Sun Xiyi sneered and said: "Hmph...can't we just hand it over? I'm afraid we can't do it without giving it to the King of Zhou, right?"
Shopkeeper Yan shook his head and said: "Sir, I'm afraid you have wronged King Zhou. I have the honor to meet King Zhou once and listen to King Zhou's teachings. Although the common people do not understand King Zhou's words very well,
The little old man thinks there is some truth to what King Zhou said."
"Old man Yan, haven't you taken Pang's medicine? Why are you speaking for him?" A scholar on the side asked with surprise and anger: "That Pang is a
A man without a king and a father has now set such a ridiculous tax rate without authorization, and you still think his words are reasonable. Are you confused?"
Shopkeeper Yan shook his head, the gray hair on his temples kept floating on his face. He sighed tremblingly and didn't want to say anything. He turned around and walked back.
"Old man Yan, stop for me!" Seeing that shopkeeper Yan wants to leave, Sun Xiyi and others are not happy. I haven't spoken yet, do you dare to leave?
Shopkeeper Yan slowly stopped, turned around and asked, "What else do you young masters have to do?"
Seeing that a mere shopkeeper dared to despise himself, the former Master of the Ministry of Rites, Sun Xiyi couldn't help but feel angry, "How dare you, Master, let you go?"
Shopkeeper Yan was also annoyed. He sneered and said, "Oh, maybe the little old man can't walk around in Yangzhou City anymore. What kind of rules are these?"
As the saying goes, a person carrying a sedan chair has his own face, but face is given by others. Sun Xiyi's domineering attitude aroused the dissatisfaction of shopkeeper Yan. Damn it, old man, I am polite to you because of you.
Since I am the former Minister of Etiquette, do you, a person who has not yet passed the imperial examination, want to drink from me?
"You..." Sun Xiyi was furious and stood up to yell.
At this time, Liu Rushi stood up and persuaded: "Shopkeeper Yan, don't be angry. Mr. Sun was just angry for a moment, and he didn't mean to be disrespectful to you. Don't take it seriously, and besides, just now you were worried about that week...
..... Na Pang Gang spoke, so he lost his composure for a moment. Don't be surprised, but the little girl is also very curious. How do you say that the tax rate in Qingzhou is also reasonable? Could it be that Na Pang Gang said
Is there any truth behind it? Can you sit down and slowly explain our doubts? Xiaocui, please serve tea to Shopkeeper Yan!"
"Hey, here we come!" Soon, a pretty little maid brought a cup of fine tea to Shopkeeper Yan.
Liu Rushi is indeed a famous singer in the south of the Yangtze River. Although she has a very aloof temperament, she is much stronger than a pretentious young master like Sun Xiyi when it comes to dealing with others. She can dispel the anger between the two of them in just a few words.
.
Shopkeeper Yan took a sip of the fragrant tea, and the anger just now subsided. He put down the tea cup and smiled at Liu Rushi: "I have long heard that Mr. Liu is not only beautiful and fragrant, but also generous and enthusiastic. When I saw him today, he really lived up to his reputation.
"
Sun Xiyi on the side snorted lightly, but did not say anything to refute. After the anger passed, he also sobered up a lot. He knew that although shopkeeper Yan was just a commoner, the energy of the Chamber of Commerce behind him was not small. If he really wanted to be determined and
If you are in trouble, you may also have some troubles.
Liu Rushi seemed not to notice Sun Xiyi's expression, and asked: "I hope that shopkeeper Yan will clear up the confusion and tell the little girl what Pang Gang was sitting in Qingzhou."
Shopkeeper Yan nodded and said: "Since everyone Liu wants to know, then I will show my shame."
Shopkeeper Yan cleared his voice and then said: "When I went to Dao Qingzhou, I met the King of Zhou..."
At this time, Sun Xiyi interrupted him and said: "Shopkeeper Yan, the traitor Pang Gang has been deprived of all official positions by the court. Now he has established himself as king in Qingzhou. I'm afraid it's inappropriate for you to call him King of Zhou?"
"This..." A look of displeasure flashed across Shopkeeper Yan's face, but he still nodded and said, "That's right. It was when Pang Gang was leading his troops to capture all the vice-presidents of the Qingzhou Chamber of Commerce, Li Jierong.
Beheaded, all family properties were confiscated, and all businesses doing business in the areas under their jurisdiction were required to pay 20% tax, otherwise they would be severely fined. The merchants were dissatisfied and went to the Prince of Zhou's Mansion to argue. That week...
Pang Gang was not afraid. He invited everyone into the mansion and argued with them. The little old man was lucky enough to listen on the sidelines, and he really learned something."
"Oh?" A strange color flashed in Liu Rushi's big eyes, and she asked curiously: "Shopkeeper Yan, can you tell me what Pang Gang said?"
Shopkeeper Yan nodded and said: "Of course." Na Pang asked everyone at the beginning that the Ming Dynasty has a population of hundreds of millions, but how many of them are the royal family, officials, gentry, merchants and wealthy people? Then someone answered that it was not enough.
One percent.
Then Pang Gang asked again: How much money and land do these people occupy in the world? Everyone was dumbfounded, and it took a long time for someone to answer, 90%. Then Pang Gang asked again, but now the Ming Dynasty allows these 90% of people to use it.
Is it fair that less than 10% of the world's money is used to support the entire Ming Dynasty's officials, the Ming Dynasty's millions of soldiers and horses, the Ming Dynasty's hundreds of thousands of royal family, and all the Ming Dynasty's expenses? As soon as Pang Gang said this, everyone
Everyone was speechless, no one could answer, and the little old man and those beside him were also speechless.
Na Pang Gang said again: The royal family, officials, gentry, merchants and wealthy people have all the money in the world, but they are unwilling to contribute to the Ming Dynasty. This is why the Ming Dynasty suppresses more and more rogue bandits and the scale of the rogue bandits is getting bigger and bigger.
The reason is that you businessmen all say that they have earned hard-earned money and should not pay taxes. They blame all the refugees who are so hungry and thin and dressed in ragged clothes. Is this the right thing to do? Is it possible that after paying 20% of the tax, all the merchants?
Is there really no money to be made? Hearing this, the little old man was ashamed and speechless. Finally, he paid the taxes and returned to Yangzhou."
After shopkeeper Yan finished speaking, the lobby became silent.
After a long time, a voice rang out, "Humph, being stingy is nonsense!" Sun Xiyi stood up and slapped the case: "Taizu once had a clear instruction: For business taxes, take one out of thirty, and those who exceed it will be violated.
By the way, isn’t Pang Gang satisfying his extravagant lust by raising taxes to 20%?”
Seeing Sun Xiyi's "righteous words", shopkeeper Yan couldn't help but asked: "Master Sun is a scholar, so he naturally knows more principles than the little old man who is a businessman. The little old man would like to ask, now my Ming Dynasty is suffering from internal and external troubles."
, My court's annual tax is only four million, but the military expenditure and various expenses the court spends on the Nine Changes every day cost five million taels of silver. I would like to ask, young master, how can the court not be short of silver, how can it cope with the nine changes?
Are we going to get more and more military pay? Do we still need to send more money to the people?"
"this........."
Everyone was speechless. What Shopkeeper Yan said just now made it very clear. Now 90% of the wealth in the world is concentrated in the hands of less than 10% of the people, but all the expenses of the Ming Dynasty are covered by less than 10% of the wealth.
However, this wealth has to feed 90% of the poor, hundreds of thousands of armies on all sides, and officials all over the world. This is no longer exploitation, it is simply sucking the marrow of the poor. If we add more taxes
If the distribution is divided, even a fool will understand that all the poor will rebel.
No one sitting here is a fool. The words have reached this level. Even Sun Xiyi, an arrogant young man, understands that this is a very acute problem. The rich and wealthy bureaucracy controls most of the world's wealth and resources.
But they will not spend even a penny of their money, and push all the responsibilities to the poor who can't even meet their food and clothing. But the problem now is that the poor now have to starve to death. From now on, they will starve to death.
Who should the Ming Dynasty ask for taxes from?
Seeing that no one answered, Shopkeeper Yan sighed softly and said: "Pang Gang also said that these officials, gentry and merchants in the Ming Dynasty are like leech, clinging to the people's bodies and desperately sucking the people's bone marrow.
, but they are unwilling to make any efforts for the people. If things go on like this, when the people's marrow is sucked clean, it will be the day when the Ming Dynasty will be destroyed! The little old man has never studied, and he doesn't know whether this is right or not. All you gentlemen are.
Scholars are also more knowledgeable than this old man. Everyone, I will take my leave now."
After saying that, Shopkeeper Yan bowed his hands to everyone and walked downstairs. A thumping sound was heard. Shopkeeper Yan's figure disappeared from everyone's eyes and soon disappeared, leaving only everyone who was speechless...
...
After a long time, Sun Xiyi pulled himself together and said, "Okay, colleagues. Let's not get distracted by this old man's nonsense and continue drinking...drinking!"
"Yes, drink!"
Everyone raised their glasses one after another, but their smiles looked so forced and a little anxious. Only Liu Rushi's big eyes flashed a trace of curiosity and a trace of determination...
In November of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, the weather has turned cold, winter has arrived, and the goose-feather heavy snow has arrived as expected. Everything in the world seems to be covered in silver. This year has not changed much from the past, and the situation in the Ming Dynasty remains the same.
Severe, Li Zicheng actively developed troops in Shaanxi. Liu Zongmin brandished a long sword and drove 70,000 to 80,000 bandits to attack Jiangxi desperately. After paying a huge price, after three months of hard fighting, he finally captured Linjiang Prefecture and
The two important towns of Nanchang Prefecture, these two wealthy state capitals immediately suffered an unprecedented catastrophe, and countless people and businessmen were ruthlessly killed and looted.
Liu Zongmin's crazy behavior also met with strong counterattack by all the gentry in Jiangnan. Officials and gentry in Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui and even Jiangsu wrote to the court as quickly as possible, asking the court to send troops to exterminate the bandits immediately, otherwise they would not be able to guarantee the next year.
When water transport arrives, will the taxes from each province be delivered to the capital on time?
For a moment, the world was shocked. Chongzhen was furious in the court and ordered the Ministry of War to come up with the regulations immediately, otherwise he would be severely punished. Hong Chengchou, Minister of the Ministry of War, has been so anxious these days that his hair has turned gray. He has made many plans, but the most important thing at the moment is
The problem is that the elite troops of the imperial court are now concentrated in Mongolia and the Liaodong border. Even if they want to mobilize elite troops from nine sides to Jiangxi to suppress bandits, they are faced with a fatal problem, that is, the only way for them to enter Jiangnan is Shandong and Henan.
This is Pang Gang's territory, they can't get through!
Hong Chengchou reported the problem to Chongzhen, and Chongzhen was dumbfounded. This problem was really difficult to solve. He couldn't ask Pang Gang to get out of the way. In this way, Pang Gang would have to fall out with them. If he didn't send troops, would he be trying to kill Jiangnan in vain?
If it cannot be surrendered to the rogues, if Jiangnan is lost, the Ming Dynasty will not be far from destruction.
Some people said that they should simply send troops to recover Shandong and Henan, but others asked, who of you can guarantee that you can defeat Pang Gang? The 100,000 troops in Pang Gang's hands are not vegetarians. They even dare to fight against the Tatars.
My lord, if Pang Gang is offended, he will simply send his troops north to attack the capital directly or block the water transportation road. Which of you can bear this result? Moreover, at this time, the Manchu army has also stationed troops in Guan Ning and Xuanda.
What if the Manchus and Qing Dynasties took the opportunity to join forces again and go south to the court? As soon as these words came out, those who shouted to regain Shandong all shut up obediently.
In the end, Hong Chengchou came up with a way to ask the Jiangnan people's provincial governors to form their own troops to resist the bandits. They also raised their own food and wages. If they were asked to pay more taxes on weekdays, wouldn't they always be poor? Today, let them find a way to do it.
, Chongzhen looked at it and took aim!
After receiving the imperial order, the anxious officials and gentry in the south of the Yangtze River realized that the imperial army could not get through anyway, so it was better to seek help from others than to seek help from others, so they had better find a way on their own.
It must be said that Liu Zongmin's "Three Guangs" policy had a powerful shock to the gentry in Jiangnan. Under the threat of life and death, officials from the four provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Jiangxi jointly formed tens of thousands of rural warriors to fight against the Jiangxi gentry.
The rogue bandits launched a counterattack.
At this time, the Jiangnan gentry burst out with powerful explosive force, catching the proud Liu Zongmin off guard. Liu Zongmin, who was caught off guard, was defeated one after another. By the end of December of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, the army led by Liu Zongmin was miraculously defeated.
After being driven out of Jiangxi, Liu Zongmin suffered heavy losses and had to return to Hunan in despair.
This result made the Ming court extremely happy. Chongzhen issued a special decree to commend the governors and officials of the four provinces south of the Yangtze River. For a time, everyone in the government and the public celebrated.
Heavy snow like goose feathers fell on the ground, and the garden where flowers were originally in full bloom was all silvery white. Only a few red plum blossoms bloomed proudly in the wind.
It was ice and snow outside, but it was a different scene in Pang Gang's study. Pang Gang was sitting lazily on a thickly covered armchair. There was a red charcoal fire burning in the study, and the burning charcoal made the study warm.
In the spring, Wei Manting was holding her sleeping son in her arms and was sitting next to Pang Gang, quietly watching the information that Leng Yan had just sent.
"Liu Zongmin was defeated?" Wei Manying's voice was filled with surprise, "Isn't Liu Zongmin a powerful general under Li Zicheng? How could he be defeated by those old soldiers from Jiangnan?"
Pang Gang said lazily: "How is this impossible? Liu Zongmin brought the same tricks from Shaanxi and Henan to Jiangnan. Would it be strange if he didn't fail? It should be noted that Jiangnan is different from Shaanxi and other northwest regions. Jiangnan is a prosperous land.
No matter how poor the people in the south of the Yangtze River were, they still had food to eat. Therefore, there were always far fewer refugees in the south of the Yangtze River than in the northwest. Moreover, the number of gentry and wealthy households in the south of the Yangtze River was always the highest in the Ming Dynasty. As soon as Liu Zongmin entered Jiangxi, he moved Nanchang Prefecture and Linjiang Prefecture.
The wealthy gentry in the south of the Yangtze River were wiped out, which aroused the unanimous hatred of the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River. If you don't let them live, it would be strange if they don't fight with you. Moreover, none of the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River is wealthy. As the saying goes, they will be rewarded heavily.
There must be brave men below. They have gathered the strength of the four provinces to attack together. How can Liu Zongmin be invincible?"
Wei Man Ting smiled slyly, rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "My lord, is this the reason why you didn't send troops to Jiangsu or Anhui?"
"Yes!" Pang Gang said frankly: "Jiangnan is not that easy to fight. Although I am confident that I can forcibly capture Jiangnan with a large army or sharp artillery, the losses will inevitably increase greatly, and there will be casualties.
So many soldiers came and I was afraid of smashing Jiangnan to pieces. After all, a Jiangnan full of desolation is not what I want."
"So you want Liu Zongmin to explore the way for you first, and then you...My lord, your strategy has made great progress."
Wei Manting on the side gave her husband a flirtatious look with a smile as bright as a flower. She had just finished feeding her breasts and was half undressed, leaning on a soft chair. A charming and gentle mother, with a beautiful girl and a plump girl made of pink and jade.
Her snow-white chest is like a holy and beautiful picture. The color of rouge is revealed under the fair skin, and there is a strange fragrance that is not like musk but not musk, like orchid but not orchid, emanating from her body, sweet and greasy,
It was heartbreaking, and Pang Gang knew it was the unique smell of a woman who had given birth.
Pang Gang, who was a little horny, glared helplessly at Wei Man Ting. This originally generous and virtuous daughter-in-law had now learned how to seduce her husband to win his favor.
Regarding the changes in his current wives, Pang Gang felt like he was in the clear mind. As his territory of strength continued to expand, the status of his several wives continued to rise, and some problems began to gradually emerge.
Among his six current daughters-in-law, Li Xuezhu is the princess of North Korea, and her status is logically the most respected. However, her ancestors' saying, "Those who are not of the same kind as me must have different hearts," determine her role in Pang Gang's place.
It is impossible to have supporters, and although Chen Yuanyuan is the most beautiful among Pang Gang's wives and is also very favored by Pang Gang, she is a singer after all, so she can also be crossed out. As for Ling'er and Qiao'er, two personal maids
The concubine was just a soy sauce, so only the children of Kong Ruolan and Wei Manting were the most likely to be Pang Gang's heirs, and they both gave birth to sons, so the situation became even more subtle.
Although Kong Ruolan and Wei Manying didn't say anything, and they were still very affectionate sisters, Pang Gang could still notice that there seemed to be a subtle emotion between them.
Pang Gang was also helpless about this. After all, wherever there are interests, there will be disputes, which are ongoing with the development of mankind.
"Alas..." Pang Gang sighed softly and became speechless.
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