Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 188: Big move, extra points in the imperial examination!
When Li Yi heard this, his expression was obviously moved.

But in the end he shook his head and said.

"Forget it. The Tang Dynasty is just established. There are internal and external troubles. The national affairs are difficult. If I can indulge in beauty? Hold a beauty pageant? That's ridiculous!"

"We should still put national affairs first!"

The negative example of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is right before our eyes. No matter how lustful Li Yi is, he will not forget the lesson.

After hearing this, Luo Caiyu did not mention the matter again.

……

Guangzhou government office, dungeon!
Surrounded by a crowd of people, Li Liang stepped into the dungeon.

He sat down in the interrogation room and ordered people to prepare to interrogate the criminal.

Li Liang didn't have to wait long before the relevant staff brought out the criminal.

The first person to be brought to trial was Yang Cai, deputy director of the Customs Inspection Department, the highest-ranking official among all the Tang Dynasty officials involved in the case.

Li Liang looked coldly at Yang Cai, who was tied up and restrained in the interrogation chair in front of him, and said expressionlessly.

"Director Yang, there is solid evidence that you are suspected of colluding with external forces, smuggling goods on the customs embargo list, tax evasion, corruption and other illegal activities."

"According to Tang Dynasty law, you can't escape from having your property confiscated and your clan exterminated."

"Do you have anything else to say now?"

Yang Cai opened his mouth and then spoke.

"Director Li... Director Li, I... I want to see the king."

"I know I was wrong. I beg Your Majesty, please give me another chance to reform and make amends for my sins..."

Upon hearing this, Li Liang slammed the teacup in his hand on the table and said with a cold face.

"You are such a traitor, and you have the nerve to ask to see the king?"

The loud bang of the teacup hitting the table made Yang Cai's body tremble.

The expression on his face involuntarily revealed fear.

Since being arrested by the Military Intelligence Department, Yang Cai has been interrogated many times.

After days of severe interrogation, Yang Cai began to become somewhat sensitive to the reactions of the outside world.

Seeing Yang Cai's face full of fear, the anger on Li Liang's face subsided a little, and then he forced a fake smile and spoke.

"Although the king will not see you, I can still give you a chance to atone for your sins."

"As long as Director Yang tells us who else is on your line, I will ask the king for mercy on your behalf and try to get you lenient treatment."

"What do you think, Director Yang?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Cai lowered his head and said nothing, his attitude of resistance being very obvious.

Li Liang said with disdain upon seeing this.

"Torture!"

"When you come to my prison of Military Intelligence, even the dead have to speak."

"I want to see how tough your bones are, Director Yang!"

As soon as Li Liang finished speaking, several interrogators came forward and began to torture Yang Cai.

The tongs, whipping, and branding irons were used on Yang Cai one after another, and he let out hysterical screams.

Li Liang covered his ears with his two index fingers to block the noise from invading his ears.

After a long time, Yang Cai was tortured to death, and Li Liang waved his hand to signal the interrogators to stop.

Then he continued.

"Why, Director Yang, do you think that if you don't say anything, the people behind you can protect you?"

"I am here to tell you today that this is wishful thinking!"

"This tea seedling smuggling case has been reported to the king. The king personally gave important instructions, requiring the Military Intelligence Department to investigate thoroughly."

"No matter who's behind you, there's absolutely no reason for them to escape this time. They can't even protect themselves, so how can they expect to protect you?"

"I'm telling you, Director Yang, if you tell the truth today, you can still get a lenient treatment."

"Your life may not be saved at that time, but I can guarantee that your wife, children and parents will be spared from being implicated and will be able to live the rest of their lives in peace."

"But if you insist on not saying anything, maybe the person behind you can save his life and wealth, but you and your family will meet on the road to the underworld."

The current Tang Dynasty has not abolished the punishment of collective punishment.

It is even more impossible that after a corrupt official is investigated, his family can get away with taking his corrupt proceeds and continue to live a life of luxury.

Once Yang Cai is convicted, his family will definitely be implicated.

The punishment could be light, such as confiscation of property and exile to a mine for forced labor; in severe cases, execution in the autumn!
What Li Liang said was not just a threat, but a statement of fact.

Although I do not have the power to determine the sentence, I can influence those who are responsible for determining the sentence.

If you cooperate with me, I can get a good outcome for your family.

But if you don't cooperate, I guarantee that your whole family will be executed.

After hearing this, Yang Cai finally wavered, opened his mouth, and spoke in a weak voice.

"I...I admit it, I admit it!"

"I can tell you everything, but... Director Li, please keep your word..."

Li Liang heard this and said with a smile.

"Of course, I will keep my word."

"As long as you tell the truth, I promise to seek leniency for your family."

Upon hearing this, Yang Cai nodded dejectedly, then began to explain.

After Yang Cai finished his confession, Li Liang waved his hand to signal someone to send Yang Cai back to the dungeon.

Then they started to interrogate other people.

Although Yang Cai is unlikely to lie, Li Liang, as an intelligence worker, understands the principle of not providing isolated evidence.

He would not listen to Yang Cai's one-sided statement.

It would be quite normal to interrogate other people and verify each other's information.

……

Palace, study!
Li Yi is reviewing and processing the government affairs accumulated in the palace during this period of time, and meeting with relevant officials.

The first and most important thing is the expansion of the Tang Dynasty’s military during this period of time.

After another half a year of military expansion, the size of the Tang Dynasty Army has now expanded to eight infantry divisions, plus a guard division, eight artillery regiments, and four cavalry regiments, totaling more than 170,000 people.

The naval force reorganized into the Tang Dynasty Navy was divided into three squadrons: the offshore fleet in charge of open sea operations, the inland fleet in charge of inland river operations, and the offshore anti-smuggling fleet specializing in offshore anti-smuggling.

Among them, the high seas fleet has a total of three sailing battleships, including two fourth-level sailing battleships and one third-level; seventeen Western-style galleons, and more than two hundred rocket sampans supporting the fleet.

It has a total of 230 large and small warships and more than 5,000 sailors and soldiers.

The main force of the inland fleet is based on traditional red single ships, totaling 30 red single ships, supplemented by a certain number of rocket sampans, with a total of more than 3,000 sailors.

In addition to this, there is the offshore anti-smuggling fleet.

This fleet basically does not undertake combat missions, but is mainly responsible for counter-terrorism. Therefore, its supporting warships are mainly centipede boats, fast crab boats and other sailing and oar dual-purpose ships that have extremely high speeds in offshore areas, as well as some Western-style clipper ships.

Apart from some firearms, the main combat weapons are mainly rockets.

The main task is to deter and investigate private activities, not to fight. The total number of sailors and soldiers is more than 2,000!

In other words, the current Tang Dynasty has a total of 180,000 land and naval troops.

This expansion speed is quite gratifying.

Although there are quite a few new recruits among them, all of them have undergone systematic training. As long as they are allowed to go to the battlefield and see blood, their combat effectiveness will definitely not be bad.

Li Yi commented on the report on the current military expansion of the Tang Dynasty, and then continued to read other reports.

Ranked second is the current taxation and financial revenue and expenditure details of the Tang Dynasty.

According to statistics, Datang's fiscal revenue and expenditure data this year is not healthy.

This year, including customs duties, agricultural taxes, salt taxes, commercial taxes, seigniorage and other taxes, the amount of tax collected by the Tang Dynasty so far this year is approximately 5.23 million taels of silver and 4.15 million shi of grain.

The total value is nearly 10 million silver dollars.

This was because the Tang Dynasty had just taken over Hunan this year, and in order to win the hearts of the people, Li Yi simply exempted Hunan, a land of fish and rice, from agricultural taxes for one year.

If the tax revenue from Hunan is included, the total tax revenue of the Tang Dynasty this year is estimated to be 15 million taels.

In terms of expenditure, the total expenditure of the Tang Dynasty so far this year, including military expenses, administrative expenses of the government, expenses of various construction projects, and investment and subsidies for industrial and commercial development, is more than 23 million taels.

The reason why Li Yi said that the Tang Dynasty's fiscal revenue and expenditure were unhealthy was not because of the fiscal deficit, but because the money was not spent.

The reason for this is that the Tang Dynasty's fiscal revenue, in addition to taxes, also included war spoils and proceeds from property confiscations.

As of now, the proceeds from the Tang Dynasty's confiscation of the Eight Banners and Thirteen Hongs in Guangzhou last year have not yet been spent.

This year's tax revenue has not moved at all!
Not to mention the war in Hunan this year, when the Tang Dynasty suppressed the gentry militia and confiscated the properties of local tyrants and evil gentry in the process of distributing land, it also gained a lot.

Adding up several aspects, the Tang Dynasty now probably has a fiscal surplus of tens of millions.

It is naturally unhealthy to keep such a large amount of money in your hands without spending it.

Because money is only called money when it is spent.

If you can't spend it, it's just a pile of beautiful metal that can't be eaten or drunk and is of little use.

Li Yi is almost worried to death now. Who can understand the pain of having money but nowhere to spend it?

After careful consideration, Li Yi decided to once again increase investment in military construction, education reform, industrial development and other areas.

Strive to achieve a balance between revenue and expenditure for Datang’s finances next year!
The third one is a report on the current development status of the education industry in Datang.

At present, Datang has built four modern universities in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan, namely Datang Royal College, Datang University of Technology, Guangzhou University and Yuelu Academy.

Among them, the Tang Royal Academy is a comprehensive academy invested by the Tang government and established by hiring Chinese and foreign professors from home and abroad.

The subjects include science subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, navigation, astronomy, mechanics, etc.; as well as liberal arts subjects such as Eastern and Western history, Eastern and Western politics, Eastern and Western philosophy, Eastern and Western art, economics and finance, etc.

It is currently the institution of higher learning with the strongest faculty and the highest investment in Datang.

To put it simply, Datang Industrial College is an institution established for the purpose of developing industry.

The main subjects are engineering subjects such as industry, mechanics, physics, shipbuilding, and power.

Guangzhou University is also a comprehensive university, but it was founded by the gentry in Guangzhou.

Of course, the Tang Dynasty government also provided certain financial subsidies. Any gentry who donated money to establish schools could be exempted from a certain amount of taxes.

This is a public-private partnership college!

The same goes for Yuelu Academy. As the name suggests, this is an institution of higher learning established based on Yuelu Academy with increased investment and additional disciplines.

However, in addition to normal university subjects, its most important subjects also include Confucianism, a subject that revived the various schools of thought.

Yuelu Academy is one of the gathering places for Confucian scholars and literati in Jiangnan, and it is very feudal and traditional.

Li Yi wanted them to change immediately, but that was naturally impossible.

You can only take it step by step!
Besides, there are Confucius Institutes in China in the 21st century. What's wrong with Li Yi preserving Confucianism as a discipline in Yuelu Academy?
At worst, we can support Yuelu Academy to open branches overseas in the future and spread the teachings of the sages to foreigners!
In order to attract students to these four universities, Li Yi used a big trick: if students can obtain a university diploma, they will get extra points in the imperial examination!

In this case, those who passed the imperial examination would naturally become officials.

If you fail the exam, you will have no choice but to do social construction.

Li Yi planned to first implement the policy of adding points to the imperial examinations, and then, when the admission level of the imperial examinations had gradually been lowered to a certain level and education had developed to a certain level, he would directly announce that only university graduates could take the imperial examinations.

Well, that pretty much means that only university graduates can take the civil service examination.

Li Yi just didn't believe that he couldn't push forward education reform.

In addition to these four universities, Datang also opened thirteen technical schools of varying sizes, including shipbuilding, chemical engineering, mechanical operation and maintenance, metal smelting and forging, electronics, railways and other related majors.

Now the West has begun to light up the technology trees of telegraph and railways, and countries such as Britain and the United States have begun large-scale railway construction.

By the time of the Crimean War, telegraphs and railways were both used on a large scale in warfare.

The Tang Dynasty naturally cannot fall behind.

Li Yi relied on exchanging teaching materials and equipment from the mall and hiring teachers from foreigners, and was able to temporarily set up the framework for telegraph and railway related majors.

In addition, the Tang Dynasty also established a number of public schools in various provincial capitals, which were a combination of primary and secondary schools.

The school mainly recruited Tang Dynasty soldiers and family members of officials, but was also open to the public.

Among them, free education is provided to the families of soldiers who died on the battlefield or were discharged with disabilities. They do not even have to pay a penny for books, accommodation, tuition, etc.

To put it bluntly, the Tang Dynasty court paid for the families of heroes to go to school, which was a benefit that Li Yi provided to the army.

As for the rest, they have to pay to enroll in school.

It can be regarded as a supplement to the reform of the education system.

In the future, there will definitely be a division between primary and secondary schools, and then the scale will be gradually expanded, and even compulsory education will be implemented.

After reading all this, Li Yi was quite satisfied.

Now the educational reform in the Tang Dynasty has made some progress and is gradually getting on the right track.

Just as Li Yi was about to look at the next report, Du Shun knocked on the door and walked into Li Yi's office, then began to report.

"Your Majesty, Li Liang, the director of the Military Intelligence Department, is outside seeking a meeting."

Li Yi responded slightly, and then said.

"Send him in!"

After he finished speaking, Du Shun went out to ask for help, and soon, he invited Li Liang in.

Li Liang came to Li Yi and began to report.

"Your Majesty, I have found out."

Li Yi nodded slightly, put down the pen in his hand, and then asked.

"Tell me, who is involved in this smuggling case?"

Li Liang took a deep breath and began to report.

"In reply to your Majesty, according to the current interrogation and investigation results of the Military Intelligence Department."

"In addition to the previously reported criminals, the suspects involved in this tea seedling smuggling case include Chen Liang, deputy director of the Taxation Department, Wang Zhenyun, chief of the Third Foreign Trade Section of the Commerce Department, and Liu Mingqi, commander of the Second Squadron of the Navy's Offshore Anti-Smuggling Fleet."

"Moreover, the illegal and criminal acts committed by the interest group centered around these people include more than just the tea seedling smuggling case. We have also found out many other things..."

……

PS: I am almost recovered from my cold today, and I can finally resume updating as normal.

I will start updating tomorrow to pay off my debt!
Well, it’s the end of the month, and I’m asking for your monthly votes. Don’t waste them if you don’t vote!

(End of this chapter)