Zhao Gao stood in the middle of the crowd, giving people a sense of peace and tranquility. At this moment, he was speaking gracefully, with a faint air of bookishness exuding between his brows, and his whole person was indescribably elegant. What he said now was the same as that day. Anyway, Zhao Zheng still remembered it, so he went from listening carefully to what he heard from the beginning to focusing on watching people.
The method Zhao Gao said today was refreshing. After he finished speaking the method, many people felt confused, but they were silent for a while before digesting it. However, some people still felt that something was wrong, so the imperial censor Xu You said: "Merchants are cunning in nature. Lu Buwei disrupted our Qin State just yesterday. If we let them sell freely and set a precedent, wouldn't it boost their arrogance again?"
The emphasis on agriculture and suppression of business has been known since ancient times. The word "sexual cunning" seems to have sentenced merchants to punishment. Zhao Gao knew that just a few words could not change their minds, so he simply reminded: "As the censor said, although there is the Lu family's rebellion, there were also benefits from Bai Gui and Tao Zhugong in the past. It is true that merchants will spend money for profit, but this is It is inevitable to do business. Putting this aside, there are still many people who do not lose their original intention and worry about the country. It would be unfair to generalize."
Having said this, Zhao Gao paused and said calmly: "The harm to ordinary merchants is nothing more than two points. One is that it is difficult to collect taxes, and the other is that it is difficult to prevent fine work. Both of these points are due to their high liquidity. Without a fixed household registration, it is impossible to set the amount of tax. However, according to the salt guide law, the tax amount is already included in the price of each salt when they buy it. In addition, before buying salt guide, it must be strictly recorded according to the area, where it comes from, and where it is sold. Where to go, every piece of information must be clearly stated, and official sales should be changed to official control to prevent the harm of meticulous work."
Zhao Gao pointed out the pros and cons directly and suggested a solution. Although Xu You didn't fully agree, he finally nodded reluctantly. At this time, Feng Quji stood up again and asked: "I dare to ask you again, if merchants are allowed to buy and sell on their own, the price of salt will be difficult to maintain over time. If the merchants raise the price on the ground, or forcibly lower the price to suppress their opponents, , how to control this situation?"
This was something Zhao Gao had considered early in the morning, so he said slowly: "The old prime minister asked if it was indeed the joint. Zhao Gao's idea was this: First, there is a quota for the distribution of salt. Then, based on the current market price, If the price of salt is less than 30 yuan per catty, we will keep it in reserve until the price rises; if it exceeds 35 yuan, we will make a large amount of salt to prevent merchants from seeking huge profits."
Zhisu Neishi Bai Heng [1] has Taicang, Pingzhun, Dunei, Jitian and other officials under his command. Among them, Pingzhun is the official in charge of prices. When Zhao Gao said this, he reacted faster than Feng Quji. , knowing that this is indeed a feasible method. So he immediately bowed his hand to Zhao Zheng and said: "Your Majesty, I think the guest minister's method is feasible." Zhao Gao saluted him and said, "Thank you, Nei Shi."
Feng Quji suddenly laughed and said: "It's the old minister who is overly worried. This was originally the scope of the internal history. He knows better. Since he nodded, the old minister naturally has nothing to say." After listening for these days, Zhao Gao knew Feng Quji was not as solemn and solemn in his dealings with people as Wang Wan. He liked to go straight and not go around in circles. He also smiled and said: "Old Prime Minister Feng is also loyal to the country. It is always good to worry more. It doesn't matter."
After that, everyone discussed for a long time and repeatedly finalized the details. When it came to an end, it was already past dinner time, and Zhao Zheng simply held a banquet in the palace. There were only a dozen or so people present, but they were all members of the Qin State. Zhao Zheng did not give others any help, and all the wine was given by him. Everyone was impressed by his loyalty and kindness. They didn't say it at the moment, but secretly remembered it in their hearts. The people of Qin are honest, and as a minister of Qin, you must be even more honest. There is no point in talking at the moment. The only way to repay him is to share his worries more wholeheartedly in the future.
Today, the sake served is filtered sake lees. This kind of wine is the most expensive and difficult to drink outside the palace. Wei Liao was chewing beef and holding a cup of wine. He thought of the situation in the past when he had no talent but had no choice but to surrender to the country. He was filled with emotion compared to the present moment. He unconsciously looked at Zhao Gao. Zhao Gao saw a different look on his face and guessed the clue. He raised his glass to him from afar and drank the things in his heart with the wine.
"Most of the sake in my private treasury went into the belly of the old country captain. Unfortunately, Master Meng was away leading the troops and couldn't even taste the last few jars. If he came back and knew that the banquet I held today was all used up, the old country captain Wei, do you think he is worried about you?" The little moves Wei Liao and Zhao Gao made just now did not escape Zhao Zheng's eyes. He was afraid that he would get Zhao Gao drunk again, so Zhao Zheng had to divert their attention.
Sure enough, as soon as the words came out of his mouth, Feng Quji laughed loudly and said: "Meng Duwei 'killed' the ministers who entered the Guowei Mansion last time. I heard that the two of them drank for most of the night and finally had a fight. It’s a tie. Next time we’ll have to decide who’s the winner, and the Lieutenant of the State will send someone to let us know, and we’ll all come and join in the fun.”
Everyone just let go and started talking to each other. When the banquet was over, it was already dark. Zhao Zheng sent someone to send away a few old ministers, and the remaining young ones were allowed to disperse on their own. Zhao Gaotu conveniently did not follow Wei Liao back, so he went straight back to the temporary residence in Taishi Mansion. Unexpectedly, when he was halfway there, Zhao Zheng called him softly: "Xiao Gao."
Zhao Gao subconsciously turned around and saw him dressed in black walking out of the shadows. He couldn't help but ask: "Why doesn't the king go to rest?" Zhao Zheng shook his head: "I have been busy with state affairs recently. I tried to find a chance to talk to you several times, but it didn't work. Today is a good day." It was already the curfew time, and Zhao Zheng asked Zhou Wu to get rid of the surrounding guards in advance, so Zhao Zheng walked side by side with Zhao Gao without any worries.
"What does your Majesty want to say?" Looking at his pitiful look, Zhao Gao felt helpless as he still had the royal demeanor that he had just talked and laughed with the ministers. "I heard that Xiao Gao is looking for a house recently?" When Zhao Zheng asked, Zhao Gao knew that he had been betrayed by Wei Liao, so he said "hmm" lightly.
"How about I..." Zhao Zheng knew what Zhao Gao meant without finishing his sentence. He immediately shook his head and said, "The local officials have found it. It is an old house used by merchants from Wei State, but something happened inside." , many people thought it was unlucky and never sold it, but I didn’t care, so I bought it back at a low price, and I’m asking people to take care of it these days.”
"Since you don't want me to interfere with the affairs of the house, you can't refuse if I send someone to take Agu and the others into Qin?" Zhao Gao has just settled down in Qin and can't find any acquaintances for a while. If he just hires someone to go Then, thinking about the rampant bandits and thieves along the way from Zhao to Qin, he was not at ease. When Zhao Zheng mentioned this, Zhao Gao thought for a while and did not refuse out of safety considerations: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty."
"Xiao Gao is being polite to me again." Zhao Zheng looked at Zhao Gao with some complaints. After being stared at by him, Zhao Gao finally softened his heart and patted the back of his hand to comfort him: "I understand how your Majesty treats his ministers. . When the house is taken care of, your Majesty will also come and take a look?" After Zhao Gao took the initiative to invite him, he wiped out all the awkwardness before and agreed: "Okay."
The next day, Zhao Zheng issued an edict to implement the salt introduction law throughout the country. As the person who proposed the new law, Zhao Gao also served as a magistrate under Zhisu Neishi, taking charge of all salt affairs across the country. Ling Cheng, who had previously been in charge of salt affairs, was mentioned as his deputy in governing Su Nei Shi.
On his first day in office, Zhao Gao did not rush to discuss with his subordinates how to implement the new law, but planned to familiarize himself with the various affairs of the government office. Now that he mentioned the old salt affairs files, several salt officials began to hesitate.
The most astute among them was Chen Bai. He took Zhao Gao's words first and said, "Lingcheng, this... files are numerous and complex. If I were to give you [2] a look at them one by one, I'm afraid it would take ten days and eight days." God, if you have any questions, why don't I ask you to answer them directly?"
Zhao Gao took the official list of signatures in his hand and knelt down in front of the case calmly without speaking for a long time. Chen Bai originally thought that he was young, gentle and easy to fool based on his age and appearance, so he dared to stand up. However, after speaking for a long time, Zhao Gao just stared at the list in his hand as if he didn't hear anything.
It was late autumn now, and although there were charcoal fires burning in the official office, it was still a bit cold in the past. But for some reason, they felt that the charcoal fires were burning too brightly today, and they felt that the heat was unbearable. Looking back on their own My boss has such a leisurely look that no matter how I look at him, I feel that he is not here for business, but for an outing to enjoy the flowers. At this glance, he felt even more uncomfortable, so uncomfortable that he felt like time had slowed down.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Gao put down the directory in his hand and slowly put it in its place. Then he raised his head and asked with a solemn expression, "Are you Chen Bai, in charge of salt fortune?" The salt official saw him. His temperament changed, he felt a chill in his heart, and he hurriedly said: "I'm the official... I'm the official." Then Zhao Gao nodded, looked at the other person he was attacking and asked, "Are you Zhao Meng, in charge of the salt service?"
The man didn't dare to neglect when his name was called, and folded his hands and said: "Return to your Majesty, I am the next official." Zhao Gao nodded again, so he asked them one by one according to their order, without even calling more than a dozen people. Wrong name of a person, misremembering a person's responsibilities. Those people finally discovered that he had probably memorized the entire list, and they did not dare to neglect it any more.
After going around in a circle, Zhao Gao returned to the topic and said: "I'm not afraid of trouble. I will see all the files in the government office in half an hour." He deliberately emphasized the word "all". How could those people not hear it? , stood up, bowed their hands to him, and retreated.
Chen Bai didn't take a few steps when he was called by Zhao Meng and others: "Brother Chen, what do you think we should do about this?" Chen Bai glanced into the room, turned around and said angrily: "What else can we do? Give it to him Yeah." Zhao Meng and others were startled, and then they were confused: "Really?" Chen Bai glanced at him and said in a tone of hatred: "You definitely can't give it like this. Listen to me... "
