At the end of September, when October was about to begin, Gan Wenkun and Zhu Guozhi ruled on the tax amount of Fushou ointment of the Eight Banners and began to collect it, and finally passed through thousands of mountains and rivers, the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, and sent it to the capital, to the Forbidden City, and to the current chieftain of the Qing Dynasty who ate chaff and drank small pockmarks. The result was just as Lu Fatzi expected, seeing Zhu Guozhi's suggestion, Gan Wenkun's approval, and the report that one or two eight banners of Fushou Paste only collected one penny of silver to pay taxes, Xiao Mazi was completely furious.

"Dog minion, which family's errand is it doing? One or two Eight Banners Fushou Paste was sold in the capital for three taels of silver, and it was better not to charge a penny of silver! Dog minion, dog minion! Two god-killing dog minions who eat inside and crawl outside! ”

Scolding and scolding, jumping like thunder and jumping like thunder, but to cure the crimes of these two dog slaves, Xiao Mazi really can't find any reason - after all, Xiao Mazi didn't ask Zhu Guozhi and Gan Wenkun to levy much tax on the Eight Banners Fushou Paste before, and the field tax levied by Mites Qing in the south ranged from four to seven dollars of silver per mu, Gan Wenkun and Zhu Guozhi added more than two taels of silver to one acre of land on this basis, what reason did Xiao Mazi use to accuse these two god-damned dog slaves? That's how the agricultural tax was levied in those days.

Having said that, can the profits from growing drugs be compared with growing food? How many times is the profit of one mu of Baqi Fushou paste than that of grain? Using the grain tax standard to levy a drug tax, is this called the business?

Xiao Mazi was not the only one who was furious, seeing the tax quota set by Zhu Guozhi and Gan Wenkun for the Eight Banners Fushou Cream, several of Xiao Mazi's cronies, Mingzhu, Suo Etu and Xiong Cixu also burst into a rage, "One or two Eight Banners Fushou Paste only levies a tax of one penny of silver?" This two-eight banner Fushou paste grows out of the ground, and can be sold for two taels of silver when it is transported to Guangzhou, and it can be sold for two taels to three taels of silver when it is transported to the capital, and it is only taxed for one penny of silver, what is the difference between this and no tax at all? There's a problem, there's definitely a problem in between! ”

Scolding and scolding, but the wood has already been completed, Gan Wenkun and Zhu Guozhi's joint recital is clearly written, after they ruled that this appropriate and appropriate tax amount, they have issued a constitutional decree to officially start collecting, Mingzhu, these little pockmarks, how dare to suggest that Xiao Mazi abolish this quota and re-determine the tax rate? In case of angering Wu Sangui, what serious consequences will be caused, who will bear the responsibility?

It was also at this time that Mingzhu and Xiao Mazi suddenly remembered a big event - a few days ago, Xiaozhuang ordered Xiao Mazi to expedite the decree with six hundred miles to take back the Eight Banners Fushou Paste Tax Right of the Yungui Governor, and now Gan Wenkun and Zhu Guozhi have started to collect taxes in Yunnan, maybe they have all been collected, what to do with this holy decree that is still on the way? If you ignore it, the holy decree will be transmitted to Yunnan, and Yunnan will not be able to explode the pot?

"Your Majesty." Thinking of this, Mingzhu suddenly remembered something again, and hurriedly said: "If the slave remembers correctly, the old ancestor had told her before, if there is any progress in this matter, it must be reported to her old man immediately, it seems that the old ancestor must be in the chest about this matter, why don't you ask the old ancestor for advice?" ”

"Yes, I am confused." Xiao Mazi, whose face had been blue and black, finally came back to his senses, and quickly got up and ordered: "Quick, drive Cining Palace." ”

Xiao Mazi drove the Cining Palace in the deep palace, there was no will, Mingzhu and Suo Etu of course did not dare to follow, they could only stay in the Yangxin Palace and wait for the response, and Xiao Mazi's mighty team passed through Jingyunmen, Longzong Gate and Cining Gate all the way to Cining Palace, but learned that the old witch of Xiaozhuang was walking in the small garden behind Cining Palace to enjoy the flowers, and when he entered the small garden, Xiaozhuang was really drinking tea in the pavilion in the middle of the man-made pond. Xiao Mazi hurriedly walked through the winding corridor, knelt down and saluted the old witch of Xiaozhuang: "Grandson Xuanye, please say hello to grandmother." ”

"The emperor is flat, how can you have time to come and sit here today?" Xiaozhuang smiled and beckoned Xiao Mazi to get up, and without waiting for Xiao Mazi to answer, he instructed the people around him: "Su Ma and Li Yinzheng stay, and the rest of the people should step down, and the mourning family should say some considerate words to the emperor." ”

"Cover." The female eunuchs of the palace agreed, and they withdrew from the pavilion together, leaving the four of them to talk in the pavilion in the heart of the pond. It was not until this moment that Xiao Mazi found out that his grandmother's old man was slippery, this pavilion seemed to be open and unstoppable, but it was surrounded by water, as long as it was not shouted loudly, the sound of conversation could not be transmitted to the edge of the pond, so that Aobai's ubiquitous eyeliner in the palace could not eavesdrop on his own secret conversation with his grandmother.

"The emperor is here today to collect taxes on the Eight Banners Fushou Anointment, right?" Hyo-joo asked with a smile.

Xiao Mazi nodded, didn't speak, just directly handed the joint performance of Gan Wenkun and Zhu Guozhi to Xiaozhuang, Xiaozhuang took it and read it carefully, and did not move a little, just handed the folding to Aunt Su Mala and asked her to read the content as well, and then smiled and said: "The emperor thinks this tax is too high?" Or is it low? ”

"Of course it's low, and it's so low that it's not at all." Xiao Mazi said angrily: "My grandson has also understood, one acre of Eight Banners Fushou Paste can collect twenty taels, one or two Eight Banners Fushou Paste can be sold for more than two taels of silver when it is transported to Guangzhou, and it can be sold for three taels when sold to the capital and Jiangnan, even if it is sold to the lowest one or two taels of Eight Banners Fushou Paste two taels of silver, one acre of land can earn twenty taels of silver, and one acre of land can earn forty taels of silver a year, and the tax payment is less than three taels, and then excluding labor costs and trafficking fees, Wu Sangui has to earn at least thirty taels of one acre of land!" ”

"Wrong, wrong, grandson, you're wrong." Xiaozhuang shook his head and corrected: "The figures you counted are the figures of the folk of Qujing, and the fertile land, dry land and newly opened wasteland of the folk of Qujing are all planted with Baqi Fushou ointment, and the yield difference is huge, which pulls down the average yield." And Wu Sangui out of all considerations, strictly controlled the planting range of the Eight Banners Fushou Cream, using the best fertile land to grow the Eight Banners Fushou Paste, one mu of land can collect at least twenty-five taels of Eight Banners Fushou Paste or more, and Wu Sangui's domain does not need to pay field tax, so after removing various expenses, my grandmother estimates that Wu Sangui can earn at least forty taels of silver per acre of Eight Banners Fushou Paste! ”

Xiao Mazi opened his mouth wide, and only after a while did he hang his head and say: "It's still grandmother Shengming, the candle shines thousands of miles, and the grandson is young and ignorant, and he still doesn't think carefully enough." ”

"The emperor doesn't have to blame himself, you have done a good job." Xiaozhuang said kindly: "Grandmother also has a few eyeliners in the Pingxi Palace, and she happens to be in charge of these things, so she can roughly grasp Wu Sangui's Eight Banners Fushou Paste income, otherwise, Grandmother is afraid that she can only infer it according to the situation in Qujing Mansion." ”

"It's a pity that my grandson was careless for a while, and he missed Lu Yifeng, an unborn talent, and cheapened Wu Sangui's old thing for nothing." Xiao Mazi said with regret and envy: "It would be good if Sun Er put Lu Yifeng in other provinces at that time, and now our Qing court can also add a source of revenue greater than the salt tax." ”

"It's useless to regret it." Xiaozhuang shook his head and said softly: "And grandmother can conclude that even if you didn't put Lu Yifeng back in Yunnan at that time, but put him in other provinces, you wouldn't be able to get this source of money for your grandson." ”

"What do you mean by that, grandmother?" Xiao Mazi asked suspiciously.

"Grandson, have you forgotten to worship?" Xiaozhuang asked with a smile: "Do you think that Ao Bai will not covet the windfall profits of the Eight Banners Fushou Ointment?" Even if he seriously underestimated the windfall profits of the Eight Banners Fushou Paste before, and agreed to give Wu Sangui the Eight Banners Fushou Paste in a daze, now I am afraid that he will regret all his intestines, but he is afraid of our threat and Wu Sangui's strength, so he does not dare to forcibly take a piece of the pie. ”

Xiao Mazi was speechless, and then remembered that even if the miracle of the Eight Banners Fushou Paste appeared in a province other than Yunnan, Ao Bai would inevitably pounce on it like a fly smelling blood, and use his strong strength in other provinces to swallow this cash cow alone, at most let himself get a little more sweetness, but it would definitely not be so great as to give away this cash cow - Ao Bai is not so stupid, even if Ao Bai is so stupid, the red-eyed jackals and hungry tigers under Ao Bai will not be so stupid.

"It's a long way off, let's get down to business." Xiaozhuang built a step for his embarrassed grandson, and asked with a smile: "Grandson, Gan Wenkun and Zhu Guozhi set such a low tax amount for the Eight Banners Fushou Cream, what are your plans?" Is it to suffer this dumb loss? Or deny this tax amount and set another tax amount for Yungui Governor to collect? ”

"Of course my grandson doesn't want to suffer this dumb loss." Xiao Mazi lowered his head and said: "But Yunnan has already started to collect taxes according to this tax amount, and if Sun Er denies the order, he will increase it again, but he is afraid that it will ......." ”

"Afraid of what? Are you still afraid that Wu Sangui will rebel? Xiaozhuang was shocked and said: "Wu Sangui is now the opposite, isn't it more beneficial to you?" ”

"What?" Xiao Mazi jumped up, looked left and right, tried to lower his voice and said, "Grandmother, do you want to force Wu Sangui to rebel?" Didn't you always oppose your grandson's drastic removal of the feudal domain? Why are your methods more intense than your grandson's now? ”

Xiaozhuang smiled, did not answer immediately, just gave a look to Li Citation, Li Citation, all the way back to Cining Palace, a moment later with two thick account books out, put on the tea table next to Xiaozhuang, Xiaozhuang smiled and said: "Grandson, take a look, this is the Mourning family in the past two years of secret collection of intelligence statistics, one is Aobai, the other is Wu Sangui, although it is impossible to be absolutely accurate, but it is probably about the same." ”

Xiao Mazi was even more surprised, and quickly picked up the two account books and looked through them, but after only a cursory look at some abridgements, Xiao Mazi's hands and lips began to tremble - the numbers recorded in these two account books are really amazing! On Wu Sangui's side, from the beginning of the first month of the ninth year of Kang Mazi to the present, Wu Sangui has exhausted all kinds of cover-up methods to expand the army to more than 30,000, and at the same time, the children of the Pingxi Wangfu clan who have received military training in turn have exceeded 60,000.

In addition, there are two more shocking figures for Xiao Mazi, one is the number of nitrate mining and purchasing in the Yunnan-Guizhou army over the years, and the other is the number of Tusi private soldiers of various ethnic groups in Yunnan-Guizhou - these are the sources of Wu Sangui's reserve soldiers! It's just that Xiao Mazi is a little bit that Xiaozhuang's secret agent also mentioned that Wu Sangui is likely to be secretly manufacturing some new firearms - but even if he is noticed, Xiao Mazi, who already has a preconceived impression of Western firearms, will not pay much attention to this information.

And in the account book of Aobai, what makes Xiao Mazi even more frightened is that between the first year of Kang Mazi and the ninth year of Kang Mazi, the scale of the expansion of the Mites Qing army was only more than 60 auxiliary leaders, but from the ninth year of Kang Mazi to the present more than a year, Aobai, who holds the power of the government, has openly and privately expanded more than 600 auxiliary leaders, which is equivalent to a secret expansion of more than 100,000 troops - before this, the entire Mites Qing was only 550,000 troops! At the same time, in strategic places such as Nanjing, Wuchang, and Jiujiang, Ao Bai also secretly hoarded a pen and a pen of military rations and ordnance, which were also astronomical, and the intention of secretly preparing for war was almost obvious.

"Grandson, don't just keep an eye on the army, but also pay attention to the income situation." Xiaozhuang reminded: "Last year, our Qing Dynasty's inner and outer treasury income was only 24 million, but Wu Sangui's annual income was conservatively estimated to be over 9 million, reaching more than one-third of ours, but our more than 20 million yuan should be used for the whole world, just like a plate of loose sand, Wu Sangui's more than 9 million only need to support Yungui, and the strength is clenched into a fist, such a situation is acceptable for the time being, and if it goes on for a long time, then it will have to be?" ”

Xiao Mazi nodded slowly, gritted his teeth and said: "Grandmother is reasonable, we must not go on like this, as long as this situation continues for another two or three years, not only will it be impossible for us to cut the feudal domain by force, but if we don't do it, we are likely to be eaten by Wu Sangui in turn!" ”

"Judging from Aobai's secret expansion of the army, he is also wary of this." Xiaozhuang said quietly: "Ao Bai still has loyalty to our Aixin Jueluo family, and he can also know how to take precautions, and he will also leave a hand for Wu Sangui." However, as long as he is still in the capital for one day, your grandson will not be able to really take power for a day, and you will be the master of a generation, and our grandchildren will not be able to sleep peacefully for a day, so my grandmother plans to use a trick to drive the tiger and devour the wolf, let Ao Bai and Wu Sangui go to the pinch, and your grandson, you will reap the benefits. ”

"Grandmother, do you want to force Wu Sangui to fight against each other, let Ao Bai and Wu Sangui fight each other, and we Bian Zhuang stabbed the tiger?" Xiao Mazi's eyes lit up.

Xiaozhuang nodded slowly, and said with a cruel smile: "If Wu Sangui is reversed, Ao Bai is a pillar of the imperial court, an old minister of the three dynasties, and is proficient in military affairs, can there be a reason not to go out in person?" He left the capital, can our ancestors also take the opportunity to take the power of the imperial court? ”

Xiao Mazi's mouse eyes were brighter, and he thought about it for a long time before Xiao Mazi hesitated and said: "Although Grandmother's plan is good, how to deal with the aftermath is a big problem, and if it is not handled well, it is likely to shake the Qing Dynasty." ”

"What's the problem with the aftermath?" Xiaozhuang asked rhetorically: "If Ao Bai wins, you will crown him as the king of Yunnan, and reward him with Yunnan that produces the Eight Banners Fushou Paste as a domain, stabilize him first, and then control the power of the world to slowly figure it out." If Wu Sangui wins, you learn from Zhao Kuangyin to make a jade axe to draw the river, reward Yungui to Wu Sangui as a land, allow him to establish himself as a king, trade and pay tribute, he will naturally be satisfied, and then use the power of the whole country to slowly figure it out. If the two of them lose both, wouldn't it be better, grandson, with the strength of the whole country, are you afraid that you won't be able to clean up the dying Wu Sangui and Aobai? ”

"But what if a king of Yunnan can't satisfy the appetite of Wu Sangui and Aobai?" Xiao Mazi asked timidly.

"None of them have such ambitions." Xiaozhuang shook his head and said calmly: "The mourning family is very accurate, from the point of view that Wu Sangui strangled Yongli and cut himself off from the remnants of the former Ming Dynasty, he could not have the ambition of the world, and his greatest wish was nothing more than to tear the soil and seal the territory and dominate Yungui, otherwise, he would not have been able to kill Yongli in the first place, and completely lost the heart of the remnants of the former Ming Dynasty." Therefore, the mourning family believes that a Yungui king is enough to satisfy Wu Sangui's appetite. ”

"As for Aobai, if he wanted to rebel and claim the emperor, he would have done it a long time ago, and now the nine gates of the capital and the Gyeonggi army are under his control, if he wants to rebel and claim the emperor, our ancestors and grandchildren would have already fallen to the ground. According to the Ai family, he has now reached a stalemate with you, neither wants to rebel, but also does not dare to let go of power, because since ancient times, once the power of the minister loses power, the end will inevitably be the extinction of the Manchu family, so he can only firmly grasp the power, and pass the power to his son in the future, and let his son pass it on to his grandson, so that his children and grandchildren can be safe and sound, and the generation will be rich. To put it bluntly, he just wants you to be the emperor of the Han Dynasty and respect you as an emperor, but he will never hand over the power to you. ”

"The only way to break this deadlock is to let Ao Bai leave the capital, leave the center of power, and find a place to settle him, so that he can enjoy glory and wealth in peace, satisfy his wish to be rich and prosperous for generations without losing his name and death, and not threatening the power and safety of his grandson, this place, now only Yunnan is the most suitable."

When Xiaozhuang talked endlessly to explain his purpose, Xiao Mazi never dared to insert a word, until Xiaozhuang said that he was tired, and when he finished speaking, and picked up the teacup to moisten his throat, Xiao Mazi asked cautiously: "Grandmother, your words are very reasonable, but Sun Er still thinks it is too dangerous, as long as Ao Bai and Wu Sangui, the two thieves, have ambitions that exceed our imagination, the consequences will be unimaginable." ”

"Of course, the mourning family knows that this is a dangerous move that cannot be more dangerous, if you are really worried, the mourning family will never force you to take this step." Xiaozhuang put down the teacup and said with a calm expression: "But the mourning family wants to remind you that you only have this extremely dangerous move to win in danger now." Ao Bai has now made it clear that he will never hand over power and leave power to his son, so your best result is to continue to be Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, but if Ao Bai's son learns from Cao Pi, what can you do to stop him? ”

Xiao Mazi was silent, and Xiaozhuang gently pursed his mouth again, and said in a low voice: "Grandson, do you see it?" Just when our ancestors and grandchildren were talking secretly, Aobai's nephew was staring at him, in this case, how can you still dominate the world, grandson, how can you be a generation of masters? ”

Reminded by Xiaozhuang, Xiao Mazi peeked over, and sure enough, among the bushes on the edge of the pond, Aobai's nephew, Heshuo's forehead and deputy head of the imperial guard, Ner, led a few guards, and was looking at this side. Xiao Mazi couldn't help but sink in his heart, Aobai's power is so strong, he has already put his hand directly into Cining Palace, in this case, if some special variables do not occur, how can he overthrow Aobai and take back the power to dominate the world? This is an incomparably powerful little pockmark, which is worse than death!

The stake is too big, and the time is still relatively sufficient, the old witch of Xiaozhuang did not immediately ask Xiao Mazi to agree to her plan, let alone forcibly ask Xiao Mazi to adopt her own plan, but just let Xiao Mazi go back to the Heart Palace to think carefully for a period of time, and then come back to give herself an answer, at the same time, the old witch of Xiaozhuang is also famous, she has no intention of forcing Xiao Mazi, but just formulated a strategy for Xiao Mazi, and it is not implemented, and Xiaozhuang will never interfere. Xiao Mazi proposed to take away Xiaozhuang's two secret accounts for reference, and Xiaozhuang also agreed.

Returned to the palace of nourishing the heart with a heavy heart, it was night, the lights in the palace of nourishing the heart were not extinguished all night, and in the early morning of the next day, Xiao Mazi rarely called himself sick and did not go to the court - although Xiao Mazi has basically been unable to speak in the early court over the years, he has listened to Aobai, but to promote his own emperor authority and his own existence, Xiao Mazi is still rarely not in the court. And when noon was approaching, Xiao Mazi, who had barely moved all night, suddenly stood up, and commanded in a hoarse voice: "Spread the decree, drive the Ao Bai Mansion!" ”

………………

Xiao Mazi suddenly drove Ao Bai Mansion, when the news reached Ao Mansion, Ao Bai and his dog legs, who were acting at home, were really startled, and they didn't know why Xiao Mazi suddenly remembered here, and hurriedly arranged to meet the etiquette and do a good job of prevention.

What made Ao Bai and others even more surprised was still behind, this time they met, Xiao Mazi's expression was no longer the kind of smirk that he had before, but a kind of cordial smile from the heart, and even when Ao Bai knelt down to greet him, Xiao Mazi actually got off the dragon and personally picked up Ao Bai, and said a lot of nonsense such as hard work and high morality, and then entered Ao Mansion under the sincere invitation of Ao Bai, but when he came to the lobby, Xiao Mazi suddenly refused to sit down here, but discussed with Ao Bai under the pretext of having confidential matters, Ask for a private meeting with Aobai.

This is Aobai's home, of course, Aobai is not afraid of what chairs and feet of Xiao Mazi are playing with hot teacups, and Xiao Mazi proposed to have a secret conversation with Aobai alone, and Aobai who can strangle eight Xiao Mazi with one hand is of course not worried - friends, don't forget that Aobai is the fierce general of the first warrior of the Qing Dynasty. At that moment, out of curiosity, Ao Bai agreed to Xiao Mazi's request, led Xiao Mazi into his study, drove the guards and servants away, and talked with Xiao Mazi alone.

"Your Majesty, there is no one else here, if there is anything important, please tell the emperor." Ao Bai said with curiosity, and respectfully: "The emperor has orders, and the slaves must do their best." ”

"Master Ao!" What Ao Bai never dreamed of was that after Xiao Mazi screamed miserably, he actually knelt down on his knees. Frightened, Ao Bai, who had already been completely brainwashed by the monarch and the slave system, quickly knelt down on his knees and exclaimed: "Your Majesty, what are you doing here?" Do you want to break the minions? ”

"Master Ao......." Tears rolled down Xiao Mazi's numb face, and she choked up.

"Your Majesty, please get up first, if you have anything to say, please get up and say." Ao Bai hurriedly picked up the little pockmark, but the little pockmark shook his head desperately, crying even more liver and intestines, and the pear blossoms brought rain. Ao Bai complained bitterly in his heart, and said in his heart that the emperor also came to this set, making it clear that he was learning from the empress dowager, bullying me to eat soft and not hard. In desperation, Ao Bai had to put his forehead on the ground, and said tremblingly: "If the emperor must kill the slave like this, the slave will not dare to accept the emperor's gift, the slave only asks the emperor to explain the reason, but there is an order, the slave is entrusted by the emperor, and he will definitely go to the soup and go to the fire, and he will not hesitate to break his bones." ”

"Master Ao, please take a look at this first." Xiao Mazi sobbed, and took out a thick account book from his arms, which was handed over to Xiao Mazi by Xiaozhuang, recording Wu Sangui's secret expansion of the army, the accumulation of grain, and the account book with bad intentions..................

(To be continued)