A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 22: Arbitrary
It is indeed large, but it doesn't resemble a "palace".

Instead of a Sumeru pedestal, there was a simple rosewood chair with armrests in the center of the house.

The four large pillars on both sides are square and equidistant, about two zhang in length, and both sides are piled with bamboo slips and documents.

The right side leads to Guangnei, and the left side reaches Chengming.

Guangnei was the imperial library of the Han Dynasty, symbolizing the emperor's book repository and bearing the weight of the emperor's imperial library.

Chengming is an elegant name for the emperor's left and right side palaces, named after the Mingtang (Hall of Brightness).

The vast collection of books in the Guangnei Hall was comparable to a treasure trove of ancient and modern books.

Chengming Hall was a gathering place for outstanding talents. The emperor received civil and military officials and gathered scholars and writers here. Therefore, it was also known as the "Court of Writings". Great and learned people gathered here to proofread secret texts and inspire new chapters. It is no exaggeration to call it a hall of talent.

With the Grand Marshal absent, the officials of the Central Court, led by Zhuang Zhu, including those from the Secretariat, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, and the Attendant-in-Ordinary, lined up on the left.

Gongsun Hong led the officials to stand in a line on the right, and then Gongsun Hong walked slowly to the embroidered stool near the right side of the throne and sat down.

This is the majesty of the prime minister after Jiang Shang, reaching new heights.

Su Wen announced loudly, "His Majesty has arrived!"

Hearing the powerful strides of the dragon, Gongsun Hong then led the shouts, "Your Majesty, we, your subjects, respectfully wish you well—"

"Long live! Long live! Long live the Emperor!" Everyone bowed their heads in unison.

Liu Che walked to the throne, but did not sit down. Instead, he held onto the armrest of the throne with one hand and looked indifferently at the person kneeling on the ground. "Rise."

"Long live thanks!"

Liu Che looked at the court official Sang Hongyang and asked, "Tell me, what memorials do you have to submit?"

Sang Hongyang immediately walked to the center of the hall and said loudly, "Your Majesty, there is a memorial from the Censorate regarding the rebellion of the Princes of Huainan and Hengshan, as well as an impeachment of the Crown Prince..."

Neither the central nor the outer court officials showed any change in expression. The court meeting began, and it was customary for His Majesty to speak in unison with the central and outer court officials, but it was of little use.

Take the two kings of Huainan and Hengshan as examples. They were already dead and their kingdoms destroyed. What good would impeaching them do? Chop their bones and scatter their ashes?

Following the impeachment of the crown prince, neither the Prime Minister's Office of the Outer Court nor the Grand Marshal's Office of the Inner Court took any action. The mere Censorate was merely making a laughing stock.

As expected, Liu Che asked directly, "Anything else?"

"And there's also the salt and iron policy reported by Imperial Censor Li Cai, which we request the court to discuss," Sang Hongyang stated, revealing the main matters to be discussed at this court meeting.

"Um, um—I have already read this Salt and Iron Strategy, and today I would like to hear your opinions."

Liu Che looked at the officials of both the central and foreign courts and said in a calm tone, "This matter concerns the long-term plans of the court, even the long-term plans of the millennium. So you may all speak freely and have a discussion. Imperial Censor Li Cai!"

Li Cai walked into the center of the hall and replied, "Your subject is here!"

"You can give an explanation first. I would also like to hear your insightful opinions."

"Your Majesty," Li Cai skillfully deflected, "the Salt and Iron Policy originated from the common people and is of great importance. I believe that a wise man should personally enter the palace to explain it to all the dukes, marquises, and members of the imperial clan." This was also Liu Che's idea, and he nodded, saying, "Summon him."

"Yes."

Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Jin paid their respects.

Upon seeing these two individuals, many officials from both dynasties frowned. According to Han law, merchants were not allowed to serve as officials, and even when officials were selected based on their wealth, merchants were excluded.

Despite the officials' indifferent gazes, Dongguo Xianyang remained completely at ease and spoke eloquently: "My lords, my nobles, my royal family ministers, the salt and iron policy I am proposing is nothing new. It is merely an old story of the famous prime minister of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period who 'controlled mountains and seas,' and a reiteration of the 'control of the benefits of mountains and lakes' policy proposed by Shang Yang during the reforms of Qin. Salt and iron are monopolized by the court, with taxes embedded in prices. The people cannot avoid paying taxes, yet they do not feel the taxation."

Salt and iron share the commonality of being derived from mountains and lakes and are necessities for people's lives. Taking salt as an example, the ancients recognized very early on that "without salt, one will suffer from swelling," which could endanger life.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Qi possessed abundant sea salt resources, while the State of Jin had a developed salt industry in Hedong. It can be said that salt was an important source of wealth for the two states in their struggle for hegemony, and the states became rich because of salt.

Iron, on the other hand, is advantageous for weapons and can be used for pure critique of all things. If neighboring countries stockpile grain, I stockpile iron; neighboring countries become my granaries.

For more than seventy years since the founding of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Hui, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Jing all advocated non-interference in governance, implemented a policy of recuperation and development, opened up private enterprises, and adopted a laissez-faire policy on salt and iron. As a result, some merchants who dealt in salt and iron were even as wealthy as princes and nobles.

Of course, a considerable portion of salt and iron was controlled by kings and nobles.

In the prosperous and peaceful era of Emperors Wen and Jing, when the national treasury was full and the people had few worries, the laissez-faire salt and iron policies and the free market order were a convenience for the people's daily lives, and the emperor was not in a hurry to extract more profits from salt and iron.

With border conflicts and wars raging, coupled with the unrestrained migration of people and the construction of palaces, Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty had no choice but to consider how to increase revenue when he could not effectively "cut back the expenditure." He even came up with some shameless methods. Before they could be implemented, Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Jin presented the Salt and Iron Strategy, which can be said to have hit the nail on the head for Emperor Liu Che.

If all the salt and iron ore resources within the vassal states and counties were nationalized, it would be a huge boost to the current financial situation of the Han Dynasty.

While kings are not granted here, marquises are quite numerous. Without a moment's hesitation, Cao Xiang, the great-great-grandson of Cao Can, a founding meritorious official of the Han Dynasty, the emperor's nephew, and the son of Princess Pingyang, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the monopoly on salt and iron is likely to compete with the people for profit."

Hedong County was rich in salt and iron, and Pingyang County had an even greater advantage in terms of location. More than half of the income of the entire Pingyang Marquis's Mansion came from iron. Once the monopoly was established, the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion would immediately fall into difficulties.

After Cao Can, most of the Marquises of Pingyang were mediocre, but they were not stupid. Although Cao Xiang did not fully understand the nature of the salt and iron monopoly, he knew that as long as the court's revenue increased, the people would suffer the most.

"Then what do you think?" Liu Che looked coldly at his own nephew.

"Your Majesty," Cao Xiang said, "Marquis Xiao He taught my ancestor that national policies should not be ignited by a great fire, but rather tempered by a gentle fire, or even by smoke, to mature slowly." Cao Xiang recounted the "following Xiao's rules" of the past.

"But I can't wait. Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Jin's salt and iron policy is very much to my liking. This policy is related to the foundation of the Han Dynasty. I have my mind on it. What do you think?" Liu Che said coldly.

“Since Your Majesty has made up your mind, I will say no more.” Cao Xiang chose to back down. Compared with the hereditary title, the profits from salt and iron were not something that could be given up.

"what about you?"

"Your Majesty has already chosen someone else, and we have nothing to say."

"The Grand Master of the Palace has drafted an edict: Sang Hongyang, Dongguo Xianyang, and Kong Jin are appointed as Grand Assistant Ministers of Agriculture to oversee the salt and iron reforms. From this day forward, thirty-nine salt bureaus and forty-eight iron bureaus shall be established. The people are prohibited from privately boiling salt and smelting ironware, and are even more forbidden from privately selling salt and ironware. Those who disobey this order shall be exiled to Shuofang!"

"Here!"

(End of this chapter)