Chengdu in the 8th year of Chongzhen was completely different from the 7th year of Chongzhen. There had been no war for nearly two years, and the people of Chengdu seemed to have returned to their former calmness.

The first people to feel this change were the merchants who were doing business in four places all year round and transported goods to various places. In the past two years, the Pei Jiajun gradually established a foothold in Sichuan, and the people gradually enjoyed the benefits brought by the Pei Jiajun's rule.

After thinking about it, the bandits that were originally entrenched in the mountains and fields were becoming increasingly rare. In addition, the Pei Family Army's various armies were stationed in separate areas, maintaining a high-pressure situation, and the local area became more peaceful.

Not only that, since Pei Xiaoer rectified the officialdom of Sichuan, especially the implementation of the policy of appointing talents to observe government affairs, officials from various places have for the first time had a huge impact on the promotion and changes of officials under their rule, and not only

can be forced to be controlled by officials. With the constraints of officials from various places, coupled with the officials' own evaluation and promotion system, Sichuan's officialdom can even be called full of vitality.

In particular, in May of this year, Pei Xiaoer specially increased the salaries of the officials under his rule, so that even if an official was not corrupt, he could provide his family with a decent life. The officials' motivation was instantly stimulated. The extortion in the past was

The habit of extortion and accepting bribes has been curbed, tax cards set up on transportation thoroughfares in various places have also been revoked, and the transportation costs of merchants have been directly cut in half.

As a result, the people suddenly discovered that since the Pei Jiajun came to power, the prices of various goods on the market have dropped. The people's lives are getting better day by day, and they support the Pei Jiajun more and more in their hearts. In fact, the people

They worked hard all day long, and all they wanted was three meals of food and clothing, and a room to sleep in. However, the emperors and ministers of the Ming Dynasty just couldn't understand such a simple question.

In particular, in recent years, thanks to God's blessing and the active administration of governments in various places, grain harvests have been greatly increased in Sichuan, Hanzhong, Yunyang and other places. According to the past, every time there is a good year, the price of grain will inevitably drop.

However, this year, Pei Xiaoer specially ordered Liu Xianchun to allocate 1.2 million taels of silver, and Zhao Junlin, the head of the Commercial Department, went to Sichuan, Hanzhong, Yunyang and other places to purchase large quantities of grain, abruptly interrupting the inevitable decline in grain prices in good years.

The curse caused a large amount of silver to flow into thousands of households, and also caused a large amount of food to flow into warehouses everywhere.

Therefore, the people were pleasantly surprised to find that even after paying taxes, their income this year could even be two to three times higher than in previous years. However, this approach offended many wealthy grain merchants. However, they can live and work in peace and contentment.

Compared to that, what does this mean?

People with silver in their hands rushed into the market to make large purchases. Necessities such as cotton, linen, cloth, tea, and even porcelain, silk, oil, etc. were out of stock. Merchants were so happy that they counted their silver and were worried.

.Why not prepare more goods, so as not to watch the money slipping away from you?

When merchants make money, they naturally need to pay taxes to the military government. At first, businessmen from all over the country were extremely dissatisfied with this point, and even united to resist the tax. However, the tax collection department trained by Pei Xiaoer showed an extremely professional level of struggle.

.

In terms of literature, they have established a large number of private schools, etc., to provide various talents for the Taxation Department. In terms of military affairs, they have retired military officers from various places to serve as instructors to train personnel for the Taxation Department, plus they have obtained

We have collected all kinds of weapons that have been eliminated by many troops. It can be said that no family in the four rivers dares to resist the tax collection department.

With both civil and military force, a relaxed attitude, and a combination of hard and soft tactics, even the most stubborn tax resisters had to pay their taxes. However, although the Pei Jiajun's tax collection methods were quite cruel, the Pei Jiajun also reduced the transportation hubs in various places.

Tax cards from the Tao and bribes paid to bureaucrats at all levels. In total, the burden on merchants is actually much lighter than during the Ming Dynasty.

The merchants have their own accounts in their hearts. After calculating the money they earned this year and the costs they paid, the hatred in the merchants' hearts for taxation has also been reduced a lot.

After going round and round, the money circulated among the people and returned to the hands of the Pei family army doubled. However, the wealth of the people increased several times, and the people's lives became stable and peaceful. Liu Xianchun and Qiao saw all this.

Chun and other Ming officials were stunned.

They could not understand that Pei Xiaoer's methods could not be called benevolent, and were even extremely cruel, but they could make the people and the government rich. They searched through the history books, but they could not explain the basis of Pei Xiaoer's behavior. In the end

, they could only compromise and attribute all this to destiny. Pei Xiaoer gradually seemed more and more mysterious in their eyes.

On October 15, the 8th year of Chongzhen, today's Chengdu is still as prosperous and bustling as ever. The vendors are selling hard, trying to attract the bustling crowds on the streets. However, today's crowds are turning to the general.

At the same time, a piece of news was spread throughout Chengdu. General Pei Xiaoer's concubine Huiniang gave birth today, and the Pei family army finally welcomed a young master.

The former governor's yamen has now become the general's palace. Pei Xiaoer wandered around the courtyard anxiously. In the room, a woman screamed shrilly, accompanied by Wen Po's "Harder, Aunt Hui, harder."

.” The sound reached Pei Xiaoer’s ears, making Pei Xiaoer even more worried.

Officials with some status in the Chengdu Military Government gathered in this small courtyard at this time. Liu Xianchun looked at Pei Xiaoer, who was a little distracted, smiled and comforted him: "General, don't worry, Aunt Hui is not sick on weekdays."

No disaster, mother and child will be safe this time."

Pei Xiaoer looked at Liu Xianchun and said sarcastically in his heart, "It's not your wife who gave birth to the child, so you don't have to worry." However, on the surface, Pei Xiaoer would not be so open-minded. He just nodded lightly and looked worried.

Looking into the room.

Speaking of which, Pei Xiaoer's birth of a child at this time is not a good thing for Pei Xiaoer's reputation. Because it has only been two years since the death of Pei Xiaoer. According to tradition, Pei Xiaoer should observe mourning for his father Pei for three years.

According to the etiquette, during this period, Pei Xiaoer could not sing, dance, drink, wear red or green, hold an official position, let alone sleep with his wives and concubines.

However, Pei Xiaoer's current situation is quite special. The Pei family army is at a critical moment at this time. One step forward can lead to a higher level. It is easy to win the Central Plains in the future. One step back will lead to falling into the bottomless abyss. All

Everyone will die without a burial place.

As for the prohibition on sleeping with wives and concubines, Pei Xiaoer has to violate it. Pei Xiaoer has no heirs so far, and the Pei family has no successors. This situation may not be a big deal to an ordinary person.

Just regenerate.

However, for Pei Xiaoer, it is a huge loophole. Once something unexpected happens to Pei Xiaoer, then no one in the entire Pei family army can have the prestige of Pei Xiaoer and can reunite the Pei family army.

Together, the Pei family army will immediately fall into a situation of fragmentation.

It is a matter of life and death for everyone, so no one mentioned Pei Xiaoer's prohibition of female sex during his filial piety. There are even more good people who think that unfilial piety will lead to three children and no offspring, and persuade Pei Xiaoer to give birth to a son as soon as possible.

It is the greatest filial piety to one's father.

In the room, Hui Niang's voice became louder and louder. Pei Xiaoer was so anxious that he was at a loss and couldn't exert any strength. At this moment, the door was suddenly pushed open from the inside, and Zhao Xinlan walked out of the room. Pei Xiaoer

2 hurriedly greeted him and asked eagerly: "How is it?"

Zhao Xinlan looked at Pei Xiaoer's anxious eyes, and her heart suddenly felt as if a five-flavor bottle had been broken. The bitter, spicy, sour, and sweet feelings came to her heart. She softly comforted Pei Xiaoer: "Don't worry, husband, everything is normal for Huiniang. She is giving birth. I think she will pass."

After a while, mother and child will be safe." Pei Xiaoer didn't notice Zhao Xinlan's abnormality and turned to look at the door, worried.

In a corner that Pei Xiaoer, Zhao Xinlan, and other high-ranking civil and military officials did not notice, there was a young man wearing the clothes of a servant of the general's palace, holding a basin of hot water, and stood by him respectfully.
Chapter completed!