Chapter 321 Spring Blossoms and Autumn Fruits
Zhu Biao slowly suppressed the killing intent in his heart. There is not so much conscience and justice to speak of in this world. Those who deliberately go to sell food at high prices are considered good people. Those local officials are ruthless. It has almost become a routine to send them to the grain store under their own name to sell them at a high price.
And this kind of thing is not unique. Didn't his father's father and brother starve to death like this? Zhu Biao has heard him say it several times. There was a drought in Haozhou, and a serious one in the spring of the following year. In the locust plague and plague, the relief food brought by Yuanting was swallowed up by the officials. They didn't even do the superficial effort to replace the food with stones and sand, and almost all the good family members died.
Zhu Biao snorted coldly and looked at Chen Youzong and said, "I don't even ask you if the Chen family is going to sell grain in Shaanxi and Gansu. If so, stop immediately!"
Chen Youzong bowed and responded: "The Chen family naturally dare not make such unjust gains, let alone shame His Highness."
Zhu Biao shook his head: "It's okay to say that I have a good face. Don't take the lives of the whole family to be true."
Chen Youzong's expression was shocked. It seems that the imperial court not only wanted to eliminate the officials, but also attacked some aristocratic families. Could it be that they wanted to collect food by ransacking their families?
Zhu Biao also ordered what should be ordered. The Chen family should take care of themselves. He didn't believe that the Chen family didn't intend to make a fortune. Why else would they hold so much grain in their hands? How could there not be enough land for mergers and acquisitions throughout the ages? food.
Even if the direct descendants of the Chen family wouldn't do such unworthy things, the branches living around his main line were raised to do these things, but the way of the world is such that he doesn't bother to delve into it, otherwise there will be a few left in the court. a courtier.
Zhu Biao brought the topic back and said: "Everything is difficult at the beginning, but the reputation of the imperial court still needs to be cultivated. This palace is not here to deceive you about the food, so the court will definitely return the food in three years. You don't have to worry about it, Jiangnan Wealthy and prosperous, so I hope that the Jiangnan family can take the lead in cooperating with the imperial court."
Chen Youzong bowed and saluted: "I still say the same thing, I only want to go through fire and water for your highness. Your highness ordered me, the Chen family, to die. Among the families in the south of the Yangtze River, the Chen family is quite famous. I guarantee that I can collect 800,000 shi. If you take out 200,000 shi, those merchants can probably come up with 200,000 shi, and the ministers outside the south of the Yangtze River can only try their best to persuade them."
Zhu Biao nodded in satisfaction, 1.2 million shi is not a lot. You must know that the grain tax collected by Daming last year was only more than 9 million shi. After all, too many places were exempted from tax. Children's food tax was distributed without entering the national treasury, which is really stretched.
However, there is no way around it. The country’s revival is full of difficulties, but the future is bright. After two years, the taxes exempted from various places will have to be paid, and the effects of farming and relocation will also appear, just like farming. Now The stage is when the seeds are planted, watered and fertilized, and the hard work can always wait until the spring blossoms and autumn fruits.
The Jiangnan family expressed their position. Although it seems that they still want to be forced by his power, there is nothing they can do about it. Besides, if he hadn't asked, no one would have lent food.
Zhu Biao originally planned to give some benefits, but he did not expect Chen Youzong to be so upright. You must know that if the court refuses to admit it after three years, the Chen family will be blamed. Let alone the leader of the Jiangnan family in the future, I am afraid that he will be expelled from the family The circle is no surprise, interests are fundamental, they will not hold people who cut their flesh.
However, Zhu Biao will not be stingy with what should be given. Whether it is the Imperial College or local officials, there are many gaps. In today's officialdom, whoever wants to come in can come. As for whether he can live quietly and honestly until the end, it depends on the individual. Good luck.
After talking about the business, it stands to reason that Zhu Biao is going to serve tea to see off the guests, but Chen Youzong's things today are handled beautifully and make Zhu Biao feel at ease. The people in Hangzhou also take good care of me.
I have to say that the existence of this kind of person is to please people. His ability is definitely not as good as Li Shanchang, Wang Guangyang, Hu Weiyong and others. The first adjutant is coming to an end, but Zhu Biao still appoints him as the third-rank general political envoy.
After chatting for a while, Zhu Biao asked casually, "Has Mrs. Chen moved to the capital too?"
Chen Youzong is already sitting on a chair beside him. The Wenhua Palace is the crown prince's study, which is considered a private place. Needless to say, it means that he can sit and drink tea. It won't be too low, so what if it is brought up in the Jiangnan family circle, anyway, they will settle in the capital in the future, and the capital family is not better than Jiangnan?
How old is the crown prince this year, not to mention taking care of him in the future, just taking care of the three or four generations of the Chen family. This honor is enough for the Chen family to gain a firm foothold in the center of Daming. What's the use of being wealthy in the south of the Yangtze River? Sooner or later, they will be slaughtered severely for the New Year.
Chen Youzong said humbly: "His Majesty is worried about you. My mother is old and has lived in the south of the Yangtze River for a long time. She stayed in the old house because of the inconvenience. I only brought my wife and children to Beijing to take up the post. If the old lady knew about Your Highness Definitely very happy."
Zhu Biao smiled: "The old lady is a sensible person. Chen Aiqing is so outstanding, maybe it is because of the old lady's good teaching. Next year, if you have free time, please invite the old lady to come to Beijing. I will visit you in person."
Chen Youzong's eyes lit up and immediately knelt down on the ground: "Your Highness, a loyal minister, is deeply moved, and I wish I could show my sincerity."
These words were a bit nasty, Zhu Biao hurriedly waved and said: "Okay, I also hope that Chen Aiqing can assist me a lot. In the future, the government affairs will be complicated and the general secretary will not be idle, just be devoted to his duties."
Zhu Biao thought for a while and asked: "What happened to the Li family, but they are still selling private salt?"
Chen Youzong said directly: "Of course the Li family won't dare to receive His Highness's admonition, but the salt dealers below make a living from it. If the Li family doesn't take the lead, there will be others. Now I heard that there is a Wang Baihu."
Zhu Biao is not surprised, no matter how huge the profits are, there will always be people involved in it, but the court will never indulge them, and they will kill them if they can't stop them. It is really easy for salt dealers to become popular.
Selling illicit salt is, after all, a business of licking blood on the edge of a knife. Many illicit salt dealers have money, so they recruit soldiers, form their own armed forces, and form a salt peddling group.
Those who can become private salt dealers are mostly active-minded, bold and cautious people. They are both rich and armed. When the world changes, some ambitious and sensitive salt owls will take advantage of the momentum.
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(end of this chapter)