Emperor Apocalypse actually wants to attack the loyal and patriotic Donglin Party members, what is going on? Ao Bai is getting more and more incomprehensible. He looked at Liang Bin and said, "I don't know much about the affairs of the Donglin Party, so why don't you tell me in detail, and I will distinguish between right and wrong." ”

Liang Bin smiled slightly: "The country's finances rely on taxes, does Brother Huang know what taxes are mainly collected?" ”

Ao Bai said without thinking: "Agriculture and commerce? ”

Liang Bin nodded and said lightly: "Before Emperor Wanli, the Ming Dynasty was mainly based on agricultural taxes. Zhang Juzheng's reform, on the other hand, focused on taxation, shifting the focus from the collection of agricultural taxes to the collection of industrial and commercial taxes. The most affected by such a reform are the industrial and commercial interest groups in Jiangnan. It was from that time that the Donglin Party was born, and their purpose was to safeguard the interests of Jiangnan industry and commerce. ”

It immediately occurred to him that what the Donglin Party was defending was probably the budding capitalism.

"And then?"

Liang Bin sighed and said: "Then as soon as Zhang Juzheng died, the Donglin Party demanded the abolition of the commercial tax system. The Wanli Emperor knew that only the agricultural tax was levied, not only was the treasury insufficient, but the peasants' lives were also miserable. So the Wanli Emperor tried to collect taxes from the merchants. Since the household department that manages the outer treasury does not accept industrial and commercial taxes, but only collects agricultural taxes, Wanli transferred industrial and commercial taxes to the inner treasury. Later, many people said that Emperor Wanli was greedy for money, and this is the reason. In fact, the money used for the three major levies and disaster relief is the industrial and commercial tax of the Inner Treasury. ”

Ao Bai didn't interject, thinking.

Liang Bin continued: "After the death of Wanli, the Donglin Party controlled the government through the three cases of court attack, red pill, and palace transfer. They immediately forced the Emperor of the Apocalypse to abolish all industrial and commercial taxes. The war in Liaodong was tight, and the treasury was depleted by this group of so-called loyal ministers, so they thought of another way, that is, to impose additional Liao taxes on the peasants in the northern provinces. Jiangnan has a prosperous industry and commerce, but the rich hardly have to pay taxes. The peasants in the northern provinces endured high taxes and did not have enough to eat. At this time, what does Brother Huang think should be done? ”

Ao Bai took a deep breath, if the Donglin Party is really such a helper, what else can they do, of course they will be killed. The emperor didn't do it well, so he handed it over to Wei Zhongxian. He asked, "Is what Brother Liang said true?" ”

Liang Bin said solemnly: "Of course it's true." Of course, the Donglin Party also has clean officials, but after all, they are a minority, and most of them are here to protect their own interests. The emperor was wise and did not agree to their proposal to increase the Liao tax, and then supported his father-in-law and made him stand up to fight the Donglin Party and make the merchants pay taxes again. Within a few years, the treasury began to be full again. The father-in-law was born as a peasant, and he was also willing to promote some low-level officials who had nothing to do with the DPRK and China, which was the main reason why many people built shrines for their father-in-law. What did the Donglin Party do? They know how to shout slogans, talk big and empty words, and fight among themselves in the DPRK and China. In governing the country, the Donglin Party has done nothing, the only positive thing is to oppose the industrial and commercial tax, the Donglin Party has been looking for an opportunity to fight the father-in-law, if they succeed, they will definitely have to be exempted from commercial tax, when the treasury is empty, there is no military salary, how can the Ming army fight against the Tartars outside the Guan? What should we do if we increase the peasants' taxes in the event of a natural disaster and the people cannot survive? ”

Ao Bai's heart was shocked, when the Ming Dynasty fell, it was the treasury that was empty, and there was no money to fight, I don't know if it was related to the Donglin Party's reduction and exemption of industrial and commercial taxes. The state treasury had no money, and in the event of a natural disaster, there was no way to relieve the peasants, and peasant uprisings broke out everywhere. Thinking of Li Zicheng's evaluation of Chongzhen, he must have not received any benefits in the treasury, could it be that it was not Wei Zhongxian who died in the Ming Dynasty, but this group of self-righteous Donglin Party? But listening to Liang Bin say this, it seems to be so.

Emperor Tianqi had a lot of dissatisfaction with the Donglin party, so he deliberately caused the Wei group to sit big and contain the partisan strife in the imperial court. All he needed to know was that Wei Zhongxian was loyal to him. The Wei group swelled rapidly, and without the support of the emperor, it would also die out quickly. This is nothing more than a farce of history.

There are Qing officials in the Donglin Party who were killed, they are not bad people, but the person who decided to attack them was the Emperor of the Apocalypse, it is hard to imagine that without the emperor's approval, Wei Zhongxian dared to order someone to arrest the imperial court officials. This is unreasonable, and the reasonable explanation is that there must be something hateful about all poor people.

It's just that thinking about these bad things hurts brain cells. It doesn't matter what party he is, it's not time to think about raising troops yet, whoever gives me benefits will be accepted, and when I have capital and strength, I will wipe out all this group of people. Fangzheng is all mediocre talents taken out of the eight shares, and the country still operates without it.

Ao Bai asked again: "What kind of force is the Drizzle Building?" Brother Liang might as well say it directly, because I will not be your enemy no matter what. ”

Liang Bin said with a smile: "Drizzle House is just a small stronghold for collecting information, originally it was a gang of people, selling the same thing that everyone uses, and later for the sake of profit, he took refuge in his father-in-law, can Brother Huang guess what it is?" ”

Wei Zhongxian is greedy for money, and he wants to say that the gang that is the easiest to make money...... A word immediately appeared in Ao Bai's mind, and he said lightly: "Salt Gang? ”

Liang Bin nodded. "Brother Huang is really smart."

The origin of the salt gang can be traced back to the Han Dynasty and even longer, the ancient salt, from mining to sale is controlled by the government, because salt is a necessity of life, it is difficult to survive without salt, and the control of the supply of salt is equivalent to the control of the people under the rule, so the salt in ancient China has been monopolized by the government, and private individuals are not allowed to enter this field, which has clear criminal law provisions.

Therefore, the original salt gang was officially recognized by the government as a salt selling gang. Due to the imperfection of the legal system in feudal society and the collusion between officials, there was an inextricable relationship between the official salt management department and the salt gang, so there was the so-called "private salt".

Salt is the main source of state finance, and the salt gang is the industrial underworld, which will affect the economic interests of the imperial court. Wei Zhongxian not only monopolized power in the DPRK and China, but also controlled a lifeline of the Ming Dynasty economically.

Ao Bai was curious: "Why did the Salt Gang take refuge in the nine thousand years old? ”

Liang Bin sighed: "In this year, it's not easy to mix up and eat. Salt farms and shopping malls are monopolized by officials, and every time the salt gang passes a checkpoint and makes a sale, they are deducted by corrupt officials. With the backing of his father-in-law, the Salt Gang group of men can eat and drink enough and marry wives. ”

Ao Bai smiled: "Isn't nine thousand years old also for his own selfish desires? ”

Liang Bin said: "You're right, my father-in-law really likes money and profits from it." But there are no officials and no greed, the salt gang follows nine thousand years old, just look at his face alone. If it weren't for him, every place he went, he would be wantonly bullied by officials at all levels, and he might not be able to make any money, and he would lose all his money. If it were Brother Huang, what would you choose? ”

The more Ao Bai listened, the more helpless he became, why did Wei Zhongxian become more and more like a good person? At least, he does do good for some people.

Liang Bin said with a smile: "My father-in-law loves talent, and I am worried that you are on the side of the Donglin Party, so I am anxious to find you." Do you think he might be bad for the country? ”

Ao Bai did think so before, and everyone said that Wei Zhongxian was a great traitor, attacking the Qing officials of the imperial court and excluding dissidents. But Liang Bin looks dignified, not like a person who can't distinguish between loyalty and treachery, but he is confused.

"I understand a little bit now. Last question, why does Nine Thousand Year Old value me so much? It stands to reason that I have no power or power, and I can't become a pawn. But I went to the drizzle building, and the next day he personally looked for me, is this a big fuss? ”

Liang Bin said with a smile: "You helped Sun Chengzong find King Xin, just to let Hope bring a message to the emperor." Although it is the first time you have met, King Shin and you have a good conversation, which is why your stepfather values you. I hope you don't say what is at stake. Can you swear? ”

Ao Bai smiled: "The eldest husband is full of words, I am not a mouthy person." ”

Liang Bin said lightly: "In recent years, the emperor's health has become worse and worse, once the emperor has an accident and has no heirs, King Xin is the most likely person to inherit the throne." King Shin is an assertive person, and my father-in-law is worried that he will lose his current status, and now that you have become friends with King Shin, he will naturally value you. ”

Wei Zhongxian, look far away. He actually wanted me to help say good things, but he was blinded by power, the higher the position, the more dangerous it was, the Emperor of the Apocalypse could tolerate him because he had a deep relationship with him since he was a child, how could others tolerate a eunuch being called nine thousand years old.

Ao Bai smiled: "I understand. Brother Liang can tell Jiu Chi Tose, I will have a good relationship with Shin Wang, and if I have time, I hope to talk to Jiu Chi Tose again. As long as our starting point is for the people, we will definitely be able to talk about it. Now I'm going to take my leave. ”

Liang Bin asked, "Doesn't Brother Huang go into the building and sit down?" ”

Ao Bai said: "No. I'm used to being free and like to make friends, but I don't like to be constrained, and I don't like to know too many secrets. If the 9,000-year-old needs my help, as long as it is beneficial to the people, I will be happy. So, you should be able to explain, right? ”

Liang Bin shook his head and said with a smile: "Brother Huang's chic makes the younger brother admire. Please, I'll send you down the mountain. ”

The two took an easy road down the mountain and talked about some things about martial arts, and they both felt that they benefited a lot. The matter of party disputes is no longer mentioned.

Ao Bai would not think that Wei Zhongxian was a good person because of Liang Bin's explanation. This is the "gap law", a bastard who has always been very arrogant, occasionally doing a little good deed, will make people feel that the favorability will increase significantly, on the contrary, people who are usually full of benevolence and morality, if they do a little bad thing, they will look heinous.

He felt that Wei Zhongxian and the Donglin Party were both the same dog, and the development of the Ming Dynasty to the current virtue was the result of their joint efforts.

Ao Bai has no interest in Wei Zhongxian, but he is very interested in the Salt Gang. To fight a war is to fight for money, and the information network of the Salt Gang is good and rich. In the future, if Wei Zhongxian falls, these people will have no backers...... What if he has a good relationship with Chongzhen and develops the "underworld" forces while curbing party strife?

If you can take over the Salt Gang, it will become a force for planning big things. Moreover, there are a lot of practitioners in the Salt Gang, and they have money and talents.