Yu Qian watched the military households' children live better and better lives, and naturally he also saw the impact craftsmanship had on people's livelihood.
Times had changed. Back then, the chaos had only just been quelled; bandit uprisings still raged across the land, and many places remained unconquered. That was why the Grand Ancestor High Emperor had established such a stringent household registration system.
But now the realm was at peace. Instead, the harsh registration system was driving the children of military and artisan households to flee, swelling the number of displaced people and gradually breeding rebellions.
Yu Qian was not a stubborn man. Otherwise, he would not have steadied the army's morale while knowing full well that Shi Heng and his ilk were problematic, yet still played along with them.
He was upright, but he was not stupid.
After giving it thought, he solemnly said, "If it benefits the state, then it should be abolished."
"Tingyi, think thrice! If the artisan registry is abolished, the Imperial Court may not even be able to find craftsmen to build bridges and pave roads!"
Because artisan households were bound to their registry, whenever the imperial palace needed new halls built or old ones repaired, whenever government offices, bridges, or roads needed construction, an order could be issued to summon craftsmen from all across the country for service.
"And the imperial mausoleums," Cao Nai said in a low, angry voice. "The late Emperor's mausoleum needs repairs, and the Emperor's mausoleum must be excavated as well. Once the artisan registry is abolished, do you believe the craftsmen currently in the mausoleums will simply run away?"
Yu Qian sighed. "You have all seen the changes of these past two years. The newly promoted Jinshi scholars this year may not have horses or sedan chairs at