I can't die

The British are unwilling to go to war at this time, but this kind of trade sanctions makes Zai Chun even more worried. The Ministry of Households has been paying attention to the accounts and taxes of various places in the past few days.However, to Zai Chun's surprise, the agricultural tax revenue in various places did not seem to be reduced much, but the commercial tax revenue had a little impact. However, compared with the huge proportion of agricultural tax, these commercial taxes are simply insignificant.

Zai Chun couldn't help wondering at this point, and called Guiliang, the Minister of the Ministry of household affairs, to ask.Although Guiliang, the father-in-law of Prince Gong, is a bit greedy, but as a veteran of the three dynasties, he has a lot of money in his stomach. He heard Zai Chun's question, and he replied in a straightforward manner: "Report to the emperor, my lord. In the Qing Dynasty, men farmed and women weaved, and they were self-sufficient, so even if the British imported more textiles and agricultural products, few people would buy them. As long as there are no natural disasters in the Qing Dynasty, agricultural taxes are not worth worrying about.”

Zai Chun listened, thought for a while, and understood a little.Yes, in my country's agricultural feudal society, although the social form of male farming and female weaving is not conducive to large-scale and large-scale mass production of food crops, it is precisely because of this self-sufficiency that it is difficult to deal with external commodity dumping. Has a strong ability to withstand pressure.

Having figured this out, Zai Chun couldn't help but relax.He also didn't expect that this backward production model also has the benefits of backwardness, so that he could so invisibly dissolve Britain's ultimate move.

"How is the opium recently?"

Zai Chun let go of one thing, and another thought came to his mind.

Hearing Zai Chun's question, Gui Liang felt overwhelmed, but his face darkened a bit: "I'm afraid it's not very good."

Zai Chun was somewhat prepared for the opium matter, so he took a deep breath: "But it doesn't matter."

"The spread of opium has been quite widespread. From the imperial court army to the wealthy people, they all have the habit of smoking opium. Especially in the past few months, the ministers have surveyed various places for taxation, and most of the silver from merchants is often sucked by opium to the gate of the Qing Dynasty. In addition, if things go on like this, I am afraid that the minister will lead to even greater social problems."

Because of the high price of opium, only the richer families could afford to smoke opium in the Qing Dynasty. Even if ordinary people smoked, it was difficult for ordinary people to have the funds to smoke for a long time.Therefore, what Gui Liang is most worried about is not the health of the people, but the capital reserves of the Qing Dynasty.60.00% of the silver reserves of the Qing Dynasty were basically controlled by wealthy businessmen and high-ranking officials. Their preferences often led to the direction of silver circulation. The massive dumping of opium and the increase in the number of high-ranking officials and wealthy businessmen would sooner or later hollow out the original silver reserves of the Qing Dynasty.And this circulation of silver, obviously, is not clearly reflected in the court's tax accounting.Hearing Gui Liang's words, Zai Chun's heart trembled. Originally, he only considered the poison of opium to the Chinese people's bodies and the impact on the combat effectiveness of the army, but he didn't expect it to be so economically.

"What's your suggestion, Minister Hubu?"

Gui Liang said boldly: "I think that since this is the case, it is better for us to continue to use the barbarians to control the barbarians. Since foreigners can grow opium, why can't my Qing Dynasty also grow opium? In this way, let my Qing Dynasty suck our own opium." The product, silver, will not flow out, and similarly, huge tax revenues can also be generated."

"How is this possible?" Zai Chun was stunned when he heard Gui Liang's suggestion. He never expected that Gui Liang's so-called good policy would be like this.Zai Chun said that it is not an exaggeration to kill all the cigarette dealers. How can my court encourage the spread of opium in this way? !

Gui Liang seemed to have guessed some of Zai Chun's reaction before he spoke, but he still did not give up. Instead, he listed the benefits of this policy one by one: "Your Majesty, this is a helpless move. For one thing, if our country does not produce its own If we smoke, opium will become poisonous for a day, and our country’s silver will flow out for a day. But now that our country is defeated by foreigners, it is obviously impossible to ban smoking. Second, I think that if I produce cigarettes independently in the Qing Dynasty and sell them at a price lower than that of foreigners, Chinese people will They will definitely buy our country’s own opium, and once the people of our country abandon foreign cigarettes and use domestic cigarettes, foreigners will definitely give up the import of opium. At that time, how our imperial court wants to formulate the national policy of opium is up to our country itself.”

There is some truth to what Guiliang said, but it is really "fighting poison with poison", and if one is not good, if everyone in the Qing Dynasty is made to smoke, it will really become "the country of men and women in East Asia", then Zai Chun can He is a sinner through the ages.Zai Chun has been thinking about it up to this point, but he can't make a decision, so he dared not make a decision, so he said: "Go and draw up a regulation, so that the queen mothers of the two palaces will also know it, and discuss it later."

Gui Liang also knew that this fact was too big, it was already very good for the emperor to say so, so he hurriedly agreed, and then withdrew from Yanbo Zhishuang Palace.

Seeing Guiliang leave, Zai Chun immediately got up from the dragon chair, stretched his waist, looked through the window, and saw that it was already dusk, and the bright red sun reflected the whole sky of Chengde into golden yellow, It looks stunning.Li Lianying was waiting on the side, watching her master move her body, stepped forward and asked courteously: "Your Majesty, I've been sitting here for a whole day, why don't you go to Silver Lake to feed the fish?"

When Zai Chun heard this, he was really moved. He remembered that he might not have been to the Silver Lake for a long time, and he wanted to go for a walk, so he agreed to Li Lianying's proposal.At that moment, a group of people packed up their ceremonial guards and walked slowly towards Silver Lake.Yinhu Lake is the first among the eight lakes in Chengde Mountain Resort, and "Ruyizhou" is the most beautiful.Ruyi Island is an island in the lake, named for its resemblance to Ruyi. There are palaces and temples on the island; there are courtyard houses in the north and small gardens in the south. The layout is exquisite and flexible.The main buildings include Wushu Qingliang (Mendian), Guanliansuo, Jinlian Yingri, Shuifangyanshou (later renamed Leshoutang), Yanxunshan Pavilion, Yiyiyun, Canglangyu, etc.

Zai Chun and his party came to the lotus viewing place of "Ruyi Island", but saw the water on the Silver Lake was bright, and the red lotus swayed with the wind under the setting sun. like red".

"Your Majesty, here comes the fish."

Li Lianying walked up to Zai Chun with a bowl of fish food in his hand. Zai Chun smiled at Li Lianying, took it, and poured it into the lake with his fingers, which soon attracted dozens of carp to pounce on him. There was a lot of excitement on the water.Zai Chun looked at these carp rolling on the lake from time to time, his originally heavy heart could not help but relieved a lot.

At this moment, there was a sudden singing sound coming from the lake, but the singing sound was gentle and light, like spring willows blowing in the wind, very sweet, it seemed to be sung by a girl, the tune sounded like a ditty from Jiangnan farmers, It is quite interesting to reflect the lotus scene in front of you.

Listening to the song god, Zai Chun smiled inexplicably: "Ah Ying, go see who is singing there, call over and have a look."