A dowry worth 10 million yuan is nothing to Zhao Zhen.
But for officials from both the upper and lower levels of the Song Dynasty, that was a quite large number.
No wonder Wang Zeng went to Zhao Zhen after getting the gift list.
Kou Ji sighed with emotion and asked casually, "Did Bao Qing's previous dowry include the money exchanged for the princess's mansion and food?"
Chen Lin said frankly: "It only includes food..."
Kou Ji pondered and said: "With Baoqing's status, after leaving the cabinet, the number of households he will receive should be around a thousand households. If we add more during the holidays, it should be more than 1,300 households.
The annual income should be about 50,000 guan, and if it is a richer place, it may be more.
If calculated based on 50,000 guan, ten years would be 500,000 guan.
Twenty years is one million dollars.
Baoqing is still young now. If he is served with good food and drink, he will definitely live a long life.
Then she should be able to gain more than 4 million yuan from the food.
In other words, the dowry given by the official family was not much, just over 5 million yuan.
Fortunately, the officials did not include the residence.
According to Baoqing's status, after leaving the cabinet, he would arrange a large house as the princess's residence in the middle of Bianjing City, and prepare two villas in the outer city.
According to the current price of houses in Bianjing City.
If the official family includes the residence.
Then Baoqing will lose his marriage."
Chen Lin rolled her eyes at Kou Ji.
This was the first time he heard someone talking about marrying a princess in such a philistine way.
"After all, you are also the Privy Councilor of the Great Song Dynasty. One person is inferior to ten thousand people. How can you be a philistine like a common citizen?"
Seeing that Kou Ji still wanted to speak, Chen Lin couldn't help but sneered.
Kou Ji asked back: "Am I wrong in my calculation?"
Chen Lin said righteously: "Of course it's not true. The princess is worth a thousand pieces of gold. It's an honor for your family to be married to your family. Your family shouldn't care about money."
Kou Ji said calmly: "I don't care, I just couldn't help but say it."
Chen Lin glared at Kou Ji, "The official sent us here to talk to you. The official said that the money has been withheld. He will see if you need anything else, and he can find a way to add it.
"
Kou Ji pondered for a moment and said: "Give some farm tools, some craftsmen, and some scholars. What Han is most lacking now are farm tools and craftsmen.
If you are a scholar, the officials will just give you some."
Seeing that Kou Ji didn't speak loudly like a lion, Chen Lin's face softened a lot, "Our family will report the truth to the officials."
After saying this, Chen Lin didn't stay long, bowed her hands and exited Kou Ji's study.
After Chen Lin left.
Kou Ji sighed and rubbed his eyebrows slightly.
Zhao Zhen suddenly gave Baoqing three thousand soldiers, so the soldiers from Jiaozhi and Yuanshan were unable to enter Han with great fanfare.
We have to find a way to let them change their identities and enter Korea.
But the problem won't be too big.
The soldiers could disguise themselves as surrendered pirates or other survivors.
It's just an extra layer of identity disguise.
Not long after Chen Lin returned, the palace privately sent someone to deliver the dowry gift list.
In addition to what Chen Lin mentioned, there are more than 10,000 pieces of cloth, more than 100,000 farm tools, 3,000 craftsmen and 200 scholars.
After Kou Ji read the dowry gift list.
He decisively ordered Xiang Yan to write a gift list for all the fields, real estate, shops and other real estate under the Kou family's name, as well as some assets that could not be taken away.
Then he sent someone to take it as a betrothal gift and swaggeringly sent it into the palace.
After Zhao Zhen received the betrothal gift list, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Lu Yijian pursed her lips and said nothing.
Wang Zeng said angrily and funny: "It is really shameless to be generous to others. He has gained a lot of face, but the court has gained nothing.
In the end, it actually gave the government an advantage."
According to the rules set by Zhao Zhen when he was crowned king, when several princes leave the Song Dynasty, all their real estate will be handed over to the court.
Except for some houses that are private property of the royal family, others will be included in the national treasury.
The national treasury will also benefit from the bumper harvest.
But Kou Ji now regarded those properties as betrothal gifts and sent them to Zhao Zhen.
Then those properties will all go into Zhao Zhen's pocket.
After all, that is what people get when they marry their daughter.
The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty couldn't pull off that face, so they put the income from Zhao Zhen's marriage to the state treasury.
Lu Yijian, who had been silent all the time, suddenly said with emotion: "Kou Ji is really good at taking advantage of loopholes."
Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "The people in the Kou Mansion have not left Beijing yet, so he has the right to dispose of all the family properties in the Kou Mansion."
Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng looked at each other and sighed together.
All the benefits were taken by Zhao Zhen alone, of course Zhao Zhen said so.
If the Kou government sold all the real estate to others, do you think Zhao Zhen would still smile so heartily?
After Lu Yijian sighed, he said quietly: "I have to admire Kou Ji's good way of collecting money. In just ten years, his accumulated family property far exceeds that of many people.
The farm property alone far exceeds more than one million acres.
There are more than forty mansions, courtyards, and shops in Bianjing City.
In addition, there are nearly 600 shops throughout the Song Dynasty, each of which is of considerable value."
When Zhao Zhen heard this, he smiled calmly and said: "Almost all the property in Fourth Brother's house was earned by his extraordinary intelligence. It was not obtained by taking bribes.
More than one million acres of fertile farmland, which looks like a lot.
But what is really under the control of Fourth Brother is only 500,000 acres of barren land in Hexi and more than 3,000 acres of land in Bianjing City.
The rest belongs to the Kou family.
Among them are those from Huazhou and the fourth brother’s father.
After careful calculation, fourth brother is not greedy for land."
Half a million acres of land in Hexi seems to be quite a lot.
But when Hexi was first taken back to the Song Dynasty, most people thought it was a remote and remote place and were unwilling to go.
Kou Ji took 500,000 acres of land and gave it to the captives to cultivate.
Most of the grain he received was given to the imperial court, and the money he earned from it was not much.
After all, of the 500,000 acres of land, nearly 250,000 are forest land, which has no output at all, and people have to be sent to maintain it from time to time.
After planting crops on the other 250,000 acres of land, enough food was left for the prisoners and enough was paid to the court, and the rest was sold to the court at a low price.
Almost all the benefits were taken by the imperial court.
The Kou government just got some money.
Although the quantity was large, the imperial court received even greater amounts.
You can't just blame Kou Ji for drinking soup when the imperial court has benefited greatly, right?
Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng knew the secret, so they just sighed and didn't say much else.
After Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng sighed, Zhao Zhen continued: "As for the house and other courtyards in Fourth Brother's house, almost all of them were given by me.
And those shops were acquired by the Wanxiang Building and Wanxiang Pawn Shop under the name of the fourth brother in recent years.
Some of the shops scattered throughout my Song Dynasty still have my elements in them."
Kou Mansion is scattered among businesses in various places.
Except Wanxiang Tower and Wanxiang Pawn Shop.
Almost all the remaining iron shops that promoted farm tools and cloth shops that sold cloth were members of Zhao Zhen.
After listening to Zhao Zhen's words, Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng sighed deeply in their hearts.
They felt that Kou Ji was too smart.
There were too many people doing business in the Song Dynasty, and few could achieve a good reputation.
Kou Ji took Zhao Zhen to do business together, and even though he made money, he also lost his good reputation.
Such words as being dishonest without business and being unkind for the sake of wealth cannot be blamed on Kou Ji.
Kou Ji's business and Zhao Zhen's business are integrated. To slander Kou Ji as a profiteer in doing business is to indirectly criticize Zhao Zhen as a profiteer.
Is that okay?
Of course, the biggest feeling in Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng's heart was envy.
It's the same as being an official. If others are trying to make money, they will be on tenterhooks and hang their heads on their belts.
Kou Ji was different. Not only did he make money, he didn't have to worry about it.
Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng were silent for a long time with complicated expressions.
Wang Zeng suddenly stared at Zhao Zhen and said pitifully: "The officials... leave some to the treasury... The treasury is now empty enough for mice to run away..."
Zhao Zhen rolled his eyes.
Before Kou Ji returned to Beijing, the treasury was indeed empty enough for the rats to escape.
When Kou Ji returned to Beijing, he brought a large amount of money with him. Not only did he repay the court's debt from Yizijiaozipu, but he also filled the national treasury.
Therefore, it is impossible for the treasury to run empty now.
If it was all in vain, then Zhao Zhen should kill someone.
"Official..."
Wang Zeng saw Zhao Zhen just rolling his eyes and not saying anything, so he shouted again.
When Zhao Zhen saw that Wang Zeng was also public-minded, his heart softened.
"That's all. All the Kou family's shops in Bianjing City and Huazhou are sold at the Wanxiang Building, and the proceeds from the sales are put into the national treasury."
Wang Zeng was stunned, "Wanxiang Tower is not..."
Before Wang Zeng could finish his words, Zhao Zhen interrupted Wang Zeng, "The Wanxiang Tower signboard was finally erected and recognized by everyone in the Song Dynasty, so there is no need to abolish it.
I will merge Wanxiang Building into Yizijiaozipu later."
Wang Zeng originally wanted to say that since the Kou Mansion had handed over Wanxiang Tower to the imperial court.
Then there is no way to use it for the time being.
But after listening to Zhao Zhen's words, he slowly closed his mouth and just stared at Zhao Zhen.
Seeing this, Zhao Zhen guessed what Wang Zeng was thinking. He sighed and said, "Don't look at me anymore. Since I agreed to transfer all the Kou family's shops in Huazhou and Bianjing into the national treasury, then
You won't break your promise.
Wanxiang Building was purchased from Yizijiaozi Shop.
Then I will ask Yizijiaozipu to come up with enough money to buy Wanxiang Building and put it into the national treasury."
Speaking of this, Zhao Zhen paused for a moment and continued: "The property of the Kou Mansion and the shops in other places will be of great use in the future. According to the previous rules, I will temporarily hang them all in the treasury.
But it cannot be sold or tampered with.
Everything is operating as usual.”
Zhao Zhen worked so hard to acquire so much land and shops to prepare for the future cultural reform.
Naturally, it was impossible for him to add land and shops to the treasury.
It really goes into the national treasury.
The people below will definitely have their own thoughts.
You know, the imperial court usually sells confiscated fields, real estate, and shops. The value of the property sold is not low, but the insured figure is absolutely shockingly low, and the amount of money added to the national treasury will be even less.
Therefore, Zhao Zhen only linked the fields, real estate, and shops to the treasury, but did not let the treasury control them.
The purpose is to prevent anyone from making huge profits from it.
Wang Zeng was speechless after hearing Zhao Zhen's words.
Lu Yijian pondered and said: "The official family's land now under the name of the treasury already exceeds two million acres, and including the Kou Mansion's, it amounts to more than three million acres.
What does the official family want with so much land?"
The Kou family didn't have much land.
But the Cao family's land is not small.
The Cao family lived in Zhending Mansion for generations and was a well-known large family in the Song Dynasty. Zhending Mansion almost became the independent territory of the Cao family.
In addition to the piecemeal land owned by the Cao family for platemaking in other places, the amount of land owned by the Cao family is quite large.
If Zhao Zhen hadn't digested part of it secretly before the specific figures were submitted to the court, and openly rewarded some of them to meritorious soldiers, I'm afraid the number of words guaranteed to the court would have been even greater.
After Zhao Zhen learned about the huge family fortune of the Cao family, he became more determined to change the literary system.
The Cao family is like this.
What about other famous families?
I'm afraid one of them will be more powerful than the other.
A large amount of land in the Song Dynasty was in the hands of these people with tax exemption rights, so how much tax revenue was lost every year.
How many people will starve to death as a result.
Zhao Zhen heard Lu Yijian's question and smiled lightly, "Lu Aiqing will know then."
Lu Yijian saw that Zhao Zhen was unwilling to tell the truth frankly, so he did not ask further questions.
He just sighed, "Kou Ji was very good at making money. In just ten years, he accumulated such a large family fortune. I am afraid that few people in the Song Dynasty can compare with him.
If he could become our Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty.
Then I, the Song Dynasty, will probably no longer have to worry about money from now on."
Zhao Zhen and Wang Zeng were both stunned when they heard Lu Yijian's words.
They understood the meaning of Lu Yijian's words in an instant.
Lu Yijian was lying and hinting at Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen told Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng, and Zhang Zhibai almost openly that he would keep Kou Ji.
After Zhang Zhibai learned about this, he decisively gave up his position to Kou Ji.
Lu Yijian said this now to test whether Zhao Zhen would change his position and let Kou Ji take his place.
At the same time, it also hinted that Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji were very suitable to make money for the country and control the finance of the Song Dynasty.
And finance is not civil affairs.
If you are only in charge of finance, you will not be able to take charge of Tong Zhongshu's affairs.
Zhao Zhen understood the meaning of Lu Yijian's words and said with a smile: "What Lu Aiqing said makes sense."
Lu Yijian bowed and said nothing more.
Wang Zeng looked at the two of them thoughtfully.
Just when Zhao Zhen was about to let Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng go back to the political hall to run errands.
Chen Lin hurriedly entered Zishi Hall.
"The official family, the imperial censor, and other officials were outside the palace asking for an audience."
Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment and asked, "What's the matter?"
Chen Lin hurriedly said: "It is said that it is because the Xiyi County Prince's Palace, the Yanshan County Prince's Palace, and the Dongyang County Prince's Palace sent their servants to cause too much trouble in Bianjing City?"
Zhao Zhen frowned slightly.
Wang Zeng asked in a deep voice: "But is it because they are competing for craftsmen, scholars and merchants in Bianjing City?"
Chen Lin nodded.
Lu Yijian said with a gloomy face: "Three people, Zhong Shiheng, have gone too far. In order to prosper their own fiefdom, they plundered craftsmen, scholars and merchants in Bianjing City.
They robbed the craftsmen, scholars and merchants.
When Bianjing City needs craftsmen, scholars and merchants, where can they find them?"
Wang Zeng nodded and said: "Not only that, Zhu Neng and Gao Weizhao are now blocking the Hubu Yamen, insisting on getting the Hubu Shangshu to agree to open a border market on the border of their jurisdiction, and they also want the Hubu to give them tax exemption.
Documents.
He simply doesn't care about court etiquette.
This matter should be reported to the Central Committee and decided by the Central Committee, instead of going to the Hubu Yamen and messing around."
Zhao Zhen rubbed his brows with a headache, "They didn't hurt anyone, and they didn't rob anyone. Although their behavior was inappropriate, there were no major mistakes. I can't find a suitable reason to punish them.
Now that the censors are looking for me, there is nothing I can do."
Wang Zeng said in a deep voice: "The officials can issue an edict to reprimand them."
Zhao Zhen raised his eyebrows and asked, "Do you think it's useful? The fact that they dare to stick to the Hubu Yamen, like green-skinned gangsters on the streets, proves that they no longer have any dignity.
Let alone issue an edict to rebuke them.
Even if I spit in their face, they can still do it and greet me with a smile."
Wang Zeng said unwillingly: "Are we just going to let them continue to mess around?"
Lu Yijian shook his head and said: "We can't let them continue to mess around. Otherwise, I'm afraid the craftsmen in Bianjing City will be hollowed out by them."
Among scholars, those with integrity and ambition are unlikely to leave with Zhu Neng and others.
Those who have no integrity and no great ambitions have long been collected by the court and thrown into the Liao Dynasty.
Therefore, Zhu Neng and others could not recruit scholars.
So do businessmen.
Big businessmen would never follow Zhu Neng and others to remote areas.
Even if they go, they will only send one or two caravans to follow them.
The real ones to worry about are the craftsmen.
Because the social status of craftsmen is not high.
As long as Zhu Neng and others promise huge profits and show enough attention, those craftsmen will definitely be moved.
Zhao Zhen stared at Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng and said, "Two dear friends, who will handle this matter?"
Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng looked embarrassed.
In terms of status, he is higher than both of them.
If they dare to rebuke others, they will dare to rebuke them.
As long as someone breaks the law without knowing it, they can't even scratch their legs and have no way to punish them.
Even if I barely managed to catch some sore feet.
As long as it doesn't reach the point of reducing titles and titles.
It is neither painful nor itchy for others.
Given his merits, as long as he does not raise his flag to rebel, or openly disobey the emperor and his father.
It is not easy for Zhao Zhen to reduce his titles or titles.
Therefore, as long as Zhong Shiheng and the three people do not make big mistakes, there is nothing they can do if Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng go to them.
Seeing Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng's expressions of embarrassment, Zhao Zhen pondered for a moment and told Chen Lin: "Go to the Kou Mansion and ask the fourth brother to beat the three of them."
"Here..."
Chen Lin agreed and exited Zishi Hall.
Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
Although Zhong Shiheng, Zhu Neng and others have already been crowned kings and are about to join the feudal lordship, there is no need to give them face.
But Kou Ji's face must be given to Shiheng, Zhu Neng and others.
Kou Ji used to be their direct superior.
Kou Ji also has means to punish them.
When Chen Lin arrived at Kou Mansion.
Everyone in Kou's house was preparing to hold Kou Tianci's wedding.
The Kou family has a great business and has too many relatives and friends.
There are countless stories about Kou Zhun and Kou Ji's disciples and old friends.
Therefore, the Kou Mansion needs to mobilize early.
In addition, marrying a princess is more complicated than marrying a folk girl.
There are countless ceremonial procedures.
It needs to be done sooner.
According to the etiquette of marrying a princess, the Kou Mansion will have to go through the process at least a month.
It's just a matter of urgency, only half a month.
Therefore, the Ministry of Rites specially deleted many procedures and etiquette.
In the Kou Mansion, the most idle people were Kou Ji and Kou Tianci.
Xiang Yan was in charge of all the affairs of the Kou family, and some of them were used by servants and maids.
There is no need for the two father and son to go into battle in person and worry about those trivial matters.
Besides, it would be too cheap for a prince or a prince to do those trivial things.
Therefore, after Chen Lin was invited into Kou's mansion and arrived at Kou Ji's study, she saw the father and son sitting in the study, studying a shipbuilding plan.
Kou Ji is talking and Kou Tianci is listening.
After Chen Lin entered the study, she bowed and saluted.
"I have met His Royal Highness King Han, and I have met His Highness Prince Han..."
Kou Ji heard Chen Lin's voice and stopped talking.
Chen Lin's old face turned as black as the bottom of a pot for an instant.
He stared at Kou Ji, seeming to ask Kou Ji, 'Do you dislike our family that much?'
Kou Ji didn't seem to see Chen Lin's eyes. He asked carelessly: "Why are you so polite to me today? The last time you came in, you didn't even say hello."
Chen Lin glared at Kou Ji, and then set her sights on Kou Tianci.
Seeing this, Kou Ji curled his lips and said, "It seems that I have taken advantage of my son."
Chen Lin said very bachelorly: "We are the slaves of the royal family..."
Kou Ji said quietly: "So you are more respectful towards the consort than you are towards me?"
Chen Lin had no words, but the answer was obvious.
In Chen Lin's eyes, the quasi-consort is more valuable than Kou Ji, the king of Han.
Kou Ji was too lazy to argue with Chen Lin and asked straight to the point: "Tell me, why did you come to my house to see me?"
Chen Lin said bluntly: "The three princes of Xiyi County, Dongyang County and Yanshan County have gone too far. The officials asked you to persuade them."
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment and asked, "Is it because they robbed too many craftsmen?"
Chen Lin replied: "Besides that, there are also reasons why they stay at the Ministry of Household Affairs and refuse to leave."
Kou Ji sighed and said: "This is something that offends people. Why don't the officials send Lu Gong and Wang Gong to go."
Chen Lin did not hide anything and said truthfully: "Prime Minister Lu and Prime Minister Wang did not dare to agree."
Kou Ji chuckled and said, "Are there people whom Mr. Lu and the prince can't do anything about?"
Chen Lin rolled her eyes and was speechless.
Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng are really going to be able to do nothing about Zhu Neng, Zhong Shiheng and Gao Weizhao. Do the officials still need to find Kou Ji to come out?
Especially Zhu Neng and Gao Weizhao, who were working in the Hubu Yamen, were like two shameless scoundrels.
Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng couldn't cure them at all.
Seeing that Chen Lin was speechless, Kou Ji smiled and said: "Since it is an official order, I have to obey it. Where are they? Let me go and see?"
Chen Lin heard this and asked, "Isn't it okay to send a message?"
Kou Ji said with a half-smile: "If I send a message, they can stop their activities. Can you really rest assured?"