Tian Mi was looking at the crowd gathered in pairs and talking about something suspiciously, the steward's eyes were sharp, and when she saw her, she hurried up, bowed and saluted, and said eagerly: "Girl, you are here, the VIP upstairs has been waiting for a long time." ”

VIP? Who is it? So early? Tian Mi was slightly stunned, but she was not too surprised, she glanced at the disturbed streets and alleys, turned around and followed the steward into the letter.

In the VIP room on the second floor, sitting against the window was the prime minister.

Tian Mi bowed, and called out suspiciously: "Prime Minister." ”

Cui Xiyan came back to his senses, stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "Girl, please sit down, I will come early in the morning to disturb, I hope you will forgive me." ”

Although Cui Xiyan was smiling, her smile was full of sadness, and her expression was a little tired, obviously troubled.

Speaking of which, the prime minister has never concealed his emotions in front of her, no, to be precise, he is sad, since they first met, he has been familiar with her, and he didn't give half of the consulting fee, but he squeezed a lot of her brain cells, not embarrassed at all, more profiteers than profiteers.

It's just that today's prime minister, more dignified than any time in the past, the whole person seems to be fished out of the water, heavy.

"It's okay." Tian Mi saw that there was only tea on the case, thinking that the steward said that he had been waiting for a long time, and he must have come here directly after the early morning, so she asked people to serve some pastries and asked the servants to retreat.

"Thank you." Cui Xiyan glanced at the pastry and said with a wry smile: "It's just that I can't eat it at the moment." ”

Tian Mi didn't care, just looked at him, waiting for him to talk.

Cui Xiyan said coldly: "Girl, do you know that there are many people in the early dynasty today, and they almost can't come back." ”

So serious? Tian Mixiu's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her eyes were slightly condensed.

Cui Xiyan added: "Among them, especially the hidden history wins. ”

"Ah Qian?" Tian Mi lost her voice and asked, "What's wrong with him?" ”

"He confronted the saint, and the saint was so angry that he almost killed him in court." Cui Xiyan's voice was solemn, as if he had brought the solemn aura of the hall here, and he said, "Actually. He is not alone in refuting the Holy One. ”

Tian Mi's brows furrowed even deeper, and she asked in a deep voice, "What's going on?" ”

"The girl remembers, half a year ago. I was worried about the follow-up military supply? Seeing Tian Mi nodding, his face was surprised and abrupt, and he said, "It's finally come true." ”

"The army has broken through all the barriers and marched forward, and now only the Eastern Chu King City is left unbroken." He said: "The Dongchu royal family is a hard bone to gnaw. Even though there was only one last city left, they were still alone. In the last line of defense of the enemy, our troops encountered the most stubborn resistance they had ever encountered. Our side has not been able to attack for a long time, but the military supply has been urgent. ”

Our military needs are urgent, but the enemy is only left with the last barrier, if it is not for the empty treasury, this is definitely a golden opportunity not to be missed!

But the problem is that the current financial resources of Changguo are not enough to support the huge ambitions.

Tian Mi can completely think of this problem. What kind of quarrel will be made in the court.

Fight, who doesn't want to fight? But what to fight?

But if you don't fight, let alone the obsessive emperor, even the old surname below will feel pity.

"Your Majesty will never be willing to give up." Tian Mi's interlocking ten fingers tightened, looked at the prime minister with clear eyes, and asked, "What about the money, what is he going to do?" ”

"What else?" Cui Xiyan smiled bitterly and shook his head: "The treasury has long been empty, and the imperial court has long advocated opening up sources and reducing expenditure. Not to mention the officials below, even His Majesty and the concubine have already saved to a certain extent, but so what? It's just a drop in the bucket. The last tax hike lasted for a while. This time, isn't it just a repetition of the old tricks? Otherwise, can you still hope to live by donating? ”

"Impossible." Tian Mi said categorically: "The drought in Qingzhou has only eased a little bit now, and the last fundraising has done its best, and no one has extra money to help others." Your Majesty can't ask the people to be selfless to the point of completely ignoring their own life or death, right? ”

"Yes, Your Majesty also knows that it is impossible for the old surname to be selfless to that extent." Cui Xiyan's smile became more and more mocking, and he said quietly: "That's why he forced the old surname to pay in the form of another tax increase." ”

Tian Mi died frowned, her chest couldn't help but rise and fall vigorously, and she said with an almost strong expression: "The last tax increase has overwhelmed many surnames and abandoned the land and fled, almost causing a catastrophe. ”

Having personally experienced a series of events caused by the tax increase, Tian Mi hated it deeply, her eyes were surprisingly bloodshot, and she couldn't help but say angrily: "Saint is so ignorant, is it true that Manchaowu's brain is full of iron bumps?" can't stop him from using military force, can't he even come up with an idea to collect money? As soon as the treasury is empty, they only know how to raise taxes, and they only know how to squeeze the old surname, this is what they are capable of? That's all you can do?! ”

"That's all there is to it." Cui Xiyan smiled bitterly and even his intestines turned blue, and he said to Tian Mi: "The girl should really say this in front of them." ”

After a pause, his expression became more serious, and he repeated, "I really should have said it in front of them." ”

After a pause, his eyes lit up, and he looked at Tian Mi with hope, and said, "Since the girl said so, then, the girl must have another opinion, right?" ”

Tian Mi's lips moved, and she couldn't help but be annoyed: This old fox was waiting for her here.

Seeing Tian Mi's annoyance, Cui Xiyan had a number in his heart, his face was suddenly not bitter, and he was not worried, he also took a sip of tea and said slowly: "No matter what method is used, no matter how much impact this method will bring, anyway, the saint is dying for money, and he will never give up the opportunity to destroy Dongchu in one fell swoop." ”

"The officials are now divided into two factions, one insists that the military needs must be collected no matter what, and the other opposes tax increases and scrapes the people's fat and ointment. Qianyu Shi resolutely opposed the increase in the burden of surnames, and even bluntly said that he was afraid that he would lose the hearts of the people if he did so, which made Long Yan angry and wanted to kill him in court. Cui Xiyan's eyes were light and deep, and he continued: "If it weren't for an official to intercede for him, his cold and arrogant body would probably be broken." ”

Ah......h Tian Mi could almost imagine what a noble young official would look like when he stubbornly protested against the king.

It's very dangerous, but if you don't do it, you won't be a dive.

Besides, after today, Ah Qian's imperial history, I'm afraid it will leave a good name in the market, right? Not afraid of kings. Wholeheartedly serving the people or something, not every official can do it.

Tian Mi was slightly distracted, and Cui Xiyan continued, "There are many officials who think like a hidden adult. They would rather die, and the Holy One could not kill them all, and the two sides were at a stalemate, and before retreating, the Holy One gave them a day to think about countermeasures -- not a war or no war. Rather, if taxes are not raised, what countermeasures will be taken to expand military supplies? ”

Taxation has always been the main force to protect the wealth of the country, so taxes are fixed, compulsory, and gratuitous, and if taxes are not raised, what will be used to fill the shriveled treasury?

Seeing Tian Mi's eyes moving slightly, Cui Xiyan said quietly: "Most of those who agree are military attachés, and there are also a considerable number of officials, and only some of the officials who oppose it, the imperial history and the household officials. ”

"The household department is in charge of the country's money, which is their duty, and the imperial history has the responsibility of supervision. On weekdays, they have some understanding, and speaking of which, these people are considered authoritative. Cui Xiyan said with a faint look in his eyes: "If they can't think of any other way, then no one can stop the Holy Lord from raising taxes again." ”

He glanced at Tian Mi and continued: "As far as I know, after the next dynasty, this group of people will gather to discuss countermeasures, if they can't discuss anything before tomorrow morning......

He paused and smiled. The smile was a little treacherous, and he was about to say something, when there was a knock on the door, and the steward whispered outside: "Master." Waiting for a visit from the Imperial Master. ”

Waiting for the imperial history? Which one is to be celebrated? A dive?

Before Tian Mi could speak, Cui Xiyan said directly: "I don't see." ”

Tian Mi looked at him in surprise, a little puzzled - didn't he just want her to help? Why did Ah Qian come to the door, but he refused?

Cui Xiyan stood still, and then said outside: "Tell Lord Yushi." Let's just say that it means the official. ”

The Prime Minister spoke, and the other servants had already been executed, but the steward of the letter had more words than Ai Ai: "The ...... of the house"

Tian Mi said loudly: "Do what the Prime Minister wants." ”

When the steward left, Tian Mi looked at Cui Xiyan strangely and asked, "Why?" ”

Cui Xiyan chuckled, hated the knock on the case that iron is not steel, and said angrily: "Girl, won't you think about yourself?" ”

Girl? Tian Mi looked at Cui Xiyan strangely, looking at his gentle and shallow face, that face looked no more than ten or so, not much older than her previous life, and blurted out a girl......

However, listening to him, Xuan Heng is eight years older than her, and he is eight years older than Xuan Heng, that is, he is sixteen years older than her, and she is only sixteen years old now......

Tian Mi sighed lightly, tilted her head, and said, "Uncle, what do you want me to do?" ”

Cui Xiyan couldn't cry or laugh, "Don't call me uncle, I'm still so young, but I'm not as old as you." ”

After laughing, he said again: "Girl, this time, it is the court that asks you for help." ”

He said: "Even if the court asks you for help, there is no reason to come and go as soon as you are called. If you do what they want, they will not value you in any way they call you in the future. ”

Seeing Tian Mi's expression, he continued: "Now, although you have some influence in Kyoto, you are only in the business circle, and in the imperial court, you are only in the name of donation, although the name is good, but it is far from enough. ”

He said: "If the world returns, he will inherit the throne, if you want to stand by his side, you must get the approval of the court, this recognition, money alone is not enough, you know, there are many clear streams, the richer you are, the more he thinks you are cheesy, but those people's pens are quite remarkable, just write like that, you can't wash it in your lifetime." Of course, if you can get their approval, that's a different story. ”

He took a sip of tea, and when he saw Tian Mi listening attentively, he suddenly smiled, a light face, a smile, and suddenly he was as cunning as a fox, "If you want to be valued by those people in the court, you have to carry your identity and put on a high posture, the so-called real gold is not afraid of fire, you are really capable, and you are afraid of his cynicism for a while?" ”

Tian Mi stretched out her hand to add tea to him, and asked, "So, what does the Prime Minister mean?" ”

"Tomorrow morning is the deadline, if the household department can't come up with a way, the officials and imperial historians have no way, even Master Wei can't help, at this time, you can ......" He beckoned Tian Mi to pass over, muttering for a while, and then, Tian Mi also showed a fox-like smile with the same version as him.

The two foxes, one large and one small, muttered in the room, looking relaxed, while the faces of those who were denied entry were not so good-looking.

Well, in fact, Ah Qian's cold and cold face can't tell whether it's good or not.

"Prime Minister......" His handsome long eyebrows condensed slightly, his clear eyes were deep, and after a while, he came back to his senses and walked out.

When Ah Qian walked to the door of the letter, he saw a familiar official sedan car stopped, his feet slowed down, and he saw that it was the head of the household who came out.

The dignified household department is still the book, and he actually wrote to invite people in person.

Ah Qian couldn't help but look back at the window on the second floor, his eyes were clear, as if he had seen something, but he didn't seem to have seen it, he turned around and greeted the Hubu Shangshu and saluted.

Hubu Shangshu returned the salute, looking a little hurried, he saw Ah Qian coming out of the letter, so he asked, "Qianyu Shi also came to invite Miss Tian?" ”

"yes." Ah Qian nodded.

"Then why did you come out alone?" Hube Shangshu glared and said, "It won't be that big as her, and she won't even give you face, right?" ”

"I didn't see Miss Tian." Ah Qian shook his head and said bluntly: "It was rejected by the Prime Minister." ”

"Prime Minister......" Hubu Shangshu looked surprised, and he said curiously: "The prime minister is a rare neutral, what does he mean by running here to intervene?" ”

Ah Qian shook his head, "I don't know." ”

Hubu Shangshu was even more worried, the wrinkles between his eyebrows could kill flies, and he muttered: "When I went to invite Master Wei, the master appointed her and asked me to invite it in person...... Maybe, this is when Baba came, but unexpectedly, he was taken first by the prime minister. ”

"The prime minister has always only looked at His Majesty's horse, although this time he is neutral in his posture, but who knows?" He shook his head and said distressedly: "Don't look at him as gentle and elegant, this thing that fell into his hands has never flew, he directly rejected you, I ...... it"

His face was a little embarrassed, but he gritted his teeth and said, "I'll try it too!" ”

With that, he strode towards the tall lintel of the letter.

Ah Qian also stood on the side for a while, and sure enough, not long after, Hubu Shangshu also came out with his tail between his legs.

Ah Qian couldn't see any discouragement, he flicked his official robe and strolled away.

The wind and clouds in the court were chewed by the old surnames in Kyoto for a whole day, and they all frowned deeply and returned home.

On this day, the household hall was also overcrowded, but the strange thing was that there were so many people, but when they really needed to come up with ideas, there were few who spoke out, only the lights, which were on all night.

The tired people rubbed their faces, it was time, it was morning to go to court. (To be continued.) )