Chapter 447: He who knows the current affairs is a hero
The luxurious Zhao Mansion looked much more solemn and solemn today due to the arrival of two distinguished guests.
The spacious and bright guest room was filled with servants and eunuchs from the palace, and the Zhao family's servants were neatly arranged everywhere beside the door.
The scene that seemed crowded with people seemed unusually quiet.
With the sound of "The Lord is back", it gradually became active.
Concubine Yue Guifei and Wu Enrong, who were sitting in the guest seats, were the first to greet him.
Seeing the old figure coming towards her, before Zhao Guangyuan could pay homage, Concubine Yue anxiously said with concern:
"Old lady, I haven't seen you for many years. Are your bones still strong?"
While talking, I looked at him carefully with my peripheral vision. I saw that his temples were gray and age spots were scattered everywhere. He must have been alive for a long time.
It seemed that she had to maintain her relationship with this old guy today, as she was greedy just thinking about the Zhao family's wealth, which was unparalleled in the country.
Although she has the dignity of a noble concubine, she is still a bit weak in the palace. She has to rely on money to win over people.
"The common people pay their respects to the noble concubine."
Zhao Guangyuan saluted Concubine Yue unhurriedly, and then looked meaningfully at Wu Enrong. He had not seen him for many years. His handsome and handsome appearance was still the same as before, but there seemed to be a hint of indifference hidden in his affectionate eyebrows.
Wu Enrong noticed that his former friend was staring at him, looked at him deeply, and grinned calmly: "I'm fine, old lady."
"Thanks to the prefect, everything is well with me."
Zhao Guangyuan looked at each other for a moment, secretly arguing with each other, and never mentioned the matter of his son Zhao Yan.
Concubine Yue noticed that something seemed wrong in their expressions.
This is not how a brother-in-law and his brother-in-law should meet, and there is no sense of intimacy at all.
It is said that when Wu Enrong took the position of prefect, Zhao Guangyuan contributed a lot.
Why has it become so divided now?
After thinking about it, I'm afraid it's because of Zhao Xiaolangjun's incident.
The old man lost his beloved son, and Wu Taishou lost his nephew. They must have been very sad.
"Old lady, let's talk in the room."
Concubine Yue Guifei tried her best to show the friendliest attitude towards the old man. While stepping into the living room with the two of them, she sincerely said with relief: "I have also heard a little bit about your son. Such an outstanding and virtuous man has a far-reaching reputation."
It is really sad that the young man died like this, but people cannot be resurrected after death, so both Grand Duke and Grand Administrator Wu should express their condolences and not be too sad."
Hearing her mention the incident about Zhao Yan, Zhao Guangyuan and Wu Enrong looked at each other again with cold expressions, and then gradually turned into bitter smiles.
Wu Enrong sighed lightly: "It's just my nephew's lack of blessings."
Zhao Guangyuan deliberately avoided the topic, led the two of them to sit in the hall, changed the subject, and said bluntly: "I wonder what the imperial concubine is talking about when she comes to my humble residence today?"
"I should have come over to visit the old lady."
Concubine Yue looked at him earnestly and said with a smile: "I learned that the grandpa was ill a while ago and was worried about the old grandpa, so he deliberately came to visit."
Zhao Guangyuan just smiled without saying a word and waved to the servant beside him.
Soon after, a servant came in carrying a box.
Zhao Guangyuan ordered his servants to hand the box to Concubine Yue, and said: "I am old now and can no longer run around. I have long thought of entrusting Concubine to take care of the farm and dozens of shops in Jingling City. It just so happened that Concubine Yue took care of it today."
Come here, I will personally hand it over to the noble concubine."
Concubine Yue glanced at the wooden box that was handed over and pretended to be surprised and said, "How does this make the old lady not be so discouraged back then?"
Zhao Guangyuan smiled lightly and waved his hand: "Old man, I know how old I am. After meeting a noble concubine, this small fortune can be regarded as a little bit of my heart."
I expected that Concubine Yue must be here for the Qi family's affairs, so she said straight to the point:
"I know that the land equalization policy just issued by Pingning Prefecture also has a great influence on the imperial concubine. However, this policy is a policy that benefits the country and the people. I conclude that your majesty will definitely accept this policy. This policy will definitely be implemented in the near future.
Promoted throughout the country, the more than 2,000 acres of farmland and shops in Beijing will be regarded as making up for the loss of the imperial concubine and her family in Luyan Port."
Concubine Yue realized that he was speaking for Lin Jinxiao, so she used Jingling City's property to please herself, thus ending her determination to persuade him to cooperate with the Qi family.
She said with a smile: "The old lady is wrong. You and I are deeply favored by the emperor. In recent years, the grandfather has relied on the name of the imperial merchant to gain profits. He said that every year the imperial court went to the north to change horses.
All the brocades and fabrics are obtained from your Zhao family. At this time, it is time for the Grand Duke to share your worries for Your Majesty."
After a few seconds of silence, she continued: "The old lady has traveled all over the country over the years and has gained some knowledge. Why is she so confused now? Our Dahe Empire has been established for hundreds of years, relying on wealthy noble families and merchants like the old lady.
Rich families pay high taxes to the court every year so that they can replenish the national treasury. How often have you heard that those poor and untouchable people can become the country's dependence?"
When she said this, there was a hint of anger in her eyes: "Then King Pingning is ignorant and offends a wealthy family for the sake of some lowly slaves. Isn't this asking for death?"
"I cannot agree with what the noble concubine said. Even if you have ten thousand acres of fertile land, you still have to rely on tenants to cultivate it. If you don't have any skin left, how will the hair be attached?"
Although Zhao Taigong was a bit overbearing, he never wanted to treat his tenants harshly.
If it were in the past, he might have been hesitant about the land equalization policy for the sake of future generations, but now he just wants to be a good person, someone who the girl from the Chu family can think of without frowning:
"Not to mention that King Pingning is now in charge of this state, let's talk about the suffering of people's livelihood in these years. Isn't it thought-provoking enough that the Yulong Gang committed chaos?"
"Brother-in-law, the more he lives, the less courageous he becomes."
Wu Enrong curled his lips disapprovingly: "I heard that just after King Pingning took office as the Eastern Defense Envoy, my brother-in-law was the first to respond to the order to reduce rents. Now that the rent-free order has not been issued, my brother-in-law has purchased the fields of various villages at high prices overnight. My brother-in-law really can't stand it.
You understand my brother-in-law's behavior. You are a businessman. How could you do such a stupid thing at this time? Don't you know that you are wasting your money?"
"The governor is really well informed."
Zhao Guangyuan sneered.
As soon as he arrived at Luyan Port, he understood his own affairs so thoroughly, and he was really attentive: "I always have my own opinions when doing things, so I won't bother the prefect to worry about it. The so-called person who knows the current affairs is a hero."
"Anyone who knows the current affairs is a hero. Lin Jinxiao is just a newly-consecrated prince from a foreign vassal with no foundation. With Concubine Yue and King Dongjin sitting in the capital, why should my brother-in-law be afraid of a fledgling boy like him?"
Wu Enrong looked at him with deep eyes and said angrily: "In my brother-in-law's opinion, my brother-in-law was seduced by that woman from the Chu family. He protected him in every way and did stupid things for her again and again.
Now, in order to help her deal with the Qi family, they are willing to pay huge sums of money to acquire land that has been cheapened. Then my brother-in-law doesn't even want to mention the matter of Qinghefang and Jushengfang."
Zhao Guangyuan was silent, smiled calmly, and clenched his fist quietly. It seemed that this guy had a spy in the house.
He knew everything he said and did, yet he had been completely unaware of it for so many years.