Li Shimin said in a deep voice, "Marriage isn't a small matter. It concerns the stability of the country. From the commoners to the imperial palace, all they want is for their families to prosper. If their families aren't at peace, how can they serve their country in peace? Today's incident with the Hu Clan's daughter has reminded me. Since there are so many problems with marriage in the world, how can I sit by and do nothing?"
"Your Majesty is wise!" The officials immediately said respectfully.
Even Quan Wanji had nothing to say. Even the most stubborn people would hope for their families to be at peace and for their fathers to be filial.
Li Shimin looked around and looked at Meton. He suppressed his anger and said, "Meton, since this matter started because of you, why don't you tell us what flaws there are in marriage in the Tang dynasty?"
Meton didn't know that he had already exposed himself. He said confidently, "First, it's marriage between relatives. Second, it's early marriage. Third, it's pre-natal betrothal. Fourth, it's child bride. Fifth, it's arranged marriage. Lastly, it's parents interfering in the marriage."
As soon as Meton finished speaking, the officials felt their hearts sink. Who would have thought that there were so many problems hidden in the tradition of matchmaking?
Li Shimin's hands trembled. He paused and said, "Everyone, please discuss! If there are any problems, you can confront Meton face to face. Today, all of our problems will be solved one by one. Men and women in the world will have a good marriage. "
The officials looked at each other speechlessly and looked around.
Zhangsun Wuji gritted his teeth and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, the Minister believes that marriage between relatives is very harmful. According to the Minister's investigation, many of the children of these marriages are disabled or mentally retarded. There are many who die prematurely due to illness. The harm is great. Your Majesty, please issue an order to the world to prohibit such marriages."
The marriage between Zhangsun Chong and Princess Changle had been annulled for nearly a year. There was no harm in mentioning it now, and it was most appropriate for him to bring it up.
Although Zhangsun Wuji resented Meton for causing the Zhangsun Family to lose the opportunity of a hundred years of riches, he wasn't without a trace of joy. The Zhangsun Family had already developed to become a colossus. If the Zhangsun Family was led by a fool in the future, it would be the end of the Zhangsun Family's future.
Li Shimin glanced at Zhangsun Wuji with satisfaction. Although the news of consanguineous marriage was suppressed because it involved Zhangsun Chong and Princess Changle, it couldn't be delayed indefinitely. Although the Mo publication had spread the dangers of consanguineous marriage among the people, the effect wasn't obvious. There were still many consanguineous marriages among the people.
Li Shimin nodded and said, "Since that is the case, when Minister Zhangsun revises the law of chastity, add this prohibition. All direct relatives within the first three generations cannot get married."
"Minister Zhangsun will obey!" Zhangsun Wuji let out a sigh of relief and withdrew.
The moment Zhangsun Wuji withdrew, Quan Wanji immediately stepped forward and said, "About the early marriage, Minister Zhangsun has some doubts."
"Minister Quan, please speak." Li Shimin said.
Quan Wanji nodded and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, our dynasty's law states that men and women can get married at the age of fifteen. However, the School of Medicine believes that men and women need to complete physical development before they can get married. I'm afraid it's not appropriate."
"Complete physical development? How old is that?" Li Shimin frowned and turned to look at Meton.
Meton felt guilty and said, "Eighteen years old."
Li Shimin immediately let out a sigh of relief. However, before he could relax, he heard Meton continue, "It's not a nominal age, but a full one."
"Full one?" All the ministers were puzzled.
Meton explained, "The Tang dynasty currently uses a nominal age to calculate age. Birth is one year old, and every Chinese New Year increases by one year. The School of Medicine believes that this method of calculating age is extremely inappropriate. For example, if a baby is born on Chinese New Year's Eve and another baby is born on Chinese New Year's Eve, the difference between the two is one day, but the difference is one year. If they are of the same age, the difference is one year, and the difference is the end of the year.
Meton's explanation was clear, and the ministers couldn't help but nod.
"The School of Medicine calculates one's age from the day of birth until one's birthday a year later. That's the nominal age set by my dynasty. Getting married at fifteen years old is only thirteen years old in the eyes of the School of Medicine," Modun said bitterly.
"Thirteen years old!" Li Shimin was stunned. A thirteen year old child getting married, no wonder the School of Medicine had such a big reaction.
"This minister objects!" Quan Wanji said loudly.
"Since the end of the Sui Dynasty, the population of our dynasty has withered, and the land has been barren. The Retired Emperor and His Majesty have been recuperating, and the population has gradually recovered. However, it's still not as good as the previous dynasty. If a woman gets married at eighteen years old, the growth of our Tang dynasty's population will be greatly reduced. At that time, we won't have enough men, and this will endanger the foundation of the dynasty!" Quan Wanji cried out. Eighteen years old? Wouldn't that be twenty years old? In the current situation of the Tang dynasty, a woman would already be a mother of several children.
At this time, the population was the labor force that could create wealth, taxes, and military strength. In order to increase the population, the rulers often encouraged early marriage. Quan Wanji's words immediately received the approval of many ministers.
Meton retorted, "Early marriage is very harmful. According to the School of Medicine, there are countless cases of women who get married early having difficulty giving birth. In this way, not only will it not increase the population, but it will also have the opposite effect. As for the growth of the population, with the prosperity of the School of Medicine, the number of premature deaths will be greatly reduced, and the survival rate of children will increase. At that time, His Majesty will have to consider how to deal with the new population."
What's the use of having more children? Survival was the most important thing. As an expert in gynecology and pediatrics, Sun Simiao had already started writing medical books on gynecology and obstetrics. He was also teaching female doctors in the School of Medicine. Once this batch of female doctors was successful, the survival rate of infants in the Tang dynasty would increase greatly. At that time, the entire Tang dynasty would welcome a population peak.
"Let's say a woman gets married at eighteen years old and has five children. In a hundred years, she can give birth to five generations. With four generations living together, the population will be close to a hundred people."
The Minister of Civil Affairs, Dai Zhou, nodded. The Ministry of Civil Affairs was responsible for the census of the world. In some wealthy families, the population of four generations living together was close to a hundred people.
"In the entire Tang dynasty, the population will double every twenty to forty years. At present, the Tang dynasty has a population of 3.8 million households and 20 million people. In twenty years, the population will reach 40 million. In a hundred years, the population will reach 100 million. Minister, may I ask His Majesty whether the Tang dynasty is ready to support 100 million people in a hundred years? "Meton's sonorous voice shook the imperial court like a clap of thunder.
"100 million people?" All the officials looked at Meton in disbelief.
Li Shimin was shocked. He immediately looked at the Minister of Civil Affairs, Dai Zhou.
Dai Zhou quickly leaned over the table and calculated. The more he calculated, the more shocked he was. In a short while, he was sweating. After a long time, he stood up with a bitter smile and said, "If the School of Medicine can guarantee the survival rate of newborns, the population of our dynasty will definitely reach 100 million in a hundred years."
All the officials gasped. Before this, they were worried that delaying the marriage age of women would be disadvantageous to the population growth. But at this moment, such worries had long disappeared.
The population of the Tang dynasty soared, but the growth of land could not keep up. If there were more people than land, the land output could not support so many people. At that time, the people would have no way to make a living. The chaos of the end of the Sui Dynasty would definitely repeat in the Tang dynasty.
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