The Yuqing Daomo Palace of the leader, Emperor Daojun, was not a place for feudal superstition - the Song Dynasty was not feudal, but an empire of centralized bureaucracy! Moreover, Zhao Ji was not very superstitious in this time and space, but was introduced into the palace of philosophy by Wu Haogu. He became a scholar who was familiar with the classics of Eastern and Western philosophy!

Zhao Ji! The emperors of ancient and modern times have the best talent, with an IQ of at least 130. Except for not being able to be an emperor or fighting, they can do everything first-class. Of course, it also includes philosophical research.

Therefore, the current Yuqing Daode Palace is not a place to cultivate immortals, but a place to discuss Taoism.

As the great Neo-Confucian scholar Hou Zhongliang, who was the chief of the Biyong Academy, was of course also a frequent visitor to the Yuqing Daode Palace. He would enter the palace to discuss the Tao every now and then.

Early this morning, Hou Zhongliang received an eunuch's order, asking him to enter the Yuqing Palace to discuss the Tao.

After receiving the order, Hou Zhongliang did not dare to delay, so he immediately changed into his official uniform, set out from the "Shikumen" residence he bought with his loan, rode a very docile and easy-to-fund Khitan gelding, and went to Yuqing Daode Palace.

He now lives in a small alley near Panlou Street, a prime location. Not far away, he is the bustling Panlou Street. The calligraphy, painting, cultural and entertainment morning market on Panlou Street has passed, and various snack stalls are set up all over the street. The streets are crowded and difficult to pass.

Hou Zhongliang got off his horse and walked on foot. He walked to a stall where he often bought breakfast. He took out a few copper plates and wanted to buy two pancakes. However, he was told that the pancakes had to increase their price and they would have to pay three cents each.

"Why did the price increase?" Hou Zhongliang is now a close minister of the emperor, so he naturally doesn't care about a few copper coins, but he still asked.

The boss who sold the pancakes was sad and sighed: "How can it not increase? The surface has increased, the charcoal has increased, and the rent for setting up a stall has increased. Even the dilapidated house that he has lived in for more than ten years has increased..."

Prices in Kaifeng Prefecture have been rising in recent years!

There are three main reasons. First, there are a large influx of wealthy households in Hebei and Hedong, causing a surge in the population of Kaifeng Prefecture, and the demand for various daily necessities such as food, rice, oil and salt has also risen.

Second, after the war between Liao and Youzhou started, the sea transportation in Chenzhou was cut off, and the grain from Liaodong could not be transported to Tianjin, which interrupted the passage of transportation of north and south.

Although Youzhou has now controlled the entire Liaodong Peninsula and most of the Liaohe River Basin, due to the war and the subsequent Liaodong, the land in western Liaoning was re-divided, which affected the spring sowing in Youzhou (including Liaodong and western Liaoning) in the third year of Zhenghe.

Therefore, in Liaodong next year, before the autumn harvest in western Liaoning, Youzhou will not be able to export grain to Kaifeng Prefecture.

The third reason for the rise in prices in Kaifeng Prefecture is of course that money triggers the issuance and land prices rise. Since Kaifeng Prefecture's real estate has become the main tool for absorbing money, the exchange price of money and copper coins has been stabilized, and funds in Kaifeng Prefecture's market are flooding.

Unlike industrial and commercial metropolis such as Tianjin, JD.com, and Quanzhou, Kaifeng Prefecture is subject to factors such as transportation and resources. It is not a production-oriented industrial and commercial city, but a consumption-oriented metropolis.

Therefore, sufficient funds cannot encourage the production of industrial and commercial products, but can only stimulate land development and consumption. In particular, a considerable part of the wealth found by the imperial court through money, and through several major projects and officials' salary increase, it flowed into the market in Kaifeng Prefecture.

As a result, the market boomed and prices continued to rise.

Of course, the imperial court and Kaifeng Prefecture also took some measures to stabilize prices, sold some reserved materials, ordered the six-way shipping envoy to increase the amount of grain shipped to Kaifeng Prefecture, and severely punished several merchants who "raise prices".

But in the face of such rising prices supported by fundamentals, what are the uses of these measures?

Hou Zhongliang just sighed, reached out to take the two pancakes, and chewed them to Yuqing Shangde Palace.

When he arrived at the Yuqing Daode Palace, several great scholars had already arrived first. There were Omar Hayam who worked in the Imperial Heaven Supervisory, Li Qingzhao, professor of Qingcheng Academy, Liu Wuji and Lin Lingsu, a great Taoist priests of the Taoist Moralism Sect, and Yang Shi, who went to Cheng Menluo to study together.

Because Zhao Ji had not arrived yet, Hou Zhongliang greeted them and started talking about housing prices and prices.

Although these people are Zhao Ji's guests, they have to live at home. They are not the ones who can make great efforts to make money, so they naturally have to care about housing prices and prices.

As they were chatting, Omar Hayam suddenly took out an invitation letter written by Wu Haogu, and asked the people sitting on the cushion in the hall with a smile: "This is the invitation letter to me by the consul of the Youzhou Republic. You guys should have received it too?"

It's hard to say about this. Omar Hayam is a VIP from the West, so he is naturally not afraid.

So the other people laughed without saying a word.

Li Qingzhao asked with a smile: "I heard that the West also has a political system similar to the republic. Mr. Hai is a great sage in the West. You should have heard of it?"

"It's not just heard of it?" Hayam said, "I have seen such a country with my own eyes. For example, the Venetian state that depended on Rome is similar to a republic. More than a thousand years ago, there was a large Roman state in the West, which used the Mediterranean sea as the inner lake, with a land of thousands of miles and a population of tens of millions. It also implemented a similar republic system. I didn't expect that such a political system would appear in China now..."

Mr. Hai was well-versed in learning and introduced the history of the Roman Republic to the people present on the spot.

Just as he was talking vigorously, Zhao Ji's voice suddenly came, "Mr. Hai, let's talk about the pros and cons of this republic system."

Hou Zhongliang, Hai Yam and others quickly stood up and bowed to the entrance of the hall. Those who walked in were Zhao Ji and Cai You, both of whom had changed into Taoist robes, looking like masters.

Zhao Ji smiled and waved his hand, "No need to be polite. Mr. Hai, tell me, is this republic good?"

When Zhao Ji sat on a cushion in the hall, Hayam smiled and shook his head: "Of course the republic system is not good, otherwise how could the Western Roman Empire fall apart? There are only a little embers left now. And there is no republic anymore, but ruled with hereditary autocratic generals, and there is no difference between it and the imperial royal government."

"Then what's wrong with the republic system?" Zhao Ji asked intrigued.

"The republic system can only govern a small country, not a big country." Hayam said, "The reason why Rome implemented a republic was because although this country was large, it was just a city-state when it started.

When Rome first emerged, they had only tens of thousands of families, all of which were Roman people. Naturally, they could publicly recommend members of parliament, form parliament, and govern the country with parliament. At this time, all Roman nations regarded the country as their family, and were united in their hearts and advanced and retreat together. Therefore, they could prosper and prosper, defeat Carthage three times, fight Macedonia four times, and became a great power with thousands of miles of territory in more than a hundred years.

But when a country is big, it will be complicated to manage. It is no longer something that the people of Rome can decide. Moreover, in the process of expansion and prosperity, the Roman nations were divided into high and low, rich and poor. Some seized the opportunity to be rich, some seized power and became wealthy families, and many families were not rich and powerful even though they were loyal and strong. Therefore, people gradually became tired of war, and the nation was no longer willing to conquer the country. Therefore, the country had to rely on Gentile mercenaries, warlords were rampant, vassal states were separatist, and finally weakened and collapsed. It was natural."

"Then... between Mr.," Zhao Ji touched his dark and moist beard, "Is it possible for a great country with tens of thousands of miles of the Song Dynasty to carry out a republic and make the world public?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Hayam shook his head, "The basis of the republic is the nation. It not only needs to let the nation discuss politics, protect the country, but also let the nation share the benefits of the country. If there are too many nations, not only are there too many people and talkative people, but it is difficult to participate in the discussion of politics, but there are not so many benefits to divide. If there are too few nations, it is not enough to face the crowd and defend the powerful enemy."

Zhao Ji didn't understand very well, so he asked: "It's fine if there are too many people and it's difficult to discuss politics. But what does it have to do with the use of division and the number of people? You can occupy more territory to divide the territory! Isn't it enough to occupy the whole world?"

"Your Majesty, what's going on in China? Old ministers dare not speak nonsense." Hai Laoer said, "But the territory of the Western Roman Kingdom is very different from the rich and the poor. Naturally, everyone wants to take up a share of the rich and gentle land, but the bitter, cold and barren place, what's the use of coming?"

Zhao Ji frowned, "But the citizens of Youzhou are willing to fortify the bitter and cold soil in the north!"

The great scholar Hou Zhongliang understood Zhao Ji's thoughts and interrupted: "Your Majesty, I heard that the land of Liaodong is rich and fertile land, but it is a little cold in winter. But the advantage is that the land is unparalleled and you can divide it whatever you want, so that there will be no civil rebellion."

"Is that true?" Zhao Ji frowned deeply, "If the Republic is only in the north, it would be a blessing in the world!"

"Your Majesty," Hou Zhongliang paused, "The so-called hearing is false, but seeing is true. I think that Youzhou's implementation of the law of republic is no less than the reforms of the countries during the Warring States Period. Our dynasty must pay attention to it!

Recently, I have received an invitation from Wu Haogu to go north to participate in the republic system. If Your Majesty wants to find out the details of the republic, it is better to send me and others to Youzhou north."

"Who are there?" Zhao Ji asked.

Hou Zhongliang said: "I have received the invitation."

"You all want to go?"

Li Qingzhao smiled and shook her head: "Your Majesty, I am a woman, so it is not convenient to travel far away."

Hayam also said: "The old ministers don't go either. Youzhou is now thousands of miles away and millions of people. It is no longer the border river city-state of the past. Implementing the republican government is to destroy yourself!"

"I am a monk and don't want to go." Liu Wuji was not interested.

"I want to go this trip." Yang Shidao, the Siye of the Biyong Academy.

Zhao Ji nodded.

Hou Zhongliang said: "I want to go too, and I want to go to Youzhou as an envoy of the court. After all, Wu Haogu took the land and established the country in the Northern Dynasties... In addition, I also want to recommend a regular envoy."

"who?"
Chapter completed!