Chu Qing still has many questions to ask Lu Zhu, but he currently has too little information and doesn't know where to ask.
In the end, it was decided to let Luzhu go back to Zhou Ji's shop and continue to lurk. If Zhang Songling asked about it, he would say that he was taken to the Qianqiying Yamen Office for questioning, but he said nothing and would contact him later.
It is worth mentioning that Lu Zhu also asked if she would be considered a member of the Qianqi Camp in the future. She was quite excited, and people also saw that Chu Qing might want to get Zhang Songling, and even made a request. After defeating Zhang Songling, Qianqiying had to buy her a small, exclusive house in the suburbs.
Chu Qing didn't take it seriously. How much a house cost? We'll talk about the future later.
"From now on, call people by their real name, Zhang Ermei."
Before Lu Zhu got on the sedan, she gave Fu San another big wink.
Fusan stared at the sky, not knowing whether he heard it or not, and he was so cool.
After sending Lu Zhu away, Chu Qing stood at the door and looked back at Fu San.
"I just have a question that I'm confused about. Could you please ask me?"
"Master, just ask."
"In the past, you went out to join society without leaving your real name. I understand, but why didn't you tell Lu Zhu her real name just now?"
Fu San chuckled: "Master, you just don't understand. My real name doesn't ring a bell."
"What's the meaning?"
"Look, if I tell others that my name is Fu San, my aura will be reduced."
Chu Qing still didn't understand: "Third brother, can you explain it in more detail? Master, I still don't understand."
"Let me tell you this, if you hear a person's name called Guo Si'er, who do you think he is?"
"Dwarf?"
"Then what if you heard someone named Li San'er."
Chu Qing suddenly realized.
Isn't it? Who can be called San'er or Si'er as a serious social eldest brother? This name sounds like he is either a servant or a nurse.
Looking at Fu San's forehead, Chu Qing felt that the third brother's seal would be broken soon, sooner or later.
An official sedan fell outside the door, and dear Ma Rui came.
After Ma Rui opened the sedan curtain and walked down, his face looked anxious: "Master Chu, I called my officer to come here in a hurry, but something happened?"
"Go in and talk."
After leading Ma Rui into the squad room, Chu Qing asked Fu San to make tea, and then said: "All the materials in the capital are decided by Zhang Songling, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites!"
Ma Rui nodded, not knowing why: "So what?"
"One family is the only one who owns the materials."
"Yes, I know."
"In the past five years, prices have increased sevenfold."
Ma Rui still nodded, indicating that he knew.
"You know everything?"
"Yes, so what if you know."
Chu Qing couldn't laugh or cry. It seemed that even Ma Rui, the governor of Jingzhao Mansion who was most concerned about people's livelihood, didn't know the seriousness of monopoly.
After pouring a cup of tea for Ma Rui, Chu Qing sat across from the former and said patiently: "Master Ma, this is a monopoly. The so-called monopoly and price are all decided by the Zhang family, even if it suddenly increases several times. The dignitaries will not talk about the price. They are not short of money, but the common people have to build houses and repair houses. If they want to repair or build houses, they have to bite the bullet and sell iron."
"Monopoly, this word is quite new." Ma Rui smiled bitterly: "I don't know, but you know who Zhang Songling's backer is."
Chu Qing's expression moved slightly: "Master Ma also knows that the Zhang family's backers are concubines and nobles in the palace?"
"That's right." Ma Rui took a sip of tea, his face full of bitterness: "Ever since Mr. Chu wanted to strictly investigate merchants, I have been worried. The wood and stonework materials, wine vendors, ironware, etc. in the capital are all monopolized by aristocratic families. Management, other businesses, that’s it, it doesn’t cost a lot of money just to make up the tax bank..."
"Wait a minute, Lord Ma, you mean that in addition to working materials, the wine industry and iron tools are also monopolized like stone materials?"
"It's not like the Zhang family, but the two words wine and iron are also controlled by several families."
Chu Qing wasn't too surprised, after all, Zhang Songling had already jumped out of nowhere.
With a wry smile, Chu Qing realized that he had oversimplified things.
In the past, I thought that checking merchants and paying taxes was just a point of contact between families. Gathering a small number into a large number made the emperor and courtiers realize the importance of commercial taxes. It is not just a few people who pay a lot. You can't pluck the wool from one person. Everyone has a great cause. , no one cares about that little money.
But looking at it now, it can only be harvested by a few people. I thought that the aristocratic family just opened a few shops and organized a few caravans. Who would have thought that these bastards were in the same industry!
"Master Ma, if I touch the Zhang family, the Supreme Emperor and the Emperor..."
Chu Qing stopped talking, but the meaning was already obvious. Ma Rui shook his head: "Even if the emperor is not angry, who will supply the materials in the capital?"
Chu Qing's face showed bitterness.
This is the terrible thing about monopoly. It has no soldiers, but it controls the entire market. In a word, it affects people's livelihood.
Sitting on the stool, Chu Qing felt helpless.
Ma Rui said comfortingly: "Master Chu, you just want the merchants in the capital to make up for the tax, so why bother with extraneous matters."
Chu Qing hummed feebly.
Yes, at the very beginning, I just wanted the merchants to make up for their taxes, and I never thought about so many messy things.
But if he let go, Chu Qing would still be unwilling to let the family control the entire industry.
It's not that he wants to meddle in others' affairs and get into trouble, but he's afraid of regrets.
Now he is the deputy commander of the Thousand Cavalry Battalion. He has the power and resources in his hands to manage things, and he should manage them, but he doesn't. One day, he will become the chief of the deployment, and he will not be able to control them even if he wants to.
King Langya, Wei Changfeng, Qiu Wanshan, Chen Yan, and Ma Rui are protecting him. Even if he offends someone in the future, they can keep him and the Chu Mansion safe and sound. However, these people can protect him, but they will not help him anymore. When it comes to doing what you should do, it’s not that everyone has no conscience or sense of responsibility, but that there are too many other factors that limit it.
Chu Qing stopped thinking about the things he couldn't do and said, "Let's collect the taxes and money first and then talk about it. By the way, have the magistrates and officials of Xiao County been appointed?"
"I heard rumors a few days ago that a civil servant named Tao Weiran, Guan Zhenglang, will go to Xiao County in a few days."
"Tao Weiran?" Chu Qing asked, "What is this person's character like?"
"He comes from the Donghai Tao family, a well-known family. It is said that he and the prince's young master Tao Yao were the same family a hundred years ago, and then they separated. Tao Yao's line of poetry and rituals passed down the family, while Tao Weiran's ancestors went to the East China Sea to open up the family. The branches and leaves are scattered, Guanghuai Dao is quite influential."
Ma Rui thought for a moment and continued: "Think about it, this Tao Weiran is just asking for a job in the capital. In three years, or at most four years, he will find a way to be transferred back to Donghai as an official."
"I want to meet this person. Is there any way, Master Ma, to introduce him to him?"
Ma Rui smiled slightly: "Although he is a descendant of the Donghai family, he is nothing in this capital. Master Chu can just find someone to pass on."
"Oh, yes, too."
Chu Qing laughed dumbly. He was already the deputy commander of the Thousand Cavalry Battalion. When meeting a young Guan Zhenglang, why would he need an introduction? It was just a matter of words.
"Okay, just this matter, Zhang Songling, the birdman, I'll think about it again, please let Master Ma come here specially."
Chu Qing was also very depressed. He originally wanted to make Ma Rui realize the seriousness of the monopoly, but he already understood it, but there was nothing he could do.
This is also where many good people are helpless. You have to be able to ask for help for the people. Asking for just one life is useless without a solution.
"Easy to say, easy to say. Don't be offended, Mr. Chu. If you have anything to do, just ask someone to let you know."
