Jimo.
This was once the largest city in Qi State, second only to Linzi, and the most prosperous city in the Jiaodong Kingdom, accounting for almost 30% of the entire kingdom's tax revenue.
However, it does not belong to the Jiaodong Kingdom, but to the Luhou Kingdom of the Lu family in Jimo, and the Qi Dukedom of the Lu family in Linzi, which are the two major gathering places of the Jiang surnamed Lu family.
Especially after Jiaodong Kingdom was cut off from five counties to establish Jiaobei County, the Jiaodong Kingdom was no longer as good as Luhou Kingdom in terms of population and economy.
The former Queen of Jiaodong and the current Queen Mother of Jiaodong are the biological sisters of the contemporary Marquis Lu.
In a quiet room.
Lu Houchan looked at his sister with some distress, and said softly: "My brother-in-law has just passed away. You should have a good rest at home and spend time with your mother."
Lu Ying's eyes flashed with sadness, but her face didn't show it. Her voice was as hard as iron: "Brother, my sister didn't go home to act like a child, but because the family is in a precarious situation. The court is inspecting taxes, and my sister is very worried." It’s because I’m worried.”
Lu Chan thought that Lu Ying wanted the family to give up business taxes, so he said worriedly: "Sister, you know very well what kind of person my brother is. He is not someone who is unwilling to give up his interests. He is not someone who is blind because of profit. People who risk their lives.
The Lu family once owned a land of thousands of miles, and we were once a royal family. How could the Lu family, who had experienced the destruction of the country and the destruction of the family, and been displaced everywhere, not understand that these were all false?
Lu Shi has followed Luo Shi for thousands of years, and he has always learned something.
Countless fields, mountains and forests, and people are the basis of the family's survival. Those business taxes are like duckweeds floating on the water. The family doesn't care, and it doesn't matter if they are handed over to the court.
But the gathering of forces is like this. If you don't provide protection for them, if you become too noble, you will become a loner.
Sister, you know how powerful the merchants are. Just like the Luo family, there are no caravans all over the world. How can it be possible to raise the world's elites like dare warriors with only Zhao City?
Without their support, the Lu family will become useless. This world is full of tigers, leopards and wolves. Without the swords and armor to defend themselves, how can they survive?
Lu's family is not Luo's family after all.
Thousands of years ago, the Luo Kingdom was able to practice the royal way, but other countries could not.
Now Luo Shi can be as noble as the bright moon in the sky, but we still have to face reality.
Moreover, as long as we do not abuse the people, as long as we can make the people's lives a little better, Luo Shi will turn a blind eye to the distribution of these benefits. "
Lu Ying couldn't help but nod her head when she heard this, but at the end she looked a little anxious and said anxiously: "Brother, it's not Bang Zhou anymore, but a big man.
You are right, as long as we do not fall, as long as we follow Luo Shi, we can even live to the next thousand years, but Luo Shi cannot protect us from living to the next year.
If the emperor wants to take action, do you have to abandon your family, abandon your ancestral business, and flee to Zhaocheng?
If everything is lost, what will happen even if there are descendants?
There are so many descendants of the Three Kings and Five Emperors in this world, and so many descendants of the old nobility inherited from Bangzhou, but once the family tree is lost and the lineage is cut off, even the ancestors cannot be found!
My sister is worried that you think this way, so she rushed back here. She has something to say to you about the survival of the family. "
Lu Chan knew that his sister was very talented. If she had not been born as a girl, she would definitely have accomplished something. He sat upright and said solemnly: "A Ying, please tell me, brother, listen."
Lu Ying pondered for a while, and then said slowly: "Since ancient times, are there really people who understand people's hearts?
According to my sister, she is just good at drawing conclusions from subtle details.
Is there anything in this world that is always open and invincible?
How difficult it is for a family to exist in this world forever.
Or be like Luo, who produces outstanding talents from generation to generation.
Either you have to be cautious and cautious, maybe there is a glimmer of hope.
Wealth and glory are fleeting, and if one is blinded by power, one's body and family will be destroyed in a matter of seconds.
If you want to survive, you must first look at the general trend, and secondly, you must look at the situation and the emperor.
The so-called general trend is the change of dynasties. Bang Zhou, Bao Qin, Xiang Chu, Liu Han, destiny turns. Even the great and supreme saints like Bang Zhou only lasted for a thousand years, let alone other dynasties?
This is an extremely important test for the family, but Dahan is now extremely stable and does not need to consider these general trends.
The most important thing if you want to continue is to look at the situation and the emperor.
Emperor Gao is the master of benevolence and righteousness. As long as he is not a prince with a different surname, he will be prosperous and wealthy. If he is Emperor Xiaohui and Emperor Xiaowen, as long as he follows the rules and does not make big mistakes, these two emperors will forgive them.
Emperor Xiaowu liked military merit and was a sentimental person. As long as he went to the battlefield, even if he could not win, he could easily survive with hard work and blood and tears.
These emperors were all wise, so the continuation of the family was very simple.
But today's emperor is different. He is a moody person.
He wanted to imitate Emperor Xiaowu, but instead imitated the Four Buxiang Emperor.
He wanted my husband dead, so he sent Sang Hongyang to force my husband to death. There were rumors among the people.
In the past, Emperor Xiaowu also forced King Li of Jiujiang to death, and there were also rumors.
Emperor Xiaowu just smiled and didn't take it seriously, but the current emperor killed the slanderer.
If the emperor just forces my husband to die, my sister is actually not afraid, because although it is unfair to die directly because of tax evasion, my husband's death is logical. At most, it can be said that the emperor is jealous of family members and punishes heavy crimes for minor crimes.
But killing the person who was rumored made her sister feel scared, because it showed that she could no longer treat him according to the normal standards of a king.
For a king, a mind as broad as the sea is a must.
Just like there is a ball of fire and a ball of water in front of you, if you are asked to touch them, you will definitely choose the water because you will not be hurt.
If the king is punished for his speech, the officials will be afraid. Just as brother, you must be thinking in your heart now that no matter what the emperor does in the future, you will not admonish him, even if the Han Dynasty collapses, right? "
Lu Ying stared at Lu Chan closely. Facing her dear sister, Lu Chan nodded slowly and said, "Yes, I won't try to dissuade her."
As soon as these words came out, both of them were silent for a while.
Marquis Lu has always been one of the most powerful allies of the Han royal family. In the early years, when the princes and kings were in rebellion, he controlled the Qidi Pass.
Now that Marquis Lu has such a thought, it means that it is not just one family, but that everyone in the world has some strange thoughts.
Lu Ying was silent for a long time before continuing: "For a king, this is an extremely terrifying trait. All independent men start by not listening to what they say.
The more he refuses to listen, the more arrogant and stubborn his heart becomes, until the whole world becomes his enemy.
Brother needs to be more careful.
The emperor liked to fight, and he favored the students of Legalism. This was the path of the Qin Dynasty in the past.
When the nest is overturned, how can there be any eggs?
Brother, do you know what to do now? "
Lu Chan frowned deeply and said, "A Ying, tell me. You must have been thinking about it for a long time."
Lu Ying said in a deep voice: "Shrink!
Throw all those businessmen who evaded taxes away, and there is no need to think about living in harmony with the light.
In the future, you must leave no excuses for doing things and stay quietly in the feudal country. No matter what the court does, treat the people of the country well and do not let the people of the country have a survival crisis. This is to stabilize the country.
Then cut off all the tentacles extending to all parties, do not speak or do things outside, give a lot of treasures and money to maintain wealth, and finally wait, this is not causing trouble outside.
There are no divisions internally and no enemies externally, so how can there be a crisis? "
Lu Chan said in surprise: "Aying, are you kidding? The family will pay a heavy price for doing this!"
Lu Chan just made some calculations, and Lu's property would be lost by 30%, not counting other losses. This is simply a self-destruction!
Lu Ying said in a deep voice: "Brother, you just said that land, mountains, and people are the foundation of the family's survival. My sister thinks you missed one thing, and that is Luo's trust and favor!
As long as these are not damaged, they will eventually turn around.
With the emperor's character, my sister believed that he would never stop like this. This time, he investigated the business tax profits and levied an additional asset tax, so he suddenly got a lot of money.
But this was all legitimate behavior, so everyone in the world supported him, and Luo didn't say anything either.
But when all the money is spent, will he stop?
If you are used to eating delicacies, can you still eat coarse grains and chaff?
If you are used to wearing silk and satin, can you still wear coarse linen?
After seeing the gorgeous palace, I couldn't stand even the slightest mess and dilapidation.
Look at all the countries since ancient times. Once they start building palaces and once they start being extravagant, they can never stop.
But the gold and silver treasures in the world are limited, but the greed of a single man is infinite.
My sister is sure that there will be a day when he goes against the grain. On that day, everything will be truly settled. There will even be righteous people who will uphold justice for the people of the world. After all, how many righteous people are there in this land of Shandong? That's a lot.
As for the Lu family, as long as they treat the people of the country well and maintain a reputation of integrity, even if they cannot be like the bright moon in the sky like Luo family, they should still be like the clear water after settling in the pond. "
Lu Chan heard this and said in disbelief: "A Ying, are you being too alarmist?
It is natural for the emperor to collect business taxes. Although collecting asset taxes is a bit cunning and plundering, it is not excessive. I can't believe it to judge his possible future troubles just from these. "
Lu Ying said nothing and looked at Lu Chan quietly.
Lu Chan was defeated and said with emotion: "Father said that if we have differences, I should listen to you and do what you say."
————
When the king of Jiaodong passed away, all the kings and princes were horrified. They offered their property in gold, scolded all the merchants, and cut off the trade routes. He also said: "Ten thousand pieces of decayed wealth are not as good as a vessel of water to bring peace to the people." - "Han Shu" ·Lühou Family》
Book recommendation~
In July 209 BC, a heavy rain fell in Daze Township that did not stop for several days.
Chen Luo, who traveled through time and became a garrison soldier, witnessed the changes in history from the time he participated in the conspiracy of the uprising in Daze Township, and his smile changed countless lives.
"I have been to Julu and Wujiang, which are the high-spirited and helpless laments of an overlord. I have felt the wind and sand blowing against my face in the desert, and the heroic young general beside me is holding a long sword. I have bowed to Nanyang twice. Geng, met the son of destiny and Zhuge.
I have been granted the title of Marquis and Prime Minister, I have fought in all directions, drank all kinds of wine, and seen beautiful women.
If you ask about your life's achievements, they are all in the picture. "
Thousands of years have passed by, and countless heroes have returned to dust.
Only Chen Luo revisited his old place, thinking about those prosperous years, and sprinkled a pot of sake to commemorate his old friend.
(End of chapter)
