……

If it is about academic talent, poetry and articles, Guo Min is not worthy of Guo Tang's shoes, but if it is about people's hearts and clever words, Guo Tang is not Guo Min's opponent at all.

Although the remarks and truths that Guo Min said before were only temporarily thought of in a hurry, after saying it, even Guo Min himself felt quite reasonable! Thinking about it again, if the prince's party really wants to risk the world's disapproval and rectify the commercial tax, then it will inevitably usher in everyone's opposition, and the position of the prince Zhu and Yu as the prince may not be so stable!

In this way, Guo Tang, as the core figure of the prince's party, will inevitably be implicated, and at that time, being dismissed from office is just a trivial matter, and maybe even the entire Guo family will be implicated!

Between such considerations, Guo Min's desire to persuade Guo Tang became more and more determined.

……

Guo Min rarely plays tricks in front of Guo Tang, this is because Guo Tang is his brother-in-law and the Optimus Prime of the Guo family, and Guo Min has long been accustomed to a lifestyle based on Guo Tang.

However, now that the interests of the Guo family are damaged, the Guo family's thriving trend will also be interrupted, and there may be a dilapidated family road, so as a last resort, Guo Min had to make an exception.

"Brother, do you really want to assist His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in rectifying my court's business taxes? Even at the expense of offending the world? And also to lead by example, starting with our Guo family? ”

Guo Min confirmed again.

Guo Tang nodded as a matter of course, his expression was full of determination, and said: "This is nature, as the so-called 'perseverance, gold and stone can be carved', for the world, for the people." What's a little difficulty? As for leading by example, it is our duty to wait for Qingliu! Of course, our Guo family will have some losses. But compared with the well-being of the people and the stability of the country, it is just a trivial matter! ”

Between words. Guo Tang was full of emotion, only felt that his consciousness at the moment was very great, and his realm and character had instantly improved to a higher level, and he was ready to write an article to commemorate his noble feelings at the moment after Guo Min left, and let future generations know that his conduct was noble and proud!

However, just as Guo Tang shook his head and pondered the words and sentences of the article, Guo Min suddenly sighed. said: "In this case, I will naturally listen to my brother, and I will immediately order the firm to suspend its operation, and wait for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to rectify the business tax of my dynasty and then make money in a proper manner, and never walk in the matter of illegal tax evasion...... Alas, speaking of which, we were originally just a farming family, and we can have today's family background. It's already a fluke, so naturally I don't dare to be insatiable, but in this way, I'm afraid I will have to wronged my brother in the future. ”

Guo Tang was slightly stunned. He asked, "Why did you wronged me?" ”

Guo Min knows that Guo Tang has been valued and favored by the Guo family since he was a child, for decades. No matter how difficult and embarrassed the Guo family's money and food are, they have never wronged Guo Tang! So. Guo Tang does not have a deep understanding of the relationship between "the Guo family's interests are damaged" and "his own interests are damaged". In Guo Tang's subconscious, I am afraid that no matter how bad the interests of the Guo family are, his own living environment will not change much.

Now, Guo Min wants Guo Tang to understand that if the interests of the Guo family are damaged, then Guo Tang's life will also change dramatically!

So, Guo Min sighed and replied: "Just now, I secretly calculated that even if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince rectifies the commercial tax and abolishes the redundant tax collection station, our family's commercial bank still has to hand over a large amount of silver to the imperial court every year, which is about half of the income of the commercial bank!" After paying the tax, the business bank because the operating cost has increased a lot, and the price of the goods sold will also increase a lot, so that the business volume will be greatly reduced, and at that time, the income of our business bank can have 30% of today's good, well, about 30,000 taels of silver per year. ”

Guo Tang shook his head disapprovingly, and said, "Thirty thousand taels of silver a year is not too little, why are you so greedy?" Alas...... Lifting money at every turn, and being so calculating, is really vulgar, you have been running a business all these years, but you have fallen into the eyes of money, but you need to change it! ”

Seeing Guo Tang's statement, Guo Min couldn't help but pouted secretly, only thinking that Guo Tang didn't know the price of firewood and rice, and he didn't have a backache when he stood and talked!

However, Guo Min didn't come out, but continued with a regretful expression: "It is not a small amount to have 30,000 taels of silver every year, but our Guo family now has a big business, and there are a lot of expenses on weekdays!" Not to mention anything else, just talking about the annual expenses and expenses of the relatives in our house, it will take about three or four thousand taels of silver; The servants and maids in the house, and the shopkeepers and men in the trading houses, also had to pay a salary of about two thousand taels of silver every year; Our mansions, ancestral homes, and various properties require thousands of taels of silver for their annual maintenance and purchase; Also, my brother's social entertainment in the officialdom requires thousands of taels of silver every year, and brother, you are an honest official, this silver is naturally not enough for Yulu, but it also needs most of the government subsidies; In addition......"

The numbers Guo Min said are actually a bit exaggerated, but Guo Tang has never touched them, so how can he understand that he is naturally kept in the dark!

The many accounts and figures made Guo Tang feel a little dizzy, and he couldn't understand the calculation, so he just interrupted and asked: "Listen to what you mean, is it possible that these 30,000 taels of silver are not enough for our family's expenses?" ”

Guo Min shook his head and sighed: "It's just enough, but there is no extra silver for you to buy antiques and treasures and the four treasures of the study!" That's why I said that I would have to wronged my brother in this way! ”

Although Guo Tang doesn't like gold and silver money, and thinks that it is unbearable, and the copper smells and smells, he likes those authentic works of famous artists, antiques, and the four treasures of the precious study, and thinks that these are the real elegant hobbies.

However, "elegant hobbies" need to spend money! And it takes a lot of silver! Nowadays, people's hearts are lost, the world is not ancient, such as the authentic works of famous artists, the treasures of the previous dynasty, and those four treasures of the study that have produced few things, and so on, and all kinds of elegant things, but also need to be exchanged for gold, silver, money, and other vulgar things! It's really breathtaking!

For example, the shopkeeper of "Juzhenxuan" and the owner of "Yipintang", although he usually flatters Guo Tang, but if Guo Tang has no gold and silver in his hands. They would never give away anything sold in the store for free.

Guo Tang still understands this.

So. Guo Tang couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this, his original firm belief. was also slightly shaken, and hurriedly asked: "Guo Min, you also know, I have a simple style on weekdays, never extravagant and profligate, and never pay attention to food and clothing, just such a hobby, is it possible that after the commercial tax reform, I don't even have the silver to buy elegant toys?" ”

Guo Min heard this. The corners of his mouth twitched.

Over the years, Guo Fu's biggest expenditure was to buy all kinds of curiosities in order to satisfy Guo Tang's "elegant hobbies", but unfortunately Guo Tang "regarded gold and silver as dung" and never handled money, so he had no concept of this.

So, Guo Min explained: "It's not nothing, it's just that the style needs to be lowered, brother, you like to use Chengxintang paper, Xuande tribute paper, and Cao's rice paper the most." But from now on, I am afraid that I can only write on ordinary paper, and those precious paper notes cost more than ten taels of silver per knife, and we are afraid that we will not be able to afford it at that time. ”

Guo Tang's eyes widened. Said: "This, how can this be! If there is no Chengxintang paper, Xuande tribute paper, and Cao's rice paper, I will be writing and painting on weekdays, wouldn't there be a lot less charm? Ordinary paper is far less ink-absorbing and adhesive than them. I can't keep it for a long time, how can my paintings and calligraphy be passed on to future generations? This, this ......"

After a pause. Guo Min said: "In addition, Huzhou Zihao, Shanlian pen, Jingxian Xuanbi and so on. It's really expensive, and my brother will only be able to use ordinary brushes in the future. ”

Guo Tang's eyes widened, and his voice became louder, and he said, "This is even more impossible!" The pen has four virtues, pointed, Qi, round, healthy, the most important! How can ordinary brushes be compared with Huzhou Zihao, Shanlian pens, and Jingxian Xuanbi? If I just use ordinary calligraphy to write and paint, how much success can I exert if I have practiced calligraphy and painting skills for many years? Isn't it that no good product has ever come out again? No, absolutely not! ”

Guo Min didn't answer, just continued: "Although the famous paper is expensive, it is still a decimal, although the famous pen is expensive, but after all, it is durable for more than a few years, if my brother really wants, we can save some on weekdays, after all, we can still provide a little, but such as Jiang Zheng Xuanyu ink, rhino Zhao ink, a pool of spring green ink, etc., although they are very durable, but they are too expensive, I am afraid that it is difficult to provide even a little, as for Tao Yan, Duan Yan, She Yan, and even the famous Yan of the former dynasties, it is even more unaffordable." ”

"This, this...... If I don't have these, what interest will I have in writing and painting in the future? As a prince and a young master and a famous writer in the literary world, if I don't have these treasures, how different would I be from ordinary people? No, never, absolutely not ......"

As he spoke, Guo Tang's expression was already shaky.

Seeing this, Guo Min was secretly happy in his heart, but he didn't move on his face, and continued: "In addition, I understand that brother, you like the antiquities and authentic works of the previous dynasty the most, but these things are too valuable, often a random piece will cost hundreds of taels of silver, where will we pay for it then?" Therefore, brother, in the future, you will still go less to those treasure shops, antiques and antiques, and you can't buy them if you go, you can only increase your thoughts in vain, but it is not beautiful! Also, brother, the authentic cultural relics you bought in the past, I'm afraid there will be no silver to maintain in the future, if there is any damage, brother must be mentally prepared! ”

Hearing this, Guo Tang's complexion changed even more, but he was shocked one after another, but he was speechless, and just muttered: "This, this ......"

And Guo Min gave Guo Min the last blow mercilessly, as if he suddenly remembered something, and said, "That's right...... Seeing that your 55th birthday, brother, has arrived, I contacted a seller, who has a volume in his hand called "Manuscript of the Sacrifice of Nephews", which is the work of Yan Zhenqing, and I heard that it is quite precious! The seller was in urgent need of silver taels now, so I offered 13,000 taels of silver, and finally let him relent, and he was about to buy it, but since the income in our house will be greatly reduced, this "Manuscript of the Sacrifice of Nephews" cannot be bought and given to my brother, after all, we still need to keep some silver turnover in the future. ”

After hearing Guo Min's words, Guo Tang, who was originally unconscious, suddenly stood up, grabbed Guo Min's sleeve, and exclaimed: "Yan Zhenqing's "Sacrifice Nephew Manuscript"? That's the second book in the world! What is more than the word precious that can be evaluated? It's enough to become the heirloom of our Guo family! Thirteen thousand taels of silver is not expensive at all, you can buy it now! If I can see the real thing, my life will not be wasted! ”

Guo Min shook his head and said, "Brother, if it's an ordinary time, it's naturally possible." But now that we already know that our family's business bank will have a big reduction in income in the future, we can't afford this "Manuscript for the Sacrifice of Nephews". You have to save some money for emergencies in the future. ”

When Guo Tang heard this, his face changed. After a long time, he finally gritted his teeth and said: "You go to buy the "Sacrifice Nephew Manuscript", don't worry about the rest of the matter, I thought about it just now, what you said makes sense, the rectification of commercial taxes is widely implicated, and it is really not appropriate to rush!" I will immediately go and ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to take back his order!" ”

No one is perfect, and if you are a human being, you have weaknesses. It's just that if a person's weakness is exploited by others, then the so-called "principles", the so-called "beliefs", etc., are no longer so firm and tenacious!

Guo Tang's weakness is his "elegant hobbies", and now Guo Min has made good use of this, and in the end, Guo Tang has also changed his position lightly, and the rectification of commercial taxes has changed from "benefiting the country and the people" to "not being in a hurry", after all, compared to his own "elegant hobbies". Things such as the well-being of the people and the stability of the country can still be delayed!

The commercial tax of the Ming Dynasty has always been like this, and there has been no chaos. And why force change?

However, although Guo Tang changed his position, Guo Min did not let go lightly. just said: "If my brother can really make the prince take back his fate, I will immediately buy the "Manuscript of the Sacrifice of Nephews" for my brother to see." As the elder brother said, although this "Manuscript of the Sacrifice of Nephews" is a little more expensive. But it just happens to become our family heirloom! ”

Guo Tang nodded, but without the slightest delay, he turned around and left the study, planning to go to the prince's east palace to ask the prince for his life!

Guo Min looked at Guo Tang's departing figure, but his brows were slightly furrowed.

Although he persuaded Guo Tang, he also knew that the crown prince Zhu and Yu were a hundred times more stubborn than Guo Tang, and he didn't have much confidence in whether Guo Tang could convince the prince Zhu and Yu!

"If the crown prince did not listen to his brother's advice, but just insisted on rectifying the business tax, then there would be chaos between the government and the opposition, and then the prince's position as the prince may not be as stable as Mount Tai now...... However, the connection between his brother and the crown prince is too close, and the Guo family will also be implicated at that time...... For the sake of the whole family, do I want to hide from my brother and find another backer for the Guo family? With so many back roads, my Guo family can prosper for a long time......"

Between dark thoughts, Guo Min's eyes couldn't help flashing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today, the large and small commercial houses of the Ming Dynasty are all engaged in smuggling and tax evasion.

And these trading houses are also with the participation of high-ranking officials and nobles in the DPRK and China - either with a share of dry shares, or through the clansmen and cronies to operate!

Among them, there is no shortage of clear streams in the temple!

Now, if the crown prince Zhu and Yu want to rectify the commercial tax, not only the officials of other factions will oppose it, but even within the princelings, there are different opinions.

When Guo Tang rushed to the East Palace, trying to persuade the prince to take back his fate, he was surprised to find that he was not alone, and there were already many princelings doing the same thing at this time.

Most of these princelings are like Guo Tang, either they have woken up, or they have been reminded by others, or they have long had different views, and now they all understand that the rectification of commercial taxes will bring losses to themselves, so they have changed their positions, and they all advise the prince not to act in a serious way!

However, as Guo Min expected, the stubbornness and stubbornness of the crown prince Zhu Heyu are a hundred times better than Guo Tang, since he has made up his mind, and he also thinks that the rectification of commercial taxes is beneficial to the people of the country, he will naturally not change his mind lightly!

Therefore, the persuasion of Guo Tang and others is destined to be in vain!

"Alas! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is too stubborn, how can he act recklessly like an emperor? ”

When Guo Tang left the East Palace abruptly, he said.

While speaking, Guo Tang's eyes flashed with inexplicable affection.

Guo Tang has always regarded the crown prince Zhu Heyu as the prince of the Ming Dynasty and the future master of Zhongxing in the Ming Dynasty, and he has always praised the prince, and it is the first time that he has been so derogatory at this time.

However, Guo Tang's words attracted the approval of the princelings around him!

At this time, these princelings, like Guo Tang, had inexplicable love flashing in their eyes.

The world is bustling, all for profit, the world is bustling, all for profit!

The word "profit" always drives the highest standard of people's behavior.

Although the prince's party is pretentious, it is also inseparable from interests.

Many people take refuge in the crown prince Zhu Heyu, seemingly loyal to Zhu Heyu, but the reason for digging into it is either to increase the fame, or to display ambitions, or to follow the dragon's skills! It's just that there are very few people who are blindly loyal to the crown prince Zhu and Yu!

Gathered because of interests, it will naturally be broken up because of interests! Be loyal because of interests, and naturally betray because of interests!

Now, Prince Zhu and Yu are bent on implementing commercial tax reform, which naturally touches the interests of some princelings!

As a result, the commercial tax reform has not yet been implemented, but the princelings, which were originally united, have already appeared a little cracked!

And this qiē was also expected by Zhao Junchen, and under the secret surveillance of the West Factory, Zhao Junchen soon got the news!

…………

PS: There are a lot of reminder tickets, well, try your best to satisfy everyone! If nothing happens today, it should be updated with about 10,000 words!

Well, send a big chapter of 5,000 words first, and there is another chapter before the early hours of the morning, which is also a big chapter!

…… (To be continued......)