Li Longji perked up when he heard this. Actually, he knew that the quality of the guards had nothing to do with him. As long as he didn't overstep his boundaries, it wasn't like the guards were spending his money.
However, since he had nothing to do, he might as well find something to do. No matter who the guards were, they were all labourers. If they stayed in other people's homes, they would be missing out on social activities.
"Take care of your own home. No matter where they are, the rich and powerful will send people to manage the city and countryside. In short, they will be the city enforcement officers."
Zhang Xiaobao raised a finger and said.
Li Longji thought about it carefully and said, "What's the difference between them and the bailiffs? If they really do the work of the bailiffs, the rich and powerful will be willing to send them. It's an opportunity to participate in the work of the bailiffs. It's a symbol of status and identity. "
"How can they be bailiffs? They will gather together and be assigned to different areas. When they see uneven roads, they will help to fix them. When they see muddy rivers, they will clear them. "
Zhang Xiaobao counted with his fingers, "Also, if anyone's fence is falling, they will help to fix it. When they see children and elders falling, they will help them up. Of course, if they see bailiffs arresting people on the streets, they will also stop them.
Although it's a small matter, someone has to do it. For example, if it's raining heavily and the rivers are rising, or if there are puddles in the fields, they will organize themselves and help. This way, the Imperial Court won't have to fork out extra money. "
Li Longji was very happy when he heard this. He realized that if he followed Xiao Bao's instructions, the atmosphere would be better. The roads would be easier to travel, the transportation would be more convenient, and the flow of goods would be faster. There would be less mud, and the rivers wouldn't be blocked easily. The risk of the dam collapsing would be reduced.
If he helped those who were busy with work and didn't have time to fix their houses and fences, it would be safer and would save them a lot of effort.
However.
"Xiao Bao, have you been so busy organizing logistics that you've lost your mind? This is called doing chores, not managing them. The masters of the guards aren't stupid, so why should they work? Not to mention Xiao Bao's reputation, even if I issued an imperial edict, it would be useless. Do you believe me? "
Li Longji woke up from his dream of Da Bing and happily told Xiaobao that he had been angered.
Zhang Xiaobao waited for Li Longji to finish before he explained, "Of course we can't work for free. We can give you some benefits."
"If you give me money, where can I not find people to work for me? Xiao Bao, I've realized that you're not as smart as Xiao Bei. The older you get, the stupider you get. When you're busy with logistics, your brain isn't as good. "
Li Longji finally found an opportunity to attack Zhang Xiaobao, and he began to mock him.
Zhang Xiaobao also laughed. He sympathized with Li Longji. Didn't he just lose a few times in the past? Was there a need to think about revenge all the time?
"Money? No. Who gives them money? Give them a chance. A chance to participate in the local government's plan every year. For example, the big families have a lot of cows. The cows need to eat grass. The government wants to use a lot of land to grow rice this year.
In that case, the cost of the large families would naturally increase by a lot. When he was involved, he could bring up that if the cost of raising cattle increased, it would be detrimental to the local economic development and unity.
This is because other than renting cows to the local people to farm, I still have cows to sell milk. If my costs increase, should I pass this cost to the people who rent the cows or put it on the sale of milk? "
Zhang Xiaobao suggested a new idea and even gave a simple example.
Li Longji's eyes lit up. He felt that this idea made sense. After thinking for a while, he slapped his thigh.
"Alright, I think this idea is feasible. The large families pay high taxes, and we should give them some preferential policies. But, will they be able to control the local government's annual plan?"
Li Longji also had his own worries. What if the local government started to give preferential policies to the large families because of this? Who would protect the interests of the ordinary people?
There was already a problem. The large families and aristocratic families were very aggressive in acquiring land. Li Longji had previously allowed them to do so, but Xiao Bao and Cuckoo strongly opposed it. Furthermore, when they were working together, they checked the amount of land each other had. If they had a lot of land, they would not be allowed to work together. This was why they were able to suppress them. This was because the money they earned from owning land was not as much as working with them.
According to what Xiao Bao said, wouldn't all their previous efforts be in vain?
Zhang Xiaobao knew what Li Longji was afraid of, but he wasn't. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you don't need to worry. They can only participate in the local government's plans and give their own ideas. They can't help the local government make a decision. The local government will weigh the pros and cons.
For example, if the large family with a lot of cows signs a contract with the local government, it means that the local government will give a big discount to the people who rent the cows as long as it doesn't affect their ability to raise cows, or if they don't increase their costs or even reduce their costs.
You see, if I'm the county magistrate of a certain county, and I see that the yield of one kind of crop, such as wheat, is getting lower and lower, then I have to change the crop. If the conditions permit, I will change it to a paddy field and plant rice.
If you sign a contract with the person who raises cows, I can move out a piece of land that doesn't have a good yield. I can ask the Si Nong Temple for good grass seeds and plant them for you. Your costs will be reduced, and the lives of the people in my county will be better. "
Wang Juan ate the jiamo and also agreed, "Xiao Bao is right. In the future, we should find more people like him to come to the capital and participate in the meetings. We can treat them as representatives of the people, although they don't directly represent the interests of the common people.
Xiao Bao is just a bait for the urban management team. The real purpose is that whoever wants to participate in the local government's plans and who wants to obtain more benefits must first pay the price.
After the martial arts competition is over, Xiao Bao and I have already discussed and will propose a tax distribution system. The more money you earn, the more tax you have to pay. This money will be used for the welfare of the common people and public welfare.
This is not harming them, but protecting them. Otherwise, if the gap between the rich and the poor is too big, the common people will rebel. Not to mention the money, they might not even be able to keep their lives. This proposal is very difficult. Your Majesty, you must support it. "
Li Longji listened and suddenly shivered. He felt that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo's plan was very big. It turned out that the problem he raised was just a part of their plan that could be easily solved.
Empress Wang and Wu Huifei also looked at each other. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo wanted to leverage the fundamental interests of a large number of people. The backlash could be imagined. Would the two of them be able to withstand it?
Gao Lishi broke out in a cold sweat. He was very clear about how many ministers in history had ended up when they touched the interests of the noble class. His godson and daughter-in-law were challenging the entire class.
Li Longji stared blankly at a certain spot. The entire room immediately fell silent. Only Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had indifferent expressions on their faces.
This was because the two of them had long thought of a solution. The power of the nobles could never be eliminated. Even if there was a change of dynasty, it was just to get rid of a batch of nobles, keep a portion of them, and raise another batch.
After a full 15 minutes, Li Longji finally returned to his previous state. He nodded slowly with a solemn expression and said, "Xiao Bao, Cuckoo, I believe that what you're doing is for the betterment of Tang. After the martial arts competition is over, I'll give you the military authority of the Two Rivers Basin. You can transfer more troops from the Lu Zhou, Shu Zhou, Tubo, and Bo Hai Commanderies to the capital and Luoyang."
Li Longji had made his decision. The Two Rivers Basin was naturally the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. He wanted to use Xiao Bao and Cuckoo's hands to make a move on Tang's current aristocratic families.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were stunned when they heard this. They looked at each other in surprise, but they were also touched. Li Longji's action was no different from giving up the country. What was the difference between giving up the military authority of the Two Rivers Basin and letting his private soldiers enter Chang 'an and Luoyang?
Both of them stood up and bowed deeply to Li Longji. They said at the same time, "Thank you, Uncle Li."
Li Longji sighed happily. "It's not easy to get you to give me a sincere bow. Don't thank me. I should be the one thanking you. Keep the military authority for now. When things settle down and nobody dares to make a move on you, I'll take it back."
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan sat back down. Zhang Xiaobao returned to his usual playful self.
"Your Majesty, there's no need for you to hold the military authority. We didn't say that we'll make them pay a lot of taxes in one go. Naturally, they won't be willing to take things for free. We can exchange benefits and make them pay more taxes on their own accord."
"Oh? No need for you to hold the military authority? Can they take the initiative? Xiao Bao, what are you going to use in exchange? It can't be the advanced technology of the Ministry of Works, right? If that's the case, I'd rather let you hold the military authority. If they hold the technology, can I still control them? If they take the technology and run outside to develop, how should I deal with them? "
Li Longji spoke the truth. He had always been afraid that he wouldn't be able to control the nobles, not the Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan families. Over the years, he had already thought it through. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo weren't interested in the imperial authority. They just wanted to build up Great Tang.
He didn't know why the two of them, or perhaps the two behind them, thought this way. They seemed to treat everything as a game. They wanted to have a good time, but they definitely weren't willing to be the judge.
The reason why he wasn't worried about the Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Clan was mainly because they had the technology and capability. Even if they wanted to become the emperor, they could just find a place overseas to develop. However, they chose to remain in Great Tang.
As such, they were the most reassuring power. If it were any other clan, they would have long rebelled.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. Right now, I won't let others have the technology. I'll only be at ease if it's in my hands. Exchanging technology is indeed the best method, even if it's advanced civilian technology.
However, I won't give them this either. I'll give them the authority to use the technology in a period of rapid development. I'll use this to exchange for a voluntary increase in the tax rate. Those who aren't willing, I won't force them, but they can forget about getting a chance. "
Zhang Xiaobao said confidently. Wang Juan was also full of smiles. She knew that Zhang Xiaobao was up to no good again.
Li Longji was puzzled. What nonsense was this?
"Xiao Bao, be more specific. Give me an example that I can understand immediately. I want to see how many people will fall for it."
Empress Wang and the others nodded. They loved to see Zhang Xiaobao use schemes. It was so satisfying.
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