"Dad, are you a bit unfounded? For those untouchables, there is no difference between old food and new food." Cui Yi said nonchalantly.
Cui Lingdao scolded: "It may take several generations of efforts for a family to have a good reputation, but it is very easy to destroy a family's reputation. Don't you understand the principle of heaping up bones and destroying bones?"
The long-lasting prosperity of an aristocratic family can only be achieved by monopolizing knowledge and having a large number of children serving as officials.
The most important thing is marriage and reputation.
Through large-scale marriages, the aristocratic families created a huge network of relationships, reaching out to all aspects of the entire feudal dynasty to maintain the family's everlasting prosperity.
At the same time, we adhere to the principle of "being loyal to the current dynasty" but never dying for the dynasty where we serve as officials. Generally speaking, if you eat Han Lu, you will be loyal to the Han, and if you eat Wei Lu, you will be loyal to Wei. In fact, the children of aristocratic families are really loyal to their own family.
.
It seems that reputation doesn't play much role in this.
But is it really so?
The court is fatuous, corrupt officials are rampant, and the people are revolting.
If the aristocratic family really exploits the common people, will they not resist?
Although Chen Sheng and Wu Guang failed in the end, their saying: Princes, generals and prime ministers, would you rather have the talent?
It also opened the prelude to the subsequent struggle of tens of millions of peasants to resist feudal rule.
Therefore, the aristocratic family attaches great importance to reputation, so Cui Lingdao was very angry at Cui Yi's behavior.
How much difference can there be in the price of old grain and new grain? Does the Cui family care about this little money?
"Dad, things are already like this. It's too late for you to say anything now." Cui Yi said.
"You can inform us that next year, the rent of each family of those people who have been mixed with old grain will be reduced by half," Cui Lingdao said.
"Dad, is this necessary?" Cui Yi said with some confusion.
There are a lot of people involved in this. If every family receives half a percent less, it is not a small sum of money.
"You said you keep an eye on these petty profits every day, so how can I trust you to leave the family to you? Can the clan elders agree?" Cui Lingdao said angrily.
"Isn't this also for the benefit of the family? This way the clan elders will not object to me taking charge of the family." Cui Yi said in a low voice.
He also wanted to do something to prove himself.
Cui Lingdao sighed and said, "To develop a family, we need to consider the long term and not just look at the immediate interests. Do you understand?"
"Dad, I understand. I will do what you said later. What should I do in Chang'an?" Cui Yi said.
Cui Lingdao pondered for a while and said, "Doesn't Li Shimin want food? Transport all the family's old food to Chang'an and sell it to him."
"Dad, that's 70,000 to 80,000 shi of grain, enough for an army of 70,000 to 80,000 men for a month." Cui Yi said in surprise.
"Without enough food, how could Li Shimin have the confidence to fight? Do as I say." Cui Lingdao said.
"Dad, so much food will definitely alarm the clan elders." Cui Yi reminded.
Although Cui Lingdao is the leader of the Cui family, the Cui family is not his exclusive authority.
Over the years, the family has learned a lesson from the changes in dynasties.
The leader of a family cannot have no limits.
If the patriarch is strong, he can lead the family to greater glory, but if the patriarch is mediocre, he can also lead the family to destruction.
Therefore, the ancestors of the Cui family specifically stipulated that in case of major issues, decisions must be made after consultation with the clan elders.
If approved by the majority of clan elders, the family leader can even be removed.
Such a large amount of food must be approved by the clan elders.
"You go and prepare first, I will tell them." Cui Lingdao said.
The clan elder seems to be able to restrict the family head, but the restriction is not as great as imagined.
After all, they are clan elders, but that does not mean that their descendants are also clan elders.
For the sake of future generations, generally one would not embarrass Cui Ling.
Of course, Cui Lingdao would not offend them excessively, after all, they could remove him.
Selling tens of thousands of stones of grain does not mean that no money will be given, so the clan elders have no reason to object.
…
Li Shimin's summons to Lin Xuan could not be concealed at all.
Many interested people got the news and thought of the affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, guessing that Li Shimin summoned Lin Xuan and probably wanted to check the accounts.
Fortunately, there was nothing wrong with him, but some people started to worry.
So many of those eunuchs were killed, and even the money they transferred to relatives was confiscated.
Thinking of this, many people shuddered and were unwilling to let Li Shimin investigate further.
Naturally, they couldn't go to Li Shimin and tell him not to investigate.
This is tantamount to asking for help.
They set their sights on Lin Xuan.
As long as Lin Xuan doesn't take this job, everything will be fine.
As for Li Shimin asking others to investigate, they are not afraid at all.
Others are not as efficient as Lin Xuan. If there are more people to find, it will be easier for them to do tricks.
If it had been so easy to find out, they wouldn't be alive today.
Not long after Lin Xuan returned home, people began to come to his door.
Lin Xuan was hinted overtly and covertly not to check the accounts.
Some Lin Xuan knew him, and some he didn't.
Even Cheng Yaojin and others asked him to bring a letter to him and asked him not to check it.
That's not to say that they also committed corruption. After all, at their position, their income from fiefdom and salary was not small, and Li Shimin would reward them during every festival, so they would not commit corruption.
Instead, many generals came to them and asked them to help intercede.
They came to Lin Xuan not only because of their previous feelings for Pao Ze, but also for Lin Xuan's good.
If Lin Xuan audits the accounts, he will offend too many people.
Those people didn't know Li Shimin's attitude, and no one knew what he would do to avoid being found out.
They may not be strong individually, but together they are a bit terrifying.
For several days, intercessors came to Lin Xuan's house.
Lin Xuan was very annoyed, but he was glad that he didn't agree to Li Shimin.
Otherwise, as many people come to him to intercede, as many people want to kill him, and there may be even more.
On this day, as soon as I saw off a minister from the household department and returned to the house, someone came to report that Cui Hao was here.
Lin Xuan thought that the aristocratic family would not come, but unexpectedly they couldn't sit still.
Someone went to bring Cui Hao in, and Lin Xuan sat in the hall and waited.
"Master Cui is a rare guest. Come on, please take a seat."
When Cui Hao entered the hall, Lin Xuan stood up and greeted him with a pretense of affection.
Cui Hao smiled and said: "I came here without telling you, and it's fine if the Marquis doesn't blame me."
After Cui Hao sat down, Lin Xuan ordered his servants to bring tea.
Although he had some conflicts with the Cui family, he was a guest and there was no need to lose his grace.
"I wonder what Mr. Cui is here for?" Lin Xuan asked.
Cui Hao smiled and said: "I heard that Your Majesty intends to let the Marquis check the accounts. I wonder if this is the case?"
Lin Xuan pretended to be confused and asked: "Where did Mr. Cui hear this? Recently, rumors came from unknown sources. Many people came to ask questions. If I find the person who spread the rumors, I will definitely tell him apart."
piece."
No matter what, he couldn't admit this matter. Anyway, when Li Shimin talked to him, only he and Li Shimin were present. If he didn't admit it, there was nothing anyone could do.
When Cui Hao saw Lin Xuan opening his eyes and telling lies, the corners of his mouth twitched a little, and he said: "It's groundless. Since it's said like this, I'm afraid it's not all false, right?"
"Master Cui definitely didn't come here to discuss the truth or falsehood of rumors with me. If you have anything to say, just say it." Lin Xuan said calmly.