Chương 559: Times have changed, and the rules must change with them.

Such a huge loss of tax revenue cannot be easily ignored by anyone.

Then Shen Wansan pointed to the location of the canal wharf in the southeast corner of the city map and continued in a deep voice:

"Look at the vital waterway outside the city. Nowadays, more than 120 merchant ships dock at the outer port of Luoyang every day, loading and unloading millions of shi of grain, more than a thousand tons of coal, and all kinds of daily necessities piled up like mountains."

The daily lives of the million residents of Luoyang City were sustained entirely by the continuous transport and allocation of manpower and vehicles day and night. Once the nighttime curfew was implemented, all dockwork ceased, and the passage of vehicles and horses was prohibited, causing a large backlog of goods at the port that could not enter the city.

He paused, his voice rising a few decibels, as if he were calculating a life-or-death matter:

"Within a month, the two major markets, east and west, will face food shortages. Grain prices will triple in succession, and the million ordinary people in the city will soon be plunged into a food shortage crisis. When the people can't get enough to eat, they won't blame the curfew, they'll blame the imperial court."

When discussing the lives of ordinary people in the city, Shen Wansan's tone was full of genuine emotion, and his voice even carried a touch of feeling:

"Nowadays, people are financially secure and no longer just seek to fill their stomachs; they pay more attention to daily leisure and enjoyment. Currently, there are more than 8, 000 restaurants, teahouses, snack stalls, and opera houses that operate all night in the East and West markets. More than 40, 000 people, including waiters, actors, street vendors, and laborers, rely on the night market for their livelihood.

These people have elderly parents and young children to support, and they all depend on the income from the night market to make a living."

"If all night shops were suddenly ordered to close, tens of thousands of ordinary people would instantly lose their livelihoods, with no money coming in and their peaceful lives vanishing."

The resentment accumulated by the common people will only deepen over time. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Blindly adhering to outdated rules and regulations may seem to maintain order, but in reality, it chills the hearts of the people.

The people may not say it, but they remember it all. You say you're afraid of chaos, but have you considered that cutting off the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people—that's true chaos.

His reasoned and well-founded words, which balanced the national treasury's revenue with the people's livelihood, left the conservative old ministers speechless, and the political winds in the court quietly shifted.

Several senior officials opened their mouths, wanting to refute, but found that everything Shen Wansan said was true and there was nothing wrong with it.

Upon hearing these remarks, Yang Biao was so angry that his beard and hair trembled slightly, and his face turned bright red.

He immediately stepped forward and retorted sharply, his voice even changing tone:

"Lord Shen is preoccupied with calculating the national treasury's money and grain, but he completely disregards the lives and safety of the people in the city! Tax losses can be gradually accumulated and made up in the future, and the empty national treasury can also be replenished gradually through recuperation."

But if the capital city descends into chaos, and the people are demoralized and restless, the hard-won prosperity will collapse completely, beyond repair! At that point, forget about making money; you won't even be able to save your life!

"Disasters occur frequently every night right under the emperor's nose. If this gets out, the surrounding tribes will laugh at us. How can we then deter the people of the Nine Provinces and stabilize the Han Dynasty? No matter how clever your plan is, can you even predict human deaths?"

Yang Biao became more and more excited as he spoke, his cane thumping on the ground like a drum.

Upon seeing this, Xun Yu, holding a detailed register of millions of people, slowly stepped forward and solemnly echoed Yang Biao's words.

"Your subject fully agrees with Lord Yang's concerns; the hidden security risks in the capital are by no means unfounded."

Xun Yu opened the register and read the names one by one to everyone.

"Among the million people who have moved to Luoyang today, there are as many as 300, 000 immigrants from the north and south, 70, 000 vagrants without a fixed residence, 80, 000 retired soldiers, and 50, 000 merchants who travel around year-round without a fixed household registration."

These people come from all over the country, with different lifestyles and accents, and are unfamiliar with each other, making them prone to conflict. Among them are good and bad people; nothing seems amiss during the day, but problems easily arise at night.

"The place is a mixed bag, with both good and bad people. During the daytime, when the crowds are dense, people are still somewhat restrained and dare not act recklessly. But when the night is deep and quiet, villains will take advantage of the darkness to conceal their tracks, secretly collude and plot, and wait for an opportunity to commit violence and chaos."

If nighttime regulations are completely relaxed, and there are no curfews to restrain and control them, these restless individuals lurking in the shadows will surely become even more unscrupulous, secretly plotting to wreak havoc on the capital. The hidden dangers are endless and impossible to guard against. I dare not sleep soundly at night, fearing that one day a major disaster might occur."

Xun Yu closed the register and sighed, "I'm not against relaxing the curfew, but I'm worried that if we take too big a step, we might end up with something we don't like."

At this point, the imperial court was completely caught in a dilemma, with civil and military officials looking at each other, all frowning and caught in a difficult situation.

On one hand, there is a booming industrial and commercial sector and a thriving nightlife; relaxing the night curfew would benefit the people and enrich the country.

On one hand, there is a complex population structure and hidden security crises; only by strictly enforcing the curfew can the capital be stabilized.

Both sides had significant drawbacks, leaving the entire court at a loss and turning their attention to the silent emperor sitting on the dragon throne.

From beginning to end, Liu Ce sat on the dragon throne with a calm and composed expression. He played with a jade pendant in his hand, quietly listening to the opinions of the two factions of ministers, and coldly observing the disputes in the court. He had already clearly weighed the advantages and disadvantages of each side in his mind.

The group argued for a long time, but no one could come to a conclusion.

Is Yang Biao right? Yes.

Was Shen Wansan right? Yes, he was right.

Both sides have valid arguments, but neither side's approach is perfect.

The problem isn't whether to manage it or not, but how to manage it. The old methods won't work, and abandoning it completely won't work either.

He slowly raised his eyes and looked out of the palace, his gaze falling on the wide and straight Vermilion Bird Avenue in the distance. Although it was broad daylight, he knew that the street would be a different sight at night.

Rows of newly installed kerosene streetlights have been lit up, their soft, warm light spreading along the street for miles, transforming into a dazzling golden river of lights that extends all the way to the end of Mingde Gate in the south of the city.

In the past, it was pitch black when you went out at night, but now with streetlights, walking at night is almost the same as during the day.

This is the first main thoroughfare in the capital to be illuminated all night long, and it is also the key to solving the problem of the curfew in Liu Ce's mind.

Once the lights are on, the thief can no longer hide.

In ancient times, strict curfews were enforced because the nights were dark and there was no streetlights, sufficient patrols, or effective control measures. Allowing the night to continue was tantamount to allowing chaos.

It's so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face. If a villain hides in the shadows, where are you going to find him?

Now, Luojing City has complete facilities, streetlights are everywhere, the patrol system is becoming more and more mature, and the grid-based neighborhood layout is unique. The old system is no longer suitable for today's new world.

Times have changed, and rules must change with them, or we'll end up like those who try to find a lost sword by marking the boat.

After careful consideration, Liu Ce slowly straightened his posture and rose from the dragon throne, dressed in a majestic dragon robe.

A deep, steady voice slowly spread, clearly reaching every corner of the hall. The noisy debate instantly ceased, and all the ministers raised their heads, bowed, and awaited the emperor's decision.