"Your Majesty, in my opinion, this is a disaster that shakes the foundation of our Great Wei!"

Xu Changqing gave his judgment after pondering for a moment.

Jiang Chen nodded with satisfaction and raised his hand, "Continue."

Xu Changqing was greatly encouraged by Jiang Chen's affirmation.

"Your Majesty, now, for various reasons, 70 to 80 percent of the fertile land in our Great Wei has fallen into the hands of gentry and landlords. The common people can only live by tenant farming and are impoverished. This is the first disaster."

"The second disaster is that gentry and landlords are now given preferential treatment and do not pay land tax. All their income goes into their own pockets, causing the national treasury to be empty. If this continues, the country will cease to be a country!"

Xu Changqing slammed the table in excitement.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, either the preferential treatment for gentry and landlords should be abolished, and they should be required to pay land tax like the common people, or we should find a way to return the fertile land to the hands of the common people."

"Your analysis is very good, and your solutions are also good."

Jiang Chen first affirmed, then changed the subject and said, "However, I plan to take a two-pronged approach to solve these two problems at the same time."

Xu Changqing was very excited to hear Jiang Chen's praise.

But when he heard that Jiang Chen was going to tackle these two things at the same time, he was shocked and waved his hands repeatedly, "Your Majesty, that's not possible!"

"If we take a two-pronged approach, it will inevitably cause strong opposition from the gentry and landlords. If things go wrong... if things go wrong..."

Xu Changqing didn't dare to continue.

Jiang Chen chuckled and said, "Are you trying to say that if things go wrong, nothing will be accomplished, and it may even force these people to desperate measures?"

Xu Changqing's eyes widened as he looked at Jiang Chen in surprise.

Since His Majesty knows this, why does he still want to do two things at the same time?

Jiang Chen said, "You just said that the current situation is that the common people have no land to cultivate, and the gentry and landlords do not pay land tax. If we only take one approach, it will only be a temporary solution."

Xu Changqing was silent.

His Majesty is right. If we only collect land tax from the gentry and landlords, then the common people will still have no land to cultivate. What is more likely is that the gentry and landlords will deduct this land tax from the common people, making their lives even more difficult.

And if the fertile land is returned to the common people, under the coercion and inducement of the gentry and landlords, this fertile land will eventually be occupied by the gentry and landlords, and everything will return to its original state.

After a little thought, Xu Changqing said, "Your Majesty, these two things can be done in sequence, so that the resistance encountered will be less."

"I understand what you mean." Jiang Chen nodded, "You want to boil the frog slowly."

Xu Changqing nodded repeatedly, that's what he meant.

"The people have suffered for a long time. We can wait, but can the people wait?" Jiang Chen asked.

Xu Changqing was stunned, not because Jiang Chen's words shocked him.

But because these words came from Jiang Chen's mouth, that's what shocked him.

Is this still the His Majesty in his memory who indulged in wine and women and ignored state affairs?

This insight is simply comparable to that of the wise monarchs of past dynasties!

Xu Changqing knelt on the ground and shouted, "Your Majesty is wise! It is the blessing of the people that Great Wei has Your Majesty!"

Jiang Chen smiled and helped Xu Changqing up, then asked Shi Ping to bring out the land deeds he had received in the past few days.

"These are the land deeds of the main aristocratic families in Jinling. I'll give them to you."

"You will be stationed in Jinling for me and distribute these lands to the people!"

"I will return to the capital immediately and start abolishing the tax exemption for gentry and landlords. You can start processing when you receive the news."

"Of course, I will let Shi Ping cooperate with you here. Is there a problem?" Jiang Chen said.

Xu Changqing bowed to the ground again: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will definitely live up to Your Majesty's trust! If I fail to meet Your Majesty's expectations, I will repay with my death!"

"Very good!"

Jiang Chen nodded with satisfaction, then turned to look at Shi Ping and asked, "Have you investigated everything I asked you to investigate?"

Shi Ping nodded heavily: "This subordinate has already found out which aristocratic families have reservations and which are stubborn!"

"Very good."

Jiang Chen sneered, "Let them accompany the Su family!"

"Yes!"

With Jiang Chen's order, the Jinling City, which had just calmed down, became chaotic again.

Those aristocratic families who had reservations and harbored a fluke mentality were broken into by soldiers like tigers and wolves, and then all were imprisoned.

For a time, the Jinling prison was overcrowded.

After resolving these matters, Jiang Chen did not stay any longer, and returned to the capital with Jing Yue in simple attire.

The events in Jinling naturally reached the ears of the ministers in the capital.

Those who can gain a foothold in the capital are naturally not ordinary people.

Many ministers quickly saw the hidden purpose behind this matter.

These ministers were all taken aback.

Is His Majesty going to take action against the gentry and landlords?

This is not acceptable!

Among them, there are many people who rely on these conveniences to rise to prominence or even dominate one side.

This matter must be stopped!

These ministers tacitly stood on the same front.

In the Qianqing Palace Hall, the ministers stood in separate rows, all silent.

But in the dark, undercurrents were surging.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

With the voice of Chief Eunuch Feng Jin, Jiang Chen slowly ascended the dragon throne.

The ministers knelt down and shouted, "Greetings, Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

Jiang Chen did not ask the ministers to rise as usual, but looked at the ministers one by one before saying faintly, "Rise."

The ministers, who were originally ready to present their memorials to oppose the Jinling affair, couldn't help but feel guilty.

Jiang Chen's attitude made them somewhat confused.

"If you have something to report, come forward. If not, the court will adjourn," Feng Jin shouted.

Before the hesitant ministers could decide whether to be the first to speak out, Yuan Buyi stepped forward impatiently.

"This minister has something to report!"

The eyes of the ministers immediately fell on Yuan Buyi.

Everyone knew that Yuan Buyi was a good official who cared about the people and Great Wei.

After learning about the Jinling affair, it was said that Yuan Buyi went to the outside of the Imperial Ancestral Temple overnight, weeping and kowtowing, shouting, "Heaven bless Great Wei."

The ministers who opposed the Jinling affair all sneered at this kind of thing.

In their opinion, Yuan Buyi was simply a fool.

Is there any benefit to himself in being the master of the people and thinking about Great Wei?

Simply unreasonable!

So when they saw Yuan Buyi come forward, the ministers' hearts couldn't help but clench.

This old thing, won't he have any bad ideas?

Seeing Yuan Buyi come forward, Jiang Chen smiled.

"Grand Tutor, please speak."

Yuan Buyi bowed and saluted, saying, "This old minister agrees with His Majesty's actions in Jinling! This is the fortune of the people of the world, and the fortune of my Great Wei!"

"This minister also believes that this move should not be limited to Jinling, but should be promoted in Great Wei to return the land to the hands of the people!"

"In this way, my Great Wei Dynasty can last for generations and flourish forever!"

As soon as Yuan Buyi finished speaking, a minister stood up: "This minister objects!"