Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Six: Monopoly, Additional Commercial Tax
On the sixth day of August, in the afternoon, Jin Xinpeng and Yan Qingrong came to the official hall of the Central Hall of the General's Office to meet with Zhang Cheng and discuss with him everything about welcoming the bride.
When entering the official hall, Jin Xinpeng saw a leather ball placed on the big table in front of Zhang Cheng. He turned to look at Yan Qingrong, and the two looked at each other and walked to their respective seats.
"Adults also like Cuju?" Jin Xinpeng asked eagerly after sitting down.
Zhang Cheng casually picked up the ball on the table, tossed it around in his hands, and suddenly threw it at Jin Xinpeng.
"Catch the ball."
Although it was a bit sudden, Jin Xinpeng's reaction was very fast. He pressed the armrests of the chair with both hands, leaned back slightly and raised his feet to catch the ball thrown by Zhang Cheng, and kicked the ball upwards.
Jin Xinpeng took advantage of this opportunity and quickly stood up. Just as the ball was falling, he raised his left shoulder to catch the falling ball, and the ball flew up again. He kept hitting it with his shoulder, elbow, knee, or foot.
On the ball.
He made the round ball fly up and down like this. After a moment, it stopped. He stretched out his right hand to catch the ball steadily, but his face was red and he was breathing heavily.
"What a skill at 'rolling'. I didn't expect Master Jin to be a master at it!"
Zhang Cheng was shocked by Jin Xinpeng's performance and couldn't help but spontaneously high-fived him.
"No, no, I'm getting older, but it's useless. This was done ten years ago. We could have done it for an hour."
"Hahaha……"
There was another harmonious laughter in the official hall.
Yan Qingrong picked up the teapot and poured tea into the tea cup in front of Jin Xinpeng's table, saying, "Master Jin, please take a sip of tea to quench your thirst."
Jin Xinpeng returned the ball to Zhang Cheng's table, walked back and took a sip of tea before sitting down again and said: "I'm old, I'm really old. The Admiral also likes Cuju?"
Zhang Cheng quickly shook his head and waved his hands and said: "No, if you want to talk about killing people and getting goods, I can still try it. This "Cuju" method is not what I am good at!"
"Oh, if that's the case, why is there such a thing in the hall?" Yan Qingrong asked, pointing to the ball on Zhang Cheng's table.
Zhang Cheng also took a sip of tea before saying: "I just thought that the sergeants' daily drills were boring, so I thought about doing some projects in the military camp as a 'military drama'.
In this way, it can not only relieve the boredom of the sergeants, but also exercise the physique of the sergeants, and can also enhance the cooperation between individuals. There is also some strategy in it, and this is the only play of 'Cuju'."
A look of horror appeared on Jin Xinpeng's face. He looked at Yan Qingrong and saw that he was just like him. The two of them looked at Zhang Cheng with doubt and fear.
Just listen to Jin Xinpeng say: "My lord, at the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Taizu once had an ancestral motto: officers and soldiers who learn to sing will have their tongues cut out; those who hit Shuanglu will have their hands cut off; those who play ball will have their feet removed; those who do business will have their hands cut off.
Border troops.
Although it is not as strict as it was in the early days of the Republic of China, it is still the popular "Cuju" drama among the people. There is indeed no one who dares to set a precedent among the camps in various places.
Now, if your Excellency promotes this 'Cuju' as a military drama in the camp, wouldn't you give it to others so that the treacherous people can cause trouble everywhere and ruin your bright future?"
Before Zhang Cheng could say anything, Yan Qingrong on the side also reminded him very worriedly: "Sir, the "Da Ming Law" also states that 'anyone who plays Cuju must remove his feet.' However, this matter should not be rash and must be considered in the long term.
yes.
Mr. Li is currently under surveillance in Dushi. If he is reported to the palace, the Holy Spirit will blame him for thinking that he only cares about having fun and neglecting military training. All our hard work will be in vain.
"
When Zhang Cheng heard what the two of them said, he already understood in his heart that this matter could be big or small. If he didn't attract attention and played Cuju in private, it wouldn't be a big deal, and the court would be too lazy to take care of it.
In other words, no matter how powerful I am, the court will not dare to take care of anything that violates the regulations. I am not like Zuo Liangyu a few years later, who is a local emperor and is worse than a rogue bandit.
Now I am a little embarrassed. I am very eye-catching, but I am not strong enough. This is why I have to be more careful to protect my wings that are not yet full.
At the moment, Zhang Cheng no longer dwelled on the "Cuju" matter, and just said: "Let's put the 'Cuju' matter aside for now.
This is indeed because I didn’t think carefully enough. The word ‘military drama’ is really easy to cause ambiguity, so let’s change it and call it ‘competition’. There will be a small test every half year and a big competition throughout the year.”
"Jousting?"
"Yes, it's a martial arts competition."
"Your Majesty, how should we compare it?"
"The sergeants can compete in spear throwing, gun shooting, wrestling, and shooting on foot, riding on horseback, and riding and cutting. And between each bureau, department, and department, they can also compete in rushing forward, setting up camp, forming formations, etc.
All the things practiced in the army can be put to a test, and the winner will be awarded with silver, food, meat, and even medals and flags. The loser can work harder to practice various skills and strive to turn defeat into victory in the next year.
Win the championship and win the prize.
In this way, it is only to stimulate the enthusiasm of the officers and soldiers to practice, so as to quickly build a strong army, and also to prevent the officers and soldiers from being depressed while practicing in the camp, and to add some entertainment items to them, which can also make them feel at ease."
After listening to what Zhang Cheng said, Jin Xinpeng and Yan Qingrong understood the significance of it. They both expressed their agreement repeatedly, and Zhang Cheng asked Jin Xinpeng to draw up a detailed charter first.
"I will visit and monitor Eunuch Li Guofu later. I will leave for Yunzhou the day after tomorrow. From there, I will go directly to the capital to welcome my bride. I have to rely on these two adults to take care of all the matters here."
"You should do your best, and you don't have to worry about it!"
"Well, there are two adults here, so why should I feel uneasy? Oh, by the way, the wedding invitations can be sent out to everyone, so that people can prepare in advance."
"yes!"
"There is one more thing. I would like to ask you two adults to help me think about it and see how to implement it." Zhang Cheng said again.
Jin Xinpeng didn't know what Zhang Cheng had to discuss with him. He saw that Yan Qingrong's face was also in a daze. Jin Xinpeng asked in confusion: "Is there anything else that you are still undecided about, Admiral?"
"Oh, it's not undecided, it's just that there is still some hesitation on the specific regulations."
Zhang Cheng took a sip of tea and then said with a smile: "Now, through the inspection of military households and farmland on the North Road, coupled with this year's land reclamation and canal construction, we have basically stabilized the grain issue.
However, in order to support an army of ten thousand people under my command, and nearly ten thousand troops stationed in various forts, these alone are indeed insufficient. Therefore, I want to increase the commercial tax and implement the Wei Si monopoly on salt, wine, and tea.
system to supplement the lack of money income of the Secretary of Health.
I wonder what you two adults think about these two matters?"
"monopoly?"
Jin Xinpeng had a look of astonishment on his face, and Yan Qingrong next to him asked solemnly: