Back to the Song Dynasty as a tyrant

This year, Zhao Gou was no longer a Prince Taiping. He had personally sent away countless princes of the Zhao family, pushed for the new agricultural policy, and tried boldly in private lending in the Northwest.

How could he be intimidated by these people present?

"If you want to produce evidence, it's not here. This king represents the court, the emperor! This king is here to arrest people. Do you have to show the evidence to everyone present before you can arrest people?"

Zhao Gou's words blocked everyone's mouths.

"And Zhang Yushu, where is it?"

No one spoke.

"Not here?" Zhao Gou looked at Liu Guangde coldly.

"Zhang Yushu, come out!"

After Zhang Yu exported it, he said, "Your Highness, the grassroots are law-abiding."

"Whether you abide by the law or not is not what you say, nor what this king says, it is what the king says. If this king wronged you, you can sue him. This Fujian Road will punish you." The Prison Secretary can use Yushitai, and Yushitai impeaches the king, but I dare not say a word! But now I want to take you! Not only does the king want to take you, if you have anything to say, the interrogation room will slowly explain!"

After finishing speaking, Zhao Gou turned around and walked outside under the shocked eyes of everyone.

The banquet can no longer be described as breaking up on bad terms.

That afternoon, Zhao Gou interrogated the two men.

"Your Highness, you just came to the South China Sea. The affairs here are no more than those in the Central Plains. The business here is much more complicated than that in the Central Plains." Ma Zhongshan said politely, "Why do you offend everyone as soon as you come? Listen to Caomin A word of persuasion, give each other a step, and what His Highness needs to do in the future, give an order, and we will look forward to it and do it beautifully."

Zhao Gou sat on the chair and looked at these two people. For the first time, he felt the arrogance of the businessman.

Over the years, he has dealt with a lot of businessmen.

No matter in the Central Plains or in the Northwest, he single-handedly promoted countless wealthy folks.

But no one has ever dared to speak to him in this tone.

Zhao Gou pondered, in this way, the merchants of Guochao may really be like what Cai Mao said. With the accumulation of wealth and the new technology being used by civilians, the merchants are getting more and more daring!

Chapter 1303 The Rise of the Conservatives (Third)

After Zhao Gou signaled, Zhang Ziyan put a document in front of Ma Chongshan.

After Ma Chongshan picked it up and read it, his face turned pale.

"Is there enough evidence here?"

Ma Chongshan's arrogance just now was immediately suppressed, and Zhang Yushu on the side said: "Your Highness, we are the people who are in the hands of Wang Taiwei."

"Do you think Wang Zonglin can keep you in this matter?" Zhao Gou sneered.

The two stopped talking.

"Who did you sell the artillery to?" Zhao Gou asked.

The two still didn't speak.

"The rules of the country are lenient for frankness." Zhao Gou was not in a hurry. He had learned a lot from Zhao Ning over the years, and even his tone and demeanor more or less imitated Zhao Ning's posture. Hui, after he was caught doing business with the Jin people in private, he confessed to Qin Hui's son, Li Hui is still alive, the road is in front of him, the two of them can choose."

Ma Chongshan sighed, and Zhang Yushu didn't resist anymore.

Zhao Gou asked people to prepare pen and ink.

That night, Zhao Gou's people went to the magistrate's yamen and then to the Shibosi's yamen.

Liu Guangde, the prefect of Quanzhou, and Zhang Tianming, the prime minister of the Shibo Department, were arrested.

The next day, a report was sent from Quanzhou to Tokyo City at high speed.

On the evening of the fifth day of August, just as Zhao Chen came out of the official office and was about to go home, a voice came from behind him.

"His Royal Highness King Liao."

Zhao Chen turned around and saw that it was Li Zhuo, the imperial censor Zhongcheng.

"Li Zhongcheng."

"I have seen Your Highness."

"What's the matter with Li Zhongcheng?"

"It's a matter for local officials."

"Oh?"

"Liu Fang, Cao Junjun, a Yuezhou worker on the Liangzhe Road, took advantage of his position to divert a large amount of money allocated by the state government to build water conservancy projects. Someone reported it to the capital and directly reported it to Yushitai."

Zhao Chen was a little surprised and asked: "The corruption report of a worker who joined the army has arrived at Yushitai?"

"Maybe the whistleblower was afraid that someone in the middle would be involved, so he went directly to Yushitai."

"It's possible."

"In recent years, local officials have taken advantage of their positions to embezzle public funds!" Li Zhen said with emotion, "Now that His Highness is in the Ministry of Officials, the evaluation and appointment of local officials will definitely improve a lot."

What he meant was, that guy Mo Chou, he didn't care about anything in the official department all these years like he was cultivating immortality.

In fact, there are many people like Li Zhu who have opinions on Mo Chou.

Zhao Chen pondered for a moment and said, "This has something to do with the government's wanton release of currency to the people over the years. Is the construction of water conservancy in Yuezhou also a bank allocation?"

"It is the local government that asks for a loan from the bank. After the water conservancy is completed, it will benefit local agriculture and commerce. It will increase the tax revenue of the local government, and the local government will repay the bank loan from the increased tax revenue."

"This method is really absurd!" Zhao Chen said in a low voice, "What if the water conservancy cannot increase the income of agriculture and commerce? Wouldn't the local government owe huge debts to the banks?"

"The lower officials have also heard of some things in this regard, but the evaluation of officials by the local government is the total production."

Zhao Chen is aware of the assessment method of total production.

It is the sum of the valuations of agriculture and commerce.

Agriculture is related to the food of ordinary people. How many fields are reclaimed in a place and how much grain is produced per mu is the total value of agriculture.

The average annual output of each mu of land along the Yangtze River is four shi, and the minimum guarantee is three shi. If it is lower than this average, local officials will be fined.

The total business valuation naturally refers to the total value of all commodities. This is difficult to calculate clearly, but how much can be assessed through local commercial taxes.

The Taifu Temple and the Ministry of Punishment in the capital have standard legislative procedures for formulating commercial tax standards, so local officials cannot change the specific commercial tax by adjusting the commercial tax method.

Li Zhen said: "This kind of assessment method is naturally to urge local officials to vigorously develop commerce. At present, many civil constructions rely on bank loans for housing loans and recovery of money. This is also for commercialization, so that money comes from local governments. Separated from the government, reducing the direct intervention of the local government in money."

"My king knows what you said. I have read the official "General Theory of Money." Some worries flashed across Zhao Chen's face, but he didn't say anything more about it.

"What I said to His Highness is also related to the Yuezhou case. His Highness has just taken office, and these specific matters need to be contacted. The next official will report to His Highness first."

Zhao Chen took a look at Li Zhen. He still had a good impression of Li Zhen. He heard that when Qin Hui was defeated in the court that day, Li Zhen was the first admonisher to speak out.

"Okay, I understand, thank you for reminding me."

Li Zhuo didn't say anything, and made a cross-hand salute.

"Farewell."

After saying goodbye to Zhao Chen, Li Zhuo walked all the way to the small wine shop where he often drank with Wang Boyan.

However, his every move fell into the eyes of some people.

As night fell, Wang Boyan walked into the private room.

"Wang Shangshu."

"How's it going?"

"The lower official had a brief chat with the King of Liao, talking about the case in Yuezhou, and mentioned the way the Ministry of Officials assessed local officials. The King of Liao expressed some dissatisfaction with the way in front of him."

"Okay, you did a good job." Wang Boyan was overjoyed.

"The lower officials are dull." Li Zhuo said doubtfully.

"It's okay to tell you, you have to remember how to stand in line." Wang Boyan said, "Who is the king of Liao closest to?"

Li Zhuo was stunned for a moment, and said: "Naturally, he is the official family, and he is the son of the official family."

"I'm talking about the current court ministers."

Li Zhuo thought for a while and said, "Cai Xianggong?"

"What is Cai Xianggong's ruling philosophy?"

Li Zhuo said: "This official understands that Cai Xianggong has always opposed many current governance methods, including the new policies on banking and local construction."

"What about King Liao's attitude?"

"King Liao...King Liao seems to be dissatisfied."

"When King Liao was still a prince, he was dissatisfied with the New Deal. Although he had experienced in the frontiers these years and knew that the government would be restructured, he was still conservative."

"Does it matter?"

"This is related to whether he can become the prince in the future." Wang Boyan smiled happily, "Don't tell anyone about this matter, just wait and see what happens. The current evaluation of the local officials by the Ministry of Officials is not determined by Mo Yu, but by Zhao Ding and Zhao Ding. The tripod was determined according to the officials' ideas."

That night, Zhao Chen changed his clothes and came to Cai Mao's mansion.

"teacher."

"Your Highness came to this old minister so late, if someone spreads the word, I'm afraid he will tell you the truth!"

"Students don't understand something."

Cai Mao said calmly, "Is there anything you don't understand, Your Highness?"

He told him about the Yuezhou incident that Li Zhuo had told him before, and then said: "If you do this in the long run, the debts of the local government will increase."

"What do you think His Highness should do?"

"Of course correct the assessment method!"

"How to change it?"

"Abolishing the assessment of business and ensuring agriculture will not only ensure the foundation of people's livelihood, but leave the rest to the people."

Cai Mao asked: "Then will this guarantee that officials and businessmen will not collude?"

Chapter 1304 On the Dao (First Change)

Zhao Chen remained silent.

Cai Mao said: "If you make a hole, the world will be exploited by officials. Jing Guogong's reform failed in this way. Today's officials are enlightened, but some people in the court want to repeat Wang Anshi's mistakes."

"The teacher is talking about Zhao Ding?"

"The New Deal has been in place for 13 years, who else is there besides him?"

"Mr. Zhao has always been known for his public-mindedness, and he definitely won't be like this." Zhao Chen shook his head and said.

"In officialdom, don't listen to what other people say, but watch how they do it," Cai Mao said.

"Zhao Ding..." Zhao Chen pondered.

"Local debts are increasing." Before Zhao Chen could speak, Cai Mao continued to ask, "Whose fault is this?"

Zhao Chen hesitated, and said, "Mr. Zhao?"

"Everyone is using what they say to cover up their true purpose. The more beautiful the words, the stronger the deception."

"Then what should we do?"

"Didn't your Highness say it just now?"

"Abolishing the commercial assessment of local officials will benefit the people?" Zhao Chen wondered, "But the teacher said that this will not guarantee the collusion between officials and businessmen. Those businessmen are really hateful. When I was in Liaodong, they were all-pervasive. Buying and selling, my soldiers threw their heads and blood, and their families were ruined, but they made a lot of money."

Having said that, Zhao Chen's eyes showed anger and disgust for the businessman.

"Why is there collusion between officials and businessmen?"

"Because officials have power in their hands."

Cai Mao was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, think about this issue after you go back."

"The teacher might as well tell the students directly."

"His Royal Highness has been in the frontier for a long time, and he doesn't know the rules of the court. The marshal in command of the army has to tell the general directly which city he wants to fight for and which highlands he wants to occupy. If the target is not clear, confusion will easily arise, but this court no the same."

"How is it different?"

"Don't easily reveal your true political intentions, including leaving seven points in front of His Majesty."

Zhao Chen got up to leave, and he kept thinking about Cai Mao's words on the way back.

August [-]th, Wende Hall.