Focus on agriculture and suppress commerce.

This is a policy that has been implemented by almost all dynasties. It was not until the Qing Dynasty that a little change began, and the so-called "red-topped merchants" appeared.

In the orthodox Confucian propaganda concept, merchants make a living by buying and selling, and do not engage in production.

This kind of behavior of not engaging in or participating in production activities is "speculation".

This kind of "speculative" behavior is naturally condemned.

Now Li Shimin accepted Li Kuan's proposal for the first time and no longer restricted the merchants and the children of businessmen to participate in the imperial examinations, which immediately caused a huge sensation in Chang'an City.

The Datang Daily highly praised the court's decisions with the front page headlines, believing that this change in the imperial examinations could select more talents for the court and give people from all walks of life the opportunity to serve the court.

Most of the other newspapers such as Chang'an Evening News and Qujiang Daily are welcomed by this change.

Of course, there will be no less objection.

"Sima, this time, our Imperial College must unite. Everyone wrote a letter together, asking His Majesty to take back the imperial edict for the reform of the imperial examination. Merchants, slaves, craftsmen, and anyone can participate in the imperial examination. Isn't this a mess?

Although His Highness the King of Chu has made many good suggestions, this time he has definitely made a fool of himself.

He can't dare to make any proposal in order to win over the hearts of the people."

To a certain extent, relaxing the threshold for imperial examinations can enhance the influence of Confucianism.

However, more of this will lead to an increase in the number of candidates in subjects such as Mingfa, Mingsuan, and Mingmedicine.

Kong Yingda would rather have fewer students studying Confucianism than more candidates who would rather learn anything else.

"The court is preparing to relax restrictions on the imperial examination. As long as the three generations of ancestors have no record of illegal crimes, everyone can participate in the imperial examination. This has been circulating for almost a year.

Although Your Majesty’s decision is a bit surprising, even if we object, it is useless.”

There is no big family behind Sima Caizhang to support him, so he naturally would not agree with Kong Yingda's proposal.

It is obvious that more than 90% of the people in Chang'an City support Li Shimin's edict.

Even if the various noble families have opinions, they dare not object easily.

After all, there are many slaves around them. Now the imperial court allows slaves to participate in the imperial examination, which is simply beyond description of their appeal.

Slaves have always been the personal property of the master.

Although you want to participate in the imperial examination, you must also be recognized by your master.

Most of the time, the owner will not let go.

However, there will definitely be some enlightened masters who are willing to see their talented slaves stand out and form a new alliance.

Now that Li Shimin has relaxed the restrictions on the imperial examination, these slaves at least see hope to change their destiny.

This power of hope is enough to destroy the world.

"Sima, we can't resist just because it's useless.

Imagine that one day, your colleagues are all born of businessmen, or even the illegitimate son of a woman in Pingkangfang. How can you accept this?"

If Kong Yingda wants to cause trouble, he must still attract more people who support him.

Sima Caizhang has a lot of prestige in the Imperial College. If he comes forward to organize everyone to make trouble, the effect will be much better.

Unfortunately, Sima Caizhang now also sees the problem thoroughly.

He really doesn't want to do that kind of thankless thing.

"If the king wants his minister to die, his minister has to die. This is a philosophy advocated by Confucianism. Now Your Majesty does not ask everyone to die. He just relaxes many restrictions on the imperial examination. We will jump out and criticize this and that, where is the spirit of "If the king wants his minister to die, his minister has to die"?"

Sima Caizhang said unceremoniously to Kong Yingda.

After working together for so many years, he has a deeper understanding of Kong Yingda's nature.

Although it did not involve the issue of Confucianism inheritance, he was a very special Imperial College Priest.

However, once the interests of the Confucius family in Qufu were involved, many things changed completely.

This unfair approach naturally made Sima Caizhang complain.

"Sima, I heard that your younger brother Sima Cailiang opened a spring workshop in the workshop city. Is it true? Are you happy that your nephew can participate in the imperial examination?"

Kong Yingda saw that Sima Caizhang didn't support him, so she was naturally very business-oriented and spoke a little without any scruples.

But I know that what I said is like water splashed out.

No matter how hard you try, you can't take it back.

At this moment, Sima Caizhang's heart, which was originally just a vague crack, immediately became extremely obvious.

Fortunately, everyone is adults.

Sima Caizhang was not furious because Kong Yingda revealed some of his secret thoughts.

"Confucius sacrificed wine and followed the trend. This is a truth I have learned in recent years. The social status of merchants in the Tang Dynasty has been constantly improving, and the contributions made to our Tang Dynasty are obvious to all.

These people have money and resources, but if the court continues to restrict them from participating in the imperial examination, then in the end, merchants will have various troubles to improve their social status.

In the end, unless the court strongly suppresses, the number of merchants will be more and more year by year, and suppression will not be suppressed."

When Sima Caizhang was preparing to build a spring workshop, he specifically learned about the current business situation of the Tang Dynasty.

If you don’t know, you will be shocked when you understand.

More than half of the taxes in the imperial court are now commercial taxes.

To be honest, it was the merchants who supported the court.

How could Li Shimin, who has tried the benefits, give up?

Even the Ministry of Revenue and other government agencies would not destroy the businessmen's jobs.

Because that is equivalent to destroying one's own job.

"What can they do to do? Can they still rebel? The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty are brave in fighting, are they still afraid of a few merchants rebelling?"

Kong Yingda completely refused to accept Sima Caizhang's reason.

However, this cannot change the reality that the status of a businessman can improve.

Not to mention top merchants like Wang Fugui, they are small vendors in the east and west cities. Now when facing police officers in the police station, they don’t have to be so nervous.

Everyone just need to work honestly and abide by the "Law of the Tang Dynasty".

"Kong Jijiu, I have something to do today and I want to go to the workshop city. You know, my brother opened a spring workshop there. Now it is the critical moment of development. I will help him check it."

Since Kong Yingda has already said it out loud, Sima Caizhang has no scruples.

Don’t you look down on businessmen?
Chapter completed!