Zhang Pu listened to it and didn't dare to deal with it casually. Liao was levied in the forty-sixth year of Wanli, and nine cents of silver were levied per mu of land, totaling 5,200,062 taels. At the time of the Apocalypse, it was also levied on the Guan, the salt and other miscellaneous silver taels. In the fourth year of Chongzhen's reign, he raised the field tax from 9 cents to 1 cent and 2 cents, distributed more than 6,670,000 taels of silver, and collected more than 5,220,000 taels of silver in addition to customs duties, salt taxes and miscellaneous items, totaling 7,488,298 taels of silver. Although it is the ancestral system left by Emperor Shenzong, it is related to the current emperor, so he is naturally extremely cautious in his speech, and he does not dare to speak rashly. But he thought about it, since the emperor moved to ask, if it was general, but it was just a cliché, it would inevitably be difficult to conform to the holy will, and the words were not amazing, it was better to be silent. I made up my mind, thought about it for a while, and said: "The three major expeditions of Wanli, the world's financial resources are exhausted, Taicang has no silver for the year, and it is also a last resort to levy Liao. However, considering the reasons for the rise and fall of the chaos in the past dynasties, we know that today's political affairs, when the government of leniency and benevolence is widely disseminated, it is not mainly based on strict inspection and gathering, so as not to end the old levy, the new salary has been urged, the forehead is difficult to slow, and the extra urgency is urgent, and there is no barking dog in the village, and there is still knocking on the door of pursuing; The trees have cries, and they are sprinkled with the blood of the whip. Huang Ai Chidi, the township is a few broken people, white bones and green burns, and ghosts often cry every night. Gathering day by day, it is tantamount to fishing with exhaustion, killing chickens and taking eggs, and the livelihood of small people is desperate, which is tantamount to driving fish for the abyss and finches for the bush. The people's hearts are related to the country's fortunes, and if the people's hearts are lost, the world's affairs are unbearable! ”

Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "Zhang Pu, you are a little alarmist. Now that thieves are rampant, things are urgent, and Taicang doesn't have much savings, so I have to do everything I can to raise money. Today's tax department is heavier, but it is really a last resort. Don't I know that it is the benevolence of the Son of Heaven to stop levying salaries, but if the salaries are insufficient, the soldiers will have complaints, and who will contribute to the frontier? If you mutiny at every turn, you don't have to attack Houjin, and your own house will be ruined first. ”

Zhang Pu saw that the emperor was worried about the lack of soldiers' salaries, and remembered that Zhou Yanru, the master of the throne, had discussed the Ningyuan mutiny, so he took advantage of the topic and said: "Since the Shenzong Dynasty, the imperial court has released tens of millions of salaries in Liaodong, and the border marshal has always said that it is insufficient, which is really doubtful. The minister thought that it was not that the salary was insufficient, but that the soldiers were excessive, and the soldiers were too vain, and the salaries were too full. There is a lot of money, and the greed is insatiable, and no amount of silver is wasted, and it is not used where it should be. If the emperor wants to pay enough, he must first clear the soldiers and verify the number of soldiers. Otherwise, it will be useless to raise funds and search for all the fat of the people. ”

Chongzhen muttered lightly: "Since I ascended to the pole, I have respected the heavens and ancestors, been diligent in government and love the people, and always took the hearts of Yao and Shun as my heart, so that benevolence and virtue were all over the world, and I always wanted to make the world see peace as soon as possible." Zhang Pu! There are extraordinary things about your strategy, but when it comes to practical things, there is still a lot of bookishness, and the priorities need to be carefully weighed. Is it easy to clear the soldiers? After many years of bad rules, thinking about eliminating them once will only bring about self-inflicted trouble. Besides, after the Golden Emperor Taiji was eyeing the tiger, it was not the time to make the soldiers panic at this time. Everything must have a priority, we can't lose the big because of the small, we can't ignore the temporary suffering in front of the people, and forget the root of the world, forget the eternal country. ”

"I don't dare."

"I always think that you are a material that can be cultivated, and I don't want you to enter the circle of right and wrong before you enter the official career. I was disappointed. Chongzhen saw Zhang Pu's complexion change, and said in an accentuated tone: "Since Wanli, scholars have mostly used lectures to establish party henchmen to confront the imperial court, forming an atmosphere, which is very hateful. Those ministers who give advice and advice, form a party and establish a dynasty, support each other, put the party before the country, and pretend to help the public and private interests. Every time I hear it, I have to be more careful, lest I misbelieve his words and help him to be arrogant. How can the talents of such ministers, large and small, be used by me? In my opinion, it is easy to cure the prisoners and thieves, but it is difficult to get rid of the thieves in clothes. If the ministers cleanse their lungs and intestines, eliminate dissent, and cultivate their duties together, praise the prosperity of the Zhongxing, and enjoy the blessings of peace together, the day is not far away. ”

Zhang Pu thought that the emperor was going to expose the impeachment of Cai Yichen, so he couldn't help but be furious, and he felt the drum in his chest, but he listened to his words gradually changed from Shen Yu to helplessness and complaints, as if he was not dedicated to what he said, he was a little surprised in his heart, and heard Chongzhen ask: "You leave Jiangnan and go north to Beijing, who will lead the resumption of the society?" ”

Zhang Pu was stunned, unable to understand the meaning of the emperor's words, and hesitated: "The minister is still resentful of the position of president, but I feel that the social affairs are complicated, and it is really difficult to be caught off guard, and it ......is more convenient to prepare for the northward relocation of the Beijing Division."

"No need." Chongzhen said coldly: "To sharpen your knowledge, you must be pure-hearted and have few desires, and you can't stand the hustle and bustle of the world. Have you forgotten the story of the pipe cutting the mat? ”

"Obey."

"If you only have me in your heart, only the court, you will naturally be clear. Otherwise, how can I feel at ease when I assign you to do things? Alright, you go! ”

Zhang Puwang looked at the afterglow after the red sun sank, his heart was at a loss, and he secretly tasted the deep meaning of the emperor's words, and he really felt incomprehensible, could it be that the emperor said that he had formed a party? He silently returned to the private house, sat for a long time, and planned to discuss with Wu Changshi, but thinking that the emperor obviously knew about his instruction of Wu Weiye's impeachment, he did not dare to act rashly.

As soon as Zhang Pu arrived at the duty room of the Hanlin Academy, someone shouted outside the door: "Zhang Pu receives the order---- a little eunuch stepped forward and read it...... Approve what he asked, and return to his father on leave", his heart suddenly became clear, and the emperor actually thought of this way to let himself return to the south, and it seemed that he had a prejudice against the restoration of the society. His heart suddenly felt cold, thinking that he didn't know when he would return to the court to serve the king in the future, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart, and two lines of tears burst out of his eyes. I went home to discuss with my mother and prepared to go back to Taicang for my father's burial.

Wu Changshi, Wu Weiye, and several protégés who were old and early in their careers, knew that he was leaving Beijing, and they rushed to their private residences to see him and discuss the choice of a day. Wu Weiye happened to be gifted to return to his hometown to get married, and he intended to go along. Zhang Pu knew that he was ordered to marry, and there were bound to be many encounters along the way, at this time he was lonely, inconvenient to partner, and even more afraid of swagger, so he asked Wu Chang to pay tribute to Zhou Yanru, the teacher, and his mother quietly went out of Chaoyangmen and went to Zhangjiawan, Tongzhou to buy a boat and go south.

Zhang Pu accompanied his mother to sit and wait in a restaurant, and the personal scholar went to the shore to look for a boat, but saw a person come in and kneel down and kowtow, and said: "Fortunately, I can meet Engong!" ”

Zhang Pu looked down carefully, it turned out to be Yang Yi, the servant he met outside the front door that day, raised his hand and said, "How did you get here?" ”

Yang Yi got up and said, "My young master heard that the master was going to return to the south, so he specially prepared a table of water and wine for the master. ”

"This ......" Zhang Pu woke up when he knew that Yang Yi was talking about Yang He's son Yang Sichang, these days, there are a lot of rumors about Yang Sichang, I heard that he went to the temple in the capital one by one to burn incense, praying for the early eradication of the Shaanxi people's uprising, the four seas are peaceful, and three folds in succession asked for the father's guilt, and the government and the opposition praised his filial piety. He had the heart to get acquainted, turned his head to look at his mother, a little relieved, and his expression couldn't help but be a little hesitant. Yang Yi has been following Yang He for many years, and his ability to observe words and emotions is no longer idle, so he hurriedly bowed up and said: "Old lady, no wonder Master Zhang is so old-fashioned and warm-hearted, it turns out that there is a living Bodhisattva like you in the family!" Thanks to the help of Master Zhang, my young master was so grateful that he specially asked the governor of Caoyun to find the boat that went south to transport grain. ”

It was difficult to resist the enthusiasm, the old lady of the Jin family responded with a smile, Zhang Pu was not good to refuse, and followed Yang Yi to a restaurant. Entering the private room upstairs, there was a person standing inside, in his thirties, slightly thin, wearing a lake-blue robe, only a net scarf on his head, white skin, deep eyes, a slender black beard under the chin was not messy at all, a young man, calm and capable appearance. Greeting Zhang Pu to the chief, he shook his head to the ground and said: "Yesterday, I heard that Engong left Beijing on the same day, and Sichang rushed to Zhangjiawan overnight. These days, I have been thinking about coming to the door to thank you, but I am busy with my father's case, I can't get away, and it has been delayed until today, don't blame him! As he spoke, he bowed to the shrine.

Zhang Pu hurriedly stepped forward and stopped, and stopped: "How dare you take credit for raising your hands?" If the adult insists on doing so, the student will have no choice but to quit. Thinking that he bought those three paintings and calligraphy and went through the door of power, he secretly screamed ashamed in his heart, and spent a lot of money, but he ended up returning home in a panic, and he was unhappy.

Yang Sichang said: "That is the case, the great grace is not grateful. If we don't give up, we don't have to be born like this, and how about being called brothers? ”

"The best!" Zhang Pu sat down and said with Yang Sichang's words: "Brother Wen, I heard that my father's lawsuit has taken a turn for the better?" ”

"Brother Tianru, the foolish brother received a report from the palace in Shanhaiguan, knowing that things were difficult to turn around, so he asked to go to Beijing to take care of his father's affairs, so he came to the capital. God pity! There was a word in the palace that the emperor intended to be light. Yang Sichang raised his eyes and swept the door.

"It is also Brother Wen's filial piety that moves the heavens and the earth, which has this miraculous effect." Zhang Pu knew that it was this piece of information, if it was leaked out, not only would it be wasted, but it would also lead to greater disasters.

"That's just a superficial article...... To tell the truth, the foolish brother got acquainted with Liu Quan, the head of Yingguo Mansion, but knew that the emperor was easily unmoved, and waited for the new trilateral governor Lord Hong to lead his troops to break through Ningsai City, and kill Shen Yikui and other thieves, and asked him to intercede for his father. ”

"Congratulations." Zhang Pu listened to him say it lightly, but it was enough to see that the consideration was extremely meticulous and thoughtful, and the cultivation of planning and then acting was very deep, and seeing that he was looking forward to it, he was full of energy, and he spoke very frankly, without any scruples, and secretly admired this person's open-mindedness.

"If it weren't for Brother Tianru's help, it might not be possible."

Zhang Pu shook his hand and said, "It's serious." ”

"The sky is like a brother's great grace, a glass of water and wine naturally does not become a tribute, and the foolish brother plays a tune before the table, and talks about the heart." Yang Sichang took out a tube of turquoise bamboo flute from his arms, flashing faintly, obviously an antiquity for many years, and he blew a song "High Mountains and Flowing Water".

"Mountains and Flowing Water" was originally a guqin song, and now it is blown out by him with a flute, although there is no ancient rhyme, but the clearer and farther, it is not interesting. Zhang Pu saw that Yang Sichang played very forgetful, which implied a bit of bosom friend self-situation, and couldn't help but be moved, and hit the knot with his hands, with a clear heart, thinking of the Jinling Conference three years ago, his heart was greatly lifted, and he forgot the disappointment and desolation of returning to the south.

Zhang Pu said goodbye to Yang Sichang and boarded the boat to the south. All the way through Henan, Anhui, into the Jiangsu boundary. The members of the Restoration Society had already received the news, and they greeted each other along the way, and set up drinks to catch the wind. Zhang Pu was busy with entertainment, so he had to order his personal clerk to escort his mother back first, hired another boat, and brought the third domestic slave to slow down. The boat was accustomed to the waterway, and the boat was fast and steady, and it passed through Suzhou in a few days. The rivers were full of boats, mostly merchants transporting silk. Zhang Pu went out of the cabin and looked out, and saw a harbor in front of him, with masts like forests and sails like clouds, and asked: "Boatman, is Shengze Town in front?" ”

The captain replied: "It's Sheng Ze." How many pieces of silk do you want to buy? ”

"I don't want to buy any silk, I'm reminded of an old man."

"Is my lord going ashore to visit a friend? A bend in front is the Chuihong Bridge, which is the most convenient way to enter the town. The captain will moored next to the Chuihong Bridge, and Zhang Pu and Changsan abandoned the boat and landed on foot into the town.

Shengze town belongs to Wujiang County, Suzhou Prefecture, at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty was still a small village of no more than fifty or sixty households, and later began to take sericulture as the industry, every household started to weave silk, there are about more than 1,000 silk lines on both sides of the strait, the sunrise is ten thousand silk, the clothes are all over the world, it is already a giant town of fireworks and fireworks. Since ancient times, where merchants gathered, most of them were prosperous. Shengze is located in the water town in the south of the Yangtze River, and it is the only way to pass through the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. There are dozens of green buildings in the town, and the reputation of the homecoming courtyard is the best in this area regardless of its size. The original homecoming is just an ordinary brothel, and there is nothing surprising, at the end of Wanli, the homecoming came out of a stunning book Xu Buddha, less than 20 years old, beautiful as a flower, the body is romantic, and can be a piano work poem, draw a good orchid, for a while the audience is blocked, the treasure car in front of the door fragrant horse, endlessly, the homecoming is famous, prosperous and abnormal. Within three years, the bustard's mother died of illness, and Xu Fo took over the homecoming.

Zhang Pu walked along the crooked alley by the river and came to a blue-lacquered gate, which was the time to hold the lamp. This homecoming courtyard is really extraordinary, a blue brick house with water, with eaves and ridges, and a deep and wide courtyard. Hundreds of red lights are hung in front of the door, leading directly into the courtyard. The rich businessman's son and the wanderer's passer-by take the small house, coming and going, but there is no one outside the door to greet the guests, but the sound of calling for wine and sending off guests in the courtyard is endless, mixed with the song of silk and bamboo sheng, which is quite attractive. Zhang Pu secretly praised in his heart: It seems that the name of the home house is getting louder and louder, and there is no need to attract customers at the door like an ordinary brothel. Zhang Pu entered the door and went straight to the ten rooms in the courtyard. The ten floors are the tallest and most gorgeous pavilions in the Guijia Courtyard, and it is also the residence of the girls' school book in the Guijia Courtyard. There are three floors in the building, and the higher you go, the higher the girl's value. Each layer is divided into grades according to the order of the "Thousand Character Text". When I entered the hall, a clever governor came in the morning, and Yanran asked, "What room is the uncle going to?" ”

Zhang Pu had a relationship with Xu Fo a few years ago, and he stayed here for a few days. Seeing that he was hesitating, the maid said with a smile: "Uncle must be an old guest, naturally there is a girl I have known for a long time, I will take the uncle there." May I ask what the uncle is looking for......" The maid looked at Zhang Pu's face, her eyes couldn't blink, and she looked more and more bright.

"I'm looking for Xu Fo."

The girl's face changed slightly, and she replied: "Uncle, my mother has long stopped picking up guests, and Uncle doesn't know yet?" ”

Zhang Pu smiled slightly, and said quite conceitedly: "I'm here, she will take it." ”

"Do you know who my master is? How could she not see! Changsan raised his eyebrows and fluffed his arms with a rather funny expression.

The maid was slightly stunned, and said with a cold face: "Uncle wants to come here, the little maid is honest with the uncle, there are no less than dozens of people who come to find their mother every day, if they are also affectionate people, it's just that my mother is getting older and has already decided on these thoughts." If the uncle likes other girls, let him choose, otherwise please go back! ”

Changsan rubbed his tongue on the side and said, "Scared! Do those who run brothels also learn from the people in the rivers and lakes to wash their hands? It's really a strange news in the world, since ancient times, my sister loves pretty bustards and loves money, why don't you do the business that comes to your door? ”

The maid sneered: "You put your mouth clean, you don't know the rules of the home, but it's heartfelt, there is no silver, and the girls here still greet each other with a smile." If you are not satisfied, there are mountains of gold and silver, and it is difficult to have fun and play prestige. ”

Seeing that things were going to be stiff, Zhang Pu hurriedly glared at Changsan and said with a smile: "Girl, you don't have to listen to his nonsense. I am an old friend of Xu Fo, and I passed by here today and came to meet her. ”

The maid's face did not show a hint of ease, and she still said perfunctorily: "Unfortunately, my mother is not in the homeyard, and the little maid is not good at teaching the uncle to wait, so can I come back another day?" ”

Zhang Pu saw that she was elves and ghosts, and her teeth were sharp, thinking that she was excused to shirk it, and said with a sinking face: "I am kind of talkative, but you want to be rude." If I don't go to Tongyu again, I can teach my book to shout all over the yard to see if she can't get out? ”

"You dare?" The maid's apricot eyes widened, and she said angrily: "I still read the books of sages!" I have never seen you so shameless, defiling this turban in vain! ”

Seeing her coquettish appearance, Zhang Pu smiled instead of anger: "Do you think I dare?" Long three ----"

"The little ones are here!"

"Go to rent a noodle gong, shout back and forth in the yard three times, and shout: Sister Xu has a guest." Zhang Pu took out a big silver ingot and threw it with Changsan.

The maid was so anxious that she burst into tears, and shouted in, "You, you are a scoundrel! Love sister, come on---- someone is going to make trouble! ”

"Who is so vicious?" With the sound of footsteps, a light and elegant beauty came down the stairs, fourteen or five years old, medium stature, wearing a lotus white narrow-sleeved long shirt, fluttering like a fairy in the clouds, Shi Shiran walked up to Changsan and asked, "Is your name Changsan?" ”

Changsan nodded, and the woman sneered and said, "Your name is so strange, it seems to be the descendant of our Qinglou sisters, that sister thinks that she is in an inferior position, so she is looking forward to being a Changsan in the future." No, no, look at you so ruthlessly, and you don't look like a person all the way. I want to be a playful gambler, all day long, the dice and pai gow do not leave the hand, and it is inevitable to name my son as a card. ”

Changsan was marveling at the woman's beauty, and he didn't want such mean words to come out of her mouth, so he shouted angrily: "You are talking nonsense! You talk nonsense...... "He was going to scold the woman: your father is the gambler, and your mother is the **!" It just gave her a look of shock, and she felt that such dirty words couldn't be scolded in front of her.

Zhang Pu heard the woman's hurtful words, disdained to entangle with her, turned around and said: "You girl is so rude, the reputation created by Xu Fo in the home courtyard is about to be ruined for you." If Xu Buddha is like this, don't see it! ”

The scholar shook his head at every turn and said: Only villains and women are difficult to raise, in fact, I don't know that those gentlemen are more difficult to serve, wearing a turban, and only recognize their own truth. I see where you are your mother's old friends, but you want to live in the future! The woman walked around Zhang Pu and Changsan with her hands, and couldn't stop looking up and down.

"Do you think we are like people who come to collect debts and money?" Zhang Pu swung his wide sleeves.

"Since it's an old friend, why do you still want to use such indiscriminate means as banging gongs and shouting at the street?"

"As long as Xu Fo comes out to see me, naturally there is no need to use it."

"Mom isn't home."

"You don't have to lie to me together, I just want to ask her if she doesn't want to see me, say nothing, I'll turn around and leave, I don't have to shirk like this."

"Mom is really not here."

"Why do I believe you?"

"Isn't the red light in front of my mother's door always lit!"

Zhang Pu glanced up, and sure enough, Xu Fo's doors and windows were dark, obviously there was no one in the house, but on his trip to Beijing, he really had a lot of words to talk to his confidante, so he was cheeky at the moment, and asked reluctantly: "Where did you go, is it convenient to see the report?" ”

"Dare to ask what Mr. is called?"

Changsan was the first to say: "My master is a famous man today, haven't you heard of Lou Dong Erzhang?" He pursed his lips, a look of arrogance on his face. Sure enough, the woman was taken aback, looked Zhang Pu up and down, and said, "Lou Dong Erzhang, famous all over the world, how could we not have heard of it?" Is Mr. Xizhang, or Nanzhang? ”

Zhang Pu's home is in the eastern and western suburbs of Lou, and is called West Zhang; Zhang Cai lives in the southern suburbs, and is called Nanzhang. In terms of fame, Zhang Pu is naturally the most resounding, but he is six years younger than Zhang Cai. Seeing that she was skeptical, Zhang Pu replied with a smile: "Under Zhang Pu." ”

When the woman heard this, Ying Ying bowed down and said, "Little maid Yang Ai, I have heard Mr. Jiu's name, and I finally have the opportunity to meet you today." ”

"Oops! My sister has met a master, she has written a lot of poems, and always says that she is waiting for the advice of a famous person like Mr. The little maid clapped her hands and laughed.

Zhang Pu was stunned and said, "You are the girl school book with both talents and appearances?" I don't want to be so young! ”

"It's Shadow Rei." Yang Ai lowered her eyelids, as if she had endless grudges. Zhang Pu hurriedly changed the subject and said, "You haven't said where Xu Fo has gone!" ”

"Mom went to Yinshan the day before yesterday to rush to Mr. Chen Meigong's birthday banquet."

"Mr. Mei Gong is a sect of the world, and he should go to celebrate his birthday. Besides, poetry and wine are indispensable, and she is indispensable. When the man was gone, I took my leave. ”

"Do you want to leave now, sir?"

"Stay overnight, stay at the bow of the boat, and listen to Sheng Ze's nocturne." Zhang Pu wanted to rush overnight, but he clearly saw and heard the restraint and nostalgia in Yang Ai's words, so he changed his words.