After being silent for a while, Zhou Bei analyzed the current situation clearly, and asked, "Niangniang, what does Uncle Yu mean here?" ”

Zhu Lihua said: "Your father is very important to the Fifth Tractor Factory, not to mention, the Fifth Tractor Factory does not want to lose the huge market in Tangzhou. The southern continent is rich in minerals, in addition to Tangzhou, Tangzhou around Zhuangzhou, Mengzhou is rich in minerals, mining machinery is in strong demand, if Tangzhou to build the factory, we will lose more than half of the entire market. ”

Zhou Bei's heart became more and more depressed. "So, my father must not go."

Xuezhou County is unwilling to give up this market, and the mining machinery factory in Tangzhou will definitely not let them build it smoothly.

Zhu Lihua nodded. "However, you don't expect Xue Wangfu to oppose it clearly, after all, the superficial relationship still has to be maintained. More importantly, the yamen of Xuezhou County, the yamen of Sanhe Mansion, they will never agree with your father to go to Tangzhou to help Tangzhou build a factory, the fifth tractor factory is the core enterprise of Sanhe City, and the decline in the efficiency of the tractor factory has the greatest impact on them. ”

The political structure of the Ming Dynasty is based on the imperial court yamen, although the royal palaces are nominally divided, but the tax power is the yamen at all levels, even the royal palace has to pay taxes according to the regulations, and only a few private fields are exempt from tax.

Taking the county lord's mansion as an example, 30,000 square meters of residences, 10,000 acres of fields and pastures are exempt from taxes, and other subdivided forests, grasslands, and farmlands are a total of 5 square kilometers, and they are only eligible for tax reduction.

The agricultural tax of the Ming Dynasty is thirty percent, and there is a noble status, and the official position can be reduced by tax.

With Zhou Duo's five-grade treatment, the agricultural tax can be reduced by about 40%, that is, only 10% of the tax needs to be paid.

The highest is the prince, who can reduce the tax by 70%, that is, only 9% of the tax.

As the county lord, Zhu Lihua's tax rate is about 10%.

In Xuezhou County, one percent of the local tax and 0.5 percent of the royal appropriation can be obtained every year as the royal fund, which is also paid after the yamen collects taxes and the royal appropriation.

In some places, if the yamen did not want to pay the royal annuity, they would vigorously carry out infrastructure construction, so that the prince's palace could not even get a single silver coin.

However, all members of the clan can receive a regular rule at the Royal Bank according to their rank, and no one can starve them if they are hungry.

This structure allows the local government to check the royal government, and the royal government to supervise the government, creating a delicate balance.

If the efficiency of the tractor factory declines, it will have little impact on the royal government, but it will have a great impact on the local government.

Analyzing the contradictions between the government and the palace, and the contradictions within the Tang Palace, Zhou Bei felt like a mess.

But in order to marry Yu Youwei, the daughter-in-law who has been in love for a long time, he can't avoid it.

Yu Youwei is not only an important part of his promotion to the class, but more importantly, he can't retreat now, otherwise Zhu Lihua won't be able to spare him.

This game of chess has fallen, and the Zhou family has become a pawn across the river.

Thinking of this, Zhou Bei couldn't help but regret a little, he was still too optimistic when he thought about it.

Of course, it was also the death of the prince of Tang Wangfu that complicated the situation.

If Zhu Liqing has no hope of ascending to the throne of the prince, there is no deep entanglement of interests between him and Zhou Bei, but now......

Zhou Bei sighed, pushed the bicycle and walked a few steps and asked: "Niangniang, Sanhe City, Xue Wangfu, Xuezhou County, Tang Wangfu, Tangzhou County each have their own needs, Zhu Liqing can only compete for the position of the prince, I don't want to fall into the whirlpool, but I have no choice for Youwei, and I hope that Niangniang will give me some advice." ”

Zhu Lihua smiled and said, "What good ideas can I have?" For you, the best way is to get out of it, your Zhou family is not rich enough, and if you fall into this kind of strife, it will only be you who will be sacrificed first. ”

The night was dark, Zhou Bei couldn't see Zhu Lihua's expression clearly, and said tentatively: "Will Niangniang allow me to leave?" ”

Zhu Lihua was silent for a while, and took a few steps forward before saying, "Now we are taking the initiative to hand over the handle to Tang Wangfu for your marriage to Youwei. Even when we arrived at Zongzheng Mansion, we ignored it. Therefore, if you want to withdraw, you have to wait for the lawsuit to be clear.

Zongzheng Mansion is easy to do, even if we take care of the loss, just make up the compensation, but the Tangzhou Mansion side, in order to make up for their economic shortcomings, will not let this matter be easily solved, this is the trouble. ”

Zhou Bei said tentatively: "If Niangniang fully supports, Bei will definitely go all out." Money, people, at all costs. ”

After being silent for a moment, Zhu Lihua said: "I can understand you, and I feel even more sorry for Youwei." But for me, whether Liqing can be a son of the world or not, is a better choice than you. The worst thing is that he can still be a county king in the future, and Youwei will not be any worse in her life of glory and wealth. ”

"But what she likes is me, don't you like her the most?"

Zhu Lihua turned her head and glanced at Zhou Bei, and said as she walked: "But the biggest problem now is that we can't turn our backs on the interests of Xuezhou County and Sanhe Mansion. You should be very aware of the restrictions of the local government on the royal government, they will not let your father go to Tangzhou, and they will not let you transfer your interests easily, this is where the contradiction lies.

You've had a lot of thoughts since you were a child, and you've been sick twice and you're worried. The main thing is that you have an unpredictable personality, and to be honest, to be honest, you are not the best candidate for a son-in-law to me.

You are so good-looking, not only good-looking, but also both civil and military. Your family background was originally ordinary, but now you have more than a dozen patents in your hand, you will not be short of money in this life, and you will even be more comfortable than most princes. But in Heng, don't you think it's all too perfect? ”

Zhou Bei frowned and looked at Zhu Lihua, in the dark, he couldn't see her expression clearly. "What do you mean? Do you doubt my feelings for Vicky? ”

Zhu Lihua shook her head and continued to walk without looking back. "At the age of sixteen, you can kill nine people without changing your face, you are so ruthless, how can people not worry?

Yes, Vicky likes you, but isn't that what you're trying to do? Isn't this in Three Rivers City, there is no woman more beautiful and high-status than Youwei?

And Youwei is simple and cute, not only does she not have the arrogant mentality of a wealthy family, but she is even more obedient to you. You protect her like a pet...... and even deliberately maintained her innocence.

You're really good, but it's terrifying. Until now, I don't know how you came to be such a character.

But just as you control Youwei, I also want to control you, and for me, talents that I can't control are actually worthless. ”

Zhou Bei couldn't help but stop, but soon regained his composure and continued to move forward. "Niangniang, I have always respected you, and I am sincere to Youwei."

Zhu Lihua stood still, stared at Zhou Bei in the dim and said calmly: "I have never doubted this, and I also believe that you can make Youwei happy for a lifetime, so I didn't stop you in the end."

However, this does not mean that I will help you deal with the wind and rain you should face, for me, for Xue Wangfu, it is not worth falling out with Tang Wangfu for you.

What's more, we must not stand on the opposite side of the position with Xuezhou County and Sanhe Prefecture. Neither can you! ”

Zhou Bei knew the importance and knew that this was no longer a conflict of interests between two families or two royal governments, but also a conflict of interests between two states and counties.

In this whirlpool, his love with Yu Youwei doesn't seem to be worth mentioning.

But he can only use this to communicate with Zhu Lihua. "Niangniang, you also care about Youwei's happiness, right?"

"What is happiness? What you can give to Youwei, can't Zhu Liqing give it? Even if Youwei has a relationship with you, do you believe that Zhu Liqing will still offer Youwei as an ancestor in order to envelop me?

Youwei likes you, but she is only sixteen years old and can't see you for a few years, are you sure she won't fall in love with Zhu Liqing? Speaking of which, she is more suitable for the simple Zhu Liqing. ”

Zhou Bei pretended to be a little lost and asked: "In other words, I can only deal with the Tang Wangfu alone, and I must also ease the relationship between the two counties as a sacrifice after accepting some of their conditions?" ”

"When the time is right, I will make some efforts, you and your father will still have a great effect on Xuezhou County and Sanhe City. And if Youwei marries you, you can stay by my side, even if you have a complicated mind, it is a good match.

But don't expect me to help you deal with the Tang Mansion, I will only stand on a relatively neutral and biased position towards the Xue Prefecture Mansion, so my role is limited. ”

"I see." Zhou Bei asked: "Where is the bottom line of Xuezhou County and Sanhe Mansion, is it convenient for Niangniang to introduce one or two?" ”

Zhu Lihua stopped, looked at Zhou Bei and smiled. "You are very smart, but in the general situation, all intrigues will not help. Don't try to conspire either, it will only make your situation harder.

Your father can't leave, the mining machinery factory in Tangzhou must be subject to the title of the fifth tractor factory, this is the bottom line. ”

Zhou Bei nodded, analyzing all the possibilities.

Zhu Lihua asked again: "I'll ask again one last time, is Youwei really still a virgin?" ”

Zhou Bei nodded affirmatively, and couldn't help but sneer in the night. "Niangniang left a history of Zhu Nu, don't you just want to check it?"

Zhu Lihua didn't see Zhou Bei's ridicule, and sighed: "If the Tang Wangfu can't achieve its goal, the last thing may be to make a fuss about Youwei's chastity, and I must remove all hidden dangers." ”

"Niangniang still has the idea of marrying Youwei to the Tang Palace, if Zhu Liqing becomes the prince, Youwei will become a princess in the future, and her child can become the new Tang King in the future. You keep saying that you cherish Youwei, but this love is worthless in the face of interests. ”

"You don't have to be ashamed, let alone hate me, for the members of the clan, inheritance is the most important thing."

Zhou Bei deliberately pretended to be angry and said, "Since you think like this, why do you allow me to get close to Youwei, and why can't you be a little biased towards the Zhou family now." Not to mention my possible future development, my father worked for the Fifth Tractor Factory for 30 years, helping Yibin stabilize his current status, and the friendship between the two families for 20 years is worthless? ”