Xiao Chiye opened the bamboo curtain when he entered the room, and Fei Sheng retreated. Taking the cool breeze outside, Xiao Chiye put the unpacked letter on Shen Zechuan's desk and said, "In the second trial of the Dancheng case, Mrs. Pan took the evil servants in Zhuangzi to face the crime, and on the grounds of Pan Yi's negligence in control, the Lin will be picked first."
Shen Zechuan read the letter and said, "The Pan family has invaded the people's land, and Dan City has ten rooms and nine empty spaces. As long as you have checked the Yellow Book of Dan City, you will know that there were thousands of people who were displaced last year. There is no gap. Pan Lin is in charge of the taxation of the eight cities at the Ministry of Household, and it is impossible for him not to know how much is missing."
"Pan's people in charge of land tax affairs have all been imprisoned," Xiao Chiye blocked the light. "These people were all killed by their own ghosts, not by Pan's instructions."
Shen Zechuan gently rubbed the paper with his fingertips and said, "Pan Xiangjie is an old slick."
Pan Xiangjie had seen the power of Hua Siqian and Wei Huaigu, and he had already made preparations to guard against this day. The principals of Dancheng's land taxation arranged by him are all family sons, and they have the same interests as Pan's. At this juncture, protecting Pan Lin is protecting the lives of his own family, so he is naturally willing to shut up and speak up.
Xiao Chiye said: "Since Xue Xiuzhuo dares to attack at this moment, he must have Pan's handle in his hand."
"He can bring Kong Qiu and Cen Yu to the boat, and he may have the real ledger of Dancheng in his hand." Shen Zechuan thought for a while, "but he didn't take it out."
This case has already been tried by three divisions, and Pan Lin has also been dismissed for investigation. According to the process, as long as Xue Xiuzhuo signaled Liang Moshan to show evidence, they will win. Even if only one Pan Lin is removed in the end, it will also play a pivotal role in the current division of the city. effect.
"I've been thinking about it, and the only thing that can hold Xue Xiuzhuo down at this moment is spring ploughing." Sunlight slipped out from behind and sprinkled on Lanzhou's side face. Xiao Chiye raised his arm to block it, and he was not allowed to peek." The thirteen cities of Juexi will soon be cultivated.”
"But there was no disaster in Juexi last year, and the warehouses in the thirteen cities were full," Shen Zechuan said, seemingly unaware of Erlang's possession, "they did not allocate military rations to the five counties in Qidong in winter, but only replenished the granaries in Qedu, which should be returned by now. With spring ploughing reserves, what is Xue Xiuzhuo afraid of?"
"The original plan is of course no problem," Xiao Chiye sat on the edge of the table and looked at Shen Zechuan, "What if something went wrong?"
Shen Zechuan knew it at one point, he put down his pen and said, "It seems that the Queen Mother is going to use Qi Zhuyin to send troops to empty the Juexi granary."
The only way to empty Juexi’s granary at this moment is to collect military rations. If Xue Xiuzhuo insists on doing his own way and insists on continuing the investigation at this moment, then the spring ploughing in Juexi this year will not be able to be carried out, and the problem of feeding hundreds of thousands of people is hanging over Xue Xiuzhuo’s head. Come on, let him retreat if he doesn't retreat.
"The empress dowager is a late mover," Xiao Chiye said. "If Xue Xiuzhuo agrees to the military grain requisition, the Juexi granary will be vacant. For spring ploughing, Juexi must be seconded from the eight cities that still have grain reserves, so Xue Xiuzhuo cannot offend at this moment. Aristocratic family, he has to stop investigating the matter of Tian Shui and seek peace with the empress dowager representing the family. If Xue Xiuzhuo refuses to collect military rations, Qi Zhuyin will not be able to send troops without replenishment of military rations in the five counties of Qidong."
Juexi not only has to bear the granary of Qidu, but also bear the grain of Qidong's army. If they are short of grain during the spring ploughing, the local prefectures must report the lack of grain to the Chief Secretary. Jiang Qingshan, who is the governor of Juexi, will We have to find a way to make up for the lack of food. Under normal circumstances, the household department will coordinate according to the harvest situation in various places last year. Jiang Qingshan can make IOUs with the governors in the neighboring harvest provinces and regions, and borrow the grain. At that time, everyone can negotiate on their own to see whether to exchange domestic agricultural products or silver. purchase. However, at the moment, only Badacheng can borrow grain from Juexi. To persuade the Empress Dowager to borrow grain after Juexi was levied and emptied of the granary, Xue Xiuzhuo had to let go of the Bacheng field tax, or even become the Dancheng field tax.
"If you have money, you can't buy grain. The land tax issue has already caught the attention of the snake. If you miss it, it will be even more difficult to investigate. Besides, this case has attracted the attention of the Imperial Academy. If Xue Xiuzhuo withdraws, the students will also punish him." Shen Zechuan Slowly lying on the table, "The queen mother's game is very clever, but she moved the chess piece according to the situation, and let Xue Xiuzhuo advance and retreat."
The Queen Mother also took advantage of Shen Zechuan's potential here. The military rations Shen Zechuan supplemented to Qidong were all "stealed" by Yan Heru integrating Hezhou and Juexi granaries. Qidu was recruited from Juexi, and Juexi experienced it within half a year. The rations were filled twice, and the granary was naturally unaffordable.
Xiao Chiye covered Shen Zechuan's hair and said, "Xue Yanqing, who has no last resort, is also in a dead end."
"There is still a way," Shen Zechuan raised his eyes and said to Xiao Chiye innocently, "If it were me, I would just remove the queen mother."
* * *
The snow in Qedu has melted quickly in the past few days, and the eaves along the street are dripping with water. Fortunately, the Guangou was newly repaired last year, and there was no further blockage. The location of Xue Mansion was right, but it was too close to the house next door, and the walls of both houses collapsed.
Xue Xiuzhuo recently lived in Dali Temple. When he came back to pick up his clothes, he saw that the courtyard wall had been renovated. He asked the supervisor who was serving at home, "When was it repaired?"
Xue Xiuzhuo's family doesn't pay attention to red tape, and the supervisor is old, but he is still respectful when he follows him. The uncle called someone to fix it."
Hearing the words, Xue Xiuzhuo's eyes dimmed, and after thinking for a moment, he felt that his elder brother Xue Xiuyi's behavior was strange. Xue Xiuyi didn't deal with Xue Xiuzhuo. After they split up, they quickly lost all the remaining family property. With Xue Xiuzhuo's light, he worked in the Ministry of Housing and barely made ends meet. Where did he get the spare money for Xue Xiuzhuo's abbey wall
"Let the accountant make it up for him," Xue Xiuzhuo said, "Don't come to see Brother Jin again if the eldest lady has nothing to do."
Brother Jin is the direct son of Da Xue. He is eight years old this year. Xue Xiuzhuo was raised in front of him, and he did not return Brother Jin to Da Xue and his wife after he separated from the house. Xue Dalai asked for it a few times, because he could never see Xue Xiuzhuo, so he could only give up.
The supervisor said "yes".
Xue Xiuzhuo's burden was light. He didn't wear silk and satin, and the most flashy clothes were official robes, which were very convenient to pack. He often lived in the office compound, with only a dumb boy waiting for the pen and ink, and there were no maids. He was usually rough and simple, which was a habit left by the household department when he went to the local field during work.
Xue Xiuzhuo was about to go back to the business compound after cleaning up. The supervisor held an umbrella for him and persuaded him warmly: "The third master always lives in the compound, and there is no one to serve him. The weather has changed suddenly, so you still have to wear thick clothes."
When Xue Xiuzhuo arrived at the door, Mute came forward to take the umbrella and said "ah" to him. Xue Xiuzhuo nodded, indicating that he knew, turned around and said to the supervisor, "You will take care of the family, and my monthly salary will be sent back on time. See if there is anything you can buy in the house, just add it."
Xue Xiuzhuo stopped sitting in the sedan chair since he was promoted, and walked back and forth. After giving the order, Duaner held up his umbrella and turned into the drizzle. When they arrived at the business office, they saw that Liang Luoshan had been waiting for a long time.
"Lord Yanqing." Liang Luoshan went downstairs to greet him and saluted Xue Xiuzhuo.
Xue Xiuzhuo sent the dumber away and said to Liang Luoshan, "Go in and talk."
Liang Luoshan slowed down a few steps and followed Xue Xiuzhuo into the room. The lamp was lit in the house, but the charcoal basin was empty. When Liang Maoshan sat down, he felt that the chair was cold. He had seen this room while he was waiting just now. It was plain and unadorned. The only valuable thing was Mr. Yao's left pen hanging on the wall. Other than that, the tables, chairs and benches were all ordinary objects.
Who would have thought that Xue Xiuzhuo could afford Qidong army salaries
"Chongshen doesn't need to be restrained," Xue Xiuzhuo opened the window, sat down, and said warmly, "Is this here for the Dancheng land tax case?"
Xue Xiuzhuo is tall and straight, and his demeanor is generous, which is like a spring breeze. He is now also an important minister of the capital, but Liang Luoshan is very comfortable in front of him. He has neither the arrogance of the children of an aristocratic family nor the prudence of a humble family, and it is easy to make people feel good when talking freely.
"That's right," Liang Luoshan took out the tightly wrapped account book in his arms, "Xiaguan is here for the Dancheng field tax case."
Xue Xiuzhuo was waiting for his next sentence.
Liang Maoshan went on to say: "The last time the Empress Dowager Yizhi ordered the third young lady to return to Ning, the commander must accompany his father. In my humble opinion, this is urging the adults."
The queen mother called Qi Zhuyin into the capital at this time, nothing more than to put pressure on Xue Xiuzhuo.
Xue Xiuzhuo said: "The cabinet has already drawn up a ticket to allow the commander to send troops to the Green Mouse Department, but the Queen Mother has been reluctant to approve it. Now that the commander enters the capital, it's not all bad."
Liang Luoshan said: "But the issue of military rations is still pending, and if we drag it on, I'm afraid it will delay the spring ploughing in Juexi."
Xue Xiuzhuo has not rested for several days, and it is also difficult here. He and Jiang Qingshan went to great lengths to sort out the accounts of the thirteen cities in Juexi, just to avoid the situation of displacement in Juexi like the eight major cities.
Today, Liang Luoshan did not come to see Xue Xiuzhuo, and Xue Xiuzhuo also went to see Liang Luoshan. He said: "Chongshen is also in charge of the salt tax in Hezhou and Juexi. Why don't you tell me the details of Hezhou."
This is to borrow grain from Hezhou.
Liang Maoshan looked embarrassed, he said: "Xiaguan has said it bluntly, it is really difficult for adults to borrow grain from Hezhou. This year's Hezhou has a good harvest, but the official grain will be supplied to the capital, and the rest will be reserved for spring ploughing. To be able to borrow food from the Yan family. Yan Heru is very difficult to deal with, and he has a lot of money, and he may not be willing to borrow money, because he is afraid that he will ask for something else, but he will ruin the soup in Hezhou."
Xue Xiuzhuo fell into deep thought.
He is now struggling with food, not money. The most important thing is that money can't buy food right now. If he was worried about the Qidong army's salaries now, he could also raise tariffs in Hezhou and Juexi and scrape them out of the merchants, but what was lacking was food.
According to Hai Liangyi's plan, Jiang Qingshan was transferred to Zhongbo for recovery. We can also see some food this year, and we will gather some from Huaizhou at that time. It is not difficult to solve the military rations. However, Zhongbo is now Shen Zechuan's territory, and the Cihuai tea business line has cut off a considerable part of Dazhou's grain.
"Wait until the commander enters the capital," Xue Xiuzhuo said, "I'll talk to the commander."