The old Emperor's expression remained calm.

He didn't understand Xu Qing's intentions, but he understood people. If Xu Qing spoke like this, he must have confidence. Let's see…

Xu Qing pointed at Huo Jing and said, "Elder Huo, what do you think of my intentions?"

Huo Jing prided himself as a pillar of the Pure Stream of his time. If he openly opposed such a policy beneficial to the common people in the Court, wouldn't it ruin his lifelong reputation?

After all, you scholars are always saying not to compete with the people for profit, and now Xu Liushou is directly benefiting the people, yet you come to oppose it.

So the "people" you scholars talk about are actually other "people."

Even if that's the case, it can't be said outright!

With his expression changing several times, Huo Jing couldn't quite grasp Xu Qing's intentions, but it seemed there was no need to oppose this, as any loss would be the Court's problem.

Besides, there are no border issues now, and if something happens, it will be in the future.

After all, he knows very well that these refugees can't achieve anything significant right now.

He then concurred.

With Huo Jing leading the way, others found it difficult to oppose.

Currently, the only ones in the Court can oppose Xu Qing are Prince Yu and the Minister of Personnel Wang Gong. However, Prince Yu is now in the Capital as Regent, assisted by veteran officials like Wang Gong.

Huo Jing, who could somewhat hinder Xu Qing, was also firmly handled by Xu Qing.

So here in South Zhili, Xu Qing's words are even more effective than those of the old Grand Secretary in the past.

With the support of the crowd for Xu Qing's words, he then moved to the main point.

The key to never increasing taxes and service lies in using the Yellow Book from the land survey to set a total amount for taxes and services for each province and state. In disaster years, it can be verified by the Court, and reductions or exemptions can be made at their discretion, but even in prosperous years, taxes and services won't be increased.

This equates to cutting all the rules and regulations set by the old Grand Secretary, directly simplifying government orders.

This somewhat resembles the tax farming system of the previous dynasty, but its core is different. The previous dynasty's tax farming system didn't have land surveys, and local tax collection could only rely on local nobles.

Now, the Great Yu Dynasty has recently conducted a land survey, and it's not without influence on the grassroots. Additionally, there are newspapers and storytellers trained by the Embroidered Guard and the Inner Factory.

Overall, it's possible to convey the upper voices to the bottom.

This is also Xu Qing's transformation of the Embroidered Guard and the Inner Factory, not just as supervisory agencies but also to play the role of the Court's central voice.

It's not to say it's perfect, but at least it opens a path.

In the past, if the Court had any good policies, the grassroots had no channel to understand them, allowing officials to exploit and bully them, with benefits going down while grievances went up.

In fact, if Xu Qing's cultivation of the Heavenly Demon reached a profound level, there would be another way: every household could enshrine his portrait, giving him a direct opportunity to communicate with the grassroots.

The problem is, he certainly can't endure such a thing right now.

If the mixed thoughts of millions of people flooded in, Xu Qing would go "selfless" directly.

It's no different from suicide.

Of course, this is the ideal situation.

Xu Qing can't achieve it temporarily, but it doesn't mean he can never achieve it.

Not increasing taxes and services is to stabilize those people who haven't turned into refugees and cut the complex clauses of the single whip law, reducing the loopholes for grassroots officials to exploit, which is also beneficial for the Court to conduct assessments and alleviate the exploitation of the grassroots people.

Can this method cure the root?

Certainly not.

It's just a temporary strong measure.

Moreover, without increasing taxes and services, the Court has no other source of income and definitely can't sustain it.

In other words, if the Court doesn't increase taxes and services, it's hard to sustain operations, and if taxes and services are increased, the grassroots will suffer more and more, leading to rebellion…

This is also the inevitable decline of the dynasty.

…

…

After the Grand Meeting, it was time for the Cabinet Conference.

This was also the key to resolving the matter.

Currently, refugees are springing up everywhere. How to quell the unrest and, after quelling it, how to clean up the aftermath, with countless issues fundamentally boils down to one word: "money."

Without money, what will be used to quell the unrest?

But Xu Liushou, true to his name, brought out a brand-new silver coin.

In fact, a few years ago, Xu Qing had already discussed with the Grand Secretary about minting silver coins. Now, with the cooperation of Fang Immortal Dao and the Ministry of Industry, using steam engines to mint coins, the efficiency and the exquisite and delicate level of the silver coins far surpass the previously minted copper coins.

It can be said that, from a technical standpoint, it's extremely difficult for nobles to replicate the silver coins, unless they manage to steal the Court's coin minting machine.

The problem is, Xu Qing is strict in guarding this, leaving no opportunity for loopholes.

Moreover, Xu Qing plans to let the old Emperor send a team of Shadow Guards to guard the mint.

With a mint, the silver acquired from sea trade and previous confiscations can be put to great use.

The old Emperor understood Xu Qing's intention, which was to use the silver coins to establish the Great Yu Bank, managed and issued by the Court.

Moreover, the mint also produces copper coins, which are also manufactured by steam engines, vastly superior to the previous inferior coins, and the cost is even lower.

In summary, silver coins can even replace the role of some early Country's Treasure Notes, and since they are made of silver, they won't devalue as severely as Treasure Notes.

Actually, the most critical point is to use this to strengthen the financial power of the central.

Han Wu minted five-zhu coins to enrich the National Treasury, which is the same principle.

In essence, Xu Qing doesn't increase taxes and services but can achieve the collection from nobles through financial means.

His combat skill is more advanced.

And it has the backing of power and military force.

If other nobles don't want to play this, they can only rebel.

Xu Qing and the old Emperor would be delighted if they rebelled.

With the military force controlled by Xu Qing and the old Emperor, these people's rebellion would be better than no rebellion.

The old Emperor was a miser, so he roughly understood Xu Qing's words.

"With Gongming, I can rest easy," the old Emperor remarked and returned contentedly to his retreat for cultivation.

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