To the First Emperor of Qin: The state has decreed this!

Chapter 177 This is so dirty!

Ying Zheng leaned back on the dragon throne, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

As expected of Li Si, this question is exactly what is troubling him most at this moment!

He wanted to see what kind of answer these two people could give!

All eyes were focused on Tan Feng.

Tan Feng frowned and pondered for a moment, then a confident smile appeared on his face.

He stepped forward and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, what Lord Li Si said is indeed a great calamity for the nation!"

"But if we forcibly levy taxes, the people will resent us; if we don't, nothing will be accomplished!"

Feng believes the key to this matter lies in the word "profit"!

"We can issue a decree that all wealthy and influential people who participate in the fundraising will have their taxes reduced or exempted for the next three to five years, according to the amount of money and grain they donate!"

"In this way, the court's urgent crisis is resolved, and the wealthy gentry have something to gain; this is a win-win solution!"

"Then local officials should step in and explain the situation to them, appealing to their emotions and reason!"

"If the various clans and powerful families negotiate sincerely, we are sure to achieve something!"

This statement came out.

The officials immediately cheered!

"Excellent! Young Master Tan's plan is brilliant!"

"Using incentives without compromising dignity is the best solution at present!"

"That's right, this method is safe and feasible!"

Just as everyone was praising it.

An untimely chuckle suddenly rang out.

"Heh...that's it?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it slapped the faces of everyone who cheered.

The entire room fell silent instantly!

All eyes turned to Zhang Fan in an instant.

Tan Feng's smile froze instantly.

He suddenly turned around and sneered at Zhang Fan:

"Does the Immortal Master perhaps possess some earth-shattering insight?"

"I, Tan, would like to hear the details!"

"If it's just a pretense, it will only make people laugh at us!"

The officials also cast mocking glances at Zhang Fan, ready to see him make a fool of himself!

You gained an advantage in the doctrinal discussion just now, but in the practical matters of governing a country, that is our forte!

Zhang Fan completely ignored Tan Feng, and instead spoke each word clearly and loudly:

"Your Majesty! Guanzhong has suffered from floods for years, the dike construction continues unabated, and the national treasury is empty!"

"The fundamental reason is not a lack of funds, nor a lack of ability!"

He took a sharp step forward, his gaze like a sword, pointing directly to the core of the problem!

"Instead—profits flow into private hands, and power is dispersed among subordinates!"

His words shocked the entire audience!

Zhang Fan ignored everything and his momentum surged once more.

"I have three policies to implement simultaneously: not to tax the people, not to increase taxes, not to solicit favors from the wealthy and powerful, and not to deplete the national treasury!"

"The necessary funds and provisions for dike repair can be gathered within thirty days!"

"Within three years, Guanzhong will be free from floods!"

What?

These words caused an uproar in the entire room!

"Arrogant!"

Tan Feng was the first to jump out and refute this.

"If we don't deplete the national treasury or solicit donations from wealthy landowners, where will the money and provisions come from?"

"Could a celestial master conjure something out of thin air?"

"That's absolutely out of the ordinary!"

The officials burst into laughter, thinking that Zhang Fan had completely gone mad and that his boasting had gone completely off the rails.

"That's utter nonsense!"

"Sitting and discussing theories without understanding anything!"

however.

There was not a trace of a smile on Ying Zheng's face!

He spoke slowly.

"Tell me quickly!"

Zhang Fan's lips curled slightly upwards as he said loudly:

"Your Majesty, these local tyrants possess vast tracts of fertile land and immense wealth!"

"Enjoying the protection of the Qin Dynasty's laws, yet when the nation is in peril, they refuse to contribute a single penny, standing idly by while their neighbors suffer!"

"Should we negotiate with these people? Should we talk about tax cuts?"

"That's the greatest injustice against law-abiding citizens!"

"If we impose heavy taxes, internal strife is likely to erupt. If we don't impose taxes, national affairs will be difficult to accomplish!"

"I have a method called the 'Merit Stele'!"

"Your Majesty, I request that you issue an edict ordering all the wealthy and powerful families in Guanzhong to contribute grain, materials, and manpower to the dike repair project, according to their family property and land holdings!"

Before he could finish speaking...

One of the officials immediately spoke up in rebuttal:

"This is utterly absurd! Isn't this just going back to the old path of forced conscription?"

Why should they listen to you?

"They're not stupid!"

Zhang Fan smiled, a smile brimming with confidence, and looked at the official who had offered a rebuttal.

He said, slowly and deliberately:

"Because they not only dare not refuse!"

"They'd even cry and shout, vying to contribute money, afraid of contributing less than others!"

Upon hearing this!

Not only the officials, but even Ying Zheng on the dragon throne showed a look of doubt.

"Oh?" Ying Zheng leaned forward slightly.

He really couldn't think of what to do.

That's what brought about such a dramatic change in those wealthy and powerful families.

A murmur of discussion arose among the officials.

"Are you crazy? Rushing to pay? Does he think those people are fools?"

"Exactly, that's pure fantasy!"

Zhang Fan remained unconcerned about the doubts raised by the audience.

He surveyed the entire room and slowly began to speak:

"Your Majesty need only issue an order to erect massive stone steles at key transportation routes and in the center of county towns throughout Guanzhong!"

"The most conspicuous cinnabar should be used on the monument!"

"Engrave the full names, hometowns, and number of acres of land owned by all the wealthy and powerful individuals who participated in the dike repair!"

"And the amount of money and grain provided!"

"certainly!"

Zhang Fan's smile became incredibly playful.

"Those who contribute very little, or those who don't contribute a single penny, should be listed in detail!"

"The smallest donation should be listed first!"

"Let their achievements be enshrined there forever!"

"Let all the people who come and go, let the neighbors in the surrounding villages and towns, and let their descendants know this for generations to come:"

"Whose family is so rich and heartless!"

"Whose family is so stingy, not spending a single penny!"

"Whose family sits idly by as the floodwaters engulf their neighbors, while they themselves drink and make merry on the shore!"

That's all!

The officials were so shocked that they were speechless.

Zhang Fan didn't give them time to think, pressing them relentlessly!

"What do the wealthy and powerful want? Face! Prestige! Careers for their sons!"

"Once this monument to their merits is erected, their reputation will be completely ruined!"

"If a family lacks even 'virtue,' how can its descendants enter officialdom under the banner of 'filial piety and integrity'?"

"Even walking down the street, my neighbors gossip about me behind my back!"

"How will they maintain their footing in the local area?"

"Would they dare not donate?"

"Would they dare donate less than their neighbor?!"

At this point, a cold smile curled at the corner of Zhang Fan's lips.

"Furthermore! Guanzhong has been plagued by floods for years, causing widespread panic among the people, which must have angered the river god!"

"The imperial court is now calling on everyone to donate money to repair the dikes in order to appease the gods' wrath!"

"If there isn't enough money and grain, the dikes can't be built, and the river god will be angry again, bringing disaster to the whole village..."

"So, who do you think is to blame?"

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent!

The civil officials were dumbfounded, their hair standing on end!

The people were confused, but they understood!

Everyone, including Li Si, who had remained uninvolved!

They were all dumbfounded, their hair stood on end, and a chill ran down their spines!

An official said, trembling.

"This...this scheme...is too dirty..."

Yes, it's so dirty!

It was so filthy that even these cunning old foxes who manipulate power felt a chill run down their spines!

A misunderstanding of a well-intentioned scheme!

Even if those powerful and wealthy families knew, what could they do?

There's simply no solution!