my brother-in-law is the prince

At this time, Zhu Di had already pulled himself together.

At the beginning, he supported Zhang Anshi's large-scale opening of the sea, essentially because his brothers and sons were outside the domain.With the help of this open sea, they can not only support their actions in the West, but also strengthen their control.

Therefore, Zhu Di has more thoughts on controlling his brothers and sons.

Of course, he is also prepared to earn money. Zhang Anshi will definitely earn money if he makes a move. The key to the problem is how much he can earn.

In his impression, it would be great if he could increase his annual income by one million taels of silver.

It wasn't until now that Zhu Di realized that things were not so simple.

At this time, he looked at his grandson.

He waved to Zhu Zhanji and said, "Since that's the case, why didn't your uncle come to report the situation at the customs?"

Zhu Zhanji said: "My lord, Yu Qian is smelly and tough. He only cares about customs affairs on weekdays. My grandson heard that he doesn't want to make friends with anyone. It's for my uncle, for someone else... I used to work in Changshi's Mansion, but now I'm out on my own, why don't you want to meet Uncle every now and then in the name of giving a report, so as to get closer?"

"But my grandson heard that he seldom even goes to the county palace. All the reports are said to wait for the general ledger to be prepared by the customs before submitting it. Presumably... Uncle doesn't know the inside story."

Zhu Di couldn't help becoming a bit interested, and said, "There are still such people in the world?"

In fact, Zhu Di has seen many unreasonable people.Many scholars are like this, putting on a high-minded look.

But this kind of loftiness, with Zhu Di's knowledge, can be seen at a glance, but it is just a name for Qinggao, or to show his strength of character.

What's more, it's just to cater to others and put on the appearance of a gentleman, it's acting!

However, it is rare to see people like Yu Qian who concentrate on doing things while turning a deaf ear to other people.

I saw Zhu Zhanji then said: "This Yu Qian was just a juren in the past, but uncle conscripted him to the palace, first made him a secretary, and then suddenly granted him the right to customs. At the beginning, many people thought that, This person lacks experience, and I'm afraid he might make a mistake. Unexpectedly, this customs was really prepared for him..."

Zhu Di raised his eyebrows: "Zhang Qing has a way of employing people, you have to learn more."

Zhu Zhanji said: "Yes, Sun Chen knows, in fact, Sun Chen is also learning how to employ people."

At this time, Zhu Di became more interested: "Oh?"

Zhu Zhanji said: "It's like building a canal. There are hundreds of thousands of people below. Whoever knows how to build a river, who is good at controlling strong men, and who is upright can be appointed as the logistics. Such people, as long as they choose With the right person in the right position, the grandson can get twice the result with half the effort."

"But if you use the wrong person, you will definitely be in a lot of trouble. If there is an accident here today, there will be an accident there tomorrow. In the end, all the troubles will fall on the head of the grandson, and the grandson will be very annoying."

Zhu Zhanji paused, and continued: "So on weekdays, my grandson has gradually learned to observe carefully when doing things. He not only looks at people's strengths, but also looks at people's weaknesses. , I deliberately appointed him to take care of a small matter first, and if he can still handle it well, I will give him a big responsibility."

After hearing this, Zhu Di said happily, "My family's grandson is going to become a monster."

After being praised, Zhu Zhanji was also happy.

Zhu Di's mood brightened all of a sudden, and he had dinner with Zhu Zhanji. When Zhu Zhanji was about to leave, he showed a look of regret, and told him to pay attention to his body before he was willing to let him go.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Emperor, you are very fierce." Yi Shiha said with a smile beside him.

Zhu Di knocked on the imperial case, but said: "If there is any movement at the customs, it must be reported."

Yi Shiha said: "The servant obeys the order."

Zhu Di said again: "There is also Yu Qian, I need to pay attention to it."

"Yes."

Zhu Di stood up, with his hands behind his back, and said, "Ten million taels of silver, Daming has so many checkpoints, how many can earn so much silver?"

Yishi laughed and said, "This is due to His Royal Highness Wuhu County Prince!"

Zhu Di nodded, and couldn't help but said depressedly: "Why didn't I think of it at the beginning?"

He shook his head, but remained silent.

But Yishiha can quickly grasp the focus of everything that Zhu Di cares about, and gather a lot of news at the same time.

Soon, the eighteen generations of Yu Qian's ancestors were all investigated.

"Your Majesty, a few days ago, there seemed to be a rift between the Marquis of Chengyang and the customs. Besides... there are..."

Zhu Di just listened quietly.

After a long time: "What about the customs account?"

"This..." Yi Shiha looked ashamed, and said in his mouth: "It's not good to say that people from Dongchang can't get into the customs. The people in this customs are all selected by Yu Qian, one by one. All……"

If you don't wait and lose, Zhu Di said, "Wine bag and rice bag."

Hutton was also speechless.

Zhu Di said: "This Yu Qian is amazing. He made this customs like an iron barrel, airtight! This guy...he doesn't look like a scholar, but he looks like he was born in Jinyiwei."

Shiha smiled awkwardly.

But Zhu Di's joke was not funny.

At this time, Yishiha said: "Your Majesty, this account should be released after the summer tax is collected."

The summer tax collected every year is the most important thing.

Zhu Di only nodded, and then said: "Summer tax, customs duty... and the taxes of the eighteen provinces in the world, it's time to take a good look at them."

Yi Shiha said: "However... this servant has learned that the eighteen provinces... this year's annual income... should be quite a lot."

"Huh?" Zhu Di looked at him in disbelief.

"The Ministry of Households has issued a note, and is also urging all the prefectures and counties in the world to collect money and food...Xia Butang is even more earnest, admonishing the prefectures and counties, and teaching them not to count the gains and losses of one year and one year, and don't lose the big because of small things. .”

Zhu Di said: "What kind of trick is this?"

So Yi Shiha said: "Nowadays, the hearts of the people in various provinces are fluctuating, and many people are preaching the new policy of the Taiping Mansion, but it is because...they pay a lot of taxes, so His Majesty supports the land distribution."

Yi Shiha paused for a moment, and continued: "I also said that if things go on like this, sooner or later the whole world will be divided among His Highness the King of Wuhu County. And Xia Butang... just borrowed the power of His Highness the King of Wuhu County, I would like to warn all the prefectures and counties in the world not to do this thing of picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons. Hidden fields have to pay a little tax, and there are also hidden silver taxes on weekdays. You can also collect some. I want to teach your majesty to see. Even if it’s not divided, it’s still okay..."

Zhu Di couldn't help laughing when he heard this: "Interesting, this is very interesting."

In the past, the gentry concealed their land, and these lands did not have to be taxed. After Zhang Anshi's new policy, the land was divided, and there was no middleman such as gentry and scholars, and the tax was greatly increased.

Encouraging the gentry to pay money and food now is tantamount to borrowing Zhang Anshi's knife and putting it around everyone's necks to make everyone make a compromise.

If there is no compromise, Zhang Anshi will come to divide the land.

But if there is a compromise and the tax increases, maybe... everyone still has a chance.

This is obviously some kind of expedient strategy, but who would have thought that Zhang Anshi would become a trump card in Xia Yuanji's hands.

Zhu Di thought for a while and said, "The gentlemen, I'm afraid they may not be willing to obey?"

Yi Shiha said: "As far as I know, it is quite effective. The parents and officials of the prefectures and counties got the note from the Ministry of Households and took this opportunity to negotiate with the local gentry. Most of the gentry also nodded and knew that they got this For the sake of it, there is no way to do it. But... Although everyone nodded, but..."

"But when it falls on their own heads, it will look different?" Zhu Di snorted coldly.

Yi Shi laughed and said: "Almost...so some people made trouble, but it went smoothly."

Zhu Di nodded and said, "Xia Qing is a little bit capable."

Yi Shiha said: "My maidservant remembered that a few days ago... Xia Gong has been teasing His Royal Highness Wuhu County Prince."

Zhu Di raised his eyebrows: "Huh? Is there any?"

Yi Shiha said: "He contradicts His Royal Highness Wuhu County King everywhere, and every time...it is probably the same. The more so, the more impolite His Majesty and Wuhu County King are, so...they hit the scholars again. So The gentry in the prefectures and counties of the [-] provinces were all terrified when they heard that, today is the scholar who purges the Taiping Mansion, and in the future, it may be their turn."

"But the gentry are afraid, but at the same time, they are more convinced of Duke Xia. They all say... Duke Xia is speaking for them, racking his brains to preserve the seeds of scholars. For this reason, he really worked hard."

Yi Shiha said: "Because of this, the scholars and gentry in this world are both afraid and grateful for Xia Gong's kindness, so in the household department, after Xia Gong sent a note, everyone is willing to accept it."

Zhu Di snorted coldly and said, "Go into his mother's way... crooked ways. The dignified secretary of the household department always has crooked thoughts every day."

Yi Shiha thought for a while and said, "Grand Xia is helpless. He knows the benefits of the New Deal, but he also knows that the New Deal will hit the gentry like him the hardest, just like a young wife. It's hard to do both. If you can't break it In the middle, there is no right to change, as the Minister of the Ministry of Households, I am afraid that he will not be able to survive for a day."

With his hands behind his back, Zhu Di felt that there was some truth in what he said, so he nodded slightly and said, "Let's wait and see what the end result of his expedient plan will be."

Yi Shiha said: "Yes, the servants are also watching."

Yi Shiha couldn't help but feel lucky for himself at this time, he already knew about Xia Yuanji's matter, and Dongchang was not a vegetarian after all, but he kept suppressing this matter and was not in a hurry to report it immediately.

It's like shaking the burden. The burden cannot be shaken out immediately, but has to wait.

When should I wait until one time when I was not good at doing things, His Majesty was furious and blamed myself for being not good at doing things. At this time, I properly raised it.

This not only attracted His Majesty's attention, but also changed the topic.

At the same time, he also sorted out the doorway inside, and gave His Majesty the impression that he is still quite capable.

Of course, the most important thing is that money and food are also involved in this matter. His Majesty is old, and he doesn't care much about fighting and killing.But for money and food, the original intention is still the same.

…………

to late September.

It was a scorching summer day, and Nanjing was hot and humid, so that everyone in the household department refused to stay in the small duty room. Staying in the duty room was like being in a stove, which was really unbearable. rise.

Everyone likes to huddle in the hall. There is a draft in the hall, and when the wind blows, you feel refreshed.

"Duke Xia, Duke Hu is here."

After Xia Yuanji got the report, he immediately got up and said, "Go, go and meet me."

But not long after he got up, he saw Hu Guang already wearing a cool shirt, and walked in slowly.

Xia Yuanji greeted him.

Hu Guang said with a smile: "Today, Muxiu is at home and doesn't need to be on duty in the palace, but I still have some concerns, so I came here to have a look at Duke Xia."

Hu Guang respects Xia Yuanji very much. Xia Yuan Ji Nai Hubu Shangshu is his senior. Of course, they have another identity, they are all from Jiangxi.

Xia Yuanji said at this time: "Please sit down, Mr. Hu."

Hu Guangdao: "A few days ago, I went to Honglu Temple to meet Xie Gong. Xie Gong is planning to return to the Java domain. Hey... After so many years of friendship, I really don't want him to leave."

Xia Yuanji seemed to have thought of something at this time, his face was a little complicated, he hesitated, and said: "This Mr. Jie... seems to have some bad rumors."

Hu Guangdao: "I know what you want to say, and I have heard those rumors a little bit. But I firmly believe that Xie Gong will not be that kind of person, and he will not murder his fellow countrymen. These rumors, what are they deceiving people to work as coolies? Like that, it is estimated that Xie Gong offended too many people in the past, and now some people are using this to retaliate. Hey... the things in the world, the bad thing is that three people become tigers, and one mouth makes money."

Xia Yuanji said: "What did Xie Gong say?"

Hu Guang said calmly: "I only talked about the old days, asked if my relatives were in An'an, and asked about the situation in Jiangxi. Of course, I also said something... Although I am an official in the court, the current atmosphere is But it’s not good to say something like the three caves of the cunning rabbit.”

Xia Yuanji said: "He still wants to invite your relatives to Java?"

Hu Guang shook his head and said, "It should be for me too. Mr. Xie is a man who always takes one step at a time and sees three steps at everything. Sometimes he is too unreasonable to worry about."

Xia Yuanji: "..."

Hu Guang smiled and said: "Okay, let's not gossip, have you calculated the money and grain of each prefecture?"

Xia Yuanji said truthfully, "It's still calculating."

"I don't know if Xia Gong's method is effective?" Hu Guang looked worried.

Xia Yuanji's so-called method, some people in the court are at a loss, and some people have roughly guessed it, but they don't say it.

Regardless of whether they guessed it or not, everyone kept silent, but Xia Yuanji and others were not easy to speak out, but they explained it to Hu Guang.

Hu Guang is such a person. There are not many people who are harmonious with each other in the court and the field, but everyone trusts Hu Guang. Yang Rong is willing to talk to him about himself, and Xia Yuanji is also willing to share his heart with him.

Even His Majesty is quite indulgent to him occasionally.

Like Xia Yuanji, Hu Guang has complicated thoughts. Personally, they hate the New Deal, and even say they are afraid of the New Deal.

But as a court minister, he has to admit that the New Deal has solved many important problems of the court!
Especially for money and food, it is really useful.

Under this kind of ambivalence, Xia Yuanji can be said to have tried his best.

So Xia Yuanji said: "Don't worry, Mr. Hu, the money and grain of the prefectures and counties will increase a lot this time."

Hu Guang's eyes lit up, he couldn't help being a little more excited, and said, "Really? Mr. Xia...you said that..."

"I said it." Xia Yuanji said: "Judging from the official documents handed over by many prefectures and counties, many hidden fields are now willing to pay their grain. In addition...there is also a lot of silver tax, which has also increased a lot. "

Hu Guang calmed down, and said: "If this is the case, I will be relieved. From this point of view, to solve the problem of money and food, it is not necessary to rely on the New Deal. As long as the scholars and gentry in the world can understand the imperial court, they can still solve the problem of money and food. Big trouble."

He couldn't help staring at Xia Yuanji and said: "Gong Xia, tell the truth, can the growth this time surpass Taiping Mansion or other prefectures in Zhili?"

Xia Yuanji pondered for a while, then said: "It's hard to say, but one thing is certain, the difference should not be far."

"Okay." Hu Guangda was overjoyed, and even his face became a little brighter, and he said happily: "I said earlier, the New Deal is nothing special! If they can do it, we can do it too, haha... the Ministry of Household Affairs By the way, I will ask Mr. Xia to take more trouble..."

After saying that, Hu Guang stood up and said, "As for me, I have to invite some Hanlin and imperial censors..."

Xia Yuanji said: "What is Mr. Hu doing?"

Hu Guang happily said with a bit of pride: "The smell of wine is still afraid of deep alleys. This time... if the taxes in the eighteen provinces can be greatly increased, of course everyone must prepare a memorial to announce the good news. I have to praise it, if not... Duke Xia's painstaking efforts will be in vain."

Xia Yuanji smiled slightly, he understood what Hu Guang meant, and Hu Guang was well versed in court rules.

This kind of thing can only be built up if it is well praised.

In this way... the court's money and food have been settled, and the gentry can breathe a sigh of relief.

So Xia Yuanji said with a smile: "Then please trouble Mr. Hu."

"It's thanks to Duke Xia." Hu Guang said, "If it wasn't for Duke Xia's efforts to support the overall situation, I'm afraid... hey..."

The two looked at each other, quite touched.

The current situation is too difficult, especially for those like them who sleep in the west house after eating at the east house. One can imagine the hardships involved.

The two agreed, and Hu Guang was about to leave.

But at this time, a civil official came in a hurry and said in a hurry: "Duke Xia, Gong Xia... The money and grain of the Chief Commissioner of Zhejiang Province have been calculated."

When Hu Guang heard this, he immediately took back the steps he had already taken, paused, and then stopped.

Xia Yuanji was also a little anxious, so he said, "Bring it."

But when the things were delivered, Xia Yuanji took a deep breath and looked dignified.

Hu Guang also came up, and both of them stared blankly at the pile of account books half the height of a person.

After all, Xia Yuanji couldn't hold back any longer, and couldn't help but gritted his teeth and said: "I've told them a hundred times, but I still don't want to listen. I taught them to use the method of Taiping Mansion to convert money and food, but they turned a deaf ear to it."