Chasing King

When Yan Sikong came out of Yan Zilian's study, he was still in a trance.

The person Yan Zilian just mentioned is princess wanyang, the daughter of Xianfei, and the cousin of Fengye.

From Yan Zilian's point of view, Xianfei is the younger sister of King Jingyuan, and her relatives are powerful. Princess wanyang is intelligent and is loved by the emperor. If Yan Sikong can really become his son-in-law, she will surely rise to the top. No matter what kind of wind and rain there is in the temple, no one can easily move him.

Yan Zilian had already mentioned this matter with emperor Zhaowu. Emperor Zhaowu didn't say yes or no. he said that wanyang would be 15 years old and discuss it again in two years. However, as long as he didn't refuse, this matter was mostly accomplished in Yan Zilian's mind.

Yan Sikong can only be sure today that it took him more than a year to become Yan Zilian's most valued student and future successor, so now he has begun to pave the way for him. He does have all the conditions for Yan Zilian's appreciation, and he is the only one who has not yet got married. Yan Zilian's plan is very comprehensive. He should be grateful and happy.

Just think that the princess is Fengye's cousin, and Fengye What will Fengye do?

Yan Sikong patted his forehead to clear his mind.

Why does he have to think about Fengye?

Maybe Fengye started his family earlier than he did. Maybe Fengye was full of vigour before the Spring Festival. For a moment, when the freshness had passed, he would not like it any more. In any case, it is a great thing to be the emperor's son-in-law, and it will certainly help him a lot.

Marry who is not marry, naturally want to marry a most useful, not Wanyang princess, sooner or later is someone else.

He and Fengye will eventually go back to their respective places. This ambiguous and troublesome relationship will become a thing of the past.

-

in the middle of winter, all the government roads along the south coast of the Yangtze River wrote to the imperial court one after another, saying that it had suffered from a snow disaster that was hard to meet in 600 years, and that the people's livestock had been frozen to death and suffered countless frostbite. They asked for funds to survive the winter.

The weather of that year was extremely strange. The North was much warmer than in previous years, but the South was very cold. The people in the South didn't have much material resources to protect themselves from the cold. A snow disaster caught them unprepared and caused heavy losses.

According to the records of meteorology, the last time such an extreme climate appeared was in the Han Dynasty.

The disaster was extremely ominous, which shocked the government and the public for a while.

In the early Dynasty, Emperor Zhaowu discussed the disaster relief with his officials, but he didn't think it was very difficult.

First, the heavy snow blocked the official roads and made it difficult for food and clothing to enter. Second, the most important thing was that the year was approaching and the National Treasury was tight.

That morning, the Court opened from dushuang to noon. It is said that it didn't come up with a good strategy in the end.

When Yan Zilian returned to Wenyuan Pavilion, he sighed frequently, his brows were hard to stretch, and the atmosphere of the Imperial Academy did not dare to breathe.

After a while, Yan Zilian called Yan Sikong and Shen Hexuan into the study.

They sat down respectfully.

"Have you heard about the snow disaster in the south?"

They nodded.

"Today morning, ah..." Yan Zilian touched his forehead and said, "it's very noisy about the disaster relief."

Yan Sikong asked, "does your majesty have instructions?"

Yan Zilian shook his head and looked at them: "I have discussed with the ministers just now, and there is no final conclusion. It's not up to you two to think about this, but you are the prince's aides. To train you as a teacher is to train future monarchs. Therefore, I want to hear your opinions. "

They look at each other, Yan Sikong makes a "please" gesture to Shen Hexuan.

Shen Hexuan cleared his throat: "the difficulty of the snow disaster lies in the tight state treasury. In recent years, in order to resist barbarians, the military expenditure is huge. Now it's the end of the year, and the taxes are almost spent. Students think that the most important thing now is to raise money."

"It's obvious." Yan Lianglian said, "how can you gather money?"

Shen Hexuan pondered for a moment: "the students thought that they could levy a sea tax on Jiangnan to solve the urgent problem of the national treasury."

Yan Zilian didn't move, but a trace of unhappiness flashed in his eyes.

Yan Si hollow think, this Shen He Xuan is ignorant or bold fat, even this words also dare to speak casually.

Yan Zilian was born in Jiangnan. Jiangnan is a rich place. He is rich in talented scholars, scholars and poets. In every scientific examination, there are more scholars in Jiangnan than in all provinces of China. Therefore, most of the officials of Yan Zilian's group come from here to fight with the eunuch party equally.

There was no division between government and business. Local officials and businessmen had many in laws. Naturally, Yan Zilian had to fight for taxes for the rich businessmen and peasants in his hometown. The sea tax was a big tax in the local area, which was much less than that in Shengning Zong period under the planning of the officials of the gentry.

In fact, what Shen Hexuan said is reasonable. If we impose heavy taxes on the rich and the poor, the disaster will be alleviated. However, to impose the sea tax would offend a large number of Jiangnan gentry, and the eunuch party used the sea tax to suppress the gentry for a long time. The two sides had many disputes over the sea tax. How could Yan Zilian lift a stone and hit himself in the foot.

Yan Sikong admires Shen Hexuan's courage, but also for his sweat. Because of Shen Hexuan's uprightness, Yan Zilian has been upset for many times. Yan Zilian has become more appreciative of himself, which is also related to Shen Hexuan's disappointment.Yan Zilian's tone was really a little cold: "the extra tax increase, is not to tear down the east wall to make up the west wall, this move will make the people angry, absurd."

"When it's unusual, it's necessary to have..."

"Shut up Yan Zilian did not hide his anger. He turned to Yan Sikong and said, "Sikong, what's your good plan?"

Since Yan Sikong heard about the snow disaster, he knew it was an opportunity.

According to his original plan, she Zhun successfully passed on the news of "King Liang's Rebellion" to Yeli, and then it flowed into Xie Zhongren's ears. Then the rumors were broadcast to the capital, and even the emperor was alarmed. It took at least three months. In addition, the emperor investigated the two lakes and thought about countermeasures, and then it would take one or two years, no matter what happened or not. What's more, the king of Liang didn't make any real moves, and the matter was mostly settled in the end. What he laid was a long-term situation, and what he sowed was a wide and sparse net. At present, he just wanted to plant a seed of suspicion in the emperor's heart.

However, if the snow disaster works properly, what he will plant will not only be a seed, but may be a small sapling. As for whether he can grow into a towering tree, it still needs all parties to "water and fill".

Yan Sikong said hastily: "teacher, students think that the tight state treasury is not a loss of taxes. The expenditure of the court, the military and the patriarchal clan is the major part of the expenditure over the years. If we want to nourish the state treasury, we should start from the major part."

Yan Zilian nodded: "this is true. In recent years, in order to support the army, Yang Shangshu of the Ministry of household has worked hard day and night for this, and every national use can be saved. However, the three big heads you mentioned are the heaviest and the most difficult to cut down. "

"The army is used to defend the country's foundation, and the palace is the face of the royal family. It's impossible for the province to save, only..." Yan Sikong wants to say nothing.

Yan Zilian naturally understood and was silent again.

Dasheng has enjoyed more than 200 years of state power. The royal family has been scattered. These Fengzi and Longsun enjoy the salary of the imperial court, and they have no taxes. They are greedy, and they also exploit the common people's land by relying on their power. It is known to all that the expenditure of the imperial family is one of Dasheng's worries, which can not be changed by one dynasty or one official.

Yan Zilian sighed: "it's even more difficult to reduce the expenditure of clansmen than to cut down the expenditure of military and court."

"When it comes to the last resort, our ministers will rise to meet the difficulties." Yan Sikong said solemnly, "students should not be the first to mention reducing the salary of the imperial clan. I'm afraid they are not the only one."

Yan Zilian waved his hand: "there are some things I wanted to do when I was young, but I can't take that step, even now..." He said in a deep voice, "it's not timid to be a teacher, but it's too much involved. Don't act rashly."

Yan Sikong arched his hand and said, "students understand. As a great country, we must have better strategies to deal with disasters. "

Yan Zilian nodded in frustration.

Shen Hexuan frowned deeply.