"Second brother, will the economic development drive further improvement of the status of businessmen?"

Taking advantage of the opportunity when Li Kuan was drinking tea to moisten his throat, Li Zhi finally asked another question.

"This question cannot be simply understood. With the development of the economy, businessmen and craftsmen will become richer and their living standards will be improved.

Generally speaking, when a person's living standards improve, his social status will naturally improve.

Especially in various markets, your living standards are closely related to your social status.

It is impossible for a beggar to have any social status.

But whether you have too much money does not simply mean the same relationship.

Just like in the east and west cities, many Hu people have rich wealth, but it is obviously fake to say how high their social status is."

Li Kuan felt that there seemed to be a pitfall behind Li Zhi's problem.

So I gave an answer in ambiguous way.

"Scholars, farmers, businessmen, second brother, you have always pursued their status as equals. But merchants value profit rather than separation. And merchants pursue profits, there will definitely be problems with character.

Once the status of a merchant is the same as that of others, will it lead to the moral corruption of the Tang Dynasty?"

As the crown prince, Li Zhi has already begun to consider his future rule.

The point he just mentioned should have been instilled in him by Yu Zhining and others.

Of course, he himself thinks it makes sense.

In fact, many rulers from all dynasties have had this view.

Merchants are fat sheep, and they will be slaughtered after they are fattened.

"I think it is inappropriate to simply link human morality with the profession he is engaged in, or whether he is a farmer or a craftsman or a businessman.

There were no literati princes who defected to the Hu people and foreign races in all dynasties? This situation was even more common during the Southern and Northern Dynasties.

According to you, aren’t these literati the most powerful character? Why did they bring the greatest harm to the entire Central Plains dynasty?

Similarly, you may think that the farmer is very simple and honest. It is undeniable that there is some truth to this.

But it is definitely not the truth. The uprising of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, as well as the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the late Han Dynasty, were a group of people behind it.

For them, as long as they can have enough food, it is enough. As for the so-called morality, it is only available under this premise.

Otherwise, when it comes to famine, why would there be a change of children and eat?

As for craftsmen, their status has always been very low before, but in fact, their contribution to a country was very huge. The court should be able to fully feel the changes brought by craftsmen to the Tang Dynasty.

If a merchant is a businessman, he will not live. Even if the workshop city produces a lot of goods, it will not make much sense if it is not circulated.

The circulation of goods must be done by merchants in it.

The Tang Dynasty absorbed various benefits from various vassal states, and merchants also needed to cooperate.

It is wrong to simply believe that merchants have no effort, but just sell things with their left hand and right hand, and make a lot of money.

When people buy and sell goods, they also take a lot of risks.

Moreover, many businessmen in Chang'an City are very enthusiastic about building roads and bridges.

There are actually not many real unscrupulous merchants.

Besides, the court should not use moral standards to measure the pros and cons of a class to the country, but should consider whether the existence and development of this class is beneficial to the Tang Dynasty."

Li Zhi's idea must be resolutely suppressed.

Otherwise, the situation that you finally develop will probably be destroyed.

"Second brother, if everything is measured by whether it is beneficial to the Tang Dynasty, then wouldn't the court be like a businessman?"

Li Zhi was taught a lesson, and obviously he was not very convinced.

"Your Highness, what you said makes sense. To a certain extent, the court is a workshop, Your Majesty is the owner of this workshop, the prime minister in the court is the shopkeeper of this workshop, the general in the court is the guard of the workshop, and the officials are the managers of all levels, while the scholars, farmers, industry and commerce below are craftsmen and helpers in various departments of the workshop.

In the workshop, most people hope that the workshop will get better and better so that their lives can become better.

Of course, for each department, there will definitely be disputes between departments and departments, and everyone will rush to become the boss’ favorite department.

Although everyone may work hard between departments, the value they create is different.

And, you have to admit that all departments have their meaning of existence, and it cannot be said that a certain department is very important and can replace everything."

As soon as Li Kuan's novel view emerged, Li Zhi had nothing to say.

Li Shimin began to reflect on what Li Kuan said, feeling that it seemed that there was a little reason.

But for some reason, he felt that this was not the case.

"Kuan'er, according to your opinion, the entire Tang Dynasty was also composed of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce and other people from all walks of life. Everyone does not distinguish between high and low, and does not care about their origins. It depends on whether you are good for the development of the Tang Dynasty?"

Li Shimin himself wanted to suppress the aristocratic family, so he supported any behavior that could weaken the influence of the aristocratic family in principle.

In Li Shimin's opinion, supporting the development of business has allowed more merchants in the Tang Dynasty to appear in the aristocratic families.

Anyway, the court did not lose anything.

Letting newly-rise businesses compete for interests with aristocratic families and let them fight around is something that Li Shimin likes to hear.

It is best if both of them are defeated. At that time, Li Shimin can stand up and clean up the mess.

"It is impossible to do nothing about poverty and humbleness in the short term. However, the imperial court now strongly encourages poor scholars to participate in the imperial examinations and give them more value in the court, which is of great benefit to balance the dynasty situation of the Tang Dynasty.

In a country, the more people in the middle class, the stronger it will become. But if only a small number of people occupy the top, there may be turmoil at any time."

For the so-called middle class, Li Kuan felt that this concept was too comprehensive, so there was not much explanation.

However, supporting more poor families to compete for power and profit with aristocratic families will definitely be beneficial to the court.

Although poor families are also families, their purpose is actually to become a family that they suppress.

However, after all, more people eat meat, fewer people will get, and the court will be more likely to grasp the situation.

From Li Shimin's perspective, this plan is still worthy of support.

"What you said makes sense! The Tang Dynasty has developed to this day, and some things are indeed going to change! Starting from next spring exam, everyone except the children of the offenders can participate in the imperial examination."

Before he knew it, Li Shimin made a major decision.
Chapter completed!