pdf-ebookys Chapter 332 New Office, New Faces
Chapter 332 New Office, New Faces
The Supervisory Department and the Taxation Department were newly established government offices. There were many new faces in the new government offices, most of whom were energetic young people.
The rank of the tax commissioner was not high, only the fourth rank, but he had considerable power. The tax commissioner was not controlled by the six ministries, but only followed the orders of the regent and the cabinet. However, the taxes collected were checked by the Ministry of Revenue and paid into the national treasury.
The officials in Beijing tried their best but still couldn't get in. They complained about the iron-faced and impartial Si Zheng Feng Xiaochun and the ruthless Regent Zhao Defang.
Feng Xiaochun is Feng Zian's younger brother. He has been helping his elder brother manage the business for many years and has a paranoid obsession with money accounts. After being entrusted with an important task by His Royal Highness the Regent, he works day and night and devotes all his enthusiasm to the government affairs of collecting commercial taxes.
The increase in commercial taxes was still resisted in various places. Fortunately, the war of public opinion was well fought, the propaganda was in place, and there was also the precedent of the collapse of several major families. Those wealthy businessmen who wanted to fight to the death did not cause much trouble.
The increased commercial taxes were only imposed on merchants with high incomes or those operating in highly profitable industries. Small merchants who earned a little money to support their families were still subject to low taxes. On the contrary, they lived a more comfortable life than before because there were no more extortionate taxes from various government offices. No matter how the aristocratic families and wealthy merchants instigated them, few people followed them to resist the new tax policy of the court.
The new policy reforms in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were implemented more smoothly. The wealthy and powerful landlords were basically Khitan nobles. Sima Qingyun, under the regent, was a ruthless man. He used thundering means to confiscate the property of the Khitan nobles.
In just three months, the new policy reforms in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were completed. The Han people who were given low-rent land to cultivate were excited and supported the new policy.
The new policy reforms were successfully implemented in the two experimental sites of Western Shu and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, with good results. Now it is time to expand the territory.
Therefore, the two princes, the King of Chu and the King of Xiang, who had made great contributions to the reform of the new policy in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, went to Dingzhou and Yizhou with great enthusiasm and began the journey of promoting the new policy from the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the south of the capital. …
Luoyang City, southwest of the capital, was the secondary capital of the Song Dynasty and was not much less prosperous than the capital.
There was a great scholar named Song Wenxian in Luoyang City. He was very influential and respected in the minds of scholars and other readers of the Song Dynasty. Song Wenxian was the president of Mingshan Academy. He wrote books, taught and educated people, and his students were all over the world.
Song Wenxian came from a prominent family and was extremely resistant to the new policies implemented by the Regent. He wanted to use his status as a great scholar and the power of his disciples all over the world to confront the Regent Zhao Defang.
Not only did Song Wenxian talk about the New Deal every day when he gave lectures to students, he also wrote books to criticize the New Deal as a useless tyranny. Due to his great influence on scholars, the wave he created was quite big.
Regent Zhao Defang was holding a book "Commenting on the New Policies" and reading it with relish. The little emperor, who was reviewing the memorials, pouted and looked at his lazy uncle with resentment and grievance in his eyes.
"Uncle, what's so good about that rotten old man Song Wenxian's book? If you don't help me with so many memorials, when will I be able to finish reviewing them?"
Zhao Defang said without even turning his head: "Only by knowing both ourselves and the enemy can we win every battle. We must study the enemy's tactics thoroughly to achieve a surprise victory."
The young emperor Zhao Wuji curled his lips in disdain, "Is it worth your effort to put so much effort into that old fellow who is well-read in the books of sages and talks about morality but has no moral integrity?"
"If you want me to say it, just expose all his ugly deeds and reveal his sanctimonious hypocritical face. The disgraced Song Wenxian will become an ugly villain despised by everyone." The little emperor excitedly threw down the imperial pen and ran to his uncle.
"Uncle, by then, the disgraced Song Wenxian will become a joke for writing books and educating people. Whatever he says will be regarded as shit by everyone!"
Zhao Defang put down the book in his hand, looked at the little emperor standing in front of him with great interest, with a cunning and sinister smile on his face, and smiled faintly, "How about, let your Majesty take charge of the task of dealing with Song Wenxian?"
"Really?" The young emperor Zhao Wuji's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Uncle, you must keep your word. I will make a specific plan right away. As for the memorials, I'll have to trouble you, uncle!"
Although the young emperor worked hard at attending court and reviewing memorials, he always had a stern face and looked reluctant. Only when planning to deal with the enemy would he take the initiative to participate with great interest.
Today, the emperor's uncle gave him the task of dealing with Song Wenxian. The little emperor Zhao Wuji was very enthusiastic, his little face flushed with excitement, and he couldn't help but smile at the corner of his lips.
This matter must be done beautifully, how should we act? Yes! I have ordered the "Weifeng" team to come to the palace to discuss it.
Feng Xuanzi and Wu Chizi were whetted by the delicious food and wine, so the two brothers lived in a hot spring villa outside the city. The Ghost Hand Poison Doctor also behaved himself. It was not easy for the three brothers to get together, so they cherished the opportunity. They tasted wine and discussed swords every day, and guided Xiao Jintai's martial arts.
Luo Li specially sent Tingting over, and asked Tingting, who had superb cooking skills, to use all her skills to cook various delicious dishes in order to please Feng Xuanzi, the hermit master.
She and Zhao Defang would bring their son there every now and then to stay for a few days to show their filial piety to their master.
Her disciple's wife also took the opportunity to flatter and coax him. She was shocked by the skills Feng Xuanzi showed when he broke into the palace at night to rescue the emperor. It felt so safe and fulfilling to have a hermit master with extraordinary martial arts skills to do high-level labor.
Luo Li took her son and rode in a carriage out of the city and headed straight for the hot spring villa. In the carriage behind were all kinds of newly arrived seafood and a hundred jars of fine wine.
After entering the hot spring villa, Luo Li carried her son directly to the Bamboo Forest Garden. After greeting Feng Xuanzi, she smiled and flattered him, "Master, the newly arrived seafood has just been unloaded at the port, so I quickly sent you a few baskets. I also sent you a hundred jars of fine wine that I personally supervised for you to taste."
Feng Xuanzi stood up and took over his lovely grandson, then said with a smile in his eyes: "My disciple's wife is filial. In this life, Master will be your family's supporter and serve you, the Tai Chi Sect Master, as a high-level laborer."
Luo Li, who had received another promise, was secretly happy in her heart, and said humbly, "Master, what are you talking about? You are the backbone of our family and our respected elder. How can I treat you as a coolie?"
Feng Xuanzi's narrow phoenix eyes still had a smile on their faces, "Master, what I said is what's in your heart. Don't be polite, don't be modest!"
Luo Li smiled guiltily, looked at the martial arts fanatic with a raised lip corner, and then looked at the ghost hand poison doctor who was smiling and winking, his face became serious, "Ghost Hand, why don't you take your little brother over? What if Lin'er pees on the master? Watch the child, I will go to the kitchen and make a seafood feast for the master."
After flattering her master and showing her courtesy, Luo Li followed Tingting diligently in the kitchen, which made Tingting feel distressed and she kept chasing her out.
"Tingting, if you want to coax and please a high-level coolie like Feng Xuanzi, you must be sincere. I can't be lazy as your lady, lest that Feng Xuanzi, who has become a spirit, change his words and regret it again."
A sumptuous seafood feast had just filled two tables, and the children sat alone at one table. Before the children sat down and had time to eat, housekeeper Cheng rushed in.
"Report to the princess, the palace has sent a eunuch to convey the order, and summon the members of the "Wei Feng" team to the palace immediately!"