Chapter 637: Big Pit, Jumped
Jiang Qingzhi doesn't like doing business.
In his previous life, he and his uncle opened a small supermarket in South America. The business was neither good nor bad, and it was neither hot nor cold. The money they earned was enough for the two of them to spend, but they could not save much every month.
What Jiang Qingzhi disliked most about the small supermarket business was that someone had to be on duty.
Even if you know that there will be no business today, you still have to open the store. Once the door is opened, you have to stay in the store without moving.
Once someone comes in, you have to keep an eye on them, otherwise they may accidentally make a purchase for free and make you lose all your money.
As for the surveillance, after several things were stolen from the small supermarket and calling the police was useless, Jiang Qingzhi's uncle removed all the surveillance. Unfortunately, there is no online second-hand market in South America, so it was sold at a bargain price.
Jiang Qing later concluded that he didn't like socializing with people and didn't like working in competitive industries.
In other words, deep down he is a lazy person who is content with a small fortune and has no desire to make progress as long as he can fill his stomach.
After marriage, Jiang Qingzhi handed over the finances of the Bo Mansion to his wife, and his family was like a wild horse running free, as long as they had enough food and clothing every day.
Zhu Xizhong also advised him to get some land. Just by saying the three words "Jiang Qingzhi", countless farmers were willing to come and invest with their families and land.
Jiang Qingzhi scoffed and said that this was poaching from the Ming Dynasty. After this word got out, the powerful people ridiculed him for being stubborn. Some even said that Jiang Qingzhi would not be able to hold out for half a year and would be eager to join the team that poached from the Ming Dynasty.
But one year, two years... Jiang said he would not dig, so he did not dig.
What's even more amazing is that this guy opened a shop that smuggled beef. Which of the rich and powerful in the capital doesn't have more than a dozen shops and three or four kinds of businesses?
But Jiang Qingzhi was just one of those people, and he was extremely unmotivated. He handed the shop over to Jia Qian, and he just let it go. After marriage, Li Tian paid attention to it for a while, but the smuggled beef business had already been on the right track, and she didn't need to help at all.
Jiang Qingzhi finally became rich through gambling. Just when the powerful and wealthy were envious of his wealth, a Mohist base emptied the Jiang family's treasury.
No money.
If it were someone else, they would certainly frantically acquire land and absorb people, and then use various methods to set up some shops and build up their business.
"I really don't want to do business." In his previous life, Jiang Qingzhi felt that he was wasting his life when he opened a small supermarket in South America. He was deeply opposed to doing business.
"I see." Li Tian said, "It's just for the children."
Jiang Qingzhi closed his eyes, and suddenly several children appeared in his mind, all kinds of cute, all kinds of naughty...Okay, for the sake of the children, I did it with reluctance.
Today was a day off, and Jiang Qingzhi and Xiong Jia had agreed to go fishing outside the city. He had started to prepare his fishing gear last night. After getting up in the morning, he hurriedly put away his fishing gear and even carefully prepared a raincoat...
"Husband, it won't rain today."
Li Tian said as she was putting on her makeup.
"What do you know? This is artistic conception." Jiang Qingzhi said stubbornly, "Does the lonely old man in the straw hat and raincoat know about it?"
"Yeah! Fishing alone in the cold river under the snow." Li Tian praised: "My husband looks like an old man."
"Forget it." Jiang Qingzhi threw down his raincoat and picked up his fishing gear. "Eat less for lunch, so that you can save your appetite for the fish feast tonight."
"Husband, don't leave empty-handed."
"Fishermen never go empty-handed!"
Jiang Qingzhi went to the kitchen, where the cook had already prepared dry food.
Pancakes, crispy snacks, dried meat, pickles, and a pot of wine.
Lao Xiongjia said that there must be delicious food.
So Jiang Qingzhi took a few more cured pork ribs and pickled broad beans.
Live together!
Get on your horse and go!
There is no one in the alley, which is perfect for racing.
No, it's horse racing!
The horses were also a little crazy, galloping through the alley and not slowing down at the turns.
Head straight out of the city.
When we arrived at the city gate, it was already open.
Jiang Qingzhi found the fishing spot. He thought he was early enough, but there were already a few old men fishing by the moat.
"Old Bear hasn't come yet?" Jiang Qingzhi laughed.
An old man in a bamboo hat looked up and asked, "Why is Long Wilbur so late?"
Hey!
"It's the kids at home who are making trouble." Jiang Qingzhi said casually.
Xiong Jia didn't bother with him. Jiang Qingzhi couldn't wait to put on the bait and threw it into the water, then sat down to eat breakfast.
"Has Mr. Xiong eaten?" Jiang Qingzhi declined.
"I ate it." Xiong Jia stared at the float intently.
Then I'm welcome.
The pancakes were still warm, and the crispy whistles were made of pork belly, which was chewy. The cured pork ribs were salty and delicious...
"Cough cough!"
Jiang Qingzhi was eating heartily when a hand came over, picked up the crispy snack and started eating.
“It tastes good.”
Xiong Jia became more and more addicted to the food. He ordered broad beans, cured pork ribs, and finally half a pancake.
After burping, Xiong Jia said, "Your disciple Zhou Xia is regarded as a traitor in the Ministry of Rites, but you let him be suppressed and bullied in the Ministry of Rites."
"If jade is not carved, it cannot be made into a useful object." Jiang Qingzhi is quite optimistic about his eldest disciple Zhou Xia.
"I have also been watching for a while. This guy is calm and composed in the Qingli Division. He has good reasons and arguments when facing difficulties, which makes those who want to make things difficult for him helpless. He is a talented person."
"Mr. Xiong, is it almost done?" Jiang Qingzhi pointed at his sinking float.
Xiong Jia said, "I got it."
A fish weighing more than one pound was caught, and Xiong Jia was very proud.
Putting the fish into the fish basket and fishing again, Xiong Jia said, "It's almost done. Now there are vacancies in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War. I will be promoted to a doctor."
In the Six Ministries, Langzhong was an important position in charge of a department.
"Okay!"
"I'll treat you later!"
"Isn't Mr. Xiong selfless?"
"I would naturally be selfless towards others, but I have every right to drink your wine, Wilbur."
"middle!"
...Ministry of Rites.
The chief official of the Ministry of Rites' Qingli Division was called Fang Sheng. He looked steady and composed.
When he arrived at the Ministry of Rites, Fang Sheng instructed the clerk to ask Zhou Xia to come over after he arrived.
After entering the duty room, Fang Sheng closed his eyes and rested, which he learned from Xu Jie.
First, review what you did yesterday in your mind to see if there is anything wrong. If not, then review what you are going to do today.
"Doctor Fang."
"Ok!"
The clerk outside the door said, "Here comes the chief Zhou."
Zhou Xia came in and bowed, "Meet Doctor Fang."
Fang Sheng closed his eyes. "It's the beginning of spring. Many envoys from foreign vassal states have come to ask for money. It's not good not to give them money, but if I give them money, I'm afraid they will develop bad habits and come every few days. Go and talk to those envoys. This time... double the reward."
The clerk standing by was stunned.
There were many reasons for foreign envoys to come to the court, such as the New Year, which was a must. There were also emperors' birthdays or some major festivals. As vassal powers of the Ming Dynasty, foreign vassals sent envoys to congratulate.
There must be gifts for congratulations, right?
If an envoy brought some gifts, for example, a gift worth ten thousand coins, the Ming Dynasty would, according to custom, give back a gift of at least thirty to fifty thousand coins.
This tribute system later developed into a trading method of robbing the rich and helping the poor.
For example, this is what Altan has always been pursuing... I am willing to pay tribute!
But Dao Ye spat at him, beheaded his envoy, and sent the head to the nine borders.
This tribute system continued for countless years, including the Western Han Dynasty, the Western Tang Dynasty, and the Western Song Dynasty.
As soon as Fang Sheng opened his mouth, he wanted to change the amount of the reward, which was going to undermine the tribute system!
Who dares?
The clerk was stunned. He looked at Fang Sheng. Fang Sheng had his eyes closed, but he could vaguely feel a sharp breath.
This is waiting for Zhou Xia to refuse.
Then take action.
The clerk thought of the undercurrent in the Ministry of Rites in recent days.
The bet between Jiang Qingzhi and Lu Song has always been the main topic of gossip in the Ministry of Rites, and those who are hostile to the Mohist school are waiting to see Jiang Qingzhi make a fool of himself.
Mocking and ridiculing Zhou Xia is also a reserved program.
The Minister of Rites is the Grand Secretary Xu Jie, and Zhou Xia is the eldest disciple of the Mohist giant Jiang Qingzhi... and he was also a former disciple of the Grand Secretary Xu.
Anyone can kill this kind of traitor and at the same time flatter Lord Xu.
Therefore, Zhou Xia's situation in the Ministry of Rites was not to say that it was full of crises, but it was also difficult.
Zhou Xia had dealt with all the difficulties in the past, but today...
This is a gift!
The clerk sighed for Zhou Xia, but Zhou Xia said calmly: "Did the Ministry of Rites discuss this?"
"Yes." Fang Sheng nodded.
"Does Lord Xu know?" Zhou Xia asked again.
"Know."
"Is there any paperwork?"
"Why do I need a document when I speak?"
Zhou Xia smiled, "For such a big event, there is no paperwork..."
You're destroying the tribute system, and you tell me there's no documentation?
You are digging a hole to bury me!
Fang Sheng opened his eyes and saw Zhou Xia looking at him with a half-smile, knowing that this guy was fearless.
Without the documents, I can't do this.
Fang Sheng's eyes were filled with coldness. He picked up a document from the table and said, "Take it."
Zhou Xia took the document and saw that the writing was vague, but the general meaning could still be understood.
The Ministry of Revenue suspended the payment of money and food to the nobles due to the expansion of the Huben Zuowei Army, which triggered a chain reaction.
The Ministry of Revenue asked the Ministry of Rites to be as frugal as possible when formulating the amount of rewards for foreign envoys.
This is an official document.
But the Ministry of Rites added one more clause: This year's financial situation is tight, so the reward can be doubled.
Those foreign envoys traveled thousands of miles across mountains and rivers to come to the capital, not for a visit or congratulations, but for the reception along the way and the ultimate reward.
Even many foreign vassal states relied on the rewards from the Ming Dynasty every year to maintain their lives.
Now the Ming Dynasty has changed its face.
The three to five times reward is gone.
Double!
Do you want love?
What will happen to those messengers?
There will definitely be a huge uproar. Once the matter gets out of hand, the Ministry of Revenue can say that we are just giving suggestions, and the Ministry of Rites is responsible for the specific operation. The Ministry of Rites will say: Isn’t this for the sake of saving money?
No one is wrong!
But what can be used to appease those messengers?
Zhou Xia!
What the hell!
Just by thinking about it, the clerk felt that Zhou Xia was probably finished this time.
He thought Zhou Xia would refuse.
But Fang Sheng was obviously prepared and was just waiting for him to refuse.
Come on, try refusing one.
There was a hint of fierceness in Fang Sheng's eyes.
Zhou Xia was holding the documents.
"Your subordinate, I obey your orders!"
(End of this chapter)
