Qi Zhizhou is 53 years old this year and has served as a governor in many places.

Since Emperor Daojun ascended the throne, thieves have risen all over the world, and chaos has gradually appeared.

Qi Zhizhou has served in various places, and has arrested many bandits and robbers, bankrupt merchants, landless farmers, and traitors, but he has never seen Zhu Long like this.

Although he himself was under house arrest in the state government, his servants could go in and out every day to buy vegetables, rice and oil, according to the servants, Zhu Jiajun was highly disciplined, fair trading, never harassed the people, but opened warehouses to release grain, and the people were full of praise.

The merchants in Lingzhou City have been doing business well recently, because Zhu Jiajun has given a reward, and the soldiers have money and want to buy something. Of course, the hottest business is still Golan Washer, and it is said that those girls are busy from morning to night.

At that time, Qi Zhizhou shook his head when he heard this, they are all livestock!

He looked at his two beautiful concubines again, and felt a little nervous. Fortunately, Zhu Long was quite polite to himself and his daughter, did not humiliate himself, and did not loot money - in fact, he has been an official for many years and still has some savings. In the end, he couldn't help but have a good impression of Zhu Long.

Thinking about it carefully, Zhu Long is not a robber or bandit, he is a thief! And he is a thief with great ambitions.

Does he not kill himself to force himself to surrender, and if so, what should he do? Will I give in or I would rather die?

He hesitated in his heart, if Zhu Long can achieve great things, then it is not impossible for him to surrender, and he can also become a hero from the dragon. But he is not optimistic about Zhu Long's rebellion, don't look at the Great Song Dynasty is now everywhere, it seems that he is unable to quell the chaos, in fact, the Great Song Dynasty still has strong strength. Zhu Long wants to change the dynasty, it is as difficult as climbing to the sky!

Just when Qi Zhizhou was thinking nonsense, Zhu Long, who was dressed in civilian clothes, came in, and when he took off his iron armor, he was a little less cold and majestic, but a little more graceful and graceful of the superior, he arched his hand and said politely: "Lord Zhizhou!" ”

"Don't dare, don't dare, the student has seen Zhu Daguan!" Qi Zhizhou hurriedly saluted.

Zhu Long stood in the vestibule, only to see that there were red plum and autumn chrysanthemums in the court, ancient trees and bamboos, and felt that this place was quiet and quiet for a long time, washing away the impetuousness in his heart.

The two entered the house, sat down as the guest of honor, and the servant offered hot tea, and then respectfully withdrew.

"Qi Zhizhou has seen the emperor?" Zhu Long asked with some curiosity.

Qi Zhizhou was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly replied: "I've seen it once." ”

"Only once?" Zhu Long didn't believe it, the dignified prefect of a state had only seen the emperor once in so many years, "What does Emperor Daojun look like?" ”

"Holy today?" Qi Zhizhou was stunned again, reacted, and said a little embarrassed: "I have never seen the current saint in the world." ”

Seeing Zhu Long looking at him puzzled, Qi Zhizhou hurriedly explained: "I am a Jinshi in the second year of Yuanfu, when the first emperor was on the throne, at the Qionglin banquet, I saw the first emperor Long Yan!" ”

"What about the Daojun Emperor?"

"I've never seen it before!" Qi Zhizhou shook his head, "There are two hundred and forty states in the Great Song Dynasty, and except for those with outstanding achievements and reputations, it is rare for ordinary local officials to see the saint. ”

Zhu Long sneered, "If the state and county govern, the world will govern." Emperor Daojun didn't know Taishou, it's ridiculous! ”

Qi Zhizhou didn't dare to say anything, and pretended not to hear.

Zhu Long asked again: "Where has Qi Zhizhou governed?" ”

"I have served several governors in Mozhou, and I have the right to know Enzhou and Bazhou."

"Bazhou?" Zhu Long said with great interest: "There is a field in Bazhou, and it should be a lot of money to collect taxes every year."

After the alliance between Song, Liao, and Tanyuan, the border between the two countries was calm from then on, and a field was set up in Bazhou, Xiongzhou and other places to conduct mutual markets, which was equivalent to a treaty port. Zhu Long can also imagine with his toes how considerable the annual tax revenue of a field is.

But Qi Zhizhou shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Hehe, a year is not as good as a year!" ”

"Why is that?"

"Private traders are becoming more and more rampant!"

"Private business?" Zhu Long had never heard of this term, and thought to himself, could it be that there were still officials and businessmen?

Qi Zhizhou saw that Zhu Long didn't understand this business, so he explained: "The merchants of the Great Song Dynasty and Northern Liao are not directly traded, and they don't even need to meet. The merchants of the Great Song Dynasty handed over the goods to the officials of our dynasty, and the merchants of the Northern Liao gave the goods to the officials of the Liao State, and then the officials of the two countries made a transaction! ”

Zhu Long was dumbfounded, it turned out to be like this! You don't have to think about it to know that with the virtue of the feudal bureaucracy, you can imagine how much greasy and corrupt it should be, and eating and taking cards is definitely indispensable.

Whose goods are traded first, how much the goods are valued, and what the official says a word about, it is strange that the businessman is willing to do it!

Hearing this, Zhu Long probably understood what a private trader was—it should be a smuggling dealer.

Sure enough, Qi Zhizhou continued: "So in order to evade commercial taxes and seek higher profits, the unscrupulous profiteers bypassed the market and directly traded with the merchants of the Liao State. The government patrols strictly, but it is still repeatedly banned, and there are more and more people doing private business! ”

It's strange if you can't help it! Zhu Long sneered, I'm afraid those private businessmen have already fed the patrolling officers with silver!

"Being a governor in Bazhou, that's really a fat difference!" Zhu Long said with a smile.

Qi Zhizhou was shocked, could it be that he was using the official's words just now, in order to loot the official's savings?

He hurriedly shook his head like a rattle, "The court is directly under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, and it is a separate system, and the Zhizhou Yamen can't control them!" ”

Seeing his expression, Zhu Long saw through his thoughts, secretly felt funny, and deliberately said, "That private businessman is always arrested by you, right?" ”

"I wish the officials some don't know, we know the state every three years, and we are not familiar with the people and things in the place, so we change places again, these things of catching thieves and smuggling are handled by local officials and soldiers, and we don't know what we do to know the state!"

It doesn't matter if you don't know, filial piety money can't be less than yours! Zhu Longxin said, but he didn't bother to ask about these things, but asked the things he cared about: "Can you buy war horses from private merchants?" ”

"War horses? War horses are prohibited items in Northern Liao, and ordinary private traders dare not sell them! Qi Zhizhou shook his head.

Zhu Long raised his eyebrows, and said to the bottom of the matter: "General private business? So what kind of private business is not ordinary? ”

"Uh......" Qi Zhizhou didn't know what to say, hesitated for a moment, and said cautiously: "Zeng is an unusual private businessman!" ”

Ever got it? Zhu Long was very surprised, and it was reasonable to think about it carefully.

Zeng Lang's family did not have a mine, so where did he get so much money, it was all loaded with 300 wagons. It just so happened that he came from the north, and there must be a way that the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty did not have.

"That's when you met adults, right?" Zhu Long said tentatively, he believed that it was the same in ancient and modern times, and small private businessmen might have their heads pinned to their belts, but big private businessmen would definitely collude with officials.

Qi Zhizhou smiled and said, "Yes, I knew each other at that time, but I didn't know each other very well, so I didn't have much contact!" ”

There are no three hundred taels of silver here, and I wish the dragon to smile and not break it.

He thought in his heart that in the future, let the Zeng family father and son go to Liao to smuggle excellent war horses, and it was a stallion without castration, if it could be done, it would be an unexpected joy, and it would be more valuable than having a few more fierce generals under him.

"I think the Great Song Mansion Treasury should be very rich, right?" Zhu Long came to the Northern Song Dynasty, feeling that the word rich Song Dynasty is worthy of its name, there are many rich businessmen and rich families in various places, if it is not a disaster, ordinary people's lives are okay, the citizen class has developed very well, and the overall feeling to him is prosperous, and relatively free.

However, the label given to the Northern Song Dynasty in the history books is "poor and weak", which is different from what Zhu Long saw, which made him feel very puzzled, and no one around him could explain it.

Qi Zhizhou hesitated, not knowing whether he should say it or not, but thinking about his situation, how could he have the courage to resist, he stubbornly said: "This...... The imperial court should have no money, otherwise Taishi Cai would not and would not change the salt law. ”

Qi Zhizhou said vaguely, but Zhu Long understood it. The people of the Song Dynasty hated Cai Jing very much, and did many immoral things for him in order to collect money.

The first is the issuance of banknotes! During the Northern Song Dynasty, because of the development of the economy, the amount of silver and copper mining was insufficient, so paper money was issued, every three years, 1.25 million yuan each time, and there were reserves in the treasury, but when the Daojun Emperor Zhao Ji ascended the throne, Cai Jing was the prime minister, and 10 million banknotes were issued every year! The indiscriminate issuance of paper money caused inflation and severely undermined social relief and the credit of the imperial court.

He also implemented the salt banknote law, originally the Great Song Dynasty merchants could go to the salt farm of the government to purchase salt with the salt money after purchase, and transport it to the market for sale, but he reformed the salt law and suddenly announced that the old salt money was invalid, and some wealthy merchants had hundreds of thousands of old salt banknotes, which once became waste paper, jumped into the river and hanged themselves, and even many court ministers sympathized with them.

"Where did all the money go in Da Song?" Zhu Long asked puzzled, Cai Jing was almost desperate for the common people, and the money he got was absolutely astronomical.

Qi Zhizhou instinctively shut up, this question is not easy to answer, it reaches the ears of outsiders, and he wants to cut off his head, but looking at Zhu Long's expression that seems to be smiling but not smiling, he suddenly realized that the person in front of him is a thief, and it doesn't matter what he says.

"Da Song can make money, but there are more places to spend money!" Qi Zhizhou sighed.

Zhu Long asked with interest: "I would like to hear about it!" ”

Qi Zhizhou didn't understand how an anti-thief leader was so interested in the Great Song Dynasty Finance and Taxation, but this made him think more highly of Zhu Long, and he was a good material for rebellion.

He didn't dare to hide it, and said honestly: "First of all, the annual coin, every year to accept 300,000 horses of silk from Beiliao, 200,000 taels of silver, 70,000 taels of silver from Western Xia, 100,000 horses of silk, and 10,000 catties of tea!" ”

Zhu Long was puzzled: "It's not much!" The annual income of the Great Song Dynasty is not 100 million, but 50 million, right? ”

Qi Zhizhou raised his head and stared at Zhu Long, as if asking, "How can you say such a ridiculous thing!" ", so that Zhu Long was a little weak-hearted.

Fortunately, Qi Zhizhou quickly remembered his identity and patiently explained: "Northern Liao and Western Xia want silver!" Either other property is discounted, or silver is spent in vain, 270,000 taels a year! I wish you a great official, do you know how much silver the Great Song Dynasty can dig in a year? ”

Zhu Long shook his head.

"Less than 200,000 taels!" Qi Zhizhou was heartbroken.

Yes? Zhu Long couldn't believe it, how could I be like this to Fu Song? "Well, what about what is not enough?"

Qi Zhizhou sneered, "Of course, it is from the common people, otherwise why would there be a rebellion in Jiangnan?" Because these silk and tea are distributed to the people of Jiangnan! ”

"That's not right!" Zhu Long would think of the articles on the Internet in his previous life, and retorted: "Although the Great Song Dynasty paid the New Year's coins, the border mutual market has earned it back!" And make a lot of money! ”

Qi Zhizhou looked at Zhu Long in surprise, his opinion of him changed a little, just now he thought he was a character, but now he feels that he has some problems in his brain, and he is a paranoia.

That's right, if it weren't for his imagination, how could he, a rich young master, rebel!

"I served in the Song-Liao border for three years, and although I did not directly govern the field, I also had some contacts. This mutual market, Da Song can't make much money! ”

"How can it not make money, there are many goods in the Great Song Dynasty, and Northern Liao and Western Xia need it!"

"But the Great Song Dynasty also needs the sheep of Northern Liao and the green salt of Western Xia! These two countries are sparsely populated, and they can't buy many goods, such as tea, cloth, and the Great Song Dynasty contributions, and they can even be sold to the Great Song Dynasty! ”

"I heard that Northern Liao uses copper coins from the Great Song Dynasty, and they don't mint money themselves! Doesn't this mean that the Great Song Dynasty controlled the economy of Northern Liao?" Zhu Long argued.

Qi Zhizhou smiled: "This only seems to prove that there are many coins of the Great Song Dynasty in Northern Liao, and the big officials think about it, why are so many copper coins in Northern Liao?" ”

yes, why? Because they've earned it!

The hard currency was handed over to Liaoxia, and the people of the country could only use paper money that was constantly depreciating!

It is better to give friends than to domestic slaves, both ancient and modern!

Zhu Long was not convinced, how could I, a traverser, be educated by the natives? Is the advanced and superior nature of the traversers all fake? For the sake of dignity, he was unconvinced: "Although it cost money, at least it will be exempted from fighting and save a lot of military expenses!" That's a good deal! ”

After saying this, he knew that he was wrong again, because Qi Zhizhou showed that surprised expression again, and there was a little pity in his eyes.

"How can I have ever been a soldier in the Great Song Dynasty, and I wish the officials how many forbidden troops I have in the Great Song Dynasty?"

"Eight hundred thousand!" How did Zhu Long know, Lin Chong, the head of the 800,000 forbidden army!

Qi Zhizhou nodded reluctantly, "It's just a lot, it's a lot, it's a lot of 1.2 million!" There are so many forbidden troops, not counting the local army, just the military salary, it is also a huge expense! Seven or eight out of ten of the imperial court expenses were spent on raising soldiers, but sadly after spending so much money and food, they still did not raise a strong army! was bullied by Northern Liao, increased the New Year's coins, was invaded by the Western Xia, and discussed the New Year's coins! ”

Zhu Long finally discovered the contradiction in Qi Zhizhou's words, "When Renzong was in power, his old man cherished the people, lightly gave away the meager endowment, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, how could he afford to raise so many troops?" ”

As soon as these words came out, Qi Zhizhou stopped talking, and just when Zhu Long thought he had nothing to say, he let out a long sigh, "Cai Jing is 'taking all the money' to the people, but to Your Majesty, he is 'using it like mud and sand' to himself, he is extremely poor and extravagant, profligate, and the people are miserable!" ”

"Lord Qi has a heart of love for the people, I wish you admiration!" Zhu Long stood up and saluted.

"Shame on the lower officials!" Qi Zhizhou hurriedly got up and said: "I am just in the same stream and not in tune, I am just good at myself, but I don't dare to speak out and admonish, and I read the sage books in vain!" ”

The two are much more harmonious, Qi Zhizhou rarely meets a thief who can speak without scruples, and vents all the dissatisfaction with the court in his heart, and he says it very happily!

Zhu Long had heard a lot about the secrets of the Great Song Dynasty and had a deeper understanding of this behemoth-like enemy.