Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 202 Unbreakable Passion

Feng Jiangyi didn't seem to see the slight movement of the emperor's expression, and bowed and said: "A few years ago, I traveled all over the world, from south to north, on a long road, passing through prosperous towns, poor and difficult villages, whether it is misty and rainy Jiangnan, It’s still the Great Desert of Saibei, and there is no place that can impress my ministers like Yunshui, it has both the elegance and gracefulness of the south of the Yangtze River, and the rough simplicity of the north.”

Emperor Yuantai's eyes were no longer sharp, he seemed to be listening to Feng Jiangyi's words with all his attention, and he seemed to recall the scene when he was in Yunshui. Spring wheat, Champa rice, what a gratifying scene!"

Feng Jiangyi smiled lightly: "Your Majesty, what I want to talk about is the various small shops in Yunshui Town."

Emperor Yuantai withdrew his contemplative gaze, "Small shop?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, when I was walking in the small town, I met Li Tingzhang of Yunshui Town, and stopped to have a chat with him."

(In Yunshui Town, thousands of miles away, Li Tingchang was sitting at the door leisurely basking in the sun, and suddenly sneezed, "Ah Chi," opened his eyes, "Who is speaking ill of me, or is someone thinking about me?"

The little great-great-grandson pulled his calf and said in a nonchalant manner, "Someone misses great-grandpa!"

"Haha... yes, someone misses me."

Li Tingchang, who has never been out of Pingding County in his life, never thought that one day, his name would be heard in the emperor's ears. If he knew, would he laugh?Uh...then don't know, haha...)
Emperor Yuantai looked at his courtier, guessing what he wanted to say and what he wanted to express.

"He told Chen that he would go around the town a few times a day. I asked him, are you exercising? He shook his head and laughed, and quickly shook his hands, saying that he was not so talkative. I asked him again, what about you? This is...he laughed, he has grown up as the master of these shops, and these shops are his children, and he is watching the children's future..."

"Promise?"

"Return to the Holy Lord, the 'progress' in Li Tingchang's mouth refers to the business tax."

Emperor Yuantai obviously sensed that there was something strange about the ministers in the court, and his eyes were sternly swept away, making people shiver.

Feng Jiangyi continued his own words: "I turned my head around, and as far as I could see, there was a small town, counting the itinerant vendors, and there were only a few dozen. What's the 'promise', Li Ting The boss seemed to see my disbelief, and proudly said that despite the fact that there are only a few dozen of these shops, big and small, he stretched out a finger to show the minister, and the annual income is this amount."

Emperor Yuantai looked at a branch that Feng Jiangyi stretched out, squinting his eyes to guess how much silver it represented.

"My lord, did you guess 1 taels?"

"Isn't it?" Emperor Yuantai's eyebrows moved slightly.

Feng Jiangyi smiled: "Your Majesty, that's right, it is 1 taels. You are comparing it with the prosperous capital city. If you compare it with Yunshui Town eight years ago, you will understand, Chief Li Ting Why are you walking around the streets every day like a parent looking after a child."

"Eight years ago?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, the total income of the Yamen in Yunshui Town was less than ten taels eight years ago."

Emperor Yuantai narrowed his eyes.

"My lord, there are nearly 20 officials and officials in the yamen of Yunshui Town, and the total income of the yamen is less than ten taels, less than ten taels..." Feng Jiangyi's words suddenly changed, "My lord, the largest shop in Yunshui Town is not as good as The princess of Beijun smashed one-tenth of any one of them, and besides, there are 1 taels of business taxes, and there are tens of millions of shops in the capital, how many business taxes are there? Why do you only see prosperity, but no money?"

Emperor Yuantai stood up from the dragon seat, with his hands behind his back, his eyes were cold: "What does the grand master want to say?"

"Your Majesty, since these shops stand here only to cheat money, but not to pay business taxes, what use are they for? It's better to let the princess of Beijun smash them down."

Emperor Yuantai stood silently on the high steps of the Dragon Throne, looking down at the court minister, the dragon's body was stern, and his gaze was intense: "Grand Master, tell me what you want to say."

"Chen..." Feng Jiangyi took a deep breath, and was about to speak, but was picked up.

Xia Zhen stepped forward, saluted and said, "Your Majesty, can I interject?"

"Say—" Emperor Yuantai looked at him coldly.

"My lord, before my daughter-in-law was exiled, there were not many shops in Yunshui Town, so the total income of the yamen was less than ten taels of silver. After my wife was exiled, my daughter-in-law took the lead in building shops in the town to start a small business, which immediately drove Yunshui The prosperity of the yamen, so in three or four years, the total harvest of the yamen reached 1 taels."

Emperor Yuantai sneered leisurely: "You mean that your daughter-in-law is a capable person, and she managed to make Yunshui rich by herself. Is that what you mean?"

"Your Majesty, it means this and it doesn't mean that."

"Xia Zian..." Emperor Yuan Tai's eyes showed murderous intent.

Xia Zhen seemed to have disappeared, and continued: "My lord, what I mean is that seven years ago, my wife and Chief Li Ting fought wits and bravely, bought land and built a shop, so..."

"So she became the leader, and everyone behind followed by buying land and building shops."

"Yes, my lord."

"Seven years ago it was construction, and seven years later it was smashing. Xia Zian, tell me, what excuses do you use to exonerate your daughter-in-law."

Xia Zhen raised her eyes, her gaze was steady: "Your Majesty, the saint said, if you can't break it, you can't stand it."

Yuan Tai's sharp eyes narrowed with murderous intent: "No break, no stand?"

"My lord, of the 36 debt receipts, only one is the signature of my third uncle, and the other 35 are forged. My daughter-in-law has already had someone submit it to Jingzhao Mansion. My lord, for the rest, Jingzhaoyin will not only give us justice. , I am responsible for you, Your Majesty!" The last sentence was said by Xia Zhen with a lot of meaning.

Emperor Yuantai heard the meaning, and after a short pause, he looked at Feng Jiangyi.

Feng Jiangyi said: "The formulation of the business class is a matter of the household department, and the implementation of the business class is a matter of Jingzhao Yin's Yamen. My lord, you have to be held accountable."

All the ministers in the court stood silently, lowered their eyebrows and lowered their eyes, but in their hearts, they all wished to beat this naughty son from the north to the ground. If everything was done according to the rules, what money would they earn.But now, except for hatred, they can't open their mouths, because others hold their handles tightly in their hands.

Emperor Yuantai remained silent.

Feng Jiangyi chuckled lightly.

Emperor Yuantai looked at him.

"My lord, do you want to ask the old minister why he is laughing?"

Emperor Yuantai responded indifferently.

"Your Majesty, this old minister suddenly remembered a folk proverb called 'It's not that one family does not enter one family'. Xia Zi'an is called a fool by the people in Beijing, and Ma Erniang's impulsiveness to smash the shop is really the same as him."

Emperor Yuantai's eyes were dark, he stared at Feng Jiangyi, then at Xia Zhen, suddenly raised his head and laughed, "Haha..."

Everyone in the court hall was terrified by the emperor's smile, except for Xia Zhen who was downcast, and the grand master who was still looking at the emperor lightly.

"Haha..." Emperor Yuantai's laughter echoed loudly in the hall and lingered for a long time.

The eunuch Fang Yuyuan was sweating from the emperor's laughter. It's going to be the winter of the twelfth lunar month!
Inside the palace, there is a certain courtyard. This is the place where the eunuchs live and rest. Outside the courtyard, the north is whistling and yellow leaves are flying. Inside the courtyard, in the graded rooms, several young father-in-laws have been staying here for more than an hour. .

"Why didn't anyone report that Xia Zhen made such a big move?"

"I... I have already sent someone to ask. The people below were careless. They didn't guard Yan Beijun's palace at all. Let them find out the bottom line of these 36 families."

"It's really... It's really a wine bag and a rice bag."

"Feng... Eunuch Feng, now is not the time to scold these things. Now is the time to figure out how to get out and save your life!" A little eunuch trembled in fright.

Everyone fell silent when they heard his words, and now they really have to think about how to get out and how to save their lives, but the Grand Duke is still in court, and there is no chance to see him at all.

People like them have no other choice but to find him.

In the afternoon at Shen Shizheng (downward at 4 o'clock), the court finally dispersed, and people from the early court came out of the palace gate one after another. A carriage just stopped at the gate, and Xia Zhen knew whose carriage it was at a glance.

When Liu Zaili got off the carriage, he happened to meet Xia Zhen who was leaving the palace gate, and was about to lift his feet into the carriage. As soon as he got up and down, the eyes of the two men met in the cold wind, one was indifferent, the other was dark, and even the most basic There is no etiquette, just pass by.

"I advise you not to test the imperial power. It doesn't matter if you don't want your life, but others do." When the carriage passed by Liu Zaili, he couldn't help but say it.

Xia Zhen stretched out her hand to pick up the car curtain, squinted her eyes and smiled, "The gold mine will be dead one day, but the thousands of shops are alive, as long as they exist, there will be money to collect, you say Is that right, Yancheng County King?"

Liu Zaili looked at him coldly.

Xia Zhen didn't take it seriously, the corners of her mouth raised slightly, and she put down the curtain in her hand, "Let's go—"

"Drive—drive—" the coachman drove the carriage quickly.

Liu Zaili looked at the back of the carriage, tightened his cloak suddenly, and strode into the gate of the palace city.

At dusk and twilight, the sun has put away its dim light, as if afraid of the cold, and hid in the thick clouds like cotton wadding. Slowly, the northwest wind soaked and blew every corner. After a while, the ground, houses, etc. A thin layer of frost had condensed on it.

On a quiet winter night, the moonlight was as cold as water, and the carriage was hustling on the street, crossing the long road in the hazy moonlight, and the chilly wind was blowing.The bare trees, like bald old men, could not withstand the attack of the northwest wind and swayed in the cold wind.

"Where is the madam?"

"Master Hui, in West Neighborhood."

"How many houses?"

"Thirty."

Xia Zhen nodded, "That's coming soon."

"Yes, Lord, with the help of Luoyang County King, it's much faster. When you arrive, it will almost be over."

"Hmm." Xia Zhen lost the self-confidence she had when facing Liu Zaicheng, her complexion was heavy and tired, and she sighed secretly, the capital city is really not a good place, not to mention lunch, even dinner might not be available.

When Liu Zaicheng arrived at the imperial study, Feng Jiangyi and the others were standing in front of Emperor Yuantai, and he did not disturb them, but stayed aside and waited.

Emperor Yuantai's eyes were heavy, "Master, it's really good that you and Xia Zi'an sang together!"

"My lord, can I tell the truth?"

Emperor Yuantai rolled his eyes, "I won't let you tell the truth?"

"Your Majesty, the old minister didn't know that the Princess of Beijun brought six hundred guards to smash the restaurant until the palace guard rushed in to report. There was absolutely no lie."

Emperor Yuantai's eyes were shining brightly: "You mean, you don't protect the little lady of the Ma family everywhere?"

"The old minister has selfishness, but compared to state affairs, this selfishness is not worth mentioning. Your Majesty, it is true that Ma Erniang will seek justice for herself, but why is it not our chance?" Feng Jiangyi said: "There are accumulated evils in Beijing. It’s not a day or two, and it’s a fact that the national treasury is empty. Your Majesty, it’s time to beat these aristocratic families and clans. They can’t just enjoy the great country that your Majesty has built for them, and don’t do some practical things for the Great Wei Dynasty. Let them pay the business class on time The tax, the veteran thinks it is not too much."

Shang Shuling turned his head and said: "Master Feng, since you have said that the problem has been accumulated for a long time, how can you solve it all at once?"

"That's why I feel that today's matter is an opportunity." Feng Jiangyi looked serious, "My lord, I feel that there is no better opportunity than this time."

Emperor Yuantai frowned, "Grand Master Feng will stay, and the rest will leave."

"My lord..." Even Shang Shuling was not left behind, he spoke eagerly.

"Go on, there is something to do, we will talk about it in the morning after five days."

"Holy..." Shang Shuling retreated in the cold eyes of the emperor.

"come..."

"My lord—"

"Is Zili here?"

"Return to the Holy Lord, my minister is—"

Yuan Tai finally said: "Leave everything else aside, let's see what's going on behind the deceitful money, what it looks like when the city is full of trouble, you should catch it, you should kill it!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will do it right away."

Fang Yuyuan, who was standing behind Emperor Yuantai, glanced at Liu Zaili quietly, but the other party didn't see him at all, and his face darkened.

After Liu Zaili left, Emperor Yuantai said directly, "Is this how I let Xia Zian and his wife go?"

Feng Jiangyi smiled wryly, "Your Majesty, in fact, you have already let Xia Zian go."

"Why don't I know?"

"Your Majesty, you didn't keep him when the court was over, you just let him go."

"This brat is still the same as three years ago. I have to wipe his ass for everything." Emperor Yuantai asked angrily: "Teacher, tell me that she smashed the restaurants of so many princes and ministers in the capital." , how can I explain to them, and how can I save my face?"

"My lord, if you rush to collect business tax, I'm afraid no one will have the face to cry in front of you."

Emperor Yuan Tai looked at him in silence.

Feng Jiangyi continued to urge: "Your Majesty, there is still more than a month to celebrate the New Year, hurry up, I am afraid that the treasury will have money for the New Year."

"You..." Emperor Yuantai was so angry that he pointed at Grand Master Feng, "You help them like this?"

Feng Jiang Yi saluted greatly: "Your Majesty, the old minister is your minister, and what he takes is your salary, so I can only think of the Holy Majesty."

"Huh——" Emperor Yuantai snorted coldly, "Since you say so, then I will let you show your loyalty, and you will collect the business tax money."

"My lord, I am not the one to accept it, but don't worry, the old minister will let them accept it."

The former sentence made Emperor Yuantai almost lose his face, but the latter sentence finally settled down, "Well, then I will wait."

"My lord, if there is nothing else, the old minister will leave first."

"Go down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Feng Jiangyi can finally go home.

Emperor Yuantai sat behind the dragon case and didn't move for a long time.

The cold wind seemed to blow into the imperial study room through the gaps in the window sills. The oil lamp was shining, Fang Yuyuan stepped forward lightly, and stretched out his hands to close them.

Emperor Yuantai was awakened, "Yuyuan, do you think you can collect money by the end of the year?"

"Returning to the Holy Master, Grand Master Feng will go out, from the head office."

Emperor Yuantai nodded, "I also believe in him." After speaking, he sighed as if relaxed, "Is it really like Xia Zi'an said 'no break, no stand'?"

Seeing that the wick stopped jumping, Fang Yuyuan turned his head and said softly, "Your Majesty, since the Grand Master is out, you can relax and go to rest."

"Well, then go to rest." Emperor Yuantai stood up, "I'm going to sleep well."

After finally taking care of the emperor, Fang Yuyuan hurried back to his residence, he felt bad when he entered the room, but he has been walking in the palace for many years, he has become an old fox, his face is still calm and calm.

"His Majesty is asleep?"

"Yes, Prince Yan." Fang Yuyuan bowed his waist and smiled, "You are..." He glanced at the little father-in-laws who were being put on the ground.

"Fang Gonggong, you know better than me!"

Fang Yuyuan still had a grin on his face: "Jun Wang, this old servant knows that you are working for the Holy One, as long as these boys have dirty hands and feet, you can arrest them."

"Eunuch..."

"Eunuch..."

……

The little father-in-laws turned pale with shock, "Elder-in-law, we didn't do anything!"

"Eunuch, what are we..."

Fang Yuyuan waved his hand, and the little father-in-laws immediately fell silent.

"Young King Yan, take him to investigate. If there is real evidence, this old servant has nothing to say. If there is no evidence, please let him go back."

The little father-in-laws were less nervous when they heard him say this, as if they had received some guarantee, and let Liu Zaili's men guard them.

Liu Zaili hooked his lips slightly, and raised his hand: "I'm sorry!" With a wave of his hand, "Take it away!"

"Yes, the king of the county."

After a while, a group of people disappeared into the room, Fang Yuyuan straightened his hunched waist, with a deep expression on his face.

The servant beside him said softly: "Eunuch, these people—"

"How many can be guaranteed?"

"Keren has been taken away by Yan Cheng, can he come back?"

Fang Yuyuan narrowed his eyes, "I can always come back one or two!"

"Elder-in-law..." The waiter was startled: "Then the person you worked so hard to cultivate is not..."

"It must be folded when it should be folded!" Fang Yuyuan looked quietly outside the door.

-

When Xia Zhen arrived, as he had guessed, the last restaurant had already been destroyed, and more than a dozen playboys were chatting excitedly.

Just as Ma Min'er wanted to invite Liu Zaicheng to dinner, she raised her eyes and saw her own man, turned around and ran outside, her footsteps were as light as a little swallow.

The playboys who were making a fuss were surprised by her sudden running, and followed her figure to see that the king of Beijun had come.

"Xia Zhen—"

Xia Zhen opened her arms with a smile on her face, watching the little daughter-in-law running towards her, seeing nothing but her.

After a whole day's work, Ma Min'er was physically and mentally exhausted, so she threw herself into his arms, "You're here."

"Yeah." He embraced the little daughter-in-law with both hands, and rested his forehead on the top of her head.

"Xia Zhen..." Ma Min'er murmured, as if there were thousands of words in her heart, but only these two words came out of her mouth.

I don't need thousands of words, I understand everything, Xia Zhen's arms hugged her tightly again.

This pair of young people have been going through a sea of ​​​​blazes all day long, and if they are not careful, they will be swallowed by a sea of ​​swords and flames.

In front of the last big restaurant, a group of playboys stood there quietly, quietly watching the husband and wife show their affection. At this moment, they seemed to understand something, but also seemed to understand nothing.

Liu Zaicheng pursed his lips. Unbeknownst to him, his state of mind had quietly changed, allowing him to instantly understand the difficulties and dangers of the adult world from a jerky and unscrupulous kid.

After embracing each other for a long time, Ma Min'er's ups and downs but pretending to be calm was comforted. She was always worried about Xia Zhen's situation in the palace. .

"How about it?"

"Thank you, Master Feng."

"Oh." Ma Min'er understood that the play they sang was echoed by Mrs. Jiang, and the scene ended successfully with basically no hidden dangers.

Xia Zhen felt scared now: "I have been holding my breath, afraid that no one will respond."

"As long as there are people in the palace who think about Wei Chao, there will be someone who will stand up and say something fair." Ma Min'er said softly.

"But apart from Grand Master Feng, I can't think of anyone else."

"That's right, my grandfather is too upright. He won't see the opportunity from this incident, let alone take advantage of it. It can only be Master Jiang." Ma Min'er raised her head, "Where is my grandfather?"

"He and I went down the court one after the other."

"Oh." Ma Min'er sighed, and turned to look at the group of young people, "Why don't you just come here and treat everyone to a meal?"

Xia Zhen laughed, and tapped her on the head with her hand, "You can do it, smash up other people's restaurants, and even blackmail them."

"Hee hee!" Ma Min'er said, "We only smashed the lobby and didn't move anything else. If he doesn't give us a meal, I'll let these impulsive young people smash their house up and down. "

"Haha..." Xia Zhen laughed.

Liu Zaicheng saw that the young couple was finally bored, and came to the young couple with sour steps, "Xia Zi'an, brothers have done their best."

Xia Zhen smiled and said, "How about letting you feel the boldness of the north?"

"The boldness of the north?" Liu Zaicheng couldn't imagine what it means to be bold in the north.

-

When Feng Jiangyi returned to the mansion, it was already the end of Xushi (9 o'clock in the evening), Feng Zhiping had been waiting for his father, and when he met him, he asked, "Father, why is it so late?"

"Did you handle Ma Erniang's smashing of the restaurant?"

"Yes, father, but now Jing Zhaoyin has taken over."

"Jing Zhaoyin?"

"Father, Governor Wei is your protégé, and he has always wanted to squeeze into the center."

"Then his chance has come." Feng Jiangyi narrowed his eyes.

"Father, when I came back, the emperor didn't send anyone to arrest Princess Beijun, did he let it go?"

Feng Jiangyi nodded: "Xia Zian and his wife are impeccable in their work. The emperor didn't catch them. Even if he wanted to catch two of his subordinates, he couldn't find a way to kill them."

Hearing this, Feng Zhiping sighed, "Father, a chicken with no hands..."

"Wrong, punch four dudes."

"Father—" Feng Zhiping smiled helplessly: "I'm just making a comparison."

Feng Jiangyi also laughed.

"From morning to night, even I may not be able to bear it."

"So, take a good wife of the third generation of Wangfu."

"Father, where have you gone again?" Feng Zhiping said helplessly.

Feng Jiangyi said with a serious expression: "The heart of being a father is very heavy."

"Father?"

Feng Jiangyi said: "I hope that in this opening, we can use points and areas to implement the business taxation in the capital, reduce tax evasion and avoidance, and make the treasury of the Wei Dynasty have money to use."

-

Half an hour later, in front of the last big restaurant, the shopkeeper of the restaurant kept shouting: "Everyone... everyone... this is the entrance of the restaurant, no fire... no charcoal fire..."

(End of this chapter)