Chapter Sixty Ye Xuan Enters the Imperial Capital

  Emperor Xu Jun is worried that he has lost the trust of the world. After all, he originally decreed to only collect half of the taxes, but now he is collecting the full amount again, which has the hidden danger of being inconsistent. Just now in the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Xu Jun was discussing this issue with Li Qin and Zeng Quan, when they were interrupted by a new memorial.

  The decision on Ye's military affairs continues with the discussion between the monarch and his ministers.

  Regarding the emperor's worry about losing credibility, Li Qin said: "It doesn't matter, the additional taxes are levied on land, and all the land belongs to powerful families. Giving 3 or 4 coins of silver for every hundred mu is just a slight restraint on their expansion."

  He cited the emperor, and the national statistics registered a total of more than 70 million mu of land. The usual tax revenue accounted for only one-tenth of the people's output. Even if the three taxes were added, it was calculated that it would be doubled, but it would not exceed two-tenths of the people's harvest, which is absolutely unbearable.

  After annihilating the bandits, these additional dispatches can be abolished, and the world will return to peace.

  Moreover, the additional dispatch of troops this time, as well as the full recovery of the land tax, mainly targeted those landlords and local tyrants, which would not have any impact on ordinary people, and also had the effect of suppressing land annexation and polarization between the rich and the poor.

  Obviously, Li Qin ignored a problem. The fertility of the land varies from place to place, and the yield is different. Unifying the tax collection per mu will lead to many tragedies. More importantly, among the registered fields, more than half are owned by princes, nobles, eunuchs, meritorious officials, military personnel, literati, and merchants, who either do not pay taxes or evade them.

  The final burden will only be shifted to the ordinary self-cultivating farmers, coupled with the rampant corruption and tax evasion, local officials layer by layer add surcharges, after the regular taxes, often reaching several tens or even hundreds of times the "surplus taxes". The three levies are added again, which will only lead to a larger wave of bankruptcy and a larger-scale appearance of vagrants.

  What Li Qinsaid about taxes mostly going to "powerful families" is apparently impractical.

  Perhaps Emperor Xujun did not understand that with so many mu of land registered, the burden on the people was not heavy, why they all resisted and even rebelled.

  This principle, the emperor may not understand, but Li Qin must understand, perhaps also pretending to be confused while actually understanding.

  Through his analysis, Emperor Xuanzong finally made up his mind and sighed: "I will issue an edict to raise the three taxes, hoping that after the bandits are exterminated, the world will return to peace and the people will be happy again."

  "The Emperor is wise and enlightened!"

  He had the intention of possibly appointing himself as the commander, Li Qin also guessed in his heart. He was ambitious and determined to eliminate the bandits and create a feat that would be remembered for generations, not disappointing the emperor's great kindness.

  However, before this, Li Qin revealed the intention of waiting for Ye Xuan to surrender and then ordering him to follow her into battle.

  Emperor Xu Jun naturally agreed with Li Qin's opinion, if a fierce general like Ye Xuan is not used, who should be used?

  The fierce and ferocious barbarian soldiers were all beaten by him until they retreated in disarray, what's more of these insignificant bandits, aren't they easy to capture?

  After Li Qin retreated with respect, Zeng Quan coldly glanced at his back, and was a thousand times jealous that Li Qin might be appointed as the supervisor. Unfortunately, he didn't have Li Qin's "knowledge of the military", but Zeng Quan had his own way to win over the lord's favor.

  As for the current financial difficulties, with income not covering expenses, Zeng Quan racked his brains and came up with a clever solution.

  "My dear, what clever method do you have? Quickly tell me."

  Emperor Xujun was indeed very pleased. He worried about grain and salary all day, and any method would be welcomed by Emperor Xujun.

  "With the help of?"

  The emperor was shocked.

  "Exactly!"

  Xue Guo-guan said calmly, "There are many wealthy households in the capital. The Xining family has been cultivating scholars for hundreds of years. At this time when the imperial court is in crisis, it is precisely the time for scholars and aristocratic families to repay their country."

  "My proposal is to issue debt certificates, allowing officials and merchants to donate money and grain to alleviate the country's urgent needs. The relevant articles have been detailed in my previous memorial. If Your Majesty agrees with my plan, all external officials and merchants will be under my responsibility..."

  He hesitated for a moment: "As for the royal relatives..."

  Ye Xuan was shocked, Emperor Xu Jun actually wanted to summon him, that eunuch was a small eunuch under the command of Wang En, the imperial interpreter eunuch, leading several soldiers to come and proclaim the edict.

  But thinking about it, Ye Xuan felt relieved. After all, there was no one else the imperial court could use at present. Although he was still a fugitive for now, his abilities were evident, and with his father's relationship with the current emperor, who else could the emperor rely on?

  Having understood this point, Ye Xuan smiled slightly and suddenly came to a realization.

  At this time, the eunuch also carefully sized up Ye Xuan from head to toe. In his heart, he secretly wondered, a small bandit who had not yet officially taken office, could actually be summoned by the Emperor himself, what was Ye Xuan's background?

  He looked at Ye Xuan for a long time and said: "General Ye, follow me."

  Ye Xuan Dao: "Sir, please wait for a moment."

  After finishing, Ye Xuan ordered Zhuge Yu and others to take a look at the Ye family army. He also let Xiao Su take out 100 taels of silver. With a smile on his face, he handed the silver to the eunuch and said in a low voice: "This silver is a little thought from me, I hope you won't mind it being too little."

  The eunuch was overjoyed. Ye Xuan's first move was to give 100 taels of silver, which was indeed generous. This time the proclamation was worth it.

  He smiled and put away the silver, saying: "I've long heard that General Ye is generous and loyal. Today I see it for myself. Indeed, his reputation is not exaggerated, and meeting him surpasses hearing about him."

  Ye Xuan followed him out of the camp, outside a horse-drawn carriage had already stopped. Ye Xuan and the eunuch got on the carriage, along the way, the eunuch only taught Ye Xuan the etiquette for meeting the emperor. Ye Xuan quietly asked why the emperor summoned himself, the eunuch said: "This I don't know, but in recent days the emperor has summoned General Cao."

  Ye Xuan hummed and fell into thought.

  Before long, the horses and carriages arrived outside the Chengtian Gate. Ye Xuan and others dismounted here and entered the imperial city on foot. Finally, Ye Xuan entered the heavily guarded palace and waited for the emperor's summons in a place called Gongmushu. Here, several eunuchs instructed Ye Xuan on various etiquette to be observed when meeting the emperor.

  After a while, an eunuch came to summon Ye Xuan to the platform for an audience. Ye Xuan hastily followed the eunuch, passing through layers of palace gates, until they arrived at the Cloud Gate of the Jianji Hall. He performed the grand ceremony as instructed earlier, then knelt on the ground and waited.

  Inside and outside the palace, many eunuchs and guards were stationed. Ye Xuan felt that many pairs of eyes were staring at him. Then another eunuch came out to deliver an imperial edict, ordering Ye Xuan to enter the palace.

  Ye Xuan entered the hall, walked a few steps, and saw an imperial throne in front of him. He knelt down and kowtowed, saying loudly: "Your humble subject Ye Xuan pays homage to Your Imperial Majesty, may you live forever and ever!"

  It was quiet for a long time, and it wasn't until much later that a young and tired voice spoke up: "Cao Ai Qi, is this the Ye Xuan you were talking about?"

  Ye Xuan heard his close friend Cao De's voice: "Reply to Your Majesty, it is indeed."

  That tired voice said: "Ye Xuan, get up and talk."

  Ye Xuan Dao: "Thank you, Your Majesty."