I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 641: Chapter 95: Thunderous Methods, Reforming and Revitalizing Tang

Gu Yi was completely indifferent to Li Heng’s sudden change in attitude.

It’s the same old saying.

For the Gu Clan now, the court struggles had long been beneath their notice.

Holding the major power in hand, Gu Yi was still willing to devote all his time to serious matters.

...

On that very day, Li Heng formally confirmed the matter in the court.

An emperor visible to the world, coupled with the most unique Grand Tutor in the court, made everything suddenly unstoppable.

——The ministers were astonished!

Even those old foxes couldn’t react to such a sudden change.

But no matter what, they could only accept this reality.

They could contend with an emperor of insufficient prestige like Li Heng, even with the Gu Clan. If they could seize the opportunity, they might wrest power from the Gu Clan.

But they couldn’t fight against both the Gu Clan and the imperial power.

Especially since Gu Xuan held the major power!

Just this point alone had already determined their outcome.

In such a situation, an unprecedented great reform officially began in the entire Great Tang.

It must be said that Gu Xuan’s capability in internal affairs was indeed formidable.

Regarding this reform.

Gu Yi only outlined a general plan, and Gu Xuan directly transformed it into a system that fit the current Great Tang, with even many ideas conceived by Gu Xuan himself.

——The first and foremost was simplifying the bureaucratic system.

The foolish Li Longji indeed made one mistake after another, not only by empowering the Jiedu Envoy with military and political authority but also introducing significant changes in the official system.

This was the key to implementing new policies.

It is worth mentioning that Gu Yi elevated the status of the Imperial Censorate again, deciding to replace the old practices of assessing by family heritage or literary talent.

Incorporating tax collection efficiency of local officials and household growth into core assessment criteria.

And consolidating this unified assessment under the Imperial Censorate.

Gu Yi wasn’t afraid of the Imperial Censorate becoming too powerful.

As long as the Imperial Censorate was controlled by the Gu Clan, it would always have a lower limit and generally drive the entire Imperial Dynasty upwards.

If the Imperial Censorate fell into other hands, concerning a feudal dynasty’s political system.

It would be impossible for one person to control the entire Imperial Censorate.

After all, not everyone was a member of the Gu Clan.

And if that day truly came, it would be enough to show that a dynasty’s fate had completely run out.

Besides, targeting the reduction of power of the Jiedu Envoy was also inevitable.

Gu Yi decided to strip civil administration and finances from it, achieving a division between military and civilian governance, and absolutely not putting both funds and weapons in the hands of one person.

As for the more detailed system, it was Gu Xuan who devised the two-tax system, not much different from Yang Yan’s original historical proposal.

This may also be a common trait of intelligent people.

This two-tax system was indeed suitable for the current situation of the Great Tang.

In addition, there were also military reforms.

The most basic was the reorganization of the Forbidden Army, regardless of whether it was the original historical Zhi Hong or now, the Great Tang’s central military force was too weak.

Gu Yi naturally could not overlook this point.

Of course, it also included the rotation of border troops’ generals.

In the current situation where information spread slowly, Gu Yi couldn’t completely avoid all problems, and could only do his best.

But this was only the most basic reform.

The most significant moves of Gu Yi’s reform this time were—salt and iron monopoly and restricting temple land appropriation.

Previously, the Great Tang had been using the Sui Dynasty’s system, allowing people to freely purchase, with the Central Hub only taxing it.

But alas, the commerce of the Great Tang was too prosperous.

This would inevitably breed many problems.

After all, salt was a necessity, and iron was the most important export for overseas trade with external forces.

This was also why those affected by the obstruction of maritime trade were the most furious.

With the boon of maritime trade, these two items even had a tendency to form an industrial chain, leaving it unchecked would lead to unforeseeable futures.

Control must be implemented no matter what.

As for the temple land appropriation issue, there is no need for more words. Although under the influence of the Gu Clan, the impact of Buddhism in Kyushu is far less than it was in history.

But it still had many followers.

And these people appropriating land was a reality that was unavoidable in every dynasty.

In the original history.

These temples even engaged in usury, and if debts could not be paid, they would seize the tenants, and even preserve the children of the common people.

Gu Yi couldn’t target all land appropriations.

This was unavoidable in a feudal dynasty primarily driven by agricultural production at the time.

Gu Xi had already tried before.

This move would only incite resistance across the country.

But targeting specific people separately, Gu Yi had some confidence, and by restricting the Buddhist sect, it could bring about some influence.

This was the key.

The role of the Imperial Censorate was fully demonstrated at this time.

Gu Xuan’s political skills were obviously not lacking, pulling one faction to fight another. Though such tactics were commonplace, they were especially effective.

There were simply too many official seeds in the Great Tang.

As for who to target for the crackdown...the answer was all too clear.

Those officials who had climbed to high positions in Li Longji’s later years of dim-wittedness had conduct and morals that spoke for themselves.