I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

"I have also considered these things, but there is no good way unless we continue to expand our territory." An emperor would definitely think of this.

"Aye, opening up territory and expanding the territory is only one aspect. Today, the population of Tang Dynasty is more than 300 million households. What if one day our population increases tenfold to 3000 million households?" 3000 million households, even if there are six people in a family, are only 8000. People, there will be a population of 14 billion in future generations.

"3000 million households?" Li Shimin never dared to think about it.

"Aye, even if we expand our territory, the population will still grow, and we will always face land problems. Our land equalization system will become a disaster one day in the future. People will be left without land.

Collecting business taxes can enrich the country and benefit the people. Why do we have to deduct money from the people? How much money can they have?

Businessmen will not rebel just to make [-]% less money, but people will rebel because they can no longer survive.

Collecting commercial taxes is a general trend and a major event that benefits the country and the people. And the state can also take it from the people and use it for the people. Building roads and bridges improves people's lives. When people's lives improve, they will naturally buy things, and the money will return to the hands of merchants, who will then pay taxes, and the cycle starts over and over again. "

"Then you mean to collect taxes from these princes and nobles?" Li Shimin opened his eyes wide, and Li Shimin instantly understood what Li Shen meant. You, Li Shen, are now the richest prince and noble?

In fact, Li Shen has thought about this issue for a long time. He is also a privileged class. He can live his whole life without paying taxes. But since Concubine Wei Guifei got Li Shen engaged last year, Li Shen thought of a question, what to do with his children and grandchildren? what to do.

Li Shen is not a child, he was over 30 years old in his previous life. It is impossible for him not to consider the issue of descendants. He will not let out the saying that children and grandchildren will be blessed and then ignore future generations.

People who think this way can only mean that you are still young and have not married or had children.

He didn't want his children to die within a few generations. Everyone hoped that their lineage would be passed down from generation to generation.

And Li Shen felt that he must do something for this era when he traveled here. Leave something behind for posterity.

That's why Li Shen raised this issue. It doesn't matter to him whether he pays taxes or not. He's still short of that little money. The biggest trouble is how to collect taxes from the princes and nobles. If you know that it was him who proposed it, why don't you eat them?

"Old Shi, please don't say these words again. You don't have the ability to change yet. Did you hear me?" Li Shimin didn't want Li Shen to take risks. In the past few years, this son was the only one who gave him peace of mind in his boring career as an emperor. , adding a touch of happiness. So he wanted to keep his son.

"I know, Aye." Li Shen said no more. He also knew that he would not be able to defeat so many princes and nobles head-on. The two tax systems were only implemented in the late Tang Dynasty.

You can't fight head-on, but you can outwit it.

Li Shen didn't expect that Li Shimin fell asleep comfortably, so he waved his hand to signal everyone else to go out. Li Shen closed the door and stood guard in the rest area at the door.

Li Shimin slept for a full hour before waking up. This sleep made Li Shimin refreshed and comfortable as never before.

After everyone got dressed, Li Shen led Li Shimin to the tea house to drink tea. The emperor and his ministers were once again shocked by the elegant style of the tea house.

I saw a miniature version of the mountains in the center of the hall. There were small bridges and flowing water in the mountains. There were farmers, fishermen fishing, and children playing. It was a peaceful and tranquil scene that made people relaxed and happy.

Li Shen led Li Shimin to his own private room. Others also entered other private rooms in groups, and maids entered to serve.

Li Shen's box is different from other boxes. The other boxes are tables and chairs, but his box is made of tatami, but the tatami is like a kang, one foot high, and is for Li Shen to lie on.

"Yeah, just lie down here and wait for tea."

Li Shen took out two pillows of his own design. At this moment, a maid came in, lit sandalwood in the corner, and started making tea.

Li Shen said to Li Shimin again: "Aye, take off your boots and let Chunxiang massage your feet. It's very comfortable."

Li Shimin leaned there and nodded. He was out today anyway, so just let Li Shen say whatever he said.

Chunxiang stepped forward to help Li Shimin take off his boots. Next to him, a maid had prepared two wooden barrels. Dongmei is responsible for taking off Li Shen's boots.

In this way, the two men started to have foot massage again. This was something Li Shen specially taught the two maids. For this purpose, he asked Sun Simiao to draw a map of the acupuncture points on the soles of the feet.

It was probably the first time that Li Shimin was being pressed on his feet, so Chunxiang had to ask several times before he could match Li Shimin's strength.

The tea was now ready, and Li Shimin leaned on the cushion, drinking tea and enjoying the foot massage. He couldn't help but sigh: "Old Shi, people say that King Ji is wealthy, lives a luxurious life, and knows how to enjoy himself. But today, it seems that the world still underestimates you."

Li Shimin suddenly seemed to understand why Li Shen had always said that he did not want to be an emperor. This kind of enjoyment Li Shen enjoyed was something that an emperor could not enjoy unless he wanted to be a cowardly emperor and the king of Shang Zhou.

In the past, Li Shimin was dubious about Li Shen's promise not to compete for the throne, otherwise he would not be able to place Baiqi in Prince Ji's Mansion. How could the emperor be completely reassured by such a profitable prince.

This is also the main reason why Li Shimin did not let Li Shen go to the fiefdom. Letting a capable prince go to the fiefdom would benefit the place.

But it would not be a good thing to let a capable prince who can earn a lot of wealth go to a fiefdom. Of course Li Shimin knew that the basis of war is money.

Li Shen can earn millions of dollars in wealth every year, which is enough to support an army of 10,000+. As long as he digs deep holes in the fiefdom, accumulates grain widely, and slowly becomes king, he will have the capital for rebellion in a few years.

But today's trip made him somewhat believe Li Shen's words. Such a luxurious life is indeed not suitable for an emperor.

"Aye, life is short, enjoy the moment. This has always been my way of doing things. I will never stand when I can sit, and I will never sit when I can lie down. After I get married, I plan to go to the fiefdom and live away from the world. Xianyun... Oops..."

Before Li Shen could finish speaking, Li Shimin knocked him on the head.

"It's impossible for me to let you go to a fiefdom and stay away from the world. I think there are many temples in Chang'an. If you feel it's not worthy of your status, you can build one yourself." After speaking, Li Shimin took a sip of tea and continued to close his eyes. By enjoying it.

Li Shen looked at Li Shimin and mouthed twice, but did not dare to say anything. When I looked up, I saw Wang De snickering there, and I couldn't help but feel angry.

"Old Wang, you still dare to laugh, Aye, I received a lot of benefits from reporting on Old Wang."

Looking at Li Shimin again, his eyes didn't even blink, he just let out the word "um" from his nose and that was it.

"Your Highness, everyone knows the money that old slave receives. You can't punish old slave for this." Wang De said to Li Shen with a smile. Li Shen felt that Wang De's smile was full of ridicule.