There is a candlestick on the long case, a few side dishes, two wine jugs, Wang Chong and Gu Er are sitting on both sides of the table, there are wine glasses in front of them, the candles on the candlesticks are flickering, there are lanterns hanging around, candle shelves are placed, and the house is brightly lit.

"Tell me, what's going on in your outer room?" Wang Zhong said directly to the point.

Gu Erdao: "Isn't it that year when I went back to Tokyo, I met a few gentlemen who were flirting with Manniang, so I took action to drive away those gentlemen, and beat the one headed by me, I didn't think that Manniang chased me all the way to Bailu Cave, her brother got sick and died, I saw that she was helpless, so I took her in, Manniang was also angry, and gave birth to a pair of children in two years." ”

When talking about Zhu Manniang's children, Gu Er's face subconsciously showed a smile.

Wang Chongzhen doesn't know what to say, is it the repair power of the plot? Or is there something else going on? Going around and around, Gu Er was still entangled by Zhu Manniang.

"A pair of children?" Wang Zhong asked.

Gu Er smiled and said, "The big one is called Sister Rong, and the little one is called Brother Chang!" ”

The reason why I only say nicknames is naturally because Sister Rong and Brother Chang are both outsiders, and they have not yet been recognized by Gu Er's father, Ning Yuanhou Gu Yankai, let alone the Gu family, and they have not yet entered the Gu family ancestral hall, and they have not been entered into the family tree, so naturally there is no big name.

Wang Chong said with some emotion: "I don't want to say goodbye for a few years, Zhong Huai has both children and daughters, which is enviable!" ”

It's just that I don't know whether to lament Gu Er's speed is too fast, or to lament Gu Er's fate.

However, Wang Chong did not mean to interfere, Gu Er, although he was talented, God fed him food, but his temperament was too prodigal, and those who were talented were bound to be proud, Gu Er had such a prominent background as the son of the Marquis of Ningyuan, if he did not go through some hardships, it would be difficult to achieve great things.

And if he keeps going like this, sooner or later, it will be folded in the hands of his big brother and stepmother, Xiao Qin.

Gu Er also said with a sigh: "I didn't expect that things would develop like this!" ”

I wanted to study quietly in the White Deer Cave Academy, in order to become an official and show my ambitions, but I didn't think about it, but I accepted a woman by mistake and had two children.

Gu Er knew very well in his heart that his father Ning Yuanhou would never allow a person like Manniang to enter Ningyuanhou's mansion, because Gu Er had to work harder, enter the office as soon as possible, start a family, and marry a famous lady as a lady, so as to give Zhu Manniang's mother and son a home.

Wang Chongdao: "The world is unpredictable, and no one knows what will happen tomorrow!" ”

Gu Er lifted the wine jug, the empty glass in front of the two of them was full, and said, "Don't talk about this!" In the past two years, you have been operating in Quanzhou for a good life and prosperity, although I am in Bailu Cave, I have not heard many people mention your deeds in Quanzhou! ”

Wang Zhong said: "It's just a small fight!" ”

"If you are all a petty fight, then aren't those officials in other places all corpses vegetarian?" Gu Er arched his hand with a straight face: "As soon as Zihou's "Salt Law" comes out, from now on, the price of salt will only get cheaper and cheaper. ”

Wang Chong shook his head and said: "What's the use of every household being able to eat refined salt, if you encounter corrupt officials, wanton exploitation and oppression, regard the people as pigs and dogs, and lose your life as usual, the price of salt is no matter how cheap it is. ”

When Gu Er heard this, his face couldn't help but show a solemn look: "Although I have been studying hard in Bailu Cave in the past few years, it is not that I have not heard anything outside the window. ”

"Although today's officials are benevolent, they have been in power for many years, they are sympathetic to the people, and they are all lightly endowed, but there are policies and countermeasures, and they all say that the county of flowing water, the strong and strong of iron, and the strong local people, collude with the people in the yamen, collude, set up a name, and squeeze the people, in order to achieve the purpose of annexing the land! The people have become tenant farmers, and the fields have gone into the hands of the powerful·······"

As he spoke, Wang Chong suddenly paused, smiled helplessly, waved his hand, and said, "That's it, that's it, let's finally get together, what are you talking about!" ”

Gu Er looked at Wang Chong with a straight face: "Zihou empathizes like this, didn't he also encounter these things in Quanzhou?" ”

Wang Zhong drank a glass of wine, his eyes showed a bit of memory, and he told the past events encountered in Quanzhou.

"I was in Quanzhou, when the salt factory was first built, I hired the people as workers, and gave ten copper coins a day, two dry meals, and the people signed up for the treatment.

But I don't want that group of officials to be respectful to me on the surface, but secretly they are disobedient and cleverly set up a name! Scavenge the people for their hard-earned money! ”

"How did Zihou deal with those officials?" Gu Er asked curiously.

"The first evil was directly beheaded for public display, and the rest of the people involved in the case were all imprisoned, their family property was confiscated, used as laborers, and they were sent to work in salt works and wharves every day, without wages, for a period ranging from three to ten years."

"It's a pity that it can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause, if I leave, I'm afraid that it won't take a few years, and those Xu officials will sprout in a solid state again!" Wang Zhong said helplessly.

"This ······" Gu Er didn't know how to answer Wang Chong, after reading books for so many years, he had also seen a lot of the market, Gu Er was no longer the teenager who talked with Changbai and Wang Chong a few years ago.

"Zihou thinks, how can we put an end to these chaos?" After pondering for a moment, Gu Er suddenly asked.

Wang Chong shook his head and said: "Since the end of the Qin Dynasty, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang unveiled the rod in Daze Township, this problem has always existed, during the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yang Guang conquered Goguryeo three times, sent a million army, recruited millions of people, built the Great Wall, opened canals, and practiced palaces, making the people of the world miserable, and the people rose up one after another.

Wei Zheng said in the previous dynasty, the king is the boat, the people are the water, the community is secondary, the water can carry the boat, can also overturn the boat, today's official family has been in power for decades, widely benevolent government, calming the war, lightly dispensing with the meager endowment, so that the people's livelihood rests, but not everyone can be dedicated to the public, as long as there are selfish desires in the heart, there is no shortage of these beetle country moths that consume the people! ”

Gu Er's eyes were slightly condensed, and he said with a serious face: "Zihou thinks, how about changing the law?" ”

"Change?" Wang Chong pretended to groan, and then nodded: "If you change the law, it is possible to change the status quo, if you don't change the law, in the long run, I am afraid that sooner or later it will cause trouble!" ”

"If it is a change, how does Zihou think it should be implemented?" Gu Er asked.

Wang Chongdao: "If the two tax laws can be changed, the land tax, forced labor and other miscellaneous taxes of various prefectures and counties can be combined into one article, and the silver money will be collected together and paid according to the mu, so that the tax system will be greatly simplified, and the collection of taxes will be facilitated, and at the same time, it will also make it difficult for local officials to cheat, reduce greed, and further increase fiscal revenue." ”

Gu Er asked: "But if the conscription is combined with the field endowment and miscellaneous levy, what should the states and counties do to build river embankments, official roads, irrigation canals, etc.?" ”

Wang Chongdao: "If the state and county treasury has money, they can be like me in Quanzhou, and they can hire the people to work, and whether the people answer the call or not is entirely voluntary!" ”

Gu Er pinched his chin and bowed slightly, "It sounds feasible." ”

What Wang Chong said is the 'one whip' law established in the Jiajing Dynasty in the Ming Dynasty, which inherits the two tax laws from the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, and the lower Qi later generations of the Manchu and Qing Yongzheng periods to spread the land into the mu, the fire consumption returned to the public, and the officials and gentry paid grain in one piece.

Although there are pros and cons to the 'one whip' method, it is a rare progress compared to this period.

The two of them just ate and drank while discussing, but most of them were asked by Gu Er, and Wang Zhong explained.

Time passed quietly before you knew it.

The next day, Wang Chong went to the Ministry early in the morning, and after waiting for a long time, news came from the palace that Emperor Jiayou wanted to summon Wang Chong.

Wang Zhong followed the chamberlain all the way to the imperial study, and saw Emperor Jiayou who was reviewing the folds, dressed in a moon-white dragon-patterned brocade robe, with silver hair, which could be seen with the naked eye, compared with a few years ago, Emperor Jiayou was a lot older.

After a regular salute, Emperor Jiayou said with a smile: "In recent years, Quanzhou's wealth has been better than a year, and Aiqing has made a lot of contributions!" ”

Wang Chong said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "The minister is just doing his duty as a micro-minister, Quanzhou can have the current situation, because His Majesty is wise, I open up sea trade, encourage merchants to go to sea trade, and because the geographical location of Quanzhou itself is very superior, and there are natural ports such as Quanzhou Bay, the past maritime merchants are naturally willing to stay in Quanzhou Bay to rest." ”

Emperor Jiayou became more and more happy, and said: "Aiqing is too modest, before Aiqing went to Quanzhou, Quanzhou Zhizhou changed one term after another, but no one can be like Aiqing, but in just a few years, Quanzhou has undergone such a big change, and the wealth is better than a year."

According to the statistics of the household department and the ministry of officials, in the past few years, the population of Jinjiang and Nan'an counties alone has increased by more than 3,000 households, nearly 100,000 people? ”

"Back to Your Majesty!" Wang Chong arched his hand and said: "There are 3,242 households and 106,484 people, among them, there are mountain people attracted from the mountains, there are people who have migrated from other counties in Quanzhou, there are also displaced people who have moved from Zuojinzhou County spontaneously, and some are merchants and craftsmen. ”

"Three thousand two hundred and forty-two households, one hundred and sixty-six thousand four hundred and eighty-four people, Aiqing really gave me a surprise!" Emperor Jiayou said with emotion.

"Thanks to His Majesty's Shengming, the concerted efforts of colleagues from the central government and Quanzhou, and the support of the people, there is such a scene!" Wang Chong still looks neither humble nor arrogant.

Emperor Jiayou said: "I remember, Aiqing sent a memo last time, mentioning that he wanted the imperial court to set up a city department in Quanzhou? ”

Wang Chongdao: "Fujian Road in the territory of the mountains and fields are few, in the folk there has always been a saying that there are eight mountains, one water and one field, although it can build terraces, but there are not many places suitable for reclamation, if it is only the development of agriculture and mulberry, it is difficult to make achievements, only another way, with the convenience of sea trade, can see results." ”

Emperor Jiayou said: "But Quanzhou does not produce porcelain, nor silk, water and land transportation is not convenient, as for the sea route, there are Hangzhou and Mingzhou in the north, and Guangzhou City in the south, respectively, can trade with the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and then build a city in Quanzhou, will there be some snakes?" ”

Wang Chongdao: "Back to Your Majesty, in fact, whether it is Hangzhou or Mingzhou, it is at least a thousand miles away from Guangzhou, and there are hundreds of counties in the middle, just along the Fujian Road, there are six states, two armies, and forty-seven counties, not to mention the states and counties bordering Fujian. ”

"Moreover, there are many mountains in Fujian, rich in tea, and now there are seven salt drying fields that have been built and put into use, and the average monthly output of refined salt is hundreds of thousands of catties, just salt and tea, which can bring huge taxes to Fujian and the imperial court!"

"What Aiqing means is to sell the sea salt produced in the Quanzhou Salt Farm overseas?" Emperor Jiayou asked in some surprise.

Wang Chongdao: "Your Majesty Shengming, this is what the minister means, and now the method of drying salt has gradually spread in the coastal areas, coastal states and counties have set up salt farms, and there are well salt, lake salt, salt production has been greatly improved, there will be more and more in the future, the price of salt will only get lower and lower, but the method of drying salt, is a new creation of our dynasty, other countries may not have, if the salt can be sold to the East China Sea and even the South China Sea countries, it will bring huge profits."

And now in Jiangnan and other places, spinning machines, looms have spread all over the place, greatly reducing the cost of spinning and weaving, increasing production, and in recent years, there are more and more businessmen who go to sea to trade, just Quanzhou alone, more than 1,000 businessmen went to sea last year, only Hangzhou, Mingzhou, Guangzhou three cities have been in short supply! ”

The most important thing is that whether it is Hangzhou or Mingzhou, or Guangzhou, it is not close to Fujian, and Fujian has many mountains and little land, which is not suitable for farming.

Emperor Jiayou has already been moved by Wang Chong's words, "It is not a trivial matter to add a city division, I have to discuss it with the princes before making a decision." ”

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

Emperor Jiayou asked a lot about Wang Chong's experience in Quanzhou and whether he got along well with his colleagues, and after a while, he let Wang Chong leave.

Since coming out of the palace, Wang Chong went to the ministry first, and Emperor Jiayou summoned Emperor Jiayou to summon him, and he still had to go to the ministry to report on his work.

Wang Chong didn't rush to the Sheng family, but first asked Yu Chuer to send his own greeting post, and the next morning, Wang Chong came to the door with the prepared gifts.

Sheng Wei is not at home, and the reception of Wang Chong naturally became Changbai, after Changbai led Wang Chong to meet Wang, this is also because Wang Chong and Minglan are married, Wang is Minglan 's mother-in-law, it is reasonable, Wang Chong should personally go to visit and ask for peace when he arrives, otherwise, Wang Chong is a foreign man, and it is really difficult to meet Wang.

After seeing the Wang family, Changbai pulled Wang Chong and went straight to Shou'an Hall.

"Zhong Huai and you are the front and back feet, and you will arrive within two days of his return to Tokyo!" Changbai and Wang Zhong walked side by side, smiling on their faces.

"I have already met Zhong Huai the day before yesterday, and I have been talking for a long time!" Wang Chongdao.

Changbai hesitated for a moment and asked, "That Zhonghuai's family, Zihou can be seen?" ”

Wang Chongdao: "I have seen it yesterday evening, Sister Rong is well-behaved, Brother Chang is obedient, and they are all cute!" ”

Changbai said: "Also, Zhong Huai is in the yard of Sweet Water Lane, next door to your house, I didn't expect Zhong Huai to return to Tokyo and become a neighbor with you!" ”

"It's unpredictable!" Wang Zhong laughed.

Changbai also laughed.

Wang Chong's voice suddenly changed and asked, "By the way, it will be Spring Festival after the year, how is Zecheng prepared?" ”

Changbai stopped and followed Wang Chong's appearance: "But do your best, and obey the destiny of heaven!" ”

"In this way, it seems that Cheng is a pearl of wisdom, and it is bound to win?" Wang Zhong laughed.

"Who knows what will happen in the future?" Changbai shook his head and said.

"Not bad!" Wang nodded and said: "The way of the imperial examination, in addition to the article, talent, luck, mentality is also the most important, only with the mentality of Mount Tai collapse in front of the face does not change, when the entrance examination, I don't know what the tension is, just like the usual completion of the homework assigned by Mr., in order to give full play to the strength, then so indifferent, this time will be able to title the gold list!" ”

"Then Chengzi Houjiyan?" Changbai arched his hand and looked at Wang Chong.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

While speaking, the two of them had already entered Shou'an Hall.

Because Wang Chong came to visit today, Changbai and Minglan both took leave, Gu Er also asked for leave, and half of the seven students took leave.

In Shou'an Hall, Mrs. Sheng is sitting on the soft couch, holding a scripture book in her hand, reading it, and Minglan is sitting on the side with a needle and thread to practice embroidery! Hearing that Wang Chong and Changbai were outside the door, Mrs. Sheng had a smile on her face, glanced at Minglan first, and then put down the scriptures in her hand and asked people to call Wang Chong and the others in.

"Say hello to the old lady, I haven't seen her for a few years, but the old lady's complexion is getting more and more ruddy!" Wang Zhong smiled and saluted Mrs. Sheng, and his words were full of closeness.

"Your mouth is still as sweet as ever!" Old Lady Sheng glanced at Wang Chong, but there was a smile on her face.

Wang Chong smiled and said: "When I returned from Quanzhou, I passed through Youyang, just in time for the 60th birthday of the old lady, so I spent a few days in Youyang, and congratulated the old lady on her birthday by the way, and begged for a few glasses of water and wine to eat, but the old lady often mentioned you!" ”

"Time flies so fast, she's sixty in a blink of an eye!" When Wang Chong mentioned the eldest old lady, Mrs. Sheng couldn't help but sigh with a sigh on her face, and asked Wang Chong: "How is my sister-in-law?" ”

Wang Chong shook his head and said: "At present, it looks like it is healthy, but I suffered too much when I was young, and I hurt my roots, plus I have worked hard for many years, and I am afraid that I will not have a few years!" ”

Old Mrs. Sheng was stunned for a moment, and looked at Wang Zhong in disbelief: "How can this be?" ”

"Birth, old age, sickness and death are natural principles, and they cannot be changed by man!" Finally met Mrs. Sheng and Minglan , Wang Chong didn't want to talk about this, but the old lady's health is really not good, how long she can live depends on the will of God.

"In addition, the old lady is too old, her qi and blood are decaying, and her five internal organs are also beginning to fail, which cannot be cured by medicinal stones! In addition, in recent days, I have been disturbed by mundane affairs and worried, which will inevitably have an impact on my body. ”

Although Chinese medicine is mysterious, it cannot live dead people after all, flesh and bones.

Changbai was also stunned, not expecting it at all, and looked at Wang Chong in shock.

It was Mrs. Sheng, who looked at Wang Chong and asked, "But is it because of Shulan's child?" ”

Wang nodded and said: "It is true that because of Miss Shulan, that Sun Zhigao is just a mere talent, but he has repeatedly made a lot of nonsense, no one in his eyes, and he is also arrogant to the Sheng family, and he has no respect for his uncle and aunt and even the eldest old lady, the eldest old lady is not less angry with him, and Miss Shulan is not doing well in the Sun family, and the eldest old lady is worried about her granddaughter, and it is inevitable that she will ·······."

"Hey!" Old Mrs. Sheng sighed, with some feelings: "Wei'er has been shrewd for half her life, but she didn't expect to be fooled by Sun Zhigao's mother and son when she was picking a son-in-law. ”

"Grandmother, it's no wonder that the uncle and the aunt are doing this!" Minglan on the side said: "Before Sun Zhigao married Sister Shulan, he was just a poor and sour talent, and the Sun family also relied on his grandmother's pulp washing and sewing to survive, outsiders looked at it, and naturally felt that Sun Zhigao was diligent and studious, talented and intelligent, and his grandmother had been widowed for many years, raising her young son, in the eyes of outsiders, some of her shortcomings were naturally covered up by advantages.

It's just that after marrying Sister Shulan, she got Sister Shulan's rich dowry and had some money in her hands, Sun Zhigaozhi was proud and carried away, and her grandmother's harsh nature was revealed. ”

"What the sixth sister said makes sense!" Wang Chongdao: "But don't worry about it now, I think at this moment, Miss Shulan should have reconciled with that Sun Zhigao!" ”

"Oh?" Old Lady Sheng raised her eyebrows slightly, and Minglan also looked at Wang Zhong with interest.

Wang Zhong told the story of the banquet that day and the reason why he gave advice to Sheng Wei and others in the evening.

"With Zhenghe, with Qisheng, Brother Zihou even used the art of war in order to help Sister Shulan!" After hearing this, Minglan couldn't help but smile and said, but as soon as these words came out, they made Old Lady Sheng glare.

Minglan didn't dare to speak, Changbai was silent, but Mrs. Sheng said: "It's okay to be reconciled, that Sun Zhi is arrogant, arrogant and rude, it is really not a good match, if you can reconcile and leave as soon as possible, Shulan's child can be regarded as getting out of the sea of suffering." ”

"My sister-in-law suffered too much when she was young! Nowadays·······" As he spoke, he seemed to realize that he had lost his words, and then shook his head and said, "That's it, it's all in the past, don't mention it, don't mention it!" ”

Mrs. Sheng felt it for a while, but when she heard it in the ears of Minglan and Changbai, she couldn't help but be moved, the old lady worked hard for Shulan, and the old lady Sheng didn't work hard for them.

Old Mrs. Sheng was such a person, just looking at the expressions of Minglan and Changbai, she guessed what they were thinking, and when she changed the topic, she asked Wang Chongdao: "Zihou will return to Beijing this time, how long do you plan to spend in Beijing?" ”

"It's not clear, I have to follow the officials' side and the official family to have other instructions, if there is no accident, it doesn't hurt to leave after the year!"

Wang Chong returned to Beijing to report on his work, because of the long distance, the time limit given by the imperial court was four months, Wang Chong set off in mid-September, in order to reduce the time spent on the road, he deliberately took the land route, plus the officials also had annual leave, and Wang Chong specially greeted Chen Jun before coming, a few days earlier, a few days later is not a big problem.

(End of chapter)