Come on, Your Highness

"The emperor gave it privately?"

"Well, it's a full 10 taels, and let me not say it, hehe."

He Xichao understood, "It seems that it is not from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is the emperor's private money."

Xiao Hong asked in surprise: "Father still has private money?"

"Of course, is it possible to spend a sum of money and make everyone know about it?" He Xichao didn't refuse, just accepted it, and looked at him teasingly: "How is it, Gao is happy? I bet, when it comes to Xiao Ming, here at Xiao Yi, it’s only 30 taels of housing expenses on the surface, and the emperor will not subsidize it any more.” After all, anyone’s private money is very precious, and it is not easy for the emperor.

Xiao Hong grinned behind his ears, grabbed He Xichao's hand and said sincerely: "Xichao, you made me overcome my fear and forced me to have a good relationship with my father, which is really right. Although my father is open He doesn't treat me very well, but he treats me very well in private. As the eldest son of the emperor, what do I want on the surface, and the bottom line is the most important thing, right?"

"That's right, but as you start a government and run errands, you can't miss the good things on the surface. The emperor will pay more and more attention to you. Today's reward is the most direct expression. And the more this time comes, the more Be calm."

Xiao Hong nodded, "I will not let him down, nor will I let you down."

"I'm not worried about that. If you make a mistake, I don't care if you are a prince or whoever you are. You can beat me."

Just as he was talking, Xinrui walked in, bowed his body, and said, "Your Highness, the embroidery workshop sent you your court dress, why not try it on now? It will be canonized in three days, and you have to wear it at the court meeting. If there is something that doesn't fit you, take it back It’s still too late to change.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hong pulled He Xichao away and said, "Xichao, let's go, accompany me to try."

He Xichao rested his chin and watched Xiao Hong put on the dark mianfu, the tiara and the beads. The originally youthful young man suddenly became calm and dignified. the honorable.

This kind of temperament can no longer be found in later generations.

In a daze, He Xichao didn't know Xiao Hong like this, and always felt that he was far away from him.

One day, Xiao Hong will change into bright yellow again and walk up to the highest chair with supreme power. At that time, he may only be able to stand in the queue and look up.

As Xiao Hong's opening of the mansion approaches, the intimate relationship between him and him in the past six years will gradually change, and eventually it will become a relationship where one monarch and one minister complement each other.

Although this was He Xichao's initial expectation, for some reason, he is now somewhat unwilling to see such a scene, and does not want to accept Xiao Hong's alienation from him.

"Xi Chao, does it look good?" Suddenly Xiao Hong spoke, pulling He Xichao's thoughts back, and saw the man circling in front of him with his arms outstretched, raising his head and chest out, posing several poses, and turning his head Ask, "Am I particularly mighty and domineering? Xi Chao, do you worship me? Quick, call brother to listen."

He Xichao looked up at the ceiling, feeling that his melancholy just now was a bit unnecessary, this man looked stupid in everything he wore, "Don't you want to eat noodles, I'll make it for you."

As soon as these words came out, Xiao Hong's eyes lit up, "Well, well, put an extra poached egg, Xi Chao, I want sweethearts."

He Xichao not only gave Xiao Hong a poached egg, but also roasted an extra chicken drumstick, and put a few green vegetables in the noodles, which were delicious in color, fragrance, and moved Xiao Hong's mouth without stopping.

In the end, there was not even a mouthful of soup left, and he burped and praised: "Xi Chao, you are so virtuous, it would be great if you were a girl."

He Xichao sneered, "Why, it's not enough to give you advice, and you have to be in charge of warming the bed?"

"No, I didn't mean that, I just thought you were good."

He Xichao snorted twice, took out a small box from his sleeve, and pushed it in front of Xiao Hong, "Then I'll be better, here, a birthday present."

"You also prepared a congratulatory gift for me. I thought that bowl of noodles just now was already the best gift." Xiao Hong wiped his hands in surprise, opened the box, and took out a wrench finger made of moose horn and bone , There is a complete circle of medullary cavity in the middle of the finger.

He Xichao said: "I wanted to give you a bow or a sword, but when you were hunting in Xishan, the emperor rewarded you with one. I don't know weapons, so I couldn't find a better one. The thumb should be used, Xiaowei Lu said that the finger of the moose horn plate bone is the best to use, this is not a famous product, and it is not expensive, so don't dislike it."

Xiao Hong put the wrench on his thumb, felt the lines on it were still new, not ancient, so naturally not expensive.But so what, it was He Xichao who gave it to him, so it is more precious than anything else.

He solemnly said: "From now on, I will always take it with me when I shoot arrows."

He Xichao immediately showed a happy smile.

As soon as Xiao Hong's birthday ceremony was over, He Xichao left the palace and went back to the Duke's residence.

If you win the exam, you can get into the ranks of the body, and sometimes if you are lucky, you can go to some remote places to be a parent official.

Different from the first college entrance examination, most of the township examinations this time knew that He Xichao could pass high school, and the servants looked at He Xichao with a trace of respect in their eyes.

Wei Guogong clearly ordered that no one in the mansion should disturb An Yunxuan these few days, and asked He Xichao to study carefully for the exam.

But He Xichao himself didn't care, he asked Xie San out.

Xie San clicked his tongue, looked at He Xichao handed over a booklet and sighed: "There are three days until the township examination, and you still have time to help me figure out a way, Xichao, if you don't do well in the exam, no wonder I ah!"

He Xichao snorted softly when he heard the words, "Don't put money on your face, you don't have that much influence."

"That's good, that's good, otherwise I'll be sorry." Xie San said and opened the booklet, "What is this?"

"Take a look, if you think it is feasible, copy a copy, polish it yourself and present it to the emperor."

Xie San immediately browsed quickly, and said in amazement while watching: "Border trade! Xi Chao, you are so bold!"

"Is there anything wrong?"

"It can't be done at all, okay? The imperial court expressly forbids it, and you still ask me to mention this. Your solution is not to offend the emperor and let him dismiss me directly, right?"

He Xichao gave him a disdainful look, and raised his chin at the booklet, "Please finish reading it, and then make a comment."

Xie San listened suspiciously and continued to look down, at the end he was stunned, "Twenty-three percent tariff, you are too dark!"

"Brother Xie, I found you to be very interesting. I was taken aback, but can you break your inherent thinking? Do you think so much? Can you give me a reason?"

"Business tax is only half of it." Xie San said.

"Is it reasonable?"

"So what if it's unreasonable?" Xie San said with deep meaning, "If this business wants to grow big, it must have a backer, and the backer also needs to pile up money, which is much more than taxes."

"That's right, although I really want to change this rule, but it's a pity that I don't have that much power for the time being. However, there are relatively few conflicts of interest in border trade, so I want to give it a try."

Xie San picked up the tea, neither nodded nor shook his head, and did not express his opinion.He is not stupid, He Xichao gave him such a thing, the benefits inside are too tempting for the emperor, if he mentions it to the emperor, the emperor will definitely be moved.

But this is not a good thing for the Xie family, why would he do this.

He Xichao also served tea together. He didn't appear to be in a hurry, but said: "This matter is beneficial to the country and the people. When the border trade is successful, we can start to reform the commercial tax. According to the current development of commerce, the tax collected will It is a considerable amount of money. When Daqi's main fiscal revenue is changed from agricultural tax to commercial tax, thousands of low-level farmers will not have to hand over a large part of their rations to the state, and they can breathe a sigh of relief. to live a slightly richer life.”

"It's not easy." Xie San said.

He Xi smiled, "Of course, this is just a plan. There are too many people and facts involved in it. It may not be successful for ten or ten years. Although it is difficult, since it is right, we must always try to work hard in this direction, yes no?"

Xie San was silent.

He Xichao continued: "Let's not talk about the distance, let's talk about border trade, not only for increasing taxes and money, but also for the stability of the border. Brother Xie should know that Hu Di is eyeing Daqi. Although the countries in the Western Regions have not moved, it does not mean that they do not want to join Daqi. Qi has gained benefits, but because the country is numerous and weak, there is no chance for the time being. But once Da Qi shows weakness and Hu Di unites with the Western Regions, it will be dangerous. If it can be exchanged from Da Qi with silver or cattle, sheep and horses To get what they need, why take the risk to jointly plunder with Hu Di? Even in order to maintain this kind of stability, the Western Regions will help Daqi monitor Hu Di, isn’t it killing two birds with one stone? Every year a small country sends a mission to Beijing to congratulate, Your Majesty You have to reward a lot of precious things, it's better to let them buy them with silver money."

Xie San nodded lightly. He looked at He Xichao, hesitantly, "Xichao, brother believes that you have this heart. Just this booklet, I know that you have thought it through carefully. You said before that you love fame and fortune. , but I also want to do things for my family, my country, and the world. I am beyond my reach and ambition. I should help you out of reason. But... this matter is very important, and my brother is not a completely different person, so I can't just agree you."

He Xichao served Xie San more tea, and smiled understandingly, "It's okay, originally according to my plan, I would wait until I was the number one scholar in high school and entered the officialdom. At that time, the eldest prince will also be able to preside over the overall situation. I just heard that Brother Xie wanted to go to the Western Regions I thought that if I could let Brother Xie visit three years in advance to learn about the situation of the countries in the Western Regions, it would be smoother to carry out border trade in the future. It is indeed with our selfish intentions, so don’t blame Brother Xie.”

Xie San shook his head, "It's okay, to be honest, I'm really surprised that I cherish the dynasty. This matter is beneficial to the country and the people, but it is thankless for the eldest prince. After all, the support of all officials is very important. For their benefit, it is a terrible thing to be a prince, if he dies halfway, the eldest prince will be farther away from that chair."

"Thank you, brother, but this is something I discussed with the eldest prince early in the morning. The eldest prince was born in the royal family, and the struggle for the throne is inevitable, but it would be too narrow to stare at that chair all the time." Besides, sitting in that chair is not only about gaining supreme power, but also taking on great responsibilities. Looking at the current sage, he is always at court every day, not because he is seriously ill, and worrying about state affairs endlessly, isn't it for the sake of the common people in the world ?The eldest prince doesn't understand those flattering matters, and he doesn't care about them. Even if he wants to fight, he has to speak out with practical actions, and fight with the heart of serving the country and the people. I believe the emperor will know the pearl with insight and find The best successor."

Having said that, He Xichao's eyes shone with confidence.No one could be more suitable for that chair than the eldest prince he cultivated by himself.As long as the emperor is not blind, it must be Xiao Hong.

Xie San stared blankly at He Xichao, he didn't speak for a long time, his heart beat faster, as if a surge of hot blood erupted from the bottom of his heart.

Ever since he met He Xichao, he knew that this son was not a treasure. With him by his side, the eldest prince is very likely to become a dragon and take off, and achieve great things in the future.It's just that I didn't expect that without the future, I am only 12 years old, a mere scholar, but I am ready to stir up troubles by relying on the eldest prince, and do things that others dare not think about and should not do.

Xie San spoke slightly, and his eyes fell on the booklet. The words, charts and numbers inside, one could tell at a glance that they could not be produced overnight, nor did he guess and slap his head to write them down.That rigorous calculation and deduction was exactly the opposite of He Xichao's overly proud and almost arrogant tone, which filled this young man with a different kind of charm.

What kind of gentleman should be indifferent to fame and wealth? Compared with He Xichao, Xie San felt that he looked naive and ridiculous, and he was ashamed of himself.

"This method is quite inappropriate. Brother Xie, please wait for a few days. After the provincial examination is over, I will think of other methods, which will always help you go to the Western Regions."

After He Xichao finished speaking, he reached out to Zhezi to take it back, but he didn't want to be held down by Xie San.

"Wait, let me think about it."

He Xichao paused, lowered his eyes, and said softly, "Thank you, brother... you have to think about it."

Xie San slowly tucked the bag into his sleeves, and said as if nothing had happened: "It's getting late, you should go back early, take the provincial exam, I wish you all the best."

"Thank you brother for your kind words."

He Xichao looked at Xie Sanyuan's back, raised his teacup, took a sip, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, feeling happy.

The author has something to say: Yao: Xi Chao’s mouth, a deceitful ghost, go all the way, thank you brother~