Yuan Huang opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but no words came out.
After a long silence, he asked with some difficulty, "Then what is your foundation?"
"Killing the aristocrats and seizing the land of the peasants is my foundation. Leading the peasants to kill the aristocrats and seizing the land of the officials, and following me in the rebellion are the tools I use to rule the world."
Xiao Ruxun clapped his hands. "The peasants are the most numerous in the world. If the peasants know that I led them to seize the land, they won't have to worry about losing their land in the future. They will become my most loyal supporters. More than 90% of the people in the world are my foundation. Then what will my dynasty look like?"
Yuan Huang's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he had heard.
It took him a long time to react.
But he couldn't understand at all. He didn't know what Xiao Ruxun was talking about. It seemed to be something completely unimaginable.
Let the people be the foundation?
"But … but they are illiterate and have no knowledge. How can they govern the world? If you use this method to eradicate the aristocrats, who will help you govern the world? The people in your hands will die one day. What about after that? Won't you hold the imperial examinations? "
Xiao Ruxun shook his head.
"Duke Yuan, of course I can think of what you can think of. I will use the land reform to train a group of loyal officials. In the places that I can directly control, I will first establish and operate the local government. The other provinces will of course take their time. It's impossible to achieve it in one go.
I will train my officials while carrying out land reform in those places. Province by province, I will take my time. First, I will station the troops and control the local defense. Then, I will make my move. If they want to rebel, they can do it. It will save me the trouble of finding them one by one and directly putting the label of rebellion on them. It's very easy.
The three provinces in the southeast are the places where the aristocrats have the most power. They can't resist me, let alone the aristocrats in other places. In the meantime, I will use the scholars who are willing to work for me to establish and operate the local government.
Then, with the establishment of the government at the township level, I will open several primary schools in each village. The children of the local peasants will be able to read and learn. They will master knowledge and become educated people. Finally, they will be prepared to become officials. At the same time, I will open night schools for the able-bodied men who are interested to learn. "
Yuan Huang was truly taken aback by this.
"Let the children of farmers study?"
"Yes, that's my ultimate goal. I'm going to eliminate the aristocrats by killing them. I can eliminate them for a while, but what if they appear again in the future? I can't guarantee that my descendants won't be deceived by someone with ulterior motives.
Therefore, I might as well get it done once and for all and popularize education to all the people. I want literacy to no longer be a privilege, not something that only a few people can enjoy. I want universal education so that the people can also read, be literate, and pass the examinations to become officials. "
"How … how is this possible?"
Yuan Huang was very surprised. "Ji Xin, do you know how much investment it takes to educate a child?"
"I know. I also know that it's not easy for the peasants to survive. Basically, it's impossible for them to have the money to send their children to school. Therefore, I decided to pay for it. First, I will set up this organization in the three provinces in the southeast. Then, I will reduce some taxes appropriately. Then, I will introduce the high-yield crops we planted in Myanmar.
Potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes will be introduced to the mainland to increase food production and further reduce the burden of the peasants. Moreover, as long as I announce that the children who are willing to go to school can have a meal, every household will be willing to let at least one child go to school.
Then, I will take it slow. First, I will set up the three provinces in the southeast and Northern Zhili. Then, I will gradually advance to the mainland. I want to use my life to lay the foundation of universal education. At least, every village will have a primary school, and every child will be literate. As for the rest, I don't dare to boast. I can only leave it to the future generations. "
"What about the money? Where will the money come from? The primary school you mentioned needs books, literate teachers, and money for meals. It's not much for one person, but how much money will it cost for thousands of people? Do you have that much money? "
"I do!"
In the face of Yuan Huang's doubts, Xiao Ruxun counted with his fingers. "Deacon Yuan, don't you believe me? I am really, really, really rich now. The wealth of the aristocrats in the three provinces in the southeast that I confiscated is now all mine.
I won't tell you the specific amount so that you won't be scared. However, if it's just the first step of universal education in the three provinces in the southeast and Northern Zhili, it won't be a problem. The wool comes from the sheep. It can be considered as making up for these poor people who have been exploited for more than ten generations.
Also, Deacon Yuan, don't forget why I sent people to the European continent. Why do I want to control Luzon Island? I have already decided to do business with the Europeans. Chen Xie and Chen Longzheng stayed there to be responsible for this matter.
To do business with the State of France and the State of Genoa in Europe, they need our silk, porcelain, tea, iron pots, and spices, but we need their real money.
The reason why Daming was so poor and short of money was also because of the lack of business tax. Smuggling was common in the southeast, but the imperial court could not collect much business tax. A large part of the income of the imperial court of the former Song Dynasty came from business tax. At its peak, it reached 70%.
Therefore, although the former Song Dynasty lost the north of the Huai River, it was still able to struggle at death's door and confront the Jins. It was also able to resist the Mongols for so many years. Why? Because we have money! Business tax is the most profitable thing. We are so rich, and the Europeans want it so much. Why can't we do business with them to make money?
A trip back and forth would cost millions of taels of silver. Daming is the annual income of the national treasury! I allow people to do business in Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea. I collect business tax. Without those aristocrats fighting with me for taxes, the merchants and farmers will pay taxes directly to me. Daming, how many merchants and farmers are there? How much tax can I get? I will be richer.
I will use this money to build roads, build cities, build schools, and popularize education so that every child can read and write. I will make education no longer a privilege and not something that only a few people can do. This is my greatest wish. "
"You … you really …"
Yuan Huang already did not know what to say.
Was this something a person who was born as a general should think about? Was this something a person who was born as a general should think about?
Enlightening the people was something that the sages of the Qin Dynasty longed for.
But it had to become a reality in the hands of a general?
"Therefore, the Daming dynasty is really sitting on a mountain of gold and begging for food. They can't increase their income, and they can't reduce their expenditure either. They are forced to die of poverty. How can I not make a move against them? How can I not be ruthless? If I don't kill them, if I don't get rid of them, even if I establish a new dynasty, it will only be the beginning of the next cycle.
I can suppress them alive, but what if I die? Back then, the great ancestor was very confident in his own rules, but what happened in the end? He was the one who planted the seeds of the Great Ming Dynasty's downfall with his own hands. He was the most powerful scholar in the history of the Great Ming Dynasty. Not only was he rich, he was also knowledgeable. He seized the taxes, demanded salaries, and even monopolized the right to speak.
Xiao Ruxun sighed and stood up from his seat. He walked to Yuan Huang's side and patted Yuan Huang's shoulder.
"Duke Yuan, don't blame me for hiding it from you. If I don't uproot these people, even without me, the Daming dynasty will still die in the hands of others. This is a dead end. Tell me, will the emperor of the Daming dynasty be ruthless enough to destroy his own foundation?
I'm different. I won't use them as my foundation, and they won't become the people I need. They don't agree with my ideals and methods. Letting them become officials is just making me unhappy. "
After saying that, Xiao Ruxun tilted his head and looked at Yuan Huang.
"Of course, this is what I think. I'm not sure if things will develop like this. I can only feel the stones to cross the river. Duke Yuan, if you really don't like me, you don't need to be an administrator in the imperial court. You can go teach!
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