Now that a compromise has been reached, Fang Chongyong has naturally changed from a "prisoner" to a "guest". In his previous life, his parents had taught him that he must be a "useful" person in the future, and this moment was magically with unparalleled persuasiveness.

Fang Chongyong was invited into a special tea room, and a beautiful maid dressed in light gauze came to make tea, skillfully with a quiet smile.

It is surrounded by a foldable wooden screen, and the azaleas and larks on the screen are vividly painted as if they were about to run out of the painting, and at first glance they are the work of a famous artist.

This is a luxurious taste from Chang'an! Zheng Shuqing even took office in Kuizhou, and he carried this precious screen.

The white porcelain tea kettle is boiling on the tea stove, and the light and small cracks on the tea table are white and mysterious.

Then light the charcoal with a good texture, with the smell of incense. The three-legged copper tea stand holds the tea table, which has an indescribable nobility and elegance. The two small white jade teacups next to them are contained in silver plates with lotus inlaid gold edges, unabashedly flamboyant and exaggerated.

The maid's delicate and white little hands break the tea cake and gently put it into the tea kettle, which is pleasing to the eye.

Fang Chongyong watched and indulged, until the other party added snow-white ...... to the tea dish Salt until now.

Boiling tea with salt?

He was stunned for a moment when he saw this scene.

Zheng Shuqing thought that Fang Chongyong was shocked by the luxury of the tea set, and said proudly: "This tea is Kuizhou Gongcha Xiangshan." Xiangshan tea is produced in Shexiang Mountain, the tea strip is tight, smooth, straight, the front is dewy seedlings, silver green and emerald green, the internal aroma is rich and long-lasting, and the taste is fresh and sweet.

Shexiang Mountain is thirty miles southeast of Kuizhou Fucheng, not very far, more absolutely there is a mountain spring on the mountain, the water quality is sweet and clear, and the river water is different from the mud.

This tea comes from the spring of Xiangshan, and the spring water of Xiangshan boils Xiangshan fragrant tea, which is really wonderful.

There are also good teas such as Jiannan Mengding Stone Flower, Dongchuan Shenquan, Shaanzhou Bijian, Changzhou Yixing Purple Bamboo Shoots, etc. If the local tribute tea in Kuizhou is not to your taste, it is also interesting to change the tribute tea from other states and counties, hahahahahaha. ”

Zheng Shuqing touched the long beard of his jaw and smiled, almost making Fang Chongyong vomit blood in disgust.

For such a flaunting of wealth, Fang Chongyong was speechless, because the other party said it too naturally, just like a local tyrant in his previous life who said that he would spend more than 100,000 yuan to stay in a hotel.

But thinking about it, he was also relieved, in terms of Zheng Tingshi's family background, what bowl to drink and what tea to drink was all familiar with since childhood, and it was already a part of life.

Even if he watched the vulgar and glamorous dance, he didn't bother to watch it if the dancing girl didn't dance for an hour or two in a row.

A luxurious meal that ordinary people can't eat in their lifetime, in the eyes of these people, is even likely to be pig food that can't be eaten.

People are different from each other, your end may not even reach the starting point of others, the meaning of life, is it only that you have been here?

Fang Chongyong, who wanted to say "Zhumen's wine and meat stink", couldn't help but not burst into foul language.

People are under the eaves, low-key and chilling.

After a while, the tea was fried, Zheng Shuqing personally poured tea for Fang Chongyong, waved his hand, and several maids in the tea room quietly withdrew and closed the door.

"Say it, whatever you want, whatever you want."

Uncle Zheng said indifferently, already putting away the smile on his face.

"Zheng Yuanjun, no matter what, the huge amount of tariffs and treasures can only be looted from Kuizhou, which may be detrimental to the reputation of the envoy......"

The politeness is over, and it's time to get to the point, Fang Chongyong said with some hesitation.

How do you know that Zheng Shuqing waved his hand impatiently and said: "There is no need to say this kind of nonsense, if you don't make money from Kuizhou, how can you make up for the shortfall?" Apparently there is only one way. What the official wants to know is how to make up the deficit of 300,000 guan. ”

His patience is limited and his time is limited!

"When I saw the scenery of Kuizhou, there was a poem that said:

The spring grass of the head of the White Emperor City,

The Shujiang River is clear under the White Salt Mountain.

The southerners came up and sang a song,

The northerners are not moved by nostalgia.

The envoy can open a salt class in Kuizhou, and there is a white salt mountain, so he is not afraid that he will not be able to collect the salt tax. ”

Fang Chongyong said conclusively.

Baiyan Mountain is in the east of Kuizhou City, there is this salt well, are you afraid that there is no salt? If you have salt in your hand, are you afraid that you won't be able to get money?

Hearing this, Zheng Shuqing was stunned, he didn't expect that Fang Chongyong didn't even know such a common-sense question.

Zheng Shuqing sighed helplessly: "Your talent only lies in poetry, don't underestimate the people of the world." Don't you hear the common saying of Kuizhou children: There is no salt on Baiyan Mountain?

Kuizhou not only does not have salt mountains, but even the people eat salt mostly by Wudi (Jiangnan) import. Besides, even if the white salt mountain next to it is all made of salt, and the salt tax is the central policy, how can it be decided by me and other local officials?

Even if we want to collect it, it's not our turn to collect it! The so-called prodigy, is this what he can do? ”

Zheng Shuqing looked at Fang Chongyong with ill intentions, and deeply doubted whether he was in a hurry to go to the doctor.

There are many kinds of prodigies, and it can be seen that Fang Chongyong is a good hand at writing poetry, but whether he will make money or not, I really have to say two things.

Kuizhou's salt administration is so complicated that it is difficult to explain, there are imports, exports, and transportation to other places as a logistics distribution center, these three states exist at the same time, and it is extremely difficult to make money from it, and it will affect the whole body.

"Please take me to the account room to find out, if you don't look at the local input, there is nothing you can do."

Fang Chongyong pleaded. I have to admit that he did underestimate Zheng Shuqing a little.

"Don't you drink tea? Tea is not expensive, but Xiangshan spring water is under the jurisdiction of the government, and ordinary people can't drink it. ”

Zheng Shuqing teased, hinting that Fang Chongyong was a turtle.

Fang Chongyong hurriedly drank a large sip of local Xiangshan tribute tea, and he didn't feel embarrassed at all.

The entrance of fragrant tea has a sweet taste, and the addition of salt enhances the sweetness and sweetness of the tea, which is very nice. I have to say that although the ancient knowledge of the circulation in the human body was very lacking, and I didn't know that eating too much salt would cause a serious illness, but the pursuit of delicious food was tireless, and the patterns were endless.

Tea with salt is delicious, but you can't drink more, this tea can be tasted by a few catties in the future, and you don't have to add salt.

Fang Chongyong secretly complained in his heart, his face was not shocked.

As for the fact that the Tang people boiled tea and added salt to remove the bitterness, he only learned about it later.

"Okay, since you've come to this point, then you can go with me."

Zheng Shuqing was a little hesitant on his face, but he still nodded slightly and did not refuse.

The secrets in the account room of the government are not that they can't be told to people at all, but they are not very suitable for the son of Fang Chongyong, the former superintendent of the imperial history.

The current situation is already very tense, and Li Linfu's handwritten letter was only delivered to Zheng Shuqing yesterday, and he actually asked him to settle the matter of the customs duties at the Kuizhou Jiangguan before the Shangyuan Festival next year.

That's 300,000 guan, not 300 or 300 guan!

Li Linfu didn't care about Zheng Shuqing's pleading for defense in the letter last time, his attitude was very tough, and he didn't mention the matter of chasing the murderer to recover the taxes!

Li Linfu's meaning is very clear: no matter whether Zheng Shuqing is stealing, or going to extort tyranny, or even let the local government soldiers pretend to be water bandits to rob merchant ships! As long as you get the money, everything is no longer a problem.

And there will be no more imperial history of Fang Youde and others to come to Kuizhou to make trouble, I hope that Zheng Shuqing will do it well and not make mistakes!

As Li Linfu's henchman, Zheng Shuqing is very clear about the other party's temper. If Li Linfu does not give a "chance" at all, it means that there is still room for things to turn around, and bargaining can be made. But now that the other party has spoken, there is still more than half a year before the Shangyuan Festival next year, if it really can't make up for the deficit, Li Linfu's means are not vegetarian!

The opportunity is given to you, and you can't grasp it, so don't worry about me ruthlessly cleaning up the portal!

Li Linfu is the best at being "within the system" and using rules to play colleagues or subordinates to death.

Compared with Li Linfu's sharp wrists, Zheng Shuqing felt that Fang Chongyong, a yellow-mouthed child, was not to be afraid.

Under the escort of two entourages, Zheng Shuqing led Fang Chongyong out of the official residence, directly entered the Kuizhou Mansion from the north gate, and came to the account room of the mansion. I saw stacks of Kuizhou household registrations, account books, maps, and official documents on the cabinet.

It's all sorted out, and it's not as messy as imagined.

This couldn't help but make Fang Chongyong look at Zheng Shuqing again, even if it was an official who was a corpse vegetarian, I am afraid that he might not be as incompetent as he thought, and daily affairs could still be handled.

Holding a stack of account books to the table, looking at it page by page, Fang Chongyong quickly noticed that something was wrong.

The accounts are so well done, and there are no arrears! It is important to know that farmers, especially those who have a flat land system, have a very seasonal and regular flow of goods in and out of their homes. Rent arrears are often due to natural and man-made disasters.

In addition, the rent adjustment standard of the Tang Dynasty was based on the ordinary people when the land was abundant when the country was founded. After a century of development, land annexation is extremely serious, and it is common for ordinary families to pay taxes in arrears, and it is impossible for rents to be collected so neatly.

After all, the Tang Dynasty does not play the "tax package system", as long as every household is not a black account, the rent will be received into the hands of the government.

The local big households may deal with the people, and the government does not dare to play like this, and it will be difficult to clean up the matter if it is big.

"Look slowly, I can't finish watching tomorrow, and I'm not in a hurry for the next day or two."

Zheng Shuqing yawned and said.

Huangkou child, what can you see? Zheng Shuqing felt that he might have to explain to the other party.

He felt more and more that he was in a hurry to go to the doctor.

"This account book, which looks weird, looks a lot like ...... Fake. ”

Fang Chongyong put down the account book in his hand, said with a wry smile, and looked at Zheng Shuqing and stopped talking.

Hey?

Zheng Shuqing couldn't help but sit up straight, squinting his eyes at the immature young man in front of him!

The old officials who have been in the government for many years want to see that the account books are tired. But a yellow-mouthed child can see it, and he can see it after turning a few pages, so it's not very simple.

"How so?"

Zheng Shuqing pinched his beard and asked.

Although he didn't admit it directly, it was tantamount to acquiescing, and he just hoped that Fang Chongyong would tell the reason.

"There are all kinds of things in the world, there is a certain number of birth, old age, sickness and death, no one is good for a hundred days, and flowers are not red for a hundred days. Everyone will have a difficult time. How can the king's account books, with too many people paying taxes, and more rents than usual, be fine? ”

Fang Chongyong could see at a glance that the average number of taxes in this account book was too much.

During the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, the rules were set, and each Ding paid the "rent" of two chestnuts every year, and "adjusted" with the local production, and paid two zhang of silk (or silk and drag) every year, three taels of cotton, or two zhang and five feet of cloth, and three catties of hemp.

At present, this standard is obviously more than one-tenth of the fixed amount, but every township has paid it very neatly and there is no arrears.

Fang Chongyong had so many old people who evaded taxes in his previous life, how could there be no here! Not to mention paying all on time, it is more than the quota, and it is a fool to be a fool!

"You don't understand that. How many people and how many households are there in Kuizhou, do the court and the princes know? Do you know if there are more people or less people? Does anyone know who is going to check the account and how often it is checked? ”

Zheng Shuqing touched his long beard and asked triumphantly.

Fang Chongyong was speechless, how could he know these routines!

"Tell you, the court doesn't know at all, and it doesn't expect to know, and it's impossible to send someone to verify it every year. The people in the imperial court will only ask if this year's tax revenue has come up, and how it compares with last year.

If there are more than last year, then the evaluation will naturally not be bad, who cares, whether these account books are real or fake?

Now I charge an extra 10% in the account on the grounds that the border town of Shu is unstable and needs military supplies, and there will be natural and man-made disasters in the future, and there is still room for decline, you know a fart.

Tell you, the official actually collected only ninety percent of the tax, and it can be raised in the future! ”

Zheng Shuqing proudly showed off.

He is not an old coin, but he is definitely an old bureaucrat and is familiar with the routines of the imperial court. Zheng Shuqing actually undercharged and overcharged the book, and there was a fluctuation of 20% in this coming and going, which was enough for him to deal with all kinds of emergencies.

As for why this can be the case, it is because the entire account book is a black box, and the court does not know what the specific situation is.

"So...... Are all of these fakes? ”

Fang Chongyong asked with a calm face, he had already seen that the cat was tired, and he just hoped that Zheng Shuqing could confirm it.

"You don't need to know about that, you just need to find a way to help the official make money."

Zheng Shuqing said after selling a pass, and the smugness in his heart was already written on his face.

Then the two fell into an awkward silence.

"Envoy, actually, this method is simple and simple."

Fang Chongyong paused for a moment and continued: "Kuizhou is next to the Yangtze River, and water transportation is developed, so copper coins are easy to get. The envoy could collect copper money in Kuizhou as a rent, and then use the money in the treasury to buy grain from Jingxiang and Jiangnan during the autumn harvest, and encourage the use of copper money to redeem and buy forced labor.

The grain prices in Jingxiang and Jiangnan are low, and after the autumn harvest, large households in various places have to sell old grain.

If it is a large-scale purchase by the government, it must be sold at the reserve price. If you come and go like this, I am afraid that you can save a lot of money. The envoy used these grains as rent, and then took the copper money to buy Shu brocade in Shu, and transported it to Luoyang in exchange for ordinary silk silk.

As for Yong, all the copper coins were collected, and in the name of opening up Yamada, the prisoners were involved, and there was only a sum of money left.

With a multi-pronged approach, won't the goods come slowly? ”

Fang Chongyong put his hands on his sleeves and bowed deeply to Zheng Shuqing very formally.

Hehe, it's not easy to make money. Referring to the method of making profits from the pension market in the previous life, the government participated in monopoly trading, so it didn't make a lot of money?

Fang Chongyong is very confident in this.

However, he saw Zheng Shuqing staring at him with disdain, and his expression seemed to be extremely contemptuous.

"The prodigy is really so clever!"

Zheng Shuqing couldn't help but sigh and sighed, his disappointment was beyond words.

"What did you say?"

Fang Chongyong was puzzled and asked, he didn't think there was anything wrong with his method, after all, he had used it in his previous life. This is the wisdom that has been accumulated for thousands of years.

"I don't know if I should praise you for having the ability of Li Xiang (Li Linfu), or should I scold you for not being able to do anything."

Zheng Shuqing sighed and said: "There are few people in Kuizhou, and from a very early stage, the rent adjustment has been useless, and the falsification of official account books has become a common practice. When I first arrived in Kuizhou, I wanted to change this situation, but after a while, the official realized that I was very wrong. ”

It turned out that there was still this matter, Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said, "I would like to hear about it." ”

"Kuizhou is the throat of Shu and Jingxiang, guarding the Yangtze River. In addition to being a place where soldiers must fight, it is also a place where merchants stay and hoard goods, which is one of the reasons why the imperial court set up the Kuimen River Pass in Kuizhou. ”

Fang Chongyong continued to nod and waited for the following.

"The people of this place make their homes on boats, and they sell goods and catch fish, and their wealth is many times greater than that of ploughing the fields. The people are impetuous, take money as their life, and be incorruptible and shameful. There are many people who risk their lives to fight for a lot of money. Even if there is a field, most of the hemp is planted to weave expensive linen, which is a special product of Kuizhou, and sells well in Shu.

How can such people pay rent honestly, and how can they farm with peace of mind. It is also a foot of cloth, and it is much more cost-effective for them to buy the cloth transported from Shu than to work hard to compile the special linen cloth and pay rent, how can these people carry out the tax orders of the government?

Moreover, Kuizhou also specializes in white apes, tigers, black ghosts and other things, so should these mountain people go to the mountains to catch tigers and resist forced labor? ”

Zheng Shuqing said helplessly, full of bitterness, but now he wants to talk to a young man, and it is really embarrassing for him. Not to mention that he has to deal with stubborn people like Fang Youde, the kind of second goods who read the book of death and take the order of death to do things, on the surface they are as clean as water, and even their sons have only one servant, and they can't eat well and dress badly.

But his harm is no less than that of big greed. If Fang Youde is allowed to govern Kuizhou, presumably the people of Kuizhou will storm the government and beat that one to death!

"So, the envoy asked the people of Kuizhou to pay the money, and then used the money to come forward to buy the cloth of Shu and the grain of Jingxiang?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a shocked expression.

"Otherwise, what do you think? This is Li Xiang's strategy, you yellow-mouthed child can also think of it, and you feel a little proud. ”

Zheng Shuqing said angrily.

Fang Chongyong was not surprised at all, his heart was full of bitterness.

He found that instead of finding a shortcut, he became a clown.

Another fast lane is blocked.