Come on, Your Highness

The township examination, also known as Qiuwei, is held in late autumn.

But before that, Xiao Hong's birthday arrived.

The eldest prince's 15th birthday is considered a big day, and the emperor's congratulatory gift arrived early in the morning.

The head of the House of Internal Affairs brought the gift list and read aloud the rewards, first-class good things, antique calligraphy and paintings, carved ornaments, the four treasures of the study... The servants came in holding one by one, occupying a whole yard, and led along the road. A lot of envy.

However, Xiao Hong didn't feel very happy when he saw this. He whispered to He Xichao: "These are all fancy and useless. They are piled up in the warehouse and can't be sold. They are said to be exchanged for silver."

He Xichao looked around and saw that they were all good things, which showed the emperor's love and importance for the first prince who was about to open his mansion.

Along with these came today's most important decree of canonization, Xiao Hong was canonized as the Prince of England, and three days later the Dachao was formally conferred, and at the same time, he was rewarded with 30 taels of Anjia silver.

Hearing the settling fee of 30 taels, Xiao Hong suddenly smiled, "Father is not stingy."

30 taels is a lot less, or more, but it can last for a while, and the rest depends on oneself.

"Your Highness, if you want to thank you, go later. The emperor just summoned several important ministers to discuss. If you go early, you have to wait." The eunuch who passed the decree put a heavy purse into his arms and said with a smile on his face.

Xiao Hong nodded, "Thank you for reminding me, Eunuch."

Afterwards, congratulatory gifts from various palaces and courtyards arrived one after another. After all, he was a prince, so the congratulatory gifts were not light, and Xiao Hong even made a fortune.

A banquet was held at noon, and several princes and elders outside the palace also brought congratulatory gifts. After a night of drunkenness in the Xishan paddock, the atmosphere among the brothers became much more harmonious.

After the feast, Xiao Hong took a nap and went to the main hall of the Qing Dynasty to thank Emperor Tiangan for his kindness.

Emperor Tiangan took a moment to see him, looked at Xiao Hong's foolish look, and couldn't help but sneered, "I'm so happy with 30 taels? If I add more, will it make you sleepless?"

Xiao Hong blinked his eyes, his eyes flashed all of a sudden, and he said pleasantly, "Are you going to subsidize your son in private?" He rubbed his hands, pretending to be reserved, "That's so embarrassing..."

Emperor Tiangan leaned on the dragon chair, flicked the tea foam, and said leisurely: "I'm sorry..."

"Don't!" Xiao Hong immediately jumped up, "If you want, you have to come by yourself to eat and drink after opening the mansion. The cost is huge. After the mansion is repaired, it needs to be decorated. Every flower, grass and stone cost money. 30 Wan Liang can't help but spend. It's still the father who loves his son, how can I refuse your love for me!"

Emperor Tiangan chuckled and glanced at Eunuch Huang.

The latter held a brocade box in his hand, and held it in front of Xiao Hong with a smile, "Your Highness, the emperor ordered this old slave to prepare it early in the morning, and I will give it to you as soon as your birthday comes."

Xiao Hong happily opened the box, took out a stack of banknotes from it, and counted them without hesitation, the more he counted, the happier he became, and at the end he exclaimed, "Father, Dad, why are you so good, Honger loves you so much!" You are dead!"

"What a mess, I don't have any scruples in speaking." Emperor Tiangan cursed with a smile, but seeing Xiao Hong's undisguised joy, he couldn't help but have a deep smile in his eyes.

Xiao Hong didn't take it seriously, "What is the relationship between our father and son in private? My son is happy just to let you know, and he also pays attention to whether he is tired or not. Ah, I got rich all at once."

"Profit, only 10 taels."

"It's a matter of 10 taels, it's your wish, it's worth more than a thousand dollars!" Xiao Hong poured out basket after basket of good words, as if he didn't want money.

Emperor Tiangan found that as long as he saw Xiao Hong and listened to his nonsense, he would be in a good mood, so he gave the 10 taels willingly.

"Keep the money well, don't publicize it after you go out, if people know, there will be no next time."

When Xiao Hong heard it, he immediately burst into joy, nodding his head like a chicken pecking at rice, "I know."

Looking at his cool expression, Emperor Tiangan seemed to say casually: "It's your birthday, let the imperial dining room make you a bowl of longevity noodles."

Xiao Hong waved his hand, "No need, Xi Chao said he would do it for me."

Emperor Tiangan took a sip of his tea, "Really... someone cooks for you, it is indeed more meaningful than cooking in the kitchen, no matter how bad it is, it is delicious."

"No, father, my son will leave first, thank you very much." Xiao Hongyang raised the banknote in his hand, stuffed it into his clothes, and then saluted neatly, his eyebrows brightened, and he walked away briskly.

Emperor Tiangan looked at his back, and suddenly his face turned cold for a moment, and he snorted.

Eunuch Huang blinked in surprise. Wasn't the atmosphere of fatherly kindness and filial piety just now very good? Why did the emperor become unhappy in a blink of an eye?

Eunuch Huang thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure out why. He secretly looked sideways and found Emperor Tiangan staring at him.

His heart trembled, he almost knelt down, and finally asked carefully: "Your Majesty?"

Emperor Tiangan ignored him, lowered his eyes and drank tea, and after drinking a cup of tea, he seemed to sigh with emotion, "Next month, my birthday will also come."

When Eunuch Huang heard this, he was taken aback for a moment, and then suddenly realized that he almost beat his chest and stamped his feet.

Face, face!

Oh my God!Your majesty, you want to remind the eldest prince not to forget to make noodles for you, please make it clear, how could he think of just such a sentence?

When Xiao Hong returned to Jing'an Palace, He Xichao was writing a paper, which didn't look like a paper, so he asked, "Xi Chao, what are you writing?"

"Brother Xie, doesn't he want to resign and go to the Western Regions?"

"You have a good idea?"

He Xichao gave him the brochure, "Look at it."

"This is... the frontier defense business we discussed earlier?" Xiao Hong looked at He Xichao in surprise, "Are you going to ask Master Xie to present it to Father?"

"Yes."

"But, will Father Emperor agree?" Xiao Hong was very skeptical, he said, "Xi Chao, you said that although Da Qi now has caravan exchanges with countries in the Western Regions, but very few, after all, the imperial court forbids it. The first is troublesome control, and the second is to prevent the intrusion of secret operations from various countries. However, it has not been completely prevented by turning a blind eye so far, but because the caravans have to clear the checkpoints when they cross the border, and send a lot of filial piety. The border is bitter and cold. By default, the silver is the income of border guards and soldiers, which also reduces the pressure on military pay. Moreover, caravans will always bring novelty gadgets from the Western Regions when they come back. If it is not handed over to the national treasury, it will fall into their own pockets. Asking them to take it out is like cutting meat, and it is estimated that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also involved. If border trade is really going to start, the ministers will definitely oppose it."

He Xichao smiled and said: "Yes, if someone needs to go to various countries to negotiate, to measure uniformly, to deploy manpower to garrison troops, and to formulate punishments and punishments, it is troublesome to think about it even for officials who have no interests. It's a bit unstable, and whoever comes up with a ready-made objection now will be out of luck."

Xiao Hong stared at the words, puzzled and said: "Then you asked Master Xie to present it to the father, isn't this cheating him?"

"Leaving aside the interests of others and only talking about border trade, is it beneficial to the country?"

"Of course, Daqi is rich in products, such as tea, silk, porcelain... countries are eager to trade more with us. Cattle, sheep and horses are all bought with real gold and silver. If [-]% of the tax is paid to the treasury, it can be filled a lot. Father The emperor has been on the throne for many years, Daqi has cultivated his life and rest, although it is not as stretched as before, but if there is a catastrophe, the father will feel the pressure."

"Then take a look, this memorial is brought up, and the emperor will be moved if he only talks about it?"

Xiao Hong followed He Xichao to learn to make reports, learn to make budgets, and learn to do analysis... everything is inseparable from calculations and data, as well as a large number of charts. The text description is also rigorous and simple, which makes people understand at a glance.

This brochure is a plan about the border trade plan. It is not detailed, but it lists the benefits one by one. These benefits are not created out of thin air. They are all extended through the calculation list and broken line expression. It is very intuitive. Very convincing, feasible, and even more exciting.

Just the last tax...

"Twenty percent, Xichao, can you charge that much?" Xiao Hong looked at the final calculation result in surprise. He is no longer an economic novice. learn.

Under Confucianism, Daqi emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce. Although under the enlightened rule of Emperor Tiangan, commerce is thriving, but the commercial tax is still not comparable to the agricultural tax. The agricultural tax is [-]%, and the commercial tax is only half. The ironic result is nothing more than the continued use of the phrase that officials do not compete with the people for profit, and the collusion between officials and businessmen in private.

The border trade tariff is also a commercial tax in the final analysis, and Xiao Hong was surprised that it could be as high as [-]%.

"If it is developed, most of the things sold to the outside world will be tea, silk, porcelain and other things that are easy to transport and preserve. They are huge profits in themselves. The profit can be doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled or five times, and a tax of [-]% to [-]% will do. .” He Xichao laughed.

Xiao Hong asked, "Where did these data come from?"

"Thank you brother for giving it to me."

Xiao Hong nodded, "Xi Chao, based on what I know about Father, he will be tempted, but that sentence is too much resistance, even if Father is willing, he may not be able to carry it out." Xiao Hong returned the booklet to He Xichao , "Why are you in such a hurry, didn't you say to wait until I enter the court, hold the power and be able to take charge of the matter before doing this?"

He Xichao smiled and said: "That's right, but this matter is not easy to do after all. Even if it benefits the country and the people, it will be opposed by the vast majority of officials whose interests have been harmed. Whoever proposes it will attack it." It is not an exaggeration. Brother Xie wants to go to the Western Regions so much, if he is willing to speak to the emperor, is it not a good thing for us?"

When Xiao Hong heard this, he was stunned, "You want Xie's family to do this?"

"Yes."

"Why would Mr. Xie Ge agree?"

He Xichao took the booklet and tapped the table, winked at Xiao Hong, "Xie Ge doesn't agree, so just don't let him know."

Xie San was determined to leave Beijing to go to the Western Regions, Xie Ge obviously did not agree, so why would his grandfather intervene in this matter, it must be a stalk in the neck and handed it directly to the imperial court, and it was too late for Xie Ge to stop it.

Xiao Hong thought of this and sighed: "Xi Chao, Mr. Xie Ge still pointed out your articles all the way. Even if you don't have a teacher, you are still half a master. You..." You are too pitiful.

He Xi shrugged his shoulders, his eyes were slightly cold, and he said bluntly: "Xie San has been observing in the upper study for so long, Mr. Ge should make a statement. You are not a commodity, and you have to weigh whether it is worth repaying. You always hide Behind the scenes, I'm so tired that I'm so tired, if I don't force it, I'll pretend that we don't know anything!"

Probably only He Xichao dared to plot such a scheme against a powerful elder who still... refused to be a teacher.

Xiao Hong felt that if he was Mr. Xie Ge, he would have to vomit blood.

"Besides, this is just a plan. If you want to implement it formally, it won't work without a few years of preliminary preparation. If the emperor has the heart, he will definitely send brother Xie to the Western Regions to investigate without revealing it. After two or three years like this, it's just right You are almost familiar with the officialdom and have your own influence. If the emperor chooses someone to be in charge, you can recommend yourself. If the Xie family refuses to participate, then you will withdraw directly. At that time, except for the suggestion to the emperor Apart from suffering a bit of infamy, the Xie family has nothing to lose." He Xichao said calmly.

In this way, the pressure on Xiao Hong was indeed reduced a lot. In the eyes of outsiders, this was not his proposal, he was just sharing his father's worries.

But if this is the case, Xiao Hong couldn't bear it, "Then you and Mr. Xie Ge will become strangers." It may even be worse.

He Xichao lowered his eyes and pursed his lips: "Border trade is a good thing. If he really shares the same goals with us, Mr. Xie Ge should support us. If he is angry with me, I will beat and scold him, serve tea and water, and wait on him. It doesn't matter what he orders, as long as the old man calms down. If he is pedantic and unwilling to help, he should stay away as soon as possible, so as not to tear his face due to disagreement in the future."

"Xi Chao, you think so far." Xiao Hong sighed.

He Xichao raised his head and smiled at him, "Not far away is not enough. You are a novice entering the court, and if you want to show the emperor what achievements you want to make, it will be very difficult if there is no support behind you. Mr. Xie Ge at least publicly It has nothing to do with us. If he stands by our side and secretly helps and guides you, we can go smoothly. I did this after careful consideration. Since Mr. Xie Ge has been pointing me, it means that he is very optimistic about you. I just want to It’s all about smashing this relationship to the ground.”

"What about Master Xie, he's from the Xie family, Tanhualang, so it's not that easy to be persuaded?"

He Xichao thought of what Xie San said that day, and smiled faintly, "Master Xie is a gentleman, so he naturally understands that he uses emotion to move him with reason, and seeks dedication with selflessness."

Xiao Hong scratched his head, no matter what method he used, he knew that He Xichao had already made up his mind and was ready.Thinking of this, he couldn't help showing shame, "Xi Chao, what would I do without you! I couldn't even think of this."

He Xichao waved his hand nonchalantly, "It's my responsibility to advise my lord, you're welcome, you just have to trust me." He rolled his eyes and smiled.

If he had intended to take advantage of Xiao Hong at the beginning, but now, even if the whole world gave up on Xiao Hong, he would be willing to accompany him to the end and give everything for him unconditionally.

He Xichao's cold and hard heart, his cunning and treachery, in front of Xiao Hong, there is only a piece of softness left.

Xiao Hong nodded emphatically, "Of course I believe in you. You are the person I believe in most in this world."

He Xichao raised his eyebrows and snorted twice, glanced at him and said: "I was very happy to see you just now, it seems that thanking you is another benefit from the emperor."

Xiao Hong immediately remembered, he took out the stack of banknotes from his arms, put them in front of He Xichao, and waved his hand, "Xichao, here you are."

The author has something to say: Yao: Your Majesty, are you so partial?

Emperor Tiangan: I am happy, I just like to listen to Honger's flattery, so happy.

Xiao Hong: I love you, okay?