spend time

Magistrate Ma was really smart in his actions. He came to the granary early in the morning and waited for the princess to come to inspect.

After everyone met each other and exchanged greetings, they entered the granary.

Entering the granary is Master Wen's professional field.

Master Wen flipped through the granary storage account books, counted them one by one, and then randomly selected a few bags of grain from them. Then examine it carefully, pick it up, and taste it.

Jiang Shaohua looked at it with great interest: "How is the quality of these stored grains?"

Chief Wen smiled and praised: "They are all new grains, and they are in good quality."

A trace of complacency flashed across Magistrate Ma's face.

I heard the chief clerk sigh: "If you have money in the county government, you can afford good food. Bowangye County is like this than Yangdu. Wan County and Xi'e County are a little worse. Li County is even more poor." , you may not even be able to afford food storage.”

The gap between the fourteen counties is really huge.

Jiang Shaohua said unhurriedly: "Most of the men in Bowang County are in the iron mines, and the iron tools in Nanyang County all come from Bowang. To make weapons and armor in the military camp, you have to rely on Bo." Wang County. If Bowang County has no money to buy grain, I, the princess, will have to make up the money even if I pay privately."

"As for Ye County and Biyang County, the situation is different."

Chen Changshi asked with a smile: "What's the difference?"

Magistrate Ma's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously felt that something was not good.

Sure enough, I heard the princess say: "The wealth of Ye County lies in the people, and it is not as rich as Yang. The good horses raised in Biyang Racecourse are all supplied to the Guards Army Camp and Nanyang Military Camp. The real business that absorbs wealth , it’s the Yahang. Human trafficking is a huge profit, and people from dozens of nearby counties come to Biyang Yahang to buy people. The money earned belongs to the Yahang and has nothing to do with the people.”

Magistrate Ma felt nervous and responded in a respectful voice: "Back to the princess, the four dental shops in Biyang pay enough taxes every year. The county government has money to buy food, so there is no need to squeeze the people."

Jiang Shaohua snorted, raised his brows slightly, raised the corners of his lips, and seemed to be smiling.

Magistrate Ma's heart skipped a beat again, and he immediately said: "I thought that the fifteen taxes were ordinary commercial taxes, and Ya's business bought and sold foreign people and made huge profits. The tax paid was really too little. Why not ask the princess to pay Ya's tax? Let’s reset taxes.”

Ma Yaozong looked up in shock.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and glanced over: "Masheren, what do you think of Magistrate Ma's suggestion?"

Magistrate Ma winked at his grandson repeatedly.

Ma Yaozong's heart was beating wildly, and he quickly replied: "I think what Magistrate Ma said is absolutely true. Yaxing should indeed pay heavy taxes."

Jiang Shaohua looked at Chen Changshi again: "What does Chen Changshi think of this matter?"

Chen Zhuo thought for a while and said: "Resetting taxes is not a trivial matter, and we should be cautious to avoid causing unrest in the county. If the taxes in Yangya are reset, should the taxes in other counties be the same? The overcharged taxes must be handed over The royal palace, or the county government?"

"If word spreads, will someone say that the princess is using this to make money?"

"If it reaches the court, it will be another lawsuit. It may cause more trouble."

Jiang Shaohua nodded: "Chen Changshi has thought carefully."

Chen Changshi thought carefully, but of course Magistrate Ma was the one who didn't.

Beads of sweat appeared on Magistrate Ma's forehead, and he held up his hands to plead guilty with a look of shame on his face: "I have thought inappropriately, please forgive me, Princess."

Jiang Shaohua smiled warmly and said: "Just chatting casually, Magistrate Ma, you don't have to be so nervous. Commercial taxes are set by the imperial court, and I cannot change them easily. I must not increase taxes." "However, if Yaxing is willing to take the initiative, It’s okay to donate to buy food.”

Magistrate Ma's eyes lit up and he immediately responded: "What the princess said is that there are still six more granaries to be built in Biyang County, so it is only natural that Yahang should donate some grain."

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "Magistrate Ma might as well summon the shopkeepers of the four dental shops and ask them. They must be willing to pay money. Don't make yourself resentful because of trivial matters."

The magistrate of Ma County is only right.

Ma Yaozong clicked his tongue to figure out the meaning, and was secretly shocked.

This young princess's plans are unfathomable. In an understatement, he knocked and warned the Ma family.

Just as he was thinking about it, the princess suddenly looked over and said, "Masher."

"I'm here." Ma Yaozong immediately focused his attention.

The princess asked with a smile: "I went to the dental shop yesterday. I saw that you are quite familiar with the dental shop. Do you know that among the four dental shops in Biyang County, some of the people who work there are foreigners, and some of them are foreigners. Are you a commoner in Daliang?"

This is another sensitive question that touches the soul and cannot be answered calmly.

It's impossible to pretend to be confused, and it's impossible to explain clearly. If you say you don't know, it's because he, the eldest son of Ma Ma, is incompetent. If you say you know, why do you, an outsider, know the business conditions and industry secrets of the dental shop?

More importantly, human trafficking is a gray business, and it is impossible to be completely innocent...

Ma Yaozong's back was dripping with cold sweat. He didn't dare to look into the princess's bright eyes, and his mind was racing: "Back to the princess, the horse farm employs people all year round, and I often go to the tooth shop to buy people. I am quite familiar with the situation in the tooth shop. , from my perspective, foreigners account for at least half.”

The princess hummed and sighed: "As long as the people have food to eat, who would be willing to sell themselves into slavery? The princess only hopes that Nanyang County will be peaceful, and the people will be able to have enough food and clothing, and will not be forced to sell their wives due to land tax. Selling girls.”

Ma Yaozong resisted the urge to wipe his forehead and responded cautiously.

"Even if foreigners enter the racecourse, they must be clothed and filled with food." Jiang Shaohua's tone became more serious: "Tomorrow, I, the princess, will go to the racecourse to have a look."

"When Magistrate Ma is old, he doesn't have to run away. He can just let the people from Ma's house lead the way."

The magistrate of Ma County, his ancestors and his grandson, responded together.

……

That night, Magistrate Ma taught his eldest grandson earnestly in the study: "You should learn how powerful the princess is today."

Ma Yaozong was still frightened, and couldn't help wiping his forehead with his sleeve: "The princess doesn't speak much, but every word means something beyond her words. When she looked at me, her eyes were sharp and sharp, as if she knew what I was thinking."

"To be honest with you, grandpa, I was very frightened today. I was asked several times and I lost my composure. I didn't even have the courage to look at the princess."

"The Ma family has been greedy in recent years and has made great strides. It has made too much money, which is very eye-catching." Magistrate Ma sighed: "The princess is warning us today to spit out some to feed the people."

"In the future, this tooth shop business must be gradually reduced. Don't be too greedy or too shady. Also, when the princess goes to the racecourse tomorrow, don't cover it up. Whatever the princess wants to see, let the princess see clearly."

"You will comply with whatever the princess proposes."

Ma Yaozong responded one by one, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice: "Do you want to hide the fact that there are one hundred guards in the racecourse?"

Magistrate Ma exhaled: "No need. There are hundreds of horse slaves in the racecourse, and there are many strong men who can ride and shoot. Without guards, they can't be suppressed at all. The princess will not blame us for this." (End of Chapter) )