Over the past year or so, Shen Mo has published more than 100 political commentaries in more than a dozen newspapers, some of which are aimed at the land issue, some discuss the relationship between industry and commerce and traditional economy, some criticize current politics, and some analyze the current situation of the Ming Dynasty. But because he can always hit the nail on the head, hit the nail on the head, and is strategic, it makes people feel stunned, so he has gained a lot of fame in the political circles.

However, in the face of Lu Kun's thirst for talent, he still thanked him, took a sip of tea, and said softly: "If you have anything in the future, just call me over." ”

Lu Kun understood what he meant, the dignity of the children of the family could not allow him to ask for each other in a low voice, so he nodded and said: "It's okay, Brother Qin is willing to live this kind of idle cloud and wild crane life, and I can't destroy it." He said with a smile and said, "In the future, there will be a problem to ask Brother Qin for details." ”

"Please." Shen Mo nodded and poured tea for Lu Kun.

"Have you read the "Overview of the Imperial Decree" in the daily newspaper before?" Seeing Shen Mo nodding, Lu Kun said, "There is a holy decree about weaving on it, can Brother Qin pay attention to it?" ”

"I've seen it" nodded silently: "It seems to say that the five prefectures of Suzhou, Song, Hangzhou, Jia, and Hu were originally responsible for the task of silk weaving in the southeast, and now it has been decided to increase the ten prefectures of Zhejiang, Fujian and Nanzhili, including Zhenjiang, Changzhou, Huizhou, Shanghai, Ningguo, Yangzhou, and Guangde, to also divide some." ”

Qin Fu really remembered Kun nodded approvingly and said: "Shanghai is glorious in the ranks,

50,000 horses were received, and the annual levy for the rest of the provinces ranged from 10,000 to 50,000 horses. In this way, the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau sent the silk to the palace every year, which increased from the original 40,000 to 250,000. He said with a wry smile on his face: "Our emperor, he really has too much appetite. The year before last, on the grounds of marrying nine concubines, the amount of 100,000 horses was increased, and last year, another 150,000 sets of horses were inscribed for the wedding of King Lu and the eldest princess of Shouyang and the Christmas of the Empress Dowager Cisheng. This year, there is no longer any need to make up names, as long as the lion's mouth is opened, there are many places to solve more, and to say that this number is enough, it is clear that you want to do it once and for all, and form a rule! ”

"Yes, even if there are more than 20,000 people in the palace, all of them are always new all year round, and half of the original amount of relief will not be used, and the rest will be enough for the emperor's reward or other purposes." Shen Mo said with a puzzled face: "I really don't know what the emperor wants to do with such silk?" Is it just to fill the treasury? ”

"Brother Qin doesn't know, people who are greedy for money must be stingy, our emperor, has not rewarded ministers since he ascended the throne. Although the eunuch's concubines were rewarded from time to time, they were all rewarded with a few horses, and they were only a few horses. Lu Kun uncovered the mystery and said: "The emperor's purpose in asking for so much silk is to open an imperial shop for himself. ”

"Under the whole world, it is not the king's land: the shore of the land, it is not the king's minister. The Son of Heaven pays tribute to the wealth of the four seas, so why should he set up a store and compete with the people for the benefits of the sword? Shen Mo shook his head and said, "In this way, how many silk workers will be killed?" ”

"Yes! The cost price of a horse of silk is sixty taels of silver, and two hundred and fifty thousand horses is fifteen million taels. Lu Kun said with a worried face: "However, these solutions are not sent to Beijing for consumption, but for sale. Without capital, the emperor naturally dumped at a low price, and caused serious secondary damage to the silk industry. ”

At this moment, it was impossible to tell whether he was speaking from the position of an official or from the position of the Nine Families.

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Lu Kun said indignantly: "The emperor should regard gold, silver and jade silk as dung, our Wanli Emperor, in order to collect wealth but compete with the people for profit!" ”

"Doesn't the minister advise? 、。 Shen Mo asked softly.

"Why don't you persuade you?" Lu Kun smiled bitterly: "But this kind of music has always been left behind, and the emperor covers his ears and steals the bell, and he doesn't take it seriously at all." For example, this time the six branches of the Corridor clearly rejected the purpose of the weaving of the Wing, and the inscription said: "Check the decree of the weaving and weaving of the Weaving Corridor to say that the people are poor everywhere, and the demand has been exhausted. There are still more than 100,000 horses in the library today, which is sufficient for the current use, and if it is difficult to continue in the future, please deploy it since the investigation of the case, and it will definitely not be a mistake. , the cabinet and the ministry have also vouched for this, but the emperor still insists on sending more. ”

"The ministers have such an attitude, and the emperor still doesn't care?" Shen Mo was surprised: "Aren't you afraid of falling out with the minister?" ”

"Maybe I was afraid before, but now I'm definitely not afraid." Lu Kun said: "Several years of reckless investment and unprincipled favoritism have made the power of the inner court swell rapidly, and the emperor now only regards the outer court as a tool for governing the country, and he completely relies on the middle officials for whatever he wants." And how can the eunuchs not be greedy for money and good goods, naturally they will not let go of this opportunity to make a windfall. The day before yesterday, the eunuch Zhang Thief, the steward of the Inner Weaving and Dyeing Bureau, asked the internal officials to go to the southeast to supervise the weaving matters, and the engineering department gave Liu Pin in the matter, Shanxi Dao Yu Shi Jia Rushi, etc. Send Shen internal officials to supervise the work fee, and the second department of household workers. , not only did not agree to the reduction, but also asked the household department to pay for the eunuchs, it is simply a twenty-one history, I don't know where to start! ”

Lu Kun said with a dry mouth, picked up the teacup and drank it all, and silently continued to him: "It seems that this matter has been decided." ”

"Yes" Lu Kun lowered his voice and said: "I can't hide it, taking advantage of the opportunity to go to Nanjing to participate in the ministerial meeting, the heads of our state capitals got together and held a meeting together, and decided to perfunctory the envoys together, and when the time comes, we will not be able to complete the task, which proves that we are really unable to bear such a heavy burden." ”

"It's not a great idea." Shen Mo said lightly: "I'm afraid it's an excuse to give the eunuchs to do it themselves." ”

"Yes, I'm also worried, but I've just entered the officialdom, and I only listen to what people say." Lu Kun sighed deeply and said: "In fact, 50,000 horses of silk is not too heavy a burden for the Shanghai government. ”

"That's a problem, indeed." Shen Mo took a sip of tea and said, "But it's not impossible. ”

"Brother Qin, talk quickly," Lu Kun's eyes lit up.