Zhenjiang Prefecture.
In this picturesque and historically prosperous city, no one from the merchants to the farmers has a smile on their face.
Oh, except for the officials, those guys holding the iron rice bowl are quite happy.
But no matter how Yu Min and Ding Ting inquired, everyone waved their hands and kept silent.
It looked like a ghost was staring at them.
On this day, a cloth seller finally received them with good tea and water, and told him everything he knew.
"Water money, what is this?"
Yu Min was shocked. Could it be the money he was thinking of?
"You don't know this?" Wang Si'er explained: "To deliver the food from this place to Yingtian, it requires manpower and material resources and a lot of energy."
"That's what this water fee means."
Yu Min and Ding Ting looked at each other, and finally couldn't help but ask questions together.
"After the grain arrives in Beijing, the imperial court will automatically distribute the money. Why do they ask the people to collect another portion?"
This does not mean that the court has already paid the money.
And they took a share from the private sector. Doesn't this mean they got a share in vain?
"Well, you have to ask the officials."
Ding Ting suppressed the surprise in his heart and continued to ask.
"Excuse me, shopkeeper, what is this treasury money, god and Buddha money, and food money?"
Your Majesty has always been tolerant and kind to the people, but they have never heard of when the imperial court imposed so many exorbitant taxes.
Wang Si'er smiled and said: "This treasury money refers to the money to store food, and the god and Buddha money is the money to protect the food from being delivered to Yingtian Mansion."
"As for the food money, it's very simple. It means the people and horses who bring food to Beijing, the fodder and food money they need to eat. These are all asked by the people to ask for."
Yu Min and Ding Ting were completely speechless. What does the money for storing grain have to do with the people? Money for gods and Buddhas is nonsense. Isn't food money included in water and foot money?
Why do you want to collect another one?
How many officials were working in collusion with Guo Huan, and how much people's wealth and wealth did they plunder?
Seeing the angry looks of the two of them, Wang Si'er smiled and came up with an idea.
"It's time to harvest autumn crops soon. Just stay and take a look."
"However, it is useless to know. Huang Wentong, the governor of western Zhejiang, and Mr. Guo, the new minister of household affairs, had a very happy conversation in June this year."
"Oh, we also bought a house here. I heard that it is full of gold, silver and jewelry..."
What you see with your own eyes is always more trustworthy than what others say.
Anyway, there is only half a month left, so I can’t afford to wait.
When they came out of Wang's Buzhuang, Ding Ting and Yu Peng looked a little bad. They seemed to have encountered one, no, many, many fish this time.
Ding Ting was okay, but Yu Min was extremely excited.
"Then let's wait for half a month, if..."
If this is really the case, it must be a big deal. Whether it can leave a name in history depends on this.
If you miss this village, you won’t know if this store still exists.
Ying Tianfu.
Gu Chen didn't expect that he would meet Ma Sanbao, who had become a young eunuch, in the palace.
The palace where Zhu Di lived when he was a boy was only a few steps away from the East Palace.
When he came out of the East Palace, he happened to bump into Ma Sanbao, who was wearing new clothes.
"grown ups?"
Ma Sanbao looked at Gu Chen in surprise and ran over with the tray in his arms.
"Is it really you?"
He had been thinking about the water and the sweet-smelling honey bait that the adult had given him that day, but it was a pity that he had never seen this adult again.
"Sir, I am following His Highness Prince Yan now. I will go to Peking with His Highness Prince Yan in two months. I am afraid I will never see you again."
If he couldn't see the person, he couldn't repay the favor. He always wanted to do something to thank him.
"Little Sanbao?"
Gu Chen was also pleasantly surprised when he saw Ma Sanbao, who had a new look and had gained some weight.
"How good is His Highness King Yan to you? What role do you play next to His Highness?"
It should be good, right?
Otherwise, I wouldn't have gained so much weight.
"All right."
Ma Sanbao nodded wildly and said in a voice that only two people could hear.
"His Royal Highness King Yan is very kind to me and even allows me to read and write."
"He also said he went to Peking and taught me how to ride a horse on the prairie."
"I'm young and can't do much, just get clothes and stuff."
"Today Liu Bowen and Mr. Liu entered the palace. His Royal Highness King Yan and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are both there. I don't know what Mr. Liu said to make His Majesty angry."
"I dropped the tea cup and the tea spilled on His Highness, so I sent him to be washed."
The current emperor does not like eunuchs to study, and other eunuchs do not have this treatment.
Liu Bowen entered the palace?
Did you make Lao Zhu angry?
No wonder Biao'er's expression was wrong just now, maybe it was because of his small life.
That's right, Lao Liu has never supported fighting.
Everyone said that he had the ability to decipher the mysteries of heaven. How come he couldn't decipher the mysteries of heaven? Will he be in serious trouble in the future?
It seems that this ability is limited!
"Then you should study hard." Gu Chen touched Xiao Sanbao's head and said with a smile: "Read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles, but don't be afraid of hardship."
If you are afraid of hardship, you will not be able to become Zheng He who made seven voyages to the West.
Seeing Gu Chen turn around to leave, Ma Sanbao reached out and grabbed his clothes.
"Sir, wait."
He put his hand into his arms and touched it, and finally took out a jade pendant.
"This is from my mother. May Allah bless you, my lord."
right.
Ma Sanbao was originally from the Hui ethnic group, and at this time he did not believe in the Central Plains religion.
He lived with Zhu Di in the Central Plains for a long time, and gradually changed his beliefs. He believed in Buddhism in his early years, and then believed in Buddhism in his later years.
"Since your mother gave it to you, then you should keep it as a souvenir."
Gu Chen declined his kindness, smiled and left.
A king loves money and gets it wisely. He only accepts gifts from those who are not short of money.
It's better to forget about a relic like this from my dead mother, it would be a shame to hold it.
Gu Shuning's boudoir is well decorated, quiet, elegant and full of books.
When Gu Chen and his wife came in, the little girl was sitting on the swing reading a book. When she saw her parents coming, she hurriedly put down the book and came over.
"My daughter is sending greetings to her parents. How come my father has time to see his daughter today?"
On weekdays, except for taking a bath and having dinner, I rarely see my father.
"I'm not busy today."
Looking at the beautiful girl, Gu Chen felt a little mixed in his heart. He looked at the book on the swing.
"Girl, are you reading the Book of Songs?"
"Tell daddy, which article did you read?"
As a modern person, he always believed that marriage should be free, and he was prepared to let his children choose their own partners.
However, he still became a feudal man and made the decision for his daughter, unable to give her the opportunity to choose freely.
"Back to dad, my daughter just read "Chen Gong" and suddenly thought of the time she spent in Zhuanglang. Although she was busy, she still saw her parents every day."
Now that they have moved to a bigger house, the number of people they serve has increased from one pearl sister to six beautiful young ladies, but they don’t spend as much time with their parents as before.
"Good boy." Gu Chen took his daughter and sat down, looking at her and sincerely apologizing: "It's dad's fault. Daddy is too busy. Daddy will definitely spend more time with the girl in the future."
He murmured for a long time and couldn't explain why. He could only turn his eyes to his wife for help.
As a father, it is really difficult to discuss marriage with his daughter.
"Girl." Su Wanying pulled her daughter and said gently: "Do you want to be closer to home in the future and be able to see your father and mother more often?"
"Look, Brother Zeng is good at studying and good-looking. Your father and I want Brother Zeng to be your husband-in-law when he grows up."
"From now on, mother and father will buy you a house in the capital, and you can come back often. Do you agree?"
In fact, she felt that there was no need to ask the child's opinion on such matters.
What does a child know at such a young age?
But the husband insists on asking. As a wife, of course she can only respect it.
