Great Song

Seeing that Zhen Qiong came home so early and brought back a bunch of rewards, Han Miao was also very surprised: "Qiong'er has entered the palace? But what has happened?"

With the temperament of an official, it must be a great achievement to be able to reward so many.But as far as he knew, Baoying Temple had no new projects recently, could it be that Qiong Er made a mistake again and discovered something?

"Hey, I was working hard on alchemy in the alchemy room, and suddenly I was called in by the officials for questioning. I thought it was about pesticides, but who knew that it was about water conservancy for no apparent reason..." Zhen Qiong crackled and said what happened today Once again, he complained at the end, "It is said that you can borrow money to repair water conservancy projects. How can the government go back on it? How can there be such a reason! By the way, what exactly is the new law for?"

Han Miao: "..."

Looking at Zhen Qiong's dazed and innocent face, even he couldn't laugh or cry.I don't know how many ministers thought hard, Shangben directly admonished the emperor, and even he used the "Ri Xin Bao" to create momentum, wanting to change the Sacred Heart.Unexpectedly, all methods are not as effective as Zhen Qiong's nonsense.

Shaking his head, Han Miao said with a smile, "The new law is the farmland water conservancy law recently mentioned in the newspaper. The government wants to build water conservancy and reclaim wasteland, so it promulgates the decree."

"Oh, so the new law is for water conservancy? Isn't that good?" Zhen Qiong didn't read the newspaper, and now she finally understood the whole story, recalled today's debate, and nodded thoughtfully, "Yes Isn't it that Sima Zhongcheng's family is poor and doesn't farm land, so he opposes the new law?"

If you have fields at home, how can you not use water?Even such a good thing as the construction of water conservancy should be opposed, and the mind is still confused, saying that there is a fixed amount of property in the world, I am afraid that it is not because of reading and studying!

Han Miao: "..."

Sima Zhongcheng, should be Yushi Zhongcheng Sima Guang, right?This is also a veteran of the three dynasties. Although he is clean and simple, he is not poor.Not to mention, there are too many reasons for opposing the new law, and those who have land at home may be more vocal.

It's just that, if you tell Zhen Qiong, he may not be able to understand it.Han Miao explained with a smile: "Sima Zhongcheng just abides by the ancestral system, and is afraid of changing the law and causing trouble. Besides, such a major issue as water conservancy involves too much, and it really needs to be carefully considered."

Zhen Qiong just rolled her eyes.Abide by the ancestral system?Back then, Ge Xianweng wanted to offer golden pills to Zhao Taizu. Although he created the Creation School, there were many mistakes and omissions in a textbook.It's not because generations of real people check and fill in the gaps that the prosperity of the lineage of good luck.Do you know if you want to know?Just copy the way of the ancestors, don't talk about any achievements in your life, let's just sit and eat!

But in the final analysis, the new law has nothing to do with him.Zhen Qiong sighed: "It's just that this person holds grudges too much. Seeing that he can't beat me, he asked the officials to cancel the loan. Alas, if we have [-] hectares of land, we don't know how much it will cost to repair water conservancy. Now we can only pay for it ourselves. money..."

This palpable frustration made Han Miao laugh: "Qiong'er wants to grow cotton, who knows how well the water is used for this thing? Besides, borrowing money will eventually have to pay interest. The new law originally set a [-]% interest rate." , how can it be worthwhile to pay for it yourself?"

"Two percent interest? Forget it!" Zhen Qiong was shocked. His treasury bills only had an interest rate of [-]%. How dare this group of people charge two percent interest and say that the interest rate is low?Fortunately, I didn't borrow it, or it would be a real loss!

Seeing him like this, the smile on Han Miao's lips deepened again: "It's a good thing to cancel the loan. It's better for Qiong'er to understand that water conservancy is something that ordinary people can do? If it really becomes a decree, I don't know how to apportion it next." Woolen cloth."

In fact, Han Miao originally planned to use public opinion to make the emperor aware of the inappropriateness of borrowing money to repair water conservancy projects.Although the "Ri Xin Bao" talked about the harm of private occupation of waterways, but the biggest harm of the imperial court's borrowing was still apportionment.As long as this decree is in place, I don't know how many county magistrates who have ruined their families will force the people to borrow money to build canals for the sake of political achievements.At that time, let’s not talk about whether we can benefit from the water conservancy. The two cents of interest money must be paid, and those middle and low-level households will definitely suffer from it.

Although water conservancy is beneficial, it is not a matter for every household.The imperial court mediates among them, presides over flood control and embankment repairs, and reclaims fields around the lake, which is what should be done.As for those small ditches, the common people should be encouraged to repair them by themselves.As long as someone is sent to give advice and labor is reduced or exempted, how can those farmers who make a living from the fields be stingy with their efforts?

It's just that these schemes were resolved by Zhen Qiong neatly before he could spread them out.Even Han Miao couldn't help feeling emotional.It's really hard to find a place to go through iron shoes, and it doesn't take much effort to get it.

Hearing Han Miao praise herself, Zhen Qiong became a little happy again.Wei Wei puffed out his chest, and he said casually: "Since it's such a troublesome thing, don't borrow it if you don't want to borrow it. Anyway, we also have money!"

Seeing his appearance, Han Miao nodded with a smile: "Qiong'er is absolutely right. The officials must have rewarded you so much because of your persuasion, right?"

"Oh, that's not true. It's because I was rewarded for drying the salt." Zhen Qiong replied casually.

Han Miao: "..."

Sun salt?Could it be sea salt? !Isn't it all boiled sea salt, and it can still be used in the sun?

Feeling dizzy for a moment, Han Miao calmed down and said, "The method of sun-drying salt is troublesome to use?"

"It's not troublesome, is it? Just dig a few ponds and let the wind and sun shine on it." Zhen Qiong thought for a while, and replied quite confidently.

Han Miao: "... Your method is also passed down by the Good Fortune School?"

He really had to ask one more question.A simple and feasible method of sun-drying salt that does not even use charcoal, is not just a matter of millions of dollars.Not to mention how much manpower and material resources are saved, the salt tax is not a small amount if only the saltworks are expanded.It should be noted that salt is also monopolized by the imperial court, and the income is so high that there is no commercial tax.This is simply moving a gold mine out of thin air and dedicating it to the emperor!

"Isn't it? It's just drying the salt. The sun and the wind on the seaside, isn't it easy?" Zhen Qiong asked a little confused.

This attitude is exactly the same as when he gave himself the white sugar prescription back then.Han Miao was startled, then burst out laughing, hugged him up, and kissed him: "Qiong'er is really a lucky star, this is the only way, and the benefits will be endless."

Why can't he see that the emperor promulgated the new law because of lack of money?No wonder the emperor gave up borrowing money to repair water conservancy projects just because Qiong Er just mentioned it this time.With the income from drying the salt, what is the half of the interest on the loan?As long as the salt drying method can be implemented properly, the national treasury will be abundant, and it may even affect the political situation of the imperial court.With money, there will be a foundation for the war against Hehuang and Xixia, and with the artillery and explosives, maybe it can really change the fate of the country.Thinking of this, even if he was as calm as Han Miao, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion and excitement beyond words.

Suddenly being hugged and kissed, Zhen Qiong was also happy: "It's not worth anything, as long as it can be used!"

Hey, if I knew this would make brother Miao happy, he wouldn't have said it earlier.Who would have thought that the Great Song Dynasty didn't even understand such a simple thing as drying salt?But it's not a loss now, I have received the reward, and I have helped, so everyone is happy, right?

Zhen Qiong was overjoyed, but Sima Guang returned home with a gloomy expression.

Seeing the appearance of her husband and son-in-law, Mrs. Zhang was taken aback: "What's the matter? Could it be that the officials refused to listen to persuasion?"

Sima Guang shook his head heavily: "The government has decided to cancel the loan for Changping warehouse."

"Isn't this a good thing?" Mrs. Zhang is also well-educated, and naturally knows what the biggest controversy of the new law is.Now that the officials have changed their minds, why is it still like this?

"In this case, how can there be any obstacles to the new law?" Sima Guang felt uncomfortable in his heart.Now the government and China have different opinions on the farmland water conservancy law. It is just a matter of court borrowing, which is not appropriate after all.Only then was someone filled with righteous indignation and wrote a letter against the new law with him.

But now that the most important thorn has been pulled out, can anyone stop the new law from being enacted?What's more terrible is that his argument was completely dismantled.

Only when the wealth of the world is the fixed number, his theory of "officials seizing the interests of the people" has a basis.And if there is no fixed amount of wealth in the world, and the Son of Heaven promulgates a new law to help the people generate wealth, what position does he have to oppose it?However, in this matter, he may be able to argue against Wang Anshi, but he absolutely cannot argue against that path.Just one method of drying the salt made it invincible.

Changing decoction to drying is so simple that it is almost a joke, but the deep meaning inside makes people unable to laugh.This method not only does not waste people and money, but also has the potential to obtain huge profits.If it goes on, the laborers in the saltworks will probably also be grateful for the kindness of True Monarch Lei Ting, saving them from the pain of boiling salt.

It's just a simple change, and it has a great effect.Can this still be said that wealth has a certain amount?Saying this again, I am afraid that people will only laugh at him for being stubborn and incomprehensible.Then what reason does he have to oppose this new law?

At least, when it comes to farmland water conservancy law, he is powerless.

Seeing her husband's frustration, Mrs. Zhang couldn't help but patted his arm lightly: "Since water conservancy is indeed beneficial, the hearts of the king and the people are all towards the new law. Why should a good man keep chasing after him? If you can change the disadvantages, it will be beneficial country."

These words are not bad, but Sima Guang's heart is still not stable.If the Farmland Water Conservancy Law can be implemented smoothly, will the emperor stop?Having just ascended the throne, being so young and full of high spirits, I am afraid that he will change the established law and implement the new law again and again.In this way, wouldn't it be an increase in salary under the cauldron, causing a commotion?

As a courtier, how could he sit idly by!

After a long sigh of relief, Sima Guang finally sat up straight, and said in a deep voice: "Although I haven't done my best this time, it is not completely useless. From now on, this old man must watch carefully, so that Wang Linchuan will not be seduced again." The matter of the Son of Heaven!"

He didn't even call the name, which shows that he is angry in his chest.But it is also a good thing to know the stubbornness of my husband and son-in-law, so that I can stop digging into the horns.Mrs. Zhang smiled slightly: "The talents of a good man must be seen by the officials."

These words were also on Sima Guang's mind.Is his talent inferior to Wang Anshi?Compared with the lunatic who frequently messes with the law, a prudent gentleman like him is what the world really needs.I just hope that the emperor will change his mind soon and take a look at his sincere old minister.