Ma Teng drove away those royal relatives and nobles, and felt that the resistance to taxation was so great, but he didn't expect that the collection of taxes would actually move so many people's cheese, causing these magnates to be mad at themselves, but fortunately, with the support of Cheng Xiangyu, if he couldn't fight against such a big force anyway! As long as he is Guan Yu's person, he follows Guan Yu with an iron heart, even these people can't help themselves, Ma Teng thought like this, and suddenly someone reported that the emperor was invited, Ma Teng's intuitive head "buzzed" after hearing it, what did the emperor do with himself? Could it be that those royal relatives have found the emperor? Ma Tengzhi felt that things were not good, and he had an ominous premonition, but since the emperor summoned him, he had to go anyway.

Ma Teng came to Yongle Palace with a nervous mood, Emperor Xian summoned Ma Teng alone this time, Ma Teng immediately understood the intention, Emperor Xian said Ma Teng: "Aiqing, I summoned you to come presumably you have understood the intention!" ”

"Could it be for the previous tax?" Ma Teng asked.

Emperor Xian then said: "It is this matter, Aiqing is loyal to the Han family after the famous family, you see that this tax collection involves so many royal relatives, these people are all my relatives are royal blood, now they have too big opinions, they are very dissatisfied with this matter, find me and hope to solve this matter, as the person in charge of this matter, can Master Ma be accommodating in my face to make it convenient for them?" ”

"Your Majesty! It's not that the minister doesn't give accommodation, it's not that the minister doesn't give His Majesty face, this matter is the task arranged by the prime minister at the reform meeting before, and it is a matter that is passed by resolution, and the minister is responsible for the implementation of the leader of this matter, and he never dares to advocate privately! Ma Teng said.

After hearing this, Emperor Xian continued: "I know this, since you are in charge, you have the right to make it convenient in this regard, can the tax collection be flexible and send an opening, why bother to entangle my relatives?" ”

"Your Majesty! This taxation is clearly stipulated. Luoyang's big households are all in the collection series, this is also because they meet the standards of expropriation and are included in the scope of expropriation, this is the standard set by the General Assembly, and the minister must not change it, otherwise it will directly affect the completion of the task, and if the task is not completed, it will be punished. I can't afford to eat it! Ma Teng said embarrassedly.

When Emperor Xian heard this, he was displeased and said, "So you can't help me with this?" ”

"Your Majesty! It's not that I don't want to help Your Majesty share your worries, but I really can't help myself! The minister is just an executor, reform is a major matter of the country, related to the society, how can I use private to abolish the public and affect the reform plan? Marten explained.

Seeing Ma Teng's stubbornness, Emperor Xian said impatiently: "Since Aiqing can't agree to me to go to Prime Minister Guan to theorize!" Aiqing step aside! ”

"No!" Ma Teng agreed and retreated

However, it was said that Guan Yu returned to the house to continue to study the reform after relieving Ma Teng, and his mood was still not calm, as the leader and commander of the reform, Guan Yu not only had to promote the entire work but also meet the various negative effects of the reform. The tax collection has just ushered in resistance, although these resistance are insignificant under his strong power, but it can be seen that the reform can not be smooth sailing, he must be ready to meet various challenges at any time, Guan Yu returned to the mansion to review and fold while thinking, at this time his subordinates reported that the emperor was invited, Guan Yu was stunned after hearing it, but he immediately understood, the emperor has an invitation needless to say that it must be for the collection of taxes. It seems that those royal relatives and nobles have made things bigger and brought them to Emperor Xian, hum! However, it is difficult to compromise on this matter. There is absolutely no room for retreat, Guan Yu thought like this, so he walked out of the house and rushed to Yongle Palace.

Guan Yu pondered all the way to Yongle Palace, on the way he repeatedly thought about his firm beliefs, and came to Yongle Palace to see the two of them to greet the emperor, and the emperor welcomed Guan Yu to the steps, but Guan Yu insisted on standing at the bottom of the steps. Emperor Xian saw that Guan Yu did not obey and no longer insisted on it, Guan Yu said to Emperor Xian: "I don't know what Your Majesty has to do when he summons his ministers?" ”

"Actually, it's nothing, Ai Qing must be very tired from being busy with reform matters recently, right?" Emperor Xian asked hesitantly.

Guan Yu arched his hand and said: "Thanks to Your Majesty Hongfu, the ministers can handle this matter, and they are still at ease!" ”

"Caring for Qing! There's something I'd like to ask! Emperor Xian continued.

Guan Yu said: "Your Majesty, please speak!" ”

"Is there a standard for this tax?" Emperor Xian asked.

Guan Yu then said: "This standard is to levy taxes on the landlords and powerful planters under their rule. According to the area where it is located and the land and assets of individuals are levied differently, the more is levied, the less is levied, and the proportion of large fixed assets above 10 million silver is 20%; The proportion of fixed assets of larger households taxed above Wu Bai Wan Wen silver is 10%; The proportion of fixed assets of medium-sized households taxed on more than 3 million silver is 5%; The proportion of taxation on fixed assets of small landlords above 1 million is 3 percent; The proportion of fixed assets levied on fixed assets between 1 million and 100,000 yuan is 1%; Exemption from tax for fixed assets below 100,000 yuan; The total target of the tax collection was 100,000 taels of gold. ”

Emperor Xian was stunned when he heard this, and he was not very clear about what Guan Yu said about the concepts in Emperor Xian's mind, and he recommended to Guan Yu: "Can Aiqing lower these standards?" ”

"If there are more than 10 million silver in the big households, maybe there is no such thing as levy, and there are no large households with fixed assets of more than Wu Baiwan? I think there should be but there are only a handful of them, so the tax paid by Wu Baiwan's assets is only 500,000 taels, one-tenth, it shouldn't hurt the muscles and bones, let alone bankrupt the family, right? Let's talk about the following medium households, what is the meaning of this medium household, it is said that the assets are in the three million large households, such large households should be a few, but there should be some people, the proportion of levy is five percent, that is, 150,000 taels of silver, I think for these large households, it should be okay to take out so many silver taels, right? Let's go on to talk about the large households with fixed assets of more than 1 million and less than 300,000 yuan, which should be a relatively concentrated class, and the proportion of levy is only 3 percent, that is, 30,000 taels of silver, which is like pulling out three yuan from 100 yuan. Besides, there should be a lot of those households below 100,000, but the proportion of levy is more relaxed, but it is only 1 percent, 1 percent, everyone think about what the concept is, 100,000 is only 1,000 taels. Nine hundred and ninety thousand is only nine thousand nine hundred taels, is this excessive? I don't think it's too much, Your Majesty is not too much to talk about, isn't it? Guan Yu analyzed Emperor Xian.

Guan Yu's explanation made Emperor Xian speechless for a while, he didn't know what to say, after all, he was still a child, and he still lacked assertiveness, Emperor Xian paced on the steps and suddenly said: "Aiqing, although this is the case, the imperial relatives have great opinions. I think it's better to give up on this matter, after all, they are all relatives of the emperor and the country, and they are all my relatives! ”

"Your Majesty cannot compromise on this matter, if the reform plan is not implemented well, it will be abandoned halfway, then there is no hope for the grand cause of reviving the Han Dynasty, if you connive at this matter, then how can the reform begin? How are other undertakings being promoted? How can Your Majesty abolish the major affairs of the country and society for your own selfishness, and how can you open up the net because they are royal relatives, and if Your Majesty does this, how can the reform be promoted? As the prime minister, I bravely carry the burden. Your Majesty has to worry about this matter, and I have my own opinions! It's not that the minister doesn't give His Majesty face, but this matter is very important and cannot be compromised! Guan Yu said insistically.

Seeing that Guan Yu was so determined, Emperor Xian knew that it was impossible to shake him, so he said: "Since the prime minister insists on promoting reform, I should support it, but even so, I hope that the prime minister will not act excessively, let alone hurt the harmony because of this matter, and don't punish them too harshly in my face." Otherwise, I'm under a lot of pressure! ”

"I can understand Your Majesty's feelings, and I will take care of this matter. Your Majesty don't worry, I'm free to measure! Guan Yu arched his hand.

Emperor Xian nodded and said, "Prime Minister is hard!" I don't have anything else to do! ”

"How dare you not do your best to contribute to the society, so the minister retired first!" After Guan Yu finished speaking, he turned around and slowly walked out of Yongle Palace, and Emperor Xian stood on the steps, stunned for a while, but immediately came back to his senses and continued to play

Guan Yu walked out of Yongle Palace and was very unhappy, he didn't expect that there would be so many episodes before any progress had been made in the matter of taxation. He decided to convene an emergency meeting on the collection of individual taxes to help coordinate this matter, Guan Yu immediately held a meeting on the promotion of tax collection in the Prime Minister's Mansion, Ma Teng, Wen Ping, Henan Yin Liang Xi and Ma Chao were all summoned to the mansion, Ma Teng and everyone came to Guan Yu's mansion with solemn expressions. Guan Yu saw them like this and said: "Lord Ma, how is the tax collection going on, why is it so fierce now, even Your Majesty has summoned me!" ”

Ma Teng asked Guan Yu with a surprised expression, "How did Your Majesty say it?" ”

"How can I say it, I have already told Your Majesty about this matter, the goal and task of tax collection must be carried out, and it will be unswervingly promoted, as for those royal relatives and nobles must be taxed according to the goals determined in the plan, this work must be carried out in accordance with the established goals, the emperor has already explained it, and he also expressed his support, no matter what the resistance to this matter is, we must go on firmly, I have summoned you this time to tell you that no matter who you are, you must collect taxes according to the goals in the plan, and you must pay them to the letter, there are no exceptions and no white areas, no matter who is involved, you must go through the knife, no matter how big his background is, he must pay in full, there are no exceptions, there is no amnesty, and if anyone refuses to pay, it will be implemented in accordance with the law! This time, I reiterate, although Master Ma just executes, don't worry about the consequences, all the consequences are borne by me! Guan Yu ordered Ma Teng.

Ma Teng arched his hand and said, "No! I will strengthen the means of collection and increase the intensity of collection in accordance with the will of the prime minister, and I will not be soft! ”

Guan Yu continued: "By the way, where is the work going, how do you feel like a hornet's nest all of a sudden, so many people suddenly appeared, it seems that it was premeditated in advance, and it was actually dispatched to attack us as a whole, there must be something involved in this, you still need to be aware of this matter, Lord Ma!" ”

"The prime minister is really clear-eyed, I have already run to Luoyang twice, these two times I did not directly contact those big families but through Luoyang to order Chen Xin to do these things, I pondered and pondered and always felt that there was collusion between this Chen Xin and the big households, this person is a little yang and yin, there is something I have to report to the prime minister!" Ma Teng said.

Guan Yu asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"The last time I went to look for Chen Xin, he inadvertently threw a bag on the car I was travelling with, and then I came home to see that it was actually a thousand taels of gold, this money I did not touch, at that time I pondered to put it in the account as a sum of money to collect taxes, and then there was an incident of the emperor's collective trouble. It is already clear that things have progressed to this point, that is, Luoyang has made Chen Xin collude with the big families, and the background of these big families is those royal relatives! Ma Teng continued.

Guan Yu stroked his beard after hearing this: "What you said is right, the analysis is reasonable, it seems that there are really a lot of stories here, the next step is to investigate this Chen Xin and find flaws in him." Then gradually advance each attack, this person is your breakthrough! ”

"Hmmm! I'll target this person next time! Ma Teng said.

Guan Yu teased: "Lord Ma! You're not going to be able to do anything! As the saying goes, take people's money and sell stolen goods for others! You have to do something for other people's money when you receive money, right? ”

Ma Teng said angrily: "The royal relatives have already questioned me in front of me on this matter before, my answer is the same as just now, use this money as an account for tax collection, they say at most that I am ungrateful, and I have been sued to the emperor, and His Majesty summoned me a while ago, and I had no choice but to shirk that I am an executor without any power, and I have to find the prime minister to open my mouth in this matter!" I didn't expect the emperor to look for you so soon! ”

"Master Ma did the right thing. In the future, things like those responsibilities can just push me here! If you have any resistance, just let him come to me, I'll stand up to it! Guan Yu immediately said.

Ma Teng arched his hand and said: "In the next step, I should increase my work intensity and execution, no longer look forward and no longer hesitate, and vigorously promote the work according to the requirements of the prime minister!" ”

"By the way, I would like to emphasize one more point to your working group, that is, you must completely obey the arrangements and commands of Master Ma, obey his leadership, work according to his instructions, and ensure the smooth implementation of government decrees!" Guan Yu emphasized to the others.

Wen Ping, Liang Xi and others immediately promised: "We will definitely do our best to help and cooperate with Ma Da to do a good job in tax collection!" ”

After the emergency meeting, Ma Teng set foot on the Luoyang Lingfu again after some preparations. Ma Teng, accompanied by Wen Ping, Liang Xi and others, took his beloved son Ma Chao, and in addition to Ma Teng, he also brought a group of people. And it was fully armed and marched towards the Luoyang Command

This is the third time Ma Teng has come to Luoyang Lingfu, after withstanding a series of pressures, Ma Teng embarked on a journey with confidence, this time he not only wants to promote the work but also thoroughly investigate this Luoyang Ling Chen Xin, this kid actually plays with himself, Ma Teng finally understood after experiencing this series of turmoil. This time, he wants to settle accounts with this Chen Xin!

Ma Teng led everyone to Luoyang Lingfu, and Chen Xin was stunned when he saw Ma Teng coming! He couldn't be clearer about what happened behind the scenes, since Ma Teng came so quickly, it seems that he must have the upper hand in the competition behind the scenes, that is to say, Ma Teng leveled those people. Otherwise, he would not have come to Luoyang Lingfu, Ma Teng's arrival made Chen Xin feel sincerely afraid, this time the two of them knew each other well, but Chen Xin still pretended not to know what was going on, and he wanted to continue to act.

At that moment, Ma Teng came to the Luoyang Ling Mansion violently, Chen Xin and Han Hao caught it and welcomed everyone to the mansion, Ma Teng didn't give Chen Xin any good face this time, he asked Chen Xin arrogantly: "How did Chen County order me to do the things I did last time?" ”

Chen Xin replied with a smile and a compliment: "Oh, Lord Ma! I'm busy with this, and I've been working on it since you left last time! You just came up with some solutions before you could implement them, and here you go! ”

"Humph! Yes! So, isn't it time for me to come? Ma Teng asked.

Chen Xin replied with a smile: "It's indeed a little fast!" ”

"That's right, Captain Han! Didn't you stay here to supervise last time, do you tell me if Master Chen has implemented it? Ma Teng asked Han Hao.

Han Hao was surprised by Ma Teng's question: "This 、、、、、、、、"

Seeing this, Henan Yin Liang Xi urged: "You said it! What to say, don't babble! ”

Han Hao glanced at Chen Xin, but saw Chen Xin's grim expression, he looked at Ma Teng again, but saw that Ma Teng was looking at him seriously, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he shuddered! Han Hao said tremblingly: "Back to Lord Ma, we haven't had time to implement it yet!" ”

When Ma Teng heard this, he was furious and immediately patted the case: "Bastard! You've been busy with your business for so many days, didn't you say that you were asked to supervise here? What did you eat? ”

Ma Teng was so angry that Han Hao hurriedly knelt on the ground and said: "Back to Lord Ma, Lord Chen has been picking up the wind and washing the dust for me in the past few days, and I haven't had time to leave yet!" ”

When Ma Teng heard this, he pretended to be angry and said, "Oh! Co-authored Lord Chen's banquet for you, you are embarrassed to say that you are embarrassed to say that you are short of your hands and short mouths, right? That's what you're doing, huh? Yes? ”

"Lord Ma, I, Lord Chen, but I want to work in a few days, but I didn't expect Master Ma to come so soon!" Han Hao continued.

Ma Teng said angrily: "After a few days, it sounds good, do you have to wait until the New Year?" Am I coming soon? Could it be that I have to wait until the end of the year to come back? (To be continued......)