"Emperor! I believe that if we were to add new tax laws, it would be better to increase the existing taxes, for there is no difference between the two."
Zhang Shuo wasn't entirely motivated by his teacher's disdain for Gu Chengyu, but also because many officials' interests were at stake, including his own.
"Emperor, implementing a tea tax is quite challenging. The most crucial point is that the court cannot cover every tea merchant and tea farmer, and private transactions, how would the court detect them?"
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Li Wei, pointed out an issue that hit the nail on the head.
What he said was well-grounded and lacked any personal sentiment, merely objectively stating the facts.
Xia Qing couldn't help but be quite satisfied; Li Wei was indeed his trusted confidant, and his questions were posed ingeniously.
