It has been some time since Zhou Jun took office as the Supervisor of the Mutual Market.
Although he is the chief official of the Exchange Bureau, because he is from Chang'an and has good relations with the royal guards, no official dares to get too close to him in his daily duties. As two deputies with the nine surnames of Zhaowu, even
It was because he obeyed his orders and ignored them.
Faced with this situation, Zhou Jun was not in a hurry, he just went to work on time every day, and he was on good terms with everyone in the house and never had any disputes.
Over time, the officials in the mansion thought that Zhou Jun did not seek merit, but sought no faults, and was just planning to be an "officer to send the old man off".
On this day, the Exchange Bureau released the order, and Zhou Jun went to Jin's house as usual to find his daughter Chao Mu.
Since taking office in Liangzhou, Zhou Jun's visit to Chao Mu has almost become a daily necessity.
In the hall, Jin Fengniang watched Zhou Jun and Chao Mu having fun there, feeling moved and happy in her heart.
He walked up to Zhou Jun and asked, "Erlang, can I ask my servant to prepare dinner?"
Zhou Jun glanced at the sky outside the window and said, "Don't worry, sit down and let's talk."
Goldfeng Niang sat down with some anxiety.
Zhou Jun looked at Chao Mu in front of him and sighed: "I never thought that I would have a daughter."
Jin Fengniang replied nervously: "Erlang, it was Feng Niang's fault that night..."
Zhou Jun waved his hand: "Now that things have happened, there is no point in pursuing right and wrong. I am just worried about how you mother and daughter will live in Liangzhou in the future?"
Golden Phoenix: "With a big family and a big business, there will always be food for us, mother and daughter."
Zhou Jun: "I also heard what Jin Jishen said last time. Although the Jin family is rich, things are not going well at the moment and it is not easy."
After hearing this, Golden Phoenix lowered her head and remained silent.
When Chao Mu was young, he saw Jin Fengniang and Zhou Jun talking and no one paid attention to him, so he kept babbling and shouting.
Jin Fengniang hugged Chao Mu into her arms, patted the latter, and said sadly: "In the past, when we were in Chang'an, the ancestor of the Jin family was still in charge of the overall situation. Feng Niang lived a happy life and didn't feel anything...
When I came to Liangzhou, I realized how hard it is to keep a family..."
Zhou Jun looked at Jin Fengniang and said, "It's not easy for a woman like you to be the head of the Jin family and take care of her until today."
There were tears in Jin Feng Niang's eyes. She just hugged Chao Mu and lowered her head and said, "Since Feng Niang's divorce, there have been no more men in the family. The former relatives and merchants all felt humiliated when they saw a woman running the house.
Feng Niang originally wanted to sell off her property and find a clean place to raise Chao Mu, but when she thought of the hard work of several generations of the Jin family, she couldn't bear to do it."
Zhou Jun sighed and said: "Since I have come to Liangzhou, I must give you mother and daughter a peaceful life."
Jin Fengniang raised her head and looked at Zhou Jun and said, "If Erlang is willing, I will let you know to the stewards. From now on, you will be in charge of all the affairs of the Jin family."
Zhou Jun frowned and said, "I am not from the Jin family. If you do this, I'm afraid it will attract criticism."
Jin Fengniang: "When I was in Chang'an, I was pregnant, and several loyal stewards in the family knew the cause and consequences. Now that things are not going well, I asked Erlang to take care of the affairs of the Jin family. Those stewards will not have any objections.
."
After saying that, Jin Fengniang clapped her hands and said, "Uncle Shen, please come to the hall."
Not long after, an old man with gray hair but a ruddy face entered the nave with his hands behind his back.
Zhou Jun couldn't help but be surprised when he saw that although he was quite old, but he walked with steady steps and strong skills.
Jin Fengniang held Chao Mu in her arms and said to Zhou Jun: "Uncle Shen is the first generation elder of the Jin family. He was born in the military, knows battle formations, is good at martial arts, and is loyal."
Zhou Jun stood up, raised his hands and called Uncle Shen.
Jin Fengniang said to Uncle Shen again: "Uncle Shen already knows about the matter between Erlang and Fengniang. Now the Jin family is in troubled times. I would like to ask Erlang to manage the affairs of the family, and I also ask my uncle to take care of them."
Uncle Shen looked Zhou Jun up and down, without saying a word, he just nodded lightly.
Seeing Uncle Shen's approval, Jin Fengniang looked happy and explained some of the procedures of the Jin family's affairs to Zhou Jun.
After finishing the explanation, Jin Fengniang took out the seal of the head of the family, handed it into Zhou Jun's hand, and said: "Erlang is living in an inn now, and his life is inconvenient. It is better to move into the Jin family. Firstly, it will be easier to manage the family affairs, and secondly, he can see more of the court."
twilight."
Zhou Jun thought about it carefully, agreed to the proposal, and accepted it.
After dinner at Jin's house, Zhou Jun returned to the inn where he lived and told Bu Qu Qiu Yong and Hedari about the move.
While everyone was busy packing their things, Li Guangbi suddenly came to visit.
Zhou Jun led Li Guangbi to the private room in the inn.
As soon as Li Guangbi sat down, he said to Zhou Jun: "There are prefectures in Hexi Province who have jointly submitted a petition to accuse the king of being arrogant about his fame and wealth and misbehaving."
Zhou Jun was stunned when he heard this and asked: "Why is this?"
Li Guangbi said softly: "Business tax."
Zhou Jun immediately understood that Wang Zhongsi was suffering from a lack of military pay and planned to increase business taxes, which was leaked.
Some people were worried that Wang Zhongsi would forcefully push for commercial tax reform, so they took the first step and complained to the court, hoping to shock the enemy.
Zhou Jun began to recall that according to historical records, since Wang Zhongsi took over Hexi and Longyou Jiedushi, he had been reported to the local authorities without interruption. Most of the charges were about taking credit for being arrogant, exploiting people, being disrespectful and violating laws, etc.
Later historians who did not know the truth speculated that after Wang Zhongsi came to Hexi and Longyou, he was not accustomed to the local customs and customs, so he was criticized.
However, some historians believe that Wang Zhongsi, who held the title of general in all directions, was worried that his great achievements would shock his master and his success would attract unrest, so he wanted to reduce the court's suspicion of him through self-blasphemy.
Zhou Jun, who has experienced all this personally, understands that both guesses are wrong.
The real situation is that the reason why Wang Zhongsi has a bad reputation in Hexi and Longyou is entirely because the commercial and tax reform offended interest groups and was attacked by them.
Thinking of this, Zhou Jun asked Li Guangbi: "What did the Protector say?"
Li Guangbi: "The Protector has already submitted a note to the court explaining the situation."
Zhou Jun: "What about business tax?"
Li Guangbi: "I'm afraid we have to postpone it."
Zhou Jun: "Why?"
Li Guangbi: "In recent days, Tuyuhun and Tibetan troops have been moving frequently. The governor speculated that the other side intended to counterattack."
"If Tuyuhun and the Tibetan coalition counterattack, it will be nothing more than the eastern and middle lines. On the east line, Baishui and Linbo, the two armies will face each other. The governor will personally take charge of the battle, so there will be no worries. But the middle line is located south of Yumen Pass, in the Moli area.
There were tens of thousands of Tuyuhun surrender troops there, and the governor was worried that the Tuyuhun surrender troops there might be rebelled against by the Tibetan army and attack Hexi from behind, so he ordered the Chishui Army, Dadou Army and other troops around Liangcheng to move westward."
After hearing this, Zhou Jun said: "The armies on the border of Liangzhou City are marching out. The governor does not want to cause trouble again at this time, so he postpones the commercial tax reform?"
Li Guangbi: "Not bad."
Zhou Jun pondered for a moment and said with some worry: "As the army advances westward, we are afraid that someone will take the opportunity to stir up trouble in Liangzhou City."