Shen Shixing is really not easy, because today's Daming is like an old man, with diseases all over his body, whether he wants to heal his hands or feet, it may lead to complications.

Coupled with the fact that he himself is not young and his ambitions are almost exhausted, he does not dare to act rashly.

The salt profit, that is really the Longtan Tiger's Den, those salt merchants are actually nothing, the key is the people behind them, the powerful, there are vassal kings, eunuchs, and gentry, and if they move a little, they will offend everyone.

But at the same time, he also understood that salt profits were indeed seriously troubled by the finances, and if he did not solve this problem, he would inevitably increase agricultural taxes and commercial taxes in order to make up for fiscal expenditures.

If you say that you can give up the ego and be able to complete the big self, then it is estimated that someone will give it a go, but the problem is that once you give up the ego, it will definitely not be able to complete the big self, Zhang Juzheng has not given up the ego, and he also lost the big self after his death.

There is no solution to this life, old age, sickness and death, and this is true for people and countries.

is still the same sentence, the general trend of the world, a long time must be together, a long time must be divided.

"Alas......!"

It was already the third watch, Shen Shixing couldn't sleep, standing in the front yard, looking at the hazy night sky, he couldn't help but sigh.

He even felt a hint of despair, and even worse, this hint of despair was so familiar.

Suddenly, I heard someone shouting behind me, "Lord Yue." ”

Shen Shixing looked back and barely showed a smile: "It's Ke'er!" ”

Cao Ke stepped forward and said with concern: "Why is Lord Yuezhang sighing? ”

Shen Shixing was silent for a while, and then sighed again: "Today, those two uncles of yours have given me a big problem!" ”

Cao Ke looked at Shen Shixing suspiciously.

Shen Shixing told Cao Ke about the salt tax reform proposed by Wang Jiaping and Wang Xijue. sighed again: "This time they are determined to reform and prosper, but the problem is that the bureaucrats, eunuchs, and businessmen in this salt tax collude with each other, and the forces of all parties are complicated, and it is not easy to talk about reform!"

If I don't support them, I will lose hearts, but if I support them, I will bring trouble. Alas......! ”

Cao Ke pondered for a while, and suddenly said: "Lord Yue, this matter is indeed very tricky, but the son-in-law thinks that this is not as difficult as Guo Dan's. ”

Shen Shixing turned his head to look at Cao Ke and said, "What do you say?" ”

Cao Ke said: "In the past two years, Guo Dan has repeatedly challenged the traditional etiquette, etiquette, and even the imperial court system, but now he is safe and sound, and the reason is that His Majesty is desperately favoring him. But why did His Majesty favor him? ”

"For money, of course......!"

As soon as the words came out, Shen Shixing suddenly frowned, "You mean, let the old man also learn Guo Dan?" ”

Cao Ke said: "Lord Yue, as far as the salt tax is concerned, it is not Your Majesty who is standing opposite you, Lord Yue, because Your Majesty is also injured because of this, nor those salt merchants, they are not worried, they are precisely the ministers and magnates in the court, if your father-in-law cooperates with the ministers, it will never be possible to improve the salt tax." Only by cooperating with His Majesty can we have a chance to succeed in the reform. ”

"You're doing a good job."

Shen Shixing nodded slightly.

It is impossible for the ministers to help him and give the state the money in their purse.

The key is that there is too much money, and if he wants to move this cake, that person will fight hard with him.

Shen Shixing said again: "But this matter is very complicated, and Your Majesty may not be able to turn the tide!" ”

Cao Ke said: "Isn't there another Guo Dan by Your Majesty's side?" ”

Shen Shixing's eyes widened, but he immediately fell into deep thought.

He has a gentle personality and always wants to be left and right, he doesn't want to offend the emperor or his colleagues.

However, the situation has changed, and it is very complicated, many forces are entangled, and there is no longer a distinction between friend and foe, many ministers want to use the law to deal with Guo Dan, the cabinet wants to use Guo Dan to carry out reforms, and the emperor wants to contract the tax system to Guo Dan.

As a result, Shen Shixing gradually stood outside, because he didn't know how to go left and right now, so he chose to wait and see what happened, but Wang Jiaping and Wang Xijue gave him such a big problem.

After a while, Shen Shixing suddenly said: "Ke'er, you will release some rumors tomorrow, just say that the cabinet intends to reform the salt tax." ”

Cao Ke was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said: "Lord Yue, this ......!" ”

Shen Shixing waved his hand and said, "The main thing is to tell the people this news, not to the court." ”

Cao Ke pondered for a while, nodded and said, "Son-in-law understands." ”

Shen Shixing suddenly squinted his eyes and said, "Oh, in addition, you are helping the old man write a secret music, this is old, and he can't see it clearly at night." ”

......

Following.

A no-tooth line.

"Husband, the five gun accounts of Weihui Mansion and Kaifeng Mansion have arrived."

Kou Liansha came to Guo Dan's office with great strides, and put the two accounts on the table, "Do you guess which five guns have the highest income in the past three months." ”

Guo smiled lightly: "Of course it's Kaifeng Mansion, this still needs to be said." ”

Kou Zhuan Sha was stunned for a moment and said, "How do you know?" ”

Guo Dan picked up the accounts on the table and said with a smile: "There are so many private colleges in Kaifeng Mansion that print textbooks and newspapers and periodicals, and they are nearby, with large quantities, short time, low cost and high efficiency, who can compare." ”

Kou Zhuansha nodded lightly and said, "Judging from this trend, it is difficult for the five guns in the capital and Weihui Mansion to surpass Kaifeng Mansion. ”

"That's for sure. But. Guo smiled lightly: "In terms of profit, it is still the highest in Weihui Mansion." ”

Kou Liansha snorted softly, "But that's because .......! ”

"Because of what?" Guo Dan grinned.

Kou Zhuisa gave him a roll of the eyes, "You know it in your own heart. ”

Guo smiled lightly: "This is human nature, buyers and sellers should be based on the law, human nature is the mainstay, and morality is supplemented, if this order is messed up, there will be problems." ”

Kou Zhuansha said: "But we don't lack this money. ”

Guo Dan said: "This is not a little money, if there is no Spring Palace painting, the five guns must not be worth 500,000 taels, the income in this area is stable, and the profit is high, unless the imperial court strictly prohibits all Spring Palace paintings, otherwise it will ......." ”

"Knock knock!"

A knock on the door interrupted Guo Dan's words.

"Guo Dan, are you there?"

It was Aunt Xu's voice.

Before Guo Dan could speak, Kou Liansha had already gotten up and stepped forward and opened the door, "Big sister." ”

"Yarn!"

Aunt Xu nodded, came to the house, and said to Guo Dan: "Did you release the news outside?" ”

Guo Dan was stunned and said, "What news?" ”

"Salt tax reform."

"Salt tax?"

Guo Dan was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Of course not." Why should I let this news out? ”

"Not you?"

Aunt Xu glanced at him for a moment, and saw that he really didn't seem to be lying, and said: "There are sudden rumors outside that the cabinet is going to target the salt tax reform, but if the cabinet really intends to do this, then you can sit back and relax, and they will immediately fight among themselves." ”

"What do you say? Are they infighting? Guo Dan got up abruptly and said with a panicked face.

Aunt Xu was surprised: "Shouldn't you be happy?" ”

"I... How could I be happy, this thing has changed, and I can't necessarily stay out of it. Guo Dan snorted, and asked curiously: "Why can a salt tax make them fight?" ”

Kou Zhuan Sha said: "Husband, don't you even know this? Nowadays, the salt profits are controlled by the powerful people of the DPRK and China, or the great eunuchs, as well as the local gentry, and if they want to target the salt tax reform, these people will oppose it. ”

Exercise! I didn't expect them to float so easily, but the mud can't hold up the wall, and I count on you to help me. Guo Dan sat down, but said with a smile: "So that's the case, then I don't care, this salt tax has nothing to do with me, and it can't be related to me." ”

Kou Zhuansha said: "It still has some relevance, because every time the imperial court increases the salt tax, then the salt merchants will inevitably raise the price of salt, and in the end the people will suffer." ”

Guo Dan hurriedly said: "We are also the people, so let's buy some salt and come back." ”

Kou Liansha pursed her lips and smiled: "Husband, please rest assured, even if it is a little more expensive, our family can afford it." ”

Aunt Xu said: "Even Liansha knows this truth, and they don't know it for a reason." ”

Guo Dan asked, "Then what's going on?" ”

Aunt Xu shook her head and said, "I don't know for the time being. ”

Kou Zhuansha was right, when the people heard that the imperial court was going to reform the salt tax again, they immediately scolded their mothers, and they knew that it would be like this, what kind of bullshit was done, fortunately there was Guo Dan in the end, come quickly, just suffer this severe pain.

The people's reaction is so great, let alone the DPRK and China.

The ministers, magnates, eunuchs, and generals in the court, hearing this news, have to do it, this is not like dealing with Guo Dan, it seems to be dealing with us, and many people will go to the cabinet to ask for an understanding.

"Didn't the two scholars talk about reforming tariffs? Why is it on the salt tax again, what is your cabinet trying to do? Zhang Yuangong asked very excitedly.

Wang Jiaping saw that they were menacing, and he was also angry in his heart, you controlled the salt profit, but you were unwilling to pay any tax, and you came to question us, frowning, "About the salt tax......!" ”

Wang Xijue preemptively said: "Regarding the salt tax, we have just heard about it. ”

Wang Jiaping glanced at Wang Xijue, then sat down and tilted his head to the side.

"Really?"

Zhang Whale Fox glanced at Wang Jiaping suspiciously, and said: "There is a way, the orange sentence comes to the nest, and the wind comes from the ground." ”

Wang Xijue smiled: "If the Duke doesn't believe it, then we can't do anything, anyway, we have never mentioned the salt tax, and we have been busy revising the new tariff law recently." ”

Yang Mingshen said: "Scholar Wang, you have to be cautious in this matter, I heard that when the news reached the people, there were complaints everywhere, which would lose people's hearts and even cause turmoil." ”

Wang Xijue smiled and nodded.

"Hehe, it's so lively!"

I saw Shen Shixing walking in slowly.

"Shen Shoufu."

"Xiaguan has seen Lord Shousuke."

......

Shen Shixing also bowed his hand to them one by one and said, "You are here for the salt tax." ”

Zhang Jing asked, "Shen Shoufu seems to know about this?" ”

"How can you not know."

Shen Shixing smiled and said: "It spread among the people early in the morning, and the news was only received later in this imperial city." ”

Everyone was stunned.

If this kind of news is like this, how can the people know it before the imperial court!

If it came from the cabinet, it should be the Imperial City that knew about it first.

Shen Shixing said with a smile: "Obviously, someone is trying to use this to sow discord between the cabinet and you. ”

"Guo Dan."

Yang Mingshen immediately said: "It must be Guo Dan's kid who made the ghost." ”

The crowd suddenly realized.

I hadn't heard of it before, and the cabinet was going to move the salt tax, and the news came out too suddenly, and someone was definitely obstructing it.

They think that if they fight, Guo Dan will naturally reap the benefits of the fisherman.

It's embarrassing at this moment.

I didn't figure out anything, so I ran to the cabinet to make trouble.

Everyone very tacitly began to scold Guo Dan for being shameless.

Then he said a few good words to Wang Jiaping and Wang Xijue, and left.

After they left, Wang Xijue called the retreat again, and he was left with Wang Jiaping and Shen Shixing in the house.

"Shen Shoufu, you spread this news, right?" Wang Xijue asked suddenly.

Wang Jiaping looked at Shen Shixing in surprise, but quickly reacted.

As far as the three of them know, since Wang Xijue asked so, it must have been spread by Shen Shixing.

Shen Shixing nodded, admitting very naturally: "You have also seen how much obstacle it will encounter once the salt tax is reformed. ”

Wang Jiaping was slightly excited: "Shen Shoufu, it is precisely because of this that we want to reform the salt tax. ”

Shen Shixing said: "But the time is not ripe enough, this little can't bear to make a big plan!" ”

Wang Jiaping frowned, unwilling, but the first assistant was Shen Shixing, not him, he looked at Wang Xijue again, and saw that Wang Xijue was silent, and couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

At this moment, Li Gui suddenly walked in and said, "Shen Shoufu, Your Majesty has summoned you." ”

When Wang Jiaping and Wang Xijue heard this, they immediately looked at Shen Shixing with guilt.

They expected that the emperor must have asked about the salt tax.

Shen Shixing was very calm, nodded with a smile, and said in his heart, you are so greedy, then don't blame the old man for being ruthless.