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Since the founding of the Tang dynasty, the gentry had been suppressed many times, and their social status had declined. In particular, the gradual improvement of the imperial examination system had broken the gentry's monopoly on education and culture. However, the gentry still had a lot of power and controlled all aspects of social life.
This was because the noble clans had hundreds or even thousands of years of inheritance. They had a very deep cultural heritage that ordinary people could not compete with. This allowed the noble clans to have an advantage in all aspects, including the imperial examinations. As a result, many officials in the imperial court came from the noble clans. Many shops in the city were also properties of the noble clans, not to mention the land.
The gentry's children had a special characteristic, which was to say, in the hearts of the gentry, their small family would always be the first. Everything had to be centered on the interests of the small family. When there was a conflict between the family's interests and the country's interests, the family's interests would always be the first, and they would even fight against the country. This was also the difficulty of the reform, which made it difficult for the imperial court of the Tang dynasty to do anything to the gentry.
At this moment, as soon as the draft of the two tax laws was released, the officials representing the interests of the gentry were in an uproar, especially those who had a lot of land behind them. They were all nervous and restless, as if a piece of their flesh was about to be cut off.
Just as Ang Lee was thinking about how to implement the two tax laws, the representatives of the gentry gathered in the capital to discuss how to oppose the two tax laws and how to make the imperial court completely abandon the policy that infringed on their interests.
"The ancestral law can't be abolished." This had almost become the most advantageous weapon for the gentry. After all, the rent transfer policy was set by the ancestors of the Tang dynasty. As the descendants, how could they violate the ancestral law at will? This was an unfilial act, and it might bring unpredictable consequences to the Tang dynasty.
"Everyone, once the two tax laws are implemented, the interests of our families will suffer irreparable losses. Therefore, this time, we must unite as one and never let the two tax laws be implemented."
"Yes! Yes! The ancestral law can't be abolished. This will cause a big mess. We must not let the two tax laws be implemented. "
"Yes, yes, yes. As long as we all oppose it, it will be very difficult for the Imperial Court to carry it out."
The representatives of the various landowning households had reached an agreement to oppose the two tax laws. This was a rare collaboration among the landowning households. Under normal circumstances, they were all competing for benefits and even tearing each other apart in order to fight for the land of the poor. However, at this moment, the two tax laws had emerged and would greatly infringe on their interests. Therefore, they naturally put aside their past hatred and sat down to discuss how to deal with the two tax laws.
Later on, there was a famous saying, "There are only eternal interests, no eternal friends." In order to protect their own interests, landowning households could do anything, but in order to protect their common interests, they would also work together to find a solution.
Now that they had reached a consensus to oppose the two tax laws, what they needed to do next was to discuss how to oppose them. After all, they couldn't possibly oppose them in their hearts! If that was the case, the so-called opposition would be meaningless. If they wanted to oppose it, they had to take action. They had to let the imperial court see that the two tax laws were unworkable and could not be implemented. Otherwise, there might be serious consequences.
"The Zheng family is located in the Central Plains and has the most farmland. They should be the first to step forward and set an example for the other families."
"Yes, yes, yes, we should prioritize the Zheng Clan."
After one person made the suggestion, everyone else followed suit.
"Lu Shangyi, our Zheng Clan has the most farmland. Although your Lu Clan is far away in Fanyang, there are very few people in the north. I heard that your Lu Clan's influence has already reached the Yingzhou area in the north. Most of the farmland north of Fanyang belongs to your Lu Clan!"
The Zheng Clan's representative retorted with great dissatisfaction. Although they had reached a consensus to oppose the two tax laws, there were still many contradictions in the implementation process. No one was willing to be the first to step forward. Everyone understood the principle of shooting the bird that sticks out first.
"Alright, alright, the enemy is right in front of us. Let's not fight among ourselves. Let's look at the situation first before making a decision! Lest we act rashly and anger His Majesty. "
"Yes, yes, yes, that makes sense."
"That's right, I heard that His Majesty just appointed Ang Lee as the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue to lead the implementation of the two tax laws. This person is not even twenty years old and is still very young."
"Oh, that Ang Lee who is very good at fighting! He is good at fighting, but he might not be good at dealing with these matters. As long as we set up a few more obstacles, I guarantee that he will be badly battered. "
"Yes, yes, yes, find more things for the Ministry of Revenue to do. This way, they won't have time to deal with the two tax laws."
"Our Yang Clan has a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue. If Ang Lee makes any move, he will immediately notify us. As long as he starts to move, we will immediately respond. As long as we stick together, I don't believe that we will lose to a little child."
The representatives of the landowning households discussed how to deal with this matter and sent people to inform their own officials to inquire about the progress of the two tax laws in various ways so that they could deal with it.
The representatives of the various landowning households were secretly discussing, but the court had long been in an uproar. When Ang Lee submitted the draft of the two tax laws, the court officials began to fiercely argue in front of Li Longji.
The majority of the officials represented the landowning households that owned large amounts of land. On the grounds that the ancestral laws could not be abolished, they strongly requested that the two tax laws be abolished. However, there were also some officials who did not own much land who felt that implementing the two tax laws would increase the court's income and would not harm the landowning households too much. Thus, the debate began.
However, from the situation in the court, the majority opposed the two tax laws. There were very few supporters. This showed just how powerful the landowning households were and how they could influence the court.
Li Longji's goal was to allow the officials to express their views, so he did not stop any of them from expressing their opinions.
However, as the leader of the officials, Li Linfu did not express his opinion because he had not yet figured out Li Longji's thoughts. Thus, he did not dare to express his opinion rashly lest he made Li Longji unhappy and lose his favor.
In the Great Tang, if a major policy was to be implemented, it had to be carefully considered. If the majority of the officials and the people of the world vehemently opposed it, it would be very difficult to carry out the policy. Therefore, at this moment, if the two tax laws were to be carried out smoothly, the major landowning households who vehemently opposed it had to be obedient. Otherwise, once these landowning households banded together and vehemently opposed it, it was very likely to cause chaos.
Li Longji gave the task of implementing the two tax laws to Ang Lee. On the one hand, it was Ang Lee who proposed the two tax laws. On the other hand, it was to test Ang Lee's ability and see if Ang Lee could handle this matter in an orderly manner.
In Ang Lee's mansion in Daye Square, Ang Lee was leisurely enjoying the vegetables in the big backyard. Although the landowning households had united and the court was in a mess, Ang Lee was still living a comfortable life without a trace of panic. After all, everything should be dealt with as it came. Haste makes waste. There was nothing to be nervous about.
"Alang, Censor Yan is here to visit."
"Oh, uncle is here. Zhao Liu, is there a need to announce my uncle's arrival? Invite him in. "
Li An frowned as he spoke in a reproachful tone.
"There's no need to invite me in. I'm already here."
Yan Zhenqing did not fear Ang Lee just because he had been promoted to fourth-rank assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He acted as he had before. Of course, this was also the result that Ang Lee had hoped for.
"Uncle, this is the first time you've come to my mansion! Haha! Come and look at the vegetables I've planted. Many of them are ready to eat. "
Ang Lee's expression was extremely calm, as if he had no need to worry about the two tax laws.
"You can actually grow vegetables in this weather?"
This was Yan Zhenqing's first visit to Ang Lee's mansion, and he was truly shocked to see the tender green vegetables. But at this moment, he was in no mood to appreciate the vegetables. The sudden proposal of the two tax laws had shaken all of Chang 'an. Perhaps only Ang Lee could remain so calm.
"It's fine. The court is in a mess. In addition, the landowning households have secretly joined forces to deal with you. You're still in the mood to grow vegetables?"
Yan Zhenqing said speechlessly.
"Oh, so that's why Uncle is here! The two tax laws are favored by His Majesty, and will definitely be implemented. As for those who want to oppose, let them jump around for a few days and vent their resentment! "
Li An's expression was very casual, as if he could easily settle the matter of the two tax laws. This made Yan Zhenqing very surprised.
"It's fine. It seems that you already have a way to deal with those who oppose? I've worried too much. "
"Uncle, since you're here, why don't you have a good meal in my mansion first! As for the details of the two tax laws, we can talk about them over dinner. "
Ang Lee pulled out a few vegetables and waved them in front of Yan Zhenqing's eyes.
"You're still the same."
Yan Zhenqing smiled and agreed to stay for dinner.
Before the meal was ready, Lifei Shouyu and Zhang Guangcheng came to visit with several of their subordinates. They had heard the news of Ang Lee's promotion and had come to congratulate him, as well as find a good future for their subordinates.
"Shouyu, Guangcheng, come over and sit down."
"You came at the right time. Just in time for dinner, haha!"
"Congratulations on Wuyang's promotion to Assistant Minister of Revenue. Congratulations, congratulations, haha!"
The three were all very polite. In the morning, Kun Xiong, Fei Yu, and Erniu had already come, but they had not brought their subordinates.
"Wuyang, I heard that His Majesty wants you to implement the two tax laws, but we don't have people in the Ministry of Revenue, so you won't be able to do things smoothly. I've found a few people for you. They're willing to go to the Ministry of Revenue and have a good future."
Li Feishou Yu pointed at his subordinates behind him and pleaded.
"Okay! This is a good thing. I'll accept it, haha! Brothers, Uncle, let's eat first! Don't let the food get cold. "
Ang Lee said courteously.
Although he did not have any trusted subordinates in the Ministry of Revenue, Ang Lee had already asked his old subordinates to help him. He had also ordered them to investigate openly and secretly for evidence of the various landowning households' annexation of land. Now that Lifei Shouyu had sent over a few more people, it was naturally even better.
At the table, Yan Zhenqing, Lifei Shouyu, and Zhang Guangcheng clearly expressed their full support for Ang Lee and that they would always stand on the same side as Ang Lee. Ang Lee was very gratified by this.
In the afternoon, Ang Lee received the news and hurriedly brought Zhao Liu out of the city for an inspection. Although he was now the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a high-ranking official of the court, he had used exhaustion as an excuse to ask for leave early. The officials of the Ministry of Revenue, including Guo Xuji, could do nothing about him.
After leaving the city, Ang Lee met several old subordinates who were in charge of collecting information about the landowning households' annexation of land. At this moment, they had already heard a lot of news and even found conclusive evidence.
"Assistant Minister, Zheng Laoliu, a branch of the Zheng family of Xingyang, annexed 20,000 mu of land in the east of Chang 'an. These fields are just ahead. We also found many people who can testify."
Ang Lee smiled inadvertently and asked, "How is this Zheng Laoliu's character? What other properties does his family have? "
"Assistant Minister, this Zheng Laoliu's character is not very good. He secretly opened six casinos in Chang 'an and caused many people's families to be ruined. However, with the support of the Zheng family of Xingyang, no one dared to close the casinos."
When Li An heard this, the smile on the corner of his mouth became even more brilliant. What he needed the most now was people like Zheng Laoliu. His character was extremely bad, and he also did the shady business of annexing land. In this way, there would be no psychological burden to kill this person.
"You guys continue to collect evidence. Also, those people who were forced to annex their fields must hate Zheng Laoliu very much. You should find more such people and bring them into the city and settle them down well."
"Yes, Assistant Minister."
Several subordinates responded and galloped away on their horses.
"What good fields! But people's greed is so endless. When they are rich, they want to be richer. When they are rich, they want their descendants to be rich all the time. "
Ang Lee sighed.
"Alang, where are we going now?"
"Nowhere. Back to the city."
Ang Lee galloped back to the city and returned to his mansion.
On the morning of the second day, Li An went to the Ministry of Revenue and made a round. He didn't say anything and only greeted the ministers before heading straight for the Violet Imperial Palace.
"Everyone, Assistant Minister Li wants to see you."
Li Longji smiled and said, "It seems that there is some progress. Let him in!"
"Your humble servant Ang Lee pays respect to Your Majesty."
"Ang Lee, what's the progress in the implementation of the two tax laws?"
Li Longji asked with a smile.
"Your Majesty, there is a rogue Zheng Laoliu in the capital. Relying on the protection of the Zheng family in Xingyang, he forcibly annexed 20,000 mu of fields in the east of the city, causing hundreds of people to be displaced. Your Majesty has repeatedly ordered to prohibit land annexation. Zheng Laoliu ignored Your Majesty's order and should be punished. Your Majesty, please give the order to arrest Zheng Laoliu and behead him immediately.
Ang Lee did not answer directly, but put forward his own request.
Li Longji heard this, nodded with appreciation and ordered, "Yu Chaoen, draft the decree."
"Yes, everyone."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your humble servant will take his leave."
Ang Lee did not have too many things to say to Li Longji for the time being, so he had to take his leave.
"Killing the chicken to warn the monkey, you have some means, haha!"
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