Fan Zhongyan smiled calmly and pretended that he had not heard what Kou Ji said.
Kou Ji said very generously: "As long as it can make me, the Great Song Dynasty, stronger and gain a shameless reputation, so what? In the end, we will benefit, not others."
Fan Zhongyan praised: "Sir, you are so righteous..."
Kou Ji waved his hand and said: "Okay, stop flattering me. You just need to convey my intention to Su Xun truthfully. Also tell others by the way, go ahead and come to me if you have any questions."
I will definitely find a way to help them, open the door of convenience for them, and let them do whatever they want."
Fan Zhongyan cupped his hands and said, "The students must convey it in this way."
After saying this, Fan Zhongyan said again: "But if you don't take up the post of Tong Zhongshu, the students and others will feel unsure."
Kou Ji glanced at Fan Zhongyan and said angrily: "You think I am free now, right? Someone is helping you teach me to be a pawn. I am very happy now. You actually expect me to take over as a pawn?"
"pawn?"
Fan Zhongyan was stunned for a moment and thought about it: "What Prime Minister Lu is doing now is what Mr. Lu wants to do?"
Kou Ji nodded and said: "Yes, now that many wars in our Song Dynasty have ended, where did we use so many soldiers and horses? Even if we recruit local soldiers for the Liao region, we only need two million people.
The reason why two million soldiers were recruited was to move the people to Liao.
If the imperial court issued a document to directly relocate the people, I am afraid that wealthy families and even local officials in various places would oppose it.
But if you move some people there first in the name of recruiting soldiers and give them cemeteries, let them get benefits and see the benefits.
Then use them to move their families there.
Then the population of Liaodi will be enriched immediately.
The acres of land in Liao will no longer be left uncultivated.
The Liao region will develop rapidly and vigorously, and will also be integrated into our Song Dynasty as soon as possible."
When Fan Zhongyan heard this, his eyes lit up, "If two million people settle down in Liao, we can attract six million people to come there.
Coupled with the Song people who migrated before, and the families of the soldiers who may later migrate there, the number of Song people in Liao is likely to reach tens of millions?
In this way, the Song people and criminal records in Liao reached a state of balance.
This was of great help to Su Xun and others in controlling and digesting the Liao region.
It also greatly promoted the Song Dynasty's digestion of the Liao Dynasty.
If we follow the old method to digest Liao Di, I'm afraid it will take decades.
But if a large part of the people are moved there, the time will be shortened many times.
This move by sir is really impressive."
Kou Ji smiled and shook his head and said: "You only saw the great things, but not the disadvantages. With nearly 10 million people moving out, there will inevitably be some depression in various places, and all walks of life will enter a short cold winter.
Before and after the people were relocated, local wealthy families would cause trouble.
It would take a lot of time just to resolve the troubles they caused one by one.
And it will probably take four or five years for our country, the Song Dynasty, to survive this severe winter in all walks of life.
And these four to five years are the time that tests you and me the most.
If you hold on, everything will be fine.
If you can't bear it, you will be torn to pieces by the rich and powerful."
Fan Zhongyan said seriously: "The students have decided to give it their all, so naturally they won't be afraid of anything."
Kou Ji nodded and smiled: "This is a good idea. The errands that the officials will entrust to you will be linked to your life. If you do it well, it will be a great achievement.
If you don't do it well, you will definitely die."
"What's the matter?"
Fan Zhongyan asked.
Kou Ji said with a smile: "Let's talk in the study. You finally came to visit my house. If I don't invite you to sit in the study, others will think that I, Kou, are unkind."
Fan Zhongyan was stunned for a moment, then he laughed and said: "It's the students who are being rude. The students came to visit and didn't bring any greetings. It's really inappropriate."
Kou Ji led Fan Zhongyan to the study and asked, "Do you think I am someone who needs your respect?"
Fan Zhongyan said with a smile: "Students, I heard that when the young master left, he took away all the property of the Kou family. Sir, you are penniless, and the house you are in was given by the government.
The necessary food and clothing are also given by the palace."
When Kou Ji heard this, he said very unhappily: "Sir, who am I? The recognized master of making money in the Song Dynasty, the living God of Wealth who has a longevity tablet among the people, can I still be trapped to death by a small amount of money?
In just the past few months, sir, I have collected hundreds of thousands of dollars without leaving my home."
Fan Zhongyan said in amazement: "Sir, is it possible to make money out of thin air?"
Kou Ji shook his head and said, "That's not true... Although I don't leave home, I have an errand boy."
Fan Zhongyan was stunned for a moment, seemed to have remembered something, and asked with a smile: "But His Royal Highness King Shou?"
Kou Ji was a little surprised, "You know?"
Fan Zhongyan did not answer, but asked: "How long has it been since you took to the streets, sir?"
Kou Ji calculated it and said: "After I came back from Liaodi, I rarely went out on the streets. After running around for a long time, I like to take it with me at home to accompany my wife and daughter."
Fan Zhongyan said with emotion: "Sir, you should go to the streets more often. Nowadays, everyone on the street knows that King Shou has obtained many authentic works of Kou Gong from your husband, sold them outside, and has made millions of dollars."
.”
Speaking of this, Fan Zhongyan looked at Kou Ji and said with a smile: "Kou Gong never cares about pen and ink, let alone making money with pen and ink. Presumably those calligraphy and paintings are all written by Mr.
Kou Ji smiled dryly and said: "The people in Bianjing are really rich. Some paintings and calligraphy can actually make millions..."
Seeing this, Fan Zhongyan knew that Kou Ji was unwilling to tell the truth, so he stopped asking and said with a smile: "It is precisely because Kou Gong never neglects his pen and ink that once the original work comes out, it will be extremely precious.
Kou Gong is the only living sage in the Song Dynasty, and he founded the number one school in the Song Dynasty. His pen and ink are worth tens of millions, let alone millions.
It is something that can be passed down from family to family for two or three generations.
Even a thousand pieces of gold may not be able to buy it.”
Kou Ji pretended to be shocked, "Are my grandfather's pen and ink so valuable?"
Fan Zhongyan said with a smile: "There are more valuable ones."
Kou Ji sighed: "The official pen and ink will not be given lightly. The official price is ten thousand yuan. Even if the people in Bianjing can afford it, they may not dare to take it, and they may not be able to take it."
Fan Zhongyan smiled and shook his head and said, "The students are not talking about officials."
Kou Ji said unexpectedly: "Aside from the official family, whose pen and ink can be more valuable than my grandfather."
Fan Zhongyan said quietly: "Of course he is the little Kou Gong who has never made a small fortune since he became an official."
Kou Ji paused and said in disbelief: "Mine?"
Fan Zhongyan nodded and said with a smile: "Since he became an official until now, he has never promised anyone a single word. It is precisely because of this that his writing is even more precious."
As the first hero of the Song Dynasty.
No matter whether Kou Ji's calligraphy is good or bad, it is worth collecting.
Because with his achievements, it is inevitable that his name will go down in history.
And he is one of the brightest people in the history of youth.
Kou Ji is still alive today, and there are countless folk legends about Kou Ji.
Since Kou Ji died, there will be more folk legends about Kou Ji.
When writing lyrics and poems, famous and unknown people in both the government and the public would more or less write a poem about Kou Ji.
For example, Fan Zhongyan once wrote a song called "Youth Travel" when he was in Bianjing City. It was an inspirational poem about a young man who set foot in the prosperous world and rose up step by step.
The protagonist in it is Kou Ji.
Later, when he was in Hexi, he wrote another poem "Ode to Appreciation of Masters", which was about worshiping Kou Ji as his teacher in Hexi and Kou Ji teaching them how to become officials.
While serving in the Shaanxi Prefecture, he wrote another poem called "Send off Little Kou Gong on the Eastern March on a Moonlit Night", which mainly expressed his feelings when he saw Kou Ji off.
In addition to Fan Zhongyan, people such as Bao Zheng, Su Xun, Han Qi, Wen Yanbo, etc. all wrote poems and poems about Kou Ji.
Liu Yong is undoubtedly the most exaggerated among them.
As long as Kou Ji did something big and famous, Liu Yong would definitely have a poem to dedicate it to him.
From the time when Kou Ji supported Liu Yong in Kaifeng Mansion, until now, Liu Yong has written more than thirty poems about Kou Ji.
All poems convey almost two meanings.
Either he was remembering Kou Ji's kindness in supporting him, or he was praising Kou Ji for how awesome he was.
To sum it up in one sentence, I, Liu Yong, am Kou Ji’s student, and my husband is awesome.
It's not that Liu Yong is flattering Kou Ji.
He just has that kind of personality.
If anyone treats him badly, he will criticize them. If one song is not enough, he will criticize them with two songs.
He would praise anyone who was kind to him. Whenever he remembered it, he would write a poem to praise him.
In short, a thick collection of poems about Kou Ji's famous poems has been published.
There are many masterpieces among them.
Kou Ji's reputation is destined to be passed down from generation to generation along with these poems and poems.
He is also destined to become one of the most admired people by future generations.
There was nothing he could do, the students were all so awesome that he couldn't help but be admired by others.
What’s the use of your name going down in history?
Not only was Kou Ji famous in history, he also taught a group of students who were also famous in history.
That's really awesome.
The writing of such a person is naturally valuable.
Kou Ji didn't care much about his reputation. His students wrote poems about him and it was hard to bring them to him for praise.
After all, only a poet like Li Bai would compose a poem in front of people, and then make people feel that they have entered the poem, which is a very honorable thing.
A group of students from Kou Ji wrote poems related to Kou Ji and brought them to Kou Ji. What did they want to do?
Tell Kou Ji that it is an honor for you to be included in my poem?
Believe it or not, Kou Ji slapped you with a big mouth?
Just because no one asked for praise in front of Kou Ji, Kou Ji didn't know that he had written many poems.
Little did he know that he had become the protagonist in many poems by great writers without even realizing it.
Kou Ji was still in a daze because his pen and ink were too precious, but Fan Zhongyan smiled and whispered, "Sir, do you suddenly feel that you have lost money?"
Hearing this, Kou Ji immediately came to his senses and shouted: "It's nothing..."
Fan Zhongyan nodded with a smile and said: "The teacher gave the student a sentence before, and the student has completed it in recent days. When will the teacher have time to help the student copy it?"
Kou Ji looked at Fan Zhongyan in astonishment.
Fan Zhongyan quickly smiled and said: "Although students are poor, they can still afford the writing fees."
Kou Ji glared at Fan Zhongyan fiercely.
Fan Zhongyan laughed heartily.
Kou Ji stepped forward and rushed to the study without looking back.
Fan Zhongyan smiled and followed Kou Ji to the study.
After the two of them sat down.
Kou Ji said with a dark face: "The officials have called you back to Beijing this time because there is an important thing for you to do. This matter is related to the several commercial and tax matters you just mentioned."
Fan Zhongyan corrected his attitude, stared at Kou Ji and said, "What about business tax?"
Kou Ji nodded.
Fan Zhongyan pondered and said: "Does the government want to take back the taxation rights of businesses?"
Talking to smart people saves trouble.
Zhao Zhen recalled Fan Zhongyan, a senior official to the capital, so it was naturally impossible for him to sit on the bench.
After the imperial court outsourced the commercial tax, the remaining Dingkou tax was managed by the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Now he was suddenly asked to return to Beijing, a senior official, to do things related to commercial taxation.
That would naturally be the recovery of commercial tax rights.
If the outsourcer had tax rights, there would be no need to use Fan Zhongyan.
Kou Ji nodded and said: "Yes, the government does want to take back the commercial taxation rights. But the commercial taxation rights involve huge interests.
Therefore, the officials temporarily want to carry out this matter secretly.
The government has sent people to various places to collect tax rights from vendors, and also sent people to secretly buy back tax rights from merchants.
When the time comes, the officials will send people to secretly establish taxation departments in various places.
The General Directorate of the Taxation Department is located in Bianjing City.
At that time, you will be the tax envoy and take charge of this matter.
In order to deceive others, the officials will appoint you as the general manager of Yizijiaozi Shop.
But you don’t have to worry about the up-and-down affairs of Yizijiaozi Shop."
After listening to Kou Ji's words, Fan Zhongyan said excitedly: "The officials have actually decided to take back the power of commercial taxation. This move will be of great benefit to the Song Dynasty.
I would like to think that the people above the Song Dynasty cannot see the disadvantages of business taxation power.
Unexpectedly, the officials not only saw it, but also took it very seriously."
Kou Ji rolled his eyes, but did not explain anything, nor did he say that he was in charge of this matter.
After Fan Zhongyan was excited, he stared at Kou Ji with some hesitation and said: "Since it is an official who wants to take back the power of commercial taxation, he can act openly and aboveboard, why do he do it secretly?
This not only weakens the prestige of the official family, but is also disrespectful."
Kou Ji asked rhetorically: "Is prestige and dignity more important, or is it more important to completely regain business and taxation rights?"
Fan Zhongyan was stunned and said seriously: "For officials, prestige and dignity are naturally important."
Kou Ji glared at Fan Zhongyan and said: "If we act openly and aboveboard, we can naturally maintain the dignity of the official family. But 99% of the time this matter will fail. Not only will we lose the right to business and taxation, but the official family will also lose its prestige."
Do you think that taking back the power of commercial taxation is just the imperial court taking back its own power from the people?
But let me tell you, this matter is far more complicated than you think.
Every official in the government and the public, including civil and military officials, is more or less connected to wealthy families.
And 99% of the wealthy families are doing business and have business dealings.
They take advantage of the business and taxation rights to make profits for themselves.
Now that the officials take back the power of commercial taxation, it is equivalent to taking food from their mouths.
Do you think they will agree?
If they resist the officials together, do you think the officials should confine them, beat them, kill them, or let them go?
If they start an attack together and embarrass the court, how do you think the court will respond?
You have also been involved in officialdom for many years, so you should know the stakes involved.
So this must not be done blatantly.
We can only figure it out slowly."
After listening to Kou Ji's analysis, Fan Zhongyan thought carefully for a while, then slowly said, "It's student Meng Lang."
Kou Ji nodded and continued: "This matter is related to the livelihood of all people in the world, so we must be cautious. If you are not careful, it is very likely to cause death.
Neither I nor the officials want to involve ordinary people.
That's why we act in secret.
If you don't take care of the common people, and the officials and I directly mobilize troops and eradicate them, how can there be any chance for you to serve as the tax envoy of the tax department?"
Fan Zhongyan smiled awkwardly.
Kou Ji continued: "I have written a memorial about the specific matters of this matter and handed it to the officials. After you enter the palace, the officials will naturally explain it to you in detail.
Just follow the official's instructions.
If you encounter a problem, you can come to me and discuss it with me."
Fan Zhongyan stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Students will definitely handle this matter."
Kou Ji nodded and warned: "Be sure not to leak the news before this matter is completely established. Otherwise, it will easily cause unnecessary trouble."
"Students understand..."
"Go to the side courtyard to wash up, stay for a light meal, and then go to the palace."
"Being respectful is worse than obeying orders..."
"..."
Kou Ji asked someone to take Fan Zhongyan down to wash up and change into decent clothes.
Afterwards, the two of them chatted in the study and ate some simple meals.
After dinner, Fan Zhongyan changed into court clothes and rushed to the palace.
When the officials in Bianjing learned that Fan Zhongyan had returned to the capital, they all looked at the place where Kou Ji lived, and felt a big stone in their hearts.
With Fan Zhongyan's status and qualifications, if he returns to the court, he will definitely be promoted, and it is very likely that he will be promoted to a very important position.
While they were worried about their status being threatened, they were also worried about another thing.
Fan Zhongyan is a standard bandit.
When he entered the court and took up an important position, did it mean that Kou Ji was about to leave?
If Kou Ji comes out, there will probably be a very big change in the court.
The status of many people may have changed because of Kou Ji's emergence.
Whatever Kou Ji wants to do, everyone in the Privy Council will definitely support it.
Among the six ministries, the same is true for the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry.
If Fan Zhongyan replaces another minister, half of the six will support Kou Ji.
In this way, half of the people in the court will speak for Kou Ji.
Coupled with Zhao Zhen's favoritism.
Many officials who followed Lu Yijian were afraid that they would suffer.
The officials were worried and rushed to the Lu Mansion to ask for Lu Yijian.
Lu Yijian also knew about Fan Zhongyan's recall to Bianjing City, and his face didn't look good.
At the Lu Mansion.
Lu Yijian sat on the main seat with a gloomy face, gritted his teeth, and whispered: "I have recruited more than one million soldiers and horses for the imperial court, and solved serious problems for the official family. Do the officials still insist on letting Kou Ji replace me?
?”
Mr. Lu stood beside Lu Yijian and said hesitantly: "Probably not... Even if the officials want to kill the donkey, they won't do it before the recruitment is over..."
Lu Yijian stared and asked: "Am I a donkey?"
Mr. Lu made a sad face, lowered his eyebrows and said submissively: "The child is a metaphor..."
Lu Yijian snorted coldly, "Who is Fan Zhongyan? Fan Zhongyan was brought up by Kou Ji. He successively held many important positions in the court and achieved outstanding political achievements.
When the officials reformed the government system, Fan Zhongyan was the first to be used, which shows how much the officials valued Fan Zhongyan.
If his performance in Shaanxi Prefecture was average, then that would be fine.
But he also had outstanding political achievements in Shaanxi Prefecture.
Such a person deserves a high look from officials.
Because he did well in the tasks assigned to him by the officials.
If the official is easy to use, it is inevitable to promote him.
He had previously served as a minister.
Now that he has returned to the court again after serving as a feudal lord, only the position of a minister can accommodate him.
Among the six ministries, Li Zhaoliang from the Ministry of War and Wang Shu from the Ministry of Industry both wore the same pants as Kou Ji.
Of the two of them, one is a great hero who has made great achievements on the battlefield. If the official family did not need him to sit in the Ministry of War, he would have a chance of becoming the king.
Moreover, people who are not from the military background are not allowed to hold the post of Minister of War.
So Fan Zhongyan will not take his place.
Wang Shu, that's Kou Zhun's biological son-in-law.
Now that Kou Zhun has left Bianjing City, the officials have treated Wang Shu harshly if they did not promote him, and it is even more impossible to punish him.
Therefore, Fan Zhongyan will not take his place.
The only ones that Fan Zhongyan could take over were the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Ministry of Household Affairs.
And these four ministers are all of the same mind as me.
If one of them is missing, I will be missing one to help.
Kou Ji is just one more helper.
Kou Ji is not in the court, but he can influence three of the six departments, which is enough to fight against my branch."
After listening to Lu Yijian's words, Mr. Lu muttered: "Dad, you still have the Yushitai..."
Lu Yijian glared at Lu Gongzhu and asked: "Are those people in the Privy Council freeloaders? I have the Censor's Office, but Kou Ji has the Privy Council.
Although Kou Ji has now resigned as Privy Councilor, except for military power.
But now the person sitting in the Privy Council position is Yang Wenguang.
Yang Wenguang and Kou Ji have a close friendship, and Kou Ji indirectly promoted him. If Kou Ji asks him to help him with a word, will he refuse?"
Mr. Lu gritted his teeth and said, "Do we still have local officials?"
Lu Yijian said in a deep voice: "Kou Ji and Kou Zhun's disciples are all over the world, and none of them are cheap. We only have a little more people than them.
But don't forget, whether it is Li Di in Hexi, Wang Sui in Xingqing, or Zhang Zhibai in Beijing, they all stand with Kou Ji.
The weight of each of them is three times greater than that of ordinary feudal officials.
In addition to them, there are also Yang Yi of the Zhenbei Army, Di Qing, the commander-in-chief of Liao soldiers and horses, and other generals in the army, who will all speak for Kou Ji.
There are also those newly appointed idle princes in Bianjing City who will also speak for Kou Ji.
Don't look at them now, they are just having fun, they don't seem to care about political affairs.
But as long as Kou Ji raises his arms, they will immediately appear under Kou Ji's banner and charge into battle for Kou Ji."
When Lu Gong listened to Lu Yijian counting Kou Ji's henchmen in detail, he was shocked and murmured in a low voice: "From the beginning...we had no chance of winning?"