SWNOVELXO Chapter 371 Desire to Act_2
Fortunately, through this event, his Confucian cultivation also experienced perceptible growth.
For hundreds of years, Confucianism has been at the forefront of all schools, with the most practitioners. This is not only because Confucianism is respected but also because their cultivation method is not overly harsh. No matter the school, they can all resonate with Confucianism.
Especially with the support of the School of Cross and Vertical and the School of Calligraphy, Confucian cultivation has advantages that others do not possess.
...
In the last two months of the 35th year of Zhisheng in Daxia, for the people near the Capital, it was one good news after another.
Initially, several wealthy merchants in Chang'an announced reductions in tenant rents and increases in workers' pay, receiving unanimous praise from the populace.
Soon after, the Ministry of Revenue convened dozens of top merchants in Chang'an for discussions.
People were unaware of what the court and these merchants discussed, but shortly after the meeting ended, the court issued a law.
All households and major shops in Chang'an must pay workers no less than two silver taels monthly. Violations would incur a tenfold fine.
This law was to be trialed in the Capital first, then implemented nationwide.
While the lower-class citizens were cheering, the merchants and owners were unsure of their stance, but the biggest merchants in Chang'an declared they would lead by example, actively respond to the court's call, and focus on the poor, contributing to the country's prosperity and stability...
These large merchants in Chang'an all had significant backing behind them.
If even they have to obediently comply with the court's law, then naturally others have no room to resist.
In addition, the court has also conducted deeper reforms on tax laws.
Starting next year, the court will grant tax exemptions to households with annual incomes below twenty taels of silver. The higher the income above twenty taels, the higher the tax rate.
Similarly, the fewer lands a household owns, the lower or even nonexistent their land tax. The more land they own, the greater the tax burden they must bear.
This move by the court has a sense of robbing the rich to help the poor.
This was not the first time the court tried to do this, but all previous attempts ended in failure. This time, the court had fewer opposing nobles, and the famous families were unusually silent.
This was because all these laws were advocated by Li Nuo, the Scheeren of the Secretariat.
Although he only holds a fourth-rank position, he is someone no one in the court dares to provoke.
His father is Li Xuanjing, the Minister of Justice, and the Left Prime Minister, head of the civil servants, also listens to him. This allows him to manipulate the court, both white and black. Plus, he holds the Imperial Sword, who would dare to cross him in the grand court?
In the last month before the New Year's Eve, more good news arrived from the Sinong Si.
Through joint research with the Ministry of Industry, Sinong Si successfully doubled the yield of several major crops in Daxia and has already begun large-scale seed cultivation, aiming to ensure all citizens of Daxia have enough to eat within five years.
Of course, not all matters were good news.
The news from the border with Liang Country was less than optimistic.
Since the Emperor of Liang Country abdicated, the court of Liang has been completely controlled by Wei Country, turning Liang into a subordinate of Wei.
For months, Wei has continued to increase its troops at the Liang border, and Daxia naturally would not sit idly by, also deploying many troops to guard the southwest, and continuously increasing them.
The people of the southwestern states have already smelled the scent of war and have begun fleeing in advance...
The 35th year of Zhisheng went by with mixed feelings.
As the first snowfall fell in Chang'an, Daxia officially stepped into the 36th year of Zhisheng.
As the new year arrived, more and more people began to realize one thing.
The Emperor changed the era name in the year he ascended the throne, which means he has been an emperor for a full thirty-five years.
Daxia has existed for over three hundred years, and he is the longest reigning emperor.
In the past, emperors would usually pass the throne to a new emperor after at most thirty years.
As the emperor of the Five Great Dynasties, although possessing supreme status, unmatched power, and immense strength, they also must bear the erosion of the nation's fate. To protect themselves, they must pass the throne.
The current Emperor has sat securely on the throne for thirty-five years and still shows no intention of abdicating.
Strangely, his health has always been robust, showing no signs of aging.
During the just-concluded Great Court Meeting, the Emperor briefly appeared.
The officials of the world were shocked to find that the Emperor's appearance had become youthful.
No one dared to question this or mention the deaths of the nobles; the main topic at the Great Court Meeting was how to deal with the looming war.
Wei Country's strength surpasses Daxia by a slight margin.
If it were only to handle Wei Country, Daxia could manage, but if another country takes advantage, Daxia would be overwhelmed.
For this reason, just after the Great Court Meeting ended, the court dispatched envoys familiar with Chu and Qi Countries to explore the two countries' intentions.
At the same time, the three provinces immediately summoned a delegation from Zhao Country.
Although these two countries are the weakest within the Five Great Dynasties, if they band together, even Chu and Wei cannot underestimate them.
Ningxin Garden.
The triplets Li Yan, Li Nian, and Li Zhi, only five months old, were evidently developing faster than ordinary children, already able to walk shakily and clearly call out everyone's names at home.
Li Nuo did not intentionally use the School of Calligraphy's abilities to promote their growth.
Whether Cross and Vertical or the School of Calligraphy, aside from initially verifying abilities, he didn't use them on his family.
The expansion of power often leads to the expansion of desire.
Whether martial artists or all schools, this is unavoidable.
The uniqueness of the School of Cross and Vertical and the School of Calligraphy allows them to satisfy various desires more simply, making this desire expansion naturally stronger.
Without restrictions, one might easily succumb to it.
Li Nuo often felt that the powers of the School of Cross and Vertical and the School of Calligraphy would give him surplus thoughts, but these thoughts for fulfilling personal desires were suppressed by Vast Qi.
"Daddy!"
A childish voice echoed by his ear. Li Nuo had just picked up Li Nian when he saw Li Zhi wobbling towards him with outstretched arms. Li Nuo, holding one in each arm, kissed their tender little faces and sent a stream of the Medical School's True Qi into their bodies.
The reason these little ones have such constitutions is mainly due to their frequent reception of True Qi baptisms from the Medical School.
Looking at their innocent and lovely faces, Li Nuo couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency.
The worries of the Phoenix from before are now gradually being confirmed.
Everyone knows that Wei Country's mass troop deployment on the border has insidious intentions.
Chu Country's attitude is ambiguous, and under the pretense of eradicating bandits, it has also dispatched parts of its army to the south. Although three small countries lie between, should Chu Country harbor any invasion intentions, these small nations could fall in a day.
Although Qi Country has not moved against Daxia, should it act to constrain Zhao, Daxia would be isolated and definitely defeated.
History has clearly recorded the consequences of a fallen nation.
Though he has been diligently cultivating during this time, it's still far inadequate to face the incoming changes.
Li Nuo's gaze swept over Jiaren, Anning, Yiren, and Phoenix, then walked over slowly, handing Li Nian and Li Zhi to them, before leaving Ningxin Garden.
King Chun Mansion.
Li Yun looked at a stack of blueprints on the table, his eyelids twitching involuntarily.
Li Nuo said, "First study them. If the money isn't enough, go to Phoenix; I've already spoken to her."
Li Yun reacted, looking at him and asking, "Are you leaving Chang'an?"
Chang'an, street.
At a fortune-telling stall, there were only a few customers.
Although most fortune-tellers are frauds, there are often curious ones wanting to have a try. The small stall didn't see much business, but it could still get a few deals daily.
A newlywed couple without children heard they could have kids this year and happily rewarded the old man with some tips and left joyfully.
Behind the fortune-telling stall, a young girl idly browsed comic books, lifting her head to reveal a smile and said, "Big brother, can I come to your home to see Li Zhi and Li Nian today?"
Dongfang Xuan, watching Li Nuo, calculated on his fingers, his brow slightly twitching. Then he looked at his granddaughter and said, "Qing'er, would you be willing to stay at your big brother's house for a while?"