nucmednet Chapter 394 Gu Wenyou's Fierce Policies
Chapter 394 Gu Wenyou's Fierce Policies
Sunlight streamed through the windows of the Golden Palace, casting bright patches of light on the ground. Gu Wenyu, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat upright on the dragon throne. His thirteen-year-old face still retained a touch of childishness, but his handsomeness and heroic spirit were already beginning to emerge.
His eyes were as black as ink, like a bottomless lake. However, they revealed a coldness and composure that were not commensurate with his age, as if he had already seen through the vicissitudes of the world and the wickedness of people's hearts.
Below the steps, the officials whispered and murmured amongst themselves, their voices echoing in the empty hall, creating a buzzing cacophony. Several elderly officials with white hair exchanged glances, their eyes revealing disdain and calculation.
Suddenly, a cough came from the crowd, drawing everyone's attention. There stood Minister Wang, the Minister of Personnel, slowly stepping out of the ranks. He wore a purple official robe and a black gauze hat, his face stern and imposing.
Lord Wang walked to the center of the hall, bowed slightly, and paid his respects to Gu Wenyou. Then, in his deep and slightly hoarse voice, he said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the newly promulgated commercial tax regulations are far too harsh. In doing so, I fear it will disturb the peace of merchants and affect the country's commercial development..." He drew out his words, his tone filled with the arrogance of someone who takes advantage of his seniority.
Gu Wenyou lowered his eyes, playing with the jade pendant at his waist. He slowly raised his eyes, his voice clear yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Lord Wang, since I ascended the throne, taxes in the Southern Frontier have been decreasing year by year, the national treasury is empty, and the people are suffering. Do you know what the problem is? Merchants are evading taxes, and officials are colluding with merchants. If this is not rectified, how can the Southern Frontier prosper?"
Lord Wang's face turned crimson instantly, like a chameleon, as if he had been slapped hard across the face. A stammering sound escaped his throat, as if an invisible hand were gripping his neck, "Your...Your Majesty, this...this is all nonsense!"
"Nonsense?" Gu Wenyou's lips curled into a cold smile, a smile that sent chills down one's spine. He slammed the memorial in his hand to the ground with a loud "thud," the sound echoing in the silent hall, sounding particularly jarring.
"The Censorate has already determined that Lord Wang's shops evade tens of thousands of taels of silver in taxes every year! With such irrefutable evidence, what else do you have to say?" Gu Wenyu's voice was cold and authoritative, echoing in the empty hall and instilling fear in everyone.
The people in the hall were terrified by this sudden turn of events and fell silent. They stared wide-eyed as the guards rushed forward like wolves and tigers, dragging the limp Lord Wang away like a dead dog. Lord Wang's body left a long trail on the ground, and his clothes were torn to shreds, leaving him in a sorry state.
Everyone's gaze followed Lord Wang's figure until he disappeared at the entrance of the main hall. The heavy palace door slowly closed, making a "creaking" sound, as if it were Lord Wang's final lament.
The hall was deathly silent, save for the tense breathing and the sound of sweat dripping from the beaded sweat. Who could have imagined that this seemingly naive young emperor would be so decisive, ruthless, and merciless?
However, this was only the beginning of Gu Wenyou's reform of the court. He listened to his sister Gu Wenqian's advice and decided to implement a performance-based system for officials, directly linking their performance with their salaries and promotions.
From then on, the court publicly announced the daily performance of officials, and those who lagged behind not only had to make public apologies but also face severe punishment. This system was like a Damocles' sword hanging over the heads of officials, preventing them from slacking off in the slightest.
Late at night, the study in the Prime Minister's residence was brightly lit. The old Prime Minister, Li, stared at the mountain of official documents piled on his desk, rubbed his sore eyes, and sighed, "This young emperor is really going to kill us all!" The steward beside him cautiously said, "Master, perhaps we should..." "Shut up!" Prime Minister Li slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly. "In the current political climate, the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin. Only by doing our jobs well can we preserve our lives and futures!"
Lord Ximen, who had been saved by Song Ming before, is now completely obedient to Emperor Gu Wenyou, even to the point of being utterly subservient. No matter what request or suggestion Gu Wenyou makes, Lord Ximen will respond enthusiastically without hesitation, and even act as if it were his own idea.
Everyone felt helpless and speechless, muttering to themselves, "What's wrong with Lord Ximen? He wasn't like this before!" Some even began to regret not poisoning Lord Ximen back then, so that he wouldn't be so obsequious to the emperor now.
However, under Gu Wenyou's policy of combining high pressure with incentives, southern Xinjiang has undergone tremendous changes without anyone realizing it.
Gu Wenyou deeply understood the importance of talent, so he heavily relied on young, promising, capable, and virtuous officials. These officials, having gained the emperor's trust and support, naturally devoted themselves to serving the country and its people.
In agriculture, Gu Wenyou encouraged the people to build water conservancy projects and improve irrigation conditions, which revitalized previously barren farmland, making it lush and green again. At the same time, he also implemented a series of measures to promote the development of agriculture and sericulture, and to increase the yield and quality of agricultural products.
In the commercial sphere, Gu Wenyou also provided strong support. He lowered commercial taxes and encouraged merchants to engage in trade, which gradually led to the prosperity of commerce in southern Xinjiang. The streets were bustling with people, merchants came and went in an endless stream, and all kinds of goods were on display, creating a scene of prosperity.
As time went on, the effects of these policies gradually became apparent. The national treasury became increasingly full, and the country's economic strength was significantly enhanced. The salaries of those officials who worked diligently and contributed to the country also increased several times over, undoubtedly the best reward for their hard work.
As the people saw the country becoming increasingly prosperous and their lives improving, they praised the wise leadership of the new emperor, Gu Wenyou, calling him a virtuous monarch.
The ministers who had once looked down on Gu Wenyou were now filled with awe and reverence as they gazed upon the ever-growing strength of the Southern Frontier. Some privately remarked, "This is no mere thirteen-year-old boy; he's a tiger that has lain dormant for years, and the moment he opens his eyes, he will awe all!" The Southern Frontier, once considered a small country by its neighbors, was rising at an astonishing pace under Gu Wenyou's rule, becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Gu Mochen watched his son, Wen Chao, sprint like a tiger, and couldn't help but admire him. His eldest son, Wen Chao, followed a steady path, while his second son, Wen You, was all about ferocity. Add to that his ruthless business acumen and immense power, and he was like a raging torrent, growing ever stronger with each passing moment!