At the end of the first year, the weather gets warmer.
At Chen time, Du Wulang pushed the door open and went out of the house, yawning loudly.
There were several maids in the courtyard chattering like magpies in spring while drying clothes.
"I think Qinglan is more anxious to move out than Xue Langjun. She says she can't bear to leave us, but in her heart she thinks she is the housekeeper of the Xue family."
"Wouldn't you like it if it were you?"
"Don't say it, or I'll tear your mouth apart."
"Hey, what did I say? I just asked you if you want to be a housekeeper and a maid..."
Du Wulang rubbed his eyes and walked to the front yard. He saw a thin figure standing under the eaves and looking up at the magpie nest above. It was Xue Sanniang who was staying in Du's house.
Her cheeks were cracked by the cold in the winter, and they haven't healed yet. She is thin and skinny. She doesn't know how old she is. She usually doesn't talk much. He doesn't even know her name.
"Brother Du, look, there's another brood here."
"oh."
Du Wulang lowered his head and left quickly, but he didn't understand why he was nervous.
Walking to the flower hall, Lu Fengniang and Liu Xiangjun were sitting embroidering, while Xue Qiniang and Xue Jiuniang were playing beside them.
"Auntie." Du Wulang stepped forward to greet her, "Auntie asked me not to go to Fengwei Building today. Is there something wrong?"
"Xue Bai said that he had traveled far away, but I heard that he rescued Mrs. Guo Guo. He has been in her house for several days. Why don't you go and ask if he has brought him back?"
"Me? I'll pick him up?"
Lu Fengniang said: "Didn't you go there with your grandpa? Mrs. Guo's mansion also gave her many gifts. No matter what others say about her, she still knows the famous people..."
Du Wulang scratched his head and walked to the second entrance. He saw the three brothers of the Xue family standing by the bamboo garden and looking into the study, looking very excited.
He immediately ran forward and took their heads, smiling: "What are you looking at?"
"The general is here, so majestic!" Xue Xin's eyes were bright and he didn't know where to stretch his head, like a monkey. "My uncle is General Jinwuwei, but he never comes to the house."
"Let's go over and have a look."
Du Wulang took the lead, and the four boys tiptoed for a while to the study.
You don't have to be too close to hear someone talking loudly inside.
"..."
"Haha, in the second year of Tianbao, Li Taibai was waiting for the imperial edict, and I was guarding the palace. On that day he was drunk and wanted to meet the saint. I supported him. This poem was what he wrote to me at that time!"
"A good poem, a really good poem. 'The heroes of the past are like in a dream.' Could it be that General Guo has not been going well in recent years?"
"If you want it to go smoothly, it will go right away. Hahaha, just a few days ago, someone assassinated Mrs. Guo Guo in Qingmen Restaurant. It was my guard who rescued Mrs. Guo Guo. I just received the reward yesterday. I have been promoted to the sixth grade of a military officer. But this case is determined to be a drunkard's trouble, otherwise I can't get more credit?"
After all, Du Youlin had been a fifth-rank official. He was no better than others, but he was more knowledgeable than Guo Qianli. He stroked his beard and said: "General Guo, you were promoted and rewarded just because you were convicted of being a drunkard and causing trouble. It's not appropriate to talk nonsense anymore." ”
"What does this mean?"
"Alas." Du Youlin was a little embarrassed and simply said: "The court is trying to appease you and ask you not to make this matter a bigger deal."
Only then did Guo Qianli suddenly realize, and he shouted: "Mr. Du, thank you very much! I came today just to hire Mr. Xue Langjun as a guest, but I didn't expect that he was still recovering from his injuries in the mansion of Mrs. Guo Guo. That's right, I was trying to save Guo Guo that day." Madam, he injured his leg and can't walk well. He should recuperate for a while. How about this? I also hire Mr. Du as a guest, right?"
"What?"
Du Youlin was not happy immediately.
Guo Qianli didn't notice it and said loudly: "I have inquired about it. It is difficult to be an official nowadays. Many talented people cannot be promoted, and they cannot stand the election. They all go to work as secret servants for the Jiedushi. When the battle is won, Then it will be recommended by the Jiedushi. If Mr. Du and Xue Langjun can come and plan for me and let me go out to fight a big victory, I will recommend you as officials later. Of course, the bride price will be quite a lot!"
"I have inconvenient legs and feet and am no longer able to work for my life. General Guo should please come back..."
At the end of the chat, Guo Qianli was still cheerful.
When he came out of the study, he gave Du Wulang a fist and praised him enthusiastically.
The three boys from the Xue family rushed forward.
"The general is so majestic. I am willing to join the army with the general!" Xue Xin said loudly.
"Hahaha, you can't do it, you're too young and too thin!"
Guo Qianli lifted Xue Balang and Xue Shiyilang under his arm and played with them, saying: "If you want to join the army, you must first be strong. Let your sixth brother come to serve as a guest for this general. You guys There is meat to eat.”
~~
Du Wulang drove his horse into Xuanyangfang and suddenly sniffed.
He smelled the smell of cooking, so he got off his horse and walked into Guo's Restaurant at the intersection.
There were many people in the lobby, and it was difficult to squeeze in. Du Wulang was caught in the crowd and looked in, only to see a few plates of greasy dishes on a diner's table, which didn't look too good.
Sooner or later, the cooking skills will be leaked out or studied by others, so be prepared. He was about to exit when he heard some diners talking.
"Have you heard? The handsome son lost by General Qianniuwei has been found. He said it himself. He has been staying at Mrs. Guo's house for this period of time."
"It is said that the case has been brought to the imperial court, and the saint is unwilling to deal with Mrs. Guo Guo."
"Xuanyangfang is becoming more and more unsafe..."
Du Wulang became anxious after hearing this, and went to visit Mrs. Guo Guo's house again. She was far away from the concierge. Before he handed over the invitation, she had already taken two steps back.
~~
Mrs. Guo's Mansion.
In the lobby, the steward handed over several deeds to Yang Yuyao.
"The purchase of the small house in Qingmen went smoothly. I paid three times the price and the other party agreed to accept the lease. Xue's house in Changshoufang was a little more troublesome. Xue Ling sold three houses back then. Fortunately, the villain has fulfilled his mission..."
Yang Yuyao only wanted results and did not listen to this. She ordered: "Go and prepare the house."
"Yes, the layout of Xue's house is still there. As long as the courtyard wall is demolished, it will be ready soon."
Yang Yuyao pursed her lips and smiled, took a few deeds and put them into the box. Just as she was about to get up and go back to the backyard, another maid came.
"My wife has a greeting card, and Du Qi asks to see her, saying that she is here to find Mr. Xue Langjun."
"No. He said I was frightened and closed the door to thank guests."
After returning to the backyard, Yang Yuyao stopped, straightened her shawl, held up the bun on her armrest, and entered the boudoir, only to see Mingzhu tidying up.
"Is he up yet?"
"Ms. Yao, Langjun Xue has gone to the backyard."
"Um."
Yang Yuyao knew Xue Bai's habits, so she went over to hug Mingzhu from behind, and whispered in her ear: "I've been neglecting you recently, are you unhappy?"
"I'm not unhappy. Mr. Xue is a man with great ambitions. He is definitely not someone who can be sour and jealous behind the back of a young maid like a pearl."
"Well, his heart is not with me."
"Yao Niang, that's not what I meant. He should still be affectionate..."
"You don't have to say good things for him." Yang Yuyao snorted, "I don't know him yet."
Xue Bai had been getting up late in the past few days, and often exercised and washed alone in the morning. She was always unhappy when she couldn't see him, but when she saw him, her anger dissipated.
After lunch, the handsome young man in a brocade robe sat down in the study again, picking up a pen to write a policy review.
Yang Yuyao originally hated these articles, but she insisted on stepping forward.
She recently found it interesting to write policy papers.
For example, a few days ago, Xue Bai wanted to see the tax records of the old years of the Tang Dynasty, including the records of the policy of excluding households and excluding fields during the Kaiyuan period. She personally came forward and took him to the record library of the Du Branch Department of the Ministry of Revenue. The reason was Check the number of acres in her name.
Duzhisi is the place where Li Linfu controls financial power, so it is difficult to enter easily. But in order to show that she was more powerful than Li Genu, she had to use the relationship between the imperial concubine.
That day, the sun shone through the window pane into the archives, and fine dust could be seen floating away. He stood by the window and read through the files, with a serious expression and calm eyes. When she saw him, she felt that it was more satisfying to accomplish something for him than to hold a banquet.
There was no one else in the document library at that time, there were only rows of shelves. She couldn't help it, so she went over to tease him... Thinking back to this day, she still finds it very interesting.
She still thinks about it often.
They were unable to finish reading the dossier that day, and they went there several more times.
She also gradually understood what his unfinished policy was - to change the rent ban into a two-tax law.
Even if she didn't understand it very well, she knew that this was a ground-breaking thing, and she already regarded him in her heart as a great husband who was determined to revolutionize the world. This was not her type originally, and she only recently discovered that she had changed.
On the other hand, although Yang Yuyao was not very knowledgeable but had extraordinary insight, she did not think that Xue Bai could do it.
"No wonder, Yuhuan said that the saint originally had the ambition to reform the bad and establish a new one, but he has lost his ambition in old age. In my opinion, no matter how good your plan is, if you submit it, you will not win the favor of the saint, but will offend many people. people……"
Her daring to say such words showed her trust in Xue Bai.
Xue Bai knew what she said was true. Li Longji was old and even the prime minister was unwilling to change every three to five years as in the past. How could he have the courage and determination to change the tax law?
This policy was originally intended to attract decent and knowledgeable officials like Yan Zhenqing. In the future, he would have his own faction and should attract people who were pragmatic and ambitious for the country.
Only those with the same aspirations can unite, otherwise we will be surrounded by selfish trash like Ji Wen and Yang Zhao, and sooner or later they will break away from each other and die together.
On the other hand, the atmosphere during the Tianbao years destined the road to pragmatism to be difficult and dangerous. Xue Bai never intends to follow the rules step by step. He must have the abilities of a pragmatic person and the methods of a sycophant. In short, climb up by any means necessary, but always remember the purpose of climbing up.
He is willing to rule the country with people like Yan Zhenqing, and he is also willing to collude with people like Yang Yuyao.
"Do you think the two-tax law in my policy won't work?"
"Yes." Yang Yuyao thought that Xue Bai's policy was to be presented to the saint for reuse, so she reminded him again: "I know you have put in all the effort, and it is indeed remarkable, but it will only bring disaster to you."
"Then I won't hand it over."
Xue Bai showed that he listened to her advice very much and immediately folded up all the collected information and the unfinished first draft and put them away.
When Yang Yuyao saw it, she felt a little regretful, but more happy that he listened to her advice. She put her arms around his waist and comforted him: "You are still young, so there is no need to rush to seek an official position. I will make arrangements for you later."
"I am not in a hurry to seek an official position, but I want to repay Yuyao. I originally wanted to give this policy to your brother to make a great contribution to the Yang family, but it really offended people. It was me who failed to consider it." Xue Bai pondered. : "There is another timely plan."
Yang Yuyao knew full well that even if Xue Bai actually handed the carefully written strategy to her brother Yang Wei, it was just to use the power of the Yang family to express his ambitions.
But she was interesting and did not expose it. She smiled and asked: "What?"
"The Salt Method."
"Salt?"
Xue Bai nodded, put away his two-tax policy, and said, "I'll tell you what I think. If Yuyao thinks it's feasible, let's go see your brother."
"good."
"Compared with the Two Taxes Law, the Salt Law will not offend too many people, but it will definitely help the saints gather money and gain their favor..."
As far as Xue Bai is concerned, the content in this high school textbook is quite simple. And they were all measures taken by the Tang Dynasty after the Anshi Rebellion, and they should be in line with the current situation.
Of course, any system has its advantages and disadvantages, which ultimately come down to the implementation level. Salt power once saved the Tang Dynasty, but eventually ruined it.
He talked for a long time, but Yang Yuyao sat there in a daze.
"What's wrong?"
"wait for me a while."
Yang Yuyao suddenly walked away, and after a while she changed into a skirt and came back. With a gloomy look on her face, she leaned over and whispered in Xue Bai's ear: "Here we come."
"It's okay." Xue Bai put his arm around her waist and caressed her shoulder.
"You are happy. You wish you could leave early."
"I will go to the Imperial College in February."
Yang Yuyao was already willing to let him go, but when she saw that he didn't leave because of this, she became happy and said, "I didn't listen carefully to what you just said about the method of breaking salt. Please say it again."
"Well, since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, it has inherited the old system of the Sui Dynasty and has not collected taxes on the salt industry for more than 130 years. But instead of taxing the people equally, it is better to discuss salt..."
After Xue Bai said it again, Yang Yuyao was not interested in specific government affairs, but only thought about the risks and benefits involved.
She hugged Xue Bai's neck and whispered: "My Yang family has no shortage of saints. Yuhuan doesn't want to compete for the position of queen, and my brother is not talented enough. Although it is a great achievement to offer this salt method to the saint, it will attract Li Linfu's jealousy." hatred."
"That was my presumption." Xue Bai said: "I originally thought this way... The saint forced the prince to reconcile twice. After the prince ascended the throne, even if it was just to restore his prestige, he should use the Yang family to establish his prestige."
Yang Yuyao was stunned.
She originally ignored state affairs and never thought about this issue. Now put yourself in another person's shoes, if someone forces you to abandon Xue Bai and Mingzhu, and your face is disgraced, will you be kind to the person you love the most if you have a chance in the future?
"But Yuhuan has no children..."
"You don't have to think so far." Xue Bai said: "No one can touch the Yang family at the moment. It's just to save some power for self-protection."
"I'll take you to see your brother to discuss whether to dedicate this salt-breaking method to the saint."
"good."
Yang Yuyao was inconvenienced today, but she still felt tender when being held in Xue Bai's arms.
She felt that it was absurd to cling to someone like this in the arms of a young man, but she didn't care about this absurdity.
"Go back later." Yang Yuyao looked up at him and said softly: "By the way, I have a little gift for you."
She originally thought it would be a great favor to buy Xue Bai's house from Changshoufang as a gift to Xue Bai.
As a result, compared to his advice, hers could only be regarded as a small gift.
(End of chapter)
