Chapter 391

"Yes," Cheng Ze said.

"Let me guess: you did not participate in the recent noble siege," Zhuge Liang said.

"The Chancellor's foresight is divine; neither I nor my father participated," Cheng Ze said.

"Hmm." Zhuge Liang nodded: "You came to find me to act as a negotiator for them?"

Cheng Ze was startled upon hearing this.

He thought this Chancellor Zhuge was truly like a god; how did he know everything?

"What the Chancellor said is not wrong; I have come to deliver a message for Lord Feng."

Cheng Ze said.

"Is it Feng Qiji? Is he a distant relative of your Cheng family?" Zhuge Liang asked.

"My lord is truly divine; you are completely right!" Cheng Ze showed an expression of admiration.

"Feng Qiji and Wei Pao and these people are mixing together; his close relatives will also participate just like him."

"So your Cheng family must be distant relatives of him."

Zhuge Liang said.

"Although we are distant relatives, Lord Feng Qiji once invited us to oppose the imperial court together. However, my father refused."

"Because my father broke his leg and cannot move easily."

Cheng Ze said.

"I guess your father's leg did not really break, did it?" Zhuge Liang said calmly.

"This... it didn't break, but it still hurts very much..." Cheng Ze showed an awkward expression.

"Let us not talk about this; whether your father's leg is truly broken or fake has nothing to do with me."

"Now let us speak of the main matter; what message did Feng Qiji have you deliver?"

Zhuge Liang asked.

"Chancellor, the message I must deliver is not only Lord Feng's will, but also General Meng's, several Young Masters, and Lord Wei and others."

"However, I am only the messenger; their opinions have nothing to do with me or my father."

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Cheng Ze said.

"Rest assured, I will not blame the messenger. Say everything you have; do not have any Gu Ji," Zhuge Liang said.

"Chancellor, Lord Feng asked me to bring you a message, saying he is willing to negotiate. As long as the imperial court agrees to reduce taxes to fifty percent, then this storm can be calmed down," Cheng Ze said.

"Heh..." Zhuge Liang said: "Do you think that is possible?"

"Personally, I think it is unlikely!" Cheng Ze said: "But Lord Feng and the others indeed told me this."

"Let alone a fifty-fifty split; if the Emperor only collected seventy percent of their taxes, the vast majority of them would pay obediently!"

"Precisely because the Emperor gave the nobles not even thirty percent but only ten percent, this noble disturbance occurred."

"So Feng Qiji and the others are simply daydreaming; sending you here is just a waste of your and my time!"

Zhuge Liang said.

"My lord, they are just asking for the sky, hoping to be in a favorable position during negotiations."

"Their main purpose in sending me is to sit down and talk with the imperial court; if the court is willing, both sides can set a time and place to discuss. I think negotiating for eighty percent tax is still possible!"

Cheng Ze said.

"Eighty percent is impossible!" Zhuge Liang shook his head: "Do you know why the Emperor wants to collect ninety percent tax?"

"This... I do not know," Cheng Ze said.

"The Emperor believes those nobles possess vast amounts of land, yet they do nothing and still gain vast profits."

"While the farmers work hard, they end up not even having enough to eat."

"The Emperor believes this is unfair and detrimental to the development of our Great Qin."

"So he wants to change all this and not allow those nobles to suck the blood of the common people!"

Zhuge Liang said.

"What the Emperor says makes sense, but not all nobles are blood-sucking useless people!" Cheng Ze said.

Zhuge Liang looked at Cheng Ze, then said calmly: "The Emperor certainly knows this; otherwise, he would have already wiped out all the nobles in one net; how could he allow them to run wild?"

"Chancellor, I believe we should not push the nobles too hard; otherwise, it will be detrimental to both Great Qin and the Emperor!" Cheng Ze said.

"Oh, tell me how it will be detrimental?" Zhuge Liang asked.

175. Vicious Scheme

"Chancellor, Lord Feng and General Meng are currently leading the great army to retreat and defend within Huashan."

"Although they have been defeated, their strength still cannot be underestimated; all army numbers, roughly calculated, are still nearly one million."

"Lord Feng and the others believe they still have the strength to fight; if the imperial court drives them to a desperate situation, they will destroy Great Qin together with themselves!"

Cheng Ze said.

"Destroy together? How will they destroy together?" Zhuge Liang laughed.

"Lord Feng said that although General Li Yuanba is formidable, they can simply avoid General Li."

"When they see where General Li is, they will leave immediately, then go attack other cities."

"Not only cities, but they will also attack small towns and villages; they will kill anyone they see, then leave after killing!"

"In this way, Great Qin will inevitably suffer a great loss of vitality. If nine out of ten Great Qin subjects do not survive, how can the Emperor govern this country?"

Cheng Ze said.

"What a vicious method!" Zhuge Liang shouted angrily.

If Feng Qiji and the others really did this, it would indeed be very troublesome.

Currently, the imperial court's strength lies in two points: the divine general Li Yuanba and the possession of cannons.

But if the enemy does not confront the imperial court directly but instead roams everywhere burning, killing, and plundering, then the imperial court will be in a very difficult situation.

"Prime Minister, they are now at their wit's end; they might really do this!" Cheng Ze said.

Zhuge Liang stood up and paced back and forth in the room for a while.

After half an incense stick's time, Zhuge Liang stopped walking.

"Go back and tell them I cannot decide the tax issue. The Emperor has not yet returned; once the Emperor returns, I will report to the Emperor. At that time, whether we talk or fight will be entirely up to the Emperor!"

Zhuge Liang said.

"Very well, I will go back and tell them immediately!" Cheng Ze said.

"Wait, there is one more thing I wish to tell you." Zhuge Liang called out to Cheng Ze, who was about to leave.

"Prime Minister, please speak." Cheng Ze said.

"The Emperor does not intend to slaughter all the nobles; he simply does not want incompetent nobles to drain the blood of Great Qin and the blood of the common people."

"Therefore, capable nobles will likewise be given important positions."

"In the future, the Emperor plans to establish an examination system; no matter who they are, anyone who passes the exam can become an official."

"Those with particularly outstanding scores may even have their taxes reduced!"

"Additionally, I heard the Emperor say this policy is prepared to be implemented among the nobles first, and only afterward will it target everyone in Great Qin."

Zhuge Liang said.

Selecting talent through the imperial examination is something Facing Ying Su had long wanted to do.

It is just that there were too many important matters recently, so it was repeatedly delayed and not implemented.

Now, however, Zhuge Liang believes the time is ripe.

Therefore, he revealed the news to Cheng Ze.

On one hand, he felt this young man Cheng Ze was good and could serve the imperial court.

On the other hand, he also wanted to use this opportunity to divide and weaken the nobles.

Although most noble children are parasites, there are also many outstanding talents among them.

The saying "dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes" holds some truth.

If the parents are excellent, then the children will also inherit a portion of excellent genes.

Moreover, nobles do not need to engage in labor and have ample free time to devote to study.

Therefore, there are not few talented people among the nobles.

If all these people were empty shells, they would not have caused Facing Ying Su such a headache.

Precisely because some among these people are very strong, they have become the imperial court's current number one enemy.