The market outside the city was very large, and the novel products from all over the world made the people in the capital quite curious. Although the market hasn't really opened yet, it has already attracted a large number of people to come and see the wonders.
In recent years, the imperial court's new policies have not only enriched the treasury of the Ministry of Revenue, but also bulged the wallets of the people.
Those expensive and luxurious things are unaffordable, but there are also a large number of high-quality and cheap things brought by merchants from all over the market. On August 13 alone, Russell, who is responsible for the management of the market, has already estimated that The transaction volume is nearly one hundred thousand taels.
According to the average tax collection standard of one out of ten, the daily business tax collected by the market is 10,000 taels, which is 300,000 taels per month.
Russell even said to the prince and Jia Cong with emotion: "This... what kind of land tax are you collecting? The bandits can't steal money as fast as this!"
Jia Cong, who finally had time to return home, chatted with Mr. Lin about the people and things in the city outside the city. Lin Ruhai agreed with Russell's sentiments and thought about it for a long time.
"Uncle, you don't really want to cancel the land tax, do you? This is impossible!"
It’s not that Jia Cong insists on “squeezing” the farmers who forage on the land, but that the current land system is not perfect enough, and it is not yet time to cancel the agricultural tax.
When that time comes, the court can exempt agricultural taxes and even subsidize farmers with state finances.
At this time, by canceling land taxes, the land annexation problem that was finally suppressed will immediately start again.
Lin Ruhai has been the Minister of Household Affairs for so long, so he naturally understands this truth.
However, he still took this matter seriously and pondered for a long time before saying: "It is indeed not the right time to cancel it completely, but we can try to reduce rents and taxes again..."
Um?
Jia Cong was a little confused. It seemed to be no different from tax exemption. It’s impossible for my father-in-law not to see this, why would he think of this?
He said with great confusion: "There seems to be no difference. Once the imperial court reduces taxes, the land will benefit even more, which is not conducive to restraining land annexation."
Lin Ruhai shook his head: "You didn't understand what I meant. I was thinking that the court could divide the grades according to the amount of land and fertility. Poor people would be exempted from the land tax, those with a lot of land would not be exempted, and those with fertile land would be converted from rice to mulberry. , impose heavy taxes..."
"Poor peasants, middle peasants, rich peasants? This can easily lead to problems. For example, will the people who divide the classes use this to make profits? If there is public resentment over this matter, I'm afraid someone will use this to criticize you. After all, this matter is too big. Big..."
Jia Cong gets a headache when he thinks about the problem of officialdom. This is a big problem in all dynasties. Even in his previous life, there was nothing he could do about it.
Policies are often good, but once they reach the bottom, a large number of scum and beasts will use them to harm the people.
This time, Lin Ruhai was quite surprised, and her expression gradually became serious. Daiyu, who was quietly making tea for the two of them, tilted her head, silently placed the tea in front of the two of them, and sat aside to watch the two men. Big eyes stare at small eyes.
"Brother Cong, as a politician, you should fight for the people. How can you give up eating because of choking?"
Lin Ruhai's seriousness was not about the issue of officialdom, but Jia Cong's sudden withdrawal.
Over the years, he has watched his little son-in-law mature step by step, but this kind of "maturity" that is afraid of finding a career makes him quite unhappy.
What's more important is that Jia Cong, who dares to make a hole in God but still wants to make decisions for the people, is actually at risk of disappearing at this moment.
Could it be that as this kid grew up and hung out in the big dye vat of the court, he became blinded by the dust of the world?
Lin Ruhai tapped her fingers on the table several times and reprimanded solemnly: "Back in Yangzhou, many people advised me to turn a blind eye. Not only could I leave the right and wrong nest in Jiangnan with millions of gold and silver, , and can even go further. But I can't watch salt merchants spend a lot of money on the Qinhuai River, and the people can't even afford a grain of salt..."
"Even until her death, your aunt told me not to forget the oath she swore during the roll call at the Golden Palace, to treat the family as the home, the country as the town, the country as the country, and the world as the world."
The Yangzhou Salt Patrol Censor has a high position and is also full of crises.
Lin Ruhai died for this, his wife, son, and almost his own life, just to make salt affordable for the people.
Some people once laughed at him for being stupid and said that he didn't know how to appreciate others.
But the poor people in Jiangnan always remember his kindness. The umbrella he received when he left office is the highest praise for him.
"Perhaps there will be hardships and setbacks in the implementation of this policy, but as long as it can bring more grains of rice to the people's warehouses, we should do it and spare no effort to fight for it. I took a long breath to cover my tears and mourned the hardships of the people's livelihood. You have also It is said that it is to establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the living and the people, to carry forward the unique knowledge of the past saints, and to create peace for all generations. Why are there words of retreat today?"
A series of reprimands made Jia Cong suddenly alert, and he couldn't blame his father-in-law for suddenly getting so angry because of just one sentence.
It is normal to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, but it is contrary to his original oath.
He stood up in a hurry, straightened his clothes, and bowed his head: "My nephew, thank you for your uncle's teaching. If it weren't for my uncle, my nephew would have fallen into a devil's trap!"
Don't underestimate this little bit of "normality". A thousand-mile dike broke in an ant nest. If it hadn't been for his uncle's warning today, he, Jia Cong, would have been slowly assimilated by this world.
Lin Ruhai finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Jia Cong waking up.
He is not only Jia Cong's uncle and father-in-law, but also his indispensable mentor in life and officialdom.
Even though he now has Brother Mo, Lin Ruhai still regards Jia Cong as his successor.
The inheritance of the Lin family and Lin Ruhai's political ideals and ambitions all need to be inherited by Jia Cong.
In the past, Brother Cong was a little reckless, but his innocent heart was the most important thing for inheriting his political philosophy, Lin Ruhai, and he must not be blinded by the world.
Fortunately, it was discovered early, otherwise Lin Ruhai wouldn't know who to cry to!
"As long as you understand, there is no shortage of talented and romantic princes in this world, but the people of this world need a sword-wielder who can continue to move forward for them. In the past few years, you have experienced more and more conspiracies and intrigues. More and more, your heart is also affected by the conspiracy..."
Lin Ruhai said as he walked towards the bookshelf at the back.
After a while, he took out a small book box from the bookshelf and handed it to Jia Cong.
"Wei Wenzheng gave this to me originally. He asked me to give it to you when necessary. I think it's time."
After hearing this, Jia Cong took it respectfully, and after opening it, he discovered that it was not a book, but notes.
At the top is an unsealed letter...
"Jia Xiaosan, human life is very short, and human life is also very long. Enjoy your life in a mediocre way, but it will pass by in an instant. Create the foundation of eternity vigorously, like entering the river of time, and become immortal for thousands of years..."
"When I saw your eyes, I knew you had a tiger in your heart, a hero in troubled times, or a capable minister in governing the world. People in this land are experiencing natural and man-made disasters all the time, and maybe every hundred years there will be... Suffered military disaster."
"You are born with knowledge, a talent for wisdom, a heart of innocence, and sympathy for the weak... When you sang your name in the Golden Palace, you said that you should establish your mind for the heaven and earth, establish your destiny for the people, inherit your unique knowledge for the saints, and for There will be peace for all eternity. How magnificent!"
"I don't know how long you can maintain this ambition. I hope you can keep it up. I'll take a gamble."
"I have nothing to leave you. These notes are what I jotted down in my free time after joining the cabinet. I hope you can always remember your original intention. Don't forget how difficult people's livelihood is, and don't forget your ambition! "
…
This letter should have been written casually by the old man in his spare time. There is no secret inheritance and no words of instruction. Instead, it is mostly about appreciation and expectations for Jia Cong.
There are about a hundred or so pages of paper in the small book box, which are either full of words or a few lines of cursive script.
"On the eleventh day of the winter lunar month in the first year of Yuanyou, the earth dragon in Weizhou turned over, the twenty-seven states in the north were turned upside down, countless soldiers and civilians were killed and injured, and mourners filled the land..."
"In the summer of the second year of Yuanyou, from Hexi to the Central Plains, locusts filled the sky and the ground was bare for thousands of miles. The people changed their sons to eat..."
"In the autumn of the second year of Yuanyou, the river overflowed, bursting its banks for thousands of miles, destroying countless houses and farmland, and millions of people were displaced..."
"In the spring of the third year of Yuanyou, there was a severe drought in the north and south. Food prices rose three times a day. Corrupt officials were rampant, causing hundreds of thousands of people to die from natural and man-made disasters..."
…
The pages on it were filled with cold numbers, but Jia Cong's mind kept flashing back to the disaster scenes he had seen with his own eyes.
For example, when there was a snow disaster in Gyeonggi Province, he and Daiyu personally presided over the disaster relief work.
But as Mr. Wei wrote in his letter, the country covers thousands of miles, and natural and man-made disasters occur every moment.
During the great disaster in the capital, people died of cold and hunger, but what about those places where the sky is high and the emperor is far away? I'm afraid that natural disasters may not take away people's lives, but man-made disasters will.
He can't slack off just because of the short-term victory. He is not only Jia Cong in this world, but also a person who has seen the prosperous times. There is no reason to be blinded by the short-term victory and the mortal world in this world. mind.
Jia Cong still has a long way to go!
When Jia Cong came to his senses from Mr. Wei's letter, he looked up and saw only a beautiful figure leaning against the window, holding a book in his hand and reading with gusto.
The breeze blew by, and Jia Cong could smell the fragrance blowing from Daiyu's body.
"This is the Analects of Confucius that Duke Wei gave me before. He personally annotated it."
Daiyu raised the book in her hand and looked at Jia Cong with crooked eyebrows: "Every time I read his annotations, it gives me a different understanding. Wei Wenzhenggong is worthy of being the most just and upright person. Brother Cong will be the one to do it in the future." He will also be praised by people all over the world just like his old man."
Mr. Wen Zhenggong, which scholar doesn’t want to have such a posthumous title?
Jia Cong leaned on Daiyu's body and slowly lay down.
Daiyu put down the book in her hand, moved his head and placed it on her lap. She pinched Jia Cong's face and gently squeezed the two points on his temples.
"Dad actually said something today. I know you won't be afraid of people who back down. We have agreed to worry about the world's worries first, and be happy after the world's happiness. I am still moving forward, how can you Will you abandon me?"
Daiyu's fingers were very gentle. Jia Cong closed his eyes and kept recalling his experiences in the past few years.
He didn't open his eyes and sighed: "My uncle is not wrong. I am indeed a little slack, and I do have the intention to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. At least when faced with difficulties, I have the intention to retreat. Thanks to my uncle's blow to the head today, I must Otherwise, if this continues, I’m afraid I will lose sight of everyone.”
Daiyu lightly poked Jia Cong on the forehead and said with a smile: "No, when the time comes, I will drag you back even if I do!"
Jia Cong held Daiyu's fingers, rubbed Daiyu's soft palms, and raised the corners of his mouth.
"That's the best thing. With Sister Lin by your side, Mr. Wei doesn't have to worry about it in heaven. Just let him watch our pair of divine eagle heroes travel across the rivers and lakes, carrying swords to overcome thorns for the people, and establish a The foundation of a prosperous age!"
"The Condor Heroes? What is that?"
Daiyu rubbed Jia Cong's head with her free hand and asked curiously.
Jia Cong paused and Yuyou told him a story.
He finally took a vacation and was scolded. He is a bit good~
Fortunately, this scolding did wipe away his dusty heart. At this time, he was enjoying the rare warmth and it was good to tell a story to relieve his pain.
However, some plots in the story of The Legend of the Condor Heroes will only make it more fascinating, so it’s better to change it.
…
Just when Jia Cong and Daiyu were enjoying the rare warmth and leisure, Caishikou was already crowded with people. Most of the people in the Liu family were trembling and couldn't stand still.
Not only did Liu Xianglian not feel any discomfort, but she felt quite happy.
Liu Fang was indeed his biological uncle, but because of this biological uncle, his parents and two of his uncles were forced to death, and several of his cousins were suppressed to this day.
Liu Xianglian turned around, looked at the Liu family members with different expressions, and snorted coldly.
"The laws of heaven are clear and the laws of the country are merciless. Liu Fang and others have brought shame on the ancestors of the Liu family of our government. It is not a pity to die. From today on, all members of our Liu family must obey the law and abide by the law. Anyone who dares to violate the law will be punished with death." You are not allowed to enter the Liu family, and you are not allowed to be buried in Liu’s grave!”
Liu Xianglian waved her hand, and someone came from behind carrying a large box.
Wow, when the box was opened, thick books were revealed inside.
"This is the "Law of the Great Xia". Each person must go back and memorize it within ten days. At the end of the month, the whole clan will go to the ancestral hall and take a big test in front of the ancestors. Those who fail will no longer need to call themselves Liu clan members. !”
"What? Are you kidding me? When did I read a book?"
Ha~
Liu Xianglian just smiled coldly, looking at the playboy named Xiao, her eyes getting colder and colder.
"You don't have the nerve to speak out if you don't study? If you contradict the clan leader, drag him out and give him twenty sticks!"
The man's eyes shrank and he wanted to escape but couldn't move.
The people brought by Liu Xianglian are all good soldiers in the army. How can he, a playboy, break free.
However, this man was still somewhat angry, and he even yelled at Liu Xianglian: "What kind of clan leader do you think you are? Who agreed?"
"Even if Liu Fang is dead, the clan leader should be elected by the clan elders..."
It wasn't just the dude who was saying similar things, there were also many people in the Liu clan who were muttering.
However, Liu Xianglian didn't care at all. Instead, she glanced around coldly and finally said calmly: "From today on, I am the leader of the Liu clan. Who agrees? Who opposes?"
I’ll stop here today and continue tomorrow. Good night!
(End of chapter)
