At the end of the first month, the weather gets warmer.
At midnight, Du Wulang pushed the door open and walked out of the house, yawning loudly.
There were several maids in the courtyard chattering like magpies in spring while drying clothes.
"I think Qinglan is more anxious to move out than Xue Langjun. She says she can't bear to leave us, but in her heart she thinks she is the housekeeper of the Xue family."
"If it were you, wouldn't you want to?"
"Don't say it, or I'll tear your mouth apart."
"Hey, what did I say? I just asked you if you want to be a housekeeper and a maid..."
Du Wulang rubbed his eyes and walked to the front yard. He saw a thin figure standing under the eaves and looking up at the magpie nest above. It was Xue Sanniang who was staying in Du's house.
Her cheeks were cracked by the cold in the winter, and they haven't healed yet. She is thin and skinny, and she doesn't know how old she is. She usually doesn't talk much, and he doesn't even know her name.
"Brother Du, look, there's another brood here."
"oh."
Du Wulang lowered his head and left quickly, but he didn't understand why he was nervous.
Walking to the flower hall, Lu Fengniang and Liu Xiangjun were sitting embroidering, while Xue Qiniang and Xue Jiuniang were playing beside them.
"Aniang." Du Wulang stepped forward to greet him, "Aniang asked me not to go to Fengwei Building today. Is there something wrong?"
"Xue Bai said that he had traveled far away, but I heard that he rescued Mrs. Guo Guo. He has been in her house for several days. Why don't you go and ask if he has been brought back?"
"Me? I'll pick him up?"
Lu Fengniang said: "Didn't you go there with your grandpa? Mrs. Guo's mansion also gave her many gifts. No matter what others say about her, she still knows the famous people..."
Du Wulang scratched his head and walked to the second entrance. He saw the three brothers of the Xue family standing by the bamboo garden and looking into the study, looking very excited.
He immediately ran forward, took their heads, and said with a smile: "What are you looking at?"
"The general is here, so majestic!" Xue Xin's eyes were bright and he didn't know where to stretch his head, like a monkey. "My uncle is General Jinwuwei, but he never comes to the house."
"Let's go over and have a look."
Du Wulang took the lead, and the four boys tiptoed for a while to the study.
You don't have to be too close to hear someone talking loudly inside.
"..."
"Haha, in the second year of Tianbao, Li Taibai was waiting for the imperial edict, and I was guarding the palace. On that day he was drunk and wanted to meet the saint. I supported him. This poem was what he wrote to me at that time!"
"A good poem, a really good poem. 'The heroes of the past are like in a dream.' Could it be that General Guo has not been going well in recent years?"
"If you want it to go smoothly, it will go right soon. Hahaha, just a few days ago, someone assassinated Mrs. Guo Guo in Qingmen Restaurant. It was my guard who rescued Mrs. Guo Guo. The reward just came out yesterday. From Zhongzheng, who is under the seventh rank,
I have been promoted to the rank of military officer of the sixth rank. But this case is determined to be a drunkard's trouble, otherwise I wouldn't be able to get more credit?"
After all, Du Youlin had been a fifth-rank official. He could not compare with others, but his knowledge was higher than that of Guo Qianli. He stroked his beard and said: "General Guo, you were promoted and rewarded just because you were convicted of being a drunkard and causing trouble. It's not appropriate to talk nonsense anymore."
Already."
"What does this mean?"
"Sigh." Du Youlin was a little embarrassed, and simply said: "The court is trying to appease you and tell you not to make a big deal out of this matter again."
Only then did Guo Qianli suddenly realize, and he shouted: "Mr. Du, thank you very much! I came today just to hire Mr. Xue Langjun as a guest, but I didn't expect that he was still recovering from his injuries in Mrs. Guo's house. That's right, that day I was trying to save Guo.
Madam, he injured his leg and can't walk very well. He should recuperate for a while. How about this? I also hire Mr. Du as a guest, right?"
"What?"
Du Youlin was not very happy immediately.
Guo Qianli was not aware of it and said loudly: "I have inquired about it. It is difficult to be an official now. Many talented people cannot be promoted, and they cannot stand the election. They all go to work as secret servants for the Jiedushi. When the battle is won,
Then it will be recommended by the Jiedushi. If Mr. Du and Xue Langjun can come and plan for me, let me go out to fight a big victory. I will recommend you as officials later. Of course, the bride price will be quite a lot!"
"I have inconvenient legs and feet and am no longer able to work for my life. General Guo should please come back..."
At the end of the chat, Guo Qianli was still cheerful.
When he came out of the study, he gave Du Wulang a fist and praised him enthusiastically.
The three boys from the Xue family rushed forward.
"The general is so majestic, I am willing to join the army with him!" Xue Xin said loudly.
"Hahaha, you can't do it, you're too young and too thin!"
Guo Qianli grabbed Xue Balang and Xue Shiyilang under his arm and played with them, saying: "If you want to join the army, you must first be strong. Let your sixth brother come to serve as a guest for this general. You guys
There is meat to eat.”
~~
Du Wulang drove his horse into Xuanyangfang and suddenly sniffed.
He smelled the smell of cooking, so he got off his horse and walked into Guo's Restaurant at the intersection.
There were many people in the lobby, and it was difficult to squeeze in. Du Wulang was caught in the crowd and looked in. He saw a few plates of greasy dishes on a diner's table, which didn't look very impressive.
Sooner or later, the cooking skills will be leaked or studied by others, so he was prepared. He was about to leave when he heard some diners talking.
"Have you heard? The handsome son lost by General Qianniuwei has been found. He said it himself. He has been staying at Madam Guo's house for this period of time."
"It is said that the case was brought to the imperial court, and the saint refused to deal with Mrs. Guo Guo."
"Xuanyangfang is becoming more and more unsafe..."
Du Wulang also became anxious after hearing this, and went to visit Mrs. Guo Guo's house again. She was far away from the concierge. Before he handed over the greeting card, she had already taken two steps back.
~~
Mrs. Guo's Mansion.
In the lobby, the steward handed over several deeds to Yang Yuyao.
"The purchase of the small house in Qingmen went smoothly. I paid three times the price and agreed to accept the lease. Xue Ling's house in Changshoufang was a little more troublesome. Xue Ling sold three houses back then. Fortunately, the villain has lived up to his mission..."
Yang Yuyao only wanted results and did not listen to this. She ordered: "Go and prepare the house."
"Yes, the layout of Xue's house is still there. As long as the courtyard wall is demolished, it will be ready soon."
Yang Yuyao pursed her lips and smiled, took a few deeds and put them into the box. Just as she was about to get up and go back to the backyard, another maid came.
"My wife has a greeting card, and Du Qi asks to see her, saying that she is here to see Mr. Xue."
"No. He said I was frightened and closed the door to thank the guests."
After returning to the backyard, Yang Yuyao stopped, straightened her shawl, held up the ponytail on her head, and entered the boudoir, only to see Mingzhu tidying up.
"Is he up yet?"
"Ms. Yao, Langjun Xue has gone to the backyard."
"Um."
Yang Yuyao knew Xue Bai's habits. She hugged Mingzhu from behind and whispered in her ear, "Are you unhappy that I've been neglecting you recently?"
"I'm not unhappy. Mr. Xue is a man with great ambitions. He is definitely not someone who can be sour and jealous behind his back as a servant girl."
"Well, his heart is not with me."
"Yao Niang, that's not what I meant. He should still be affectionate..."
"You don't have to say good things for him." Yang Yuyao snorted, "I don't know him yet."
Xue Bai had been getting up late in the past few days, and often exercised and washed alone in the morning. She was always unhappy when she couldn't see him, but when she saw him, her anger dissipated.
After lunch, the handsome young man in a brocade robe sat down in the study again, picking up a pen to write a policy review.
Yang Yuyao originally hated these articles, but she insisted on stepping forward.
She recently found it interesting to write policy papers.
For example, a few days ago, Xue Bai wanted to see the tax records of the old years of the Tang Dynasty, including the records of the policy of excluding households and excluding fields during the Kaiyuan period. She personally came forward and took him to the record library of the Du Branch of the Ministry of Revenue. The reason was
Check the number of acres in her name.
Duzhisi was the place where Li Linfu held financial power, so it was difficult to get in. But in order to show that she was more powerful than Li Genu, she had no choice but to use her connections as a concubine.
That day, the sun shone through the window pane into the archives, and you could see the fine dust floating away. He stood by the window, flipping through the files, with a serious expression and calm eyes. When she saw her, she actually felt that accomplishing something for him was better than holding an event.
A feast is more satisfying.
There was no one else in the document library at that time, there were only rows of shelves. She couldn't help it, so she went over to tease him... Thinking back to this day, she still finds it very interesting.
She still thinks about it often.
They were not able to finish reading the dossier that day, and they went there several more times.
She also gradually understood what his unfinished policy was - to change the common law of rent to a two-tax law.
Even though she didn't understand it very well, she knew that this was a ground-breaking thing, and in her heart she regarded him as a great husband who was committed to the world and willing to revolutionize the world. This was not her type originally, and she only recently discovered that she had changed.
On the other hand, although Yang Yuyao was not very knowledgeable but had extraordinary insight, she did not think that Xue Bai could do it.
"No wonder, Yuhuan said that the saint originally had the ambition to reform the bad and establish the new, but his old age and weak strength have lost his ambition. In my opinion, no matter how good your plan is, if you submit it, you will not win the favor of the saint, but will offend many people.
people……"
Her daring to say such words showed her trust in Xue Bai.
Xue Bai knew what she said was true. Li Longji was old and even the prime minister was unwilling to change every three to five years as in the past. How could he have the courage and determination to reform the tax law?
This policy was originally intended to attract upright and knowledgeable officials like Yan Zhenqing. He would have his own faction in the future and should attract people who were pragmatic and ambitious for the country.
Only those with the same aspirations can unite, otherwise we will be surrounded by selfish trash like Ji Wen and Yang Zhao, and sooner or later they will break away from each other and die together.
On the other hand, the atmosphere during the Tianbao years destined the road to pragmatism to be difficult and dangerous. Xue Bai had no intention of following the steps. He had to have the abilities of a pragmatist and the means of a sycophant. In short, he would do anything to climb up.
, but always remember the purpose of climbing up.
He is willing to rule the country with people like Yan Zhenqing, and he is also willing to join forces with people like Yang Yuyao.
"Do you think the two-tax law in my policy won't work?"
"Yeah." Yang Yuyao thought that Xue Bai's policy was to be presented to the saint for reuse, so she reminded him again: "I know you have put in all the effort, and it is indeed remarkable, but it will only bring disaster to you."
"Then I won't pay it."
Xue Bai showed that he listened to her advice very much and immediately folded up all the collected information and the unfinished first draft and put them away.
When Yang Yuyao saw it, she felt a little regretful, but more happy that he listened to her advice. She put her arms around his waist and comforted him: "You are still young, so there is no need to rush to seek an official position. Just wait until I make arrangements for you."
"I am not in a hurry to seek an official position, but I want to repay Yuyao. I originally wanted to give this strategy to your brother to make a great contribution to the Yang family, but it really offended people. I failed to consider it." Xue Bai said thoughtfully.
: "There is another timely plan."
Yang Yuyao knew full well that even if Xue Bai actually handed the carefully written strategy to her brother Yang Wei, it was just to take advantage of the Yang family's power to express his ambitions.
But she was interesting and did not expose it. She smiled and asked: "What?"
"The Salt Method."
"Salt?"
Xue Bai nodded, put away his strategy on the two-tax law, and said, "I'll tell you what I think. If Yuyao thinks it's feasible, we'll go see your brother."
"good."
"Compared with the Two Taxes Law, the Salt Law will not offend too many people, but it will definitely gather money for the saints and gain their favor..."
As far as Xue Bai was concerned, the content in the high school textbook was quite simple. And they were all measures taken by the Tang Dynasty after the Anshi Rebellion, so they should be in line with the current situation.
Of course, any system has its pros and cons, and they all have to be implemented at the end of the day. Salt benefits saved the Tang Dynasty for a time, but ultimately ruined it.
He talked for a long time, but Yang Yuyao sat there in a daze.
"What's wrong?"
"Wait for me."
Yang Yuyao suddenly walked away, and after a while she changed into a skirt and came back. With a gloomy look on her face, she leaned over and whispered in Xue Bai's ear: "Here we come."
"It's okay." Xue Bai put his arm around her waist and gently stroked her shoulder.
"You are happy, you wish you could leave early."
"I will go to the Imperial College in February."
Yang Yuyao was willing to let him go, but when she saw that he didn't leave because of this, she became happy and said, "I didn't listen carefully to what you just said about the method of breaking salt. Please say it again."
"Well, since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, it has inherited the old system of the Sui Dynasty and has not collected taxes on the salt industry for more than 130 years. But instead of taxing the people equally, it is better to discuss salt..."
After Xue Bai said it again, Yang Yuyao was not interested in specific government affairs, but only thought about the risks and benefits involved.
She held Xue Bai's neck and whispered: "My Yang family has no shortage of saints. Yuhuan does not want to compete for the position of queen, and my brother is not talented enough. Although it is a great achievement to offer this method of salt cutting to the saint, it will attract Li Linfu's jealousy."
hatred."
"That's my presumption." Xue Bai said: "I originally thought this way... The saint forced the prince to reconcile twice. After the prince ascended the throne, even if it was just to restore his prestige, he should use the Yang family to establish his prestige."
Yang Yuyao was stunned.
She originally ignored national affairs and never thought about this issue. Now she puts herself in someone else's shoes and thinks about it. If someone forces her to abandon Xue Bai and Mingzhu and lose her face, will she be kind to the person she loves the most if there is a chance in the future?
?
"But Yuhuan has no children..."
"You don't have to think so far." Xue Bai said: "No one can touch the Yang family at the moment. It's just to save some power for self-protection."
"I will take you to see your brother to discuss whether to dedicate this salt-breaking method to the saint."
"good."
Yang Yuyao was inconvenienced today, but she still felt tender when being held in Xue Bai's arms.
She felt it was absurd to cling to someone like this in the arms of a young man, but she didn't care about the absurdity.
"I'll go there later." Yang Yuyao looked up at him and said softly: "By the way, I have a little gift for you."
She originally thought that buying Xue's house from Changshoufang as a gift to Xue Bai would be a great favor.
As a result, compared to his suggestions, hers could only be regarded as a small gift.
