Ruins of the past

Hao Xiangtong looked at Chu Qiguang with eyes full of curiosity and doubt.

'He actually knew about the peace talks and mutual trade earlier than his father. What is the origin of this Chu Qiguang? ’

In Hao Xiangtong's eyes, the original Chu Qiguang was just a shabby and poor boy. At most, his words were very interesting, and he really wanted to hear what he said.

But at this moment, in Hao Xiangtong's eyes, Chu Qiguang suddenly became mysterious, and the stories told at night seemed to have a different meaning.

Listening to what the other party said, Chu Qiguang knew that the Hao family had taken the bait, so he smiled slightly: "Then let's go."

This time Chu Qiguang came to Hao's house, but it was the first time he was received in the living room by the current head of the family, Hao Wen.

Hao Wen ordered tea to be served, and then dismissed the surrounding servants, leaving only his butler Hao Fulai.

Then he and Chu Qiguang started talking in a fog, just to try to trick Chu Qiguang and see who was behind the other party.

Obviously, in the eyes of Mr. Hao Wen and Hao Er, if the other party knew the court's policy in advance, there must be someone in Shenjing.

In Chu Qiguang's mind, information about Hao Wen and Wu Wei from the Wu family flashed in front of him.

According to Qiao Zhi, these two people are ambitious, greedy and lustful people, so they were left at home to take care of the family business, but they still often caused trouble for Mr. Wu Ge.

It's okay now. They just rely on Mr. Wu Ge's background to do business, buy land, and evade taxes... which are common operations of local right-wingers.

After Wu Gelao became the first assistant, he started to cheat one after another. He took advantage of all kinds of fish and meat villages. Qingyang County alone accounted for more than 80% of the cultivated land, almost turning the entire Qingyang County into an independent kingdom.

But at the same time, one year after Mr. Wu Ge became the first assistant, the old man would personally start a vigorous reform. Measure land, equalize taxes and servitude, reform official administration, reform horse administration, tea administration...

In the next ten years at least, this Wu Ge elder would be one person below ten thousand people. He could almost look down on the court. He could be called a golden elephant with extremely thick legs.

At this moment, Chu Qiguang's plan is to intervene in the confrontation between the Hao family, the Wu family and the magistrate, so as to cling to Mr. Wu Ge's lap and use the other party's reforms, power and influence to achieve his future goals.

Naturally, Chu Qiguang would not be easily tricked out. Seeing that Mr. Hao did not get into the topic for a long time, Chu Qiguang took another sip of tea and said directly: "I heard that the county magistrate issued a complaint and many tenants were in trouble. Get up, I wonder if Mr. Hao Daguan has any countermeasures here?"

The current policy implemented by Hezhi County is to measure the land and calculate clearly the size, ownership and quality of the land under each household's name, and then allocate all corvee and taxes according to the land owned by each household. Divide equally.

This is equal taxation. The more land the more land has to bear, the more taxes and duties it has to bear. Of course, it can greatly reduce the burden on the people, but Chu Qiguang knows that this system of the feudal dynasty treats the symptoms but not the root cause, because the exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes accumulated from generation to generation. It's not removed, it's just spread out.

‘If you want to cure the root cause, you have to take my place. ’

Chu Qiguang asked Qiao Zhi carefully and found out that in the next month or two, the Wu family and the Hao family tried their best to delay, and even involved the Beiyue magistrate, Lingzhou governor, and patrol inspector, and the fight broke out in Qingyang County. Jump.

But these things... neither Hao Wen nor Wu Wei knew about it at this moment. As landlords, they instinctively rejected Magistrate He's policies and were unwilling to spit out the meat in their mouths.

Opposite Chu Qiguang... Mr. Hao did not reply.

Yesterday, there was a conflict on the land between the Wu family and the Hao family. Hezhi County brought tenants who complained to measure the land. Although Hao Wen and others blocked it once with people, the two families combined have so much land that it is impossible to prevent it. Maybe he can always stop the people from the county government.

Seeing Hao Wen's unhappy look, Chu Qiguang said: "I have a way, maybe we can make Hezhi County return without success."

Hao Wen's expression turned silent, but the steward Hao Fulai on the side said forcefully: "Master Chu, please don't joke around. Measuring the land and equalizing taxes and corvees is a national policy. We should do our best to do it and share the worries of the court. , to solve problems for the people.”

Chu Qiguang smiled, did not look at the housekeeper, but stared at Hao Wen and said: "Hao Daguan, we Ming people do not speak secretly. The national policy is indeed the national policy, but even if the imperial court wants to promote it nationwide, there must be someone who comes first, first served." , it cannot be achieved overnight.

There is so much land in the Han Dynasty, and if the land is rotated from state to state, if you respond to the policy earlier or later, the difference will be ten or twenty years. "

Chu Qiguang's words touched Hao Wen's heart. As a veteran landowner in Qingyang County, most of his family's property is in this field. Returning the occupied fields... Even if it is a national policy, he still thinks how long he can delay it. It just drags on for a few years. Maybe if you change the county magistrate, it will be delayed?

When the housekeeper Hao Fulai heard this, he looked at Chu Qiguang with disdain: "You are a yellow-tongued kid, your martial arts is no more than a level, and you have no fame. How can you stop your parents from being a magistrate in the county?"

Chu Qiguang glanced at the butler and felt that the other person seemed to be hostile to him. He thought to himself: 'Or is this a case where Hao Wen and the housekeeper are playing the good and the bad? ’

Chu Qiguang looked at Hao Wen and said: "Hao Daguan, if you are willing to do me a favor and let me take a look at the county annals and huidian of Qingyang County, I will definitely be able to find a way to make Hezhi County go away without success. return."

The county annals record the history, geography, customs, etc. of the county, while the Huidian records all policy changes in Qingyang County from the founding of the People's Republic to the present.

Both of these are things that Chu Qiguang could not see even with the help of Li Shuanshou.

Chu Qiguang looked at these two things. Firstly, he wanted to check if there was any abnormality in the Chu family's life experience. Secondly, he wanted to check if there were any clues about the secrets of the Zifu. Finally, he wanted to do a favor for the Wu family and the Hao family.

Butler Hao sneered: "But you haven't even figured out a solution yet? You still want to read the county annals and the ceremony? It's simply fantastic."

He dissuaded Mr. Hao and said, "Master, there are so many people in our family who haven't come up with a reliable solution yet. The origin of this guy is unclear, so don't trust him easily."

Chu Qiguang frowned and looked at the housekeeper, confirming once again that the other person was indeed hostile to him, feeling a little strange in his heart. Because he had never seen each other before.

Hao Wen on the other side thought for a while, looked at Chu Qiguang and asked: "You can come up with a solution after reading the county annals and the meeting? How sure are you? You face the direction of the Taoist temple, face the Taoist temple Your Majesty said."

Chu Qiguang turned to the direction of the Taoist temple and said slowly: "I have gone through Qingyang County's money and grain accounts over the past few years, and found many problems with the county government in them. Once they are taken out, it will be enough to make the county magistrate rush."

Hao Wen nodded slightly. He had been the head of the family for so many years, and of course he knew how many tax loopholes Qingyang County had accumulated due to the exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes year after year. It would be impossible for the new county magistrate to sort them out even after a year and a half.

It can be seen that the county is just a floating official once every three years. Often the problems of the previous term have not been solved, leaving a bunch of new problems before leaving. "

Chu Qiguang continued: "As long as I check the county annals and the canon, I dare to swear to Taoist Xuanyuan that I am 90% sure that Hezhi County can retreat despite the difficulties."

Hao Wen stared at Chu Qiguang, as if he was trying to see Chu Qiguang's reality clearly, but all he saw was a pair of firm and clear eyes.

In this era, swearing to Tao Zun still increases credibility.

So Mr. Hao nodded and said, "Okay, I will make arrangements for you..."

After Chu Qiguang left, Butler Hao said to Mr. Hao Wen and Mr. Hao: "Master, I think this Chu Qiguang is just a student who just entered the Yinglue Hall. I heard that he used to farm in Wangjiazhuang. A poor guy who has been poor for eighteen generations. Now I don’t know what the details are, so if I use it rashly, will it cause trouble?"

Hao Wen glanced sideways at the housekeeper and said casually: "Anyway, if he comes up with a solution, it's up to us to decide whether to use it or not. He is just a chess piece, and the people behind him are the key. When he comes up with a solution... we will know it is Who played the chess game, and what’s the purpose?”

"Okay, let's not talk about this." A trace of excitement and greed flashed in Hao Wen's eyes: "Next, I will make a list for you, and you go stock up immediately. We must turn all the money in our hands into cash before the mutual market. Into iron pots, tea, elixirs, salt..."

Hao Wen talked about a lot of daily necessities that the northern demon clan was in urgent need of, and then said with a smile: "Once the news of the mutual trade gets out, the price will at least increase several times..."