casket of old days

Chapter 69 Negotiations
Hao Xiangtong looked at Chu Qiguang with curiosity and doubt.

'He actually knew about the peace talks and the mutual market earlier than his father. What is the origin of this Chu Qiguang? '

Originally, Chu Qiguang was just a shabby poor boy in Hao Xiangtong's eyes. At most, he talked very interestingly, and he wanted to hear him talk all the time.

But at this moment, in Hao Xiangtong's eyes, Chu Qiguang suddenly became mysterious, and the stories he told at night seemed to have a different meaning.

Chu Qiguang heard what the other party said, and knew that the Hao family had taken the bait, so he smiled slightly: "Then let's go."

This time when Chu Qiguang came to Hao's house, it was the first time that he was received in the living room by the current head of the family, Hao Wen.

Hao Wen ordered people to serve tea, and then turned away the servants around him, leaving only his butler Hao Fulai.

Then he talked with Chu Qiguang in a foggy manner, just wanting to catch Chu Qiguang's words and see who is behind the other party.

Obviously, in Hao Wen's opinion, if the other party can know the imperial court's policy one step ahead, there must be someone in Shenjing.

But Chu Qiguang's mind flashed Hao Wen in front of him, as well as information about Wu Wei from the Wu family.

According to Qiao Zhi, these two people were ambitious, talented, greedy and lustful, so they were left at home to take care of the family business, but they still often caused trouble for Mr. Wu Ge.

Fortunately, they are just relying on Mr. Wu Ge's background to do business, buy land, and evade taxes... It is a common operation of local tyrants.

After Wu Ge grew old and became the first assistant, he was more cheating than the other. In all kinds of fish and meat towns, plundering and plundering, the farmland in Qingyang County alone accounted for more than [-]% of the land, almost turning the entire Qingyang County into an independent kingdom.

But at the same time, one year after Mr. Wu Ge became the chief assistant, the old man would personally start a vigorous reform.Measure land, equalize taxes and servitude, reform official administration, reform horse administration, tea administration...

In the next ten years at least, this old Wu Ge will be under one person and above ten thousand people, almost looking down on the existence of the imperial court, he can be called a golden elephant leg that cannot be thicker.

At this moment, Chu Qiguang's plan is to intervene in the confrontation between the Hao family, the Wu family, and the county magistrate, so as to embrace the elder Wu Ge's thigh, and use the other party's reforms, power and influence to achieve his future goals.

Naturally, Chu Qiguang would not be drawn out at random. Seeing that Mr. Hao did not get to the point for a long time, Chu Qiguang took another sip of tea and said directly: "I heard that the county lord has released a report, and many tenants are making trouble. Get up, I don't know what countermeasure Mr. Hao has here?"

The current policy implemented by Hezhi County is to measure the land, calculate the size, ownership, and quality of the land under the name of each household, and then calculate all the corvee and taxes according to the land owned by each household. split evenly.

This is equal taxation. The more land you have to bear, the more corvee taxes. Of course, it can greatly reduce the burden on the people, but Chu Qiguang knows that this set of feudal dynasties treats the symptoms but not the root cause, because the exorbitant and miscellaneous taxes accumulated from generation to generation It's not removed, it's just smoothed out.

'If you want to cure the root cause, you have to replace me. '

Chu Qiguang asked Qiao Zhi carefully, and he knew that in the next one or two months, the Wu family and the Hao family tried their best to delay, and even involved the prefect of Beiyue, the governor of Lingzhou, and the inspector. Jump.

But these things... neither Hao Wen nor Wu Wei knew about these things at the moment. They were just landlords who instinctively rejected He County Magistrate's policies, and were unwilling to spit out the meat from their mouths.

And opposite Chu Qiguang... Hao Erye didn't reply.

Yesterday, there was a conflict on the land of the Wu family and the Hao family. Hezhi County brought the complaining tenants to measure the land. Although Hao Wen and the others blocked it once, the two families added up to so many fields, it was impossible to guard against. Maybe people who can stop the county government all the time.

Seeing Hao Wen's unhappy expression, Chu Qiguang said: "I have a way, maybe He Zhixian can return without success."

Hao Wen's expression froze and he didn't speak, but the housekeeper Hao Fulai said forcefully, "Young Master Chu, don't make jokes. It's a national policy to measure the land and equalize taxes and corvees. We should do our best to share the worries of the imperial court." , to solve problems for the people.”

Chu Qiguang smiled, didn't look at the housekeeper, but stared at Hao Wen and said: "Mr. Hao, we Ming people don't speak in secret. The national policy is indeed a national policy, but even if the imperial court wants to promote the whole country, there must always be a first-come-first-served policy." , cannot be achieved overnight.

There is so much land in the Great Han Dynasty, and the rotation of one state, one county, and one county will respond to the policy earlier and later, but it will be ten or twenty years away. "

Chu Qiguang's words reached Hao Wen's heart. As a veteran landlord in Qingyang County, most of his family's property is in this field. Returning the occupied land... Even if it is a national policy, he still thinks how long he can delay it. It can be delayed for a few years every year, maybe it will be delayed if you change the county magistrate?
The housekeeper Hao Fulai looked at Chu Qiguang with disdain when he heard the words: "You are a yellow-mouthed kid, you have no martial arts, and you have no fame. What can you do to stop the magistrate of a majestic county?"

Chu Qiguang glanced at the butler, always feeling that the other party seemed to have a kind of hostility towards him, and thought to himself: "Or is this because Hao Wen and the butler are singing a good face and a bad face?" '

Chu Qiguang looked at Hao Wen and said, "Official Hao, if you would do me a favor and let me take a look at the county annals and meeting codes of Qingyang County, I will definitely find a way to make Hezhi County go away for nothing. return."

The county chronicles record the history, geography, customs, etc. of the county, while the canon records all the policy changes in Qingyang County from the beginning of the founding of the country to the present.

Both of these are things that Chu Qiguang couldn't see even with the help of Li Suanshou.

Chu Qiguang looked at these two things, firstly to find out if there was anything unusual about the life experience of the Chu family, secondly to find out if there were any clues to the secret script of the Zifu, and finally to help the Wu family and the Hao family by the way.

Housekeeper Hao sneered and said, "As a result, you haven't even figured out a solution yet? Want to read the county annals and canons? It's just a whimsical idea."

He dissuaded Mr. Hao and said: "Master, so many people in our family have not yet come up with a safe solution. This kid's background is unclear, so don't trust him."

Chu Qiguang frowned and looked at the housekeeper, reconfirming that the other party was indeed hostile to him, feeling a little strange in his heart.Because he had never seen each other before.

On the other side, Hao Wen thought for a while, looked at Chu Qiguang and asked, "You can figure out a way after reading the county annals and meeting codes? How sure are you? You face the direction of the Taoist temple, the Taoism Zun said."

Chu Qiguang turned to the direction of the Taoist temple, and said slowly: "I have looked through the money and grain books of Qingyang County over the years, and found a lot of problems with the county government. Once I take them out, it will be enough to make the magistrate in a hurry."

Hao Wen nodded slightly. He has been in charge of the family for so many years, of course he knows how many tax loopholes Qingyang County has accumulated after years of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes.

It can be seen that Zhixian County is just a three-year term of officials, and often the problems of the previous term have not been resolved, leaving a bunch of new problems before leaving. "

Chu Qiguang went on to say: "As long as I compare the county annals and meeting codes again, I dare to swear to Taoist Xuanyuan that I am [-]% sure that Hezhi County will retreat when it is difficult."

Hao Wen stared at Chu Qiguang, as if he was trying to see clearly what Chu Qiguang was, but all he saw was a pair of firm and clear eyes.

And swearing to Dao Zun is more credible in this era.

So Second Master Hao nodded and said, "Okay, I'll make arrangements for you..."

After Chu Qiguang left, Steward Hao said to Hao Wen and Second Master Hao: "Master, I think this Chu Qiguang is just a student who just entered the Yinglue Hall. I heard that he used to farm in Wangjiazhuang. I don’t know what the details are now, so if I use it rashly, will it cause bad things instead?”

Hao Wen squinted at the housekeeper, and said casually: "Anyway, he has figured out a way, and we can decide whether he uses it or not. He is just a pawn, and the people behind him are the key. When he comes up with a way...you will know it is right." Whoever plays the chess has what purpose."

"Okay, let's not talk about this." A trace of excitement and greed flashed in Hao Wen's eyes: "Next, I will make a list for you, and you should go stock up immediately. Before the mutual market, all the silver in our hands must be exchanged." into iron pots, tea leaves, pills, salt..."

Hao Wen talked about a lot of daily necessities that the demon race in the north are in short supply, and then said with a smile: "Once the news of the mutual market spreads, the price will at least double..."

(End of this chapter)