Compared with the prosperous Chang'an, the suburban villas have a different scene.
In the evening, there is no annoying twilight drum sound. Women were returning from washing their clothes by the stream, chatting and laughing, while the wind rustled through the bamboo forest.
After seeing off his guests, Pei Kuan stood under a willow tree with his hands folded and murmured to himself: "Let the spring fragrance rest as you like, and the king and grandson can stay."
"Aweng."
Pei Liu Niang rushed over crying.
"My granddaughter should not marry Du Wulang... The Lu family will choose a daughter with both talent and beauty, a beautiful tree, and an extraordinary gift, but they will choose a dull-witted one for their granddaughter..."
Pei Kuan turned around and scolded: "Don't want to marry? You are just a legitimate daughter of the Pei family in Hedong, and you are only worthy of marrying a branch of the Du family in Jingzhao. Do you understand?"
Pei Liu Niang was still crying and was stunned when she heard the words. She didn't know what to say. Pei Chen, who was accompanying her, went over and coaxed her away.
"Uncle Eighth, you've seen me too. What a difference between the two of them. Please help my niece."
"Don't make trouble." Pei Chen said, "Uncle Eighth understands what you mean."
Pei Chen, whose courtesy name is Shiming, is the eighth son of Pei Kuan. He is twenty-eight years old this year. He passed the Ming Dynasty and was appointed as Cao Cao of Jingzhao Prefecture to join the army.
After coaxing Pei Liu Niang away, he turned back and said, "Master, entering the court is no better than being at the border. It is better to complain less."
"I want to say, do you think Du and Lu are getting along well with each other through their marriage? The sisters-in-law have been quarreling all day long, and they still don't think it's enough! How can we appear to be the upstarts of Guanlong without suppressing the Hedong family?"
Pei Chen said: "My little daughter is interested in Xue Bai's style and appearance, that's all."
"It can be seen that my granddaughter is discerning, so the Hedong family should marry the Hedong family."
"Grandpa thinks too much."
"I see you have thought too little!"
Pei Kuan originally just took the opportunity to indulge his appetite, scolded Ge Nu and complained about the saint. However, after scolding him, he became even more sad and sighed: "Ge Nu had a dream recently..."
The father and son talked for a long time. Pei Kuan relayed Xue Bai's words and finally asked, "What do you think?"
"Xue Bai actually has such a city?" Pei Chen frowned and thought, "He tipped off the news that Brother Nu wanted to harm my grandfather, and he put forward conditions, but in fact he didn't mention how to help my grandfather."
"Is it okay to help Yang Zheng conduct research on salt law and take the opportunity to replace Li Linfu?"
"Disaster."
Pei Chen shook his head immediately. He was a substantive officer and had a lot of insight into this matter. He pondered and spoke slowly.
"For one thing, since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, in order to make a living for the people, salt smuggling has not been allowed and no salt tax has been collected. Therefore, the price of salt is low and stable. Once the tax is imposed, the price of salt will rise. This is a disorder of government;"
"Secondly, except for the private salt in Jianghuai, the world's salt fields are actually in the hands of the imperial court and aristocratic families. Take Jiechi, a large salt field in Hedong, as an example. When Princess Taiping was exiled to the Puzhou fiefdom, it was she who controlled Jiechi with her great uncle. The salt field forced the saint to surrender and return to power in Chang'an. After the saint ordered the death of Princess Taiping, he let the local officials also take charge of the Jiechi salt field."
"On the surface, the large salt field is controlled by the imperial court. For every three stones of salt mined, one stone is taxed, which is used to supply military supplies and stabilize the price of salt. However, local officials only collect taxes in the salt field and do not care about anything else. The salt field is still a democratic system, democratic movement, and democracy. The sale is actually controlled by our Hedong families;"
"Thirdly, the court's original salt administration was simple. If it wanted to levy a salt tax, it would be extremely difficult to set up complicated decrees and send additional officials. Therefore, Xue Bai proposed 'salt management', which means 'people's collection, official collection, commercial transportation, and commercial transportation'. Sales', to put it simply, seems to be run by the court. But if the officials are not properly governed, it will still make the officials line their own pockets, the salt merchants will sell at a higher price, and people's livelihood will be difficult."
"All in all, if my father supports Yanyan, carries the name of chaos, harms the interests of Hedong, helps the imperial court exploit the people, and fights the fire with salary, it will not be beneficial to the world..."
~~
The next day is Qingming Festival, Yang Zhai's house.
"That makes sense."
Xue Bai put down Li Linfu's memorial against Yanyan, nodded, and praised: "When Ge Nu criticized other people's tax laws, he was really to the point and comprehensive."
"Alas." Yang Wei sighed: "I can't argue with him. The saint has been thinking about it for a long time since Ge Nu submitted the memorial, but he has never approved my method of cutting salt."
"That's because the saint loves the people like his own children and is worried about the soaring price of salt and the people's livelihood."
Yang Wei glanced sideways at Xue Bai and said, "There is no one else here. I'm asking you, how should I persuade the saint again?"
"Then I'll tell you straight."
Xue Bai glanced at Yang Yuyao beside him, and she gave him a doting smile in return.
"If you want to pick any tax law in the world, you can always find millions of faults, because the essence of tax is to collect money, and the rich and powerful will always have a way to pass the losses on to ordinary people. But it doesn't matter if others pick it, Ge Nu will pick it. , it’s just fart.”
"There are too many disadvantages of the Salt Law. If I were to oppose it, I would even dare to say that 'I fear that the country will be overthrown.' But before that, it is better to look at the current equalization system of land and rent. Oh, there is no equalization in the Tang Dynasty. Farms can only be taxed equally. Who pays the tax? Register a household."
"In addition to being exempted from selling out to wealthy families, the remaining registered households have to bear all the expenses of this huge Tang Dynasty, whether they have land or not, rent, money, sex, various miscellaneous taxes, and enlistment in the army Expanding the border and building unparalleled achievements made the Zhaozhao Tang Dynasty famous far and wide."
"In this case, Genu will of course be worried that these households will not be able to bear the heavy price of salt. After all, he has promised the saint that Tianbao will be used for six years to expand the Qing Palace and attack the Shibao City. During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, these expenses will be collected."
"In addition to renting mediocre taxes, the king can also levy another 10 million yuan for the saint's expenses. "Money and goods other than the annual rent are for the emperor's internal funds." He has already said it. How can he let the uncle of the country do it? Taking credit?!"
"..."
Xue Bai's meaning is actually very simple. If the mediocrity is not changed, the Tang Dynasty will definitely be in chaos, and it will be a chaos that will destroy all living beings.
The Two Taxes Law and the Salt Law were not perfect, but they replaced the land equalization system and the rent adjustment system after the Anshi Rebellion. It is a historical process to change the backward system of equal taxation and expand the tax collection targets to people other than registered households. In his current position, it is impossible to propose a perfect tax law.
What's more important is implementation.
For example, what is the simplest, most cost-effective, and most effective way right now? frugal.
Li Linfu saved government paper and actually saved a lot of money. But compared to the emperor's annual expenses, it is really a drop in the bucket.
If the administration of officials is not in order, under the governance of saints and prime ministers, no amount of reform will be of any use.
For the time being, Xue Bai's proposed Salt Questioning Law was more aimed at dealing with Li Linfu and gaining power.
"If a saint is compassionate to the people, according to what I just said, it is at least better to take salt than rent mediocrity."
"Then why the saint refused to agree."
“Because it’s less profitable, but troublesome and dangerous.”
"What's the explanation?"
Xue Bai said: "Take the Jiechi Salt Field as an example. Princess Taiping once conspired with Pei Tan, the governor of Puzhou, to use the Jiechi Salt Field to control Shuofang's army. At that time, Jiechi produced 400,000 shi of salt a year and had an income of 40,000 guan a year. Nowadays, The actual control of the salt field is in the hands of the Wenxi Pei family. Every year, 120,000 rock salt is paid into the Changping warehouse. Three taxes and one tax are not too high. So, in the eyes of the sage, even if the salt is collected, it can be collected from the Jiechi Salt Field in a year. How much does it cost?”
Yang Wei frowned.
During the Jingyun period, ten thousand guan a year might be a big deal. But after experiencing the prosperous age of Kaiyuan, he couldn't even look down on ten thousand strings, let alone a saint.
"For this small profit, we have to send more officials and reform the salt law. This is troublesome." Xue Bai said: "As for the danger, the Jianghuai salt field is controlled by private salt traders, and the Hedong salt field is controlled by aristocratic families. Once If it moves, what will happen if it causes turmoil?"
"you……"
Yang Hao stood up and said dissatisfied: "Then you still coaxed me to propose this salt-eating method?!"
"Uncle, don't be impatient. Let me tell you what will make the world more turbulent."
"What's the matter?"
"It's Genu's jealousy of talents and ability that excludes dissidents." Xue Bai said: "Let's take the Wenxi Pei family behind the Jiechi Saltworks as an example. I might as well ask Pei Kuan if he is willing to use some profits to save his life and win a title. Do you want to worship the prime minister, or are you willing to be driven out by Genu and die in a foreign land?!"
Sometimes he really felt that Li Longji had lost his mind.
On the one hand, out of his natural keen intuition, he was constantly wary of and suppressed the Hedong clan; on the other hand, he was unwilling to spend even a little more thought on coercion, inducement, differentiation, and gradual weakening of the territory.
Li Longji was too lazy to take care of it, so he left it to Li Linfu. What should Li Linfu do? Defiled, externally degraded, and terrorized.
Maybe it was effective, at least at this moment, Pei Kuan was really frightened.
"Shall I ask Pei Kuan?" Yang Zhen said in astonishment: "Shall I ask Pei Kuan?"
"No need." Xue Bai said, "Pei Kuan wants to see his uncle."
"real?"
"It's true, and I won't hide it. During the Cold Food Festival, it was Pei Kuan who invited me to celebrate my farewell and have a long talk with me."
Although Yang Hao was still confused, he roughly understood Xue Bai's plan and asked, "How did you talk about it?"
"There is a preliminary plan. Pei Kuan will fully support Uncle Guo's salt law. If the saint still hesitates, he can try it out in Hedong Road, abolish various miscellaneous taxes and implement the salt law, so that the saint can see with his own eyes what the country will do. My uncle and Pei Kuan are far better at running the country than Ge Nu and Wang Zhi. When the time comes, my uncle and he will be the right prime minister and the left prime minister."
"Jiechi only collects 40,000 salt in a year. How can he really outperform Ge Nu?"
Xue Bai smiled and said: "Uncle Guo, don't worry, this is a battle for Pei Kuan to save his life and seize the throne. He will go all out and will never let Uncle Guo down."
"good!"
Yang Hao knew that he had no talent and was content with the status quo.
But once the prime minister's power beckoned in front of him, he couldn't resist the temptation, and there was excitement in his eyes.
Only then did he realize that he was a holy family member, ally, counselor, and strategist all in one, making him far more suitable to serve as the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty than Ge Nu.
"When will I be scheduled to meet with Pei Kuan?"
"There's no rush. I'll retake the test after the results are released."
"..."
Next comes the slow deliberation.
Xue Bai sincerely hoped to support Yang Zheng as prime minister. This uncle was very ordinary. Apart from his good demeanor and good music, he had few advantages but also few shortcomings. and are bound by mutual interests.
The key is that the saint is willing to make Yang Zheng the prime minister. As the elder brother of the imperial concubine, once he becomes the prime minister, he will definitely continue to suppress the East Palace for the saint.
The only worry is that Yang Wei is not in good health. I hope he can live longer and have more opportunities to improve.
Thinking of this, Xue Bai suddenly remembered a little girl who liked medical skills.
He promised to visit her after he was released from prison, but he really couldn't get away recently...
~~
The four-wheeled car is large and stable, and can only travel on the flat and wide streets in Chang'an City.
The car entered Mrs. Guo's mansion and continued to drive along the open blue brick avenue to the backyard.
In fact, Yang Yuyao usually went out more often to ride horses, but she just wanted to have a chat with Xue Bai.
"The Yang family cannot avoid it, so we must advise your brother to maintain an enterprising attitude and not be shaken..."
Xue Bai knew what would happen to the Yang family, so he said this very calmly.
Yang Yuyao had been looking at him when he was talking to Yang Hao today, and suddenly said: "I suspect you are not a young man."
"You have seen it." Xue Bai said seriously: "It doesn't matter if I tell you the truth. I am a fairy. I have practiced in Qingcheng Mountain for a thousand years and specialize in seducing the souls of the beauties of the Tang Dynasty."
"What a goblin, let's watch him get beaten."
Yang Yuyao raised her hand to pat him. The fragrance was so fragrant, but halfway through the swipe she couldn't bear to spend any effort. She caressed his handsome face and said softly and passionately: "I want to succumb to the demon."
"Go back to your room and succumb to the demon."
"How many more days can you stay?"
“Right now, I still have to focus on my studies.”
"I want to see what results you have achieved in your studies during these few days of rest?"
Xue Bai took her waist and let her sit on his lap, but first took out a stack of paper from his arms and said: "This is a real academic achievement, don't wrinkle it."
Yang Yuyao took it and glanced at it casually, then doubts appeared in her eyes.
"Hey, is this a literary poem?"
"If you find it interesting, you can keep it and watch it slowly."
"Really? I've collected gold and silver, but this is the first time someone has given me an investment bank certificate." Yang Yuyao said, consciously laughing, "They say Aunt Yang has nothing but you, and you are the only one who can give me an investment bank certificate." Fill it with poems and books..."
The car shook slightly, and the two of them were rubbing against each other.
After all, Yang Yuyao still couldn't stand those strange stories, so she put them into the box under the car bed with one hand, and leaned over Xue Bai weakly.
"Fill in something else?"
"Um."
The car stopped, Mingzhu lifted the curtain and got out of the car, saying: "Everyone, get out."
"yes."
Mingzhu then drove away the others and stood by herself.
When she heard the shaking inside the car, she took a few steps away and stood further away...
~~
It rained for two consecutive days after Qingming Festival, moistening the earth in late spring.
After Xue Bai returned home and rested for a day, he went to visit Yan's house and handed in five documents at once.
Yan Yan was taking medicine, so she quickly put down the medicine bowl and ran over to take it from his hand, so as not to let her grandfather find out that what she wrote were all strange stories.
Fortunately, Yan Zhenqing was too lazy to look at Xue Bai's ugly words. With a sullen face, he invited Xue Bai to talk in the side hall.
"I heard that you stayed at Mrs. Guo's mansion for two days again?"
"Yes, my family is in decline, so Mrs. Guo will send someone to help during the Qingming Festival."
"Then I still have to praise you for your filial piety."
"Students don't dare to take it."
Xue Bai borrowed his identity as Xue Ling's son and repaired Xue Shenhuo's dilapidated tomb. He could only treat it as a courtesy and did not dare to use the word "filial piety".
Yan Zhenqing sighed and said: "A gentleman loves his mouth, and a peacock loves his feathers. Since you are called my disciple, you should cherish your reputation, otherwise who will marry you in the future?"
"The student has realized his mistake. The student will be careful in his words and deeds in the future and work hard to improve his reputation."
"You won't offer any more playthings this time, right?"
"Teacher, don't worry. The students will remember the teacher's teachings and are determined not to be jesters anymore. This time they only contributed articles."
"..."
Yan Yan looked into the side hall for a while and saw her grandfather coming out with Xue Bai. She looked around, picked up a branch and threw it on Xue Bai's back. When he turned around, she waved.
"Um?"
"Brother's evaluation papers haven't been received yet." Yan Yan took out the essay he gave her last time from behind her back and said, "I'm almost done with my medicine. I have to go to Yuzhen Temple for treatment today. How many medicines are there?" I wonder where brother bought it?"
"I'll go with you."
"My mother said it was too much trouble for my brother and asked me not to say anything."
"No trouble, I'll wait for you at the alley."
Xue Bai accepted the post and accidentally glanced at Yan Yan. He saw that her eyes were slightly bent when she smiled. Although she was a little cunning, she was very simple, and her delicate face had a childish look that had not faded, so he immediately took two steps away. Turn around and walk away.
His mind was full of images of Yang Yuyao and Yang Yuyao having sex in a carriage, with the charming beauty constantly begging for mercy. He consciously decided to stay away from the teacher's little girl.
