Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Time flies, and it is already mid-August.

Tai Chi Hall.

A meeting of hundreds of officials.

When the civil and military officials saw Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Ma Zhou and others appear in the hall, they guessed that important matters would be announced at the court today.

After the heads of each department reported on the important matters of their department, everyone turned their attention to Li Chengqian.

"Ahem!

Li Chengqian coughed twice and spoke loudly.

"My dear ministers, at the suggestion of Minister Du He, Your Majesty has decided to issue a decree encouraging childbirth in order to increase the population of the Tang Dynasty!"

Is that all?

Your Majesty, you still need to discuss with 10 important ministers for several days?

The civil and military officials who had been waiting for several days suddenly lost all interest when they heard that the important officials were only discussing the decree to encourage childbirth.

In order to rapidly increase the population, the imperial court issued a decree in the first year of Zhenguan.

The new law shouldn’t bring about major changes, right?

Li Chengqian glanced at everyone, then waved to Lai Ji, the messenger.

"Laiji, you come and announce the decree."

When announcing such important decrees, Li Shimin would usually send his trusted eunuchs to read them out.

"promise."

Lai Ji responded, then walked to the side of the imperial platform with the imperial edict, spread it out, and read it aloud.

"The Emperor of the Great Tang decrees that from September 1st, the 21st year of the Zhenguan reign, all Tang descendants who give birth to offspring will receive a huge reward."

"First: For every child born, the court will reward 20 mu of permanent farmland."

"Second: Free loan of oxen, donkeys, or horses."

“Third: Free distribution of grain seeds.”

"Fourth: Give away the Zhenguan plow for free."

"Fifth: Receive elementary education free of charge."

"Sixth:..."

Every time Lai Ji read out a reward, the eyelids of the civil and military officials would twitch.

After the dozen or so awards were read out, all the civil and military officials were stunned.

numb!

Completely numb!

What are your majesty and your ministers thinking?

If this decree is promulgated, won’t the treasury, which was originally quite full, soon be empty?

How to develop the Western Regions?

What about building dams and riverbanks?

What about Your Majesty and the Crown Prince building a temporary palace?

Just as these officials were astonished, important officials such as Du He, Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Li Ji and Ma Zhou all stood up and responded.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"His Royal Highness the Prince is wise!"

Seeing that all officials above the third rank stood up to respond, some officials who wanted to stand up to advise were suddenly stunned in mid-air.

As more and more ministers stood up to respond, the people who originally wanted to persuade the emperor had no choice but to change their minds and stand up.

Since His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince don’t worry about it, why should they worry about it?

It’s better to spend all the money!

It would be best if all the officials’ salaries could not be paid!

Then we will see what Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, the Duke of Han and other important officials will do!

After more than ten breaths.

The shouts of the civil and military officials slowly stopped, and they sat down at Li Chengqian's signal.

Li Chengqian turned to look at Li Ji and said with a serious expression.

"Left Sergeant, implementing this law to encourage growth is the most important task of the Shangshu Province right now!"

"Officials from all prefectures and counties must go to every village to preach!"

"Anyone who slacks off will be severely punished!"

Due to inconvenient transportation and lack of information, ordinary people receive information very slowly.

If local officials do not go into the villages to preach, I am afraid that in ten or eight years, half of the people will not know about this law.

Li Ji stood up and responded with a serious expression.

"The minister obeys the order!"

"Please rest assured, Your Highness. I will do my best to accomplish this!"

Promoting the law to reward fertility is his first major task since taking office, and he must do it well.

Although Du He will replace him as the head of all officials after the crown prince ascends the throne, the crown prince will still use him because of his good performance!

"Ok!"

Li Chengqian nodded, then said to Du He with a smile.

"Minister Du, the Ministry of Revenue must keep a good record and strictly prevent any fraud."

"Anyone who dares to defraud birth rewards will be held accountable by the highest local officials and severely punished!"

The territory of the Tang Dynasty was very vast. If local county officials committed fraud to obtain birth rewards, it would be a huge loss to the court.

Only by strengthening supervision can we avoid fraud as much as possible.

Du He stood up and replied, "I obey your order!"

After announcing the important matter, Li Chengqian immediately stood up and announced the end of the court meeting.

After Li Chengqian and a group of important officials left, these fourth and fifth rank officials immediately gathered in groups of three or five and began to discuss excitedly.

“The reward for fertility is too high!”

"Within three years, the treasury will be absolutely empty!"

"Plus, Your Majesty also has the ambition to expand into the Western Regions. Where will the money come from to prepare for the war?"

"I don't know what the prime ministers and important officials are thinking, ah!"

"..."

It can be heard from their words that they all disagree with the issuance of this decree.

But they have no say in the matter!

...

With the implementation of the birth reward policy, more and more people knew about it, and people all over the world were excited for a while.

The people of Chang'an reacted most violently.

Wannian County Government Office.

Notice board on the left side of the door.

Thousands of people surrounded the place, and more people continued to pour in from the periphery.

The person squeezed in the innermost part was a middle-aged official. He licked his dry lips, and waited until the noise of the crowd died down before he shouted at the top of his voice.

"Be quiet, folks!"

"I'm going to start reading out the imperial decree on childbirth. If you're too noisy, the people behind me might not be able to hear you."

Hearing the young scholar's words, everyone suddenly quieted down.

The middle-aged official took a sip of water and then read out the contents of the notice aloud.

After a cup of tea.

When the people heard about the birth reward set by the court, their faces were filled with doubt.

"Just for giving birth to a child, would the court reward you with so many things?"

"is that a lie?"

When the people heard about this decree, they immediately suspected that the court was deceiving them and that it would not be implemented in the end.

The pie that falls from the sky will also fall into the mouths of officials and gentry.

When will it be the turn of these people?

Hearing the voice of one of the people, the middle-aged official shouted loudly.

"My fellow villagers, rest assured. The imperial edict bears the seal of His Majesty. How could it be a forgery?"

hum!

As the middle-aged official finished speaking, a low-pitched discussion broke out at the scene.

What a surprise!

It just so happens that their men have returned home to rest, so they have to work hard to have more children!

Thinking of this, many young women ran home excitedly. From their faces, you can see that they all wanted rewards.

Even some older people are ready to make a move.

I won’t be able to rest in peace even if I die without getting so many rewards!

...

Household Department.

In the office.

Du He was completing the financial statements, birth registration forms and subsidy collection forms when Lu Chengqing walked to the door to report.

"Minister Du, County Magistrate Pei requests an audience."

Du He raised his head and said, "Please ask County Magistrate Pei to come in."

Not long after, Pei Xingjian strode in with a serious expression and closed the door.

Seeing Pei Xingjian's expression, Du He knew that he had something important to say.

After some salutes.

Pei Xingjian whispered, "Duke Hanguo, Zhangsun Wuji, Yuwen Jie, and others have sent people to inquire about our secret winemaking recipe and the formula for our thunder bomb."

what!

Is Changsun Wuji's hand so long?

Haha, this old silver coin has quite big ambitions!

Du He asked in a deep voice, "Did they succeed?"

Pei Xingjian quickly bowed and said, "Don't worry, Lord Han, all the people they sent have been caught by our spies!"