Daqin: When I return from sea, I will offer you a map of the world

Chapter 130 The First Emperor's Careful Intentions!

Legalism has laid its foundation since the reform of the Shang Dynasty, and all changes in the laws of later generations are made under the principle of the five arts of controlling the people.

That is to squeeze private resources as much as possible for national use, re-cultivate while heavy taxes, break up the old surnames, tear everyone down into small families, challenge the bottom line of human nature, and finally let go of the promotion of nobles, and give an unattainable bright.

Although Li Si made some innovations to the laws of Lu Buwei's period after he became the left prime minister, and at the same time, because the Great Qin unified the six countries and the Qin officials could not go deep into the local area temporarily, he made certain policy relaxations, but in essence Li Si remained the same. It does not exceed the scope of the five arts of controlling the people.

Therefore, Li Si naturally did not agree to give in to the people.

The essence of Guanshanhai is to add tax to the price, adding tax to the price of salt.

Now that Daqin has mastered the exclusive production technology, and the current salt price is still within the tolerance of the common people, the cost is reduced and the output is expanded, but there is still no need to lower the salt price.

It is Li Si's code of conduct to squeeze the rich labor force and wealth of the people to the greatest extent while keeping the people at the lowest standard of living.

Therefore, it is justifiable for Li Si to disagree with the drop in salt prices.

"Your Majesty, the Xiongnu suffered setbacks at Yueshi Donghu. It is inevitable to try to go south to the Hetao again this year. In the land of Baiyue, there are still 60 slaves... The Efang Palace needs to be repaired, the roads in various places need to be paved, and the Great Wall needs to continue to be built. Great Qin The treasury is empty..." Li Si frowned and explained his motives to the First Emperor.

There is another key reason why he disagrees with the drop in salt prices, Daqin is too poor!
There is a reason why Daqin is poor...

A lot of manpower and material resources were spent in the war to destroy the six kingdoms. Li Xin defeated Chu with 20 Qin troops, Wang Jian defeated Chu, and the 60 troops confronted Chu for a whole year.

In the end, Chu State couldn't bear the logistical pressure and chose to harvest grain, which was determined by Wang Jian's first battle.

After unifying the Six Kingdoms, the Great Qin conquered Hetao in the north and Baiyue in the south, and suffered another defeat during the Baiyue campaign in the south. During this period, they also built the Great Wall, Chidao, Qin Zhidao, Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang, the Imperial Palace of the Six Kingdoms, and Afang Palace...

Right now, not only Li Shu is being squeezed, but Qin's treasury is also being squeezed. Wealth means nothing to be rich. As the prime minister of the left, of course, he must also be responsible for Qin's finances.

In short, the current salt price is affordable for Li Shu, and it is a very reasonable way of thinking to use the reduced cost and expanded production to generate income for Qin.

It's bitter, Li Shu...

"Hmm..." Emperor Shi Huang nodded to indicate that he already knew, and Li Si retreated sensibly.

The first emperor was a very assertive person, and Li Si, as the leftist, held real power, but he did not dare to interfere with the first emperor's decision rashly.

"Sit down..." After Li Si stepped back, the First Emperor motioned Zhao Si to sit down.

"Is the papermaking and printing technology ready?" Shi Huang asked.

Zhao Si nodded and said: "It's ready. I already have experience in papermaking. It doesn't take long to think about it and I can produce paper. The principle of printing is simple, and the difficulty lies in making engravings. The first papers and engravings would be born."

The First Emperor nodded, pondered for a moment and asked, "Did you hear what Li Si said just now?"

Zhao Si nodded.

"Do you think the price of salt should be lowered?" Shi Huang looked at Zhao Si with amusement in his eyes.

Zhao Si was slightly silent...

"Bluntly speaking." The First Emperor tapped on the table.

Zhao Si saw that the Emperor Shihuang could not refuse, he pondered for a long time before he opened his mouth and said: "I think it's time to surrender."

In fact, what Li Si said was what Zhao Si was most worried about.

Zhao Si, the core of the legalist school, has read the five arts of controlling the people many times, how could he not understand it?
How could Zhao Si not see Li Si's starting point?

But this was also what Zhao Si was most worried about.

Right now, Da Qin is always at the limit. If he blindly follows the concept of governing the country with the five arts of controlling the people, then the so-called sweet potatoes, corns and potatoes brought back by Zhao Si will be of no use.

There is no benefit from the sun-salting method...

Including all the later inventions, even if the high-yield rice and wheat are produced by the golden finger, it is meaningless.

The core spell-casting policy of the Five Arts of Controlling the People remains unchanged, and the internal conflicts in Daqin will never subside due to the additional increased grain production and reduced production costs.

Right now Daqin's tax is [-]%.

How did this [-]% come from?It is the minimum survival standard obtained after calculating various corvees and average output.

The average grain yield has been generally increased because of the three grains?That's good. In the past, [-]% of the tax was charged, but now it is [-]% to [-]% to organize more corvees.

Reduce the cost of salt production and increase the output?The price of salt continues to remain the same, and if it is lowered, wouldn't Li Shu want to eat salt freely?

The essence of the Five Arts of Controlling the People is exploitation, and there are always [-] methods and reasons for exploitation.

If the governance philosophy of extreme exploitation is not changed, the people of Daqin will never improve their living standards due to the increase in productivity, and the contradictions in Daqin will never disappear.

The essence of Qin Law is for the country, not for the people, and for the first emperor, perhaps Li Shu is just a consumable for the relevant numbers...

Zhao Si is no longer a novice, after studying for so long, and with Zou Feng's guidance, Zhao Si has learned a lot.

He also knew why Daqin's internal conflicts arose. Although Zhao Si's ass gradually moved closer to the exploiters as he rose to a high position, Zhao Si still had some kindness in his heart.

"Your Majesty, I think it's time to surrender!" Zhao Si said seriously.

Zhao Si's words were tantamount to offending Zuo Prime Minister Li Si and You Cheng Chi Gong at the same time, and even potentially offended more people. Currently, Meng Yi is the only one who clearly supports the price cut.

But Zhao Si still said it.

With a playful smile on his face, Emperor Shi Huang put the brush on the table and looked straight at Zhao Si: "Why?"

"The method of drying salt cannot be kept secret for a long time..." Zhao Si did not dare to challenge the core of Legalism, but he did not have other reasons.

"At present, although Daqin implements the strategy of officials and mountains and seas, private salt is still prevalent, and the method of drying salt requires a lot of laborers, and it can't be kept secret for too long." Zhao Si explained.

"The price of official salt is based on the tax, and there is no tax price for private salt, and the price is much lower than that of private salt. This is why some people take risks to buy private salt. It is true that people cannot live without salt."

The First Emperor nodded, motioning for Zhao Si to continue talking.

"Daqin now has a method of sun-drying salt. Compared with the method of boiling salt, both cost and output are better. Now those who cook private salt do not know it for the time being. As long as the price of official salt in Daqin falls, there will be no private salt. any living space.

Buying illegal salt is the same crime as selling illegal salt, and the price of official salt is much lower than that of private salt. Li Shu knew how to choose. "Zhao Si said seriously.

Zhao Si has a perfect starting point, not for Li Shu, but for fighting reactionary forces.

Since ancient times, private salt has been repeatedly banned. The main reason is that the price of official salt is based on tax, and the price is inherently higher than that of private salt without tax.

Salt is a necessity of life, and the price is not cheap, so there is a soil for private salt to survive.

There is nothing wrong with Zhao Si's explanation.

First of all, the technique of drying salt cannot be kept secret for too long. There are too many participants, and it is very easy to spy on the details, especially since most of the salt ponds are located in coastal areas, where the sky is high and the emperor is far away...

It won't be long before the salt drying method will be copied and pasted, and Daqin will only take advantage of the technological advantages to make money for three to five years at most.

Secondly, those who can organize the production and sale of private salt, needless to say, must be within the scope of Daqin's attack, the remnants of the Six Kingdoms, and reactionary forces.

Since technology cannot be kept secret, it is better to simply rely on technological advantages and first-mover advantages to fight a price war and directly destroy the other party's industrial chain.

In this way, the price of salt came down, and the people got benefits.

Illegal salt producers and sellers cannot sell illegal salt, and the economy and industry have suffered heavy losses directly.

It can be said that it is a win-win situation.

"A good idea..." Shi Huang tapped his fingers on the table, and then looked at Zhao Si playfully.

"Tomorrow, you will be at the inner court." Shi Huang smiled and waved his hand.

"Continue to read the Kuaiji memorial." After that, the first emperor lowered his head and continued to deal with government affairs.

The court meeting is divided into the big court meeting and the small court meeting.

The Dachaoyi involves civil and military officials and representative figures of various schools and factions, and the ceremony is greater than the content.

As for the Xiaochaohui, it is the normal Sangong Jiuqing and the more important officials under the Sangong Jiuqing routinely summarize the situation of various departments to the first emperor every day, and put forward some political applications and suggestions.

It usually takes one day for the big court meeting to be held, and the rules are very strict, and the small court meeting usually takes less than an hour. After submitting the summary of the situation in the memorial form, the first emperor asked some things, and officials at all levels typed the application report, and it was basically over. up.

It is equivalent to the difference between a general meeting and a morning meeting.

Zhao Si is a servant, and his official position is not qualified to participate in the morning meeting of the company's leaders.

There is no way, Zhao Si's position is not clear enough and important enough, and the official level is not enough...

However, with the special approval of the First Emperor, although Zhao Si is a little transparent, he can also attend the company's morning meeting.

Zhao Si had studied the twists and turns here a long time ago, and was startled when he heard this, he was a little worried that Emperor Shi Huang would let him express his opinions during the court meeting and fight with Li Sichi, Gong and other big bosses...

That would be a big trouble...Zhao Si felt a little numb in his heart...

Zhao Si didn't dare to bombard the foundation of Legalism rashly, he was just an official with a thousand stones.

Zhao Si, who was full of apprehension, forcibly held back his restless emotions, and continued to look through the performance lists of previous years.

"Hey……"

At the end of the day, Zhao Si still didn't see anything.

Until sunset and dusk, Zhao Si accompanied the first emperor to exercise and eat daily.

"Your Majesty, I will take your leave!" Zhao Si bowed and saluted, the sky was getting dark and yellow.

Seeing Zhao Si's leaving figure, Shi Huang fell into deep thought.

The First Emperor was very sure that what Zhao Si said was not what he had in mind.

In other words, it is true that Zhao Si supports the reduction of salt prices, and the so-called taking advantage of the price advantage to take the opportunity to crack down on private salt is not Zhao Si's main purpose.

This is just Zhao Si's excuse.

He could even feel Zhao Si's anxiety...

He could also feel that Zhao Si hesitated to speak.

The First Emperor didn't mind letting Zhao Si speak out boldly...

Zhao Si is very good, but the first emperor can feel that compared with people of the same age, Zhao Si is a little less energetic.

Although in daily life, Zhao Si behaved no differently from his peers, but when it came to a special moment, Zhao Si lacked a bit of vigor.

Zhao Si used papermaking and printing techniques to beg the craftsmen to be nobles, or raise and lower the price of salt today.

It is said that it is a bit less aggressive, but it actually reveals a petty spirit.

However, the First Emperor could feel that Zhao Si had thoughts in his heart.

After getting along for a long time, Emperor Shihuang had actually accepted Zhao Si slowly, but Zhao Si had been following his own views and thoughts.

This is not in line with the emperor's wishes...

(End of this chapter)