future partner of the Prime Minister's Mansion."

After talking with Li Qingyan in the palace that day, he had already roughly guessed in his heart that Li Zhaoyuan would become the next emperor.

Lou Ji looked at Xu Yuan deeply and advised:

"Changtian, there is something"

"I know."

Xu Yuan's lips curled slightly, and he interrupted her softly:

"Although I don't like this prince, sitting in this position does not give me much choice in my personal feelings."

".Good to know, sister is leaving first?"

"You can stay and look at the files with me if you want."

"Forget it, my sister is too busy."

Lou Ji waved her hand with a smile, rubbed Xu Yuan's head from a distance, and walked towards the door.

And just at this moment,

There was a slight sound of breaking air outside the door.

Lou Ji paused slightly and subconsciously looked back at Xu Yuan's expression, but saw that he was still expressionless, with no trace of joy or anger. He just calmly put down the file and stood up from behind the desk.

From time to time,

The visitor landed on the corridor in front of the door, and Bai Muxi's voice came from outside the door:

"Sir, the Second Prince is asking to see you outside the palace."

The moonlight entered the house, and the room was silent for a moment.

"You want to see him?"

"Why don't you meet me when I come to your house on my own initiative?"

(End of this chapter)