Chapter 872 Soft Nails
A housekeeper came to Xin'an Lane.
The steward brought the account books.
When the dignitaries in the capital drank, what they liked to brag about most was their family wealth.
How much land do I have, how many people do I have, how much food can I harvest every year during drought or flood...
The amount of land and population determines the foundation and confidence of a powerful person or a family.
If you don’t have enough land, you would feel embarrassed to say hello to people when you go out.
How dare you call yourself a powerful person when you don't have hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people?
People in your circle will laugh at you and call you a country bumpkin.
With land and people that do not have to pay taxes, children and grandchildren will have a foundation for generations of wealth.
Having many children and grandchildren and everlasting wealth and prosperity is everyone's dream, and most of the powerful people in the capital have realized this dream.
So, if someone asks them to voluntarily declare their land and population and pay taxes...
Are you fucking crazy?
Jiang Qingzhi went crazy.
Several dignitaries rushed over upon hearing the news.
"This is the population of the fields in the Bo Mansion."
Fucheng was standing outside the gate of the Ministry of Revenue, holding up a thin account book and looking around.
Those dignitaries squatted on the side, like old farmers in the country, but their eyes were like sharp swords.
At this moment they were waiting for Fucheng to speak out his purpose.
"People are always selfish." A red-faced noble said, "I don't believe that Jiang Qingzhi doesn't care about his children and grandchildren."
"If a man does not work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth!" Another noble sneered, "Is he here to show off?"
Fucheng held up the account book and saw those powerful people.
The sparrows on the ground always feel that they are out of control if they fly above the treetops, so they always fly at low altitudes. Occasionally, when they see an eagle soaring high in the sky, they will laugh at the eagle...
Look!
Look at that fool, flying up there all alone.
Fucheng had seen all kinds of people in the palace. Those who were content with wealth and honor were mostly ruined by wealth and honor. When wealth and honor were gone, they were at a loss and didn't know what to do.
Isn’t it good to have a stable harvest regardless of drought or flood?
it is good!
Fucheng also thinks it’s good.
Jiang Qingzhi said: Few people will cherish wealth that is not earned by oneself.
The son doesn't feel sorry for selling his grandfather's land. Money comes too easily and is spent quickly, so he doesn't feel sorry at all.
——Money is a tool, not an end.
This is what Jiang Qingzhi, Xia Yan and others said when they were drinking and chatting last night.
Fu Cheng was standing by at the time, and when he saw the strange light in Xia Yanlao's eyes, he stared at Jiang Qingzhi for a long time and sighed, "I have 20% more confidence in the new policy now."
Hu Zongxian smiled and asked why. Xia Yan said, "Go ask the dignitaries and high-ranking officials in the capital what money is. They will say that money is the foundation of the family and even the basis of wealth for generations."
Jiang Qingzhi was holding a cigarette in his mouth, leaning against the back of his chair, and said lazily: "How much can a person eat? How big a bed can he sleep in? What are the most basic elements of life? Just food, clothing, housing and transportation.
Life is meaningless. In order to give yourself a meaning in life, you have to find a goal in life. Money is just a tool to achieve this goal. To regard the tool as the goal is putting the cart before the horse.
There are many people in the palace who are doing foolish things and regard fame and fortune as their goals.
Fame and fortune are just pastimes in life... This is Jiang Qingzhi's attitude.
And what is the goal?
Jiang Qingzhi's life goal was to stop the Ming Dynasty from sliding into the abyss and pull it back.
What is needed to achieve this goal is tools.
It is sad that people are enslaved by tools... Fucheng looked at those powerful people with pity.
As for Xiao Boye, Jiang Qingzhi said, I am not a saint, I must leave money and property, but not too much. Money is a double-edged sword, if not handled properly, it will hurt others and yourself.
Why wealth cannot last for more than three generations… Then the discussion changed to how to avoid wealth not lasting for more than three generations. Jiang Qingzhi’s statement that fame and wealth are just tools became an important argument.
Poor... Fucheng shook his head, handed the account book solemnly to the official of the Ministry of Revenue, and said loudly: "If the official of the Ministry of Revenue feels that the account is not right, you can come to the door at any time according to the order of the Lord, and the Lord's Mansion will cooperate with us."
He saw several dignitaries' faces change drastically and they all stood up. One of them spat at him, cursed him fiercely with a look, and then left in a hurry.
Let’s eat!
Starting with Fucheng's departure from the Ministry of Revenue, the entire capital was in turmoil.
The Mansion of Marquis Xianning.
Two officials from the Ministry of Revenue were blocked outside the mansion gate. The housekeeper had a cold look on his face, and more than a dozen guards behind him stared at the two officials with malicious eyes.
"This is the decision of His Majesty and the court. Does the Marquis' Mansion intend to disobey the order?" The leading official was named Qin Lin, and he said coldly.
The housekeeper said calmly, "The Marquis' Mansion has always valued harmony and treated its neighbors well, and its reputation is well-known. As for the land and population, I know nothing about it."
The Marquis' Mansion is a good family, don't come and cause trouble.
If you want to check, go somewhere else.
The butler seemed tough, but his eyes kept looking to the left.
Qin Lin knew that he was waiting for Qiu Luan, so he was no longer in a hurry. He took out his dry food and water bag, and squatted against the wall to the right of the mansion gate with the clerk to eat.
The farmland inspection was a big event, and more and more people gathered to watch.
"Tsk! Those two don't look like officials from the Ministry of Revenue. They look like old farmers working in the fields."
Some people were amazed, but others praised: "This is what it looks like to rule for the people. In the past, those officials came down with their noses in the air and spoke in official language, which made people confused."
"Get out of the way!" Qiu Luan came back amid the sound of horse hooves. His guards shouted to the crowd, and Qiu Luan rode over, pointing his whip at Qin Lin and the other man and said, "Who told you to wait?"
The Ministry of Revenue should move first to the Xianning Marquis' Mansion. This must be Jiang Qingzhi's order... Qiu Luan sneered in his heart.
Qin Lin calmly swallowed the food, drank a sip of water, collected the remaining food and water bag, stood up, clapped his hands, and saluted, "Greetings to Marquis Xianning. The court has decided to investigate the land and divide the capital into districts. Everyone will draw lots to decide where to go. The area I drew is the Marquis's Mansion. As for who came to the Marquis' Mansion first..."
Qin Lin pointed to the street corner on the left and said, "This section starts from the Marquis' Mansion, so I came to the Marquis' Mansion first."
Everyone looked and saw that it was indeed true.
Qiu Luan sneered, "Is it Jiang Qingzhi who is abusing his power to seek personal revenge?"
Qin Lin smiled and said, "As for whether Lord Changwei and the Marquis have any personal grudges, I don't know. But as far as I know, Lord Changwei did not interfere with the whereabouts of our officials in the Ministry of Revenue, nor did he tell us how to act."
People with narrow minds see everyone as a villain.
There is a saying in later generations: Your view and cognition of the world is the external projection of your inner world. What your three views are, is how you see the outside world.
People who are broad-minded and open-minded will feel that the world is a beautiful place.
People with narrow minds will feel that the world is dark and that every person they see has a face that makes them disgusted.
Qiu Luan is just like that.
"My Lord, how about... just fooling around a bit?" the butler came over and whispered.
Qiu Luan held the horsewhip in his hand and squeezed it hard. The butler was worried that he might use force, "Your Majesty is watching!"
This is the capital. If Qiu Luan dares to take action in the morning, the palace will react before lunch time.
"My Lord, a little impatience can ruin a great plan!" The housekeeper said softly, "We are patient, but others will not be."
Let others make trouble!
As for us, Xianning Marquis Mansion has long lost its former glory and has become a bit of a run-down place. If it weren't for the Confucian-Mohist War, if it weren't for Jiang Qingzhi's great victory in the north, which made the scholars increasingly wary of Jiang Qingzhi and needed a few military merits to help, Qiu Luan and the Marquis Mansion would have long been reduced to a real run-down place that no one cared about.
So logically, Qiu Luan should thank Jiang Qingzhi.
"I need to sort this matter out. Please come back in a few days." Qiu Luan took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.
Qin Lin smiled and said, "Marquis Xianning, just take care of the tidying up. Is one day enough?"
Qiu Luan was about to shake his head when he was suddenly startled.
If he said that one day was not enough, it would mean that the marquis's mansion had countless fields and people.
That's self-destruction!
Qiu Luan said calmly: "The fields and population of the Marquis' Mansion have not been cleared for a long time, we need to go down and check it out."
"I am willing to go with you!"
"You!" Qiu Luan was furious and raised the whip.
Qin Lin smiled and said, "Before I set off, I asked my family to prepare a coffin and left a will to tell my family."
Come!
If you have the guts, kill me!
At this time, someone said, "The old official in the Ministry of Personnel said that these officials are all under the care of the Ministry of Personnel. If anyone is killed..."
"The children and grandchildren will be blessed." Someone said enviously.
"Long Wilbur won't sit idly by either."
In an instant, the whip fell.
Jiang Qingzhi... Qiu Luan's eyes flashed fiercely, and he suddenly covered his forehead, "This Marquis..."
The housekeeper supported Qiu Luan and screamed, "The Marquis's old illness has recurred. Go and get the doctor. Go quickly!"
The capital first investigated and found the mansion of Marquis Xianning. The news that Marquis Xianning Qiu Luan had suffered a relapse of his chronic illness due to anger caused by the officials of the Ministry of Revenue spread throughout the capital in an instant.
In another place, a powerful official was lying on the ground twitching, while his wife and children were kneeling beside him crying, as if they were parting forever.
——It’s so destructive!
The news spread like wildfire.
Outside a mansion in the west of the city, a nobleman politely escorted the official from the Ministry of Revenue out and said, "If you have anything to say, please talk. I will definitely cooperate."
The entire Ministry of Revenue was facing a formidable enemy. From Lu Song to Menzi, everyone was waiting for bad news.
"I'm just afraid those people will take action."
In the duty room, Lu Ping was also worried about his uncle. He was even more worried that Lu Song's stance would bring disaster to the Lu family.
"It's only a matter of time before they take action." Lu Song drank tea, looking quite calm. "What are those powerful people capable of? They were told from birth that they would never have to worry about food, drink, or wealth. Under such circumstances, they are raised as a bunch of parasites. The only thing parasites can do is eat and drink. Once they lose their fields and people, they will have trouble even feeding themselves."
"This is like forcing a dog into a corner." Lu Ping sighed.
"If we don't force them, we will force the people." Lu Song said softly, "The people below are unscrupulous in collecting taxes. If this continues, it will be what Chang Wei Bo said... the officials force the people to rebel."
"Shangshu, they are back."
Someone came to report.
As the court was about to close, the officials who had been checking the land in the capital returned.
"How is it?" Lu Song walked out and asked.
“Mostly prevarication.”
There was worry in Lu Song's eyes.
He hoped that some powerful person would take action, so that Jiang Qingzhi would have an excuse to take action.
"This is a cold shoulder!" said Lu Ping.
The Ministry of Revenue encountered a cold resistance on the first day.
(End of this chapter)
