Fortunate Young Gentleman

Tang Zhao finally bought several kilograms of apples for ten cents per kilogram.

The hawker said that ten cents was ten cents, and he would not give up a penny. No matter how eloquent he was, he would spit and spit, but he would not lose a penny.

"Ten Wen is ten Wen, that's five pounds." Tang Zhao handed the apple to Tang Qi and said, "Dad, you go back first, and I'll go shopping later."

Tang Qi carried the apple back, while Tang Zhao wandered on the street. First, he found a few old books at a bookstall, wandered to a chess stall, and sat opposite the stall owner with interest.

There are people who set up chess stalls in Beijing, and they often play chess with passers-by. The passers-by have to pay ten cash first. If they can win the stall owner, the stall owner will pay double the twenty cash back. If he loses, the ten cash will naturally be gone.

These people who set up stalls used this place to eat, and their chess skills were naturally superb. Few people could beat them. Over time, no one was willing to play with them.

After Tang Zhao sat down, he threw down a piece of broken silver and said, "Let's play two rounds."

The stall owner let him take the lead, and the two drank a cup of tea in silence. When they settled down again, the stall owner suddenly asked: "Do you believe my master now?"

"He is right about many things, but what's the use of believing in him?" Tang Zhao shook his head and said, "King Duan is as stupid as a pig. He can't help him up. If the pig doesn't obey, what can the master do?"

The stall owner asked back: "Prince Duan is a pig, wouldn't it be better for your Tang family? If he is as cunning as Emperor Chen, how will your Tang family be able to defeat him in the future?"

"There is still a future..., there is no future." Tang Zhao casually placed a chess piece and said: "Even you have said that King Run came from behind, and King Duan Kang was not his opponent. He has the Tang family and the Fang family behind him. What does King Duan win? Your master has guessed so many things, why can’t he guess this?”

The man said: "Who knows who will win until the last moment..."

Tang Zhao asked: "Does he still have a chance to turn defeat into victory?"

The owner of the chess stall said: "Didn't my master say that King Run will have to wait for at least five years? In these five years, anything can happen. Your Tang family is so powerful, and it only took two years to defeat him." With such a failure, why is it impossible for Tangning and the Fang family?"

Tang Zhao glanced at him and asked, "Do you think the Tang family is still the same Tang family as before?"

"Although the Tang family has fallen to this point, my master doesn't believe that you don't have any hidden back-ups." The man shook his head and said, "If the Tang family can't even do this, we won't have to cooperate in the future."

Tang Zhao was too lazy to continue the topic with him and asked directly: "Prince Duan will probably be obedient in the future. Has your master told him what to do next?"

The man said: "You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to walk step by step. If there is nothing wrong with the Tang family, let's deal with Prince Kang first. This time the court attacks the powerful, it is a good opportunity..."

Tang Zhao looked at him and asked, "Are you talking about Concubine Zhang Xian's Zhang family?"

The stall owner nodded and said: "Although King Kang was temporarily defeated, the Zhang family was not affected at all. They are in charge of the Ximen Guards and should not be underestimated..."

Tang Zhao shook his head and said: "Kang Kang has fallen, but the Zhang family has not fallen. How easy is it to overthrow the Zhang family?"

"This time is a good opportunity." The man put down a chess piece and said, "It's not easy to make these powerful people surrender. You can't kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, just show off. It depends on whether your Tang family has the ability to turn the Zhang family into that. Just a chicken..."

He glanced at Tang Zhao and said, "That's all I'm going to say. Whether you can seize the opportunity or not depends on your Tang family."

Tang Zhao looked at him and asked, "How can I find you next time?"

The man put away the chessboard and said with a smile: "I will come to you when needed."

…

Tang Qi returned home carrying several kilograms of apples. When passing by Tang Zhao's room, he paused and looked in.

Ever since Tang Jing died and he became the young head of the Tang family, his whole person had changed a lot, so much so that Tang Qi sometimes couldn't believe that he was his son.

Although he locked himself in his room to study all day long, Tang Qi didn't believe that a person could change so much in a short period of time. Why did his stupid son suddenly become so sharp-eyed and invincible? .

He pushed Tang Zhao's door, but it was not closed. Tang Qi walked in slowly, moved away, and picked up a book under his feet.

He looked up and saw that the floor, table, bed, and cabinets of his room were all scattered with books in a mess.

If the books in his room were neatly arranged, Tang Qi would be suspicious, but the fact that he threw the books so scattered just meant that he had read them.

Not everyone has the patience to read so many books, but this perseverance is far beyond the reach of others.

Tang Qi stood there in shock for a long time before he reluctantly convinced himself to admit that reading can really transform a person. After becoming the head of the young family, Tang Zhao changed his past playboy and finally became enlightened.

This is fine, but if he is still as dandy as before, even if the Tang family can rise, they will be defeated by him sooner or later.

He opened the book in his hand to see what he usually read.

"Azhao's imperial examination results were not ideal, but after all, he filled a real vacancy in the civil service department..."

Tang Qi thought he was reading a history book or something, but he didn't expect it. After turning a few pages, he saw several embarrassing descriptions. Tang Qi turned back to the cover and looked at it, only to see the words "The County Magistrate's Pornographic History" written on it. 》.

This turned out to be a book with unsightly erotic content. Tang Qi threw it on the ground and picked up two more books. They turned out to be similar to X Futon and XX Heart Sutra.

Opening the content, it is indeed full of indescribable content.

Tang Zhao opened the door and saw Tang Qi holding a copy of "XX Heart Sutra" and looking at it in ecstasy. After being stunned for a moment, he smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to be so good at it, dad. I still have a few treasured picture books here. Do you want to take a look..."

…

When Tang Zhai was in a state of panic, the entire capital was also in panic.

A pre-promulgated decree by the imperial court overturned the previous tax system, making the wealthy gentry and powerful people feel terrified.

Once the court changes the tax from per capita to tax based on land, the extra tax they pay every year will be dozens to hundreds of times more. What is the difference between this and cutting their flesh?

For a time, people with interests in this matter quickly gathered together to discuss countermeasures.

Some of them contacted the backers of the DPRK and China to inquire about the situation, and some hired ordinary people to oppose the implementation of this law in real names.

This time the imperial court did not directly announce changes to the tax law, but instead solicited the opinions of the people before making changes. They only needed to bribe the people and ask them to put notes with objections into the opinion box at the entrance of the palace. It only cost five cents at a time. , you can buy enough people.

Obviously, this measure of the court is to cut off the flesh of the gentry and the powerful, and it is beneficial to the people. However, selling one's conscience for money has attracted a lot of condemnation from honest people. People of insight who intend to promote the implementation of this law, They angrily called them the "Five-Wen Party".

However, no matter how cheerful the people below were, the imperial court never responded to this matter and seemed to be determined to amend the tax law.

This time, the dignitaries and gentry near Gyeonggi Province who owned a large amount of land but did not have to pay much tax were really panicked...