Son of Song Dynasty

Chapter 56 The Old Man and the Old Bastard

"The household treasury does not get [-]%."

"Don't forget that there are treasuries of the local state capitals. The local government invests the most and bears the most responsibility. Even if the imperial court is reluctant, they will definitely have two shares of profit. This is already very low. We can't let it go. They only cook and wash the dishes and don’t even give you a sip of soup, right?”

Ma Shangshu is an old bureaucrat who understands the truth and knows that this is unavoidable, so he nodded again.

But it was only [-]% left, and his face was already ugly like a death row prisoner who was executed in the execution ground, as if Zhao Dezhao was cutting his flesh with a knife, and half of it had been cut off!
But Zhao Dezhao is not over yet.

"Yu Shitai still gets [-]% profit..."

At this moment, Ma Shangshu couldn't bear it anymore, and before Zhao Dezhao finished speaking, he jumped up from his chair, not even caring about his demeanor as a minister, waving his hands and shouting excitedly:

"Why should Yushitai be divided? What do they have to do with the imperial court's taxation? Just like their bluster, can they make any contribution to the imperial court's taxation?!"

The saliva of the Master Shangshu spewed out far away, Zhao Dezhao had to turn sideways to avoid it, and made a sad face.

"Master Ma, you are right, but although they have nothing to do with the court's finances, they have something to do with this king!"

"Although they are lip-smacking, their mouths can be worth millions of soldiers. If the king doesn't give them any benefits, they will criticize them in the court every day, embarrassing the king everywhere, and the deed tax will be higher. How can it be carried forward? I am afraid that I will die before I am born!"

Ma Shangshu shook his head like a rattle: "That won't work either! If you give them [-]%, leaving only [-]% to the household treasury! The collection of taxes is obviously for national use, but only [-]% goes to the treasury! Tolerable, what can't be tolerated!
Zhao Dezhao pretended to persuade: "Although [-]% is less, it is better than not having a penny. It can always relieve the financial distress."

"no!"

Ma Shangshu blushed and yelled loudly, which made Zhao Dezhao's ears ringing, and even alarmed the servants standing outside the door, causing them to look in and see that their prince had not followed Shang Shu. Only when the adults fight, can we rest assured.

Perhaps because he realized that he had lost his composure, Ma Shangshu calmed down a little, and asked Zhao Dezhao with puffy eyes: "Your Highness, have you already got through with them about giving [-]% to Yushitai?"

"Not yet. This king is also unwilling to do this. If you can delay it for a moment, you can delay it for a moment."

"Is this a request Tang Zhongcheng made to His Highness on his own initiative?"

"No. It's because I can't provoke them. After much deliberation, I feel that I can only share some benefits, so as to show my favor to Yushitai and let them not hinder my business. Ma Shangshu, you know, their words Officials can only live on a meager salary on weekdays, and there is no way to accept bribes. If they can get some extra allowances from the king, they will definitely appreciate it, and they will not chase after the king every day. .”

Hubu and Yushitai are old enemies. Due to the chaotic financial situation of the Song Dynasty, it is common for the Hubu, who is in charge of the world's wealth, to be picked on by Yushitai. A while ago, it was a question of whether to increase the land tax At that time, the two yamen still fought fiercely in the court hall.

Now hearing Zhao Dezhao's accusation of Yushitai's viciousness, Ma Shangshu couldn't help empathizing, and said angrily:

"What other business can these poor bastards be doing besides biting people? Your Highness, you are absent from today's court meeting. I don't know that old man surnamed Tang impeached you, right? He claimed that you robbed people's houses with an open fire and a stick last night. This is really chasing Your Highness every day and biting you, thanks to the Holy Majesty for repaying your innocence!"

Zhao Dezhao really didn't know about this, so he couldn't help being slightly startled, and then he sighed and said: "I can't afford to offend them, I can't quarrel with them, I can't even scold them, and I can't rely on my father every day." Protecting, after much deliberation, I can only share some benefits with them."

Ma Shangshu couldn't bear it any longer, he patted the table and said: "Your Highness, you can't quarrel but scold, this old man came to quarrel with them, scold them!"

"That would be the best!"

Zhao Dezhao then patted the table and said impassionedly:

"As long as the adults from the Ministry of Household Affairs can stand on my side in the future and suppress those poor people who play tricks in the hall, I would rather stand up to their criticisms and not give Yushitai a single copper coin. Except for [-]% of the tax money from the internal treasury and [-]% from the local state capital, the rest goes to the Ministry of Household and State Treasury. Isn’t this a public and private matter?”

"Since that's the case, why wait until the court meeting? The old man will go to his house right now, and scold that old man surnamed Tang face to face, and vent his anger for His Highness!"

As soon as Ma Shangshu flicked his sleeves, he was about to move his feet when he stood up. It seemed that he really planned to have a big fight with Tang Jixian, the imperial censor Zhongcheng.

Zhao Dezhao was like a bright mirror in his heart, this old man is not stupid, his appearance is just a deliberate gesture, he extremely dislikes the fact that Yushitai is true, but he can't even talk about friendship with himself?Therefore, the old man will not really try so hard to stand up for himself.

This Ma Shangshu just wanted to get [-]% more shares in his hands for the benefit of the Ministry of Households, and deliberately staged a show of sympathy with the enemy in front of him.

But so what?The fake Laozi will also make it real with you!

In today's fight, you, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and that person surnamed Tang really have to have a big fight!
"Sir Shangshu, wait a minute." Zhao Dezhao called Ma Shangshu to stop, and said with a smile, "Tang Zhongcheng should be here soon, and you don't have to go to his mansion all the time, Mr. Shangshu!"

Ma Shangshu was caught off guard and was startled, and said in astonishment: "This...this? How could that old man named Tang suddenly come to His Highness's residence?"

Zhao Dezhao said with a smile: "Master Shangshu, have you forgotten? This king just said that he has been considering whether to give [-]% of the Yushitai share, so naturally Tang Zhongcheng should be invited to come over for an interview."

Ma Shangshu had no choice but to sit back, and began to mutter in his heart, wondering if he had fallen into some kind of trap?But his momentum remained undiminished: "Huh! It would be best if the old man surnamed Tang came, let's see how I deal with him!"

"The old man surnamed Tang has come! Let's see how you, an old bastard, will deal with this official?!"

A loud voice sounded, and Tang Jixian, the censor Zhongcheng, appeared at the entrance of the main hall. He glared at Ma Shangshu with two bull eyes, and his hands had already clenched into fists.

When political enemies meet each other, they are naturally jealous, and Ma Shangshu is not polite, jumping up and cursing back immediately.

"Old man!"

"Old bastard!"

"Who is the old bastard calling an old man? Try another sentence!"

……

(End of this chapter)