The full moon banquet in the Pingzhang Ya lasted for two days, and almost all the officials and generals inside and outside Quanzhou City, rich businessmen and gentry, came, and the gift money alone was worth more than 30,000 taels.

Li Zheng was born one month ago and earned more than 40,000 taels. made his parents even praise him for his ability to earn money at such a young age.

On the second day of the fourth month, as soon as the banquet was over, Cui Xiuning took Li Zheng, Li Yuan, Jizi and others to leave Quanzhou for Haidong.

The huge Pingzhang Mansion suddenly fell silent. However, Quanzhou is very close to Haidong, whether Li Luo goes over or Cui Xiuning comes over, it is very convenient.

On the fifth day of the first month of April, most of the people who dealt with the right Cheng Ha's reply finally arrived in Quanzhou belatedly.

The holy decree replied, and all the relevant witnesses and related witnesses were escorted to Beijing and handed over to the Criminal Department and the Imperial History Observatory. Seeing that Ha Luo was finally escorted to Beijing, Li Luo breathed a sigh of relief. At this point, he can be regarded as the real defeat of Ha Gang.

On April 7, news came from the Dadu Branch that Ahma, the left prime minister of Zhongshu Province, had been jointly assassinated by the king of Qianhu and the tantric monk Gao Monk, who pretended to fax the order of Prince Jin.

Kublai Khan, who was in Shangdu and Lin at the time, was furious when he heard the news, and put the murderer Wang Shu and the high monk Ling Chi to death, and even the Han official minister and the prince's confidant Zhang Yi were also implicated and executed.

However, immediately afterward, some officials impeached Ahmad for several major crimes such as forming a party for personal gain, enriching his own pockets, and exceeding the law.

Kublai Khan ordered a search of Ahma's mansion and found several human skins, with hair and ears still on them. Kublai Khan asked about the origin of the human skin, and Ahma's housekeeper and concubine confessed that it was used to "dislike the witch wish".

As the emperor, Kublai Khan naturally hated evil arts such as "hating victory and witch wishes", and immediately became furious, and issued a decree to strictly investigate Ahma's misdeeds, and deprive Ahmad of all his honors and posthumous titles. After that, the coffin of Ahma was opened and the body was fed to the wild dogs to eat. All his sons and nephews were killed.

This is not over, Kublai Khan directly wiped out Ahma's henchmen.

At this point, the "Ah Party", which had held the financial power of the Yuan Dynasty for almost 20 years, collapsed, and the trees fell and scattered.

Ahma's greatest skill was to collect wealth and collect taxes, and by cleaning up the household registration and adjusting the salt administration and issuing paper money, the Yuan Dynasty became the dynasty with the most taxes in all dynasties.

It can be said that Ahma, who is good at financial management, made great contributions to the Yuan court and Kublai Khan. But once he died, everything before and after his death was completely deprived by the ruthless Kublai Khan.

Even his widow was also punished as a slave by Kublai Khan and given to the Mongol generals.

This shows Kublai Khan's coldness. Ahmad is certainly not a good thing, but what the emperor did was too ruthless.

Replacing Ahma's position as the left prime minister is also a minister who is good at financial management.

Li Luo knew that Sang Ge would be in charge of the financial management of the Yuan Court for the next eight years, and his achievements were also outstanding, but in the end, he still had to die well and was killed by Kublai Khan.

The political turmoil in the Yuan court was of course good for Li Luo. With the fall of a large number of "Albanian Party" officials, many positions were vacated from the central to the local level, and Li Luo immediately wrote a letter to Zhang Sanfeng, asking him to fulfill his previous promise.

The Yuan court has long since stopped the imperial examination, and new officials mainly rely on shadow attacks and recommendations. Zhang Sanfeng is now a scholar of Jixian Academy and an official of Erpin Avenue, and of course he has the right to recommend and select officials.

Due to the extensive politics of the Yuan Dynasty, there were very large loopholes in recommending officials, and many people sat in official positions purely by relying on relationships, and there was no lower limit to their integrity.

According to Li Luo's original agreement with him, Zhang Sanfeng wanted to recommend twenty Li Luo's people, most of whom were seventh-grade, and only three of them could be sixth-grade.

After Li Luo finished writing a letter to Zhang Sanfeng, he wrote a letter to Haidong, asking Cui Xiuning to select twenty people who already had families and were suitable for being officials, and were ready to come to the Central Plains to be officials.

Li Luo's plan is to put twenty lists, three six-grade ones in a certain state in the south of the Yangtze River to be the same knowledge. The remaining seventeen people are all in Jiangzhe, Jiangxi, and Huguang to make county orders.

As long as these twenty people become officials, with the financial support of Haidong, they will be able to become governors or even prefects in less than two years.

When Li Luo joins the army, these people will play a great role.

…………

It only took Cui Xiuning a little more than a day to return from Quanzhou to the Tanghou Mansion in Haidong.

Today, Haidong and the western plains are full of paddy fields and dry land, and farmers can be seen busy in the fields everywhere, and villages are dotted around, which seems to be peaceful and prosperous.

"Look, it's Madame back, right?" The immigrants in the fields saw the luxurious carriage and the brigade escort passing by, and they all knew that Cui Xiuning had returned.

The farmers on the side of the road fell to the ground one after another, and involuntarily praised Tang Hou and his wife for their kindness and love for the people.

Because the Tang State only levied 20% of the tax, and every household had dozens of acres of good land, the people of the Tang State not only solved the problem of food and clothing, but even began to have a surplus.

Nowadays, who has no surplus food and money?

Not only is there enough food and vegetables to eat, but also chicken, duck and fish, and you can also have a tooth sacrifice every three or five times. The surplus grain, chickens, ducks, pigs and sheep were sold for money and could be stored in the Haidong Bank.

It can be said that their current life is not much worse than the life of the rich man's family in their previous eyes. Compared with the governance of the Yuan court, it is simply one in the sky and the other on the earth.

All this is due to the prince and his wife.

Cui Xiuning sat on the horse, lifted the curtain, and looked at the green crops outside, the busy people, and the curling smoke. Listen to the call of the ploughing ox "moo", the farmer's slang tune. Smell the smell of grass and spring mud on the field. I can't help but immerse myself in a kind of down-to-earth and serene joy.

"Baby, look at it, this is the family business that your monarch started." Cui Xiuning lifted Li Zheng in his arms to the curtain mouth. "See, that's wheat, that's rice, that's mulberry trees, sugar cane, wells, oops, and old cows, puppies..."

Li Zheng put a finger in his mouth, and looked at the fields and villages outside with dark and innocent ignorant eyes, looking very curious.

However, the little man was very confused, and after looking at it for a while, he couldn't understand it, so he pouted.

Just before the little man's loud cry sounded, his mother, who was already very experienced, immediately blocked his little mouth with what he wanted.

So, the little man's cry finally didn't have time to come out, and it became the sound of eating.

"Little Ancestor, you are so abrasive." Cui Xiuning was suddenly a little speechless, many times, she felt that she had not fully grown up, and she had become a child's mother.

Cui Xiuning looked at the nursing child lovingly, and couldn't help but kiss a few mouthfuls of fleshy little faces. Thinking of the experience with Li Luo in the past two or three years, the corners of Cui Xiuning's mouth couldn't help but curl.

That's good, too.

Soon arrived at the Tanghou Mansion, and when his father-in-law Yan Duo heard Cui Xiuning coming back, he immediately greeted him excitedly and shouted, "Where is the old man's grandson?" ”

When he finally hugged Li Zheng, Yan Duo suddenly laughed and said, "It's finally worry-free, it's finally worry-free!" The old man finally hugged his grandson! ”

Lin Biju and other officials also came to congratulate and "watch" Li Zheng.

"Congratulations, ma'am! The birth of the son is a great joy for my Tang Kingdom! Lin Biju and others congratulated together, and everyone was beaming.

Their joy is not pretended, but comes from the heart. Li Luo had no children before, and many people were secretly worried, if the lord and the middle way collapsed, wouldn't this Tang Kingdom be over? What else do they have to do?

Many people once wanted to persuade Concubine Li Luona, but in the way of his wife, no one dared to say it, for fear of offending his wife.

But now it's different, and there's already a son. Even if the lord has an accident, the prince is the new Tang Hou. The Tang Kingdom will not collapse in one day.

Childe is the future of the Tang Kingdom.

With the birth of Li Zheng, the morale of the civil and military officials of the Tang Kingdom suddenly rose silently.

Cui Xiuning saw everyone's heartfelt joy, and couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her heart. Son, you're really angry with your mother. If you're a girl, you're in trouble.

"The birth of the son is a great joy for the Tang Kingdom, and the minister implores the lady to pray for the son!" Lin Biju said.

Cui Xiuning said with a smile: "Then each household will reward nine catties of sea fish and three catties of sea salt!" Officials take a three-day break! Soldiers rest for three days, that is, Japanese coolies, can also rest for three days! Then, Mrs. Ben personally went to the Laojun Temple to pray for blessings. ”

Lin Biju took the lead and bowed, "Thank you for your kindness!" At the end, he reminded: "Madam, should these two groups of new immigrants also be rewarded?" ”

Cui Xiuning said: "All of them must be rewarded, and no one will be left behind!" Lin Qing, are these two groups of new immigrants making trouble when they come to Haidong? ”

Lin Biju said with a smile: "It's too late for them to be happy, so why make trouble." Nowadays, they are all clearing the wasteland. The first batch can catch up with spring ploughing, and the second batch can't catch up with spring ploughing, so they can only open up the wasteland and eat white rice for half a year. ”

Cui Xiuning nodded, "Order, go to the court to discuss the matter!" "Haidong has not had a master for several months, and there are many things to discuss.

After a while, as soon as the bell of the Tanghou Mansion rang, the civil officials above the eighth rank, as well as the military attachés above the regimental general level, all wore court clothes and came to the simple and spacious court.

The Tang Kingdom is just a small Hou Kingdom, and the etiquette is now very simple. As soon as the bell rang, the guards on duty inside and outside the court pressed their swords and guards, and the civil and military courtiers rushed in, and Li Luo or Cui Xiuning entered the court directly from the inner courtyard and sat on the main seat.

There is no "so-and-so arrived", and there is no guard of honor.

Cui Xiuning changed into a court dress embroidered with brocade pheasants, wore a wingless black yarn, pedaled cotton socks and clogs, and hung colorful Yingluo on her chest.

"Ministers meet the lady regent!" Lin Biju, Cui Mu and others bowed down together.

"Excuse me! Ladies and gentlemen, please get up! Cui Xiuning's sleeves were not wide, and everyone stood up.

"Lin Qing, let's talk about the new immigrants first." This is what Cui Xiuning is most concerned about.

"No." Lin Bi raised the column, holding the wooden wat in both hands, and said, "Mrs. Qiyu." Today, two groups of Fujian immigrants, totaling 97,100 people, have all been registered. Wechen has set aside a hundred new plots of land for the new village ......"

Cui Xiuning suddenly interrupted him, "This matter is not appropriate. 100,000 immigrants, all from Fujian, how can they live in a concentrated manner? ”

Lin Biju was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Madame clearly sees that it is indeed the minister's negligence. Then disperse them into three areas: north, south, and east. ”

"Yes. You continue. Cui Xiuning said.

Lin Biju said: "These 100,000 new immigrants have no food, and they will not be able to grow food until the autumn when they open up their new fields. For such a long time, at least 100,000 stone of grain, more than 100,000 catties of salt are needed to help them, plus other expenses, the expenditure is about 200,000 taels. ”

"With so much money and food, the treasury must not be able to take it out, nor can it be taken out by the national treasury, let alone the lord and wife should not use the private treasury. What the minister means is to let the newcomers pay for themselves. What if they didn't? Let them borrow money at low interest in the newly established bank, borrow money, and then buy grain in the newly established Laojunmiao business district. ”

"In this way, the treasury does not have to bear the burden of giving money. Second, it solves the urgent needs of new immigrants. The third came to bring business to the newly built bank, and the fourth came to bring business to the newly built Laojunmiao business district, killing four birds with one stone. ”

Cui Xiuning shook his head and said, "Lin Qing, you are indeed very thoughtful, but in the final analysis, it is still a technique." The old immigrants, but they are all free relief to get them through the difficulties. Now the new immigrants want to borrow, and such a differential treatment will not only make the new immigrants not grateful, but even complain, which is the people's heart. ”

"As the saying goes, there is no inequality. The old immigrants have gradually become rich, while the new immigrants have already had nothing in their houses and household savings, and they have to borrow and owe debts as soon as they come, so that the rich and the poor in Haidong are prematurely divided, and ethnic confrontation is inevitable. ”

"Besides, why did my Tang Kingdom take the trouble to immigrate? Isn't it just for the sake of soldiers? Isn't it just to one day drive out the Tartars and restore the Central Plains? The people's heart of the new immigrants is the military heart of the recruits. In order to save money and food, it hurts the morale of the recruits, that is, putting the cart before the horse, and it is not worth it. ”

"The treasury is short of money, so it uses the prince's private treasury. For the sake of the Tang Kingdom, all the money in the private treasury was spent, and the prince and I were also willing. ”

Lin Biju and the others were very ashamed when they heard it. In order to save money and food for the relief of new immigrants, the secretary of state came up with a way to use the newly built bank to lend money at low interest rates.

Who knew that after Mrs. said this, I realized that I really wanted to go wrong. Madame is right, there are princes and princes in the Tang Kingdom, and there is no shortage of money at all now, but once the hearts of the people and the army are lost, it will be difficult to recover them.

"Weichen is embarrassed, he has no place to be ashamed, please punish Mrs." Lin Biju is really a little embarrassed.

Cui Xiuning smiled: "Lin Qing is not wrong. As a secretary, of course, you have to consider opening up sources and reducing expenditure, and live within your means. Your method is also very good, but we have a better way, which is the old way, which is to directly give free relief to win the hearts of the people. ”

Everyone saluted together, "Madame, wise, that's how it should be." ”

At this time, the weather in Haidong was already relatively hot, and the trees outside the main hall began to chirp.

Cui Xiuning didn't sleep well on the boat, and when she heard the chirp of Zhizhi, she couldn't help but feel a little sleepy, she secretly pinched herself, and continued: "Eighty percent of these immigrants are young and strong, and when Bing Cao and other immigrants settle down, they will quickly recruit soldiers, at least 10,000 people." ”

Doctor Cao received the order and said, "No." The matter of recruiting troops must be handled well by the ministers and strictly screened. Although our Tang Army is well paid, it is not easy to get. ”

Cui Xiuning couldn't help yawning, and said with slightly narrowed eyes: "What is the situation of the newly built bank now?" ”

Cui Mu, who was in charge of the bank, said: "Mrs. Qiyu, in addition to the principal of 100,000 taels, the bank has absorbed 185,000 taels of silver. The old immigrants, almost every family has a deposit of silver, and the soldiers also have a deposit of silver. Just ......"

Cui Xiuning said: "Just what? No loans, right? ”

Cui Mu said: "Madame clearly sees that this is exactly the case. Now only a few thousand taels have been loaned, and almost no one has borrowed. Banks have been losing money for months. In the long run, I'm afraid it will be inappropriate. ”

The bank is a new thing made in accordance with the articles of association of Cui Xiuning and Li Luo. It's quite ahead of its time. But if there is no one to borrow, then it is not interesting.

Cui Xiuning asked: "Then the secretary of state can come up with a solution?" ”

Cui Mu said: "There is no good way for the time being. In the Central Plains, the big borrowers from the money banks are all merchants, and there are very few farmers. And I have very few merchants in Haidong now, and there are very few loans. ”

Lin Biju said: "There is another reason, Haidong is now self-sufficient, and it is a policy to ban the sea. Except for the Fisheries Department and the sailors, no one is allowed to go to sea without permission, let alone maritime merchants. In this way, business is not prosperous, and there is no one to borrow. ”

Cui Xiuning said: "What about the Laojun Temple business district? What is happening now? ”

Lin Biju was a little embarrassed, "After the Laojun Temple was built, the surrounding area was very popular, and some shops were indeed sold, like a street market." But after all, the days are still short, and there are not many merchants. ”

"It stands to reason that there were two counties in Haidong before, and commerce and trade should not be so withered. It's funny. Because I don't have a big family in Haidong now, let alone a wealthy family, even if the farmers have surplus money, they are reluctant to spend, so business is not prosperous. ”

Cui Xiuning understood. That's exactly what happened. The sea was forbidden in the east of the sea, which inhibited commerce and trade. At the same time, the immigrants are ordinary people, and they are reluctant to consume, and the Haidong class is single, there are no rich households, and consumption cannot go up.

But this is only temporary, and with the prosperity of Haidong, Haidong's commerce and trade will definitely flourish. In fact, even if it is not prosperous? Whether it is Li Luo or her, they all know that business is not important at all now.

What matters is soldiers and food.

"Well, that's easy. Since there is no loan, reduce the interest on the deposit. The bank's next task is not to lend money and absorb savings, but to mint silver dollars. Cui Xiuning moved on to another topic.

"The silver dollar is eight parts of silver and two parts of copper. Each weighs a tael, and is used as a tael. I've already given you the drawings, so I'll cast them like that. The words of the silver dollar are written in the four characters of Tang Xing Haidong. On the back, with the inscription of the prince. Like, I'll draw it for you. ”

"In addition to silver dollars, copper coins should also be minted, which are divided into three types: when a hundred big money, when ten money, and when a small money. Hmph, the Yuan court is issuing banknotes to plunder the people's wealth, and we have to do the opposite. ”

"Only 10,000 silver dollars were minted at first, and the rare things were precious, and then a large number of silver dollars were minted when the people were scarce. Copper coins, first cast 100,000 yuan, the quality must be good, don't be afraid of copper consumption. ”

"When a hundred copper coins are used, ten copper dollars are used. When ten copper coins, seven copper and three leads. When one small copper coin, six parts copper and four parts lead. ”

"Make sure that the copper used for ten hundred copper coins is really worth the silver of a silver dollar, preferably slightly greater than the value of a silver dollar. Because casting also requires labor costs. ”

Cui Xiuning's plan is already the most suitable for Haidong's current situation.

Lin Biju and Cui Mu and others received the order together, and everyone was a little excited, and they were finally going to mint money.

"Also, the new money minted can only be used in Haidong, and it is strictly forbidden to circulate it." Cui Xiuning admonished. "Alright, that's all for minting new money. What else do you have? ”

"Ma'am." Lin Biju came out again, "Now we have 36,000 soldiers and civilians in the Tang Kingdom, including Japanese craftsmen. There were 81,000 men and women in Japan, for a total of nearly 390,000. Weichen thought that it was time to set up two more counties, otherwise it would be difficult for civil affairs to manage. ”

Today, there is only one Luoning County administratively in Haidong. But the population is nearly 400,000, which is equivalent to a state capital in the Central Plains.

Cui Xiuning said with a smile: "This matter has been divided between the princes and the marquis. The meaning of the prince, Luoning County was upgraded to Luoning County, and the county is divided into nine counties, and there will be a steady stream of immigrants coming in this year. ”

Lin Biju said: "The prince is wise. It's just that nine counties were set up at once, and the number of officials was far from keeping up. ”

Cui Xiuning said: "It's not a difficult thing. The prince has decided to hold a imperial examination first. Those who can obtain the fame of Tang Guoxiucai can all serve as county commanders! ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone was suddenly surprised and delighted, and the entrance examination was opened!

This is the Tang State's own imperial examination.

ps: A small Hou country, with a population of hundreds of thousands, what kind of imperial examination is held, and the dojo is made in a snail shell, which is really funny. As an author, I would also like to complain. It's the end of the month, and the line of fire asks for support! Crab crab.

Qingyi literature