Chapter 690

In the Tai Chi hall, hundreds of officials gathered, and the annual year-end imperial meeting was held as scheduled.

At the end of previous years, the Grand Court meeting was a harmonious scene. All officials reported the great achievements made in the past year. Li Shimin wantonly rewarded the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, and the monarchs and officials were in harmony.

However, the atmosphere of this year's Grand Court meeting is strange. Even if the reports from the officials are the unprecedented political achievements since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, they still can't hide the strange atmosphere.

"During the expedition of the Tang army, Fu Yun fled at the sight of the wind. So far, we have eradicated the border diseases of the Tang Dynasty and served all over the world..." said Hou junjilang, Minister of the Ministry of war.

"The soldiers have worked hard!" Li Shimin nodded.

Hou Junji just retired, and Dai Zhou, the Minister of civil affairs, came out immediately: "Your Majesty, this year, our taxes in the Tang Dynasty have climbed to a new high, and the commercial tax has soared by as much as 60%. Although the land tax has encountered the flood in Shandong, your Majesty has reduced and exempted several government land taxes, it is still the same as in previous years."

Dai Zhou said that Li Shimin couldn't help but look happy. The flood affected area in Shandong was huge and suffered heavy losses. Now production in Shandong has resumed, and the land tax next year will certainly be higher.

As for the sharp increase of business tax, he had an unexpected joy and couldn't help looking at Merton in the corner of the military general. Among them, the contribution of Mojia village can be said to be great.

Then, the Ministry of rites, the Ministry of officials and the Ministry of punishment reported one by one. When the final work department reported, Merton was a little more interested.

Since Duan Lun took the initiative to resign, the position of the Minister of works has been pending. Just recently, the Ministry of works finally appointed a new minister. This person is no stranger, but Zhang Liang, Duke of Yun, who met Merton several times and personally painted the statue of Lingyan Pavilion.

It is worth mentioning that Zhang liangnai was born in Xingyang, and the Zheng family in Xingyang are villagers, which can not help but make Merton pay more attention.

Zhang Liang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, now the Yellow River levee has been repaired and reinforced on the original basis. It will certainly not repeat the flood in Shandong."

Li Shimin nodded solemnly and said, "the harm of the Yellow River has a long history. Zhang Aiqing can't be careless. On both sides of the Yellow River, there are more standby flood discharge areas to prevent accidents and can't be taken lightly."

"Yes!" Zhang Liang bowed down and continued, "in addition, the brick road construction has also made gratifying progress. The brick road from Luoyang to bianzhou (Kaifeng) has been built to Xingyang (Zhengzhou) The brick road at the midpoint has reached the South Bank of the Yellow River and the North Bank of the Yangtze River respectively. Goods from the two lakes only need to cross the Yangtze River and can reach Chang'an City in five days. Compared with the past, the time is more than twice as short. "

In this era, the land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang was the money and grain center of the imperial court, so the Grand Canal came into being. However, the money and grain in the land of two lakes was also the top priority. In the past, most of them went down the Yangtze River and took the Grand Canal to Chang'an city.

Now the brick road has been built directly from Xingyang to Hankou, an important town on the North Bank of the Yangtze River. It can be imagined that over time, Hankou will certainly become an important town not weaker than Yangzhou, let alone the promotion of brick road on both sides. Xingyang to Hankou have always been the central Plains and the hinterland of Datang.

The officials of the Manchu Dynasty could not help but be silent. The construction of the brick road was planned according to Merton's three horizontal and five vertical plans. Now it is just a small test. With such remarkable results, we can imagine what kind of prosperity it will be once it is completed. Of course, the huge amount of money spent on building the brick road is also distressing.

Li Shimin couldn't help laughing bitterly. He blamed Merton, the black sheep of the family, which made even the imperial court so black. However, he now understands Merton's behavior. Compared with the future benefits, the cost of building brick roads is nothing.

After all, these three horizontal and five vertical figures were played jointly by him and Mohist Zi, and his contribution must be indispensable.

After the report of the three provinces and six ministries, Li Shimin rewarded him for his achievements, but he didn't mention the equal sharing of the family property among the sons.

Seeing that the Grand Court meeting at the end of the year is coming to an end, the officials of Guanlong aristocratic family can't help being anxious. If they can't persuade Li Shimin to take back his life, I'm afraid no aristocratic family can live well this year, and the family must fall apart.

Under the sign of a group of Guanlong aristocratic families, Linghu Deyu reluctantly listed again and said, "Your Majesty, there are many rumors in the market. Your majesty is ready to revise the law of Zhenguan and let the sons divide the family property equally. Please check it thoroughly!"

Suddenly, the Manchu officials were not quiet, and the atmosphere condensed again.

Li Shimin frowned and said innocently, "is there such a thing? Where did the rumor come from?"

The Guanlong aristocratic family was suddenly dumbfounded. They didn't expect Li Shimin to cheat and refuse to answer.

"Your Majesty, from my humble minister's point of view, this rumor must have come from Ying Guogong's government. Wu Yuanqing, the new Duke of Ying Guogong, just inherited the title, drove his stepmother out of the residence and occupied Ying Guogong's family wealth alone. His majesty ordered to reprimand. I think there is this rumor." Fang Xuanling cooperated.

"It's outrageous that there should be such a thing. Wu Yuanqing's unfilial stepmother is extremely rude! Please punish him severely." Wei Zheng was most jealous of evil and became angry at the speech.

"Lord Wei's words are different. Wu Yuanqing is the eldest son of the Wu family. He should have inherited the title and wealth. Besides, Wu Yuanqing has not bought a dowry for the unmarried second daughter and young daughter of the Wu family, which is enough for the Yang family's life. It was witnessed by Mo Jijiu himself. I believe that Mo Jijiu knows better than anyone else." although Ling Hu Dehui despises the behavior of the Wu family brothers, But now I have to defend him.

When Merton heard the speech, he naturally knew that he could not hide. He only came to the conclusion that: "back to your majesty, on that day, when the minister saw the second daughter of the Wu family arguing, he angrily denounced the two brothers for being justified. He suddenly loved talents and accepted them as disciples. When the Wu family brothers saw this, he took out the wealth left by the Duke for Yang's mother and daughter."

Li Shimin cooperated and said, "so if you don't accept disciples, I'm afraid Wu Yuanqing won't take out Yang's due property?"

"This little minister doesn't know, but the martial brothers didn't take out the money!" Merton said solemnly.

Suddenly, there was an uproar and whispered one after another. It can be imagined how miserable life would be if Yang's mother and daughter were driven out of the house without property.

"The matter of family property is both family and state affairs. If every family breaks up because of family property, brothers look at the wall, etiquette collapses, and the whole family governs the country and the world. If even the family is not harmonious, how can we govern the country?" Li Shimin said.

However, all the officials of the Manchu Dynasty were silent. No one answered and fought with silence.

"What your majesty said! Many cases of the Ministry of punishment are brothers' opposition. They are all caused by the unfair distribution of family property, which is really a human tragedy!" Li daozong, the Minister of justice of the Ministry of punishment, said that he is the royal family and naturally wants to stand on the side of Li Shimin at the moment.

"I don't know how you arrange your children and grandchildren." Li Shimin couldn't help but wonder. Now many ministers are old, so it's not impolite for Li Shimin to ask.

Fang Xuanling took the lead in saying, "I don't want my children to be rich, I just want to be safe all my life. As for my family property, I'm going to buy one by myself. I'm impartial. If I have surplus, I'm going to donate after a hundred years to help some suffering people."

"Fang Aiqing is really fair!" Li Shimin sincerely praised.

"There are only children and grandchildren. I can't manage so much after a hundred years." Fang Xuanling said happily.

Many aristocratic family officials immediately scolded that his four sons, Fang Xuanling, were legitimate sons and naturally enjoyed sharing equally. However, there were many wives and concubines in their family. If they did share equally, I'm afraid the legitimate son's wife would immediately make trouble. If they didn't agree to share equally, I'm afraid a large number of concubines and common sons would cry in front of them all day, and they couldn't live in peace.

"Tell your majesty that the system of inheritance of the eldest son has been a tradition since China for thousands of years. It has been implemented in all dynasties to ensure social stability and brotherhood. If it is changed rashly, it may cause social unrest!" Linghu De Li advised.

Fang Xuanling retorted, "it's really conducive to stability, but I'm afraid brotherly harmony is just a delusion. The legitimate son inherits most of the property, and the common son can only be satisfied. How can he have no complaints in his heart!"

The ministers of the Manchu Dynasty were embarrassed. Almost all the ministers present were the beneficiaries of the inheritance system of the eldest son. They directly enjoyed the dividends of the eldest son. Where did they think of the feelings of the common son? Today, they were directly exposed to the mask of hypocrisy.

"In this way, it is indeed quite unfair!" Wei Zheng sighed and nodded.

The ministers couldn't help but feel Hao Ran for a while, and as a father, they didn't want their concubines to live a rich life. After all, only a few aristocratic families were thinking about the revitalization of the family.

"I dare ask your majesty, in addition to the family property, there are some inseparable things, such as titles, houses and ancestral inheritance. I don't know how to distribute them." Linghu De Yi said positively.

After Linghu de asked, the whole audience was immediately quiet. Property can be divided. If you want to divide titles like Tuen Ling, I'm afraid it won't be a few generations. Datang will have no honor and honor again. This is what aristocratic families fear.

"It is for the sake of fairness that all sons divide their family property equally. However, titles and clans cannot be divided. Naturally, they are inherited by their eldest son." Li Shimin said without hesitation.

The purpose of his second favor was to divide the aristocratic family, which lost its huge financial support. The aristocratic family with uneven people had no threat to the imperial court. Once the title was moved, all noble interests would be affected. Even Li Shimin had to think twice about the consequences. Moreover, an empty title was just a false name, and it was the official position that really had real power in the Tang Dynasty.

Merton sighed when he heard the speech. Naturally, he knew it was the most appropriate result.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Ling Hu De Fu bowed down. He could keep his title. He also had an explanation for the Guanlong family.

The ministers of the Manchu Dynasty took orders one after another. After all, fat water does not flow into outsiders' fields. They are all distributed to their own sons. Moreover, they have the right to inherit the title for their eldest son, which is a great bargain.

In this seemingly happy situation, however, everyone knows that after a few generations, the huge aristocratic family will gradually split into a series of small and medium-sized aristocratic families, and there is no momentum of today's five surnames and seven hopes.

With all officials bowing down one after another, the second Tuen was officially established.

At the end of the eighth year of Zhenguan, the Grand Court will end.