Hua Bushi said: "That's true. If Xiaoke gets a chance in the future, he will definitely start a clothing business. I think he can make a lot of money."
Cao Muyun said: "The clothes shop can earn a thousand taels of silver by doing such a business, but an ordinary farmer can't earn even five taels of silver after working hard for a year. In the event of floods, droughts and natural disasters, even
Isn’t it extremely unreasonable to not have enough to eat? The more than ten rebel armies in the Ming Dynasty were all started by poor farmers, which is actually no accident."
He paused slightly and then said: "The current tax system of the imperial court imposes heavy taxes on farmers, but the tax money collected from merchants is very little, almost none. This makes the poor poorer and the rich richer. Could it be that
Isn’t it even more unreasonable?”
Generally, people in the government call peasants who rebelled as "bandits" and wish they could wipe them out immediately. As a prince, Cao Muyun not only called them "rebels", but he also seemed to have a lot of respect for them in his speech.
Sympathy, and the tax system is also quite reasonable. Nowadays, according to the tax rate set by the government, farmers are taxed 1/10, while merchants are taxed 1/30. It is indeed extremely unfair. Hua Bushi heard it in his ears and felt in his heart.
I was very surprised, but I couldn't say anything.
Cao Muyun said: "A few months ago, a minister in the DPRK proposed to reform the tax system, reduce the tax rate on farmers, and impose heavy taxes on merchants. My father agreed very much, so he jointly submitted a memorial to the Holy Father. Brother Hua believed that this move would be effective.
Is that correct?"
Hua Bushi said: "Hua Bushi dare not speak nonsense, but as far as I know, anything that will cause some people to lose interests will definitely be opposed by others. This is the case in the world, and even in the court, it is impossible to do so.
exception."
Cao Muyun said: "Brother Hua, thank you! This move has caused trouble for our Cao family. When the Qi Party, Zhejiang Party and other parties heard the news, they immediately went to the Holy Father and falsely accused my father of corruption and personal gain.
Even Uncle Huachun was implicated, but fortunately those party members were unable to produce any solid evidence for a while, so our Cao family was able to survive until now."
Hua Bushi was a commoner, and the political affairs of the DPRK had nothing to do with him. Therefore, it was meaningless for Cao Muyun to tell these things. But at this time, Hua Bushi suddenly understood why Mr. Muyun wanted to tell him these things.
.
The Ming Dynasty explicitly banned gambling. Although most of the time it was a dead letter, this law still existed. And "Happy Island" was the most popular underground gambling house in Changsha City. At this critical juncture when it was fighting with many parties, if it was banned by the court,
When the enemy discovers that "Happy Island" was opened by the Cao family, it will undoubtedly become a major crime.
Therefore, Cao Muyun had to hide his identity and prevent others from getting the evidence that he was the boss behind "Happy Island". Because of this, they tried their best to prevent Meng Qingshan from entering, even at the risk of a fight.
Cao Muyun said: "In recent years, the treasury of the Ming Dynasty has been stretched to the point of being stretched thin. The army stationed in front of Shanhaiguan has not been paid for several months. The army under my father's supervision is also unable to be paid by the court. My Cao family
Many industries have been opened in the south of the Yangtze River, and this 'Happy Island' is one of them. In fact, most of the hundreds of thousands of taels of profits earned every year are spent on buying food and paying for the soldiers under his subordinates. They are not used for selfish desires, but there is no
Come to think of it, this move has become a use for the traitor party to slander my father for personal gain."
"My younger brother came to Jiangnan from the capital this time to deal with some industrial matters, so as not to be taken advantage of by the political parties in the court and become evidence against my father. I didn't expect that I just arrived yesterday. It is really an honor for me to get to know Brother Hua today.
It’s coming!”
Hua Bushi said: "I don't know the situation. It's really presumptuous to visit me today. Please forgive me, Brother Cao."
Cao Muyun said: "Brother Hua is very polite. Just now when I was outside the building, I heard that my brother and his party came here and wanted to negotiate a deal with us. Is this the case?"
Hua Bushi said: "Yes, Xiao Ke came here today with the original intention of making a deal with the owner of Happy Island. However, after learning about Brother Cao's current situation, I'm afraid the deal won't be possible."
Cao Muyun said: "Brother Hua, please come and speak, I am all ears."
Hua Bushi did not hesitate, and immediately explained briefly that the "Hengshan Sect" and "Paijiao" were attacking, the alliance of the four sects in the city was determined to fight, and he wanted to ask "Happy Island" to send experts to help.
After hearing this, Cao Muyun pondered for a long time and then said: "Brother Hua expected it to be true. Now is a very special moment for the Cao family. This trip to the south of the Yangtze River is extremely secretive. Even Commander Xue and Qiu Hengbo are not in a position to show up."
, openly become enemies of Jianghu sect, otherwise the traitors will find out my whereabouts. I’m afraid I won’t be able to help Brother Hua in this matter.”
Hua Bushi said: "Xiao Ke understands this. Hua Bushi will never tell others about meeting Mr. Cao here today. The situation in the city is very dangerous now, and there are many things that need to be arranged in the sect. Xiao Ke
But I can’t stay here any longer, so I’ll leave first.”
He stood up and said goodbye.
Cao Muyun also stood up and clasped his fists, but suddenly said: "Brother Hua, wait a minute. I met you today, and I feel guilty that I can't help you. I have a gift for you, so please accept it, brother Hua."
He took out a folding fan from his sleeve and handed it to Hua Bushi with both hands.
Nowadays, most scholars like to play with folding fans. The folding fan that Cao Muyun took out was only about a foot long, but its ribs were white and smooth. It was carved from ivory and was made extremely delicately. You could tell at a glance that it was a piece of furniture.
Something of great value.
Hua Bushi said: "Brother Cao is too polite. Hua Bushi doesn't dare to take such a valuable thing. Please take it back, Brother Cao."
Cao Muyun smiled and said: "As the young leader of Brother Hua's sect, this folding fan is just a mere plaything and not worth mentioning. However, I have ulterior motives for giving it to Brother Hua. Although the masters under me are
It cannot help Brother Hua defend against the enemy, but it is possible to use this fan to mobilize some government power for Brother Hua's use."
Hua Bushi's heart moved, he reached out to take the folding fan, held it in his hand and opened it gently, only to see four large characters written in cursive on the fan:
"Longing Jieshi in the East".
The signature below the word is the word Cao, and there is a red seal printed next to it. It can be vaguely recognized that it is the three seal characters "Zhixunzi".
"East faces the Jieshi" is a famous line from the Three Kingdoms period by Cao Cao in "Viewing the Sea". However, the words on this folding fan were not written by Cao Cao, but by the current Dongchang Governor Cao Huachun.
Cao Muyun's uncle.
The "Zhixunzi" in the seal on the fan was Cao Huachun's nickname, and Hua Bushi had naturally heard of it. He immediately understood what Cao Muyun meant by mobilizing the power of the government.
Even though the Cao family was criticized by various parties for a while, Cao Huachun was still the number one in the East Factory. He had the privilege of spying on court officials, and the officials in various provinces must be very afraid. With the fan inscribed by him, even the prefect of Changsha and the president
Lord Bing, you must have to sell some face.
Thinking of this, Hua Bushi was not polite, closed the folding fan, put it in his sleeve, and said: "In that case, Hua Bushi would like to thank Brother Cao for the gift! From now on, as long as our alliance of four factions is in Changsha City, Brother Cao's casino will
If you encounter any trouble, we will do our best to help you."
Although it is said politely, a deal is a deal. Both Hua Bushi and Cao Muyun are very clever people. They can speak clearly in one sentence and understand each other's intentions.
Cao Muyun said: "I'd like to thank Brother Hua for that. I met Brother Hua today. Although I really want to have a long talk with you again, the affairs in Xiongtai's sect are urgent and it's inconvenient for me to stay longer, so I can only make arrangements."
I wish Xiongtai a great victory and victory, and defeat the two invading Hengshan Paijiao sects."
Hua Bushi said: "Xiao Ke also wishes Brother Cao all the best, and that he will defeat the traitorous party's attacks as soon as possible."
The two looked at each other, smiled, and said goodbye.
Cao Muyun said "Send off", and Xue Yuan followed Hua Bushi and sent him out of the underground casino.
When passing by Qiu Hengbo, the man in the flowered robe, Hua Bushi could no longer feel the biting chill, but the look in his face that was half covered by black hair was as cold as before.
Xue Yuan is known as the best master of Jinyiwei. His set of 'Seven-step Red Lotus Sword Technique' has reached the stage of transformation. His martial arts reputation is extremely high, but in Hua Bushi's view, the real great one is Qiu Hengbo, the nunnery man. And Cao Cao
Although Mu Yun himself can't tell the difference, his martial arts is not weak.
This Young Master Muyun was of noble birth, with a sharp mind, handsome appearance, and an extraordinary manner in his speech and behavior. Hua Bushi had been talking to him for a long time, and he had always been so gentle, calm, and unhurried, and there was no trace of anything inappropriate in him.
at.
Such a person can simply be described as perfect!
In fact, Cao Muyun is not only powerful, but also has terrifying masters like Qiu Hengbo under his sect. If he were an enemy, he would be an extremely terrifying one, and he would probably not be as easy to deal with as the "Old Demon of Wusheng".
I hope he is a friend and never turns into an enemy. Hua Bushi thought to himself and walked up the stone steps to the ground step by step.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※Within two days, all the masters of the Four Factions Alliance withdrew from Changsha City.
The chaos in the city has not changed, but is even worse than before. It's just that the two sides fighting are no longer many rivers and lakes forces joining forces to raid the four factions alliance, but all rivers and lakes forces are killing each other. Of course, there are still many lawless rivers and lakes people.
, plundering wealthy merchants in the city.
Most of the gangsters who have poured into Changsha City are unorganized gangsters, and many of them are members of the underworld. Their purpose is not to occupy territory in Changsha City, but to rob money in this city.
Make a fortune.
When the alliance of the four factions was in the city, each faction's territory and blocks were still guarded by experts. Now that the troops have withdrawn, these people are even more careless and do whatever they want.
In response to the chaotic situation in the city, the General Military Office sent soldiers and officials to maintain order and catch the bandits, but unfortunately it was all ineffective. The influx of wealthy people from the rivers and lakes made many masters of the four alliances miserable, and those ordinary people who did not have much martial arts were
How can the officers and soldiers suppress it?
After a day, not many of the bandits were caught, but many soldiers patrolling the blocks were killed and injured. Finally, the General Soldier had to order to shrink the defense and use heavy troops to guard important areas such as government offices, barracks and ordnance warehouses, and the rest of the blocks.