The Northern Barbarians invaded and captured three states and six prefectures in just half a month. The offensive was astonishing.
There were a lot of curses in the court. Some scolded the Northern Barbarians for being unjust and secretly destroying the century-old alliance. Others scolded Zhao Changsu, saying that he was a disaster star. Why did the Northern Barbarians attack as soon as he left?
Of course, these are harmless, just for fun.
On the other hand, some officials looked closely and stood up under mutual signals, boldly speculating that Zhao Changsu failed to seize the rightful son and colluded with the Northern Barbarians in an attempt to make a comeback!
"Oh, they are indeed the same. Prime Minister Lin is treasonous, and he, Zhao Changsu, is also treasonous. He is really not a member of the same family, why can't he join the same family?"
Zhao Changyu had been the emperor for several months, and he felt so comfortable all over. He even liked to lie down half-lying in court, lazily dealing with these old guys.
Today I sat up, but my spine was bent as if I had no strength. Little did I know that it was a little weak because I had favored dozens of palace maids recently.
No one was dissatisfied with the character of the Prime Minister, but he was convicted, sentenced and executed at that time. Everything happened so fast that the officials themselves could not protect themselves, let alone do what "the Clay Bodhisattva protects the Gold Bodhisattva".
By the time they reacted, the Lin family was gone.
But deep down in my heart, I still admire people like Lin Xiang.
I heard that even at the time of execution, Prime Minister Lin's spine did not even bend!
The new emperor in front of him could not sit still, and his eyes were dark and blue...
Hey, where will the Zhao family go in the future?
However, these sighs can only be kept in the heart, and on the surface, one has to act like an official who follows the crowd and has no thoughts.
Because the new emperor likes it.
Seeing that the new emperor expressed interest in stepping on Zhao Changsu, a group of civil servants followed and scolded Zhao Changsu who was far away in the north. After being satisfied with the scolding, Zhao Changyu issued an order: Zhao Changsu, the king of the north, will fight to the death to resist the northern barbarians. If he dares to commit treason, he will be punished. Anyone, including civilians, can kill Zhao Changsu first and then punish him!
hiss--
So cruel.
This is not giving Zhao Changsu a way to survive!
But even so, the officials still had to shout "Holy Lord!"
"Shit wise!"
After receiving the imperial edict, Zhao Changsu stepped on it into the mud and crushed it with both feet.
Aman's face was ashen: "Your Majesty, what should we do?"
The new emperor asked them to fight the Northern Barbarians, but not a single soldier or a load of food and grass was allocated. Should they be allowed to fight the Northern Barbarians' cavalry with their bare hands?
What a joke!
But Zhao Changsu knew that Zhao Changyu was not joking.
He wanted him to die in the north!
-
Over there in Jiangnan.
Because the imperial court was about to go to war, in order to enrich the national treasury, wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan became the first targets to be exploited.
Following the imperial edict, notices began to be posted everywhere in the south of the Yangtze River. From now on, taxes in Qiantang, Yangzhou and other wealthy places will be increased by 20%. Taxes cannot be owed in arrears. Once the taxes are not paid, the government will forcibly take away items or fields of equal value.
For a time, it caused widespread resentment among the people.
"The current situation is unstable and we are not officials, so why do you need to draw blood from us!"
The wealthy businessmen in Qiantang gathered together to discuss the court's request for money. Most of them did not want to take the money out of their hands.
As for the leader Li Hui, who was once the richest man in Qiantang, he is still the leader of the Chamber of Commerce. Even if his assets have shrunk, he can still respond to everything in the shopping mall.
After the resentful words were finished, someone finally spoke to Li Hui and said: "Boss Li, we are all loyal. Who has not received your support when we were in difficulties in the past? Today you call us and we will come. We have said all the nonsense." The basket is full, why don’t you say something to Boss Li? We all listen to Boss Li!”
Li Hui didn't know the dirty thoughts hidden in the imperial court's petty calculations, but right now the only thing he wanted to preserve was the stability of Jiangnan.
If Jiangnan is in chaos, this dynasty may come to an end!
Li Hui considered it for a moment, shook the string of wooden beads in his hand, and coiled it carefully. His brows tightened, then tightened again.
"We small merchants should not dwell on the decisions made by the imperial court. What we have to do now is to make up for this part of the payment. I remember that everyone's income this year is not as good as in previous years. Boss Wang's silk has insufficient shipping capacity this year, and the volume sold With only 60% of last year’s sales, Boss Xu’s medicinal materials are selling well, but this also shows that the people’s lives are difficult.”
Li Hui's analysis was sound and logical, and everyone nodded in agreement, except Lu Zhang, who was sitting first on the left.
Humph, he is no longer the richest man, I am! These guys are just following the wind, huh!
Lu Zhang was angry in his heart, but if he really wanted to speak out, he knew that he would be attacked and even his underwear would be stripped down.
There was no way, the Li family's foundation in Qiantang, and even Lin'an Prefecture, was too deep for a rising star like him to match.
I don't know what kind of good luck he had this year. When the assets were settled at the beginning of the year, he, Lu Zhang, came out on top. For this, he was excited for most of the year!
After the New Year, there will be a new settlement. Recently, his business has been unstable, and he doesn't know if he can secure this position.
Forget it, a skinny camel is better than a horse. After all, the Li family is the benchmark in the eyes of all businessmen. There is no need for him, Lu Zhang, to be the leader.
After convincing himself, Lu Zhang finally showed his first smile since coming here.
"Boss Li is absolutely right. He is indeed a wealthy businessman who has been in business for generations. He sees problems more profoundly than us." Lu Zhang flattered him.
But Li Hui waved his hand to signal Lu Zhang not to say anything. Lu Zhang's smiling face froze instantly and he shut up in embarrassment.
"The reason why our business is so prosperous is the result of everyone's joint efforts. We share the blessings and share the hardships. Now is the time for us to tide over the difficulties together. I hope everyone will spare no resources and contacts to help each other and first pay this year's taxes. Turn it in and you can make more money next year!”
The meaning of Li Hui's words is already obvious, that is, those who have more money help those who have less money, and the people being helped can still remember this affection, so that future business dealings will be smoother.
To put it bluntly, you still have to hand over the money, rather than find ways not to hand it over.
Everyone here is a businessman, and they all have calculations in their minds. After weighing things up, they know that Li Hui's words are reasonable.
After all, the people do not fight with the officials, not to mention that they are still the last businessmen, they are just a little stinky copper money, so what qualifications do they have to argue with the officials?
In the end, everyone chatted for a few more words, checked each other out, and then went back.
Lu Zhang came with a grimace and left with a sullen face. He had to smile even when meeting people, not to mention how uncomfortable it was.
However, after returning home, he also figured out that if he really followed Li Hui's advice, then the assets in the hands of merchants in Qiantang would be averaged out. How would the new richest man be selected then?
unless……
He can hide a batch!
But it’s inappropriate.
If he says he has no money this year and does not evenly distribute the money to his peers, then how will he explain the extra assets that will appear out of thin air next year?
Lu Zhang did not have to be the richest man, but after becoming the richest man and tasting the benefits, he naturally wanted to continue to have this dignity.
Because he earned it himself! Don't rely on anyone.
Then, he would have to think carefully about a way to keep his current position without offending his peers.
The Lu family didn't know what Lu Zhang was thinking. They also had their own worries.
Chu Yao's illness finally improved after half a month, but she still lingered on the bed. With this pitiful energy, she begged Lu Shengming several times to call her mother to visit, and finally got permission.
Just because Chu Yao promised Lu Shengming that she would help him hide Lin Jinlan from him and let him go to the gambling house and restaurant.
But when she saw her mother, she cried to her about the hard days in Lu Mansion and wanted her mother to take her back. She didn't expect that her always gentle mother would just slap her in the face, leave a word and leave.
"Mrs. Lu's brain is burned out, she'd better take good care of her!"
What?
Chu Yao couldn't believe her ears. Is this her mother?
How could her mother ignore her and not save her?
But the burning slap marks on her face reminded her that it was true, her mother had beaten her!
Why? How could it become like this?
Chu Yao couldn't understand and fainted again while crying...
Chaolu Garden was in chaos.
In contrast, Tomorrow Garden was peaceful, filled with laughter and laughter.
Because Xue Nan came and brought a lot of story books, pointing to a few of them and talking nonsense.
"This is all my private collection! I lent it to you, but you are not allowed to swallow it!"
Lin Wanyu was not interested in the conversation, but in order not to be disappointed, she still picked a book: "I will read it carefully."
Xue Nan saw Lin Wanyu picking her favorite, and immediately wanted to talk to her excitedly, but Lin Wanyu interrupted mercilessly: "Okay, I'll see for myself. The process of slowly exploring it is more interesting."
"Right!"
Xue Nan was so foolable that he happily recommended several books to Bai Lulian, who was suffering from a phobia of choice.
"This one is about pure love, this one is about generals and concubines, this one is about palace battles, and there are also, this one is about poor scholars and high-class ladies..."
Xue Nan talked about all the treasures in his family so well that Bai Lu had no time to tell which book was which, stupidly going in through his left ear and out of his right ear.
"Okay, I'll give it all to you, take your time and take a look!"
Xue Nan was convinced by Bai Lu, and finally surrendered and offered "tribute".
Bai Lu happily returned to the house with a storybook in her arms. As she was about to enter the house, Shishan suddenly caught up with her, holding a storybook in her hand.
"Miss Bai Lu, you dropped it." Shi Shanmu was stunned. He knew that Bai Lu had regained his freedom and was no longer the concubine of Tomorrow Garden, so he called "Miss Bai".
The sudden change of title made Bai Lu uncomfortable for a moment, but she soon put on a big smile and took the script: "Thank you!"
As she walked, her steps became brisk due to Bai Lu's flying mood.
Looking at the jumping girl's back, Shishan covered his heart, and he felt that his stone heart began to beat!
After putting away the storybook, Bai Lu took her collection with her and planned to share it with Xue Nan.
"Wow, Bai Lu! You can also write storybooks?"
Xue Nan was shocked! She had always just read the storybook and never thought about writing it. At most she tried to comment with her friends, but the inconspicuous and even mediocre Bai Lu in front of her could actually write the storybook herself!
Bai Lu blushed and explained: "I'm too bored, so I just write casually."
Indeed, Bai Lu and the others don’t leave Tomorrow Garden. If they don’t find something to do, they will be bored to the point of madness!
Xue Nan quickly read through the storybook written by Bai Lu, ten lines at a time, and finally closed it heavily, took a deep breath, and looked at Bai Lu: "Do you want to publish a book?"
