"Probably more than ten years ago, I realized that there were big problems with our government's tax system..."
After writing the last page, Prime Minister Qin put down his pen, stopped recording, raised his head and said: "In the past ten years or so, I have promoted tax reform several times, but all ended in failure. In the end, I was embarrassed to mention this to Your Majesty again.
I just have some vague thoughts and dare not bring them up easily. These days, I have been thinking about what you said in the imperial garden that day..."
"If you had been born ten years earlier, five years..., ten years ago, if I could have heard what you said, the court and the people would not have had so many twists and turns in these years." Qin Xiang looked at Li Yi,
His tone was calm, "Master Xu is right, you are a great man of your generation, I... am not as good as you."
Li Yi was not modest and did not follow what he said, because Xiang Qin obviously had other things to say.
"You are unparalleled in poetry and prose, have superb painting skills, have reached the pinnacle of calligraphy, are proficient in torture, are proficient in business, create heavenly punishments, offer horseshoes, repel enemy envoys, start arithmetic, and eliminate moths..."
Qin seems to be very familiar with Li Yi's past. Every detail is like a treasure, "I also know that you have turned the Qi State upside down. The fight between the crown prince and the third prince for the right to inherit the throne is fierce, the court is unstable, and the hearts of the people are unstable."
Panic, you have made countless contributions to our Jingguo. When I was your age, I failed the imperial examination and was still worried about my future. But you have been granted the title of Duke, and you are the youngest Jin Ziguanglu in history.
Doctor...no wonder His Majesty favors you exclusively."
Being praised so much by the elder, Li Yi turned slightly red and felt a little embarrassed.
It turns out that he is so outstanding, but I don’t even notice it on weekdays...
"But, you are too young..." Qin Xiang looked at him, his face became solemn, and said: "If a tree is beautiful in the forest, the wind will destroy it, and everything will turn to its extreme. Since ancient times, the emperor's favored ministers rarely have a good ending.
,Besides, do you know whose interests are ultimately lost through the reforms you mentioned?"
The old emperor's pet peeve was certain wealthy families, and the measures he mentioned would certainly not make those people feel better.
If this were not the case, the old emperor would not trust the government to Mingzhu.
"Your existence is a blessing to His Majesty and a blessing to the people..." Qin Xiang stood up, looked at him, and said, "I hope you can remember what I said today."
Li Yi looked at him and asked: "Why?"
The reason he said was naturally from the two people's standpoints. Prime Minister Qin had no reason or obligation to say such things to him. Why did he say these things today?
"I am the head of the Qin family and the prime minister of Jingguo. I am your majesty's prime minister and the people's prime minister... If this restructuring can be implemented smoothly, the country will be rich and strong, and the people will live in peace and contentment..." Prime Minister Qin gave him a deep look.
, clasping fists and bowing to the end, "With this bow, I represent the civil and military officials of the court, and the people of Jingguo..."
Li Yi couldn't hide even if he wanted to. In fact, by the time he reacted, Qin Xiang had already straightened up and strode towards the door.
At the door, the water supervision official of a certain city who had just been brought in by Lao Fang stood there blankly, rubbing his eyes. After confirming, he couldn't help but turn to stone on the spot.
When Li Yi walked out of the house, a carriage had already started driving away. He looked in a certain direction for a long time and began to understand where the stubbornness of those old "stubborn" people in the court was...
It's a pity that Prime Minister Qin is Prime Minister Qin, and the Qin family... is the Qin family.
After a while, he turned to look at the Du Shui Supervisor officer behind him and asked, "What's wrong with Mr. Xu?"
The official looked in a certain direction, swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva, and then said: "Concerning the compilation of "Shui Jing Zhu", Chang Cheng asked me to ask Master Li..."
…
Chen Guogong Mansion.
"You said that Prime Minister Qin went to Li Mansion yesterday and bowed to Li Yi?" Chen Chong looked at an official opposite and frowned: "Are you sure you read that right?"
The official shook his head and smiled bitterly, "There should be no mistake. The news came from the Du Shui Supervisor. It is said that the young superintendent of the Du Shui Supervisor saw it with his own eyes. The official did an investigation this morning. Yesterday, Mr. Qin..., indeed
Went to that place.”
"Xiang Qin... what on earth are he doing?" Chen Chong frowned.
Although they both belong to the lineage of the King of Shu, if we break it down, they and Prime Minister Qin do not belong to the same camp. The civil servant group headed by Prime Minister Qin and the officials and dignitaries headed by the Cui family and the Chen family have almost the same goals.
Never interfere with each other.
Moreover, since Qin Xiang is a high-ranking official, it is difficult for others to guess his thoughts.
The forces in the court that were leaning towards the King of Shu were already far worse than before. Could it be that even the Prime Minister of Qin...
At the front below, Zeng Shichun, the Minister of Household Affairs, thought for a moment and said: "This matter may not be as rumored by the outside world. The Marquis of Li County is Dr. Jin Ziguanglu, and it is not wrong for the Prime Minister of Qin to seek him to discuss government affairs.
"
Chen Chong raised his eyes and said, "When discussing state affairs, do I need to bow down and salute?"
The place immediately became silent. After a long time, an official sighed and said: "Your Majesty's temporary release of government affairs was a great opportunity for His Highness. He could have taken this opportunity to return to Beijing as an agent."
Who would have thought that His Majesty would entrust all the affairs of the government to the eldest princess? All the reports we submitted to summon His Highness to return to Beijing were rejected by His Majesty, and His Highness's situation in the DPRK is getting worse and worse.
Yes, if things continue like this, I’m afraid..."
Chen Chong nodded and said: "The first thing at the moment is to get His Highness back to the capital. Can you tell me what you can do?"
Several people thought for a moment and then spoke one after another.
"Concubine Cui's birthday is approaching. Your Majesty attaches great importance to filial piety. It is reasonable and reasonable for Your Highness to return to Beijing at that time."
"After the Queen's birthday, we will try to find a way for Your Highness to stay, or you may be detained due to illness. At that time, we will unite the courtiers and use various efforts to petition Your Majesty to let Your Highness take charge of the affairs of the eldest princess..."
"This method is feasible, what do you think?"
Chen Chong nodded and was about to speak when someone walked in from outside the door and said, "Second Master, the lady is back from visiting relatives."
When Chen Chong heard this, his face immediately showed joy. He stood up, waved his hands to several people, and said, "I have important things to do now. Your Highness's return to Beijing will be discussed later!"
After saying that, he hurriedly left, completely ignoring the stunned expressions on the faces of several people in the hall.
Everyone watched him leave quickly, feeling like thousands of horses galloping in their hearts.
Is there anything more important than this? Didn't he just say that the most important thing at the moment is to get His Highness back to Beijing?
In the garden of the Chen Mansion, Chen Chong looked at the white-haired woman and asked with a smile: "How is it? How is your health?"
The white-haired woman nodded and said, "The old man has always been in good health. He even asked about the eldest and second brothers."
She turned her head and looked in a certain direction and said, "Second brother, I think you still have something to do. A few adults seem to be waiting there."
"They are all small things. They don't matter. It doesn't matter. Let them wait for a while."
Chen Chong waved his hand and said: "Third sister, your birthday is coming soon. How do you want to celebrate it? Tell your second brother and he will help you organize it..."
The white-haired woman shook her head and said: "Birthdays happen every year. Second brother doesn't need to make such a big show of it. It's enough for our family to be together well."
Chen Chong waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, birthdays only happen once a year. You have to celebrate it, you have to celebrate it..." 8)
