Inside the Hall of Nectar.
Li Zexuan said again, "Your Majesty, I have an idea, but I don't know if I should say it!"
Li Er said unhappily, "If you have something to say, just say it. Since when did you know how to do this?"
Li Zexuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I think that if we want the people to do good for a long time and let the Warm Tang Foundation continue to operate, we have to give out some rewards to encourage the people and rich merchants to donate money! Back then, Zi Lu was praised by Confucius for saving people from drowning, and Zi Gong was criticized by Confucius for not receiving gold for saving people. It's not completely unreasonable! "
Li Er couldn't help but say, "Didn't you give the people who donated a certificate of honor? Isn't that a benefit? "
Li Zexuan shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, this is just a small benefit. If we want the rich people to donate money willingly, we have to give them some sincere and tangible benefits!"
"For example?"
"For example, some special treatment …"
"Bastard! Are you asking me to become Liu Hong and sell my official position? "
Li Er suddenly guessed something and immediately slammed the table and stood up in anger.
The Liu Hong he was talking about was Emperor Ling Han, a fatuous emperor who pushed selling officials to the extreme.
Some emperors before Liu Hong had also sold officials, but most of them only did it occasionally, and the money they received was usually for the "urgent needs of the country". Only this Comrade Liu Hong was able to push this shady business of selling official positions to the extreme.
The most ridiculous thing was that this comrade had actually opened an official exchange in the West Garden. He had clearly marked the price and openly sold officials. Regardless of talent, character, integrity, as long as one had money, they could buy officials. And the money from selling officials would all go into Emperor Ling Han's own pocket.
This guy even unified the market price of officials and personally set the rules for selling officials. He set the price of an official's position to be ten thousand times the official's annual income. For example, an official's position with an annual salary of two thousand shi was priced at twenty million! His method of selling officials was very innovative, and he was not willing to let go of any opportunity. Even Zhang Wen and the others, who had made great contributions and had a high reputation, had to first pay enough money to the Emperor to buy an official position before they could ascend to an official position.
Li Erzheng had thought of the possibility of him selling his position, so he scolded angrily.
Li Zexuan stared blankly, thinking, 'When did I ask you to sell your official position?' Is it because your imagination is too rich ~?
"Your Majesty, I have no such intentions. This official's idea is that every year, we should select three people from the people who donated money and give them the title of 'Righteous Merchants of the World'! It was just a title. Not only would it not damage the prestige of the imperial court, but it would also stimulate the enthusiasm of the wealthy citizens to donate! Moreover, there were precedents before! It's just a few more, right? "
In order to prevent Old Li from misunderstanding again, Li Zexuan directly told him his plan.
"Just a title? You brat, it's easy for you to talk! Do you think the title of Righteous Merchant is so worthless? "
Li Er said with a dark face.
"Your Majesty, I didn't say that it was worthless! According to my preliminary estimates, if a wealthy businessman wants to be selected, he will have to donate at least fifty to sixty thousand strings of cash! This wasn't cheap at all! Moreover, all the land under the heavens belongs to the Emperor, and all the people who live on the land are the Emperor's subjects. Businessmen are also Your Majesty's subjects. Why should Your Majesty be so biased against them? "
Li Zexuan couldn't help but say.
Li Er frowned and didn't say anything. After a while, he said meaningfully, "Ha! You're here to persuade me today! The division of scholars, farmers, workers, and merchants has existed since the Spring and Autumn Period, and it has been like this for generations. How do you want me to change it? "
Li Zexuan clasped his hands and said, "This official has never thought of changing the status of the merchants, but this official feels that giving the title of 'Righteous Merchant of the World' to some merchants who have made outstanding contributions to the Tang Dynasty should be harmless! For example, Feng Zhihua from before! "
Li Er thought for a moment and finally waved his hand and said, "Alright! Alright! I'll give you a place every year! "
Li Zexuan laughed and said, "This official thanks Your Majesty on behalf of the millions of merchants and poor citizens of the Tang Dynasty!"
Li Er waved his hand and motioned for a certain someone to scram!
"Your Majesty! Does this year count? "
"Scram!"
.....
"Hey! I didn't say it doesn't count, I just said 'scram'. That means it counts this year too! "
Sitting in the carriage, Li Zexuan muttered to himself as he recalled the situation in the Sweet Dew Hall.
"Ah ~ ~! As long as everyone gives a little love, the world will become a beautiful world ~! Ah ~ ~ "
Just as he was thinking, Li Zexuan suddenly heard someone humming a tune outside the carriage. He couldn't help but feel happy. He thought to himself that this modern song had spread quite quickly after it came to the Tang Dynasty!
However, he didn't know that the reason why this song "Dedication of Love" could spread so quickly was that, other than the special tune itself, the main reason was that the first singer, Fang Feiyan, was extremely charismatic and sang it very well!
While listening to people humming along the way, he unknowingly arrived home.
"Sir, you're finally back!"
He jumped out of the carriage and found Little Fishy waiting at the door.
Li Zexuan smiled and said, "What's the matter? Are you looking for me ~? "
Little Fishy took out the newspaper from behind and walked to Li Zexuan. She pouted and said angrily, "Sir, you're asking the obvious. Why did you insist that I change the headline to this yesterday ~?"
Little Fishy pointed at the headline on Datang Daily with a hint of displeasure on her face!
Li Zexuan suddenly understood, but he said, "Oh! This headline! Little Fishy, don't you think this headline has a better meaning? "
Little Fishy said angrily, "Hmph! Sir, you're still pretending! I did think so yesterday, but I only realized today that I was fooled by you! This headline is exactly the same as the song that was being sung at Hundred Flowers Tower in Ping Kang Fang last night! Now, everyone in the editorial department is asking me if I went to Ping Kang Fang last night to listen to that song! Even Steward Ma asked me this morning! Damn it! "
Li Zexuan wanted to laugh when he heard that, but he quickly held it back. He held back his laughter and said with a straight face, "Ahem! Coincidence! It's definitely a coincidence! Those people in the editorial department are really too much. Little Fishy, you're a pure and innocent girl. How could they say that you went to that kind of place! The next time I go to the workshop, I'll definitely give them a good scolding! "
Little Fishy's face suddenly turned bright. She said, "That's right! Sir, you must give them a good scolding! I didn't go, but they insisted on slandering me! I did want to listen to that song, but there was no one to accompany me. These people are really despicable! "
Li Zexuan was stunned. He didn't get Little Fishy's anger at all! What was this little girl thinking all day long? She actually wanted to visit a brothel. Oh my god, was she a demon?
…
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
