Chapter 168: Abolishing the Lowly Status of Merchants

Seeing the gazes cast by those around him, the Vice Minister of Rites could not help but cry out in injustice in his heart.

Merchants chase profit; how can they be allowed to dress so well?

He simply disliked merchants, thinking that the common people should focus on farming; if too many people became merchants, wouldn't that throw everything into chaos?

Yet he never expected that, upon the mention of merchants, the Crown Princess would actually want to abolish the lowly status of merchants.

How could this be allowed!

Yet Yan Ze also said, "I think so too; then let us abolish the lowly status of merchants, and incidentally issue the decree allowing them to wear any color of clothing as well."

At this moment, several old fellows knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, this must absolutely not be done!"

Yan Ze gave a nonsensical reply, "Traveling for trade is good; if merchants are exempted from their lowly status, they can head toward the northwest in the future."

"By the way, we could also abolish the Sea Ban and see if any merchants might take an Ocean-going Ship to see the world outside; if it is feasible, our imperial court can also send people to take a look."

Yan Ning nodded, "That is correct. Our maritime trade routes are quite good, and our Daxia has beautiful porcelain and exquisite weaving techniques; if we go out to sea, we should be able to exchange them for quite a bit of silver."

The officials in the court:???

Wasn't the topic the abolition of the merchants' lowly status? How did it get to maritime trade routes again?

The Minister of Revenue said, "Your Majesty, if the Sea Ban is lifted, what if the common people collude with foreign nations?"

The Minister of Works also said, "Your Majesty, the Sea Ban cannot be abolished!"

Yan Ze nodded, "Then let the Sea Ban remain; first abolish the ban on clothing, then exempt the merchants from their lowly status."

Both he and Yan Ning knew that one should not propose too many demands in a single day; abolishing the Sea Ban had to be done slowly.

Moreover, there was no way to abolish the Sea Ban right now.

They were right; if the Sea Ban were lifted, one would have to guard against the common people colluding with foreign tribes.

Until they possessed a military fleet capable of crushing all powers, the Sea Ban could not be abolished.

Bringing up the Sea Ban now was merely to get the ministers to loosen their stance.

Heh, the Broken Window Effect that Yan Ning told him about was truly useful.

The lowly status of merchants and the colors of clothing both had to be changed.

Seeing that they had no intention of lifting the Sea Ban for the time being, the ministers breathed a sigh of relief.

However, there were still many who opposed exempting merchants from their lowly status.

But those who stood up were only the two Vice Ministers of Revenue, the Minister of Revenue, and the Minister of Rites and his group.

Yan Ze then said, "Since the majority have not expressed opposition, then the lowly status of merchants shall be abolished."

After he finished speaking, the Eunuch at the side shouted loudly, "Court dismissed!"

He gave the ministers absolutely no chance to object.

It was just that, after the court session, he did not expect them to chase them all the way to the Imperial Study.

The Minister of Rites said, "Your Majesty, letting them wear various colors of clothing is one thing, but the lowly status of merchants must be abolished."

He listed several reasons for abolishing it.

If merchants are exempted from their lowly status, they might oppress the common people; if the sons of wealthy merchants can take the imperial examinations, wouldn't that throw everything into chaos?

There is a regulation in the court that the direct relatives of officials cannot be merchants, precisely for fear of collusion between officials and merchants, which would also breed corruption.

Yan Ning responded, "If it is managed strictly, this situation will not occur."

The Minister of Revenue asked Yan Ning, "May Your Highness explain why the lowly status of merchants must be abolished?"

Yan Ning's expression was serious as she said, "There are plenty of reasons. If merchants can be allowed to work freely, there will be a great demand for people, which can provide the common people with some job positions and also increase tax revenue. Once the tax revenue is sufficient, I can build a Train."

Yan Ning thought for a moment and continued, "If the lowly status is abolished, it can also promote trade between various regions, and I have even finished building the roads."

The few old men were silent.

The others were fine; they were just weighing the pros and cons in their hearts.

Only the Minister of Revenue felt that the sky was falling.

So much time had passed, why was the Crown Princess still obsessed with that railway?

He was timid and did not dare to speak, fearing that the Crown Princess would have a sudden inspiration and insist on building the railway no matter what.

The Minister of Rites and the others had nothing left to say.

Yan Ning said, "Try it out more; if the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, then just issue an order to restore the merchants' lowly status, wouldn't that work?"

The Minister of Rites had a bitter face, almost crying for Yan Ning to see.

He said helplessly, "Your Highness, how can policy be changed from morning to evening?"

Yan Ning said with a straight face, "This is not changing from morning to evening; it will take at least a few years to see the results."

The Minister of Rites:...

What a thing to say.

Just as she was debating with the Minister of Rites and the others, Yan Ze had already written the imperial edict on the side.

Yan Ze said, "The edict is already written and will be sent to the Provincial Administration Commissioners in all regions immediately; your opposition is useless now."

The ministers:?

Is His Majesty acting unreasonably?

Yan Ning happily took the edict and went to find someone to send it to the Provincial Administration Commissioners.

Only a few officials were left in the Imperial Study, looking at each other in dismay.

The decree had already been written and was about to be issued; there was no point in them saying anything more.

Several ministers were somewhat distraught.

But if they were to change to another Emperor, they would not be happy either.

Yan Ze was generally willing to listen to advice; only when the Crown Princess thought of some strange and peculiar policies would he take them to heart.

Whatever the Crown Princess insisted on doing, Yan Ze always stood on her side.

Several people exchanged glances.

They all felt that Yan Ze was a daughter-doting father, mindlessly agreeing to whatever request the Crown Princess made.

All of them could see the bitter smiles on each other's faces.

On the other side, at the Imperial Academy.

When Yan Ning went to find someone to print the imperial edicts, she happened to come to the Imperial Academy.

She heard a few unfamiliar students at the Imperial Academy saying:

"Tell me, does this count as Yun Shu being a merchant? Such a large Jianyue Pavilion, the daily turnover is quite significant."

"I reckon so... but then again, doesn't His Highness also have several shops?"

"Can those be the same? His Highness's are state-run shops, and the profits are used for road construction and military expenses. I heard that His Highness and Yun Shu split the profits of Jianyue Pavilion fifty-fifty."

"How about we go and report this? How can Yun Shu hold an important position at the Imperial Academy while also being the owner of Jianyue Pavilion?"

"I think that works, so let's..."

At this moment, Yan Ning spoke up, "You don't need to report it; merchants have now been exempted from the lowly status."

The bodies of the few people stiffened.

Turning around, they saw Yan Ning standing behind them, looking at them expressionlessly.

Everyone knew that Yun Shu was a favorite in front of the Emperor and the Crown Princess, so they dared not actually go and report it to the Crown Princess.

However, someone still asked blankly, "This, when were merchants exempted from the lowly status?"

Yan Ning said, "At this morning's court session."

The few people hurriedly knelt on the ground to beg for forgiveness.

Yan Ning, however, could not be bothered to pay them any mind and went to find the Imperial Student.

After printing the two political decrees, Yan Ning used a tourmaline seal to stamp them, and only then did she have them sent to the Provincial Administration Commissioners in various regions.

After sending them off, Yan Ning remembered that she had been busy with other matters during this time and had almost forgotten about the Medical Academy.

Now that the Medical Academy had been established for two or three months, and hearing that learning traditional medicine was difficult, she had to see how many people Qian Ruofang could teach.

Yan Ning then had the carriage head toward the Medical Academy.

When Yan Ning arrived, Qian Ruofang was in the middle of teaching them how to identify medicinal herbs.