From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 426

Zhou Yuan did not plan to live in Guangzhou for a long time, and did not buy a manor, but Qiao Chaiqing arranged a residence for him.

Qiao Chaiqing was also very sensible. He directly vacated the mansion where he lived and let Zhou Yuan move in with a smile.

Zhou Yuan also smiled and said, "Old Qiao, I appreciate your kindness, but I will only stay for three to five days at most, so you don't need to find a new place to live."

"In addition, you need to find another mansion with a private location for Guan Lu and others to live in."

Qiao Chaiqing said, "Don't worry, Lord Zhou, I will take care of it."

Zhou Yuan nodded and then entered the mansion.

Zhuang Xuansu followed in like a follower, and whispered: "Zhou Yuan, did I hear you right? Are you going to smuggle?"

Zhou Yuan looked at her and asked in confusion: "Yes, smuggling is the most profitable, why not do it?"

"It's illegal!"

Zhuang Xuansu gritted his teeth and said: "I will never indulge you, and this is not the way to help you!"

Zhou Yuan said: "It's strange, smuggling has been rampant here for many years, have you ever been in charge of it in the inner court? Why can't you stand it when I want to smuggle? Are you targeting me?"

Zhuang Xuansu choked, but still added: "I'm not targeting you on purpose, but it's illegal, so we have to deal with it. These corrupt officials cooperated with smuggling to make huge profits, and I will also arrest them!"

Zhou Yuan patted her shoulder and chuckled: "Master Zhuang, when I have time one day, I will take you to visit Guangzhou "Your Majesty, I'll show you whether smuggling is good or bad."

"Why is smuggling here so rampant? Why do even local officials, whether corrupt or honest, turn a blind eye?"

Zhuang Xuansu said coldly, "You are going to convince me with your perverse logic again."

Zhou Yuan said, "No, it's not perverse logic, but common sense, it's justice."

"In fact, your majesty and I are planning a policy of opening up the sea, and we will add a Ministry of Commerce to the six ministries to specifically control and support import and export trade and detailed policies."

"Without agriculture, there is no foundation, and without commerce, there is no prosperity. The Jin Dynasty has been established for 400 years, and it has reached the end of its national destiny. How can it be revived? Only commerce."

"I, Zhou Yuan, fight for the country, but I establish the One Whip Law for thousands of generations."

"You will understand slowly."

He waved his hand and walked back to the room.

Zhuang Xuansu tilted his head and thought for a moment before walking into the room and said, "Zhou Yuan, why are you so young and seem to know everything, while I have lived for thirty years, but I don't seem to know as much as you do."

Zhou Yuan looked at her and asked in confusion, "Are you really thirty?"

"Shut up!"

Zhuang Xuansu said, "Is this the point? I just want to ask...these principles you said are actually just guesses, right?"

Zhou Yuan pointed to the table and said slowly, "Don't just let me talk. Make me some tea and grind some ink for me. I want to write a letter."

"Oh..."

Zhuang Xuansu nodded, and suddenly changed color and said, "I'm not your maid. Why should I do this!"

Zhou Yuan said, "Then I won't say anything. Go to bed by yourself."

"So annoying!"

Zhuang Xuansu snorted and impatiently made him some tea.

While grinding ink, she said, "Let's talk about this smuggling thing. I want to see how you can come up with a twisted theory."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, "Okay, I'll tell you."

"If you are an ordinary poor peasant in Guangzhou Prefecture, you have lived here for generations, relying on the weather and the land for your livelihood."

"There is abundant rainfall here, and the river network is crisscrossed. Irrigation is not a problem, but the land is not fertile. After working hard for a year, it can only barely support a family of five."

"When encountering natural disasters or increased taxes, you will starve or even become a refugee."

Zhuang Xuansu frowned and said, "Isn't it the same for all the people in the world?"

Zhou Yuan said, "But suddenly one day, the world changed. Someone asked the men in your family to work in the kiln, and paid three hundred coins a month. money. Let the women in your family go to pick tea, and give them 100 coins a month. "

"A family of five, those who pick tea pick tea, those who run kilns run kilns, and can earn seven or eight taels of silver a year."

"Even if there is a natural disaster, we can still have enough food, and occasionally we can eat something good, drink some wine, and make two new clothes."

"Compared to the previous days, are you happy?"

Zhuang Xuansu thought about it, and then nodded: "Life is getting better, of course I am happy."

Zhou Yuan said: "But suddenly one day, the sea was banned and business was not allowed."

"Porcelain can't be sold, tea can't be sold, merchants are bankrupt, and people have no work to do, and can only live the same life as before."

"Are you willing?"

Zhuang Xuansu didn't speak, just thinking.

Zhou Yuan said: "Some people are born prominently and squander their innate luck. But most people are born humble and can only rely on farming.They live on the land, barely survive, and have no chance to learn to read and write..."

"Don't they want to live a better life? Don't they want to have food to eat and clothes to wear? Don't they want to learn to read and write, and pass the imperial examinations?"

"They had a chance, but the court's ban directly killed their hopes."

"Why do I say that opening the sea is necessary? Because this is what the people need."

"If the Jin Dynasty wants to revive and make the country rich and the people strong, it must open the sea and emphasize commerce. Only when it is rich can it become strong."

Zhuang Xuansu nodded slightly, not quite understanding.

At this point, Zhou Yuan laughed and said slowly: "The country is rich and the people are strong. It is a long-term topic. It is not a one-day job. Only by taking it step by step can we finally achieve our goals."

"Your Majesty is doing this, and I am doing this too. This is why Your Majesty values ​​and trusts me."

He muttered in his heart-except for being sold this time.

Zhuang Xuansu thought about it and finally said: "Zhou Yuan, I don't understand. "

Okay, I knew you didn't understand.

"It doesn't matter, at least you have helped me grind the ink."

He smiled, picked up the brush and started writing: "Dear Jianjia, dear wife, I have arrived in Guangzhou..."

After writing here, Zhou Yuan looked up at Zhuang Xuansu and asked in confusion: "What are you reading when I write a letter? Go back to your room and rest!"

"Oh oh."

Zhuang Xuansu woke up as if from a dream, and then sneered: "Everyone says that you have extraordinary literary talent, but the letters you write are plain and corny."

Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes and said: "What do you know? The most touching words are often simple and ordinary words. No matter how high the literary talent is, it's useless. My wife prefers corny words."

Zhuang Xuansu snorted heavily, turned around and walked away.

Zhou Yuan scratched his head and continued writing.

"Dear Jianjia, dear wife, I have arrived in Guangzhou. The current situation is very safe. I am doing business here. Please don't worry. ”

“Take good care of your pregnancy and your health in Mount Zhongnan. When this storm is over, it will be the day for us to reunite.”

“I have met my father-in-law. He is in good health and as optimistic and talkative as before. There is no need to worry about their safety.”

…

Zhou Yuan wrote six letters in one breath and handed them to Guan Lu.

He gave detailed instructions: “Give them to them separately. Don’t mix them up, otherwise it will be embarrassing.”

Guan Lu nodded and smiled: “I understand, I understand. I often do this kind of thing.”

Zhou Yuan sighed and laughed: “You are not honest, do you have a child outside?”

Guan Lu’s face changed, and he waved his hand and said: “That was all in the past. It’s not like that now. You know, sir, we were in Datong at that time. There was nothing else except wine, meat and women. "

Zhou Yuan blinked and said, "The letter to Jinling will be sent two days later, you know..."

"Yes, of course I know!"

Guan Lu was sweating as he smiled. He didn't know anything. Why should it be sent two days later? Is there any trick?

I have to ask the adults for advice in the future.