40Chapter 40: Emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce, achieving three goals at one stroke
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Chen Yun's face showed a hint of hesitation, but it was only for a moment before he said, "I thank Your Majesty for your grace."
Liu Heng saw Chen Yun's fleeting hesitation and breathed a sigh of relief.
If Chen Yun had agreed immediately, he would have started to suspect if there was any problem, but if Chen Yun had agreed after a slight hesitation, he would have felt that Chen Xi's arrival in the capital was not part of any scheme.
Because hesitation is instinct, and fleeting hesitation is instinct combined with loyalty to imperial power.
This truly shows that the Chen clan is loyal to the Emperor!
He glanced at the Inner Attendant beside him, and the Inner Attendant obediently went to the Guandu Marquis Residence to deliver the message.
.....
Meanwhile, in the capital, at the Marquis of Jiang Residence.
Zhou Bo and Chen Ping's final conclusion was also very simple—just forget it, don't confront the Emperor head-on. They felt that the outcome of confronting the Emperor head-on would likely be miserable for them.
After all, this was clearly a trap set by the Emperor and the Chen clan, just waiting for the two of them to jump into it.
"Since that's the case..."
Zhou Bo slowly closed his eyes, let out a long sigh, and expelled all the unwillingness in his heart with that long breath: "I really didn't expect it. It's one thing that old man Chen Xi suppressed you and me our entire lives, but now his descendants can even suppress us!"
He gave a bitter smile: "But can our descendants be as promising as Chen Yun?"
Chen Ping, however, was more open-minded than Zhou Bo. He looked at Zhou Bo and smiled: "Neither of us had Chen Xi's cunning, so how can we expect our descendants to be stronger than Chen Yun and his kin?"
"Let's wait and see."
"If such a day truly comes in the future, it would also be our good fortune."
To be unpromising oneself, yet wish for one's descendants to be more promising than the descendants of other promising people? Where in this world is there such a good thing? Even if there truly is such a good thing, it has nothing to do with them.
Most things in this world are like this.
.....
In Weiyang Palace
While Liu Heng and Chen Yun waited for Chen Xi, they did not sit idle; instead, they discussed policies for governing the people.
At this time, the Great Han Empire was still implementing the recuperation policy originally formulated by Liu Bang. The greatest effect of this policy was to gradually restore vitality to the Great Han.
But now, Liu Heng felt that such a policy was somewhat outdated.
He frowned slightly, looked at Chen Yun in front of him, and said, "The people are the foundation of the nation, and agriculture is the foundation of the people. I wish to implement a national policy that prioritizes agriculture, encouraging the populace to reclaim wasteland. This way, it can further help the world recover."
"However, to implement this policy, it is necessary to re-promote the 'emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce' policy carried out by Shang Yang of Qin back then. But now, the world is open to abuses, and if merchants are suppressed rashly, I fear it will lead to immense problems."
Chen Yun shook his head slightly, not agreeing with Liu Heng's words, and simply said, "This... I don't think that's the case."
"Merchants are always greedy. Even if their status is lowered, as long as it doesn't affect their wealth, up to a certain limit, they will be immersed in making money rather than raising their status."
"What's more..."
"Even if the imperial court suppresses merchants, these merchants will always find ways to live better lives—"
"They won't easily give up commerce, so the act of suppressing merchants won't have any impact on the Great Han."
As Liu Heng was pondering, he heard footsteps outside the hall, and then the Inner Attendant and Chen Xi entered.
Upon seeing Liu Heng, Chen Xi bowed and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy eternal happiness—"
Chen Xi was not without status; he was not a 'commoner'.
Because Chen Yun held two titles, first as 'Guandu Marquis Heir' and second as 'Marquis Wen', Chen Xi was also the 'Marquis Wen Heir'. Therefore, he could refer to himself as 'your subject' in front of Liu Heng, rather than 'this humble commoner'.
Liu Heng just smiled as he looked at Chen Xi, waved his hand, telling him not to be so formal, and then began to converse with him.
"Just now, your father and I were discussing the act of suppressing merchants. Your father said that merchants would not give up commerce because of it, but I am worried that this action will affect the recovery of the Great Han."
"What are your thoughts on this?"
Chen Xi had just settled down when he heard Liu Heng's words. He frowned slightly in thought, and then gave his answer.
"Your Majesty, may I ask from what angle Your Majesty intends to suppress merchants?"
Chen Xi did not give a definite answer; instead, he first raised his own question.
He explained, "Different strategies for suppressing merchants will lead to different consequences. Some are enough to make merchants turn hostile, while others are not."
"Therefore, I do not know whose guess, Your Majesty's or my father's, is closer to reality."
Liu Heng looked at Chen Xi's answer, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face: "Yuan Zhi, to have such a son is truly enviable. If my son could be even half as promising as Chen Xi, I would be overjoyed."
Chen Yun merely smiled faintly, not agreeing.
In reality, Liu Heng's words just now were a trap—if Chen Xi agreed with him, he would have to contradict his own father, but if he couldn't find a suitable answer, it would inevitably appear like flattery.
And if he agreed with Chen Yun...?
Are you two father and son trying to challenge me? (Image)
So, no matter how he answered, it would be wrong.
Only such a counter-question was the most correct answer.
That's why Liu Heng praised Chen Xi and expressed envy.
Liu Heng looked at Chen Xi and said, "How do you think merchants should be suppressed so that they continue to engage in commerce honestly and contribute a certain amount of strength to the recovery of the Great Han?"
This time, Chen Xi did not hesitate and answered directly: "Suppress them in terms of status. For example, among the four occupations in the world, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, list them as the 'lower nine streams'."
"Degrade their spirit and suppress their material possessions, not allowing them to enjoy some noble items, such as silk and fine cloth."
"But in terms of 'profit', uplift them, allowing them to gain profit."
"This way, they will desperately earn money—because what they do can truly earn enough to live—but they will also desperately cultivate the next generation to change their social status."
"Let them become contradictory individuals, thereby using their hands to stabilize society—and at the same time, utilize their low status to make 'agriculture' more stable."
"Even if 'farmers' stop making money, or even can't survive, they won't easily give up their identity as farmers."
"This way, it can achieve the goal of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce, stabilize the status of both, and also develop the economy of the Great Han."
"Killing three birds with one stone."