The breeze, the flowing water, the birds singing and the fragrance of flowers.

Apart from the Duke Lu’s personal service, there was no palace maid and eunuch, only the emperor and Zu Yi, a pair of monarchs and ministers.

In order to protect himself, Zu Yi's attitude of praying for life first did not arouse the emperor's unnecessary reaction. The emperor's attitude could no longer be described as indifferent, but he was more like a spectator watching the performance.

Gao Wei picked up the teacup and took a sip. He seemed to think the tea temperature was not very suitable. He frowned and placed the teacup on the table without any effort. Like a thunder blew, Zu Yi's attitude became more and more respectful. He lay honestly in front of the emperor, with his butt raised high. Fortunately, he was covered by the official robe, so it would not be too ugly. "I know my mistake, please forgive me!"

After saying that, he kowtowed on the ground. This trick was like flowing clouds and water, and he couldn't be more proficient. It seemed that Zu Yi had secretly practiced it at home countless times. This image really did not have the dignity and delicacy that a prime minister should have.

However, in Zu Yi's opinion, decency and dignity are simply worthless. Can it be used as food or spending? In front of all officials, it would be fine to hold the appearance of not fearing the imperial power. If you end up fooling yourself into believing yourself, you would be seeking death! People are most afraid of losing themselves and moving themselves! You still have to put your own position right, otherwise you will use a knife to teach him how to write the word "death" better!

So Zu Yi confessed his guilt very simply. No matter what, he calmed down His Majesty's anger first. Gao Wei had nothing to say to this shameless old guy. After staring at him for a while, he said:

"What's wrong with Zuqing? During these days when I was not in Jinyang, Mount Tai had a drought and floods in the Jianghuai River. Zuqing supported the court alone. Although the national treasury was short, you still guaranteed that the army had obtained sufficient money, food and supplies. Speaking of which, I have to rely on Zuqing..."

"What's the point of me doing this little trick?" Zu Qi immediately reacted, frightened and sweated coldly, and quickly expressed his loyalty: "I was originally a prisoner to be punished. If Your Majesty did not dislike me, and the envoy had to enter the court again, how could I have today? Even if I was crushed to pieces, it would be difficult to repay you for your kindness. Please don't say these words again. It's really a shame to me!"

"Hey, I can't say that. If it weren't for your contribution, my tyrannical king who was comparable to Jie and Zhou, how could I achieve this achievement today? In other words, it's not that I have fulfilled you, but that you have accomplished me."

"--His Majesty!"

Zu Yi was so scared that his eyes turned pale and almost collapsed on the ground. This was so heartbroken! He could not do anything except trembling and could only wait for the emperor to attack. This wave of testing the emperor's bottom line was really a big failure!

While he was anxious and at a loss, maybe he felt pity for his old minister's embarrassment and could not stand his fearful look now, the emperor's tone slowed down a little: "...I'll scare you to play, get up. Although it's spring, the weather is still a little cold. I'll always kneel on the ground. Can your old cold legs bear it? Give it a seat..."

Lu Ran personally moved Hu's chair and put it in front of Zu Yi. Zu Yi nervously dropped half of his butt on the stool. It seemed that as long as the emperor said something else later, he could kneel down and apologize as quickly as before.

Fortunately, the emperor really just wanted to scare him, so he didn't say anything to heart-scareful. "You are the right prime minister and an old minister again. Since I implemented the new policy, the people have been displaced, the land is deserted, the taxes are difficult to collect, and the household registration is chaotic. All of these problems have been effectively managed and have achieved remarkable results. Many of them are your contributions, and I keep them in my heart, otherwise I wouldn't have let you become the right prime minister."

Zu Yi immediately bowed and said, "I listen to Your Majesty's teachings, read more books of sages, and understand the principle that Confucius and the people are the foundation of the country. As a senior official of the court, I implement good governance and compassion for the people, these are all my duties, and Your Majesty praised it."

"'The people are the foundation of the country'," the emperor chewed the meaning and said, "Since the people's chaos in the six towns, the world has been in chaos, the people are dispersed, and the land is in decline. How to change this state and recuperate is the top priority. But since I ascended the throne, I have been provoking wars one after another, first defeating the Zhou Kingdom, and then forcing the Turks to retreat, and the two countries should not invade each other. How can I not know that the people need peace, but I have my own difficulties, do you understand?"

Zu Yi immediately replied: "I understand."

"Your Majesty is so compassionate to the people, it is really the welfare of the world. This is also the confidence that I dares to say the three-year governance. Zhou State is now overwhelmed. The longer the time is delayed, the worse the Zhou State will be. It will be a few years later to recover. Our court took this opportunity to accumulate people's strength and devote himself to resting and recuperation. "Silence is the basis of agriculture". To make the country and people have to accumulate their strength, we must create a relatively peaceful environment, try to reduce taxes and exempt labor, and not violate the farming season."

"It is easy to say, but it is difficult to do. Some officials only want to be self-reliant, and do not consider the interests of the people at all during the recruitment of military service, but they are actually disturbing the people. The country is based on the people and people live on food. I heard that the land annexation in Jianghuai, Jizhou and other places and Heyin places are very serious, and they are exploited by powerful families for a long time. The family fled severely, and the land is large and deserted. How can people live in this way?"

Speaking of this, Gao Wei sighed helplessly, "I have just investigated corrupt officials and mediocre officials, and a new trend of corruption has emerged again. What you said is necessary to increase supervision, and it is ridiculous to say that officials who were loyal and patriotic were sent to the local area, and gradually they could not withstand the erosion of power, and they became corruption and degenerate into a privileged class that was above the people. Most of them were just ordinary people, and the hearts of the people... How fragile and vulnerable, I cannot expect them to repent by inspiration. I can only use tough measures. The Ministry of Personnel should also check it carefully. This is one;

"Second, it is second to discover corrupt officials and mediocre officials. The current focus of our dynasty should be on developing agriculture. In fact, I don't think it is too difficult. We are based on agriculture and are committed to rewarding land reclamation, increasing population, and encouraging farming and sericulture to achieve good political achievements. No matter what the center and the local government have, how to do this is what you need to consider. The first thing is to let the people have land to plant. Except for the narrow and narrow households in Bingzhou, Hebei, there are a lot of empty wasteland in other places. It seems that letting the people have land to plant. However, you should pay attention to something else."

Zu Qi immediately raised his ears and seemed to listen carefully. While thinking, the emperor slowly said: "We must formulate the "Equalization of Field Law" as soon as possible. You have also seen that since I killed one horse in Mount Tai, land annexation has begun to show signs. We must curb it as soon as possible. Without mature laws and regulations, the atmosphere of Jizhou and Bingzhou... slowly returned to the original appearance of officials and powerful people colluding with each other. The court should find an opportunity to clean up a group and play a role in killing one to warn a hundred."

Zu Yi understood: "A few years ago, although the court had laws, the supervision was not strict, and the powerful people were doing whatever they wanted below and seized the land when they saw good land. This behavior was to compete with the country for profit. I must investigate this matter. All officials in the court have real titles and salaries, and those who need land must be given by real people. They are not allowed to take advantage of it. I suggest that Your Majesty ask the Ministry of Revenue to determine the household registration of the world again and send personnel to verify it. Strictly manage those who occupy more land and those who commit fraud and deal with it according to the law!"

"In addition, we must pay attention to the migration population and continue to implement the policy of reclamation. The government must formulate various measures to enable foreign people to live and work in peace and contentment. However, one thing that has to be reminded that Your Majesty's government army is also based on land. If you order the land reclamation is subject to relocation, it will inevitably impact the development and growth of the government army. It may be difficult for you to last long. Please think twice."

Zu Yi was considering that if he was allowed to move, he would shake the foundation of the military system of the palace. Gao Wei focused his mind for a moment and felt that what he said made sense. After thinking for a while, he said, "You are too careful. The imperial edict can specifically state that those who are in charge of military personnel shall not be moved. We can build military garrisons to encircle the land with the law to prevent annexation, and at the same time increase the treatment of military personnel and retain people. Moreover, our dynasty also has a mercenary system and a recruitment system. As long as you can pay money, there will be no shortage of military troops in any case."

"Starting this year, I plan to take out 20% of the taxes to subsidize the migrant households. I will no longer engage in wars in the past two or three years, and will also encourage the palace and officials to save money. The court and local officials must strictly follow the law and not take it arbitrarily. At the same time, we must pay attention to guiding the people's enthusiasm for farming and working hard. Even for themselves, we should reclaim more wasteland."

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing." After thinking about it, Zu Yi finally spoke out what he had planned for a long time: "... As our dynasty reform is implemented to the current situation, we no longer need to tolerate the nobles of the six towns. We can completely complete the bottom-up reform! Just a single edict from Your Majesty, these urinations will disappear and we can no longer control the court!"

Gao Wei was not surprised at his suggestion at all, as if he had been waiting for this scene for a long time, and said, "Do you have a specific charter?"

"Yes, start with household registration first, and then find an excuse to investigate the army. So many people are empty salary, and most of them are old, weak, sick and disabled. The nobles in the six towns must be hidden, right? Your Majesty only needs to use this as a breakthrough point, either disarmament or relocation, and can greatly reduce the power of the masters and solve the hidden dangers of our dynasty for many years in one fell swoop! Isn't this exactly what Your Majesty wants to see?"

Gao Wei smiled slightly and said, "The late emperor did not hesitate to favor the beloved and Xin to suppress the nobles, but he still failed. The six ministers in the town have deep roots. Where can I suppress it with one edict? You are too taken for granted. According to my wishes, you can't hurry. You can solve these things first. I have plans. Okay, I have no choice, so you should step down first."

The emperor stood up and planned to leave. When he walked to the steps, he stopped again, "By the way, the content I mentioned to you today is not allowed to leak a word, nor do you do anything secretly.

"Whether it is for the New Deal or for yourself, do you understand?"

Zu Yu stood up solemnly and bowed to the end, "I obey the order."
Chapter completed!