Song Yi

Chapter 438: Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones
Du Wenhao said with a smile: "I probably won't be free recently. By the way, I'm going to the palace soon. Maybe things will be busy and I may be late when I come back. You can eat dinner by yourself, and you don't need to wait for me."

Xue Fei'er said: "Brother, today is Ke Yao's birthday. Sister Yuqin said that if you spare time in the palace today, you should come back for dinner..."

Du Wenhao didn't even think about it, and immediately replied: "Really? All right, I will definitely come back!"

Lian'er couldn't help laughing and said, "Don't come back empty-handed."

Xue Fei'er said: "Yesterday, Qingdai joked with Ke Yao that she is an adult, and she will find a good family for her in the next year. After all, she is now the righteous sister of your dignified minister. If you want to find a good family It's not easy, I don't know how many dignitaries in Kaifeng city stepped on the threshold and wanted to get married."

Pang Yuqin quickly winked at Xue Fei'er, but Xue Fei'er didn't seem to know the meaning of the wink, and then said: "Now she is not young, if she doesn't look for her husband's family again, she will become an old lady! Hee hee"

Du Wenhao's face darkened, he didn't speak, he went into the house with his hands behind his back, asked Yingzi to help him change his official robe, went out in silence, and rode away with the guards.

Lian'er asked softly: "What's the matter, master? It doesn't seem very happy."

Xue Fei'er curled her lips and said with a smile: "Don't you think that as long as our master is at home these two days, Ke Yao will definitely not show up?"

Pang Yuqin glared at her and said, "Fei'er, I know what you're thinking, don't think too much, you forgot that when we were on Mount Emei, Ke Yao said that in front of all of us. She won't marry our master, it's probably a coincidence that we didn't meet her."

Lian'er also echoed: "That's right, don't look at Ke Yao, although she is always smiling with everyone, she is actually very proud and arrogant in her bones. She has said more than once that she would rather be a child than others for the rest of her life. If you marry, come."

Xue Fei'er said: "People have two mouths, but you just believe it?"

Pang Yuqin and Lianer looked at each other and shook their heads.Pang Yuqin snickered and said, "You, I thought you and Ke Yao had nothing to do, so there is still a knot in your heart, worrying that she married your husband?"

Xue Fei'er heard this, her little face flushed red with anxiety, and she said: "Why can't you see it, brother just said that he won't come to dinner tonight, so we don't have to wait for him, but Yingzi just said Said today is Ke Yao's birthday, he didn't even think about it, and immediately said that he would come back."

Lianer: "That must be your overthinking, I think if it were any one of us, the master would come back."

Xue Fei'er: "We are his wives and concubines, so he will come back naturally, but Ke Yao..."

Xue Fei'er hadn't finished speaking, only heard a burst of laughter from far away, Lian'er hurriedly said to the maid beside her: "Hurry up and bring the porridge and side dishes in the kitchen for the Fourth Madam and Miss Ke Yao, they I went out without eating, and I should be hungry now."

Xue Fei'er lowered her head by herself and muttered in a low voice: "She probably has clairvoyance, so she always calculates the time when the master goes out and then comes back. You still don't believe it, hmph, let's see."

As soon as Xue Feier's words fell, Ke Yao stepped in, and saw that she was wearing a lake blue brocade jacket, white satin trousers, embroidered with three or two sporadic red plums, and wearing a pair of white brocade. The belt ties up the slender waist that cannot be grasped, and the jet-black hair is formed into a single braid, with only a plum blossom and white jade hairpin inserted. Although it is simple, it looks fresh and elegant. Walking in lotus steps, he walked in with a smile.

Pang Yuqin said, "You've been out for so long, are you hungry?"

"I'm really hungry."

"I asked them to deliver things just now, it's hot outside, let's sit inside."

The girls entered the room and sat down at the table.

Ke Yao handed a long sword in his hand to the maid beside him, and then simply wiped the sweat from his forehead with the wet handkerchief handed by the maid, and then sat down.

Seeing that no one was following her, Pang Yuqin asked curiously, "Didn't you go out with Sister Qingdai? What about her?"

Ke Yao covered his mouth and smiled, "When I was going down the mountain just now, I saw a beautiful magnolia tree by the side of the road. I said I liked it, so she insisted on picking it as a birthday present for me, but the Qiao Na tree grew on the edge of the cliff. Well, my skills naturally dare not go forward, only my sister went, it was fine when I went, who would have thought that the heavy rain last night, the cliff was loose and could not bear the strength, and it collapsed, Sister Qingdai is very skilled, naturally she couldn't fall, so she stepped down It was all mud, which made her pair of embroidered shoes dirty. So I went back to the room to change the shoes, and came to eat right away."

Only then did Pang Yuqin understand, and said: "Sister Qingdai loves you the most. Seeing you like it in such a dangerous place doesn't worry about me. We, Ke Yao, are really blessed to have such a sister who loves us so much."

The maid brought the food, and Lian'er brought a bowl of porridge to Ke Yao, Ke Yao took it with a smile, and was about to drink it, only to hear Xue Fei'er say: "Who said that only my sister is distressed, so is our master?" I love this little sister very much." After saying this, he took a look at Ke Yao first, and saw that she was drinking porridge in a leisurely manner without changing her face or beating her heart, and thought to herself, just pretend to be me, I don't know yet You little hoof, then continued: "I said earlier that I wouldn't be back tonight, but when I heard that it was Ke Yao's birthday, I didn't even think about it, so I said that I would definitely come back for dinner."

Ke Yao's heart was pounding like a deer, but his expression didn't change a bit, he just looked at Xue Fei'er's ambiguous smile and said with a smile, "That's right, I think my brother loves me too. If you don’t come back, I should blame him for treating my sister badly.”

Xue Fei'er was angry and funny, and was about to speak when Lin Qingdai stepped in. Pang Yuqin hurriedly let Lin Qingdai sit beside her, and said, "Qingdai, let's go shopping in the street after dinner and see what we can buy for the girl. Good gift."

Lin Qingdai said: "I thought the same way. I thought about it all night last night but I didn't think of a suitable one. This girl is very picky. She might not like the one we chose with great pains." After speaking, she glanced at Ke Yao with a smile.

Ke Yao said with a smile: "Everyone is so troublesome for me, I have no reason to be picky. - Sister Lian'er, are you sure?"

Lian'er said: "I've already thought about it, I've already made a decision, and I'll get it later."

"What is it?"

"I won't tell you yet!"

"Humph!"

Lin Qingdai said to Xue Fei'er: "Fei'er has decided what to buy?"

Only then did Xue Fei'er raise her head, and said: "I know what Lian'er bought, I was thinking of that kind of thing, but now I can't buy the same thing again."

Lian Er smiled and said: "It seems that we all know what Ke Yao likes, but I was the first."

Seeing that everyone was so enthusiastic about his birthday, Ke Yao couldn't help being moved, and said: "It's hard for everyone to remember so much and think about me. I am happy no matter what the gift is. Even if it is just a grass or a flower, it is everyone's heart." Ke Yao couldn't be more grateful."

Pang Yuqin: "It should be, a family should be like this, what do you think?"

Xue Fei'er jokingly said: "Now that you are an adult, we might as well marry you off this year. This can be regarded as our wish."

Ke Yao spat softly: "Well, you little girl, you didn't forget to arrange for me this day. See if I don't get you drunk tonight and let you lie in the stinky ditch outside the door to feed the stinky fish." shrimp!"

"Hmph, come on! Maybe someone is drunk and lying in the ditch!"

Everyone laughed.

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Du Wenhao rode a horse and brought the guards to the palace, got off the horse, and because he was anxious, he changed to a sedan chair, hurriedly came to the Funing Palace where the Empress Dowager Gao Taotao lived.

He didn't need to be notified when he entered Funing Palace. When he came inside, he learned that Gao Taotao didn't go to the construction site, nor was he in the house, but went to the side hall at the east gate of the palace.

After the Empress Dowager Gao Taotao listened to the government behind the curtain, when she wanted to discuss matters with the ministers, because the ministers could not enter the palace casually, and the Empress Dowager listened to the government behind the curtain after all, it was not easy to go directly to the front hall to give orders, so the large hall on the east side of the palace was closed. The side hall at the entrance is used as a place to listen to the government behind the curtain, where ministers listen to reports on government affairs and give instructions.In this way, she does not need to leave the palace, and the ministers will not enter the palace.

Gao Taotao has now gone to the place where he is listening to politics. Obviously, there is something important to discuss.Du Wenhao had to wait in Gao Taotao's bedroom.

Fortunately, after a short time, Gao Taotao's Luanjia returned to the palace. When he saw Du Wenhao, Gao Taotao was overjoyed. After stepping away from the screen, he threw himself into Du Wenhao's arms and said, "You came just in time. You came to the palace to discuss, and you just happened to come."

The two hugged each other and sat on the soft couch, Du Wenhao said: "What do you want me to do?"

"Of course I have something to do. It's what you said yesterday. I reorganized my thinking last night and thought about the things to be done first. This morning, I called the Ministers of the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of War to discuss. I issued a few decrees, and I want you to see if it is appropriate."

"Well, what's the decree?"

"It's all your idea yesterday. The first one is to cancel the tattoos of the soldiers. So the active soldiers will be paid by the court to remove the tattoos on their faces and other places for free, and new recruits will be banned. Tattoos are strictly prohibited. The second one is Let the Imperial Academy, in conjunction with the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials, formulate a plan to publicize the heroes in the battle between our dynasty and Xixia, commend the heroes, and provide compensation to the families of the martyrs. The third order is to order the whole country to stop the recruitment and expansion of the Xiang army. The fourth Dao Yi's decree is to reduce some Xiang troops..."

Du Wenhao was surprised inwardly, and quickly said with a smile: "You are so fast, which Xiang troops have been cut?"

Gao Taotao saw Du Wenhao's worry, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I decided after discussing with the Minister of the Ministry of War to cut down ten battalions (5000 people) from Guangnan Road and Xichuan Fourth Road. A little bit, accumulate experience slowly. These two places are located in remote places, and the labor of the Xiang army is very hard. The return is not very profitable, and the resistance to downsizing is much smaller. Moreover, there are many wastelands in these two places that can be reclaimed. I also decree The Ministry of Households set aside the wasteland for the reduction of these Xiang troops as land for reclamation. The reclaimed wasteland is owned by the reclaimers themselves, and the yamen will register and issue title deeds. All taxes will be exempted for the first ten years, and taxes will be halved for the next five years. At the same time It is decreed that the regular positions in the two places will be lent to them at half of the normal interest. We will try our best to ensure the smooth transition of the first reduction of Xiangjun.”

Du Wenhao happily kissed her on the cheek: "Tao Tao is amazing! You are so thoughtful!"

"Hee hee" Gao Taotao was a little proud, "Isn't it all your idea? Without you, how would I dare to do this. With you, I am more courageous."

Du Wenhao put his arms around her small waist, stroked her hair, and said in a low voice: "You hold the supreme power in your hands, you must be bold and careful, what else have you done?"

"Well, I also made a decree to set up government-run medicinal material workshops in the state capitals of the two places, and place Xiangjun who are unwilling to open up wasteland and farm land in these workshops. Those two places are authentic places for many important medicinal materials, and they are used for wholesale and finished medicines. They are all very marketable.”

"Good idea! However, how does this government-run workshop operate? How is it funded? Who is in charge?"

Gao Taotao leaned into his arms and said, "It was established according to the model you told me last time that you opened an office-private joint venture company on Chengdu Fulu!"

"Really?" Surprised, "How exactly?"

"Well... that is, [-]% of the capital is invested from the Changping warehouse, and [-]% of the capital is absorbed by local merchants. The representatives sent by the Yamen to the company are completely separated from the Yamen and cannot concurrently hold any imperial official position. The company formulates its articles of association, and the board of directors and managers are elected by the shareholders meeting A board of supervisors should also be established. Strictly follow the articles of association. Self-management, self-responsibility for profits and losses. Limited liability with company property. Pay taxes and profits according to regulations, and the local yamen must not interfere. Otherwise, you can directly sue me through the local supervisory army , I will punish severely!"

Du Wenhao couldn't help but put his arms around her and kissed her again: "Tao Tao is so good! I never thought that I would tell you this, and you would remember such complicated contents of the company. You are amazing!"

Gao Taotao smiled: "You said it carefully and clearly, so I will remember it naturally."

"Hehe, Su Shi hasn't come back yet, don't you worry that the company won't run well, so you can rest assured and boldly carry it out?"

"You have already tested it in Chengdu Fulu. I believe it can work. Let's start it first. Anyway, we have hundreds of billions of money in our hands, so we are not afraid of losing money. Hee hee."

"Haha!" Du Wenhao was delighted, "You can spend your own money from the palace treasury to ensure the progress of the reform. With your courage and the backing of the rich funds left by the late emperor, there is nothing we cannot do! You This step is well done. It not only placed Xiang Jun, but also further promoted the development of the company system. Good! Taotao, the company system is one of the most important systems in the market economy. At the beginning of its establishment, it will definitely encounter various problems Take your time. Our business in the Song Dynasty is very developed. This system will regulate the market, promote the healthy and steady development of the economy, and create more financial resources for the country. When more companies are opened, everyone will gradually accept it. Seeing the company's The good news is that we will formally promulgate the company law and regulate it at that time, and now we will encourage start-ups!"

Gao Taotao seemed to understand Du Wenhao's words mixed with modern vocabulary, and raised his pretty face and said: "Well, I listen to you!"

"Don't just listen to me. If you think it's wrong, just say it. My ideas may not be all good. Sometimes I take it for granted. We can only find out if there is any problem after we discuss it."

"Well, I think your ideas are pretty good. Besides, it doesn't matter if you take it for granted. If you make a mistake, let's correct it. If you don't try it, how will you know that your idea is not good?"

"Hey, that's right, it's called crossing the river by feeling the stones! Reforms allow you to try, but you should also allow you to make mistakes. If you make a mistake, just correct it. If you don't try, you will never know whether it is right or wrong. Haha, your thinking is very similar to that of a great man. Looks alike, no wonder you can be the leader of the country!"

Gao Taotao wondered: "Which great man?"

Of course Du Wenhao would not tell him the story about *** Chunchun, the chief architect of reform and opening up in modern society. He just smiled and said, "I don't remember either. Anyway, a leader said so. By the way, What else did you order?"

"About the buyout of military seniority. Buy out the military seniority and arrange policy arrangements for the reduced soldiers of the Xiang Army according to your ideas. The Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Officials, and the Secretary of the Ministry of War have never done this before. They all say that this method is very novel. Look at it. It took a lot of money to go out, but if we can steadily reduce the Xiang army, the savings in future expenses will be far more than that."

"Yes, this is the visionary! Anything else?"

"Yes." Gao Taotao glanced at him, and said slowly, "I also ordered to stop all reforms. I can't let this harmful reform harm the people again!"

Although Du Wenhao knew that Gao Taotao, as the leader of the conservative faction, would definitely abolish all reforms once he came to power, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.

Gao Taotao looked at him with a gloomy expression, and asked in a low voice, "Aren't you happy that I stopped implementing the reform?"

Du Wenhao forced a smile, and said in a low voice: "How could it be? The current reform has almost completely lost its shape. It has lost its original intention of reforming for the people, and has even become a competition for the benefit of the people. It's okay to abolish it. "

Gao Taotao suddenly became happy, and stroked his hair: "I think so too. You told me before that some reforms are actually good in intention and good in conception, but they are out of shape in execution. I was thinking, Since they have messed everything up, it would be troublesome if you were asked to clean up this mess, it would be better to scrap all the brains first, in the future you come up with a good idea that can benefit the country and the people, and then we will implement it, do you agree?"

Du Wenhao was both surprised and delighted: "Are you willing to let me carry out the reform?"

(End of this chapter)