The banquet was dispersed, and Shao Xi took Lao Wu and Zhao Huajun into the back tea room together. It is relatively secluded, there are no outsiders here, and it is more convenient to talk.

A few people sat down, and Zhao Huajun poured tea for Shao Xi and Lao Wu and said, "Don't hide it from the two adults, in fact, in recent years, my life in Yujiang County has not been easy. Although it is known as the rich land in the south of the Yangtze River and the hometown of cloud yarn, the perennial tax officials of the imperial court also feel that the burden on their shoulders is very heavy, but they cannot owe the tax silver to the imperial court in any case. Although the officials and people in the county are a little bitter, they are still reasonable, but at present, there are always some people who want to criticize the lower officials with the matter of taxes, and the lower officials are really tied up and unable to perform! ”

Shao Xi pondered, "Before you drank a sip of Lao Tzu's special tea, you started brainwashing Lao Tzu, and you have to make sure that you have enough ammunition by using me as a gun!" If you don't open any conditions, you want me to do things for you in a few words, what about the basic quality of your corrupt officials? ”

Before Shao Xi could speak, Lao Wu interjected on the side. There were many people at the banquet before, although Lao Wu was made a special arrangement, but after all, his low status was not convenient to participate in the conversation between Shao Xi and Zhao Huajun, and there was no one else around at this time, and Lao Wu didn't have to have any scruples.

"Lord Zhao's difficulties are naturally known to the adults in my family, but many things always take some time and energy to do. What we 'Jing Chengsi' are looking for in the investigation of the case is that it is well documented, Lord Zhao, do you have empirical evidence of what they have committed? ”

Lao Wu's words have been pointed out very clearly, you let us check and give us some benefits! We'll let you call for empty mouths and white teeth? Besides, if you want to frame someone else, you have to fabricate some incriminating evidence, right? Can't we make it up for you?

These words are exactly what Shao Xi thinks in his heart, and it can only be said that Lao Wu understands Shao Xi.

Zhao Huajun naturally heard the meaning of Lao Wu's words, and without saying a word, he turned his head and shouted to the door: "Zhao Feng, you come in." ”

At this time, although there were only three people in the tea room, Shao Xi, Lao Wu and Zhao Huajun, the chief bookkeeper of the county, Gao Cang, and the treasurer Zhao Feng were all guarding the door and waiting for Zhao Huajun's dispatch at any time.

Hearing the call, Zhao Feng hurriedly entered the tearoom from outside the door, came to the three of them and bowed down, and listened to the instructions.

"Zhao Feng, go and get a silver ticket of 1,000 gold immediately, no! Take a silver ticket of two thousand gold. ”

"Yes, sir, I'll get it right away."

Zhao Feng didn't have any nonsense, and turned around and walked out of the tea room after receiving the order.

"The two adults have traveled all the way to my Yujiang County, and the lower officials have no gifts for a while, just a little bit of heart, please keep the two adults for use on the road, although some can't take it, I hope the two adults don't dislike it."

As soon as he opened his mouth, it was 2,000 gold, which was a full 20,000 taels of silver, and he actually said that he couldn't take it. I don't know if it's really too rich, or if it's a kind thing to say, but I think that these two thousand gold shouldn't be a small amount of money for Zhao Huajun, right?

Although two thousand gold is not too little, Shao Xi wants more than that. After hearing Zhao Huajun's words, Shao Xi clasped his hands on his shoulders and did not speak, Lao Wu sat on the side and looked at Shao Xi's expression, and naturally understood what he was thinking.

"Lord Zhao, old man, I dare to ask Lord Zhao how old he is?"

This topic is actually very sensitive, and directly asking a local official what his annual salary is, it is like asking how much money he can earn a month when he meets someone for the first time, which is very abrupt and impolite to some extent.

But Lao Wu's question made Zhao Huajun nervous instantly. A local official of the fifth grade is only sixty taels a year, and now when he opens his mouth, he actually takes out 2,000 taels, which is 20 taels more than his 333-year salary, where did this money come from? If you don't ask everyone tacitly, what does it mean to ask it directly? Guess for yourself!

Lao Wu was stunned when he saw Zhao Huajun, and knew that his question was to the point, so he continued: "Lord Zhao has his own way of making money, we don't inquire about this, but since Lord Zhao has a request from my family now, then the old man hopes that Lord Zhao will show some sincerity." Two thousand gold! In the eyes of Lord Zhao, is our Lord Shao only worth two thousand gold? I'm afraid Lord Zhao thinks we haven't seen silver, right? If that's the case, I don't think there's any need for us to talk about it today, when will Lord Zhao have sincerity, when will we sit down and talk again! ”

Zhao Huajun never dreamed that the two thousand gold that he thought were more than enough were completely worthless in the eyes of the two. Only then did he realize that these two people not only had great appetites, but that they were originally not bad for money.

"In this ......, the lower officials are dull and a little sloppy. Now that the words have come to this point, the two adults might as well say bluntly, as long as it is within the ability of the lower officials, they dare not obey. ”

Seeing that the other party was relieved, Lao Wu turned his head and glanced at Shao Xi, I have finished saying everything that means offending people, if you have any requirements, mention it now! Shao Xi naturally understands it.

"Lord Zhao, I also mentioned to you just now, this official not only has an industry in your Yujiang County, but also my industry in Kyoto will also develop to Yujiang County in the future. At that time, there will definitely be an inevitable interest relationship with all walks of life in Yujiang County, and these interests are also related to the royal interests, do you understand what I'm talking about? ”

"This ......"

Zhao Huajun was stunned! People are clearly going to step on your land, and tell you that I came to your Yujiang County under the banner of the royal family to take away some of the benefits of the industry, and you should give it, if you don't give it, who do you want to go against it?

The flesh hurts! It's a real pain in the flesh!

No matter what industry it is in Yujiang County, if the annual profit is taken away like this, the loss is not a little bit! And the most terrible thing is that as long as it is an industry that the royal family intervenes in, you will not be able to increase this tax, and you can only collect it normally in accordance with the regulations of the imperial court, and the benefits obtained all year round will be wiped out in one day.

In this way, the loss of a year is false to say that it is not painful.

"So, I don't know which industry in Yujiang County does Lord Shao fancy right now? If it is within the power of the lower officials, it may be able to help the adults by a thing or two. ”

"I think this cloud yarn industry is good, it is very profitable. But Lord Zhao can rest assured, I will definitely pay taxes and silver on time in accordance with the tax laws of the imperial court when I do cloud yarn business in Yujiang County, and it will never affect the normal annual tax revenue of Yujiang County, so I can't make trouble for you, Lord Zhao! ”

"What? My lord, you want to take over the cloud yarn industry in Yujiang County? Aren't you trying to cut off our Yujiang County's way of life? Without the manufacture and sale of cloud yarn, Yujiang County lost half of its wealth. Master Shao, is your appetite too big? As soon as you open your mouth, you want us to cut the meat! ”

Shao Xi gently shook the folding fan in his hand, didn't even look at Zhao Huajun, and just asked, "Lord Zhao, are you happy?" Do you have to ask for the Holy Lord's edict before Lord Zhao agrees? If you are willing to cooperate, my paper, printing and bookstore may be able to give you a share of the benefits in Yujiang County in the future, if you refuse to agree, I can also take it, but you will not get anything. Lord Zhao, do you want to think about it? ”

Zhao Huajun never thought that Shao Xi would attack the cloud yarn in any case, you must know that the cloud yarn industry alone accounts for half of the country in Yujiang County, and about half of the tax money that the Zhao family is greedy for every year comes from this cloud yarn industry.

That is four or five hundred thousand taels of silver, if it is taken over by Shao Xi, not only will the tax and silver be reduced to the previous standard, but the entire cloud yarn industry will fall into Shao Xi's hands and be controlled by him, and the profits generated in the future will also be Shao Xi's.

Their Zhao family lost half of the wealth of Yujiang County, how could Zhao Huajun agree? But the question now is, what will happen if you don't say yes? Just as Shao Xi said, if the saint really issued an edict, would the Zhao family really dare not give up half of the benefits?

It seems that the two thousand gold he took out is indeed too little, and what the other party wants is half of his Zhao family's wealth, and this mere two thousand gold can't be seen at all. To give or not to give? If it is given, the situation that has been painstakingly created for more than ten years will be broken, but if it is not given, I am afraid that it will not be able to be saved now, how to save this situation?

It is said that people die for money, birds die for food, and many people will choose to take risks for the huge interests in front of them. At this time, Zhao Huajun was like this, looking at the two people in front of him, he seemed to see a large amount of wealth slipping away from his hands, rather than being so neck-drawn and waiting to be killed, it was better to give it a go.

Zhao Huajun has murderous intentions! Cutting off people's financial means is like killing their parents, and the two people in front of him now are tantamount to killing his father for Zhao Huajun.

Since he wants to move the interests of his Zhao family, it is better to simply kill these two people and blame Cui Qi, Sun Jue and others, not only to keep their wealth, but also to take the opportunity to get rid of the thorn in their side, which is the best way to think of at the moment.

But ideas are ideas, and Zhao Huajun has no plan in mind at this time. But thinking that the cloud yarn industry in Yujiang County was about to be taken away by others, he had already strengthened this idea at this time, and it seemed that he would have to discuss it with the Zhao family when he went back, and now he would stabilize the two of them.

After making up his mind, Zhao Huajun pretended to be distressed and helpless.

"Alas! Master Shao has said that this is the point, if the lower officials do not agree again, it will be a crime of disobeying the holy order and deceiving the king. Although in this way, my Yujiang County's annual financial income will be reduced by more than half, but the monarch's order is difficult to disobey, for the sake of the court, for the sake of the saint, the lower officials can only reluctantly agree. I also hope that Lord Shao can compensate the county in your paper and printing industry in the future, so that we will not lose too much. ”

Shao Xi and Lao Wu glanced at each other, and both of them smiled meaningfully.

"Since Lord Zhao agreed, then the official also promised Lord Zhao, from now on, those who you Lord Zhao don't like will be the ones that your official doesn't like, and I will naturally find a way to make these people disappear from in front of you, so as not to distract Lord Zhao in government affairs."

Zhao Huajun's teeth were about to be crushed at this time, and the person he looked at the most unpleasant now was sitting in front of him with a smile.