Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 83 Policy Theory
The early spring sunshine came in from the south-facing window, Qing Lan turned over and hugged the quilt, but suddenly woke up.

She didn't sleep much the night before, but this time she slept so deeply that she overslept.

She had never woken up so late since she was a maidservant, she quickly put on her clothes and rushed to the house, only to see Xue Bai writing something in front of the table.

"Have you eaten, Mr. Lang?"

Xue Bai pointed to the breakfast food on the table.

Seeing that he didn't answer, Qing Lan thought he was angry, and said in a low voice: "Your servant is late, please punish me."

"Stretch out your hand."

"Oh."

Qing Lan stretched out her hand pitifully, closed her eyes, and waited for a blow from him.

But he felt cold in the palm of his hand. He opened his eyes and saw that he had written the word "stupid" on it.

"All right."

Xue Bai turned around and smiled, it turned out that he was not angry, but was too serious.

Qing Lan became happy, she bent her eyes and said with a smile: "Lang Jun's handwriting is really good."

"Is it? I also think it's quite improved."

Xue Bai wrote down the last column of words unhurriedly, reviewed it again, and felt satisfied.

But since he wanted to show it to Yan Zhenqing, he still copied it carefully again.

After drying the ink and putting away the policy theory, before going out, Qing Lan reminded one more thing.

"Lang Jun, didn't you say that you are going to give gifts to the neighbors today?"

"Oh, yes, it's a good thing you reminded me." Xue Bai said, "I'll go by myself, and I have to go to the county government later."

Qing Lan was delighted to hear that, and carefully arranged Xue Bai's hair and clothes, and watched him go out.

On the first day of moving to the new home, she was quite satisfied with such a life, but she also had new worries... She felt that Mrs. Lu's niece had a bad temper and was not suitable to be a mistress.

~~
"Boom, boom, boom."

There was a knock on the door in the alley of the houses in the northwest corner of Changshoufang.

Xue Bai took two guards and greeted each family.

"Excuse me, junior Xue Bai. I just moved back to Xue's house at the alley, so there will inevitably be some disturbance in the future. I will give some rice noodles as a greeting gift to all the neighbors."

"Son Xue Ling? Your grandfather still owes me a penny!"

"..."

There are several mansions in the alley on the east side of the street, Xue Bai first disturbed the two mansions in the north, and then knocked on a house in the south, but he knocked on the back door of the house.

A well-dressed servant woman opened the door, and when she saw the man knocking on the door of the courtyard at the back of her house, she thought it was a bit impolite, but fortunately, Xue Bai was not a bad person in appearance.

"Xiao Langzi is too polite, but my master is not easy to accept gifts."

"It's just a housewarming addition, not a valuable item. If your master feels that the rice noodles are not suitable, you can also take a box of small snacks."

"Xiao Lang-jun, please wait a moment, and the servants will ask the mistress."

It was originally a trivial matter, but Xue Bai didn't expect the family to take it so seriously, so he had to stand there and wait.

After a while, a beautiful woman in her late forties came slowly, with a dignified appearance, simple and elegant attire, and a graceful demeanor.

She looked at the pastry, asked about the details, and was sure that she did not come to ask her husband to do something out of courtesy, so Wanfu thanked her and accepted it with a smile.

Seeing that she looked familiar, Xue Bai suddenly remembered where he had seen her before, and the Minister of Courtesy asked: "Dare to ask, but is it from Shao Yan's family?"

"Xiao Langzi knows my husband?"

really.

Looking at this woman's demeanor, it's no wonder that Yan Zhenqing and her have a close relationship, leaving "Tie with Madam" handed down to the world.

"Student Xue Bai was fortunate enough to be taught by Yan Shaofu. I am going to make a suggestion to him."

Wei Yun was taken aback for a moment, she had actually heard Xue Bai's name before.

After that, a soft smile floated on her face, and she said: "Lang Jun mentioned you, you are a good boy. He is still in the county government office, not far from the government office, in Changshoufang, in the southwest corner..."

At this moment, a woman's laughter came from the Yimen between the backyard and the backyard, which sounded like silver bells.

A girl came running with her skirt in her hand, made a face at the maidservant who was chasing her, then turned her head and bumped into Wei Yun, nearly falling down.

She was not annoyed either, she hugged Wei Yun and called out, "Mother."

It was only later that she noticed that there was a foreign visitor, she tilted her head, and took a look at Xue Bai's side. Curiosity flashed in her bright eyes like autumn water, and she was quickly attracted by the box of pastries in Wei Yun's hand.

"Begonia Cake? The box from Qingmen Suji, Aniang, it's not cheap."

She is wearing a pretty bun, obviously not yet out of the cabinet, with a very beautiful oval face, fair skin, thin sweat from playing on her forehead, which slightly wetted the broken hair around her ears, and a small strand of hair even touched her cheeks, revealing the naughty and naive look of a girl.

A smoky green skirt was lifted by her just now, and it was still fluttering gently after putting it down, and the belt embroidered with plum patterns wrapped her exquisite small breasts with a slightly bulging feeling.

She wears a pair of jade bracelets on her wrists and a long life talisman around her neck.

The Longevity Talisman shook slightly and landed on her collar.

Xue Bai noticed that her lips were a little pale. Although she looked quite energetic, she seemed to be in poor health.

"You are not allowed to eat. You are still playing around in such a cold day, so you are not afraid of catching a cold."

Wei Yun immediately became nervous, wiped the fine sweat on the girl's forehead with her sleeve, took the cloak from the maidservant and wrapped it around her.

Seeing this scene, Xue Bai stopped disturbing, left, and went to the county government to find Yan Zhenqing.

He was thinking of looking for Yan Zhenqing, but accidentally arrived at Yan's house first, what a coincidence, he shook his head and smiled.

In the courtyard, the girl smiled slyly and said, "Aniang, is that the cheeky Xue Bai that Grandpa said just now and wanted to worship him as a teacher?"

"The young man is gentle and elegant, and you will become thick-skinned in the mouths of your father and daughter. The wind is blowing, so don't catch cold..."

~~
Chang'an County Government.

The layout in the official residence is simple, Yan Zhenqing is sitting behind the table to deal with official business, his eyes are a bit dignified, when Xue Bai came in, he glanced lightly, said: "The copybook is on the table, take it now."

"Yes, this is a theory written by Yan Shaofu's students, please read it."

Yan Zhenqing glanced at Xue Bai's calligraphy and saw that Xue Bai's calligraphy has indeed improved. It was horrible before, but now it can be seen as ugly.

"I heard that you rescued Mrs. Guo Guo and recuperated in her mansion for more than ten days?"

"Students are ashamed." Xue Bai responded honestly, "Students have moved to Changshoufang, and it will be more convenient to ask Yan Shaofu for advice in the future."

"Cough cough cough."

Yan Zhenqing choked on the water, coughed twice, and waved his hands again and again, not bothering to talk to Xue Bai, and stared at his policy.

"The laws of the country's collection are rent and mediocrity. Those who have land have rent, those who have body have mediocrity, and those who have households have adjustments. However, the Tang Dynasty has been established for 120 years, and the books have been corrupted, which is mostly untrue; land and acres have been merged, and it has become more and more serious. The amount of endowment is calculated first, and then entered into; the household tax is made into the household registration book, regardless of master and servant, no one is middle-class, and the difference is based on the rich and the poor; the land tax is rent, miscellaneous, and miscellaneous.

The policy theory is very long, but to put it simply - the household tax and land tax are used to replace the rent adjustment, those with large households and land pay more, and those with few households and few land pay less.

There are actually many detailed tax records in it, calculating and listing the approximate tax amount that can be received by rent adjustment and two-tax law in the 14 years from the 20th year of Kaiyuan to the fifth year of Tianbao... This is an account that even he, the county captain of Chang'an, has no right to check.

Yan Zhenqing squinted her old eyes for a long time, her brows were sometimes slightly furrowed, sometimes unfurled, and finally sighed slightly.

"Did you know that this policy theory will kill you?"

"Students know." Xue Bai said: "If the tax system is really reformed in this way, it will damage the interests of the world's aristocratic families. Unfortunately, it will not kill me because it cannot be implemented."

There was silence in the office for a while.

Yan Zhenqing experienced the word "it's a pity" that Xue Bai said, and his heart was heavy.

Recently, the Jingzhao Mansion has been urging them to arrest fugitives and recover taxes. The more he sees, the more he knows that the rent regulation will have to be changed sooner or later.

And Xue Bai's policy is more mature and perfect than any tax law he has ever seen, so it is also more dangerous.

It's hard to believe that this was written by a young man... What Yan Zhenqing cares about is whether it can be implemented?
A sage would not want to go to war, but is there really no hope?not necessarily.

Yan Zhenqing thought for a long time, knowing that Xue Bai's ability to show him such a strategy was out of complete trust.

It must be handled carefully, not only to preserve the young man in front of him, but also to live up to his hard work.

He opened his mouth, but still wanted to ask Xue Bai for more trust.

"Can you rest assured to hand over this strategy to the old man?"

"Is there any student who can't trust the teacher?"

At this time, there was no one else in the official residence, Yan Zhenqing shook his head, and said slowly: "I want to give it to a close friend for review, or make it possible to implement it one day, are you willing?"

"It's all up to the teacher."

Yan Zhenqing took a deep look at Xue Bai.

Afterwards, he nodded, and solemnly put Ce Lun into his arms.

He spoke very little, thinking about the pros and cons of the tax law reform all the time in his mind, he even forgot to comment on Xue Bai, forgot to give a copybook, he ignored his official business and went straight out of the official office.

At this moment, Yan Zhenqing, who seemed to be calm, lost his composure.

~~
Xue Bai walked out of the Chang'an county office, looked back at the two guards Yang Yuyao had given him, and thought that neither the Right Prime Minister's Mansion nor the Eastern Palace would take action to get rid of him for the time being.

Yang Shenjin's case has just been concluded, and both parties are avoiding the limelight, so he can use this opportunity to muddy the water.

It would be best for the teacher to circulate this policy theory to Qingzheng loyal ministers, and Qingzheng loyal ministers often support Donggong, so it is likely that Donggong will also mistakenly believe that there is power behind him.

Li Linfu thought he was powerful, and the reaction was fear; the East Palace would definitely want to annex him.

Then, he might be able to survive this fear and annexation, and in turn annex some strength.

~~
"According to the disadvantages of the times, we will also go to war."

Fang Guan put down the policy theory in his hand, and said slowly: "This is not Qingchen's handwriting, who wrote it?"

Yan Zhenqing said: "Fang Gong first tell me what do you think?"

Fang Guan stroked his gray beard and said with a smile: "The old man just said that."

He was 50 years old at the time, and he was the son of Fang Rong, a famous Prime Minister of Wu Zhou.

In addition, he was the teacher of Li Chu, the prince's eldest son, Guangping Wang.

Faced with Yan Zhenqing's cautiousness, Fang Guan's expression became more serious, so he said bluntly: "A sage is definitely unwilling to implement this policy, but the crown prince is very willing. Can Qing minister let me present this policy to the East Palace?"

"How about I transcribe it first?" Yan Zhenqing asked.

Fang Guan said with a smile: "Qing Chen is forcing the old man to express his opinion."

He understood what Yan Zhenqing meant, the interests of these two tax laws were too wide, and now he had to protect the person who proposed this policy first.

"I swear to heaven." Fang Guan then raised his finger to the sky, "Since I offer this person's strategy, I must protect him, how about it?"

Only then did Yan Zhenqing say: "It's a long story, Fang Gong may have seen him before. At the imperial banquet in Yuan Ye, he made up a random poem."

"Xue Bai?" Fang Guan was slightly surprised, and said with a hoarse smile, "I still think of him as a young man clinging to the rich and powerful, I never imagined that he would have such ambition..."

~~
"Xue Bai?"

Li Heng only heard Li Jingzhong talk about Xue Bai in detail yesterday, but he didn't expect to hear this name again so soon.

It was already late at night, sitting in front of Li Heng was his eldest son Li Chu.

Li Chu was 21 years old at the time, and he had the heroic spirit of a saint when he was young.

"Yes, when Xue Bai came to interrogate Li Jingzhong, the boy was still annoyed that he was so rude. I didn't expect him to be so talented and able to propose such a tax law..."

Young people are determined to forge ahead, always imagining that one day they will get rid of the long-standing abuses and clean up the bureaucracy. The previous festivals are not so important at this time.

But no one told Li Chu that Donggong had buried Xue Bai alive.

Li Heng was not as interested in the two tax laws as his son, he raised his hand and said, "Understood, go and rest."

"It's rare for my son to come here from Baisunyuan, and I want to talk about the tax law with Grandpa all night..."

"I'm tired."

"Here."

Li Heng just looked at the strategy left on the table, and regretted Tianbao's choice at the end of five years.

Because he finally realized that there was a lot of power behind Xue Bai.

If the information given by Pei Mian made him think that this matter is very likely, it is absolutely certain at this time.

These two tax laws are absolutely impossible for a 16-year-old boy to come up with. Behind this matter must be an important minister with sharp eyesight and wily calculations.

Such a character, who refuses to get close to the East Palace, instead entrusts him to Xue Bai under the guise of... unexpectedly, there are really a group of people secretly supporting Li Cong!
Thinking of this, Li Heng recruited Li Jingzhong, and whispered a few words.

"What Pei Mian said is right. We have to draw Li Cong's people over. Xue Bai is a hook, so we have to take the initiative to pull..."

~~
Ji Wen prepared for several days, and had already figured out how to frame the Du family, and took the Du family to trial.

The reason why the target was the Du family, not Xue Bai himself, was because the story of the imperial confession hadn't passed too long, and Xue Bai was protected by Mrs. Guo Guo.

There is a "Luo Zhi Jing" written by Lai Junchen, a cruel official of Wu Zhou, on his desk. He often reads it, and it is dilapidated.

But this time, he didn't use the charges in "Luo Zhi Jing"... He was going to accuse Du Erniang of having an affair with someone when she was still the crown prince Liangdi.

He heard the gossip between Xue Bai and Mrs. Du, and believed that their adultery was true, so he came up with this idea.

It's a pity that Jingzhao Mansion does not accept this kind of case, so Yushitai has to come forward, so Ji Wen went to Yushitai to find Pei Mian.

"Auspicious tricks." Pei Mian listened, thought for a while, and quickly came up with an idea, saying: "If Wang Zhongcheng comes forward, and others are only acting as right ministers and dealing with Donggong, you can go to find Dr. Pei. He is close to Donggong. It will be fair for him to handle this matter."

The doctor of the censor is Pei Kuan, who basically seldom intervenes in the matter of the censor platform, first it was controlled by Yang Shenjin, and now it is controlled by Wang Ji.

Ji Wen then asked, "Is he there?"

"Doctor Pei happened to be at Yushitai today."

Jiwen got the advice, so he went to the official residence of the doctor Yushi and asked to meet him.

Pei Kuan just told him to wait.

It was not until the afternoon that someone walked into the courtyard. Ji Wen, who was standing in the corridor, turned his head to look, but was stunned.

He widened his eyes, watching Xue Bai walking over in such a leisurely manner, until he walked to his side.

Xue Bai still held a few scrolls in his hand, like a student who came to invest in a bank.

"you……"

"Mr. Xue Lang, please come in."

Ji Wen just opened his mouth, and a small official has come out to invite Xue Bai in.

Xue Bai walked past Ji Wen, raised his hand and waved in front of his nose, as if to disperse the bad breath in the air, and stepped into the official residence.

Pei Mian informed him to come to see Pei Kuan, which shows that Donggong has become curious about him.

I haven't seen him for two months, Xue Bai has already set up his own family, started to show his talents, established contacts, and used his strength to walk under the family of Gongqing.

And Ji Wen is still the same way, no progress at all...

　Today, the two chapters add up to 9500 words, so Chapter 2 is two hours late.I hope I won't be getting late, ask for a monthly ticket, ask for a subscription~~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)