I want to be a grandson

Chapter 345
"What do you mean!"

Kong Liang stared at Bao Zhao angrily, and said angrily: "This is the territory of the Kong family, who dares to call the shots!"

He stared fiercely at the crowd around him, and said threateningly, "I want to see it today. If you don't pay the money, who would dare to go there!"

Bao Zhao clenched his fists and ordered: "Your orders! This is the land of the Ming Dynasty. Anyone who dares to collect customs duties privately is despising the imperial court and plotting evil! I order you to be executed immediately!"

"Yes! My subordinates obey!"

Five or six attendants lead in unison, magnificent!

Kong Liang was gnashing his teeth with hatred, and his yellow teeth were almost crushed!

But he also knew that the other party was wearing an official uniform, and he must not mess around in public!

Otherwise, it will really be beheaded!And it's okay to let the people behind me bully the people,
But facing the vicious soldiers, they must run faster than themselves!It doesn't work at all!
"A mere sixth-rank official, hum...you just wait to be impeached! Let's go!"

So Kong Liang had no choice but to take the group of gangsters away in despair. Before leaving, he didn't forget to say a cruel word!
Seeing them being driven away, the people also let out a cry of joy,
"Okay! Master Qingtian!"

"Finally someone can rule the Kong family!"

"It's annoying to see them! Save a ton of money again!"

"They should have been driven away a long time ago, it's really a disaster..."

Walking to the distance, listening to the yelling from behind, these gangsters recovered their spirits again!

"Hey, let me make you happy for a while! Next time, I will charge them double the money! Let them know whose place this is!"

"Yes! A group of merchants and untouchables also followed suit, so we have to teach them a lesson!"

A gangster asked: "Brother, let's just forget about it? Brother, give us an order and take us back. You must drive them away!"

Kong Liang glared at him, and cursed angrily: "Get out! Just now when he took out the knife, all of you were too scared to make a sound! What use are you for!"

These people's faces were filled with embarrassment, after all, they were really scared just now.

The other quickly said: "Aren't you afraid, brothers, that you can't cause trouble for your family..."

In fact, this group of people is not all surnamed Kong, more of them are local hooligans who Kong Liang is entangled with, let them act as thugs.

"Brother, the pier is a treasured place of geomantic omen, let's just forget about it?

"Hmph... let's forget it? How can it be so cheap!"

Kong Liang said with gloomy eyes: "Can you prepare a piece for me? I want to report it to the second master, and I ask the second master to make the decision!"

"Hmph, if he doesn't eat the toast, the second master will naturally have a way to make him eat the fine wine!"

Kong Liang knew that he could not be the master of this matter, let alone get cheap from Bao Zhao and others, so he had to ask the person in charge to come forward.

When Kong Liang reported the news to Kong Yan, the second master of the Confucius Mansion, Kong Yan also frowned.

This second master is Kong, the younger brother of Kong Na, the contemporary Yansheng Gong. He manages all the business of the Kong family, and it can be said that he holds the financial power of the Kong family.

Relying on his business acumen, he has indeed made a lot of money over the years, but it is unknown how many of them are steamed buns with human blood on them.

At the same time, relying on the contacts of the Kong family, no matter where they go, everyone will give face, so starting a business and doing things will go smoothly.

Kong Yan immediately wrote a famous post, invited Bao Zhao to the banquet, and asked his servant to deliver it to him politely.

Inside the post station, Bao Zhao flipped through the name post, raised his head and asked, "It was your Kong family who sent the post to the second master Kong Yan?"

The servant replied: "Reporting to the master, it was written by the second master himself, and the master will appreciate it."

Bao Zhao closed the name post and said, "Go back and tell him that I don't have much talent and learning, and I don't dare to be arrogant, and I'm busy with work, so I really don't have time..."

"I appreciate his kindness, but I am ashamed, please forgive me..."

The servant was also very surprised. You must know that Kong Yan, as the younger brother of Yan Shenggong, has a high status in the Kong family.
He personally wrote invitations to invite people to the banquet, and there are still people who dare to refuse like this!

Can't help but say: "My lord, my second master sincerely invites you to the banquet, and you are also a scholar, please take the time to show me your honor..."

Bao Zhao's face was suddenly displeased, "I said it, if you don't have time, you don't have time! Don't talk too much! Come, see off!"

Just like that, the servant was kicked out in astonishment!

He never expected that the other party would not give the Kong family face!

After hearing the report from his husband's servant, Kong Yan's eyes widened in surprise, "Did he really say that? Did he really refuse to go to the banquet?"

The servant said with an aggrieved face: "Second Master, how dare the villain lie, you haven't seen his official authority, Xiao Ren just persuaded him, and he sent someone to drive the villain out, if it was later Son, it might just be a severe beating!"

Kong Yan was refuted, and he was naturally upset. He gritted his teeth and said, "Did you find out clearly? Who is this sixth-rank official!"

Suddenly, he looked embarrassed, "Returning to the master, this group of people has a very strict attitude, they can't ask anything, and it's hard to take money, they don't accept it at all!"

"Not even taking money?

"Yes, master, the little one tried several times, but the entourage around him just won't let gossip, and the authentic villain has worn out his mouth, and they are indifferent..."

"They won't even reveal their names?!"

Kong Yan suddenly felt that Bao Zhao was not that simple!
And this matter is not as easy as I imagined!
Although the imperial court severely cracked down on corrupt officials and punished them severely, those were after all escorts and guards.
Even if officials are really found out to be corrupt by the court, it is generally difficult to implicate them.

And they didn't ask them to do anything harmful or divulge secrets. They just asked for the official's name, that's all!

What's so secret about it?

Kong Liang, who was standing aside, tentatively asked, "Second Master, are we still collecting money at the pier these days?"

Kong Yan waved his hand and said, "Leave them alone for the next few days, don't cause any trouble, wait until I meet him!"

Kong Liang said with a smile: "I listen to the second master. No matter how powerful the other party is, he is also a civil servant and a scholar. He can't make trouble in front of our Kong family!"

Kong Yan smiled, and said very relaxedly: "They are scholars of the same line, and there are still many similarities, so don't bother with this matter."

"Kong Liang, you go to Tianxiang Tower and book a good banquet. I want to meet the magistrate."

"Yes, I understand, Second Master, please rest assured."

The two retreated and closed the door behind them.

Kong Yan looked out the window, he didn't know the details of Bao Zhao, so he didn't dare to act rashly.

If he knows the basics and has no background, even if he goes up and scolds him, that's okay, he can only bear it!

But it is such a mysterious identity that makes people afraid to act!

Since I can't bribe his subordinates, I can only get news from the government!

So he held a banquet in the restaurant of Jining Mansion, and asked people to invite the prefect of Jining over.

"Brother Yan, what is the so-called origin of today's banquet?"

Kong Yan pulled Zhang Yong, the magistrate, to sit down, and said politely: "Master Zhang has worked hard in handling official affairs. As a commoner, I should express my gratitude to you!"

Zhang Yong immediately sat down on the chair and said with a smile: "Brother Yan, you are welcome, how is Yan Shenggong?"

"Brother is all well, thank you for your concern."

Kong Yan raised his hand, and the servant greeted the waiter in the restaurant, and brought up all the high-quality wine and dishes, filling a whole table.

Then they all retreated, leaving only the two of them talking, not daring to disturb them easily.

Zhang Yong was often entertained by Kong Yan, and he was quite familiar with this operation, so he didn't find it strange, but began to eat and drink calmly.

Zhang Yong patted his bulging belly until he was full of wine and food, and then he showed a satisfied expression.

Kong Yan poured him a glass of wine, then started the topic, and asked: "Master Zhang, a sixth-rank official has come to the pier these days, and he is surveying and counting the passing ships. Is this true or false?"

Zhang Yong held a string of Buddhist beads in his hand, rubbed them lightly and said, "I just heard that the imperial court is going to set up some tax customs on the waterways, and the Ministry of Household Affairs is sending people to investigate."

"Not only in Jining, but several customs offices will be set up along the canal. I heard that they will also be set up in other places."

Kong Yan said: "Master Zhang, you also know that our Kong family has invested a lot of money in the dock, and it is still far from recovering the capital. If the dock cannot collect money, then our family will suffer a lot!"

Glancing at the magistrate, Kong Yan said again: "When this official came, he drove away all our family members. His attitude was extremely tough. I don't know where he came from?"

Zhang Yong thought for a while, and couldn't help but frowned slightly, "I heard people say that he was the head of the household department, named Bao Zhao, although his official position is not high, but he was personally selected by His Royal Highness the Emperor Taisun..."

Kong Yan was surprised, and quickly said: "There is such a background? No wonder it is so arrogant!"

But Kong Yan was not afraid, because "Qufu Confucius Family" is a gold-lettered signboard, even if it is an official of the imperial court, anyone who sees it must be courteous!
Kong Yan cupped his hands and said: "Master Zhang, I would like to invite this confidant of the crown prince to have a drink and ask him for advice. How about asking your lord to lead me?"

Zhang stopped with the hand that was pushing the Buddha beads, and felt embarrassed in his heart. No matter whether it was good or bad, he didn't want to participate in this matter.

After all, even if the matter is done well, there is not much benefit, but if it is messed up and Bao Zhao is annoyed, then his name will be passed on to the ears of the emperor grandson!
"Brother Yan, I have never met him, let alone have any friendship. Isn't this embarrassing me, no, no..."

Kong Yan said with a smile: "Master Zhang, you are the parent official of the Jining Mansion. Now the Ministry of Household Affairs has sent people to prepare to set up a tax office here. You have the responsibility to do what the landlord wants anyway..."

Zhang Yong was still refusing, "You can discuss this matter, it is really inconvenient for me to come forward..."

"Master Zhang, I heard that it is very difficult to collect the land tax of Jining Mansion every year. You have been devastated and worried about this matter. I wonder if it is true?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yong understood his intention, weighed it in his heart, weighed left and right,

In the end, I had no choice but to say: "That's true. Last year's harvest was not good, and the collection did take some twists and turns..."

Because in the local area, some big families are not so obedient, and they will not pay the land tax obediently. They often delay it until the government has no choice but to give them some relief.

After all, how many acres of land they have and how much land tax they should pay, there is still a little room for maneuvering...

"Master Zhang has worked so hard! Seeing it, I really can't bear it..."

"How about this, our Kong family's land in Jining Prefecture is willing to take the lead in paying the land tax this year! To set an example for others, what do you think?"

Among the wealthy and wealthy gentry, there is another phenomenon, that is, watching.

Check to see if the leader has paid taxes. As long as the leader has not paid, they will also use various reasons to default.

After all, they also have their own circles, and they will express their power in various ways!
If the government has a mild attitude and harmonious relationship with the wealthy gentry, they will support those who are officials and actively pay land taxes.

But if the other party doesn't give face, they will unite. Not only will they not donate money to build bridges and pave roads, but they will also cause stumbling blocks in terms of taxation.

In the end, the official is likely to be dismissed from office due to poor political performance, or be warned by the Ministry of Rites,

In this way, officials can only choose to compromise!

There have been situations like this in all ages of history, it’s just whether the degree is serious or not!

"really?!"

So when Zhang Yong confirmed the other party's words, he couldn't help being very happy.

To take the lead in paying is to tell everyone that the Kong family supports me, and it will be much more convenient and easier to implement the government order by myself in the future!

Achievements will increase accordingly!Promotion is just around the corner!
"really!"

Kong Yan answered with certainty, with a satisfied expression on his face...

(End of this chapter)