Liu Qinghan didn't answer me, but silently put the simple letter on the table, folded it carefully, his eyelashes drooped, he couldn't see what was in his eyes, and only said, "He asked you to ask me?" ”

I said, "I want to know why, too." ”

“……”

"I don't mean to ask you anything, because I know that you have your own reasons for doing things, and you have reasons why you must do them. Now, I just want to know why. ”

“……”

"Why did you return his letter untouched?"

He didn't raise his head, and said slowly, "Do you know what is written in his letter?" ”

I was stunned for a moment, and then said softly, "I, I know." He wants to—"

Before I could finish speaking, he had already planned my words and said calmly, "I know it too." ”

“……”

"The situation in the world has come to this point, and the war is inevitable. Fighting a war means spending money, but in the years I have been the head of the household department, although the new policy has achieved initial results, the money has not yet been completely collected into the national treasury. Those powerful gentry everywhere are trying to find ways to use it to grab money from the state. In some places, although the tax system has been changed, the local corrupt officials and corrupt officials, as well as those powerful people, have already collected taxes and fees in advance until five or six years later. ”

I couldn't help but gasp.

Although I know that the situation in many places is not optimistic, but when I really hear him say this, I realize that it is really so bad.

Even if he and those young officials support the emperor's new policy and reform the tax system, the old malpractices of the imperial court have made the world full of holes, and it is difficult for them to change it.

I was about to say something, but he continued: "Now that the imperial court is going to war, and there is no money in the treasury, it is natural to find someone to pay for it." ”

“……”

He looked up at me: "The taxes in the world have never benefited one." But Yangzhou has been exploited for so many years, and the wealth of the people has almost been exhausted, and it is close to Jinling, strategically speaking, Yangzhou is also an important place, and the emperor does not want to offend the people of Yangzhou again, so he plans to get this money from Xichuan. ”

“……”

"Am I right?"

I nodded, "That's what he meant." ”

He breathed a long sigh of relief and said: "Xichuan has not experienced any wars over the years, independent of the imperial dynasty, and the people have been cultivating and living for so many years, how rich they are, until now, there is no bottom. And I took over Yan Qinghan's family property, and it will probably be more useful to give a random sum of money than to copy a few Nangong families. ”

I said, "So, are you willing to pay for it?" ”

He raised his eyes to look at me and said calmly: "If I don't answer that letter, my attitude is obvious, why do you ask again?" ”

I took a deep breath: "Why? ”

He said calmly: "My money is used for another purpose." ”

“……”

This is not an unexpected answer, after eating wontons on the street last night, I felt that he seemed to be very nervous about his money - how rich Yan Qinghan is, after all these years of operation, I think this wealth is amazing, and there is only one answer to the person who took over this wealth to control the money.

He's also using money, and he's spending it a lot.

This is puzzling.

Before, Yan Qinghan led the fleet to the sea to find the Franco machine artillery, and such a big use had no impact on his family property, so now, what is Liu Qinghan going to do, can make him tight.

I looked at him and said in a solemn tone, "What the hell are you going to do?" ”

"I can't sue you yet."

“……”

He looked up at me, his eyes flickered for a moment, and after a moment's pause, he said, "But I think you can actually guess." ”

“……”

"Even if you can't guess, it won't be long before you'll see it."

“……”

"So—"

"So, you don't plan to tell me in person," I looked into his eyes, was silent for a moment, and said calmly: "Liu Qinghan, there are many things that others can guess, but it doesn't mean that you can't say it." Even if others may have guessed it a long time ago, but you take the initiative to confess, it is not the same thing as her guessing. ”

“……”

"It's completely different."

He looked at me and didn't speak for a long time, and after a while, he said, "Oh. ”

I laughed.

He also looked away, picked up the towel hanging on the porch chair with his backhand and wiped the sweat on his neck, and I said, "Do you still want to continue to practice swords?" ”

He was a little surprised when he saw me standing up, as if I was leaving: "You really, don't ask me anymore?" ”

I laughed and said, "You said it, I can guess it, and even if I can't guess it, I can see it soon." ”

“……”

"Then I won't ask you."

He lowered his eyelashes slightly, but was silent for a moment, and then continued: "However, there are some things I want to ask you and ask you for help. ”

"Huh?"

Want my help?

I was a little surprised, but I immediately remembered what the second brother of the Zhao family said to me yesterday when I entered the city, "There are some people in the Yan Mansion who are not very willing to change hands", and I also remembered the noble son with an arrogant attitude, and said directly: "Is it about that Wen Ruyu?" ”

"Wen Ruyu?" Liu Qinghan was a little surprised: "Have you seen him?" ”

"Yes, I saw it halfway into the city yesterday. He doesn't seem to be able to deal with Second Brother Zhao. ”

“…… He's your cousin's man. ”

"Hmm."

"His father, too."

"His father?"

I was stunned for a moment.

When I met Wen Ruyu for the first time yesterday, when I heard his name from the second brother of the Zhao family, I had a little impression that I should have heard it somewhere when I was a child-not only heard his name, but heard the names of the people of the Wen family, and about them, but in a hurry, I couldn't remember it.

Now listening to Liu Qinghan say this, I seem to have a sense of thinking about it again.

I frowned slightly and asked, "What's his father's name?" ”

Liu Qinghan glanced at me and was silent for a while before saying, "Their business, I'll talk about it later, it's not his business that I want you to help with." ”

"Who's that?"

He was about to speak, when he suddenly stopped again, looked up behind me, and I seemed to sense something, and when I turned around, I felt a gust of wind, mixed with a faint fragrance.

On the other side of the path, Chanjuan, who was dressed in a plain skirt, slowly walked towards us.

In the morning light, there was an elegant smile on that jade-like face.

Seeing her, I seemed to understand something, and turned to look at Liu Qinghan, who also glanced at me and nodded lightly.

Is it about, Chanjuan?