Emperor Renzong of the Great Song Dynasty

Bao Zheng saw that the handwriting on the note was very unfamiliar, and it didn't look like Fan Zhongyan's handwriting, so he was a little puzzled.

His official career is still short, and he has never seen the emperor's imperial script, but only feels that these two lines are murderous.

Fan Zhongyan will definitely not send him two inexplicable poems from thousands of miles away, there must be some mystery in these two poems.

He took the letter paper in his hand and rubbed it carefully, but found nothing unusual.

If it is not on paper, it must be in poetry.

"480 temples in the Southern Dynasties, 480 temples in the Southern Dynasties..."

Suddenly, he thought of something.

Destroy the Buddha and make money!

Before leaving Beijing, Fan Zhongyan had already told him all about the dilemma of the tea administration in the south of the Yangtze River.

If you want to get back the profits of the tea government from the grain merchants and keep them in the middle, you have to give them benefits.

As long as the benefits are sufficient, this group of businessmen has nothing to give up.

And what is the biggest benefit?Nothing more than money.

Now the conclusion of the imperial court is that in the future, rice and grain will no longer be paid for tea, but merchants will be asked to collect cash in Tokyo.

The merchant traveled thousands of miles to transport the grain to the border. The original grain of [-] coins per shi, the money given to the merchant may have to be around [-] coins to allow the merchant to transport the grain willingly.

This is a matter of course. The only downside is that the court doesn't have that much money.

The court had no cash to pay the merchants.

Without money, there is no way for grain merchants to stay in the middle after giving up tea profits, and the border cannot be disarmed, so there is no way to change the tea policy in the south of the Yangtze River.

If the tea policy in the south of the Yangtze River is not changed, there will be even less money. Not to mention whether they are in the middle or not, the 30 new troops in Bianliang City may not be able to eat in the coming year.

But now the imperial court is determined to destroy the Buddha and make money. The copper coins cast by the Buddha statues in the temples of Bianliang City are enough to supply the grain merchants with this year's cash money. Naturally, the grain merchants are willing to let go of the tea policy when they get the cash. With the profits from the government, this year's tea administration can make money, which can pay for next year's income, such a virtuous circle, and the border is worry-free.

But Bao Zheng felt that relying on businessmen to enter China was not a long-term solution.

Businessmen are profit-seeking by nature, and they flock to them if they are profitable, and avoid them if they are not profitable.If the government transports money and food to the border by itself, the annual consumption is less than half of what it gives to merchants today.

Bao Zheng has already decided that he will return to Beijing to propose self-sufficiency in money and food after finishing the Jiangnan tea policy.

It is really unreasonable that such an important military and national event has been dependent on businessmen.

The car stopped, and Yunniang's voice sounded: "Master Bao, the cargo office has arrived."

Bao Zheng pushed open the door and got out of the car with his head held high.

The post he stayed in was burned down yesterday, and the news spread throughout Yangzhou city overnight.

Now the whole of Yangzhou knows that Bao Yushi, who knew the Jiangnan tea policy, was burned to death in the post as soon as he entered the city.

As for how the inn caught fire when he first entered the city...

Can't say, can't say.

No body was found in the fire scene, but the officials in the goods office all agreed that he had passed away. To express their condolences, they hung a white flag on the gate.

Bao Zheng got out of the car in front of the gate, wearing a crimson official robe bestowed by the emperor, holding the official seal in his hand, and led Bao Xing and Zhan Zhao straight into the yamen.Yun Niang followed behind the three of them.

The guard at the gate looked at his face and official robe, his legs were shaking, and when the four of them had entered the yamen, he fell to the ground with a cry of "Oh my god!"

Discussing the back office of the goods, the servant Huang Gonggong took a sip of West Lake Longjing and sighed slightly. Such good tea can only be drunk in Jiangnan.

He supervised the tea administration in Yangzhou in the first year of Tianxi, and it has been many years now.There were two Jiangnan Que cargo supervisors, and another supervisor came and went. Only Eunuch Huang lived in Yangzhou for many years.

Without him, because Eunuch Huang is a person who doesn't care about everything.

As an official in Yangzhou, as long as you don't look for things, things won't come to you.

Eunuch Huang never seeks trouble.Someone came to give him a gift, and Eunuch Huang accepted it.When someone came to ask him to do something, Eunuch Huang answered.Do what you can, forget what you can't.

I usually drink tea and listen to music in the yamen, and go home at night, where there are beautiful wives and concubines waiting.

Don't look at Eunuch Huang who has lost his roots, but he has one wife and two concubines. They are all the daughters of good people who are married by three matchmakers and six hired matchmakers. Eunuch Huang does not hang out with romantic women.

You said that this person has tea to drink, music to listen to, and wives and concubines to surround him, so why bother to make himself unhappy?

I heard that Jingli is going to change the tea policy now, and what kind of sticking method will be used.

Sticking method, this is the old calendar.Taizong didn't do it at that time, but what happened later?No one bought tea, and there was less money and food for entering the middle school. In the end, it was not a waste of water from the bamboo basket.

Besides, if the government wants to change, it depends on whether these big businessmen in Yangzhou let you change.

Didn't you see that the new prison officer was burned alive like this?

The new prison officer was originally a censor named Bao Zheng. Eunuch Huang had heard about him, and he gave a generous speech at the court, and he defeated the previous Xiangye Lu.

Hearing that this Bao Yushi was coming to Yangzhou to learn about tea politics, Eunuch Huang felt that he might not live long.

Such a unconscious person, how dare those big businessmen let him survive?

Sure enough, on the first night, there were no people there.

As a human being, you still have to be like his Eunuch Huang to save trouble.

Save trouble for yourself and save trouble for others.

Eunuch Huang has lived in Yangzhou for so many years, and his residence has never caught fire.

Alas, it's just a pity that such a character, at such a young age, has a bright future.

Eunuch Huang thought softly.

Suddenly there was a noise outside, Eunuch Huang didn't like to be disturbed when drinking tea, so he said impatiently: "Who is making noise outside the hall?"

Footsteps sounded, and a man wearing a black gauze hat and a crimson official robe came in: "My subordinate Bao Zheng, I have seen Eunuch Huang."

Eunuch Huang stared blankly at the visitor, pouring a cup of tea on the table without realizing it.

"You... how did you..."

How are you still alive!Aren't you already dead?

A big fire last night burned the inn to nothing, how could you survive!

Bao Zheng said solemnly: "Last night, Bao Zheng was staying at a friend's house, and I just heard that the inn was on fire earlier today."

Eunuch Huang twitched the corners of his mouth: "Ah, like this, our family thought something bad happened to Mr. Bao..."

Bao Zheng smiled: "Eunuch Lao is worried."

Eunuch Huang breathed a sigh of relief.

Hey, whether this man lives or dies is none of his business.

It doesn't matter if you are alive, the living are better than the dead.

Anyway, they toss their own way, and Eunuch Huang doesn't get involved in their affairs.

"Since Mr. Bao is here, let's get acquainted with the affairs in the yamen," Eunuch Huang said with a kind face, "Mr. Bao is an auspicious person, and with Mr. Bao here, our family can be regarded as the backbone."

Bao Zheng said: "It's not urgent."

Eunuch Huang raised his eyebrows: "Master Bao, this is..."

"The most urgent task is to ask Eunuch Huang to draw up a list for the next officials."

Eunuch Huang said: "What list?"

Bao Zheng said: "It is a big businessman who has transported money and food to the border over the years, and took a friend in Beijing to bring tea to Yangzhou. I hope Eunuch Huang will draw up a list for the next official."

Those who have a share in setting fire to your post?

Eunuch Huang laughed and said, "It's not difficult, but what does Mr. Bao want this list for?"

They offer a reward of [-] taels of gold to take your head, don't you want to follow suit, and you can't go back with a reward?

Eunuch Huang secretly looked at Bao Zheng's clothes.

It's not like a rich kid.

Bao Zheng said with a smile: "The lower officials want to treat them to a light meal."

"what?"

Eunuch Huang was puzzled.

Could this be... Hongmen Banquet?

Eunuch Huang said euphemistically: "These big grain merchants have a big business in Yangzhou. It may be difficult for Mr. Bao to entertain them together."

In other words, if you want to hold a grand banquet in someone else's lair, don't lose your wife and lose your army.

"It's okay," a woman's voice sounded: "I think the masters will give the little girl a face."

Only then did Eunuch Huang see Yunniang and her party behind Bao Zheng, and after seeing the scar on Yunniang's face, he widened his eyes: "You...it's you!"

Yunniang Fushen: "The little girl has seen Eunuch Huang."

Eunuch Huang jumped up from his seat: "I can't afford it, please get up, girl."

Yunniang straightened up: "Eunuch Huang, can you write down the list for Mr. Bao?"

Eunuch Huang hurriedly said: "Okay, I can write it here."

He shouted to the outside again: "Get the pen and paper!"

The pen and paper were coming soon, and Eunuch Huang wiped his cold sweat secretly while recalling the names of those big grain merchants.

Mother!

What is this ancestor!

It's no wonder that Bao Zheng was so confident, it turned out to be...

He said that he rested at a friend's house yesterday, it could not be...

Gee...

I see……

But didn't that person also get to know a confidant named Jiang a few days ago...

Alas, a good man has nine wives, presumably that one also has nine husbands, not surprising, not surprising...

It seems that Master Bao's life was saved.

Not long after, the list was drawn up. Eunuch Huang dried the ink on the paper and handed it to Bao Zheng: "Here is the list. If Mr. Bao wants to set up a banquet, you can pass the invitation to their home."

Bao Zheng took the list, looked at it carefully, and nodded: "Great, with this list, I can post easily."

Suddenly, as if thinking of something, he turned his head and said to Eunuch Huang: "Your Majesty is going to have a big banquet for guests tonight. I wonder if Eunuch Huang will show you his face?"

That's pretty cool!

Who wants to watch you gods fight!

Eunuch Huang smiled wryly and said: "It's not that our family is taking food, it's because our family is used to eating vegetarian food. If we go to someone else's house to have a banquet, it will be inconvenient for both the host and the guest. Our family appreciates Mr. Bao's kindness, but we don't know what to do. Enjoy it."

Bao Zheng had already seen through that he was a cowardly character, so he didn't have much hope for him, so he said after hearing the words: "Then Eunuch Huang will wait for the good news of his resignation."

Eunuch Huang smiled and nodded, watching the four of them leave the Yamen in a hurry.

Good news, what good news can there be?

He sighed: "Come here, make tea!"

In any case, tea is always to be had.