"Kill the chicken as an example to the monkeys. Choose a large merchant and punish them with a crime!”
Lan Shenxing said loudly.
"Nonsense!"
Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to be furious. If we force them to be punished, how can we convince the world?”
"Your Majesty, you're wrong. Punishing merchants is the way to save the people."
Lan Shenxing looked serious.
However, he was cursing in his heart. Since Old Zhu liked to act so much, then let him act.
"Punishing merchants is the way to save the people?"
Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to be shocked.
"Merchants are beneficial to the country and the people," Lu Ben said.”
"Lord Lu is right."
"But there are always disadvantages to everything. The disadvantages of being a merchant are greater than the advantages!"
For example, if there was a famine somewhere, merchants would speculate and sell food for their own interests. They would be more active than the imperial court in providing relief to the refugees in the disaster area.
However, the refugees couldn't even afford to eat. How could they have more money to buy food?
What followed next was cheating.
What if the refugees had no money? It was very simple. The merchants would target the land in their hands, and the refugees would have to compromise in order to survive.
Thus, the merchants had one hand holding the title deed and the other hand holding the grain.
And this series of operations made more than half of the land in the disaster area belong to the merchants.
At the same time!
And the most serious thing was that they had also created a large group of landless refugees for the imperial court!
As for the consequences of these refugees, there was no need to say much, right?
Then, we can compare these consequences with the benefits that merchants bring to the country and the people…
Lord Lu felt that these small profits could still be considered profits?”
As soon as he finished speaking.
Lu Ben frowned. He could not refute Lan Shenxing's example.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao also understood the stakes.
"However, merchants can maximize the productivity of a country. This…is beyond doubt.”
At this point, Lu Ben stood up and faced Zhu Yuanzhang."Thus, I feel that what Lan Qianhu said is not feasible.”
Zhu Yuanzhang was displeased.
"Lord Lu's words are simply absurd!" Lan Shenxing snorted and laughed.”
"I'm willing to hear your opinion."
Lu Ben looked at Lan Shenxing.
" Suppose there are two villages, Dongxi Village and Nanbei Village. Originally, these two villages grew wheat and medicinal herbs and were self-sufficient.
One day, a merchant suddenly arrived.
He found that the geographical location of the East and West Village was superior. The wheat here could be sold elsewhere and earn more money.
At the same time, the position of the Nanbei Village allowed the herbs to earn more.
Therefore, under the influence of the merchant's price.
In order to earn more money, the East and West Villages began to grow wheat instead of medicinal herbs.
As for Nanbei Village, they planted all kinds of herbs and no longer planted wheat.
At this moment, it was indeed a good thing if it continued.
However, who could guarantee that they would not encounter a disaster?
Suddenly, one year, Nanbei Village encountered a locust plague. All the medicinal herbs they planted were eaten up. They could not produce medicinal herbs and had no income, but they did not have wheat.
In order to survive, Nanbei Village could only think of ways to get food.
Merchants would appear at this time.
They would help Nanbei Village by lending money, but from then on, Nanbei Village would be trapped by the merchants and forever become their money-making machine.”
Lan Shenxing smiled and asked,""Could this be what Master Lu said, to maximize productivity?”
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, his expression darkened.
This was indeed a productive force, but this productive force could not reach the hands of the country. It was all taken away by merchants.
In Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, such behavior was like a parasite, a blood-sucking parasite!
Moreover, he was sucking Zhu Yuanzhang's blood!
Of course, there was also a solution to this situation, which was for the government to open the granaries to release grain.
This could solve the immediate problem, but would it affect the merchants?
No!
Merchants could still continue to make money without any impact.
"If they become officials in the court, how about donating their family property?" Zhu Biao asked.”
"No."
Before Lan Shenxing could reply, Zhu Yuanzhang shouted,"Are they even worthy of being officials of our Great Ming?”
"Your Majesty is right."
"Not only are merchants not allowed to be officials, but they are also not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations.”
Then, he looked at Zhu Biao and said,"If you can participate in the imperial examination, what would Your Highness do if you were a merchant whose wealth could rival that of a country?”
Zhu Biao lowered his head and pondered.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Lu Ben were also lost in thought.
" I don't know what would happen if Your Highness were a merchant," Lan Shenxing said." But I will do it."
First of all, I will not participate in the imperial examinations.
However, I will let my descendants and the descendants of the clan participate.
And then…
I only need to build an academy and hire the best teachers.
" At that time, my children and grandchildren didn't have to do anything. They only had to read books, do questions, and prepare for exams.
Then…
In less than ten years, the entire Ming court will be filled with my family's descendants!
And these disciples can help me obtain even greater benefits.
For example, tax cuts!
Another example was the extremely high price of grain in a certain year.
I can even make use of the officials of the clan's descendants to exercise special privileges: Only I can do the food business.
Using this privilege, I will make a fortune.
And this was a monopoly!
After that, I earned more and more money, and my family grew bigger and bigger!
Finally, one day, I became an aristocratic family financial group!
Since then, the rise and fall of Ming Dynasty is no longer important to me.
Because my family's wealth is enough to support a new emperor!
When the emperor of Ming Dynasty is disobedient and can't earn money for me, I will replace him!
To me, the change of dynasties is nothing more than…
It's just a tool for me to continue making money!
And the aristocratic families and financial groups that Emperor Taizong and Li Shimin had destroyed with great difficulty would be resurrected!”
Lan Shenxing said.
Zhu Biao gasped.
Lu Ben's expression was solemn. He looked at Lan Shenxing with a hint of fear in his eyes.
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were filled with killing intent.
Lan Shenxing knew.
At this moment.
No one could stop Zhu Yuanzhang from attacking the merchants.
Lan Shenxing seized the opportunity, bowed, and shouted,"I implore Your Majesty to plan for the Great Ming Dynasty and the world. Punishing the merchants to save the people from fire and water, and to prevent problems before they happen.”
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Lan Shenxing with satisfaction.
On the same day.
Zhu Yuanzhang used the excuse that Lan Shenxing was sunbathing on a rocking chair in the courtyard of the Eastern Palace…
He was promoted to the rank of governor and given a set of flying fish clothes.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]