"Minister......

As soon as Wu Zhi walked out of the column, his "good neighbor" Zhang Biao, the waiter of the Ministry of Works, immediately interrupted him coldly.

"Your Majesty also said that Wu Zhi is just a businessman, and he must be talking to a businessman."

Zhang Biao is restricting Wu Zhi with words first, so that Wu Zhi's opposition to the tax increase is a fake public benefit.

"The minister is not ......"

Wu Zhi ignored Zhang Biao, and only said one more word than just now, when another harsh voice interrupted him.

"What qualifications does a mere merchant have to negotiate with the state?"

It was Zhu Mian who spoke.

"Your Majesty, let's discuss things in the court, I'm afraid it's not appropriate for you to call a person from the Hanlin Painting Academy to participate, and besides, this person was just a businessman before, not only is he not qualified, but he also has no experience, I suggest that he let the dean of Wuhan University return to the throne!"

Zhu Mian did not hide his contempt for Wu Zhi in his words, and Wu Zhi had always been deliberately low-key and forbearing, and at this moment, he was so humiliated in front of the Manchu Dynasty and Zhao Ji, and he couldn't help but feel angry.

"Lord Zhu looks down on businessmen so much, I don't know where my father comes from?" Wu Zhi glanced at Zhu Mian and replied coldly, "You can't forget your ancestors as a man!" ”

As soon as Wu Zhi's words fell, Tong Guan and Murong Yanda both smiled wickedly, Wu Zhi's words were too unkind, and he directly taught Zhu Mian a lesson, and he also taught Zhu Mian speechless...... The hundreds of officials in the court also smiled suddenly, and Zhu Mian's face had turned dark at this time.

Although Zhu Mian was born, his father Zhu Chong had already befriended Cai Jing, and when Zhu Mian was growing up, he lived according to the way and concept of the eunuch family, so Zhu Mian forgot, and the officials didn't think for a while, Zhu Mian's father, Zhu Chong, was the biggest businessman in Suzhou before!

Speaking of Zhu Mian's father, Zhu Chong's family history is similar to that of Wu Zhi, after becoming a wealthy man in business, he was kind and charitable in Suzhou, built bridges and paved roads, and later became a powerful man in the middle of the court, and then became a powerful man.

"Wu Zhi, you are presumptuous!"

Zhu Mian yelled at Wu Zhi.

Wu Zhi even took Zhu Mian and his father to scold together, how could Zhu Mian not be angry?

"How did I get presumptuous? Didn't they all follow your words? Asking rhetorically, Wu Zhi suddenly pointed at Zhu Mian and shot back: "You Zhu Mian roared at the court, aren't you presumptuous!" ”

"You ......"

Zhu Mian's face darkened angrily, he had been rampant and domineering in the court for so long, and no one had ever choked him like this, let alone dared to point at him...... But Wu Zhi's words were sonorous and powerful, and in reason, Zhu Mian couldn't find the words to fight back for a while.

Seeing that Zhu Mian was suppressed by Wu Zhi speechlessly, and the emperor on the dragon chair just didn't speak, and didn't deliberately favor Zhu Mian, many officials in the court looked at Wu Zhi subtly, especially Tang Geng and Song Cheng and others who impeached Wu Zhi just now, their eyes lit up a little.

"Wu Zhi, Your Majesty is waiting for you to reply, Hugh is arrogant!"

A voice with anger came, and most of the officials who turned their heads to see the excitement suddenly turned their heads resignedly, because the person who spoke was Cai Jing.

Zhu Mian's face finally returned to a little arrogant.

"Yes."

Wu Zhi bowed his head in response.

Wu Zhi knew that Cai Jing's scolding was obviously directed towards Zhu Mian, if Zhu Mian hadn't interrupted Wu Zhi, Wu Zhi would not have choked with him, and now Cai Jing actually scolded Wu Zhi in turn, what is this not partiality? However, Wu Zhi was not stupid enough to argue, he knew that although Zhu Mian was in his own faction, his roots were backed by Cai Jing's big tree, and it was normal for them to be in camouflage.

This is the foundation, Wu Zhi now has no foundation in the court at all, let alone qualifications, only Murong Yanda, an old friend, and Tong Guan, a friend who has just made a good friend, but even if Tong Guan or Murong Yanda sometimes want to help Wu Zhi speak, it is not easy to find an opportunity.

"Aiqing, let's talk about it, what do you think about increasing business taxes?" Zhao Ji smiled meaningfully at Wu Zhi.

After such a long period of contact, he really admired Wu Zhi's whimsy and wit, so this time he asked Wu Zhi to answer this dilemma for Wu Zhi, faintly teasing...... Teasing among friends.

"Your Majesty, Lord Zhu is right, the minister has no experience in participating in national affairs, and it is difficult for the minister to speak about .........this matter."

Wu Zhi said so tactfully, Zhao Ji raised his eyebrows helplessly, a little disappointed.

"But ......"

"But what?" Zhao Ji's eyes lit up again.

"However, although the minister has no experience in national affairs, if the imperial court intends to increase the commercial tax, regardless of whether it can be implemented in the end, the minister will pay the tax according to the proportion of one-tenth of the profits of his own industry." After Wu Zhi finished speaking, he bowed to Zhao Ji and said solemnly: "It is also an honor to be able to contribute these modest efforts to my Great Song Dynasty. ”

"What are you talking about, Dean Wu, how can the imperial court only impose heavy taxes on your family, isn't it a violation of the fairness of the heavenly family?" Zhu Mian immediately answered, "If you want to increase taxes, you have to add them to all the merchants in the Great Song Dynasty!" ”

Zhu Mian is not stupid, although the purpose of his tax increase is mainly to weaken Wu Zhi's financial resources, but he knows that the entire Shandong Chamber of Commerce is actually Wu Zhi's power, if only Wu Zhi's family is taxed heavily, wouldn't it make the Wu Zhi Gang Chamber of Commerce and the gang avoid heavy taxes?

"Aiqing, I understand your intentions, but how can I bear to let you be wronged?"

Zhao Ji's heart was full of emotion.

"The way of the monarch and the minister, kindness and righteousness are repaid! Your Majesty has the grace of the ministers, and the ministers should go up the sword mountain and go down to the sea of fire for Your Majesty, and the liver and brain are smeared on the ground, so why worry about the money? ”

Wu Zhi said something that made him feel disgusting, and the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty had goosebumps all over their bodies when they heard it, but Zhao Ji, who was the person concerned, was moved by Wu Zhi's eyes after hearing this...... In fact, Zhao Ji has heard too many sycophants, but this time it came out of Wu Zhi's mouth, it was different for him.

Because in his memory, Wu Zhi was natural and calm in front of him, and he had never "slapped" him on the back, so for the first time today, Zhao Ji believed that Wu Zhi must have come from the bottom of his heart and believed it!

…………

Although the matter of increasing commercial taxation was proposed, it was not immediately decided, first of all, it took a long time for the courtiers to unify their opinions, and after the courtiers agreed on their opinions, they had to draw up the details, and finally the emperor had to nod, and it would take at least a few months to wait for the results.

Therefore, at the end of today's court meeting, Zhao Ji ordered Cai Jing and Murong Yanda, the head of the household department, to take the lead, and after the six ministers discussed it, they finally decided whether to raise taxes.

————

In the evening, Murong Yanda came to Wuzhi's mansion in a hurry.

"Phew! I fought with Cai Jing's old puppet for a day! After arriving at the study, Murong Yanda sat on the chair, "Quickly pour me a cup of tea." ”

Wu Zhi calmly handed Murong Yanda a cup of warm tea.

"Brother, the situation is a little bad, Cai Jing is in favor of raising business taxes, among the six ministers we discussed together, I was the only one who opposed the tax increase, and the rest were all on Cai Jing's side........." After taking a big sip of tea, Murong Yanda continued: "I feel that Zhu Mian asked Cai Jing in advance for the tax increase, so he dared to bring it up unscrupulously. ”

"It seems that the tax is set this time, and I can only try to get them to lower the tax rate.........

"Don't panic, brother, you don't have to stop them, isn't it just a tax increase, what's the big deal, you just go with the flow." Wu Zhi calmed down and said leisurely.

Murong Yanda was stunned for a moment, then looked at Wu Zhi mysteriously, and said with a smile: "Brother, you are so calm, don't you already have any tricks?" ”

Wu Zhi spread his hands and said with a smile: "That's the national policy led by Cai Jing, what tricks can I have when I come to Bianjing?" ”

"Then why are you like this...... Take it easy? ”

"Why don't you take it easy?" Wu Zhi said with a smile, "It's a good thing to increase the commercial tax, it's tripled compared to before, and my Great Song Dynasty's treasury can at least double the amount before, right?" In this way, wouldn't the national strength of the Great Song Dynasty be stronger, so why should we stop it? ”

After Wu Zhi finished speaking, Murong Yanda remained stunned in place while holding the teacup, and his eyes were full of doubts when he looked at Wu Zhi.