Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 87 The Differences between the Two Generations of Emperors

"Oh?" Emperor Chenghui showed an expression of interest on his face.

"Your Majesty, I would like to request that all valuable items passing customs with the Chongwenmen Tax Card will be charged an additional 10% tax." Li Qing said in a sonorous and powerful manner, which shows that this move has been prepared for a long time. The Chongwenmen Tax Card already exists. , after passing, a 10% tax will be charged. Now it is a 10% tax on valuables, which means a 20% tax.

After listening to this, Zhang Tingen silently made a calculation in his mind. Li Qing's suggestion is feasible. Just how to say it, to offend people. Looking at Emperor Chenghui's expression, this is not His Majesty's intention, right? It doesn't look like they are acting, but they are both good actors. Based on my understanding of Li Qing, it is really unlikely that this person can come up with such a trick.

To put it in layman’s terms, this means increasing taxes on luxury goods.

Zhang Tingen chose to remain silent, calmly watching Li Qing speak, and observing the reactions of the other three pavilion elders.

The expressions of the three pavilion elders were the same, and they couldn't see any clues. The eyes are different. The first assistant's eyes are a little pitiful. After all, there are no merchants who can deal in valuables with ordinary family backgrounds. Jisuke's eyes were a little cold, as if he was looking at a dying person. Sansuke's eyes were filled with respect. After all, this kind of suggestion that offended many people would have serious consequences.

Sun Huazhen, the third auxiliary, was born in a poor family and lost his father when he was young. His mother relied on more than ten acres of thin farmland and weaving at home to raise him. In order to provide for his education, her mother exhausted all her energy. Just when he came home and knelt in front of his mother after being named on the examination list. , the mother who ran out of oil and ran out of lamps died with a smile on her face.

Sun Huazhen was an upright and honest official. He worked his way up from the grassroots level, from a people-friendly official to a county magistrate, and then to a governor. He has been wandering around the barren land in the north, and entered Beijing as the Minister of the Ministry of War. He is a man of action with outstanding political achievements and good luck. In the cabinet, Sun Huazhen had a good attitude towards Zhang Ting'en and Li Qing. Unlike the first two, he could not believe a word of the kind words he said.

Sun Huazhen entered the cabinet as Minister of War, and was also a hawk who fought against rebellions in the Western Regions. Because he was a civil servant, in the eyes of nobles, he was the number one enemy launched by the civil service group to compete for military power.

In fact, after the rebellion was suppressed, the strategy of using border troops to occupy the capital camp was exactly done by Sun Huazhen, so it is not an injustice to him.

However, Sun Huazhen's strategies were all based on stabilizing the court and benefiting the country. Not selfish!

"According to Mr. Li's suggestion, will the valuables you carry with you be taxed? From now on, when you pass through Chongwenmen, will you have to search your body?" Liang Daoyuan, the second assistant, spoke and stabbed the vital part with a knife.

There was no need for Li Qing to refute, Zhang Tingen replied: "Master Ci Fu is too picky, Mr. Li Ge didn't say that. From my understanding, passing vehicles should be inspected, and personal belongings naturally do not need to pay tax. Li Ge The political disagreement between the old man and Zhang was just for official business, and when Mr. Ci Fu opened his mouth to question, it must be for official business, right?"

Zhang Tingen's last sentence fully exposed his nature as an old hermaphrodite. After hearing this, Liang Daoyuan suddenly drooped the corners of his mouth and raised his beard. When he was about to speak back, he was interrupted by Emperor Chenghui coughing, and he suppressed his anger. .

Looking at Liang Daoyuan's flushed face, Emperor Chenghui sneered secretly, [Old man, I'll choke you to death, you'd better get liver disease out of anger].

The broad-minded Emperor Chenghui coughed and said slowly: "Zhang Aiqing, just talk about the matter and don't ramble."

Zhang Ting'en immediately stood up, bowed and clasped his hands: "I am guilty!"

Emperor Chenghui..., don't do this anymore. Who are you doing it for?

"I forgive you for not being guilty. Sit down. I will benefit a lot from today's meeting and the discussion of all the cabinet ministers." At this point, Emperor Chenghui paused for a moment before continuing: "Although it is good to spread the family into the family, It is indeed a little impatient, Li Qing’s suggestion is good, if you all have no objections, then let it pass.”

After Kong Zhao heard this, he stood up, and all the ministers stood up. They all bowed to Emperor Chenghui and held their hands: "Your Majesty clearly understands this, and I have no objections."

This response was carefully explored by Kong Zhao. When he first became the chief minister of the cabinet, Kong Zhao learned from Fang Baiyi. When he took the lead in speaking, he used the words "Your Majesty is wise, your principles are arbitrary, and your ministers bow to you." 】

At that time, there was no smile on Emperor Chenghui's face. Later, Kong Zhao slowly discovered the root cause of the problem based on his daily contact with Emperor Chenghui. The previous phrase was left over from the time of the Supreme Emperor. Fang Baiyi always used it that way. Emperor Chenghui always looked normal. It seemed like there was no problem, but in fact it was a big problem.

Fang Baiyi can be used in this way because he is the chief minister of the two dynasties and Kong Zhao is the successor. If he is still used in this way, a problem will arise. If Fang Baiyi, the term "remnant of the previous dynasty", is applied to the current emperor, then wouldn't his work as the new richest man be in vain?

Gotta change the words! How to change it? After careful observation, we found that the styles of Emperor Chenghui and the Supreme Emperor were very different. Before making a decision, the Supreme Emperor did not hold a cabinet meeting immediately. Instead, he called Fang Baiyi over and held a private meeting for two people. Then came the cabinet meeting, with Fang Baiyi making decisions on his behalf.

Emperor Chenghui was different. He held cabinet meetings directly and discussed them collectively. If he had any opinions, he could put them forward, or synthesize them, or adopt someone's opinions. This style of governance is recorded in the daily life notes on the side. Later generations see that the current emperor is open-minded, good at accepting advice, and follows what is good.

Probably because the current three cabinet ministers are not satisfactory, Emperor Chenghui directly appointed Zhang Ting'en and Li Qing into the cabinet. Then everyone saw that the two new cabinet ministers dared to say anything and make suggestions in the cabinet. Dare to mention it. Then Emperor Chenghui happily accepted the advice!

So, after the meeting, Kong Zhao changed the wording to the current one, and when he used it for the first time, he saw the corners of Emperor Chenghui's mouth turning up, and he probably couldn't suppress it with his hand. It was probably Empress Zhou who could make this happen. The corners of the raised mouth drooped.

They are all middle-aged men, who doesn’t know who they are?

All in all, it was a successful meeting, and the only achievement achieved in this meeting was that Liang Daoyuan, the second assistant, was injured.

Kong Zhao thought silently in his heart, hoping that Brother Liang could adjust his mentality as soon as possible and prepare to stand up and raise objections next time.

The current cabinet is really full of mysterious meanings.

For example, today's meeting was very mysterious in Kong Zhao's opinion. Zhang Ting'en proposed to increase the number of tenants into acres, but Li Qing stood up and opposed it and proposed a policy of increasing taxes in Chongwenmen. Judging from his twenty-five years of experience as an official, Kong Zhao knew without even thinking that it was most likely negotiated between Emperor Chenghui and Zhang Tingen and Li Qing respectively. Otherwise, Zhang Ting'en's anger when he held the teacup in his hand during the meeting should have been acting. He knew in advance that he would not be so deeply involved in the drama.

A few days later, when Jia Lian was saying good night to Jia She, he heard Jia She cursing: "Li Qing deserves to die! Mother XX, why doesn't God strike down with thunder and kill this guy?" Jia Lian stood in the hall and saw It was Lai Da who stood aside and witnessed Jia She swearing in the street.

Really, curse!

The scolding was ugly!

Jia Lian thought to himself that if his guess was correct, it must be related to money. Jia She would not be so excited about other things.

After entering and greeting him normally, Jia Lian smiled and reassured him: "Father, don't be angry. Being angry can damage your liver."

Of course, I added silently in my heart: "Old man, why don't you get liver cancer!" 】

Lai Da said with an apologetic smile: "Second Master Lian doesn't know. The court has issued a new rule. The Chongwenmen tax card lists more than fifty kinds of items. Anyone who passes the customs will be charged an additional 20% tax for two or more items. What a coincidence. , isn’t it the Dragon Boat Festival? A batch of goods from Jinling that I rushed over just arrived today, and fell into the hands of the Chongwenmen tax supervisor, who imposed an additional tax of two hundred taels in one breath. "

Jia Lianpi looked at Lai Da with a smile, "What are you talking about?" What does it have to do with Dongkuayuan's goods being taxed for the holidays?

Fortunately, Jia She gave an explanation angrily: "It was a gift from the government. What I was angry about was that a batch of native products brought by someone from the northeast was actually stopped when passing through the customs. Lai Da went to deal with it. , collected a tax of one hundred taels."

Jia Lian seemed to be unintentional, but in fact he asked deliberately: "Why do you rely on the housekeeper to work well?"

Lai Da stood aside, smiling more uglier than crying. The father and son were obsessed with money, right? I helped pay the tax of one hundred taels of silver. It doesn't matter if the money goes to the public. It doesn't matter if Jia Mu knows about it later. How will she explain it when Mrs. Wang asks?

If it were any other matter, Jia Lian probably wouldn't embarrass Lai Da. As for this matter, Jia Lian said there was nothing he could do to help. So he said goodbye with a smile, and on the way back, his steps became much more brisk.

No need to ask. If asked, Jia She said that he had no money, so the one hundred taels must have come from Lai Da. Judging from Jia She's shameless energy, the answer is clear. From Jia Lian's point of view, this is a fat pig being raised, but it is not time to kill the pig. One hundred taels of silver is nothing to Lai Da. The purpose of his coming is not necessarily to ask for money, but he may just do it to show others.

Jia Lian, who is fully capable of breaking out of the shackles of Jia's family, doesn't care about the mess in the backyard at the moment. In the future, when Wang Xifeng comes in, she will definitely seize the class and seize power. She can just come up with ideas from behind, and there is no need to do it herself.

Things turned out just as Jia Lian had guessed. He got up early the next day, exercised regularly, sweated, wiped himself off, and had breakfast. Guixiang began to report the daily Jia Mansion Telegram: "I heard the news when I woke up early in the morning. Yesterday. When the eldest master asked someone to bring goods from outside the customs through Chongwen Gate, he was stopped by the tax supervisor. Butler Lai went to pay the tax of one hundred taels in advance. Mrs. Wang, the second roommate, said something to the ancestor. It is said that The ancestor was very unhappy and said directly that he was tired and went back to his cage to sleep."

Uh-huh, Jia Lian nodded and continued to use his chopsticks. Guixiang saw that he was beaming with joy and continued to increase his intensity: "I personally saw everyone Lai rushing to see the ancestors. I heard that Lai Da wanted to suppress it. It is said that the matter was not suppressed, but some slanderous person spread the lie and spread it to Mrs. Wang’s ears."

Jia Lian put down his chopsticks, took the teacup, took a sip and then said calmly: "Who else could it be? Lai Da is responsible for everything outside. If he wants to suppress it, how can he still be suppressed? I just want my grandma to see that I, Lai Da, have endured not only the hardship and grievances for Rongguo Mansion, but also the meager financial resources. What’s more, I’m just for the second house, and the old man at home won’t... the boss knows. I will also remember this good thing about Lai Da, and at least I will not take the initiative to cause trouble for Lai Da in the future."

It was so dangerous that I almost told Lao Immortal.

Guixiang had a look of admiration on her face, thanks to the fact that she was the only one waiting beside her and everyone else had been driven away, otherwise the second master would not have told her this. Guixiang is very happy, which fully proves who the second master is.

I decided to raise my chin a little more when I go out.

"As long as you know this, if you spread the word, watch your skin carefully." Jia Lian reminded, lest the cinnamon fragrance spread too much. I have to say, I recently learned from Xiao An that the fragrance of cinnamon is indeed a bit floating. Well, let's just float. There is such a person around us that we can absolutely rest assured. What's wrong with being a little floaty? If something happens, the second master just needs to protect him.

That Lai Da, on the other hand, can do it, he is very good at using small tricks. Sooner or later, I will let you know what is the meaning of bright spring and peach blossoms.

Jia Lian had just finished listening to the gossip, and Xiao An came in, standing at the door and not daring to cross the threshold. Sister Guixiang has become more and more authoritarian recently!

Can't afford to offend, can't afford to offend. The main reason is that the weather is hot, so the second master wears cooler clothes in private!

"Is there something? Tell me!" Guixiang's eyes were very sharp, and she got angry when she saw Xiao An. In the past, Jia Lian always took Xiao An and four generals with him when he went out. When he returned to Dongkuayuan, his respect for Sister Guixiang was not as good as before. She must give her Check it out.

Jia Lian saw it clearly. He handed the towel for wiping his face to Guixiang, and gently patted a certain characteristic part of Guixiang. He said with a smile: "Promote stenosis!" He turned around and said to Xiao An: "Tell me, what are you doing? ?”

Xiao An was like a thunder exploding above his head. He had indeed offended Sister Guixiang, and the second master didn't even protect him.

No, you can't even enter through the inner door.

"Mr. Zhang Ge sent someone to pass the message, asking the second master to come over." Xiao An stood at the door obediently and spoke, and silently told himself in his heart that in the future, without Guixiang's consent, he would not be able to cross the threshold even if he was beaten to death.

"Oh! The teacher is good at everything, but there are too many things. If you have anything, just tell the messenger clearly. It's a hot day and I have to change clothes and go out to bask in the sun. I'm already tanned. The teacher is too important. It's not a good thing. There used to be several good-looking maids in his house, but now that the master's wife is here, there is only one who is pregnant. I can't see anything when I go there." When Jia Lian was changing clothes in the mirror, After complaining a few words, Guixiang, who was squatting in front of her to tidy up Jia Lian's clothes, almost sat on the ground with laughter.

Zhang Ting'en was asked to take sick leave. It was not his initiative, but Emperor Chenghui specifically said when he was giving the speech yesterday: "Ai Qing's face is not good, please take three days of sick leave. Alas, the tax supervisor of Chongwenmen increased taxes." Many people are making a fuss about the matter, and it gives me a headache!”

When Zhang Ting'en thanked Emperor Chenghui, he thought so, just make a fuss. Anyway, the wool comes from the sheep. Who doesn't raise a few businessmen? The tax will not fall on the merchants later?

Jia Lian was still on the way. In the Zhang family's study, the master's wife was talking to her teacher Zhang Ting'en.

"Counting the days, Anzhong will arrive in Beijing in just two days."

(End of this chapter)