In the Song Dynasty, there was no law or order.

The Song Dynasty was very wealthy.

But its wealth is mainly concentrated in the scholar-bureaucrat class and the general class.

The people should be impoverished, or they should be impoverished.

Scholar-bureaucrats were not only officials, but also businessmen. While receiving salaries from the court, they also expanded their business territories.

For example, among Lu Yijian, Song Shou, Xia Song, and Chen Zhizhong, who are not descendants of aristocratic families and whose ancestors were all from high-ranking families?

These people have accumulated family fortunes for generations. They dare not say that they are rich and wealthy, but they still have a wealth of millions.

But compared with Jiangmen, it is far behind.

Because the Song Dynasty gave the generals extremely generous treatment, after a cup of wine released the military power, in addition to the nominal high-ranking officials and generous salaries, there were also a large number of rewards.

For example, Shi Shouxin's family, "History of the Song Dynasty" records, "accumulated huge amounts of money and made a lot of money in the family". They also engaged in loan sharking and were involved in all walks of life.

There is also the Wang Shenqi family, known as the "Nine Courtyard Wang Family". They have nine wealthy mansions in Bianliang City, where every inch of land is precious.

The Gao Huaide family owned numerous fields and shops in Bianliang, and seven of them among the five generations were crowned kings.

The other dozens of founding generals from the Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi eras, such as Cao Bin, Li Chongju, Guo Shouwen, Zhang Lingduo, etc., all have great wealth.

Their annual rewards alone are countless, not to mention the fact that they rely on their power to do business in Bianliang. For example, many famous restaurants, teahouses, gambling houses, and brothels in Bianliang are controlled by generals.

Therefore, Bianliang's senior officials and senior generals are really rich.

June 30th.

As night fell, in Kunning Hall, a young woman sat calmly waiting in the hall.

She only wore light makeup, and her face was not beautiful. She even had a cold and stern expression, like an iceberg.

Not long ago, Wang Shouzhong, the leader of the eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, came over to report to Queen Cao, saying that the official family was going to stay at Kunning Palace today and asked the Queen to be ready to welcome her.

Queen Cao was quite surprised. Although she had been married to the official family for two years, the two did not have much affection. In the past two years, the official family came only a handful of times. Why did she have time to come to Kunning Hall today?

It was just an accident. After bathing and changing clothes according to the procedure, Empress Cao put on a little makeup and waited quietly in the palace.

By the beginning of Haishi, the official's sedan chair had already arrived outside Kunning Palace.

Zhao Zhen got off the sedan, and the maids and eunuchs outside the palace saluted one after another. After entering the palace, he saw Queen Cao sitting on the chair. His steps were slightly delayed, and his expression was quite complicated.

Empress Cao stood up and bowed to Zhao Zhen and saluted: "I have seen your majesty. May your majesty be blessed."

"Get flat."

Zhao Zhen said lightly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Queen Cao's tone was also very calm, and she was not overjoyed by Zhao Zhen's arrival.

There are dozens of beauties in the harem, but this favor belongs to Zhang Meiren, to Master Attendant Miao, and it seems that she has nothing to do with Empress Cao.

For the two of them, their conversations and daily life are not like a couple at all, but more like strangers they have never met.

When Zhao Zhen saw Queen Cao's appearance, he felt disgusted for no reason. He really hated Queen Cao's attitude towards him.

But thinking that he still had something to ask for from the general, and thinking of Zhao Jun's evaluation of Queen Cao as a virtuous queen, he finally went up, hesitated a little, took Queen Cao's hand and said, "I have been busy with state affairs recently, but I have neglected the queen."

Empress Cao leaned forward again and said: "Your Majesty is busy with everything, and it is the right thing to work on state affairs. I, my concubine, should do my duty and share your Majesty's worries without any complaints."

Zhao Zhen said: "It's late at night, please go to bed with me, Queen."

"yes."

Empress Cao followed Zhao Zhen to the apse and bedroom.

The maid in the palace helped them take off their coats, then blew out the candles, and the two of them lay on the same bed as usual.

No one moved.

Zhao Zhen reluctantly hugged Empress Cao and felt the calm breathing beside him. He didn't think much, he just said: "The imperial doctor said that I am not in good health and asked me to stay in bed. I have been living in the wooden house in the back garden these days. But I don’t come to the harem anymore.”

"Your Majesty, you must put your body first."

"I won't let anyone enter the back garden these days. The queen won't be unhappy."

"I never like to move around, so that's okay. On the contrary, Zhang Meiren and Yu Yu are blocked from going to the back garden, so they come to me to cry and complain."

"Let's not mention them. Is there anything uncomfortable about the Queen living in this palace?"

"I think it's acceptable."

"Oh, some people say that the materials used in the palace are not very good and can make people sick easily."

"Does Your Majesty want to renovate the palace?"

"There is little money in the national treasury and internal funds. Where can we find the money for repairs? The border is unstable and we need military reinforcements."

"oh."

The two of them chatted incessantly, like two unfamiliar neighbors meeting each other in the corridor.

After a while, Zhao Zhen suddenly changed the subject and said: "Does the queen know that Bianliang has now opened a handover service? After depositing the money, there will be a payout ticket, and you can withdraw money from various places in the Song Dynasty in the future?"

"I heard it from the eunuch who went out to buy."

Queen Cao responded.

Zhao Zhen saw that she was not very enlightened, so he tried to say: "I remember that the Cao family is often engaged in business. Wouldn't it be much more convenient if the money was deposited in Jiaozi's shop?"

"."

Queen Cao fell silent.

The room became quiet.

Time passed minute by minute, Zhao Zhen didn't speak, he frowned, slightly dissatisfied.

Isn't what I said clear enough?

But after a while, Zhao Zhen suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

Because he suddenly remembered something.

Two years ago, the Cao family sent their daughter to the palace, and the family collected a huge dowry.

This dowry was worth millions of dollars, which almost emptied the Cao family. Queen Cao's uncle Cao Cong was forced to borrow money to survive.

Up to now, there is still a balance of more than one million yuan in internal funds, all thanks to the support of the Cao family.

However, Zhao Zhen did not reward the Cao family with even a dime. As a result, the Cao family is now extremely embarrassed and has little money.

At this juncture, Zhao Zhen still asked the Cao family to deposit money in Jiaozi shop?

Do you want the Cao family to sell all their mansions?

Thinking of this, Zhao Zhen became even more ashamed and said hurriedly: "What I mean is that if the Cao family contacts the other general families, it will be beneficial to deposit the money in Jiaozipu."

"I see."

"I remembered that I was so happy when I married the queen that I forgot to reward the Cao family as usual. Tomorrow I will take 200,000 yuan from the internal funds and send someone to the Cao family."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Queen Cao responded.

Zhao Zhen sighed inwardly and said, "It's late at night, Queen, please go to sleep."

"yes."

Queen Cao responded gently.

The two of them had their own thoughts and fell into a deep sleep without talking all night.

It's just that Zhao Zhen could still hug Queen Cao tenderly at first, but later, he slowly let go of his hand.

For a scumbag, if he doesn't like her, he just doesn't like her. He still loves younger and more beautiful women.

Early the next morning, Zhao Zhen left Kunning Palace and went to Chui Gong Hall for the morning court. He announced in the morning court that the Cao family was loyal and would be rewarded with 200,000 yuan from internal funds.

There was no reaction from the court. This was a family matter of the official family, and the money was being transferred from internal funds, so it was none of their business.

At the same time, Queen Cao summoned the Dongshanggemen envoy and the Weizhou regiment training envoy Cao Cong into the palace at noon.

Compared with the early Song Dynasty, the Cao family's power was much less than before.

As the head of the Cao family, Cao Cong is actually the youngest son of Cao Bin, only over forty years old. He has no power and no money left in his family. His life is quite miserable and he lives in debt.

Zhao Zhen's cold attitude towards Queen Cao is evident.

At this moment, Cao Cong entered the palace cautiously. After greeting the queen in Kunning Hall, he asked the queen why she summoned him to the palace.

Queen Cao sat on the chair and said to him: "I heard that the official rewarded the Cao family 200,000 yuan?"

Cao Cong suddenly became energetic and said: "Yes, Chenshi was sent outside the mansion. Now the mansion is decorated with lights and colorful decorations, it's really lively."

"Send them all to Jiaozipu for storage."

Queen Cao said.

"Jiaozipu?"

Cao Cong wondered: "I also know about this, but currently it is only open in Bianliang and Chengdu. Our family has no family business in Chengdu."

Empress Cao shook her head and said, "Uncle, just do as you are told. Jiaozi can also be used in Bianliang in the future."

"yes."

Cao Cong accepted.

Empress Cao added: "My uncle can go to a banquet with the other generals and invite them to deposit their remaining wealth in Jiaozipu. This will only be good for them, and there will be no harm."

Cao Cong was not stupid. He immediately understood the reason why the Cao family was inexplicably rewarded today. He was surprised for a moment and said: "Could it be this?"

"Don't ask too much about this matter. The officials said that they are just depositing the money, not your money. You can withdraw it anytime you want in the future. Isn't what the officials said useless?"

Queen Cao said in a deep voice.

"yes."

Cao Cong agreed.

Queen Cao then left Cao Cong to have a meal in the palace, and in the afternoon Cao Cong went back with his mission.

At the same time, after the officials left their duties in the evening, Lu Yijian's sedan slowly left the political hall of the palace and headed towards Ma Xing Street.

Although eight people including Lu Yijian, Sanxiang Sangen, Yan Shu and Fan Zhongyan were insiders, Zhao Zhen did not restrict their activities.

After all, if six prime ministers and two ministers were imprisoned in the back garden, the noise would be too great, and it was impossible.

Yan Shu had reserved a table in the east building. When he entered, he saw Yan Shu and Song Shou already inside.

Seeing Lu Yijian come in, the two stood up and said, "Prime Minister Lu."

"sit down."

Lu Yijian responded, walked over and sat down and said, "What's the matter?"

Song Shou looked at Yan Shu.

Today's game was arranged by Yan Shu. He said that he wanted them to come to the east building as a break, but he didn't know what the specific matter was.

Yan Shu didn't do any ink and said directly: "Fan Xiwen asked the officials to dismiss the two officials. The reason he gave was that most of the officials in the imperial court now came from Menyin, and the prime ministers Lu and Song in the court were Menyin. Without you, the backbone of the officials, the New Deal cannot be implemented, so they must be removed.”

"How did you know about this?"

Song Shou was surprised.

Yan Shu made an excuse and said: "When I went to report Zhao Jun's situation to the officials, I saw Fan Xiwen coming out of the study and gave the prince fifty guan. He told me."

It is not a matter of one or two days for officials to seek information from eunuchs, but it is normal.

Lu Yijian's face suddenly became serious. He had actually guessed that Fan Zhongyan would do this. Because Fan Zhongyan had a bad temper and was quite stubborn, even with Zhao Jun and the officials' mediation, he could not give up.

There is no enmity between the two sides, it is a dispute over positions.

Precisely because it is a battle of positions, it is a life-or-death battle.

But he didn't expect Fan Zhongyan to be so impatient. Less than two months later, he started applying eye drops in front of officials.

This is to catch them all in one go.

Thinking of the last time Fan Zhongyan deliberately asked Zhao Jun who were opposing the Qingli New Deal, Lu Yijian became very angry and said in a deep voice: "Fan Xiwen really has no regard for the overall situation. Why do you insist on quitting the family? This is to fight against the world. Officials are against each other, Gongchui, let Zi Qiao and the others handle what I told you last time."

Yan Shu was surprised and said, "What's the matter?"

Song Shou said: "Let people spread rumors in the market that there are experts behind the scenes to guide the officials, saying that Zhao Yuanhao is about to rebel and establish a country."

"What does this have to do with Fan Xiwen?"

Yan Shu was puzzled.

During this period, he stayed in the palace every day. Even when he went home, he had to take care of his sick wife, and he hardly knew any news from the outside world.

Song Shou said: "Fan Xiwen often entertains Ouyang Xiu, Yin Zhu, Yu Jing and others at home, but after I leave every day, I don't see outsiders and only stay at home. The officials will not know about it. If there is such a thing in Bianliang, Rumors, how do you think the officials will treat Fan Zhongyan?"

Yan Shu's eyes widened when he heard what he said, and then he scolded: "Mr. Tanfu, Gongchui, are you crazy? You know how much the officials value Zhao Jun. If word spreads, the officials will be furious!"

Lu Yijian's face was as dark as water, and he said calmly: "What can I do? Fan Zhongyan is pressing harder and harder. He is the future minister of reform in Zhao Jun's mouth. I am just a conservative interest group that values ​​power and is trying to persuade each other? In the official position, Is it important that I still have Fan Zhongyan in my family’s heart?”

"This move is too risky, you must not do it!"

Yan Shu shook his head repeatedly.

Zhao Zhen now regards Zhao Jun as more important than his life, and hopes that he can help him solve his troubles. If the matter spreads, His Majesty the Emperor will definitely be furious, and he will definitely let the Imperial City Department investigate thoroughly.

Once the matter gets bigger and Lu Yijian is involved, it will be very dangerous, and many people will be implicated.

Why didn't Lu Yijian know this? He sighed: "What can we do? Fan Xiwen is already riding on our heads. If we don't fight back, he will really move the officials, and we will..."

Yan Shu rolled his eyes twice and touched the goat's beard on his chin.

Seeing him like this, Song Shou hurriedly asked, "Uncle Tong, you have always been quick-witted. Do you have any good ideas?"

Yan Shu suddenly laughed and said: "This is easy. What the government needs is not direct ministers like Fan Xiwen and others, but capable ministers who can solve problems. When I went to report to the official before, I heard that the official There seems to be a problem.”

"what is the problem?"

Lu Yijian asked.

"The tea merchants in Bianliang and the tea merchants in Chengdu Prefecture plan to withdraw the money from Jiaozi Shop. Whoever can solve this problem will be a capable minister in the eyes of the officials."

After Yan Shu finished speaking, he looked at the two of them meaningfully and said in a low voice: "The official family cannot do without such capable ministers."

The two people suddenly became thoughtful.

In the past few days, I have been writing 4,000 words a day, because it will be on the shelves soon. Around the time it is on the shelves, Zhao Jun's eyes regained his sight. Under normal circumstances, I could continue to push the new book for the fourth round, but as a result, everyone urged me to update it every day. There are so many updates, and a new book will be released in less than 30 days, so I can’t recommend it very much, which makes me heartbroken. Others publish 4,000 words a day and 120,000 words a month. I update 7,000 words a day, and now it’s almost 200,000 words. I even pushed my fourth round to Geng. It’s such a conscientious update. If you don’t support it, it would be too much. . If you have any recommendation votes, rewards, or monthly tickets, please don’t be stingy when it comes to the shelves. Please continue to read!