The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 187 - 166, a wake-up call

"As worthless as dog shit…"

In the private room, Han Porridge’s expression froze.

At this moment, even with his "gentlemanly grace," he nearly couldn’t suppress the sudden surge of anger in his chest.

Anyone would find it unacceptable for their diligently crafted policies, which took years to accumulate and months to compile, and which the Grandmaster of the current dynasty had praised as "Ten Strategies," to be disparaged so by a Martial Artist.

"Lord Zhao, may I ask why my strategies do not meet your approval?" Wang Anshi of Great Yu Kingdom said.

Zhao Douan, genuinely intrigued, surveyed his reaction and responded indifferently,

"You think my evaluation is too low? If you can’t accept it, then don’t come out seeking an appraisal."

Han Porridge took a deep breath to calm his emotions and seriously said,

"I was out of line, not that I can’t take criticism, but really…"

"First," Zhao Douan didn’t bother to hear his explanation and went straight to the point:

"Policymakers should tailor their strategies to the local conditions. Every strategy has to be based on the current situation.

There are no eternal strategies in this world, otherwise, His Majesty wouldn’t need to plan new policies. This simple truth, you must understand.

So, let me ask, Scholar, how do you see the situation of Great Yu Dynasty currently? Is the foundation solid?

The Emperor’s power is decentralized, noble families are everywhere, continuous internal party conflicts, with the rebel faction of the Second Prince resurfacing repeatedly, and the Eight Princes watching covetously…

His Majesty has made significant improvements since his ascension two years ago, but it’s still too soon; and beyond the Capital, public skepticism persists…

Under such circumstances, how can drastic reforms withstand? Your ’Ten Strategies’ are too radical."

Han Porridge was not surprised by this response.

This point was also a concern that other scholars in Xiuwen Pavilion shared.

Overly radical.

Zhao Douan raising this concern was entirely within his expectations.

He immediately replied sincerely,

"Lord, the concerns you hold are indeed the flaws. However, dire situations call for drastic measures. Lord, working in the Imperial Court, you are not familiar with local conditions.

In fact, the court’s finances are already terrifyingly in deficit. The Capital, being the wealthiest in Great Yu Kingdom, still appears prosperous at a glance, but outside the Capital, things are already on the brink of collapse. The National Treasury is empty, and the annual expenses required by the court amount to a huge sum of silver coins…

Lord, this matter is urgent indeed. There may be gentler strategies, but how can we afford to wait?

You mentioned that His Majesty has not been on the throne long enough to stabilize the foundation, which is true.

But conversely… Ha, today I am risking my life to say something disrespectful, but how can you be sure, letting the financial deterioration continue, that in a few years, things will be better?

By the time the court can’t even distribute official salaries and military provisions, it will be too late!

And now, while His Majesty still has the momentum of a new Emperor, perhaps we can still push through the new policies. If the situation becomes terminal, even wanting to take action will be impossible."

During his speech, Han Porridge became somewhat agitated.

He took another breath, looking earnestly at Zhao Douan,

"Lord, everything comes at a cost. I understand my ’Ten Strategies’ are radical, but between the two evils, we should pick the lesser... Moreover, I also mentioned, the implementation of new policies will not be excessive, but strategically radical, yet the methods should be gentle…"

Zhao Douan sneered, shaking his head,

"Strategically radical, but methods gentle… Scholar, you are being too idealistic, probably from staying in Hanlin Academy too long, out of touch with the harsh realities below."

Han Porridge passionately said, "I am not of noble origin; I too have endured hardships..."

"But you are not anymore,"

Zhao Douan interrupted, holding his wine cup, pointing at the elegantly adorned private room:

"At places like this tavern."

He then pointed at the dishes on the table:

"And dishes like these. These are not things ordinary people can afford.

Scholar, I believe you once suffered and have the courage to aspire for the good of the world.

But I repeat my words, Scholar, you’ve been in the prestigious position of Hanlin Academy for too long, even if you visit local areas, what you see is not the true suffering of the common folk.

Thus, your plans have already detached from the realities of the common people."

Zhao Douan chuckled:

"Methods gentle? Ha, you can control this boundary, and some of those you find may also maintain this balance, but... how many can?

The dissemination of new policies will inevitably require countless lower-level officials and clerks in the Nine Roads and Eighteen Prefectures to implement!

Do you think they can maintain this balance?

I dare say, once the new policies leave Xiuwen Pavilion, they change!

The further down it goes, the more it will be distorted. The grain of sand you throw from the Capital will become a mountain by the time it reaches the common people!"

Han Porridge, faced with blunt criticism, attempted to defend:

"But we can introduce inspections. All local government offices have supervisory officials, and Imperial Censors can also be sent to patrol…"

Zhao Douan sneered,

"Inspections? How to inspect? Fine, even if we take ten thousand steps back, and you really find enough obedient supervisory officials to ensure the policies don’t change when they reach the local government offices, what about after that?

Do you believe that those below won’t find thousands of ways to twist the new policies into profit-making schemes?"

He pinched the chopsticks, pointing at a plate of stir-fried green sprouts on the table:

"Let’s take the first of your ’Ten Strategies,’ the so-called Spring and Autumn Tax Law, for instance. You propose that during times when green and yellow crops fail to meet, the court should lend to the common people to buy seeds...

Han Porridge, stirred into anger, declared:

"Yes. I have visited common folk, and whenever green does not meet yellow, in order to survive, people can only borrow from landlords, rich families, or merchants. Working hard for a year, after repaying the loan, what remains is barely enough to eat.

If it’s a disaster year, they can’t even pay back what they owe due to high interest! But if the court lends, it can push down the interest rates to prevent villains from exploiting the people. Would that not benefit both the state and its citizens?"

He spoke earnestly, his voice filled with impassioned conviction.

Zhao Douan however, scoffed again, murmuring softly:

"Ideas are beautiful, but if I were a local scribe, I would only need to wait for the farmers’ children to borrow Silver Coin from the government office and then collude with merchants, using gambling dens, taverns, brothels... all sorts of means to lure them into spending the borrowed money.

A considerable portion of these farmers’ children, having money in hand, simply cannot refuse or hold onto it.

In this way, not only is the court’s law not violated, but the court’s funding is also completely divided up. I ask you, is the Imperial Censor able to monitor this?"

Han Congee was at a loss for words!

He paused, wanting to say, "Would all officials be as evil as you..."

But he didn’t say it.

Because he thought of the time when he was poor, the appearance of rural scribes he had witnessed… Well, these lower-level officials were indeed capable of such things.

Zhao Douan continued:

"No no no, even this method is not cunning enough.

As far as I know, isn’t alcohol also a business of the court? Just lure these young men to spend the disbursed money on buying the court’s liquor.

In this way, money makes a round trip, and every layer of officials gets a cut, even the chief officials in charge of selling liquor could use this to beautify their account books and claim credit..."

Han Congee was speechless, shocked by such cunning operations he had never thought of.

This was beyond his understanding.

But Zhao Douan knew that these devious operations were realities after the implementation of the Young Crop Law in history.

And even worse instances existed.

Zhao Douan had not finished. He pointed at another dish of meat on the table with his chopsticks and said:

"Let’s talk about your conscription exemption law, which is even more laughable."

Han Congee argued:

"The common people suffer from conscription. Now, by paying a certain exemption fee, those who were supposed to serve can be exempted. The government then uses this money to hire others who didn’t have to serve before. Isn’t this fulfilling everyone’s needs?"

Zhao Douan scoffed:

"Fulfilling everyone’s needs? Let me ask you, ’What about the Rent-Service Tax System?’"

The so-called "Rent-Service Tax System" was a general term for various taxes levied on people by Great Yu, a kind of tax ordinance.

Zhao Douan, well-read in history, knew that it had also been implemented during the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

Zhao Douan said:

"Your ten strategies mention only the conscription exemption, but do not abolish Great Yu’s tax system, and ’Service’ in the Rent-Service Tax demands that people serve.

On one hand, you demand money for exemption from conscription, but on the other, the tax regime remains unchanged.

In this way, aren’t the people who are supposed to serve being taxed twice? They are required to serve as well as pay the fee to be exempted… Ridiculous!"

Han Congee grew cold with surprise.

Indeed, this was his oversight.

Indeed, the tax laws of Great Yu were a mess, with various taxes mixed up, and since Han Congee had never worked in the Ministry of Revenue, he had not thought of this.

Next, Zhao Douan relentlessly refuted him on various flaws in his ten strategies, leaving Han Congee unable to respond.

Finally, Zhao Douan stared at him with a stern tone:

"However, everything I have mentioned is not the key.

The real core flaw is that your ten strategies, seemingly for the nation and the people, in essence, by various means, aim to gather everyone’s money into the hands of the court, no different from mosquitoes drawing blood!

What is this?

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It’s nothing more than four words, competing for profit with the people!"

Zhao Douan sighed, a sentiment he had often felt when reviewing the history of feudal dynasties in his past life.

Throughout the ages, it had been a group dividing limited wealth, the powerful growing richer and the weak poorer.

These ten strategies were nothing but allowing the court to enter the fray and exploit the most fiercely, exploiting everyone outside the court.

To achieve the short-term goal of filling the national treasury.

Wang Anshi’s reforms fundamentally also employed a method solely aimed at grabbing money.

Zhao Douan concluded:

"To compete for profit with the people is to push everyone to the opposite side of the court. Once the ten strategies are successfully implemented, the national treasury will indeed be rapidly filled, but at the same time, everyone in the world will see the court as an enemy, the Emperor as a robber!

Not only will the country remain unstable, it will become even more turbulent, and at this time, if the Kuangfu Society rebels publicize this and make the people loathe Your Majesty, and the Eight Princes give out some benefits to the people below them, winning over people’s hearts.

Then, who do you think the people will recognize more as the Emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty? An Emperor who exploits them, or the thief who wins over their hearts?"

Zhao Douan pressed his chopsticks firmly on the table, looking down at this top scholar with a cold voice:

"In this way, when I say this is a strategy mistaken for the nation, no better than dog shit, am I wrong?"

Is this wrong?!

At this moment, Zhao Douan’s calm voice, falling into Han Congee’s ears, was like a thunderclap from the blue.

It blew the mind of this man, who had shown brilliance in the Xiuwen Pavilion today and vaguely possessed the aura of a future Prime Minister, leaving his back soaked with cold sweat.

A deep, indescribable fear surged to his heart.

In front of Han Congee, he seemed to see the implementation of the ten strategies, people being exploited, and Silver Coin flowing into the Capital like river water.

Accompanied by numerous hateful eyes, lifted banners, ignited beacon fires and smoke signals, and blood soaking the Hun River.

At this moment, he felt like he had been struck by a sudden realization, his face turning deathly pale.

He snapped out of his misguided confidence, his body swaying.

After a long silence.

He suddenly picked up the wine cup in front of him, tilted his head back, and drank it all.

Dog shit?

It seemed... correct.

Han Congee closed his eyes in pain, then opened them, and exhaled a heavy breath of alcohol, mockingly saying:

"Listening to your words is better than reading ten years of books. Lord, you have great talent, Han... has truly learned!!"