After the banquet ended, Shao Xi took Lao Wu and Zhao Huajun into the tea room in the back hall. It is relatively quiet here, there are no outsiders here, and it is easier to talk.
After several people sat down, Zhao Huajun poured tea for Shao Xi and Old Wu and said: "To be honest with you two adults, in fact, my life in Yujiang County has not been easy in recent years. Although it is known as a prosperous place in the south of the Yangtze River, Yunshazhi Township, but the imperial court's year-round tax collection officials also feel that the burden on their shoulders is very heavy, but they cannot owe the imperial court tax money in any case. Although the officials and people in the county are suffering a little, they are still tolerable. But now there are always some people who want to criticize Xiaguan about taxes, which makes Xiaguan really helpless and unable to do anything!"
Shao Xi thought about it, "You started brainwashing me before I even took a sip of my fucking tea. Even if you use me as a gun, you have to make sure you have enough ammunition! You don't ask for any conditions. You just want me to do things for you in just a few words." , where are your basic qualities as a corrupt official?"
Before Shao Xi could speak, Lao Wu intervened from the side. There were too many people at the banquet before. Although Lao Wu was given special arrangements, his lower status made it difficult to participate in the conversation between Shao Xi and Zhao Huajun. At this time, there was no one else around, so Lao Wu no longer had to worry. .
"My family is naturally aware of Mr. Zhao's difficulties. It's just that many things always take some time and energy to do. Our 'Jingcheng Division' focuses on well-documented cases. Mr. Zhao, do you have any in hand?" Proof of what they committed?”
Lao Wu's words have made it very clear. If you let us investigate, you must give us some benefits! Are we going to let you do what you want with all your talk? Besides, if you want to frame someone else, you have to gather some evidence, right? Is it possible to let us help you compile it?
These words were exactly what Shao Xi was thinking. It can only be said that Old Wu understood Shao Xi.
Zhao Huajun naturally understood the meaning of Lao Wu's words. Without saying anything, he turned to the door and shouted: "Zhao Bin, come in."
Although there were only Shao Xi, Lao Wu and Zhao Huajun in the tea room at this time, the county's chief secretary Gao Can and treasurer Zhao Bin were waiting outside the door to listen to Zhao Huajun's orders at any time.
Upon hearing the call, Zhao Bin hurriedly entered the tea room from outside the door, came to the three people, bowed and saluted, and listened to the instructions.
"Zhao Bin, go and get the silver note of one thousand gold immediately, no! Come and get the silver note of two thousand gold."
"Yes, sir, I'll get it right away."
Zhao Bin didn't say anything nonsense. After receiving the order, he turned around and left the tea room.
"The two adults came to my Yujiang County after a long journey. I didn't have any gifts for the moment. I just asked the two adults to keep some of my thoughts for you to use on the way. Although there are some things that I can't give, I hope you don't want them. dislike."
He asked for two thousand gold, which was a full twenty thousand taels of silver, and he even said he couldn't get it. I don’t know if he is really too rich, or if he just said some kind words in vain, but I think these two thousand gold should not be considered a small amount of money for Zhao Huajun, right?
Although two thousand gold is not too little, Shao Xi wants more than that. After hearing Zhao Huajun's words, Shao Xi hugged his shoulders and said nothing. Old Wu sat aside and looked at Shao Xi's expression, and naturally understood what he was thinking.
"Mr. Zhao, old man, I dare to ask Mr. Zhao how much his annual salary is?"
This topic is actually very sensitive. Asking a local official how much his annual salary is is like being asked how much money he can earn in a month when meeting someone for the first time. To a certain extent, it is very abrupt and impolite.
But Lao Wu's question made Zhao Huajun instantly nervous. A fifth-grade local official's annual salary was only sixty taels, but now he actually took out two thousand gold, which was twenty taels more than his salary of 333 years. Where did this money come from? If it was tacitly understood without asking, what does it mean to ask directly now? Guess for yourself!
Seeing that Zhao Huajun was stunned, Old Wu knew that his question was on point, so he continued: "Master Zhao has his own way of making money. We don't ask about this, but since Master Zhao now wants to ask for help from my family, then Old man, I hope Lord Zhao can show some sincerity. Two thousand gold! In the eyes of Lord Zhao, are we, Lord Shao, only worth two thousand gold? I’m afraid Lord Zhao thinks we have never seen silver, right? If that’s the case, I think today we There is no need to continue talking. When Mr. Zhao becomes sincere, we can sit down and talk again!"
Zhao Huajun never imagined that the two thousand gold that he thought was more than enough would be completely worthless in the eyes of these two people. Only now did he realize that these two people not only had big appetites, but they were also wealthy owners who were not short of money.
"This..., this official is stupid and acts a little hastily. Now that we have reached this point, you two adults might as well say it bluntly. As long as the official is within his ability, he will do anything he can."
Seeing that the other party relaxed, Old Wu turned his head and glanced at Shao Xi, "I've said all the offending words for you. If you have any requests, please make them now!" Shao Xi naturally understood it.
"Mr. Zhao, I have just mentioned to you that I not only have properties in your Yujiang County, but my properties in Kyoto will also be developed to Yujiang County in the future. By that time, there will definitely be It has inevitable interest relationships with all walks of life in Yujiang County, and these interest relationships are also related to the interests of the royal family, do you understand what I am saying?"
"this……"
Zhao Huajun is so confused! I am clearly trying to step on your land. I am clearly telling you that I came to your Yujiang County under the royal banner to take away some of the benefits of your industry. You should give it. If you don’t give it, you Who do you want to fight against?
My flesh hurts! This is really painful!
No matter what industry you are in in Yujiang County, if the annual profits are taken away like this, you will lose not a little bit! And the most terrible thing is that as long as it is an industry with royal involvement, you cannot increase the tax revenue and can only collect it normally according to the regulations of the court. The benefits gained over the years will be wiped out in one day.
In this way, it would be false to say that the losses over the past year are not painful.
"So, I wonder which property in my Yujiang County Mr. Shao is interested in right now? If it is within my power, I may be able to help you."
"I think this cloud gauze industry is good and very profitable. But Mr. Zhao, you can rest assured that when I run the gauze business in your Yujiang County, I will definitely pay taxes on time in accordance with the court's tax laws, and it will never affect you. Yujiang County’s annual normal taxes cannot cause you any trouble, Mr. Zhao!”
"What? Sir, you want to take over Yujiang County's cloud yarn industry? Aren't you trying to cut off our Yujiang County's livelihood? Without the manufacturing and sales of yarn, Yujiang County will lose half of its wealth. Mr. Shao, Is your appetite too big? You will have us cut your flesh as soon as you open your mouth!"
Shao Xi gently shook the folding fan in his hand, without even looking at Zhao Huajun, he just asked, "Is Mr. Zhao unhappy? Do you have to ask for the edict from the Holy Emperor before Mr. Zhao can agree? I am the official. I am not here to discuss with you today. If you are willing to cooperate, you may be able to get some benefits from my papermaking, printing and bookstore in Yujiang County in the future. If you are unwilling to agree, I can still take it away, but you But I got nothing. Mr. Zhao, do you want to think about it carefully?"
Zhao Huajun never expected that Shao Xi would take action on Yunsha. You must know that the Yunsha industry alone accounts for half of the country in Yujiang County. About half of the tax money embezzled by the Zhao family every year comes from this Yunsha industry.
That's four to five hundred thousand taels of money. If Shao Xi takes over, not only will the tax be reduced to the previous standard, but the entire Yunsha industry will fall into Shao Xi's hands and be controlled by him. What will happen in the future? All profits belong to Shao Xi.
The Zhao family lost half of Yujiang County's wealth. How could Zhao Huajun agree? But the question now is, what will be the consequences if we don’t agree? Just as Shao Xi said, if the emperor really issued an edict, would the Zhao family really dare not to give up half of the benefits?
It seemed that the two thousand gold he had given out was indeed too little. What the other party wanted was half of his Zhao family's wealth. This mere two thousand gold was simply not worth it. To give or not to give? If it is given, the situation that has been created with great effort for more than ten years will be broken. But if it is not given, I am afraid that it cannot be saved now. How to restore this situation?
It is said that people will die for money and birds will die for food. Many people will choose to take desperate risks for the huge benefits in front of them. Zhao Huajun was like this at this time. Looking at the two people in front of him, he seemed to see a large amount of wealth slipping away from his hands. Instead of waiting for death, it was better to give it a try.
Zhao Huajun has murderous intentions! Destroying a person's wealth is like killing his parents. To Zhao Huajun, the two people in front of him now are tantamount to killing his father.
Since he wants to affect the interests of the Zhao family, it is better to kill these two people and blame Cui Qi, Sun Jue and others. This will not only preserve his wealth, but also take the opportunity to get rid of his own eyesore. This is the moment. Best way imaginable.
But ideas are ideas, and Zhao Huajun has no plan in mind on how to operate it. But thinking that Yujiang County's Yunsha industry was about to be taken away by others, he had firmly decided on this idea. It seemed that he would have a good discussion with the Zhao family later and stabilize these two people first.
After making up his mind, Zhao Huajun pretended to be sad and helpless.
"Alas! Mr. Shao has already said this. If the official refuses to agree, he will be disobeying the holy order and deceiving the emperor. Although this will reduce the annual income of Yujiang County by more than half. , but it is hard to disobey your orders. For the sake of the court and the Holy Emperor, I have no choice but to reluctantly agree. I also hope that Mr. Shao can compensate this county for your papermaking and printing industry in the future, so that we will not lose too much."
Shao Xi and Lao Wu looked at each other, and both of them smiled meaningfully.
"Since Mr. Zhao has agreed, then I also agree to Mr. Zhao. From now on, the people you, Mr. Zhao, don't like, will be the people I don't like. I will naturally find a way to make these people disappear from you, so as not to let Zhao Your Excellency is distracted by government affairs.”
Zhao Huajun's teeth were almost broken at this moment. The person he disliked the most now was sitting in front of him with a smile.
