Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 111 We'll do the good deeds, let others do the bad ones.
Wang Xi was somewhat surprised by Wang Shouyi's sudden arrival, because Wang Shouyi had not told him in advance that he was coming here today, and he was wondering if something had happened.

He hurried to the back hall, where he saw Tao Mo and Wang Shouyi sitting. Wang Xi first bowed to Tao Mo, then asked Wang Shouyi, who was sitting beside him, "Father, what brings you here?"

Wang Shouyi coughed once, "Father has come to thank the teacher."

Wang Xi expressed doubt, "Just because of this?"

Wang Shouyi said, "The master has taken great care of you. As his father, shouldn't you come and thank him?"

Tao Mo stroked his beard and laughed, "Not at all, not at all. Your son is exceptionally talented, well-behaved and sensible. He has been helping me manage the academy and has not caused me much worry."

She subtly gave Wang Xi a wink, as if telling him to calm down and that everything was under control.

Wang Xi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself, "Why are you thanking me? Just do your job well!"

Wang Shouyi quickly replied, "That's also because of your excellent teaching methods, sir."

"These are all my duties now."

Tao Mo waved his hand modestly and said, "Duke Qi, I have been unwell recently."

Wang Shouyi hurriedly said, "It's my fault for disturbing you, sir. Please make yourself at home."

Tao Mo then said to Wang Xi, "Little Sparrow, you can talk to your father on my behalf." As he spoke, he glanced at Wang Xi again.

Wang Xi immediately understood; it was most likely related to the Anye Bureau. He nodded and said, "Student understands."

"Excuse me."

"Sir, walk slowly."

After Tao Mo left, Wang Xi hurriedly asked, "Father, why didn't you tell me you were coming to the academy?"

Wang Shouyi said irritably, "Does Father have to report to you where he goes?"

Hey! You're asking for a favor, yet you're acting so arrogant. Wang Xi pouted, feeling wronged. "That's not what I meant. How could I possibly tell Father what to do? I'll see Father out right now."

Wang Shouyi frowned upon hearing this and said, "Who said Father is leaving?"

Wang Xi said, "Then you can rest here, Father. I'll go study now."

"Wait a minute!"

Wang Shouyi said unhappily, "Father has finally come here once in a while, can't you spend some time with him? The teacher values ​​filial piety the most."

Wang Xi argued, "Father gets angry whenever he sees me. I'm just afraid of upsetting Father. Isn't that being unfilial?"

"You've really become more sensible, lad. Your father is very pleased. So why are you angry?" Wang Shouyi tried his best to put on a kind and amiable expression.

Now that's more like asking for a favor, Wang Xi said, feigning confusion as he looked at Wang Shouyi.

Wang Shouyi said, "Why are you looking at your father like that? Am I wrong? Tell me yourself, haven't you become much more sensible lately?"

Wang Xi said, "My son has always been very sensible."

"Yes Yes Yes."

Wang Shouyi gave a perfunctory reply, then tentatively asked, "In addition, Father just talked to the teacher about the charity performance, and the teacher said that this matter is entirely entrusted to you."

Wang Xi nodded: "Yes."

Wang Shouyi coughed and said, "Then tell your father what you plan to do?"

Wang Xi feigned sudden realization, "Oh, so that's why Father came."

"Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and tell me, do you want to get beaten up?"

For Wang Shouyi, pretending to be a loving father was exhausting. He could just suppress the bloodline directly. Why did they have to go through all this trouble between father and son? It was too formal.

It turned out that Wang Shouyi had come here today for the matter of Anye Bureau. He was now in charge of Anye Bureau, but he was completely clueless, having been idle at home for many years. Although Li Qiao had talked to him about it, Li Qiao had only talked about the theory and had not explained how to put it into practice.

When Li Jieman initially fooled Li Qiao, he only spoke of theory. When he talked to Li Qiao about practice, Li Qiao didn't really understand it either; his greatest skill was theoretical discussion.

Wang Shouyi didn't quite believe Wang Xi and Li Jieman about this matter. He also thought that he had rarely come here in the past two months, and that he had even considered closing down the nameless academy because of the gang fight last time. So he thought he would come to ask Mr. Wuming for clarification in person, and at the same time, he could also improve his relationship with Mr. Wuming.

Because now not only can this academy not be shut down, but it is also deeply intertwined with him.

Tao Mo declined Wang Shouyi's offer, citing his dislike of politics, but at the same time implied that he had already handed it over to Wang Xi.

Ultimately, we still have to ask Wang Xi.

Damn it, is it so hard to say something nice? With your attitude, how are you going to survive in the court in the future? Wang Xi was secretly annoyed, but he had to admit that he had no way to solve this bloodline suppression, so he could only honestly say: "Tell me, sir, the reason why the return of these hidden households to their registered residence has been so difficult is mainly due to two reasons. First, those hidden households do not trust the court and are afraid that after returning to their registered residence, they will not be given land and will have to pay taxes."

Secondly, the journey back to their place of origin is also very expensive, which makes some reclusive residents unwilling to go through the trouble.

“These things are known to my father as well.”

Wang Shou nodded, then asked, "So how should we solve this?"

Wang Xi said casually, "It's very simple, it's just this benefit performance. This benefit performance is organized by the people, it's charity, and it doesn't seek anything in return. In this way, it can gain the trust of many hidden households. At the same time, it can also help solve the difficulties of some hidden households. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"

Wang Shouyi was taken aback and asked in confusion, "So, you can handle this matter on your own? Then what is the point of the Anye Bureau?" Wang Xi hurriedly replied, "We can only assist Father. Our academy has no power. The specific registration and placement matters still need to be handled by the Anye Bureau."

Then he whispered, "Father can also understand it this way: use good deeds to lure out those hidden households, and then Father can make arrangements."

"I see."

Wang Shou nodded, but thought to himself, "Is it really that simple?" He then said, "That's not right! If these hidden households are willing to return to their place of origin, it must be because the imperial court has granted them land. If they don't have land, then they're just lying."

You do have some brains, but the problem is, do you have the ability to resolve this land issue? Wang Xi hurriedly said, "The master said that the Anye Bureau can only manage the registration of hidden households, and must not interfere in other matters, otherwise it will harm our family."

"How do you say this?"

Wang Shouyi was taken aback.

Wang Xi said slyly, "Because there are many hidden households now, which is caused by us nobles annexing land. If Father wants to get involved in land matters, he will only offend a lot of people, and even drag our family down with him. It's a thankless task."

My father's An Ye Bureau only does good deeds and charitable work, helping unregistered households return to their registered homes and gain prestige. As for the work that offends people, he leaves it all to others. If in the end there's no land to give, it's the court that's lying, not us. My father is just following orders."

Wang Shouyi asked nervously, "This will work?"

Wang Xi said, "Father, don't worry. The teacher said that the imperial court will not entrust the land matter to the Anye Bureau. Just don't get involved."

This is something we absolutely need to be prepared for. Land annexation is a terrifying thing. Let alone Wang Shouyi, even Wang Xi himself couldn't handle it.

Because this isn't a question of good or bad policy. Even if Buddha himself came, he would still give the land of the nobles to the common people. After all, there's only so much land. This is purely a game of strategy.

The reason why Li Longji is now confident in carrying out reforms is that he now holds great power. After the previous two prime ministers helped him stabilize the court, they were ousted, and there is no "Changsun Wuji" in the court.

But those who helped the emperor with this matter, regardless of success or failure, generally did not have a good ending, because it was a job that offended people, and moreover, the ruling class.

Wang Shou nodded and said, "That's true."

Wang Xi whispered again, "Also, when the Anye Bureau helps people return to Anye, do you remember to have those hidden households register a detailed document? As long as the Anye Bureau has this document, it can hold power."

Wang Shouyi's eyes flickered a few times, and he involuntarily lowered his voice, saying, "Did the master teach you all of this?"

Wang Xi blinked.

"understand!"

Wang Shouyi nodded repeatedly.

The power of the Anye Bureau actually comes from this registration list. The current practice of the imperial court is to grant land and tax exemption to those who have concealed their household registration and return to their original place of residence.

So as long as the An Yeh Administration holds this registration list, it may not need to use it, but those prefectures and counties will definitely be very wary of the An Yeh Administration, at least the people will have another department to complain to.

This is power, and not a small amount, because it involves many high-ranking officials, landlords, and gentry.

Wang Shouyi quickly understood this principle and was overjoyed. He then asked, "If the land issue is handled by others, how can we avoid the losses incurred by the relocated residents on their journey back to their registered residence? You can't earn that much money from your charity performance."

Wang Xi said, "Sir's idea is to make use of merchants."

"Using merchants?"

"Correct!"

Wang Xi said, "Merchants often travel to buy and sell goods, which requires manpower. Father can coordinate and have those relocated households help merchants transport goods. This can not only save on travel expenses, but also earn some money."

Wang Shouyi asked doubtfully, "But would those merchants be willing?"

Wang Xi said, "Of course we will agree, because Father represents the imperial court. Sending those hidden households back to their original homes is equivalent to the imperial court escorting their goods. We can't control the bandits along the way, but the local officials won't dare to make things difficult for them. Based on this alone, even if we offer more money, they will agree. This also corresponds to what Father said before about providing property for the people."

Wang Shouyi's eyes lit up immediately, as if he had just woken from a dream. "Wonderful! Wonderful! Sir, you have truly calculated everything perfectly!"

Wang Xi said awkwardly, "Is that so? I think this is a bit difficult for Father."

"How so?" Wang Shou asked instinctively.

Wang Xi sighed, "After all, this requires overall planning. On the one hand, we need to know where the hidden households are, and on the other hand, we need to know where the merchants are. This is so troublesome. It's really too much trouble for Father."

"Who do you think you are, kid?"

Wang Shouyi glared at him and said, "When your father helped His Majesty thwart the enemy's plot back then, you didn't even know where you were. How could your father not handle such a small matter?"

Wang Xi asked doubtfully, "Is that so?"

"Just you wait and see," Wang Shouyi said. "This is outrageous! How dare you look down on your father?"

Wang Xi nodded directly, "I'll wait."

"you!"

Wang Shouyi secretly vowed that he must succeed this time and not let this kid look down on him. Suddenly, he pointed to the large wooden box next to him and said, "These are the costumes that your father donated to you."

We've come all this way, we can't come empty-handed!
"Thank you, Father."

As he spoke, Wang Xi paused again. Wait, I don't think I've told him how to design the costume yet. Is he a genius too? Filled with curiosity and unease, he walked over, opened it, and immediately exclaimed, "Stockings?"

(End of this chapter)