Han ride

Chapter 386
"Father, is it really necessary to pay taxes? This is the first time in the world. When will we nobles have to pay taxes? Then what is the use of this title?" After Zhou Queen left, Zhou Yi Looking at his father dissatisfied, he didn't understand why his father would agree to such a thing.Gentlemen don’t pay grain, don’t pay taxes, and are even exempted from servants. It is precisely because of such privileges that ordinary people will put their fields and so on in the name of the gentry, so that they only need to pay some taxes to the gentry. , you can exempt yourself from land taxes and other taxes, and the gentry can get more because of this.Once the gentry pays food as a whole, the unique advantages of these gentry will be gone.So Zhou Yi was very depressed.

"Of course not. That's what the ancestral system says. Could it be that the emperor dares to violate the ancestral system?" Zhou Kui snorted coldly: "As the king of a country, he is fighting for the interests of the people. If it is spread out, I'm afraid it will provoke people." People in the world make jokes? And I dare not say it, but let a woman come here, this is the emperor."

"In this case, why did father agree?" Zhou Yi said dissatisfiedly: "Father's promise is not important. How will the gentry in the world treat our Zhou family?" He has entered the ranks of noble gentry, but he doesn't know that foreign relatives like him are not accepted by the noble group at all, and people in the scholarly society will not admit it either.So Zhou's father and son have always been advancing towards the ranks of gentry and nobles.If he really paid taxes, I am afraid that the entire gentry and noble class will object, and look down on Zhou's father and son even more.We must know that for hundreds of years, the gentry has formed a huge collective.Even Emperor Chongzhen knew that officials and gentry would pay food and taxes together, which would help him greatly improve the court's finances, but because he was afraid of the collective power, he didn't dare to do it lightly, he could only beat the side bones .

"What did the old man promise? The old man didn't promise anything." Zhou Kui revealed a trace of mystery at the corner of his mouth, looked at his son and said, "You mean to pay the money at the Ministry of Households? Since the queen has come to our house to collect donations , as the head of the country, how can I not say the same, give a few thousand taels every year! Our family has relatively few shops, and the harvest has not been good these years, so 3000 taels a year is enough."

After Zhou Yi heard this, the boss opened his mouth and stared at Zhou Kui. Unexpectedly, it was also sending money, but when it came to Zhou Kui, it became another way of saying it. This is not called paying taxes, but paying donations.It was the queen who came to ask for it, not to pay taxes.Although this is the same as paying money, the name is different and the effect is the same.Taxes are paid every year, and if Zhou Kui pays, other gentry, powerful and nobles will also have to pay. This is an example.Chongzhen approached Zhou Kui at the first step, and what he wanted was for his father-in-law to set an example.But what he didn't expect was that Zhou Kui thought more, and even secretly had his own little calculations.Just pay some money, and Chongzhen's mouth was blocked. Poor Chongzhen's set of combined punches was stillborn before he could hit it.

"Father, it's Gao. My child admires it." Zhou Yi nodded again and again, admiring in his heart that his father was unparalleled in calculations, and he was also so cruel that he didn't even help his son-in-law.

"It's just that the news came very suddenly this time. The emperor has never mentioned it before!" Zhou Kui thought for a while, then frowned and said: "According to the emperor's character, even if he makes a decision, he will find it Those great scholars discussed it, but it seems that they have not discussed it this time!" Zhou Kui is also a wise master, and he immediately thought of the weirdness of the matter.

"Hmph, of course we can't discuss this matter with those scholars. Who are those scholars? They are more noble than us nobles? Scholars don't pay taxes. This is an iron law. If the emperor discusses it with these people If these guys don’t go into a rage, it’s a strange thing? I’m afraid everyone went to the Qianqing Palace to mourn.” Zhou Yi said disdainfully: “You can only find us nobles, saying that nobles share weal and woe with the imperial court, Xungui is here. So if you don’t look for us, who should we look for? As long as we agree, can those scholars still make a fuss? I think the emperor wants to kill us first?”

"Well, it's really possible, but we can't open this hole. So when you go to send the silver, say it's donated to the imperial court, and it will be used to replenish the national treasury." Zhou Kui nodded and said.

"Father, I heard that Marquis Zhengbei is outside the city now?" Zhou Yi suddenly thought of something, and said to Zhou Kui with a smile.His face was full of mystery.

"Why, do you want to get to know him?" Zhou Kui was very annoyed. He was the queen's father, and he was only named Jia Ding Bo.Of course, the same has been true for the queen's father and brothers throughout the ages. It is already a great favor to be named an earl.

But Li Xin is just a fluffy young man, and now he is actually the Marquis of Zheng Bei, how can he swallow this breath.So when my son mentioned Li Xin's name, his face was slightly displeased.

"Father, don't underestimate this Li Xin. This Li Xin is a golden mountain!" Zhou Yi had a different opinion, but he only heard him say: "Li Xin is now the Marquis of Zhengbei, and he controls the grassland. Father, this The grassland is a cornucopia! Horses, cattle and sheep, furs, etc., many things are rare in the Central Plains. If these things can be transported to the Central Plains, the profits here are astonishing. Moreover, the Central Plains porcelain, Silk, satin, salt, tea, etc., if these things are transported to the grassland, it will be a profitable business. Now the grassland is in the hands of someone, not Li Xin. Without Li Xin nodding, who can earn such a large sum of money? Gold and silver treasures! Those people in the capital have already started to take action for such a mountain of gold and silver. Father, now that Li Xin is still in the capital, it will be very difficult to curry favor when he returns to the grassland in a few days."

"Li Xin is rich all over the world, sitting in the grassland, like a prince, how to win him over." Zhou Kui was greedy by nature. After hearing what his son said, he also felt that Li Xin held inexhaustible wealth in his hands. , You will get endless benefits, it is almost impossible to say that you don't want to.It's just that he felt that he had nothing in his hands to win over Li Xin.These things can only be seen, but not obtained, which makes him very annoyed.Zhou Kui also became anxious when he thought that other dignitaries and ministers might have already started to act.

"Li Xin is young, so he should be motivated by wine and sex. The boy heard that Li Xin has a widow's disease. He fought all the way, and all the beautiful women captured were taken by him. Even the concubine of the Jiannu Great Khan became his woman. , In the Liuli Palace in the cloud, there are beautiful women like clouds, father, why don't we start from this aspect?" Zhou Yi said with a smile: "Father, who else can compare to father in this aspect?" If Li Xin listened Judging by what Zhou Yi said, I am afraid that he will come into the city with a big sword.Unexpectedly, no one mentioned his bravery, but his romanticism was spread far and wide.

"Well, Li Xin, hehe, the hero is sad for the beauty pass!" Zhou Kui stroked his beard and nodded.What Zhou Yi said is correct, when it comes to looking for beautiful women, there is no one in the entire capital who is his opponent.As the head of the state, in order to enter the ranks of nobles, he entertained literati everywhere. It is very common for other nobles, so it is logical to find any staff. In order to win over those literati, let them For his own sake, Zhou Kui also specially established a high-scale and high-end private band, which is full of beauties. Every time important guests come, Zhou Kui will make people appreciate these wonderful dances.Of course, most of these bands are beauties, or the wives and daughters of former officials, who were demoted to the Jiaofang Division because they offended the powerful, and were bought by Zhou Kui. Waitresses and so on, these people formed Zhou Kui's band to win over important people.

This time is the same, Zhou Kui is ready to win over Li Xin.It's just to get more benefits from Li Xin's mouth, just like what his son said, there are huge benefits on the grassland.

If you want to get benefits, you have to pay. This is for sure. Zhou Kui knows that there are many people who want to get the benefits of the grassland. It is understood that under Li Xin's command, there are also Shanxi merchants. Shanxi merchants are famous all over the country. , Insidious, tactful, in this world, it is really impossible to find a business that Shanxi merchants cannot do.The simple thing is that the grassland is so big that even Shanxi merchants can't eat it all at once, so Zhou Kui still has a chance.

"Who can attract Li Xin?" Zhou Kui shook his head, although there are many beautiful women in his band, but Li Xingui is a prince, what kind of women can't he get?The woman who attracts him is different from ordinary people.Zhou Kui recalled the girls in his band.

"How about Yang Wan?" Zhou Yi swallowed and said with some reluctance.Yang Wan is the most beautiful woman in the band.Zhou Yi always wanted to keep it for himself, but Zhou Kui wanted to use this daughter as a dedication to Emperor Chongzhen to help his daughter win favor.It's a pity that it has just been sent and has not had time to send her to the palace, but now he wants to send her out in order to win Li Xin, Zhou Yi also feels a little bit reluctant.

"Yang Wan? This woman?" Zhou Kui thought for a while and said, "I remember that Mao Yuanyi once begged me for this person, hehe, now that Mao Yuanyi has been convicted, there is no need to leave it to him. You take When Yang Wan went to invite Li Xin, she said that I, Zhou Kui, was going to have a banquet for him at the residence, and I also asked him to come to the banquet." This Zhou Kui was going to deliver the goods to the door.

"Yes." Zhou Yi didn't dare to be negligent after hearing this. A woman is rare, but for the benefit of the Zhou family, why would he be reluctant?

At noon, Li Xin was reading a book in the big tent, and there were many invitations in front of him. These invitations were extremely ornately decorated, and they were all sent by nobles and nobles in Beijing, either to greet them or to make friends. Wait, it's just that Li Xin ignored these people.

Shi Yuanzhi walked in, with some more letterheads in his hands, Li Xin raised his head, looked at Shi Yuanzhi and said disdainfully, "Which family invited me to the banquet?"

"There are quite a few, such as the father of Concubine Tian in the palace, and the father of Concubine Yuan. Hehe, all of them are here for the lord." Shi Yuanzhi also felt amused. Not long ago, these people wished Li Xin would die under the city of Beijing. , but at this time, they came to flatter them again, wishing that Li Xin would live in their house often.These nobles are really shameless.

"Sir, what can you tell from these invitations?" Li Xin pointed to the dozens of invitations on the desk in front of him.

"Corrupt, hopeless." Shi Yuanzhi thought for a while and said, "At present, the invitations are all nobles from the imperial court, and there are very few officials. Hehe, speaking of it, these nobles share weal and woe with the imperial court, their glory Wealth and honor are also given by the imperial court. A little honor has been passed down for hundreds of years. Their power and wealth come from Emperor Chongzhen. When these people saw that the lord had just reached an agreement with His Majesty the Emperor, they couldn't wait to jump out. Really interesting."

"Yes!" Li Xin raised the invitation in his hand and said, "Although these people are rotten, I need them. Hey, sir, do you know what else I saw, that is righteousness. If you don't take righteousness, I, Li Xin Occupy the city of Beijing, but you cannot rule the world.”

"However, there are still great people among so many nobles." Shi Yuan glanced at Li Xin and said, "For example, Li Guozhen, uncle of Xiangcheng, Liu Wenbing, marquis of Xinle, Gong Yonggu, governor of consort, Zhang Qingzhen, uncle of Hui'an, Xuancheng Bowei Shichun and so on, there is no news about these nobles. Of course, the most important thing is the queen’s father, Jiadingbo Zhou Kui. Hehe, these nobles are either relatives or military families. These people are all There is no movement!"

"Haha, I don't know if other people can move, but this Jiading Bo Zhou Kui will definitely move." Li Xin laughed out loud.The Ming Dynasty lasted for more than 200 years, and I don't know how many nobles there are.Li Xin can't remember it, but the old man of Chongzhen, Jiading Bo Zhou Kui, definitely remembers it.The son-in-law asked him to borrow money, and he actually said that "the old minister has gold". Afterwards, Li Zicheng went to Beijing and found a person with more than a million taels of gold and silver from his house, a person who betrayed his grandson, such a person How can a character be a character who puts integrity in his heart.Li Xin knows that he has mastered the grassland, which contains huge business opportunities, and the seven great families of Shanxi merchants can't afford it, and these nobles will not let this opportunity go. Naturally, it is difficult for you to find Li Xin, but not now, Emperor Chongzhen has received them, and these guys are naturally moved after hearing the news.

Shi Yuanzhi didn't know why Li Xin was so sure that Zhou Kui would definitely come, but soon, there was news from outside soldiers that Zhou Yi, the son of Jiadingbo, was seeking to see him outside the camp.

"How about it, sir, Cao Cao is here. Let's go and see you." Li Xin stood up, laughed loudly, and said, "Our grain and iron fell on him."

After a while, Li Xin saw a young man standing at the entrance of the gate, with a handsome complexion, but his face was pale, his eyes were dark blue, and he looked overly drunk.When Li Xin was even more surprised, there was a slender woman behind him, but her upper body was covered by a cloak, so she couldn't be seen at all, but she looked good in a white palace attire.

"Zhou Yi pays homage to Lord Hou." The young man looked at Li Xin who was slowly approaching, with an expression of disbelief on his face. Everyone said that Li Xin was young, but only after seeing Li Xin did he realize that he was too young. , dressed in a brocade robe, the figure is tall and straight, which is extremely impressive.

"Young Lord, you don't need to be too polite." Li Xin hurriedly stepped forward to help Zhou Yi up. Although he hated Zhou Kui and his son, there was no expression on his face.

"My lord, my lord heard that the young lord came, and told the subordinates that the young lord came to see me in person, because he thought highly of the Northern Army, so he came to see me in person." Shi Yuanzhi smiled on the side. Said.

"Marquis Zhengbei also knows me?" Zhou Yi's eyes lit up when he heard the words. He himself is a dude, but what kind of character is Li Xin? Zhou Yi actually condescended to greet him in person, how could Zhou Yi not be moved.

"My lord, please." Li Xin laughed, of course he would not know that Li Xin didn't know about Zhou Yi's heroic deeds, even if there were any, he was just a shameless person, but it didn't hinder Li Xin Do business with him.

"Oh, Lord Hou, please." Zhou Yi nodded again and again, but he didn't introduce the daughter behind him to Li Xin, and Li Xin naturally wouldn't ask.Instead, he led Zhou Yi into the tent of the Chinese army, and his own soldiers brought tea and other things.

Zhou Yi took a sip of the tea in front of him, and frowned. He had never tasted any kind of tea in the capital, and he didn't like Li Xin's tea. It was just out of politeness. He didn't open his mouth to spit it out.

It's just that his expression fell into Shi Yuanzhi's eyes, why didn't he know, he only heard him sigh and said: "Young Lord, please forgive me, I have lived a hard life in the Northern Army, you know, and now the food and grass are still available." If it is not resolved, this tea is even more rare.”

"The grain and grass have not been settled?" Zhou Yi rolled his eyes, looked at Li Xin with some surprise, and said, "Didn't the emperor say that the Ministry of Households should prepare grain and grass for Lord Hou?"

"Hmph! The grandsons of the household department are given food and grass every day. Now the army can only station troops in the capital city, where can they do other things." Li Xin snorted coldly: "Even if I send people to the city to buy food, those people I heard that it was purchased by the Northern Army, and they were not even allowed to enter the door. It’s really disgusting.” Li Xin looked angry, but in fact, although he bought very little food and grass, he could still buy some.

"Master Hou, why didn't you say it earlier, my father will prepare it for you if I said it earlier." Zhou Yi slapped his thigh fiercely and said: "I can't guarantee anything else, as long as this food is handed over to my father, my father will definitely help Hou Ye Prepare food and grass."

(End of this chapter)