Chen Xi set a donation number to the gentry and tycoons in Huguang, and the total number is 800,000 taels.

The Wen family and the Zhong family must be the two who contributed the most. Next are several families that operate the mining and smelting industry, followed by the money house, Qinlou, gambling stall, winery, and families engaged in cotton spinning, silk, porcelain, printing and other industries. According to the data provided by the factory and security department, one to twenty percent of the donation funds were drawn from the total assets of their families.

Chen Xi came up and took the murder of two vassal states and blackmailed local gentry and tycoons, so that these families could do their best to make up the money.

The commercial tax was formulated in the Ming Dynasty. Although the social status of merchants was low, they only had to pay taxes from 30 to 1, and they could be rich for several generations without any trouble. Especially in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, when the children of merchants occupied a high position in the court and even formed the Donglin Party to control the court's principles, commercial tax was even more difficult to collect.

Since the founding of Taizu, the land tax amount of the Ming Dynasty has almost accounted for the vast majority of the imperial income. Think about the Southern Song Dynasty's territory that only relied on half of the Ming Dynasty but had more than 100 million chunks of tax revenue. After Zhang Juzheng implemented the One-Whip Law, the total income of the Ming Dynasty was only more than 4 million chunks, which shows the consequences of the imbalance between commercial tax and land tax.

Farmers who farm must bear the main part of the national tax revenue, and they can still bear the peace of mind, but once they encounter natural disasters and man-made disasters, serious problems will inevitably arise.

Chen Xi could basically understand the wealth of the gentry and tycoons in Huguang. The numbers he had been given were gritted and would not lead to the destruction of his family. However, there were really ignorant people among the detained people, who were yelling to go to the capital to file a lawsuit and report Chen Xi to do something wrong.

Chen Xi's method of dealing with it was very simple. He pulled the person out directly, first beat thirty military sticks, and then personally designated him as an accomplice of Guo Shaoheng who murdered two governors. He first confiscated the house, and the head of the family was escorted to the capital for trial. The male was sentenced to exile, and all the female relatives were inscribed into the Jiaofangsi.

At this time, Chen Xi didn't need to reason. All he had to do was to suppress it with force. With his current age, it was impossible to make others respect him. It would be better for people to fear him. Only when he was afraid could he be timid. Even if this kind of destiny was just pretending, Chen Xi believed that the goal had been achieved.

What Ma Zhongxi did not do was solved by Chen Xi in half an evening.

Chen Xi clearly put forward the numbers according to the actual situation. No matter what, each company has to find ways to complete the quota. After the funds are raised, the qualifications for monopoly operations such as official tea, official salt, official iron, and wine industry will be redistributed after a period of time.

Chen Xi now only hopes that Hui Niang, Song Xiaocheng and others can come to Huguang as soon as possible to develop their business. Chen Xi will not break the monopoly and repeat the monopoly process, but will open up operations. In this way, the market will compete in an orderly manner and the people can eat affordable salt. The government's taxes will not only not decrease, but will increase.

After such a change, officials and businessmen will not lose money, but the huge profits under monopoly will disappear. It is a good thing for the country, the people, and the Governor Chen Xi, but for monopoly families like the Wen family and the Zhong family, it is a catastrophe... It is not to directly kill you, but to hurt your vitality first and then die a little bit, so that you will lose the ability to resist and struggle.

When everything was finished, Chen Xi sent people to the mansions of various gentry and tycoons to wait for cash.

Chen Xi decided that if the amount of money donated by each company is not enough, the house deeds and land deeds can be used to mortgage it. As for the specific amount of money that can be mortgaged, Shen Xi personally determines it and is basically valuated according to the market price.

These families have accumulated huge wealth through generations of operation, and purchased a large amount of land through loan sharks and coercion and inducement, which has led many people in Huguang to landless tenants, who have to pay taxes and rent. Once they encounter famine, their families will be destroyed.

Land annexation was almost irreversible in the feudal era. Chen Xi also knew that it was very difficult for those who wanted to live in the house and those who ploughed in the fields.

At dawn, the money paid by the families of various gentry and tycoons gathered at the Governor's Office one after another.

Chen Xi had been sitting upright in the lobby of the Governor's Mansion, while Su Jingyang was by his side.

Seeing that the sun was shining with golden light from the yard outside, Chen Xi stood up and stretched his waist, and said with a smile: "The night passed, and I felt that the fear in my heart was much less, so General Su could rest with confidence."

Su Jingyang had never dared to talk to Chen Xi. Hearing this, he asked curiously: "Mr. Shen, you are not tired after a busy night?"

Chen Xi smiled and said, "It's not that you are tired. Maybe it's because you were used to the army and you almost didn't have the habit of sleeping on time. You are young and your body can withstand the tossing. But General Su..."

Su Jingyang straightened his back and patted his chest and said, "Mr. Shen, please rest assured, I can still hold on. I am willing to stay at my post and ensure Lord Shen's safety!"

Chen Xi nodded with satisfaction: "Thank you General Su for your deep affection and friendship. In addition to remembering the general's great achievements, everyone who helped today has a heavy reward!"

When Su Jingyang heard about the reward, he felt that the suffering of the whole night was not in vain. The soldiers under his command had silver, which meant that his boss had a commission. If he had 10,000 taels of silver, then at least three or four thousand taels would fall into his hands.

Chen Xidao: "General Su, since you can still persist, I have something to worry about you now. The troops of the Dusi Yamen have controlled the gates of Wuchang Prefecture. If martial law continues to be maintained in the city, it will have an impact on the lives of the people. Now that the main culprit and the accomplices have all been arrested, General Su ordered the lifting of the martial law and went to the city gates to personally supervise the normal opening of the city gates. How about it?"

Su Jingyang was a little worried: "Mr. Shen, aren't you afraid of any criminals or remnants running away?"

Chen Xi smiled and said, "Isn't General Su's people staring at me? I'm not worried. Oh, General Su, what do you think I should deal with Commander Cui?"

Su Jingyang hesitated for a moment, and finally said in a begging tone: "Sir, Commander Cui is the favorite general who has always valued as the commander of Huguang. If you are willing to let him go..."

"good!"

Chen Xi made a quick decision and nodded, "General Su, I've handed over to you. As for how you deal with it, that's your business, and I will not ask about it!"

Su Jingyang looked grateful: "Thank you, Lord Shen!"

After a night, Su Jingyang had no doubts about Chen Xi... Chen Xi used his methods to completely conquer Su Jingyang and his officers and soldiers.

This time, he extorted 800,000 taels of silver from various families of Wuchang Prefecture, and punished Guo Shaoheng and other officials involved in the case one by one. Su Jingyang and his soldiers all had military merits and rewards. Chen Xi also told him to help him ask for merit from the court, indicating that this time, local officials and gentry rebelled, and Su Jingyang made great contributions to pacifying the local area.

Now Shen Xi also handed over Cui Ya's disposal rights to Su Jingyang. In this way, Cui Ya owed Su Jingyang a huge favor and would definitely do his best to do his best in the future.

He can not only explain to his superiors, but also to his subordinates.

Su Jingyang's gains were huge. Now he was the leader of Chen Xi, hoping that Chen Xi would take him by his side to help him in command of military operations. In this way, he would have the opportunity to make military achievements and be awarded titles, which would be much better than staying in Wuchang Prefecture and doing nothing.

When Su Jingyang came out of the Governor's Mansion, a rough old face reflected the golden light of the rising sun, and a proud smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, looking energetic.

When he saw Cui Ya being escorted over, he went up and kicked Cui Ya, scolding angrily: "Son of Turtle, I will cause trouble for me in the future. I will plead for you... It would be better to let you and the one named Guo chop off your head!"

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ps: The second update! The emperor asked for double monthly ticket support!
Chapter completed!