A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 661 Ivory Marquis

east of the city,

Daozhengfang, the residence of Prime Minister Hou Jun.

Hou Jun went straight back home after gathering, feeling unhappy. Now when he saw Wu Huaiyu's handsome face, especially that smile, he couldn't suppress his anger.

Two stunning beauties came forward and said, "Alang is back, why aren't you happy?"

Hou Junji was mesmerized when he looked at these two stunning beauties who had captured the hearts of the people. Not only were these two beauties stunningly beautiful, but their skin was breakable and very delicate and white.

This was specially dedicated to Hou Junji by a businessman who surrendered to him.
Since childhood, these two beauties have only eaten human milk but not food.

The twenty-eight-year-old beauty has only eaten human milk since she was born. She has not eaten for 16 years.Moreover, both of them were trained by businessmen since childhood. They are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and their words and deeds are extremely charming.

For a rough guy like Hou Sanshui, these two beauties were so captivating that he fell in love with them as soon as he saw them.

In order to raise these two beauties, he specially hired several wet nurses to provide the beauties with milk every day. He also raised many cows for the beauties to bathe in milk.

"Alang, Shi Dalang is here."

"Let him come over."

Shi Dalang was the Hu merchant who presented his beauty to Hou Junji. One glance at his surname revealed that this Hu merchant was also a Sogdian Hu. He was extremely wealthy in Chang'an and ran medicine shops, gold and silver, spices, Hu wine, Hu Ji, etc. , not only has a net worth of hundreds of millions, but he is also generous and loves to make friends with powerful people.
He was also a member of the Sogdian business group, Sabao.

This man used to cling to Prime Minister Pei Ji and befriend Yang Gongren and others. After Pei Ji fell, he immediately clung to Hou Junji.

The beauties of gold and silver gave generously to Shi Dalang, even the property in his name, which made Hou Junji like Shi Dalang very much.

Hou Junji hugged the two beauties and made love for a while before going to the living room to meet someone.

"Master,"

As soon as Shi Dalang saw Hou Junji come in, he immediately trotted forward, knelt down on the ground, and kissed Hou Junji's boots. Who would have thought that this powerful person among Hu merchants in Chang'an could be so humble in front of Hou Junji.

"Si Ming,"

"The servant is here."

"How's the matter that I asked you to inquire about?"

"Ms. sir, I have inquired carefully..."

Hou Junji was leaning on the couch, and Shi Siming was sitting on his knees, tapping Hou Junji's legs and reporting.
"Those who do business without living in the country will be subject to a tax of one-thirty in the state or county."

"If these two tax laws are to be implemented, you businessmen must be very dissatisfied, right?"

Shi Siming beat Hou Junji's legs rhythmically, with moderate intensity, which made Hou Junji very comfortable. He said with a flattering smile, "Since Wu Huaiyu was favored, he has been involved in all kinds of chaos. In the front, there is salt and tea, and in the back, there is wine." Question, what’s another way to open up the salt?
These business taxes, over-taxes, residence taxes, deed taxes, and various mining classes are all so cleverly named that they make us miserable.

There is also a limited money saving order, which prohibits storing too many copper coins.
They also strictly investigate counterfeit and bad money with ruthless methods.

There is even a he-buying system. If the imperial court sees which goods make money, the envoys Zhidusi and Changping will step in and say it is he-buying. Isn't it the same as robbing money?

We Sogdian Hu merchants traveled thousands of miles from the Western Regions and went through many dangers. We managed to traffic some spices, Hu wine, etc. to Chang'an. In the end, we had to buy [-]% of the goods directly, but the price was not high. You said we worked hard to traffic, Let them make money..."

Shi Siming complained and talked about some of the new laws and tax systems that Wu Huaiyu had taken the lead in implementing in recent years.
Before Zhenguan, Sogdian traders were all over the Silk Road, not only engaging in international trade, but also doing segmented transshipment business. Even in times of turmoil, these Sogdian traders made a lot of money, even along the Silk Road. , established many Sogdian settlements,
Building temples and settlements, Sogdian Hu, under the leadership of each Sabao, was like a feudal lord of a country within a country. It was a nourishing life.

But in the past two years, the situation has changed.

Under Wu Huaiyu's promotion, many temples were abolished like Buddhist temples, and even changed into Confucian temples and Confucianism. Sogdian settlements were also changed into villages under the jurisdiction of Datang County. Many villages were even forced to mix with Han people.
Others such as confiscating their weapons, canceling their autonomy, prohibiting them from lynching and practicing private law, etc.

Sogdian Hu also paid more taxes.
It did arouse the dissatisfaction of many Sogdian Hus. However, many Sogdian Husabaos took the lead in rebellion and were suppressed. They were all demoted to slaves, which made many people not dare to mess around.
In Chang'an alone, Sogdian Hu's influence is now getting weaker and weaker.

Although there are still many Hu merchants in Sogdia and they are still very profitable, the good times like before will never come back. Even if Shi Siming is attached to Prime Minister Hou Junji, the taxes and quilts that should be paid are as indispensable as the goods he buys. .

"Sanyuan Longqiao and Chang'ao are prosperous in industry and commerce?" Hou Junji asked.

"It is true that the Wu family protects the industry and commerce there, and many industries are also led by the Wu family. It is indeed prosperous, and the money is made every day." Shi Siming said.

Hou Junji was very envious when he heard this.

Wu Huaiyu was very good at amassing money, and Hou Junji was ashamed of himself in this regard. Although Hou Junji is also very rich now, most of his money comes from rewards and donations, as well as his clever plundering.If he is interested in a profitable business, as long as the other party does not have a strong backer, Hou Junji will directly ask for it, and if he doesn't give it, he will get it.

This is also the method used by most nobles and nobles.
Or use your power to engage in some business that is ruled out or monopolized.

The Hou family has many properties, but they basically have a hand in everything. When others make money, he shares the money, or directly robs them.
But Wu Huaiyu is different, it is a completely different way.

Whether it is opening a pharmacy, growing medicine, or opening a wine shop, making salt, tea, soap, sugar, mining, smelting iron, etc., what this guy relies on is not robbing, but technology and even model. Taking the lead, the Wu family is also expanding rapidly, pulling in other aristocratic families or cooperating with other merchants.

Even if Hou Junji could grab it, he couldn't catch up with Wu Huaiyu.
When the Wu family runs a teahouse, Hou Junji also runs it. When the Wu family sells wine, Hou Junji also runs it. When the Wu family sells salt, Hou Junji also runs it. When the Wu family buys land, Hou Junji also buys it.

The Wu family buys slaves everywhere, and Hou Junji also buys them. The Wu family raises pigs, and Hou Junji now starts to follow suit.

Not to mention this kind of following the trend, the results are actually quite good. Anyway, although there is no leading technology or model, Hou Junji can still be very prosperous by relying on his position and power as prime minister.
It’s just that I’ve always been quite unconvinced.

"You should also be doing business in Longqiao and Chang'ao, right?"

"Some," among Shi Siming's main businesses, spices and medicinal materials are also considered the main businesses. Sanyuan County is now a very important medicinal material distribution center, so Shi Siming will certainly not miss it.

"Then you should be familiar with the businessmen in Sanyuan County. I want you to collude with those businessmen secretly..."

Hou Junji wanted to sabotage Wu Huaiyu.

Under this new two-tax law, people have to pay household tax and local tax, and merchants who don’t have shops, property or land have to pay it too.In fact, big Hu merchants like Shi Siming were also big landowners. He also owned a lot of land in various places. Many Sogdian Hu merchants had land in the Central Plains.

It even has its own settlement.

Now that the two taxes are being implemented on a trial basis, Sogdian Hu will also have to pay household tax, local tax, free warehouse grain, and even Huohuo and Dingyin in the future.

If a household has no owner or guest, and no family members, the household registration will be based on the current place of residence, and taxes will be determined based on the amount of property.No matter where you are originally from or where you live now, you have to pay taxes there. No matter your age, only your assets. Even if you are doing business, you have to pay taxes where you are.

Those who have land are taxed on a per-mu basis.
Princes, nobles, generals and soldiers, even tenants who used to shelter wealthy families, and itinerant merchants could not escape.

"You have to make a fuss. The more serious the fuss, the better. It is best to go directly to the saints, so that the saints will know how much Wu Huaiyu disturbs the people and harms the people, and will abolish his chaotic government."

Hou Junji doesn't care about the lives of ordinary people. He only knows that Wu Huaiyu knocked out three of his teeth and made him lose face. Now many people no longer call him Sanshui Hou Junji in private, but call him Ivory Hou Junji. , although he used jade teeth instead of ivory,
He believed that many powerful and powerful landowners were also dissatisfied with this new law. After all, even the powerful and powerful landowners who were exempted from school in the past were now exempted from rent and tax for at most one hundred acres, but not the rest.

Hou Junji's family has a big business and he is also a big landowner. He actually doesn't care about the rent and taxes. He can take back many valuable and profitable properties at will, and he doesn't pay much in taxes. What he hates is Wu Huaiyu.

He wanted to destroy his new method, and then take the opportunity to disgrace Wu Huaiyu and knock him down so that he would not be able to stand up.

In fact, political disputes are not that complicated. Just throw dirty water in various ways.

·······
At the gate of the imperial city,

Liu Rengui was chatting with the generals Su Dingfang and Pang Xiaotai.
Su Dingfang is now the lieutenant-general of Zuowuhou Yifu, and Pang Xiaotai is the lieutenant-general of Zuo Weixun Erfu. Today, Su Dingfang is on duty to patrol Chang Anzuo Street, and Pang Xiaotai is on duty at the imperial city gate.
Liu Rengui was waiting for Wu Huaiyu here.

Although Liu Rengui, the chosen one, was not a military general, he liked military affairs very much, so it was quite easy to chat with them.

When Wu Huaiyu came out, they were talking about the Sui Dynasty's conquest of Goguryeo. Su Dingfang believed that they should push all the way from western Liaoning to regain Liaodong first, and then destroy the peninsula.

Liu Rengui felt that the Goguryeo people deployed heavy troops and built a large number of mountain cities on the Liao River line. After hundreds of years, it would be difficult to penetrate this line of defense, especially because of the cold winter, long battle lines, and difficulty in supply. It was still difficult to attack from the sea. as well,
After all, when the Sui Dynasty came to protect their children, they also had the result of attacking Pyongyang City. Although they were eventually ambushed and almost the entire army was wiped out, a sea attack was feasible. However, he suggested not to go straight to Pyongyang, but to search a little further south first. Land in a suitable location and establish a base camp. It is best to form an alliance with Baekje or Silla, so that you can obtain food and grass supplies on the peninsula, and even have Baekje and Silla's tribal servants and soldiers.
Pang Xiaotai, who came from Lingnan, felt that there was nothing to fight in Goguryeo's poor and bad waters.
"My husband thinks that Goguryeo is going to be destroyed. Which one is better, land or water?"

Huaiyu smiled and said, "We won't conquer Liao within ten years, but we can study it. If we really want to fight, we will definitely have to advance by sea and land. It is best to bring Silla or Baekje together."

After saying that, he took out a certificate and gave it to Liu Rengui, "The saint has made you a member of the school inspection department, congratulations."

Liu Rengui was surprised. He took Gao Shen with both hands. After reading the appointment of the Ministry of Personnel, especially the bright red big seal at the end with the seal of the Secretary and the Ministry of Personnel, he finally confirmed it.

"Thank you, sir."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. We will rest in Chang'an for a day today. We will rush back to Sanyuan County early tomorrow morning. Although Your Majesty has given us half a year, we must hurry up."

"Yes." Liu Rengui nodded excitedly, appearing calm, but the hand holding the petition was trembling slightly and uncontrollably.

Even if he is a member of the School Inspection Department, he is already closer to being a noble person in the fifth grade of Feiyin after taking this step.

(End of this chapter)