If there is anything to say about the liveliest thing in the capital in November, it is the advent of newspapers, which bring fresh topics to everyone every morning, and from time to time expose the deception of some charlatans.

What Zhao Zhen saw was a means to control speech, in this way he could pass on his kindness, tolerance, and generosity to thousands of ordinary people, so that they could deeply appreciate the royal prestige and the prosperity that the Zhao family brought to everyone.

It's none of my business, hanging high, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Crime, and the Ministry of Officials are gloating about the jokes of the Ministry of Rites, although Liang Shi, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, has been angry several times in the yamen, but it is irrelevant, and when others are laughing, Liang Shi doesn't think like that.

It seems that the newspaper has brought a great impact to the Ministry of Rites, but in fact, it is not the case that is directly affected by one unit, the Yushitai, and the newspaper puts the Yushitai in an embarrassing situation, and the mouths of dozens of people can't stop the world's mouths.

For Lu Zifei, the newspaper is just a tool for him to perform on the political stage, and if he uses it easily, he will continue to use it, and the effect will not be good.

Today's Da Song Daily was placed on Zhao Zhen's desk, Zhao Zhen frowned, as if he couldn't understand it, so he said to Shangguan Wen beside him: "This kid really eats the gall of an ambitious leopard, and he dares to release the issue of taxation for everyone to discuss, and only collects taxes once a year, so the treasury is not empty?" ”

Shangguan Wen said: "Why don't you go and ask Beihou to come in?" The article was written by him, presumably he can give the emperor a satisfactory answer, don't you ask the slave to play the piano to the cow? ”

Zhao Zhen said: "Didn't the queen say last time that he would let his mother come into the palace to sit, today the time is just right, you go and tell that kid by the way." ”

Shangguan Wen arrived at the Lu family, and when he saw Lu Zifei dressed up, he said with a smile: "Master Hou, this is accurate, the emperor wants to call you into the palace!" ”

Lu Zifei said: "Lord Shangguan is invited, I know how much ink I have in my stomach, I didn't communicate with the emperor in advance about this matter, and the emperor didn't have Dali Temple to arrest me directly, and my heart was relieved when I saw Lord Shangguan." ”

Shangguan Wen said secretly, what a seven-trick exquisite, just from the fact that he appeared, he judged his own safety, dealing with smart people is easy, and speaking is simple.

"Hou Ye is too worried, how could the emperor let the people from Dali Temple come, this time the emperor not only let Hou Ye enter the palace, Niang Niang also asked the old lady to chat with him, Hou Ye or arrange it as soon as possible."

Lu Zifei had already put behind what the queen said, although he could refuse, but there was no good reason! It's like two families who are good friends inviting you to your home.

"What did you say, the queen invited me to the palace? Haven't you woken up and talking nonsense? ”

Lu Zifei said: "How can my son lie to you in this kind of thing, Lord Shangguan is in the living room?" Mother, go and change into your command clothes and follow me into the palace, it's not a big deal, it's just a little bigger and more beautiful than our family. ”

Lu Li was envious on the side, but he also knew that this was something that his son had fought for his mother with great difficulty, what was the purpose of raising a son, wasn't it just for this moment? Urging his wife to change his clothes, he asked his son: "You are weak, what should you do with Junxiang and Xiaoxuan?" ”

Lu Zifei said as a matter of course: "Aren't you at home? One adult can't bring three children? ”

"I can't, I'm weak and Xiaoxuan are okay, Junxiang was brought by your mother alone, and no one can leave her."

Lu Zifei hurriedly came out and asked Shangguan Wen: "Lord Shangguan, can you let my mother take my son, that little guy can't do without his grandmother, and others can't submit to it?" ”

Shangguan Wen laughed and said, "Of course there is no problem, the little marquis and His Royal Highness King Yong are as big as each other, maybe the two of them can really play together?" It will be a pleasure to take the little Hou Niangniang. ”

When he arrived at the palace, Xue Ning took Jun Xiang to Huining Palace, and Lu Zifei went to the Vertical Arch Palace, not going to the court today, otherwise Zhao Zhen should be in the Zichen Palace at this time.

"Come, sit, why did I call you to come, don't let me say it!" Zhao Zhen said in a scrutinizing tone.

Lu Zifei sat on the chair, of course, half of his ass sat on it, because he was afraid that Zhao Zhen would tell him something and he wouldn't be able to react.

"The emperor called me here for the tax issue in the Da Song Daily this morning!"

Zhao Zhen snorted, Lu Zifei looked back, it turned out that there was still a person sitting on the chair diagonally opposite, but that person's eyes were so sharp that he seemed to have eaten himself in one bite.

The man noticed Lu Zifei's gaze and said: "Looking at the reputation of the Marquis of Beibei, I have heard about the deeds countless times, and when I met the real person today, it is really as the emperor said, what a great honor!" ”

An old man can sit in the vertical arch hall, it must be one of the few pyramid spires, Lu Zifei stood up and saluted and said: "My lord Liao praised, it was all given face by others, I don't know what the adults call it." ”

It can't be said to be an old man, it can be regarded as a middle-aged person! Obviously, the maintenance is better.

"My name is Zhang Fangping, temporarily living in the position of the third envoy, your younger brother is playing better with my young son, Hou Ye is haunted, it is really difficult to see him once, see me today, don't think about running away."

Zhang Fangping's vicious tone made Lu Zifei puzzled, and he said: "It turned out to be 'Ji Xiang', the kid is polite here, I don't seem to have offended you!" What's wrong with redeeming the boy is young and ignorant, and your prime minister can hold the boat in his belly and be more considerate. ”

Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "The third envoy has been looking for you for a long time, you were unlucky today and hit him, but you can't complain about me, who knows that the third envoy also entered the palace and had something." ”

Zhang Fangping said: "My matter will wait for the emperor to finish talking about taxes, taxes also belong to the jurisdiction of the three divisions, the minister will be an observer, listen to the high opinion of the Hou Ye, the emperor will not blame!" ”

Zhao Zhen said: "I have no opinion, it depends on whether he has an opinion." ”

Lu Zifei smiled bitterly: "What about the two of you after singing and talking about it, everyone's time is precious, let's get straight to the point, of course, what we are discussing now is just an assumption, and it cannot be implemented as a policy." ”

Zhang Fangping said: "Boy, you think too highly of yourself!" Taxation is a concrete manifestation of a country's stability, and it is as simple as you think, and you can implement it if you want to. ”

Lu Zifei said: "Then I'll rest assured, now I ask a question, you two answer, wait for the two of you to ask, I'll answer, how about it?" ”

Zhao Zhen and Zhang Fangping both shook their heads and said, "Yes, you can ask!" ”

Lu Zifei said: "The first question, what are the types of taxes in the Great Song Dynasty now? In particular, I asked about agricultural taxes. ”

Zhao Zhen said without thinking: "Now there are two kinds of agricultural taxes in the Great Song Dynasty, one is summer tax, and the other is autumn tax. ”

Lu Zifei said: "That's not right! When I was in Shaanxi, I heard those old peasants tell me that the yamen would go to their homes four or five times a year to collect taxes, which was very inconsistent with what the emperor said! ”

Zhang Fangping said: "I have heard of the situation you mentioned, it is that the local private action has nothing to do with the imperial court, of course, I do not deny that the imperial court is also responsible, the water is clear, there are no fish, and the emperor can't control some things, I said this in front of the emperor." ”

Lu Zifei said: "Ji Xiang's man admires, I think this situation can be improved, if the court becomes only once a year to collect taxes, then there are not so many people below to oppress the people, are you two right?" ”

Zhang Fangping said: "What do you use as the standard for collecting taxes once a year, now the summer and autumn taxes are set according to the harvest of a year, the summer harvest is not good, the autumn tax is overcharged, at least there is room for adjustment, and you have thought about the farmers' bearing capacity at one time." ”

Lu Zifei said: "Ji Xiang is right, the shortcomings of a collection are here, but there are also ways to make up for it, each person who inspects can report truthfully during the inspection, and the advantage of collecting taxes in summer and autumn is that farmers will not worry about anyone going to their homes to collect taxes after paying them once." ”

Zhao Zhen sighed: "Your idea is very good, but it is a little taken for granted, and it is difficult to implement!" ”

Lu Zifei asked Zhang Fangping: "The prime minister is in charge of the money bag of the Great Song Dynasty, and the annual income of the Great Song Dynasty must be clear in his chest, and the kid wants to ask how much money was received in the two taxes last year?" ”

This is really a state secret, Zhang Fangping is not as bold as Lu Zifei, he looked at Zhao Zhen, meaning to say or not to say.

"Say it! What can't be said, this kid has so much money that he has nowhere to spend it, and he still cares about the little money from the treasury. ”

All right! The boss has spoken, then there are no taboos.

"Last year, the total amount of the two taxes that went to the state treasury was more than 12 million yuan."

Lu Zifei said with such an expression on his face: "If the kid is not mistaken, the agricultural tax of a state is about more than 500,000 yuan at a time, right?" ”

Zhang Fangping said with a bad face: "I don't have much to say to you." This data really made his face gloomy, a state's annual agricultural tax of one million yuan, is really pitiful, if it weren't for salt, tea, wine, the behemoth of the Great Song Dynasty would not be able to operate.

"The kid has absolutely no intention of laughing, a state pays such a small tax a year, it can't be justified! I read the accounts of the Quanzhou City Shipping Division in the first half of this year, and the net money sent to the state treasury is more than 18 million yuan, and it is more than 36 million yuan in a year. ”

Zhang Fangping looked at Zhao Zhen and said, "Your Majesty, you are a little unkind, why is there only less than 10 million yuan in the accounts received by the Third Division?" ”

Zhao Zhen glared at Lu Zifei and said, "Zhang Aiqing, you also have to be considerate of me, my family has a big business and a lot of expenses." ”

Zhang Fangping said: "The emperor will explain this matter to the others, boy, you go on, I seem to understand what you mean." ”

"What can the kid mean, coming over is just measuring the land, it depends on whether the emperor has the courage?"