"Bastard! Don't run! ”

In the mansion of the eldest prince, Zhu Gaochi pulled out his belt and panted and chased after Zhang Anshi.

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, don't get excited!"

Zhang Anshi was agile, and seeing that there was no way to escape from being chased, he jumped to the tree with his hands and feet like a monkey, and looked at the ground with his legs on the trunk.

"Cut down this tree for me!"

Zhu Gaochi ordered to the guards, and the guards looked at each other, but the order of the eldest prince could not be disobeyed, although it was not possible to use the waist knives in their hands, it was still possible to find an axe and saw.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zhang Anshi was helpless hiding in the tree for a while, in fact, he also knew that if he really wanted to get him down, these guards could easily do it, so why did he need to find an axe and saw?

At this moment, Zhang pulled Zhu Zhanji and rushed over.

"What is this?"

"I'm going to kill this bastard today!"

Zhang hurriedly stepped forward, blocked Zhu Zhanji behind him, and shouted at his husband: "Don't be angry, An Shi is still young, and it is understandable that he is a little rebellious!" Besides, he is the only seedling of the Zhang family, you killed him, what should my father do? What else can he say, and where else can he run? ”

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Zhang Anshi shouting loudly over there: "Sister, sister, help!" ”

Hearing his younger brother's call, Zhang hurriedly turned his head and beckoned to Zhang Anshi: "Come down." ”

"No, my brother-in-law is going to kill me."

Zhang Anshi swayed on the branches.

His behavior made Zhu Gaochi's face more and more pale, and he pointed at Zhang Anshi and scolded: "Okay! See how I clean you up! ”

"Sister."

Zhang Anshi shouted at the top of his voice.

This voice made Zhu Gaochi almost lose his breath, pointing to the tree and shouting angrily: "Evil obstacles! Evil creature! It's useless to call your sister, you have to kill you today! ”

"Father, you are angry! Don't worry about your uncle. ”

Seeing Zhu Gaochi's violent, Zhu Zhanji was also frightened, and pulled the corner of his clothes and said.

Zhu Zhanji grabbed Zhu Gaochi and said to Zhang Anshi: "Uncle, come down quickly." ”

Zhang Anshi gritted his teeth and jumped down with a "snap".

Zhang glared angrily, then looked at Zhu Gaochi, and said with a smile: "An Shi is young and ignorant, so what can I say slowly." ”

"Young! There are a lot of troubles! ”

"Let's go, go back to the house."

Zhang then turned his head and comforted Zhang Anshi softly: "Your brother-in-law has been unhappy recently, you have to be sensible, you know?" ”

"Sister, don't worry, I know."

Zhang Anshi hurriedly replied.

"Prepare the meal."

Zhang instructed the maids beside him to set up the banquet.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhang Anshi entered the flower hall accompanied by Zhang, and a group of maids and women immediately stepped forward to set the table.

Zhang glanced at Zhang Anshi, then turned his head to Zhu Gaochi and bowed slightly, signaling to sit down first before speaking.

Zhang and Zhang Anshi sat down on the left and right, while Zhu Gaochi sat on the main seat at their head, and Zhu Zhanji sat next to Zhang.

Zhang raised his eyes and glanced around, and his gaze fell on Zhang Anshi: "What are you still doing in a daze?" Why don't you pour wine for your brother-in-law quickly, don't you expect your brother-in-law to pour you wine himself? ”

"Yes."

Zhang Anshi hurriedly got up and poured a glass of wine for Zhu Gaochi, and the atmosphere was temporarily eased.

"Tell me, what's going on?"

"You ask him." Zhu Gaochi said angrily.

"That's it. Someone came to check the field today, and I called him back. ”

"Bang Dang~"

Zhang's hand shook, and the wine glass accidentally fell to the ground, shattering all over the ground.

"You're crazy, aren't you? The lords and nobles in the city are all checked, who gave you the guts? ”

Zhang Anshi's expression was a little gloomy, and he only said: "I can't help it." ”

Yes, the three teenagers in the military academy two years ago have only been in the past two years, and their life trajectories have been very different.

Xu Jingchang attacked the title of Duke of Dingguo, and now runs the industry for the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, which can be regarded as a firm foothold, and although Zhu Yong was unable to go with him to conquer Annan because of his father's illness, this time he joined the tax guards and went to the countryside together, which can be regarded as having a good future.

But what about Zhang Anshi?

failed to learn martial arts, and dropped out halfway; If you don't study literature, you will fail to seek office.

In addition to the thousands of acres of fields outside Nanjing, what else?

And now the imperial court wants to check the illegal land property of the noble and powerful, how many of these thousands of acres of land are indescribable, no one knows, but Zhang Anshi only understands one thing, that is, it will definitely not withstand the investigation.

There is a sentence that Zhang is actually right, Zhang Anshi is really young and ignorant.

In Zhang Anshi's view, there are sisters and brothers-in-law, and the national teacher is also half a teacher, which is not a matter of principle, but just to occupy more land, what can't be fooled?

But today, let alone Zhu Gaochi, the Zhang family, who has experienced the matter of sheltering monks, knows that the affairs in the court now cannot be sloppy.

Last time, Zhu Gaochi was imprisoned for three months, and the forces can be said to be not advancing but retreating, this time if Zhang Anshi is caught by someone again and stabbed directly to the emperor, the northern expedition is imminent, and the emperor is blocked, won't Zhu Gaochi bear the charge of lax discipline?

Even if he only punishes Zhang Anshi, isn't that also a slap in the face of Zhu Gaochi? After all, that's Zhu Gaochi's brother-in-law, just such a brother-in-law!

"Bastard!"

Zhang's directly gave Zhang Anshi a big fight.

Zhang Anshi was stunned.

Zhang also wanted to open the bow left and right, but was dragged down by Zhu Gaochi.

"Okay, the child is still young."

Zhu Gaochi sighed long: "Actually, my sister and brother-in-law don't mean anything else, it's just a moment of anger, you don't understand that the investigation of the illegal land properties of the noble and powerful is the policy of the imperial court to rectify taxation now, this is a big deal, don't say it's you, it's the family of the prince, you should retreat, and you will be able to retire now." ”

"Do you lack this little bit of land? Is this little field more important than the glory and wealth of our family? "Zhang's hatred of iron is not steel.

Zhang Anshi was forced to fight, recovered from the state of confusion, and knew that he seemed to have done something wrong.

Zhang Anshi hesitated for a while, and asked tentatively, "What should I do?" ”

"You go and return all the fields you occupied before, and donate the rest of the land."

"Huh?"

Zhang Anshi was stunned for a moment, and suddenly looked at Zhu Gaochi in disbelief, and said, "This ......"

In Zhang Anshi's mind, it would be enough to return the occupied fields, so why should the other fields be retreated? What do you eat and drink when you retire?

After all, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui unscrupulously held money, but it was inconvenient for Zhu Gaochi himself to buy any property, so in fact, Zhu Gaochi's property was all in the name of the Zhang family.

These fields sound like a lot, but in fact, they are nothing compared to the big landlords in Xungui, and Zhu Gaochi's family maintains upper and lower expenses and decent pomp, but they all rely on these fields, otherwise they will have to drink the northwest wind just to live on money and rewards.

"Don't leave a point?" Zhang was also a little distressed, to put it bluntly, he still had long hair and short knowledge.

"Is there no land in Beijing? Can it really starve you to death? ”

Zhu Gao took a sip of wine, looking at the two pig teammates who were dragging their feet, he was really angry.

However, it is impossible for him to divorce Zhang's family, this is the princess that Lao Zhu gave him to marry before his death, and the relationship between the two husband and wife has always been good, and the bond of Zhu Zhanji is impossible to give up, so he complains for a short time in his heart, and he has to live his life.

"Hurry up, go now!"

sent Zhang Anshi away, and the family of three had a serious meal.

"It's not easy to move taxes."

Zhang said intentionally or unintentionally.

This is definitely not Jiang Xinghuo's meaning alone, this kind of thing can be decided, it must be that the emperor also wants to do this, Jiang Xinghuo can't decide for himself.

Otherwise, it is good to say that the level of law change has always been relatively high, but the tax is to take root.

It's like a child's legs hanging from the kang, jumping to the ground, and falling to the ground safely, it's okay to say, but if you really fall a dog and eat or break your foot, it's not uncommon.

The area involved in this kind of thing is too wide, even if Nanzhili is used as a pilot, it is difficult to say whether it can really be promoted.

After all, there is a good saying, Hades is easy to see, but imps are difficult.

Which of those officials and tax collectors at the bottom is not a goblin? Is there really any change that is not conducive to them, prevarication and prevarication, and it will be over?

But the Zhang family still doesn't know how determined the imperial court is to make this tax reform.

Zhu Gaochi raised his eyes and glanced at the door, and several maids retreated in amusement and closed the door by the way.

Zhu Gaochi said in a low voice: "Li Jinglong is coming back soon, do you know?" ”

"Of course, I heard that Cao Guogong was poisoned by eating mushrooms in Annan, and his body is still sick, by the way, what kind of mushrooms did he eat?"

Zhu Gaochi was not interested in Zhang's gossip, so he said directly.

"Do you know why you came back at this time? He also brought tens of thousands of soldiers. ”

"Why?"

Zhang Shi just habitually asked, and was immediately stunned.

"Isn't it to take over the garrison of Nanjing?" Zhu Zhanji was also stunned, he put down the bowl with the rice.

"Don't care so much."

Zhu Gaochi resumed eating, and the topic came to an abrupt end.

However, the meaning behind this could not be more obvious

Li Jinglong brought back tens of thousands of expeditionary troops, in addition to taking over the garrison of Nanjing after the northern expedition of the army, and being responsible for presiding over the daily work of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, that is, to cooperate with Jiang Xinghuo to carry out tax reform.

The removal of the fields illegally occupied by the nobles in Beijing was only the first step.

This first step is actually a very good step, because most of the Jing Nanxun noble military ministers have to follow the three major battalions of the Beijing camp to the north, so the emperor gave an order, and no one was uninteresting, and they all obediently retreated from the field.

And the second and third generations of Hongwu's founding nobles have now lost their power, and naturally they do not dare to stubbornly resist the emperor.

Therefore, the work of clearing the fields carried out by the president's law change affairs yamen was actually very smooth.

A little more difficult is the second step, which is to clean up the land illegally occupied by local tycoons.

The Haoqiang in the early Ming Dynasty is naturally not the same concept as the Haoqiang who had Wubao and tribes in the past, referring to the rich and powerful people in the countryside, and some big landlords who were guarding the courtyard, and these people were powerless to resist the army of the imperial court.

But that doesn't mean they're easy to do.

Because the local heroes basically cover the sky with one hand in the local area, the most difficult thing is not to send troops to exterminate, but to get evidence.

How do you prove that my land is illegally occupied?

Look at the fish scale book? Not very good, because not only the fish scale books in many places have not been updated for many years, I don't know how many versions are behind, and they can't be used as a basis at all, but more importantly, some fish scale books have long been tampered with by local tyrants who bought off the officials in the yamen in the name of updating.

Therefore, judging from the scale book, these lands are reasonable and legal to buy and sell.

So is it okay to find witnesses? Since it is an illegal encroachment, there should always be a victim, right?

On the one hand, although the imperial court has enhanced its credibility at the grassroots level through activities such as water control, its credibility is still very limited in many places where it cannot be influenced; On the other hand, the local tycoons can directly influence the lives of the witnesses' families, and with the money stuffed and gagged, many people are destined to dare not speak.

So, it's very difficult to clean up.

Of course, if the tax guards can really take root in the township and investigate slowly, they will still be able to get evidence.

But for a while, I'm afraid it won't be possible.

Therefore, it is really a matter that no one can say for sure how many local tyrants can be found out in the way of clearing the fields by the summer tax this time.

But in any case, since Li Jinglong's army is pressing, no matter what happens, the local heroes will not be able to turn the sky upside down.

The second step is not easy, and the third step is even more difficult.

The grassroots officials and tax officials, everyone is not clean, even if they are not to blame in the past, only starting from the summer tax in the second year of Yongle, so it is difficult to say whether these greedy people can put an end to such a problem.

——————

Jiang Xinghuo has been very busy recently.

After drinking heavily all night, after being carried home at dawn, Jiang Xinghuo never relaxed, and the whole person entered a busy state of work.

Putting aside the other things that were carried out in parallel for the time being, the most important thing was naturally to quickly clear all the fields and properties of the nobles before the army marched north.

The leader of the Daning faction, Ning Yang Bo Chen Mao, had just come to visit him, and he hadn't been gone for long, and then a noisy sound suddenly sounded outside the door.

Jiang Xinghuo's eyes flashed, he stood up and walked to the door.

Who will come at this hour?

It seems that they should have come, but they have all come, and the nobles of the Ulzhou department have also cooperated to clear the land under the background of Qiu Fu's initiative to retreat, and Li Yuan, Marquis of Anping, and Wang Zhong, Marquis of Jing'an, usually look fierce, but this time they are very easy to speak.

Not to mention the Yanshan and Hebei systems, they can basically follow the northern expedition this time, and no one wants to give the emperor eye medicine, so they are very active.

Jiang Xinghuo looked out of the courtyard through the carved wooden door.

Outside the gate of the courtyard, Zhang Anshi led a group of entourage, surrounded by a carriage, and stopped in the middle of the courtyard.

"Why is this kid here?"

"Nexperia?"

Next door to Jiang Xinghuo, Xu Jingchang, who was in charge of the Industrial Department, also walked out.

Both of them were a little surprised.

What did Zhang Anshi come to them for?

Because Qingtian was involved in too many nobles, and Zhang Anshi's affairs were not big, or his family's priority was not high at all, and it was not comparable to those big landlords, so he did not have time to report to the level of Jiang Xinghuo and others.

"National teacher, this is a congratulatory gift, please smile."

Jiang Xinghuo glanced at Zhang Anshi's kid suspiciously, and only said, "If you don't have a New Year's Day, what kind of congratulatory gift do you give?" Still a car? Besides, don't say that I don't accept it, but I accept it, you are so upright and on duty to send it? ”

Xu Jingchang's face darkened, and he asked, "What is in this carriage?" ”

"Title deeds, and ledgers." Zhang Anshi said.

Xu Jingchang went up and flipped through it, and then whispered a few words to Jiang Xinghuo in his ear.

Seeing this, Zhang Anshi hurriedly explained: "The imperial court wants to clear the fields, this is a big deal, our family has to actively cooperate, the fields have been donated, and my brother-in-law has specially instructed that these things must be handed over to the national teacher." ”

The corners of Jiang Xinghuo's mouth twitched, and he said, "Just return the previous encroachment, you donated everything, what do you eat and drink at home?" ”

This matter seems a little incomprehensible to Jiang Xinghuo, Zhu Gaochi is a smart person, just a little conservative, but why would such a smart person do such a thing?

After all, the Zhang family is attached to Zhu Gaochi's existence, and they all donated, giving people the first feeling that they are not aware of the general situation, but are angry.

At this time, Zhang Anshi scratched his head and took the initiative to say: "I drank too much yesterday, I didn't know what was going on, and I drove out those who came to Qingtian." ”

When he said this, Jiang Xinghuo understood.

Jiang Xinghuo was a little crying and laughing, and said: "You can take these things back, we don't need them, if you want to cooperate, just return the excess ones." ”

"No, my family must donate!"

Xu Jingchang said beside him: "Anshi, you have to think clearly. ”

"What's the puzzle about, isn't it real estate?"

"Then you donate, do other nobles want to donate? With the second, there is the third, isn't this messy? The dynasty is not trying to force the nobles to donate land. Xu Jingchang reminded.

Zhang Anshi pursed his lips and said, "Moreover, it is not completely without reason for me to do this. ”

"Why?"

Xu Jingchang was a little curious, what is this reason.

"Find something to do for yourself, let me follow you to Qingtian, okay?"

Zhang Anshi once again took matters into his own hands.

If Zhu Gaochi is here, he will probably be mad.

But there is no way, Zhu Gaochi is in his twenties, Zhang is just twenty, Zhang Anshi, as Zhang's younger brother, is still an adolescent rebellious teenager at this time, if he doesn't make his own decisions, it will be strange.

In fact, he asked for an official, and he didn't have to be so troublesome, as long as he waited for the emperor to go north, Zhu Gaochi arranged it for him casually, but seeing that Xu Jingchang, a classmate back then, is now in a high position, working in the yamen like a big man, and he is still hanging on his son, Zhang Anshi will inevitably have a hot brain.

"Isn't this a traitor?"

Jiang Xinghuo thought for a while and said: "If you donate all the fields, one is that it will affect the normal Qingtian of other nobles, thinking that the imperial court is forcing them to donate fields, and the other is that it will be passed out and sold by donating land to sell official titles, and the impact on your brother-in-law will not be good, so first, return the excess land, and the rest will not move, if you really want to do things, if your brother-in-law agrees, come over on an errand, how about it?" ”

Zhang Anshi's eyes rolled, he thought it was good, but

"National teacher, I still have to go back and discuss this matter with my sister and brother-in-law."

"Yes."

Jiang Xinghuo nodded slightly, and then patted him on the shoulder.

He didn't know that his move made Zhang Anshi's heart move again.

Although Zhang Anshi is not a smart person, he is not stupid, knowing that his sister and brother-in-law don't really expect him to do anything, not that he looks down on him, but wants him to live in peace, in fact, his parents are also like this, otherwise they would not give him such a name.

But the boy is like this, he has always looked forward to being the protagonist of this world, and wants to establish a career through his own efforts, especially after being left behind by his former classmates, this impatient mood is even more irrepressible.

Zhang Anshi left, Jiang Xinghuo simply didn't read the paperwork from the newspaper, rubbed his eyes that were a little starting to star in the sun, and said to Xu Jingchang: "Let's go, there are still a few fields with some disputes, the people below can't handle it, let's run together this afternoon." ”

"Okay."

Xu Jingchang stretched his waist, which was a little sore after sitting for a long time, and went directly to the stable to lead the horse.

(End of chapter)