Fu Song

Chapter 634 Three Cups of Tea

At noon, I ate the lunch sent by Juxiang Pavilion, and there was no lunch break, so I continued to work.

Takeaway has already existed in the Song Dynasty.

At the very beginning, each yamen had its own small kitchen, but as time went by, the food in these government-run small kitchens became more and more unpalatable, the quality was getting worse, and the cost was getting higher and higher. .

It's hard to find out, and the corruption is shocking.

Even a small kitchen has produced some big greed.

So these small kitchens were all disbanded and replaced by ordering takeaway directly from outside.

Bidding is carried out every year in a rush-to-buy manner. In this way, not only the food is delicious, but the price is also plummeting.

Some big restaurants and restaurants even have to obtain this qualification at a loss.

Because this is a live advertisement.

Anyone who can deliver food to the Yamen is eligible to hang a sign in the shop.

The more advanced the department sent, the better the store's business.

There are even quite a few restaurants like this that launched Shoufu special food and privy envoy special food for sale in those years.

The general public is flocking to it.

The restaurant is naturally making a lot of money.

Song people never lack the wisdom to do business.

Such a win-win result was naturally accepted by Jiang Ning's Xin Song court.

In this way, the ministries solved the problem of lunch, stimulated the development of the local catering industry, and increased a lot of employment opportunities, and the officials and officials of the ministries also benefited. The good governance of the first sentence.

Why not do it when you can do it in one fell swoop?

The booklets in front of Xiao Cheng did not decrease because of his hard work, but instead increased as Liu Xin came in and out.

Liu Xin took out those that had been approved, but far more were sent from various departments than those that were sent out.

What's more, occasionally Xiao Cheng also needs to meet with officials, some from other places to Beijing to report on their work, some who have just been appointed to assume new positions, and so on.

The window paper made a crackling sound, awakening Xiao Cheng who was immersed in the memorial, stood up, stretched himself, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

Locked in a warm house without knowing it, it was already dark outside, and the snowstorm was getting bigger and bigger.

In winter, it's better to be colder.

At least that doesn't bode well for anything extreme next year.

Xiao Cheng remembered the intelligence analysis about the warm winter in the north that he had just seen today.

Drought and flood have always been one of the biggest disasters for ordinary people.

I pray for good weather every year, but God doesn't always reward me.

For the people in the north, the past two years have really been full of disasters.

"Liu Xin!" Xiao Cheng shouted after closing the window and turning around.

As soon as the words were finished, Liu Xin pushed open the door and walked in, as if he had been staying by the door all along, waiting for Xiao Cheng's call at any time.

"This snow is not small, if it doesn't stop overnight, I'm afraid it will be a disaster!"

"Yes, I'll have someone notify the governor of Jiangning right away, and ask him to send people to inspect, especially the area around the west city and the outer city outline!" Liu Xin said immediately after hearing the string song.

"There are also surrounding villages, especially those who are widowed and lonely." Xiao Cheng pondered for a moment and said, "Just ask Tian Chou to arrange it. In the past two days, I will go down with the officials to have a look and express our condolences."

"Are the officials going too?" Liu Xin was taken aback.

"Go, it's not a bad thing to let the officials see the real Song Dynasty more!" Xiao Cheng laughed.

"The next official will arrange it immediately!" Liu Xin bowed.

Xiao Cheng waved his hand: "Let everyone go home today! This snowstorm came suddenly, and everyone was unprepared, maybe the family is looking forward to them going back! Go home after you go to Tian Chou's place!" "

"Shoufu, aren't you going back?" Liu Xin asked.

Xiao Cheng smiled, and said: "I think, I should have one thing that I haven't finished today."

First startled, then stunned, and then laughed.

it is more than words.

After lighting up several lights in the room for Xiao Cheng, Liu Xin went out.

Immediately, suppressed cheers sounded from outside.

With the sound of tables, chairs and benches, the outside gradually became quiet.

Xiao Cheng smiled and walked to a corner of the public hall, where there was a low table and a few futons, and on top of the low table were small stoves, small teapots and other things.

After sitting down, Xiao Cheng first lit the small stove, and after the specially obtained apple wood was lit, there was a faint fragrance.

After putting the small kettle on the fire and starting to boil water, Xiao Cheng slowly began to clean the teapot and teacups.

He washed two cups.

After all this is done, the water will boil.

He started to heat the teapot and the cups, then put some tea leaves into the teapot with wooden tongs, poured boiled water into the teapot, and then slowly turned the teapot.

When the golden tea was poured from the spout and the two cups in front of it were filled, there was a knock on the door at the right time.

When Xiao Cheng turned his head, he saw the Second Assistant Secretary Jun Chao was standing in front of the door, with his two fingers curled up, he knocked lightly on the door.

Smiling and pointing to the opposite side with his hand, Si Junchao walked in and sat down quietly.

The two picked up the cups in front of them and drank them all in one gulp.

Originally, Si Junchao was too lazy to drink such crude tea as Xiao Cheng.A pinch of tea leaves, boiled water, drink in the mouth, extremely bitter.

In Si Junchao's view, Xiao Cheng's way of doing things completely destroyed the tea ceremony.

But today, he must drink.

Putting down the teacup, Si Junchao looked up at Xiao Cheng and said, "Why is this so?"

"How could it be otherwise?" Xiao Cheng said indifferently: "This year, the government's fiscal deficit is as high as [-] million guan, and the tax lost on trade is as high as more than [-] thousand guan in terms of value. The company feels that , is this a small number?"

"It's just a shortfall of [-] million yuan. As long as the chief assistant speaks out, the philanthropists in Jiangnan will be able to donate it in a blink of an eye." Si Junchao leaned forward: "Why are you so vicious and evil, and ruin the relationship between colleagues?" How about your peace?"

"What is a happy donation? It's just an excuse to force donations and apportionment!" Xiao Cheng sneered: "I know what the company means. The squires take the lead and mobilize everyone to share the country's worries. Then, the squires will naturally Those who returned it, and those who came from the common people, probably can almost make up for this year's deficit!"

Si Junchao didn't speak.

Generally speaking, this is the way. In the past, this is how it was done.

"Jiangnan Road is rich, so the money is nothing to worry about!" He said indifferently: "Simou used to care for the people on Jiangnan Road for many years, and Jiangnan Road is rich, so Simou still has a little bit of meritorious service. "

Xiao Cheng looked at that self-confident face, and laughed angrily: "Are you really rich? Sir, if the looms in the Jiangning Mansion stop for a day, how many people will starve the day after tomorrow? Like today With such a heavy snowfall, how many houses will collapse in the west city? How many beggars in the entire Jiangning mansion can hardly survive the cold night?"

"In the past ten years, Jiangnan's taxes accounted for more than [-]% of the entire Song Dynasty's taxes!" Si Junchao said.

"It's a small part of the wealth, but the common people are still poor!" Xiao Cheng said: "So, if the company has ill-gotten wealth and wealth that violates laws and regulations, I don't take it, but I go to exploit those who are already poor. Ordinary people?"

"Chongwen!" Si Junchao's tone became more and more cold: "You have to be clear, the king and the scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together, but not those mud-legged people."

"Wei Zheng said that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Since Qin ruled the world, after so many dynasties, does the company really think that the people can be bullied?" Xiao Cheng asked.

"Shoufu, maybe tomorrow, Jiangning's looms will really stop!" Si Junchao's eyes flashed with anger: "Shoufu, do you know that there are [-] people in Jiangning Mansion and its surrounding areas alone?" You rely on this to eat! Didn’t you also say before that if the loom is stopped, they will have nothing to eat the next day? There is a commotion, and the chief minister is going to ask Han Kai to take someone to kill him?”

Xiao Cheng laughed loudly, "How could the court's knife be aimed at the good people! If such a situation really happened, I can only invite those guys in the imperial prison to show off. There are those large boxes of account books, so I have no choice but to make them public. Company, guess what, if you have come to this point, the angry people will tear me up first, or tear up those so-called charitable homes first. ?”

Si Junchao took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Isn't it because of this that he came here regardless of decency?

Now he fully understands that Xiao Cheng is really not afraid to break everything up and start over.

He is young and has the courage.

And I am old and can't stand the toss.

He reached for the teapot and filled the cup for Xiao Cheng.

"Shoufu, why bother? Don't you also ask for money? The Tianxiang Pavilion under Madam's command is making a lot of money every day. You can make a lot of money. Why can't you allow others to make money too?"

Si Junchao finally began to give in.

Xiao Cheng smiled and said, "Company, because every penny of the money I earn is clean."

"Is it clean?"

"Of course." Xiao Cheng said bluntly: "For people like us, making money is not only for making money, but also for taking responsibility. Take the chicken farm and duck farm as an example. My wife invested hundreds of thousands of coins at one time. The construction of chicken farms and duck farms has stimulated the activity of the local construction industry, and many people have made money. Raising chickens and ducks, putting meat on the market, lowered the price of meat, so that everyone can eat Affordable meat, the remaining meat can also be made into dried meat, part of which becomes military rations, which enriches the soldiers' food and makes them stronger. Chicken feathers and duck feathers are smashed and some special Then stuff it into the clothes, so that the soldiers can get warmer winter clothes, and the fluff is made into high-end down jackets, which are sold to the rich. Company, do you know how much this series has created? Jobs, how many people have food and clothing? This series of businesses, every link, has to pay taxes again, and how much wealth has been created for the court?"

Si Junchao remained silent.

"People like us should create, not plunder!" Xiao Cheng said: "Company, your so-called business is robbing and stealing. Not only does a certain company disdain it, but if they find one, they want to do it." Hit one. That's the biggest difference between us."

"There are countless wealth in the world..."

"Nonsense!" Xiao Cheng swears: "Wealth can be created. We could have made this piece of cake bigger and bigger, instead of drawing on top of the small cake."

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"The company doesn't understand what I want?" Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "I will definitely collect the ill-gotten gains this year, but for the past, I can ignore the blame and not pursue it any further. .Even someone like the master of ceremonies, I can let go."

"The premise is that I support your political and military reforms?"

"That's right!" Xiao Cheng said: "Company, I'm not afraid to tell you, if you really want to go on like this, I won't hesitate to smash everything up and start over. It's not like I haven't done such a thing before. I have tried it on Guizhou Road and Yunnan Road. Although it took longer and the process was more painful, the final result is not bad. In fact, for me, this is the easiest way.”

Seeing Sijun's super-vulgar hesitant appearance, Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "Sigong, believe it or not, the [-] Jiangning garrison under Han Kai's command can kill the Jiangnan two roads inside and outside. transparent!"

"You underestimate us too much. Hundreds of years of family accumulation, do you think that what you see is all the truth? When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman wins." Si Junchao said: "You understand this It makes sense, otherwise, you wouldn't have been tempted, and today you're here specially waiting for me."

"I'm talking about the worst outcome!" Xiao Cheng said frankly: "The imperial army in the south of the Yangtze River has collapsed, and the Xiang army has collapsed, but the private armies of various families are still good. Although they are not famous in the world, their existence , but everyone understands it. If you can not break this porcelain, it is better not to break it. That's why I want to negotiate with you."

"But you are cutting us with a soft knife!" Si Junchao said coldly.

"If you cut with a soft knife, you may find a chance to fight back in the future. If I cut with a steel knife now, you won't even have a chance!" Xiao Cheng smiled and said, "Company, you lost a lot in this round. Thoroughly, so I think you should be a bachelor even if you admit defeat."

"So, do I have a chance to compete with you again in the court?"

"Of course there is!" Xiao Cheng leaned forward and said, "You are a group of hyenas. If there is no leader, you will fight on your own and mess around, and it will be even more difficult to deal with. With you as the leader, then I have another one who can The object of negotiation, you can also restrain them. Therefore, the second assistant is still the second assistant."

"In addition to political reform, does Liu Mingyi have to step down?"

"Go back to Honglu Temple and become a minister, and still have the right to vote, how about it?"

From a well-established faction like the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, to suddenly becoming a dispensable Honglu Temple Shangqing, this gap is not a stark difference!
"Who is going to Fujian and Zhejiang?"

"I think Cheng Shao is good!"

"What can that trash do?"

"He is timid and a conservative person. The court has a resolution and can implement it in a disciplined manner. What Fujian and Zhejiang need now is stability. He is still a very suitable person." Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "Put the right person in." In a suitable position, wait until he is not suitable, and then transfer him away."

Watching Xiao Cheng refill their teacups again, Si Junchao got up and drank it down, then stood up, left without saying anything.

Looking at Si Junchao's back, Xiao Cheng picked up the cup with a smile, and slowly sipped the black tea in the cup. Speaking of which, the taste of the tea was just right at this time.

Earlier, Sijun Chaoguang tasted bitterness.

(End of this chapter)