Beijing, Dongcheng District, a courtyard.
A white-haired old man was very busy watering flowers and weeding.
At this moment, there was a sound of pushing the door outside the room.
The old man's ears moved slightly, without raising his head, he continued to water the green radish in front of him, and said in a calm tone: "What's the wind blowing today? You actually came back to see me, an old man?"
The old man moved slowly, playing with the pothos, looking a little careless.
"Teacher, you are in good health!"
Zhou Zhenwen, who was dressed in green clothes, looked at the white-haired old man, smiled, and said: "I feel relieved when I see the teacher is so energetic."
"What are you worried about?"
"When people get old and are no longer useful, they can only play with flowers and plants." The old man waved his hand, pointed to the wicker chair beside him, and said, "Sit down!"
"Teacher, let me help you." Zhou Zhenwen quickly stepped forward and helped with the pothos flowers.
"Why did you come to me today?" the old man asked casually while loosening the soil of other green plants.
"Haha, I just miss the master." Zhou Zhenwen smiled.
"Okay, you guy, you don't go to the Three Treasures Hall for anything. Since you are here, you must have something." The old man put down his things, walked to the wicker chair and sat down.
"Come over and make tea!"
"Okay." Zhou Zhenwen sat down and began to make tea skillfully.
As the boiling hot water is poured into the purple clay teapot, the refreshing aroma of tea overflows and the tea smells tangy.
The old man took a sip of tea, nodded, and said: "After so many years, your craftsmanship has always been so good."
"Master, you are so complimentary." Zhou Zhenwen said modestly. Seeing the old man put down the tea cup, he continued: "Master, my disciple came today. In addition to seeing you, there is one more thing I want to tell you."
"Well, tell me." The old man said.
"Liu Yuanqi has become the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs." Zhou Zhenwen said softly.
"I know about this, I'm an agent! You guarantee him." The old man said.
"You also know Liu Yuanqi's thoughts." Zhou Zhenwen added a cup of tea to the old man and said softly.
"The time has not come yet, and the reform is still too aggressive." The old man shook his head, "A single move can affect the whole body. The difficulty of reform is that it affects the interests of aristocratic families and the flesh in other people's mouths. Others still Aren’t you going to risk your life?”
"Liu Yuanqi thinks everything is too simple. If the reform was so simple, you would have done it back then, why wait until now?"
"Besides, the emperor has not yet taken power, even if he supports Liu Yuanqi's reform, the emperor without real power is like a castle in the air, just a fantasy..."
"He found me and hoped that I would help His Majesty take power." Zhou Zhenwen nodded, agreeing with the old man's idea.
"What do you think?" the old man asked.
"It is imperative for Your Majesty to take power. I feel that something is wrong with the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother's party is too powerful. This is not like the style of a harem master. I originally thought that the Queen Mother's fight for power was to pave the way for Your Majesty, so I did not But now it seems that she has some different thoughts." Zhou Zhenwen said slightly.
The old man stroked his long white beard, his eyes sharpened, and his tone became colder: "It has never happened before for a woman to become emperor. If the Queen Mother wants to go against the grain... Zhenwen, you can just let it go..."
"I have made suggestions for your majesty regarding the Qingzhou matter. I believe your majesty can also guess my thoughts. She needs the support of the forces in the court, and my Qingyi Party is the largest force in the court. If he wants to regain the imperial power, he must fight with I cooperate." Zhou Zhenwen said softly.
"Have you not given up yet?" The old man seemed to understand Zhou Zhenwen's meaning, frowned slightly, and said: "National trade and the establishment of free trade zones will increase the status of businessmen. It is a national policy to focus on agriculture and suppress business. If you do this, I’m afraid it will cause criticism.”
"The Great Wilderness is too poor, and businessmen are chasing profits. If you want to fill the national treasury and make local finances self-sufficient, you must carry out land reform and reorganization, establish free trade zones, and develop commerce. As long as it is profitable, businessmen can create miracles, and they don't even need a single In a matter of years or a few months, they can build a commercial town that is not inferior to Yangzhou City."
Zhou Zhenwen is a time traveler. Having experienced such a prosperous business model in his previous life, he knows best the power of businessmen and the value of national land, real estate reform, and industrialization. Money is the last word.
Whether it is sending troops to the border to deal with the alien Sirius Dynasty, or sending troops to regain the Yanyun Land and fight against the Jiuyou Dynasty, this all requires money.
When you fight a war, you fight for money.
Food, weapons, quilts, tents and other supplies all cost money.
Only a sufficient national treasury can support such a war.
And Dahuang, to be honest, is too poor.
The treasury is empty!
Due to weak policies, the tax burden on merchants was too low, and other taxes were numerous. Various tax evasion phenomena emerged in endlessly. Princes, nobles, and royal family members who occupied privileges used their titles to collude with officials and reduce taxes.
In this case, the wilderness is so barren and weak.
"I know what you think, but once this hole is opened, businessmen will flock to it, and I'm afraid it will cause trouble..." The old man sighed. How could he not understand his apprentice's thoughts?
However, this plan was too bold and avant-garde, which caused the late emperor to hesitate and dare not implement it when he was in power.
"Businessmen pursue profit, and as long as they can make a profit, they can do almost anything."
"Similarly, their greedy nature will make them have thoughts they shouldn't have."
When Zhou Zhenwen said this, he paused slightly and his tone became cold: "At this time, you need to use the knife to make them bleed."
"Benevolent government is for the people who are loyal and supportive of the wilderness, while harsh government is a 'gift' prepared for these greedy people."
"You can make them obey by using both soft and hard tactics."
The old man knew that he could not persuade Zhou Zhenwen, so he said: "What do you need me to do?"
"Master, I want to open a private school and hire the best teachers to enlighten young children. I hope you can help some of the children of old friends to come to the private school I opened. The tuition is free and you only need to pay some textbook fees and food. Just pay.”
Zhou Zhenwen said softly: "I will also go to a private school. I hope Master will make it happen."
The old man was such a person. He had been an official for many years and was extremely sophisticated. He immediately saw through Zhou Zhenwen's thoughts. He shook his head and sighed: "You are still so smart. With just a few words, you tied these people to your warship. However, you are expecting too much, after all, they have all retired and returned to their hometowns, and it is hard to say whether they will give this old guy face like me."
"It's hard to say how much influence they still have."
"They have all retired and returned to their hometowns. It would be very difficult for them to continue to struggle..."
"It's okay, master. I have already allowed some of the children of officials from the Sixth Ministry to study in private schools. They are all officials below the sixth rank. It is actually enough for their children to attend private schools." Zhou Zhenwen said softly.
"Besides, you are the Grand Master! Who dares not to give you this face?"
Hearing this, the old man smiled helplessly: "Even your master is plotting against you. Can't you, you, let me enjoy my old age in peace?"
"Master, this is to share the country's worries!" Zhou Zhenwen said.
The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.
The identity of the old man was evidently Yang Bo, Grand Master of Dahuang and one of the three princes.
