Chapter 1234: Persuasion

Liu Zheng chuckled.

Dealing with this kind of scholar born of Confucianism was truly not difficult at all.

He had already engaged in such debates countless times.

The demeanor of a great power?

Always refusing to strike at the barbarians?

Such a theory existed in the past! But the Longyan of today cannot have it!

The Huaxia of his previous life...

Was precisely because it looked down upon those barbarians that it ended up swallowing the bitter fruit itself!

As long as he, Liu Zheng, is here, he will not allow such a situation to happen to Longyan!

"Master Yu..."

He looked coldly at Yu Qian and said sonorously: "I would rather wrongly kill a thousand than allow a single one of Longyan's commoners to suffer!"

"I would rather bear the name of Human Butcher than allow Longyan to suffer the slightest infringement!"

"I would rather be poked in the spine by you scholars..."

"Than see the martial spirit of Longyan completely lost!"

These words caused Yu Qian's expression to change drastically.

Civil and martial, for the first time, clashed in his mind.

That's right...

Once upon a time, he also always thought that civil means could solve everything, and if the barbarians were disobedient, one should go and reform them... But what about this Mongol Army?

If they are not full, will they care whether you are a traditional benevolent and righteous great power?

They will march their troops right up to the city walls!

Including the Tsarist Russia that Longyan is currently confronting!

They didn't even have a just cause for war; they just came to kill, making it clear that they were here for open plunder! What can you say? Can you use your essays to make them retreat?

"Next, the second point: exhausting manpower and resources to develop Liaodong? Indeed, the initial development of such a bitter and cold place as Liaodong had little return, almost exhausting the strength of the entire nation... But Master Yu, one must have a long-term vision. What kind of place is Liaodong? It is a vast plain, and it is all black soil. I think Master Yu probably doesn't know what black soil is. In a word, it is very fertile—the kind that farmers describe as soil so rich you can squeeze oil out of it. If Liaodong were not good, why would those who went to Liaodong not want to return? Why would merchants flock to Liaodong in an endless stream? Right now, it is only because of the Plague that Liaodong has encountered problems. I can make a bet with Master Yu: once the Plague passes, the grain production and tax revenue contributed by Liaodong can reach thirty percent of my Longyan's total grain and tax revenue!" Liu Zheng said with earnest, heartfelt advice.

He even walked into the prison, sat down on the pile of straw opposite Yu Qian, and said with solemn assurance.

"This..."

Isn't that a bit exaggerated?

Regarding this, Yu Qian still didn't know what to say. He dared not make definitive judgments about future matters, but as a Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue, there was one thing he did know: the number of registered households in Liaodong was indeed constantly rising.

Although he had never been to Liaodong...

Or rather, those who used this matter to attack Liu Zheng had never been to Liaodong either...

But they also knew that the development of the Liaodong Economic Special Zone could no longer be stopped.

Population...

The population of Liaodong explains everything.

The size of the population is the most important factor for an administrative region.

From this aspect, one can see whether a region is active and whether it is full of vitality.

"Third, you say that while the domestic economy is on the verge of collapse, I spend huge sums of money to travel across the ocean? Master Yu, I repeat: you should open your eyes and look at the world. In this world, there is not only Longyan and the few surrounding countries; we are merely a corner of the world. On the other side of this world, there are many powerful nations. They possess civilization and technology not inferior to ours. In navigation, we have already fallen far behind them. Do you know that after the opening of the new sea routes, how much profit Britain alone could gain at sea? If we remain closed and conservative, only looking at this small plot of land before our eyes, in time, we will certainly be left far behind. Longyan has a large population and rich resources; in every aspect, it is a piece of fat meat. If we are not strong ourselves, we will be targeted. Now, if we do not strive to catch up when we have not yet fallen behind, are we to wait until we are completely no match for them, and let our descendants become slaves driven by them?"

"If we do not strive to catch up when we are not yet behind, are we to wait until we are completely no match for them, and let our descendants become slaves driven by them?"

There was one thing he hadn't said yet...

The Longyan people had already become accustomed to thousands of years of maritime bans.

The Longyan people have already grown accustomed to the sea ban for thousands of years.

They truly had never experienced the prosperity brought by sea trade!

They truly have never experienced the prosperity brought by maritime trade!

Many people think the Song Dynasty of Huaxia civilization was not strong enough, and the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures were never recovered... but you cannot deny the prosperity of the Song Dynasty. The annual fiscal revenue of the Song Dynasty was 120 million taels of silver!

Many people believe the Song Dynasty of Huaxia civilization was not strong enough, as the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures were never recovered... but you cannot deny the prosperity and flourishing of the Song Dynasty. The annual fiscal revenue of the Song Dynasty was 120 million taels of silver!

Look at the Ming Dynasty, which always banned the sea...

At its most pathetic, it was four million a year!

It couldn't even compare to the fraction of the Song Dynasty!

Navigation...

Is money-making!

Moreover, now that we have entered an era where various great powers have begun to compete for world resources, once Longyan falls behind, the consequences will be unimaginable...

Moreover, now that we have entered an era where various powers have begun to contend for world resources, once Longyan falls behind, the consequences will be unimaginable...

Yu Qian hadn't even started to refute.

"Fourth, you say I suppress Confucianism and honor merchants. On this point, I will speak briefly. When war comes, 'Confucian jargon' cannot lead the war to victory. When famine occurs, 'Confucian jargon' also cannot fill the farmers' stomachs. But money is different. In wartime, money can be used to buy guns and cannons, and can serve as military pay to attract people to join the army and resist the enemy. In years of great disaster and famine, money can also be used to buy grain."

"I know you feel that merchants have high mobility, which is unfavorable to domestic stability. Therefore, I am perfecting the tax system so that while merchants make money, they also make the national treasury affluent. As for Confucianism... Master Yu, the times are progressing. That set of Confucian ideology is no longer suitable for the current society. Things like 'preserving Heavenly Principle and extinguishing human desires' are all bullshit. Why is a human called a human? It is because they have seven emotions and six desires. If human desires are extinguished, then what difference is there between a human and a beast? Confucianism emphasizes 'the ruler is a ruler, the minister is a minister,' but even your Sage of Sages said that the people are the most important, the state comes next, and the ruler is the least important. Since the people are the first priority, and the existence of the ruler causes the people pain, then what use is this ruler?"

"You can call me, Liu Zheng, a Traitorous Official or a sycophant; I, Liu Zheng, am single-mindedly for the people of Longyan, and my conscience is clear. Also, don't you think I stole the power of this country? Then this time, I will use the power I stole to save you, and let you live the rest of your life in shame."

"You may call me, Liu Zheng, a Traitorous Official or a sycophant, but I, Liu Zheng, am single-mindedly for the people of Longyan and have a clear conscience. Also, do you not think that I have usurped the power of this country? Then this time, I will use the power I have usurped to save you, and let you live the rest of your life in shame."

"What did you say? Save me?"

Yu Qian stared at Liu Zheng with a stunned expression.

How could this be!

Although the power of the Chief Minister is great...

Although the Chief Minister's power is great...

However, the current stability of Longyan is the result of compromises from several sides.

If Liu Zheng were to reach out and touch the interests of the Noble at this time!

What would happen?

Yu Qian dared not imagine!

Would Liu Zheng really offend a crowd of Noble for his sake?

Although he had never had contact with Liu Zheng, he could feel that Liu Zheng was not a person who spoke without thinking.

Could it be that he really intends to fall out with the Noble?

And all for his own sake? Pop-ups have been severe lately, you can click to download to avoid pop-ups.