Protect Our Chief

Chapter 1103 - 77: Stirring the Winds and Clouds with One Hand! Lord Meng Surrenders

"As princes, dukes, and dukes, we should be the model for the world.""As for other royal families and noble families, they can first conduct self-examination and correction internally. If any discrepancies are found, they should go to the local government office, county government, or Three Talents Department to make up the tax payments."

As soon as Prince Deshun said this, everyone present except for members of the Dexin Lineage and the Zhao Family secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although self-examination and tax compensation might cause significant pain, it was better than being exposed and publicly announced to the world. Moreover, since it was self-examination, how much tax to compensate was up to them, leaving plenty of room for maneuvering.

Everyone instinctively developed a slight favorability toward Prince Deshun.

However, the next moment, their favorability was completely lost.

Just because Prince Deshun added, "Once each royal family and noble family has conducted self-examination and correction, the Three Talents Department can conduct a nationwide spot-check. Any noble family found with discrepancies not compensated will not only be fined a hundredfold tax payment. The patriarch and the related accountant will bear the legal responsibility, and if the situation is serious, they can be sent to the Cannon Fodder Camp to redeem their sins."

Everyone instantly broke out in a cold sweat. This was too ruthless. In this way, even if other family members wanted to falsify taxes, the patriarch and accountant would not dare to do so.

"If someone reports a noble family’s tax evasion and it is verified, a huge reward can be given to the whistleblower." "If falsely accused, no harm done; the falsely accused noble family can be commended and awarded the title of ’Model Taxpayer,’ receiving preferential treatment in all aspects from the City Guardian’s Mansion and Governor’s Mansion."

Measures jumped out of Prince Deshun’s mouth, as if they had been thoroughly considered long ago.

Even Emperor Longchang was quite taken aback by Prince Deshun, thinking that this old fellow had made considerable progress after fishing on the West Sea Shore for hundreds of years.

After pondering briefly, Emperor Longchang said, "What Deshun says makes sense. Therefore, let’s start the checks from the Dexin, Prince Deshun’s Mansion, Kang, Prince Anjun’s Mansion, and the two Duke’s Mansions."

"All other royal families and noble families shall conduct self-examination and correction at the same time, make up the back taxes for less than twenty years, and re-register withheld, underestimated, or omitted properties. Any major errors found after self-examination shall be severely punished without leniency."

"Court adjourned!"

The voice of the Great Emperor thundered in Dingqian Hall, reverberating without pause.

It was a definitive statement, not to be disputed.

"We bid farewell to Your Majesty."

All civil and military officials, saluted in unison and shouted.

...

This grand court meeting caused great waves, naturally inciting many private discussions immediately after the court session.

Emperor Longchang left the court but did not go to Zhuozheng Pavilion, instead he strolled in the Imperial Garden, feeding the little wolf cubs, and then planned to visit Wang Anye and a few other bear children.

He strolled leisurely, his face no longer stern, rather with a sense of ease and composure.

"Congratulations Your Majesty, blessings Your Majesty," Old Yao said with a smile, "With this tax reform, the nation-wide trend of tax evasion and avoidance will be eradicated, and the national power will be significantly enhanced."

"You old rascal, I’ve been used by Wang Shouzhe, and you’re so pleased about it?" Emperor Longchang glared and said irritably, "Speak honestly, have you already pledged allegiance to Prince Anjun, hoping that I would soon step down and allow a virtuous successor?"

"Your Majesty wrongs me~~ This old servant’s life belongs to Your Majesty, and even in death, I’m Your Majesty’s ghost." Old Yao pleaded with a face full of ’fear,’ "This old servant is happy for Your Majesty~ You’ve wanted to reform tax for a long time but never found the right cause and opportunity. Now this uproar by Wang Shouzhe, isn’t it exactly to Your Majesty’s advantage?"

"Shameless old thing." Emperor Longchang cursed with a smile, then his expression gradually hardened, "It’s not that I lacked cause or opportunity; it’s that I couldn’t make up my mind. To convince the masses in checking taxes, it must start with the royal family. The royal family’s reputation, this time is going to suffer."

Wang Shouzhe’s counterattack this time has settled my determination. Whether I stretch my neck or shrink, it’s a cut; being a chronic ailment, naturally the faster and harsher the cut, the cleaner the clear."

"Though I’m old now, I still enjoy prestige and authority, and everyone knows I’m unpredictable and irritable now. Before dying, pulling a few down with me is also possible. With me in charge, they dare not act recklessly. If not using this moment to treat the chronic problem, are we to expect a new emperor to address it?"

What state the new emperor would be in at first, Emperor Longchang couldn’t be unaware? At that time, he would’ve had a host of elders above, kinsfolk around, his own prestige still unformed, wanting to do something, how could he rival the ease now?

"Your Majesty is wise." Old Yao flattered, sighing as he said, "But this time, the prestige of Prince Dexin and Prince Kang’s lineage will certainly suffer damage."

"They brought it upon themselves, not even daring to accept a thirty percent discrepancy; isn’t this enough to illustrate the problem?" Emperor Longchang said with slight annoyance, "Especially Dexin, that old thing, not upright himself, affecting an entire brood. Successor, that child wasn’t like this originally; through the years, he’s been led astray by Dexin."

"Just in time to knock some sense into Wu Chengsi, make him understand that if he still aspires to the Emperor’s Son position, he must walk upright and sit straight. With holes all over, how can he win the masses?"

"This old servant also hopes Prince Kang, after this ordeal, can learn from pain and truly become a capable and responsible quasi-crown prince." Old Yao chimed in agreement.