It's approaching noon.

Mao Xiang, tired of his travels, hurried back to the imperial city.

On the way into the palace, he happened to meet Xu Da who was out of the palace for something.

"Wei Guogong!" Mao Xiang saluted immediately when they met face to face.

Xu Da was neither close nor distant, and kept a certain distance in return. Mao Xiang was a royal guard, the emperor's eyes and ears. As a minister, even if he was His Majesty's old brother, he had to keep a certain distance from a special colleague like Mao Xiang.

Not being able to carry it clearly will not only cause trouble for yourself.

Still causing trouble for the emperor.

"Mr. Wei Guogong, do you have time to say a few words?" Just as Xu Da was about to leave, Mao Xiang said with a smile.

Xu Da frowned slightly and looked around.

There weren't many people.

"I wonder what Master Mao wants to say?" Xu Da asked cautiously.

Mao Xiang understood Xu Da's concerns.

If all ministers behave like Xu Da, the emperor will be much less worried.

He smiled and congratulated: "Xiaguan has just returned from Jiangning County. I met Zhu Silang and his wife by chance in the county. I heard a good news. Wei Guogong will definitely be very happy after hearing it."

Regarding his daughter and son-in-law, Xu Da was immediately relieved, no longer reserved, with a smile on his face and asked: "How are they and what are they doing in the county?"

"Zhu Silang and his wife are very nice. Congratulations to Duke Wei Guo for becoming a grandpa!"

After saying that, Mao Xiang smiled, clasped his fists, and left quickly without stopping.

Xu Da froze on the spot.

For a while, the lips first pursed into a straight line, and then the corners of the lips slowly moved closer to the temples and ears...

Ha ha……

Immediately afterwards, a proud and arrogant laugh suddenly sounded, "We are going to be a grandpa! Haha..."

Ahead, Mao Xiang heard laughter behind him and couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

For some reason, he just wanted to share this news.

'Should I tell the Emperor?'

Mao Xiang thought about it and quickened his pace a little.

…

Royal study room.

"Your Majesty, Mao Xiang, pays homage to the Emperor!"

Zhu Yuanzhang put down the book, looked at Mao Xiang, and ordered: "Get up."

After thanking him, Mao Xiang stood up, and without waiting for Zhu Yuanzhang to ask, he took the initiative to report: "Your Majesty, the bidding tax package in Jiangning County was very successful..."

…

"When I left, even though the bidding had just started, there would be no problems."

"Jiang Jinzhong used a tough attitude from the beginning to force away the prominent squires in Jiangning County. The remaining small landowners and squires did not need to offend anyone and could make a profit, so they had no worries."

"Based on observing the auction, we can judge that Jiangning's tax package quota this year will most likely be no more than five measures of dendrobium."

"The minimum price can only be as low as five pecks and two hu of dendrobium, and it can't be any lower."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was already full of smiles. When he heard this, he nodded repeatedly, "It's already very good. We have been farmers. Even if calculated based on five dou and five dendrobes, farmers get five dendrobes per acre, which seems small.

But twenty acres of land is just one stone, which is quite impressive!”

"A stone of grain is more important to a farmer than just a stone. At a critical moment, it is the life of the whole family!"

Back then, if his family had only one stone of food.

Parents and brothers may not starve to death.

At least, a few more people can survive.

The stinging and sadness in his eyes disappeared in a flash, he stood up and walked around...

Mao Xiang watched secretly, wondering what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking.

At a certain moment, Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and said, "It seems that there is room for local implementation of tax-packaging through bidding."

"But the local authorities need to be strengthened."

"Invite the big squires to participate, but you have to force the big squires away in front of the small landowners and small squires."

"Perhaps there are other ways to deal with it. In short, if you want to accomplish this, the first condition is to allow small landowners and squires to feel free to take advantage."

"If you want the small landowners and small country gentry to directly offend the big country gentry, you can't do it."

Mao Xiang nodded hurriedly.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued to ponder.

Whenever interests are redistributed, the beginning is the most difficult.

No matter how small the interest is, the original vested interests will not let it go easily.

In the policy bias, the party that is allowed to profit, if it is weak compared to the original vested interests, will not dare to directly rush in and tear up the piece of meat.

Just like the small landowners and country squires this time.

In the past, these people were not eligible to participate in tax farming.

Now that the opportunity is in front of them, they don't dare. Someone has to stand at the front to help them drive away the big squires who have gained profits.

Only then did they dare to rush forward and carve up this piece of fat.

Of course, although the beginning is difficult, once the game is broken, the follow-up things will be easy.

When small landowners and small country squires don't get it, it's very difficult for them to charge.

But once you get it and taste the sweetness, it will be difficult for them to let it go.

No one wants to spit out the good food that has been put into their mouth.

On the contrary, when the great squire was deprived of his benefits, he suffered from physical pain and fierce resistance.

But as long as the imperial court shows strong will to implement, at the same time, the interests that are deprived of it are only the corners of the interests of the great squires, and do not involve the core interests.

Once these people really lose it, they will accept their fate honestly.

After the policy continues for a few years, everyone will get used to it.

Treat this policy as an agreement and a custom.

"Jinyiwei keeps an eye on Jiangning County." Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly pointed at Mao Xiang and sternly ordered: "Whether Jiang Jinzhong is worthy of reuse remains to be seen."

"But during the bidding period, even if he violates the laws of the country, he can't die! He can't be driven away in despair!"

"His presence in Jiangning County represents our will to tax-package bidding! It represents the imperial court's will to implement tax-packaging bidding!"

"In policy implementation, only if the situation is broken well can the results be guaranteed!"

'Your Highness, please, the emperor has solved it for you. Jiang Jinzhong has now obtained a time-limited exemption from death. Even if he deserves to be killed for committing crimes, he still has to wait for the results of the tax-paying auction to come out.'

Mao Xiang secretly laughed and ventriloquised, and at the same time solemnly accepted the order: "I obey the order!"

"Go down and rest."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your thoughtfulness."

After thanking him, Mao Xiang walked backwards out of the imperial study...

"Commander Mao..."

When the door was closed, a voice came from behind.

Mao Xiang turned around, saw Zhu Biao, and saluted hurriedly: "Your Majesty, Mao Xiang, pays homage to the Crown Prince."

"No need to be polite." Zhu Biao supported Mao Xiang and asked with a smile: "Is Jiangning's bidding tax package completed?"

"It's done..." Mao Xiang emphasized the key points with a smile. After speaking briefly, he looked around and said in a low voice: "I met Prince Yan and his wife in Jiangning."

"Fourth brother?!" Zhu Biao's eyes showed surprise. He waved and took Mao Xiang away from the imperial study. In a secluded place, he asked with a smile: "How are fourth brother and Miaoyun? Are they all okay?"

"Okay." Mao Xiang said with a smile: "Princess Yan was pregnant. King Yan took the princess to the county town to see a doctor. When Jiang Jinzhong found out, he invited King Yan to go..."

"Miaoyun is pregnant?" Zhu Biao was even more surprised, "Does your father know the news?"

Mao Xiang smiled bitterly, "Your Highness, I dare not tell the emperor that the emperor sent me to Jiangning to watch the auction and pay taxes, but he went quietly. If the emperor knew, I was seen by King Yan..."

Zhu Biao suddenly laughed.

The father sent Mao Xiang to secretly observe and learn, but was caught by the fourth child...

If my father knew this, he would definitely feel very embarrassed.

He smiled and patted Mao Xiang on the shoulder, "Don't worry, my mother and I will help you cover up this matter. Even if my father knows that you are hiding it, the blame will not fall on you."
To be continued...