There was a candlestick, several side dishes, and two wine bottles placed on the long table. Wang Zhong and Gu Er sat on both sides of the table. There were wine glasses in front of them. The candles on the candlestick flickered, and lanterns and candles were hung around them. There is a fire stand and the house is brightly lit.
"Tell me, what's going on in your outer room?" Wang Zhong said straight to the point.
Gu Er said: "Isn't it the same year when I came back to Tokyo and met some dudes teasing Mannia, so I drove those dudes away and beat up the leader. Unexpectedly, I thought of Mannia. Mother actually chased me all the way to Bailu Cave, and her brother fell ill and died. I saw that she was helpless, so I took her in. Mannia also lived up to her expectations and gave birth to a pair of children for me within two years. "
When he talked about Zhu Manniang's children, Gu Er's face subconsciously showed a smile.
Wang Zhong really didn't know what to say. Was it the restorative power of the plot? Or is there some other reason? After going round and round, Gu Er was still entangled by Zhu Manniang.
"A pair of children?" Wang Zhong asked.
Gu Er said with a smile: "The older one is called Sister Rong, and the younger one is called Brother Chang!"
The reason why I only mention their nicknames is naturally because Sister Rong and Brother Chang are both from outside the family, and have not yet been recognized by Gu Er's father, Ningyuan Marquis Gu Yankai, let alone the Gu family, and have not yet entered the Gu family ancestral hall. He was not able to enter the family tree, so naturally he did not have a famous name.
Wang Zhong said with some emotion: "I don't want to see you apart for only a few years, but Zhong Huai actually has a son and a daughter, which is enviable!"
I just don’t know whether I feel sorry for Gu Er’s speed or Gu Er’s fate.
However, Wang Zhong has no intention of interfering. Although Gu Er is extremely talented and God will feed him, his temper is too dissolute, and talented people are bound to be arrogant. Gu Er is as good as the legitimate son of Ningyuan Houfu. With a distinguished background, it is difficult to achieve great things without going through some hardships.
And if he continues like this, sooner or later, he will fall into the hands of his eldest brother and stepmother, Xiao Qin.
Gu Er also sighed and said: "I didn't expect that things would develop like this!"
Originally, he wanted to study quietly in Bailudong Academy and take scientific exams, so as to become an official and show his ambition. However, unexpectedly, by some strange combination of circumstances, he took in a woman and had two children.
Gu Er knew very well in his heart that his father, Marquis Ningyuan, would never allow someone like Mannia to enter the Marquis Ningyuan Mansion. Therefore, Gu Ercai had to work harder to become an official as soon as possible, start a family, and marry a well-known lady as his eldest wife. So that Zhu Maniang and her son can have a home.
Wang Zhongdao: "Everything in the world is unpredictable, no one knows what will happen tomorrow!"
Gu Er raised the wine pot, refilled the empty cups in front of them, and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore! You have been doing a good job in Quanzhou in the past two years. Although I am in Bailu Cave, I have heard people mention you a lot. Deeds in Quanzhou!"
Wang Zhong said: "It's just a small fight!"
"If you are just making a small fuss, then don't all the officials in other places just eat the corpses?" Gu Eryi cupped his hands with a serious face and said: "As soon as Zihou's "Salt-drying Method" came out, from now on, The price of salt will only become cheaper and cheaper, and every household in Guizhou Province will be able to eat refined salt. Zihou’s contribution will last forever.”
Wang Zhong shook his head and said: "What's the use if every household can eat refined salt? If you encounter corrupt officials, wanton exploitation and oppression, treating the people like pigs and dogs, breaking up families and losing lives is nothing more than ordinary, then the price of salt will be It’s cheap, but if some big merchants hoard it, buy it at a low price, and then sell it at a high price, what can the people of Guizhou do?”
Hearing this, Gu Er couldn't help but show a solemn look on his face: "Although I have been studying hard in Bailudong in the past few years, I am not indifferent to what is going on outside the window. There are also many green forests around Jiangzhou, and some They are big thieves who kill people and steal goods, but some of them are ordinary people in Guizhou who have been forced to live by corrupt officials and wealthy families."
"Although today's officials are benevolent, have been in power for many years, and are considerate of the people, they do little in corvee and low taxes. However, there are policies at the top and countermeasures at the bottom. They all say that the magistrates with flowing water, the strong and powerful locals, collude with the people in the yamen, and are colluding. , cleverly created a name to squeeze the people in order to annex the land! The people have become tenant farmers, and the fields have been in the hands of the powerful..."
As he was talking, Wang Zhong suddenly paused, gave a helpless smile, waved his hands, and said: "That's it, that's all, we finally got together, why are we talking about this!"
Gu Er, however, looked at Wang Zhong with a serious look on his face: "Zihou feels the same way. Could it be that he also encountered these things in Quanzhou?"
Wang Zhong drank a glass of wine, with a hint of reminiscence in his eyes as he recounted the past events he encountered in Quanzhou.
"When I first built the salt field in Quanzhou, I hired ordinary people as workers. I was paid ten copper coins a day and two meals a day. There were many people who signed up. Before the construction started, I issued a strict order not to deduct wages or food rations from the people. Those who are killed will be killed immediately without mercy.
But I didn’t expect that those subordinates, on the surface, were respectful to me, but secretly they were doing it in a clever way! Seize the hard-earned money from the people! "
"How did Zihou deal with those subordinate officials?" Gu Er asked curiously.
"The chief criminal was directly beheaded in public, and the remaining interfering personnel were imprisoned, their property confiscated, and used as laborers. They were assigned to work in salt fields and docks every day without wages, ranging from three to ten years."
"It's a pity that we can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. If I leave, I'm afraid that in a few years, those subordinate officials will start to grow again!" Wang Zhong said helplessly.
"This..." Gu Er didn't know how to answer Wang Zhong. After reading books for so many years and seeing a lot of people in the market, Gu Er was no longer the person who had long talks with Chang Bai and Wang Zhong a few years ago. A teenager.
"Zi Hou thinks, how can we put an end to these chaos?" After pondering for a moment, Gu Er suddenly asked.
Wang Zhong shook his head and said: "Since the end of Qin Dynasty when Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up in Daze Township, this problem has always existed. During the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yang Guang conquered Goguryeo three times, sending millions of troops and recruiting millions of civilians to build the Great Wall, open canals, and Guangdong. The Cultivation Palace made the people of the world miserable, and then the people revolted one after another.
Wei Zheng in the previous dynasty said that the king is the boat, the people are the water, and the country is the second best. The water can carry the boat or capsize it. Today, the officials have been in power for decades. They have implemented benevolent policies, quelled wars, and neglected corvee and small taxes. To ensure the livelihood of the people, not everyone can be dedicated to the public good. As long as they have selfish desires in their hearts, there will be no shortage of these moths that harm the country and consume the people! "
Gu Er's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said with a serious face: "What do you think of the reform?"
"Reform?" Wang Zhong pretended to ponder, then nodded and said: "If it is a reform, it is still possible to change the status quo. If the law does not change, if things go on like this, sooner or later it will cause disaster!"
"If it's a reform, how do you think Zihou should implement it?" Gu Er asked.
Wang Zhongdao: "If the two tax laws can be changed, the land tax, corvee and other miscellaneous levies in various states and counties can be combined into one, and the money can be collected together and paid per mu. In this way, the tax system will be greatly simplified and tax collection will be more convenient. At the same time, it will also make it easier to collect taxes. It will be more difficult for local officials to cheat, reduce corruption, and further increase fiscal revenue.”
Gu Er asked: "But if corvee work is combined with land taxes and miscellaneous levies, what should be done about the construction of river embankments, official roads, irrigation canals, etc. in various states and counties?"
Wang Zhongdao: "With money in the treasury of various states and counties, they can do what I did in Quanzhou, promising to hire people as workers for wages. Whether the people accept the call or not depends entirely on their own free will!"
Gu Er pinched his chin, nodded slightly and said, "It sounds feasible."
What Wang Zhong is talking about is the "one whip" law established in the Jiajing Dynasty during the Ming Dynasty. This law is a link between the previous two tax laws that began in the Tang Dynasty, and the later generations of the Manchu and Qing Dynasty's Yongzheng period. Return to the public, and the officials and gentry will receive food and supplies as one body.
Although the 'one whip' method has both advantages and disadvantages, compared with this period, it is a rare improvement.
The two of them just drank and discussed, but most of them were Gu Er asking and Wang Zhong explaining.
Time passed quietly and unconsciously.
The next day, Wang Zhong went to the Ministry of Personnel early in the morning. Not long after waiting, news came from the palace that Emperor Jiayou wanted to summon Wang Zhong.
Wang Zhong followed the chamberlain to the imperial study room and saw Emperor Jiayou who was reviewing memorials. He was dressed in a brocade robe with a moon-white dragon pattern and his hair and beard were silver. It could be seen with the naked eye that Emperor Jiayou was much older than he had been a few years ago. few.
After the usual bowing ceremony, Emperor Jiayou said with a smile: "In recent years, Quanzhou's wealth has been getting better year by year, and Ai Qing has contributed a lot to it!"
Wang Zhong said neither humble nor arrogantly: "I just fulfilled my duty as a humble minister. Quanzhou is in its current situation because of your wise Majesty. Our government opened up sea trade and encouraged merchants to go overseas for trade. Furthermore, it is because of Quanzhou's The geographical location itself is very advantageous, and there is a natural port like Quanzhou Bay, so passing merchants are naturally willing to stop and rest in Quanzhou Bay.”
Emperor Jiayou became more and more happy and said: "Aiqing is too modest. Before Aiqing went to Quanzhou, the magistrates of Quanzhou changed one after another, but no one could be like Aiqing. In just a few years, something like this happened in Quanzhou. Big changes, wealth is getting better every year.
Although I have been in this deep palace for a long time, I have often heard people talk about the changes in Aiqing and Quanzhou in recent years. According to statistics from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Personnel, in the past few years, only the people in Jinjiang and Nan'an counties have changed. The population has increased by more than 3,000 households, to nearly 100,000 people? "
"Back to Your Majesty!" Wang Zhong cupped his hands and said: "There are 3,242 households with 16,484 people. Among them, there are mountain people attracted from the mountains, and some migrated from other counties in Quanzhou. Among the people who came, there were also refugees who spontaneously moved from Zuojinzhou County, and some were merchants and craftsmen."
"Three thousand two hundred and forty-two households, one hundred six thousand four hundred and eighty-four people, Aiqing really gave me a surprise!" Emperor Jiayou said with emotion.
"It's all thanks to His Majesty's sage, the concerted efforts of colleagues in the imperial court and Quanzhou, and the support of the people that such a scene is possible!" Wang Zhong still looked neither humble nor arrogant.
Emperor Jiayou said: "I remember that the last memorial sent by Aiqing mentioned that he wanted the imperial court to set up a shipping department in Quanzhou?"
Wang Zhongdao: "Fujian Road has many mountains and few fields. There has always been a folk saying that there are eight mountains, one water and one field. Although terraces can be built, there are not many places suitable for reclamation. If we only develop mulberry farming, it will be difficult to achieve anything. Only by finding another way and taking advantage of the convenience of sea trade can we achieve results."
Emperor Jiayou said: "But Quanzhou neither produces porcelain nor silk, and land and water transportation is not very convenient. As for sea routes, there are two shipping companies in Hangzhou and Mingzhou in the north, and Guangzhou shipping companies in the south. They can be divided into For trade between countries in the East China Sea and South China Sea, would it be superfluous to build a shipping department in Quanzhou?"
Wang Zhongdao: "Your Majesty, in fact, whether it is Hangzhou or Mingzhou, it is at least a thousand miles away from Guangzhou. There are more than hundreds of prefectures and counties in between. There are six prefectures, two armies, and forty-seven counties in Fujian alone, let alone If the prefectures and counties bordering Fujian can add a shipping department in Quanzhou to connect the sea and land, so that overseas goods can be further sold into the inland, as long as there is circulation of goods, there will be profits, and the court can collect taxes from it. "
"Moreover, Fujian has many mountains and is rich in tea. Now there are seven salt drying fields that have been built and put into use. The average monthly output is hundreds of thousands of kilograms of refined salt. Salt and tea alone can provide a good source of energy for Fujian." The imperial court brings huge taxes!”
"Ai Qing means to sell the sea salt produced in the Quanzhou salt field overseas?" Emperor Jiayou asked in surprise.
Wang Zhongdao: "Your Majesty is wise, this is exactly what I mean. Nowadays, the method of drying salt has gradually become popular in coastal areas. Salt farms have been set up in coastal states and counties, as well as well salt and lake salt. The production of salt has been greatly increased, and will continue to increase in the future." The more there is, the lower the price of salt will be. However, the method of drying salt is new to our country and may not be available in other countries. If salt can be sold to countries in the East China Sea and even the South China Sea, it will definitely bring huge profits.
Moreover, now in Jiangnan and other places, spinning machines and looms have been spread all over the place, which has greatly reduced the cost of spinning and weaving and increased output. In recent years, more and more merchants have gone overseas to trade, not just in Quanzhou. Last year, more than a thousand merchants went to sea, and only three shipping companies in Hangzhou, Mingzhou, and Guangzhou were in short supply! "
The most important thing is that neither Hangzhou nor Mingzhou nor Guangzhou are close to Fujian. Fujian is mountainous and sparse, making it unsuitable for farming. If you want to develop, you can only do business and go overseas for trade.
Emperor Jiayou was already tempted by Wang Zhong's words, "It is not a trivial matter to establish an additional shipping department. I have to discuss it with you before making a decision."
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Emperor Jiayou asked a lot about Wang Zhong's experience in Quanzhou and whether he got along well with his colleagues. After a while, he asked Wang Zhong to leave.
After coming out of the palace, Wang Zhong first went to the Ministry of Personnel. Emperor Jiayou summoned him, so he still had to go to the Ministry of Personnel to report his work.
Wang Zhong was not in a hurry to go to Sheng's house, but asked Yu Chuer to send his greeting card to him first. The next morning, Wang Zhong came to the door with the gifts he had prepared.
Sheng Wei was not at home, so the person who received Wang Zhong was naturally Changbai. After Changbai led Wang Zhong to meet the Wang family, it was also because Wang Zhong and Minglan were engaged, and the Wang family was Minglan no matter what. Her aunt, for reasons of love and reason, she should go and greet her in person when Wang Zhong comes to visit her. Otherwise, it would be difficult for Wang Zhong, a foreigner, to meet the Wang family.
After meeting the Wang family, Chang Bai took Wang Zhong and went straight to Shou'an Hall.
"Zhong Huai and you are just like each other. You arrived just two days after he returned to Tokyo!" Chang Bai and Wang Zhong walked side by side with smiles on their faces.
"I met Zhong Huai the day before yesterday, and we held a candlelight night chat for a long time!" Wang Zhong said.
Changbai hesitated for a moment and asked, "What about Zhonghuai's family members, Zihou has passed?"
Wang Zhong said: "We met yesterday evening. Sister Rong is well-behaved and Brother Chang is obedient. They are both cute!"
Changbai said: "That's right. Zhonghuai's yard in Tianshui Lane is right next door to your house. I never imagined that Zhonghuai would become your neighbor when he returned to Tokyo!"
"This is called unpredictable events!" Wang Chong said with a smile.
Changbai also laughed.
Wang Zhong suddenly changed his voice and asked: "By the way, spring is coming after the new year. How are Zecheng's preparations?"
Chang Bai stopped and imitated Wang Zhong: "Just do your best and obey fate!"
"So it seems that Zecheng has the pearl of wisdom and is bound to win?" Wang Zhong said with a teasing look on his face.
"Who can say for sure what will happen in the future!" Chang Bai shook his head.
"That's right!" Wang Zhong nodded and said: "In addition to articles, talents, learning, and luck, mentality is also the most important in the imperial examination. Only by having the mentality of not changing your face even if the mountain collapses, you will not be nervous when you are about to take the exam. Why is it just like completing the homework assigned by the teacher on weekdays, so that you can exert your full strength? If you are so indifferent, you will definitely be on the gold list this time!"
"Then you're going to accept your good wishes?" Chang Bai cupped his hands and looked at Wang Zhong.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
While talking, the two of them had already entered the Shou'an Hall.
Because Wang Zhong came to visit today, both Changbai and Minglan asked for leave, Gu Er also asked for leave, and half of the seven students asked for leave. Zhuang Xuexue simply let the students take a day off and went out for the visit. Friends went.
In the Shou'an Hall, Mrs. Sheng was sitting on a soft couch, holding a scripture in her hand and reading it. Minglan was sitting beside her, practicing embroidery with needle and thread! When she heard that Wang Zhong and Chang Bai were outside the door, Mrs. Sheng smiled. She glanced at Ming Lan first, then put down the scripture in her hand and asked Wang Zhong and others to be called in.
"Greetings to the old lady, I haven't seen her for several years, but her complexion has become more rosy!" Wang Chong smiled and saluted Old Madam Sheng, his words showing intimacy.
"Your mouth is still as sweet as before!" Mrs. Sheng glanced at Wang Zhong with a smile on her face.
Wang Chong said with a smile: "When Zhong returned from Quanzhou, he passed by Youyang. He happened to catch up with the eldest lady's sixtieth birthday, so he stayed in Youyang for a few days. He congratulated the eldest lady on her birthday and asked for a few glasses of wine. Eat, the old lady always talks about you!"
"Time flies so fast, she's already sixty in a blink of an eye!" Wang Zhong mentioned the old lady, and Old Mrs. Sheng couldn't help sighing with regret on her face, and asked Wang Zhong: "How is my sister-in-law doing?"
Wang Zhong shook his head and said: "At present, he looks healthy, but he suffered too much in his youth and damaged his roots. In addition, years of hard work have damaged his vitality. I'm afraid he won't be around for a few more years!"
Mrs. Sheng was stunned for a moment and looked at Wang Zhong in disbelief: "How could this be?"
"Birth, old age, illness and death are natural laws and cannot be changed by human power!" Wang Zhong finally met Old Mrs. Sheng and Minglan. Wang Zhong didn't want to say this, but the old lady's health was indeed not good. How long she could live depends on God's will.
"In addition, the old lady is too old, her qi and blood have declined, and her five internal organs have begun to fail. This cannot be cured by medicine and stone! In addition, in recent days, she has been disturbed by worldly affairs and worried, which will inevitably have an impact on her body."
Although Chinese medicine is mysterious, it cannot live the dead, flesh and bones.
Chang Bai also had a look of astonishment on his face, not expecting it at all, and looked at Wang Zhong in shock.
Mrs. Sheng, on the other hand, looked at Wang Zhong and asked, "But because of Shulan's child?"
Wang Zhong nodded and said: "It is true that because of Miss Shulan, Sun Zhigao is only a mere scholar, but he often talks nonsense and is arrogant. He also bosses around the Sheng family. He has no respect for his uncles, aunts and even the eldest lady. The eldest lady has no respect at all." If you don't suffer from his anger, Miss Shulan will not have a good life in the Sun family. The old lady is worried about her granddaughter, so it is inevitable..."
"Hey!" Old Mrs. Sheng sighed with some emotion: "Weier has been shrewd for half his life, but he didn't expect that he would stumble when choosing a son-in-law. He was fooled by Sun Zhigao and his son."
"Grandma, I can't blame my eldest uncle and eldest aunt for this!" Ming Lan said at the side: "Before Sun Zhigao married Sister Shulan, he was just a poor scholar. The Sun family relied on grandma's sewing and sewing to survive. When outsiders looked at her, they naturally felt that Sun Zhigao was diligent, studious, and talented. Her grandson's mother had been a widow for many years, raising her young son. In the eyes of outsiders, some of her shortcomings were naturally overshadowed by her advantages.
It was only after marrying Sister Shulan, receiving Sister Shulan's generous dowry, and having some money in his hands that Sun Zhigao became so complacent that he forgot about everything, and his mother's bitter and mean nature was revealed. "
"What Sixth Sister said makes sense!" Wang Zhong said: "But there is no need to worry now. I think by now, Miss Shulan should have reconciled with Sun Zhigao!"
"Oh?" Mrs. Sheng raised her eyebrows slightly, and Minglan also looked at Wang Zhong with interest.
Wang Zhong then told the whole story of what happened at the banquet that day and how he gave advice to Sheng Wei and others that night.
"With perfect combination and unexpected victory, Brother Zihou even used military skills to help Sister Shulan!" After hearing this, Minglan couldn't help but smile and said, but as soon as she said this, Sheng was offended. The old lady glared.
Minglan didn't dare to speak, Changbai was silent, but Mrs. Sheng said: "It's okay to reconcile, Sun Zhigao is arrogant, arrogant and rude. He is really not a good match. If we can reconcile as soon as possible, Shulan's child can be considered a good match." Out of misery."
"My sister-in-law suffered too much when she was young! Now..." As he spoke, he seemed to realize that he had made a mistake, and then he shook his head and said: "That's all, it's all just..." It’s a thing of the past, so don’t mention it, don’t mention it!”
Old Mrs. Sheng felt something for a moment, but when Minglan and Changbai heard it, they couldn't help but be moved by it. The old lady worked hard for Shulan, and Old Mrs. Sheng didn't work hard for them.
Mrs. Sheng and others, just by looking at Minglan and Changbai's expressions, guessed what they were thinking. She immediately changed the subject and asked Wang Zhong, "How long do you plan to stay here when Zihou returns to Beijing?"
"It's not clear yet. I have to follow the official department and the officials to see if there are any other instructions. If nothing unexpected happens, it doesn't matter if I leave after the new year!"
Wang Zhong returned to Beijing to report on his duties. Due to the long journey, the court gave him a time limit of four months. Wang Zhong set out in mid-September. In order to reduce the time spent on the road, he deliberately took the land route. In addition, officials also had annual leave, and Wang Zhong had specially greeted Chen Jun before coming. It wouldn't matter if he was a few days early or a few days late.
(End of chapter)
