Chapter 692: An Emperor who increases taxes is not a good Emperor

"Brother Lou, you are knowledgeable and experienced; give me some advice. Should I restore my slave status?"

Sister Chunxiang looked distressed.

The imperial court suddenly added a poll tax, and since they had many children who were all grown up, everyone had to pay.

Thinking that this money had to be paid every year and might even increase in the future, she was worried to death.

"I heard that slave status doesn't require paying the poll tax; everything is the master's responsibility. Should I beg the Hou Fu to let us restore our slave status? Anyway, I was originally born in the Hou Fu. Now it's just restoring my previous identity."

Chen Guanlou was also a bit worried and didn't know how to advise her.

According to his own thoughts, he would definitely choose freedom. Nothing was more precious than freedom.

But standing in Sister Chunxiang's position, restoring slave status wouldn't change her life. Relying on the Hou Fu might even be better than now, and she could save on the poll tax.

In the past, the family of Steward Liu were also slaves, living beautifully, more comfortably than landlords.

The most critical thing was that people in this era didn't feel ashamed of slave status. As long as one didn't take the imperial examinations, whether one was a slave or not didn't matter; instead, one would receive the master's protection.

"I can't help with this matter, and I can't advise you. Sister-in-law should discuss it with Brother-in-law to see what the plan is. Also, ask Dawang and the others what they think."

"I definitely have to ask; I'm just hesitating whether to take this step. The poll tax isn't much, but it adds up for a whole family. Dawang has your support and got a job, so he definitely can't be a slave. But for the few children below, they all rely on the Hou Fu to eat, so it seems there's no difference whether they are slaves or not."

"You should still discuss it with the children; they are all grown up and have their own thoughts. Don't make decisions on your own, lest the children harbor resentment." Chen Guanlou could only advise her like this. This matter concerned the fate of a family for the next few decades, and he couldn't give any advice.

It was like being a matchmaker; if it was good, it was good, but if the couple became a resentful couple, the first person to be cursed would be the matchmaker.

Chen Guanlou expressed that he would keep his distance from such matters that had no benefits and only brought trouble.

Sister Chunxiang followed his advice and held a family meeting, with all family members attending.

Dawang firmly opposed becoming a slave. He was now working in the yamen and had a monthly income, which wasn't small. He could afford the poll tax.

However, Sister Chunxiang had her own reasoning. "You can afford it now, but what about the future? When you get married, when your brothers get married, there will be more people in the family, which means more poll taxes. When your children grow up in the future, that will be another poll tax. You calculate it yourselves; in ten-plus years, how big of an expense will this be? How can you afford it? I was originally born in the Hou Fu, and now restoring my identity as a born servant, everything remains the same except for the change in status."

"No! I finally got rid of my slave status; I absolutely won't agree to restore it."

"Fine! You don't have to join, but your father and I, and the two younger ones, will restore our slave status."

"Mother?!"

"That's settled."

Sister Chunxiang's idea was very firm; no one's persuasion worked.

Dawang found Chen Guanlou, hoping he could step out and persuade her.

Chen Guanlou waved his hand; he couldn't help with this. "The Hou Fu has always been very tolerant toward born servants. If it really doesn't work, it won't be too late to redeem ourselves when we have money in the future."

"But..."

"Why don't you try persuading her yourself." Chen Guanlou casually brushed him off and sent Dawang away.

There were quite a few situations similar to Sister Chunxiang's family around. Chen Guanlou decisively hid away, hiding at Master Du's house to drink.

Master Du's family were all scholars; no matter how expensive or how much the poll tax was, they would grit their teeth and pay, and would never join slave status. This was the difference in thinking brought about by identity.

Master Du had aged a lot; his age had come up, and his energy was insufficient.

But every time he saw Chen Guanlou, he was still very happy, a pair of friends of different generations drinking under the moonlight.

"I'll teach for a few more years, and when I can't teach anymore, I'll return to my hometown to retire."

"You are in high spirits; teaching for another ten or twenty years won't be a problem."

"It won't work, it won't work. Now my eyes are dim, and teaching a group of monkeys is really tiring. I have already taken the initiative to apply to teach young ladies to read in the future. That group of monkeys will be left to young people to discipline."

Chen Guanlou naturally saw Master Du's senility; birth, aging, sickness, and death—the laws of life—could not be changed by human power.

"When you leave the capital, I will see you off!"

"I wouldn't dare let you see me off! You can accompany me to drink; I am already satisfied."

"Between you and me, why be so polite! Are there any difficulties at home? The government hasn't come to urge tax payments, have they?"

Master Du nodded and then shook his head. "The government sent people to notify the deadline, and their attitude was very polite. After all, this is the Hou Fu's territory; don't worry, the government people don't dare to mess around. It's just... I always feel that if things go on like this, it's a bit ominous!"

Chen Guanlou smiled. "The government is bloated, and the number of people eating public food increases every year, and the places to spend money also increase every year. The imperial court's income is just that much, so increasing taxes is a matter of time. This tax, once increased, it's impossible to reduce it. In the future, learn to adapt to the days of increased taxes."

"It won't get better?" Master Du's eyes were slightly cloudy, very disappointed. This was not the peace under heaven he hoped for.

"It's hard to get better. Maintaining the status quo is already quite good. If you want it to be better, unless all the people eating for free are dismissed. But everyone knows this is impossible. For example, who can cure the military of eating empty pay?"

Sigh!

Master Du sighed, his mood a bit depressed. "The Son of Heaven is the orthodox!"

Chen Guanlou smiled again. "That position, what difference does it make whether it's a human or a dog."

"You can't say it like that. If the monarch is wise..."

"Master, you are also a scholar. In three hundred years of a dynasty, may I ask how many wise monarchs there are? This kind of gambling-like imperial power succession, tsk..." Chen Guanlou didn't even want to evaluate it. Imperial power succession is completely like opening a blind box; it looks grand and perfect on the surface, but only after opening it do you know if it's fragrant or smelly, human or ghost.

The system!

Master Du couldn't refute it for a moment.

He had read many history books and naturally knew that Chen Guanlou's words were correct; it was indeed like gambling. If you win the bet, the commoners live a few good years. If you lose the bet, the commoners suffer.

Sigh!

Nothing but sighs!

"Is there no good way?"

"Putting a dog in that position, I reckon it would do better than a human!"

"Absurd! These words cannot be said carelessly." Master Du shook his head and smiled bitterly; he had adapted now, and Chen Guanlou's mouth could spit out rebellious words at any time.

He used to be very worried.

Now!

It doesn't matter!

A dignified ninth-rank martial artist saying a few rebellious words is not a big deal.

Anyway... an Emperor who increases taxes is not a good Emperor!

The butt determines the head! His butt is sitting on the commoner's position, and he will never empathize with the imperial power class! ===== CHAPTER 693 =====