I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 552 - 59: On the Rise, Upheaval in the Court

The momentum for reform is like wildfire.

Under the support of absolute national strength, the entire Great Tang is changing drastically day by day.

Everything seems different compared to the Zhen Guan era.

Yet, it feels as though nothing has changed.

Everything is developing in the direction formally established years ago, allowing the Great Tang to continue developing in all aspects.

.....

The fourth year of Yonghui, October.

The dual registration system officially commenced in the Western Regions, including a thorough investigation within the Gu Clan.

For these brothers by blood and marriage—

Gu Jing was already fully prepared, ensuring that anyone who dared to cross the bottom line of the Gu Clan could no longer tarnish its reputation.

This was destined to be a grand event.

Any slight mistake could potentially plunge the newly stabilized Western Regions back into chaos.

Fortunately, the entire Great Tang was prepared for this.

Gu Jing has left the capital!

Although he did not head directly to the Western Regions, it was enough to affect the nerves of many.

His prestige is now formidable across all directions.

Even in the past, Gu Chen did not cause the kind of casualties to foreign races as he did; how could they not fear him?

—Of course, it’s for deterrence.

Gu Jing does not wish for any instability to occur in the Great Tang, because he understands very well.

The most difficult phase to implement any system is always at the beginning.

As long as there is any disorder.

Implementing the system thoroughly would inevitably require enormous manpower and resources; he must ensure the smooth initiation of this matter.

This is the most crucial.

Of course, besides this, Gu Jing is still fulfilling the responsibilities of the Imperial Censorate.

It is not only for official governance.

But also to oversee the issues that may arise after commercial development.

—For example... commercial tycoons and people abandoning agriculture for commerce.

This series of issues had already appeared in original history; the stabilization of the Western Regions led to a commercial boom, although it did not cause significant problems at that time.

But now, these issues will only become larger.

Because the strength of the Great Tang exceeds the original history, the profits that trade can bring are equally unimaginable.

Gu Jing understands people’s hearts and knows very well how these profits could change people.

In any case, he must be thoroughly prepared.

Zhangsun Wuji and others also understand this point, but they cannot raise the issue, as it could also bring benefits to their families.

But they will not interfere either.

Now, the internal court of the Great Tang is completely stable.

Though no one actively brought it up, mysteriously, Gu Jing inadvertently took over the supervisory powers.

Everything is left to Gu Jing himself.

Within the Gu Clan, this matter is also widely discussed; the children have varying attitudes.

Even Gu Yi is paying attention to this issue.

There’s no choice; this matter is vast, involving a wider class range than ever before.

From ordinary people to military generals and nobles, all are included.

Of course, in such times, what the Gu Clan can do is only supervision.

What surprised Gu Yi was—

Gu Zi had already thought of this matter long ago and even left his strategies within the Gu Clan after years of contemplation.

He indeed had high achievement in finance.

Although all of this cannot be fully applied to the current situation, the Gu Clan disciples can make amendments based on the foundation he left, adapting it to the present.

First of all, it’s the "Law of Non-Duplicitous Commerce and Agriculture."

It’s aimed at large landlords and nobles, including citizens planning to abandon agriculture for commerce.

The most notable among these is the merchants’ land limitation order.

And bans on developing commercial agriculture, including the tax on abandoning agriculture for commerce.

The merchants’ land limitation is simple.

It restricts merchants’ landholding, prohibiting capital from annexing farmland.

The ban on developing commercial agriculture protects the people, preventing nobles and capital from using high-interest loans to swallow up small farmers.

The tax on abandoning agriculture for commerce also limits the cost of switching to commerce.

Do not say that these policies are overthinking; in the current age, these are very common phenomena.

No matter how strong Great Tang’s national power has become, it cannot completely eliminate the existence of high-interest loans.

Even with this decree, it’s also unlikely to completely eradicate everything.

But it will have some effect.

As for the tax on abandoning agriculture for commerce, although it seems to limit ordinary people, isn’t it also a form of protection?

Of course, daily practices like setting up a stall won’t be restricted.

This destined to leave many loopholes to exploit.

Gu Jing understands this very well.

Now that the Great Tang has clear governance, coupled with the Gu Clan’s ongoing scrutiny of governance, it might reduce chaos.

But in the future, as long as there is some turbulence, countless people will exploit these loopholes to amass wealth.

But what can he do? A perfect system doesn’t exist in this world; every system needs gradual repair and progress.

The current situation is the same.

Additionally, Gu Jing reformed the exchange department once again.

First, forbidding the outflow of gold and silver, and prohibiting the circulation of foreign currencies.

This is a necessary preparation for developing commerce.

Although the court had been doing this before, there had never been specific decrees; they had only relied on the strength of the Great Tang to let the people and merchants make their own decisions.

When the scale was still small, perhaps there was no need to formalize.

But now the situation is completely different.

When the commerce of the Great Tang has developed to a certain scale, there will always be people trying things others have never done.