At the morning meeting imitating the Great Song Dynasty, Hao Ren informed the courtiers of the latest situation. Most of these courtiers were Han Chinese, and they were silent with puzzled expressions, obviously unable to understand how the relationship between the two sides had suddenly become like this.

Hao Ren's expression was calm, ready to listen to any advice from his subordinates. He didn't know how to cooperate with Da Song on the factory side, Hao Ren just decided to promote this cooperation no matter what. In order to get light, even on the eighth day of the first month of the cold Song Dynasty 330, some doors and windows had to be opened in the palace, and candles needed to be lit. Looking out from the gate in the distance, I saw snow outside the door. The winter of the Yuan Kingdom is not over yet.

If you have 21st-century transportation at this time, it is easy to forget the time zone and set the wrong time because of the different time zones. In the same time, the snow scene in Kyiv is in the morning, and the snow scene in Hangzhou is in the afternoon. At this time, Zhao Jiaren had already finished his morning meeting and was carrying out the second special meeting in the afternoon. The bright glass windows let in bright light, and the Minister of Water Resources' tone was full of joy, "Official, can you go to Jiangning to see the situation." The rest of the Qinhuai River has been completed, and only the construction of the sluice gate remains, which can be completed completely. ”

"I'll go and see when it's all fixed." Zhao Jiaren replied calmly.

Everyone did not answer immediately, but stared at Zhao Jiaren's face to observe the words. Seeing that Zhao Jiaren did not have any intention of indulging in the past, the minister continued: "Official, after the completion of the sluice gate of the overall project of the Qinhuai River, the estimated water depth is 6 meters, and the biggest advantage is that boats with a draft depth of five meters can go up the river, but this project will take more time. ”

Da Song's current engineering capacity is barely able to complete the sluice project, and the time is relatively long. According to this time calculation, Wen Zhang can only serve another term in Jiangning Mansion before Zhao Jiaren can go to Jiangning Mansion to inspect during Wen Zhang's tenure.

"If the locks allow ships to sail upstream of Jiangning Province, ordinary people will have the opportunity to burn honeycomb coal." Zhao Jiaren sighed. The honeycomb coal stove is being used in the house where the meeting is taking place, and the chimney not only directs away the combustion gases, but also distributes the heat into the air very evenly.

The personnel of the Ministry of Water Resources hurriedly said: "Official, in the design of this project, the navigable river basin completely covers Jiangning City. ”

Zhao Jiaren didn't make much comments. How to build it is the work of the Ministry of Water Resources, and Zhao Jiaren is in charge of what kind of project to build. One of the objectives to be achieved after the Qinhuai River water area is rectified is to increase the economic activity of Jiangning City by reducing the cost of large-scale transportation. The more economically active a large industrialized city is, the greater its impact on neighboring countries.

The discussion soon came to an end, and seeing that the meeting was about to end, the Minister of Water Resources finally asked, "Guanjia, are you really not going to Jiangning Mansion this year?" ”

"No, no." Zhao Jiaren answered neatly. Although Wen Zhang worked hard, in Zhao Jiaren's opinion, his credit was far less than Wen Tianxiang's credit as the prefect of Jiangning. Therefore, he went to Jiangning Mansion several times to inspect back then, and now he will not go to the platform for Wenzhang.

Like other capitals, Hangzhou is also very well informed. The news that Zhao Guan's family was not going to go to Jiangning spread quickly, and as Wen Zhang's eldest brother, Wen Tianxiang soon learned the news. Looking at the person who provided the news, Wen Tianxiang looked calm, and ended the conversation with only one sentence of "I know". Within two days, a new content of 'Wen Tianxiang didn't think of his brother Wen Zhang at all' was added to the rumors.

In a place like Hangzhou, where news is flying all over the world, the attraction of these messages is only valid for those who are interested. For example, those who only dared to express their dissatisfaction with the new tax system below began to spread the news elsewhere. The news soon arrived in Jiangning and caused quite a stir among the landlords.

Just when the snow of the last snow in Jiangning melted, Lu Yuanwai rushed to Duan Tiande's house on the wet road. The two of them sat down, and Lu Yuanwai immediately said: "Brother Duan, I heard that Wenzhang was disliked by the Zhao official family, have you heard of this." ”

Of course, Duan Tiande had heard the news, and his expression was the same as before, and he asked coldly, "Brother Lu, has your family's land been sold?" ”

As if it was a pouring of ice water, the expression on Lu Yuanwai's face instantly changed from joy to loss. Duan Tiande was not in a good mood at this time, so he added, "Before this year, less than eighty percent of my family's barley land was shared. I forced the children in the family to plant a part with a whip, and I barely got to eighty-five. At least 10 percent of the land will not be able to grow two crops this year......"

Listening to Duan Tiande's endless talk about the landlords' operations, Lu Yuanwai couldn't help but feel irritated in his heart. Duan Tiande dared to talk about the situation at home so briskly, Lu Yuanwai knew that he was not so straightforward. The situation of his family's land rental is not good, and he can't find any good way, and when he hears the news that Wen Zhang is disgusted by Zhao Jiaren, he will feel that the dark clouds in the sky have dispersed. Now after listening to Duan Tiande's words, the sky that had just been bright and not long became cloudy and rainy again.

“…… Regardless of whether Wenzhang leaves this year or not, we can no longer have land to abandon the wasteland. One acre of land is fined six times, and no one can stand it. After Duan Tiande finished speaking, he picked up the teacup and drank it.

"What if Wenzhang doesn't leave?" Lu Yuanwai asked.

Putting the cup heavily on the table, Duan Tiande said to his in-law Lu Yuanwai with some hatred that iron is not made of steel: "The decree on tax collection is not issued by Wen Zhang, but by the imperial court. What can Wen Zhang do after he leaves, as long as the prefect who comes later does the same, we will be no different. ”

For such a desperate description, Lu Yuanwai said bitterly: "How could the situation become like this, I always feel that it was not so bad before." Although Wenzhang is ruthless, he shouldn't be like this. ”

Faced with such a painful question, Duan Tiande replied hatefully: "Brother Lu, I was also thinking about this paragraph, and then suddenly I figured it out. In fact, the government has already conducted a land survey for us. ”

"Huh? You mean......"

"After the government made those datum points for measurement, it didn't say land measurement at that time, so we took it lightly. As soon as the new tax system comes out, it will be possible to chase the land to collect taxes. ”

After hearing this, Lu Yuanwai could only shake his head bitterly, "Brother Duan, there is no way to do it. At that time, it was not that no one went to pull out those pillars, but the government immediately went to arrest people, and after they were caught, they paraded through the streets of the village with flails. There are so many retired soldiers in the township who act as the eyes and ears of the imperial court, and we can't do anything about it. ”

Seeing that Lu Yuanwai did not have the initial frivolity, Duan Tiande said: "Wenzhang is not the key in the first place, but the new tax system of the imperial court. Unless the new prefect doesn't care about the imperial court system at all, then let's talk about it separately. As long as those who follow the new system, there are so many cadres who are measured and supported by the imperial court, it is not difficult to collect taxes...... Alas! ”

Waiting for Lu Yuanwai to leave dejectedly, Duan Tiande stared blankly at the glass window and said nothing. Although he persuaded Lu Yuanwai not to be stupid, when he was alone, thinking of the tyranny that he couldn't resist on his head, Duan Tiande was also in great pain in his heart. As soon as his mood calmed down, Duan Tiande saw the housekeeper hurrying to the living room from the window, and an ominous feeling began to permeate Duan Tiande's heart.

"The head of the family, Li Yuanwai's family has lowered the rent, from fifty percent to fifty percent." The housekeeper anxiously reported the latest news.

"Who will pay the consistent tax per mu?" Duan Tiande asked in a cold tone.

"It is said that Li Yuan is out."

"Oh! It seems that Li Yuanwai's family is not short of money! Duan Tiande squeezed out such a sentence from between his teeth. Easing his mood, Duan Tiande ordered: "You go and invite Lu Yuanwai, Li Yuanwai, and Qian Yuanwai to have a meal with me." ”

The butler knew that this matter was important, and he answered the call and walked away quickly.

At noon on the third day, the banquet was finally completed. The four members sat down at the table, and each of them put tea and snacks in front of them, Duan Tiande said bluntly: "The land is not easy to rent, we discussed it last year, everyone collected fifty percent of it, and we paid the taxes of the consistent money." My family is still like this, but I don't know what happened to the other brothers' families? ”

This question is so sensitive, Lu Yuanwai immediately replied: "My family is also doing this, is someone breaking the rules." ”

Qian Yuanwai didn't say anything, and his eyes fell directly on Li Yuanwai. When Li Yuanwai heard this, his face began to become ugly when he looked at the gaze that fell on him. He was silent and did not speak, this strange silence made Lu Yuanwai stare at Li Yuanwai thoughtfully. In the end, Li Yuanwai couldn't bear it anymore, and he sighed like he gave up on himself, "Brothers, you all know that my family's land has a lot of rotten land and little good land. I have also tried my best, but the current situation is unbearable, and I can't find any other way than to reduce the rent. ”

"Tsk! I said, Brother Li, you really can't find any other way, can't you talk to us first? Qian Yuanwai has already begun to complain, "Do you think that you are the only one who has land rent and can't pay it?" What are we going to do if you fall like this? ”

Lu Yuanwai also wanted to complain, but he couldn't say anything, so he could only "That's it!" It is! echoed the statement of the money clerk.

"Let's sell the land. Sell all the rotten land, and sell the middle land if it is really not needed. ”

Hearing this, everyone looked at Duan Tiande in amazement, as if they were looking at a stranger. The most resolute request not to sell land was Duan Tiande, and when everyone tried not to sell land, they didn't expect Duan Tiande to change his mind. Li Yuanwai couldn't help but ask, "Brother Duan, are you a demon barrier?" ”

"I didn't have a demon, and I didn't take the wrong medicine. I just did the math. If 100 acres of rotten land can harvest 100 yuan, but 10,000 acres of good land can be harvested less than 100 yuan per mu, which is 1,000 yuan. The yield of good land is different, and if the harvest per mu is less, there will be 400 yuan. In fact, it's 4,000 pieces. For 100 guan, 4000 guan is missing, which is not cost-effective. ”

“…… The land was sold, but it was not returned. Li Yuanwai took out the words of Duan Tiande before.

In the face of such ridicule, Duan Tiande replied decisively: "I really thought that before, but now I have changed my mind. ”