The main purpose of Jin Wanwan's visit to Beijing this time was naturally to meet his eldest son-in-law, and also to see if he could greet his youngest daughter, who is now the imperial concubine in the palace.
According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, a concubine like Concubine Jin Xian, once entering the palace, is equivalent to cutting off family ties with a sword of wisdom, and almost all ties outside the palace are severed. Unless there is a huge special favor, she can leave the palace to visit relatives.
. Therefore, although Jin Wanwan is the head of the country, he has lost all contact with his little daughter. As the saying goes, once you enter a noble family, you are as deep as the sea. In fact, there is a far difference between a noble family and a palace gate. It is only after you enter the palace gate that you are as deep as the sea.
Like the sea.
As a businessman, Jin Wanwan certainly would not enter the capital empty-handed. Salt cannot be sold indiscriminately, so he started his old business of Huizhou merchants, trafficking tens of thousands of taels of tea to the capital, and making some money for expenses on the way.
. It is estimated that on the return trip, we will have to transport some northern specialties such as medicinal materials and furs to Yangzhou.
Gao Changjiang, Gao Yuanwai, who was traveling with him, was also an Huizhou merchant. He and Jin Wanwan were from the same hometown. They had known each other more than ten years ago, but they lived in Hankou, another important commercial town in the upper reaches. Gao Yuanwai also happened to be selling tea to Beijing this time.
After visiting Jin Wanwan in Yangzhou, they left together.
When we arrived at Chongwenmen, there were naturally some young and old men who had gone to the customs to pay taxes and money. The two senior men were resting in the pavilion here. Unexpectedly, they heard the man rushing in and shouting "I'm being detained".
At this time, both Jin Wanwan and Gao Changjiang stood up. Their goods were all tea. They didn't know whose goods were detained by the customs.
"The goods of Master and Master Gao passed through the customs together, and they were both detained." The clerk said helplessly.
The guy is also a smart man, and he had already figured it out. "I heard that Mr. Lu, the customs ambassador who took office last year, used the method of continuous sitting, and used thirty companies as a group to pass the customs one by one.
Within the batch, we supervise each other. If there is any tax evasion, thirty companies in this batch will be punished. In this batch just now, a Shandong merchant was found to have concealed goods by the customs, so the master's goods were also implicated."
"That's unreasonable!" Jin Wanwan couldn't help but slapped the case.
But Gao Changjiang persuaded calmly: "Brother Jin, don't worry. I'll go take a look and make sure the goods are safe." After saying that, he stepped out of the pergola, and his entourage quickly caught up with him. Jin Wanwan also followed.
The customs official behind the case raised his eyelids and glanced at the confident Gao Changjiang and Jin Wanwan standing with him. He said in a very indifferent voice: "You two are together? The fine is six thousand taels of silver.
How do you plan to pay it?"
Six thousand taels! This is not a small amount. It is equivalent to the entire property of two or three ordinary wealthy families. Gao Yuanwai argued: "How can it be so much? It's not like we concealed the goods!"
The official said impatiently: "The rule of our department is that after the tax is paid, you will be fined 20 taels. Your tea should be taxed at 300 taels, and the fine of ten times the silver is 6,000 taels. Is this wrong? If you can't pay, take the tea.
Top it up, if you dare to be verbose, all the goods will be deducted!"
This batch of tea is the most valuable cargo today, with a total price of three to forty thousand taels according to the market price in the capital. Other merchants can only buy and sell at most eight hundred taels. Seeing the two largest merchants arguing with the customs, there was a hint of
With a sense of luck, I watched from a distance, hoping to take advantage of it and avoid the fine.
In any case, Gao Changjiang and Jin Wanwan looked at each other. Although they were both rich, and their wealth was unimaginable to ordinary people, they could not just throw six thousand taels into the water like this.
Gao Changjiang said to the official again: "Part of this batch of tea leaves is to be given to Deng Shilang of the Ministry of War and Yao Fuyin of Shuntian Prefecture. Can you be accommodating?"
Lord Deng, the right minister of the Ministry of War, and Lord Yao, the Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, both have a close relationship with Gao Changjiang. Deng Shilang was a classmate of Gao Changjiang when he was young. He even received financial support from the Gao family to complete his studies and pass the exams; Yao Fuyin and Gao Changjiang
We have been in contact with each other since our parents' generation.
The main task of Gao Yuanwai's personal visit to Beijing this time was to interact with the two senior officials. No matter how close the relationship is, if we don't interact with each other, it will fade away sooner or later.
In terms of wealth, Jin Wanwan, a big salt merchant, has far more wealth than Gao Yuanwai, but after all, he only made his fortune in the past ten years. His time is still short, and his background is not enough. The scholars he sponsors have not become famous yet, only
Several fifth- and sixth-grade people are scattered everywhere, and the most closely related Ding Yunshi has collapsed.
So Jin Wanwan looked around and found that among his official connections, the most promising one was a certain son-in-law who fell from the sky. How many people in the world could manage to create an imperial concubine? Sometimes he even thinks that this is all kinds of gods.
Buddha and Bodhisattva's compensation for his childlessness.
Otherwise, when Jin Wanwan heard his son-in-law talk about starting a bank account, he immediately expressed his intention to go to Beijing to discuss it in person and supported it unconditionally.
But in Gao Changjiang's eyes, although Jin Wanwan's son-in-law is quite famous, his connections are much worse than his. Are a fifth-grade man with no background comparable to two important third-grade men?
Poet and officialdom are two different things. As for Jin Wanwan's claim that his son-in-law has extraordinary powers, senior officials often scoffed at it - this must be Jin Wanwan's bragging for the sake of face.
Along the way, in front of Jin Baiwan, Gao Yuanwai, who has a high self-esteem, is still very impressive. After all, this is an official-oriented society. He, Gao Changjiang, has deeper connections in the officialdom and is a scholar, so of course his status is high. As for Jin Baibai
Wanna Guozhang is just a false title. What real power does the imperial concubine have?
Meeting the Ming Li newspaper in the pavilion confirmed his suspicion. He had no time to publish the newspaper, so what kind of situation did Mr. Li have in the court? He couldn't help but make some jokes, which made Jin Wanwan angry.
I feel so unhappy, but I don’t know how to argue.
He didn't talk about anything, but he said that when he was punished, Gao Changjiang naturally felt that he should step forward to speak out and move out two third-grade officials.
When the official heard the names of Deng Shilang and Yao Fuyin, he raised his head again and looked at the senior officials. He said sarcastically: "There are officials all over the capital. If everyone can give them two names, they will be accommodating. I am here to guard you."
Can Chongwen Sect still collect taxes?"
A person who can serve as an official in Chongwenmen Customs House, the most fat and short-term government office in the world, can also get through the connections between the powerful and powerful. Naturally, he will not be swayed by two third-grade names.
It is really easy for the king of hell to see, but it is difficult for the devil to deal with! The senior official could not show off his face, and did not continue to quarrel with the officials. He said angrily, "Where is your superior? I want to see you!"
The official pointed to an alley in the northeast, and Gao Changjiang led Jin Wanwan there to ask for an audience with the ambassador. After bribing his disciples with ten taels of silver, he was able to enter the Yamen of the Tax Division.
The two of them had inquired before and found out that the surname of the ambassador of the tax branch was Lu. However, when Ambassador Lu met them, his attitude was even colder than that of the officials outside. Probably because too many people came to see him for mercy.
The senior official reported the origin of his name and once again mentioned two backgrounds, fearing that the other party would not believe it, he added: "If it is difficult to believe it, I am willing to send the goods..."
Ambassador Lu interrupted Gao Changjiang, "So what if you believe it, what if you don't believe it? It makes no difference to me! So what if the powerful people are in person? You must be selfless outside the law. Do you think that I will show favoritism out of fear?"
The high-ranking officials were extremely surprised. How dare a young ninth-grade person dare to say such strong words? Why are the official rules here in the capital so different from other places? He could only say: "I admire Mr. Lu's integrity, but I admire you so much.
Mr. Lu, please think again. Besides, the method of sitting together is unpopular with the people, so it may not be a good idea."
Ambassador Lu said expressionlessly: "I am entrusted by the imperial court and I dare not slack off for a day. I lived up to the emperor's favor last year and was lucky enough to be able to collect tax in full. How can I dare to engage in private indulgence?"
As for the law of joint taxation, it is indeed the law of this official, and it is effective. This department is directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue. If you have any objections, you can appeal to the Ministry of Revenue. There is no need to distinguish with this official here. If there is no other matter
, just retreat later!"
After saying this, Gao Changjiang was really speechless. He turned his head and gave Jin Wanwan a look, and had no choice but to go out.
Jin Wanwan thought about it, and out of caution and knowing the depth of the capital, he did not reveal the identity of his father-in-law. He thought it would be safer to meet his son-in-law first and find out the situation before making calculations. Even if he paid the fine first
If there is a way, you can return the money to yourself, so why waste time here.
The two turned around, and just as they reached the threshold, they suddenly heard a shout from behind: "Wait a minute!"
But he saw Ambassador Lu looking Jin Wanwan up and down, and asked with a strange look on his face: "Is this a member of the Yangzhou Jin family in front of you?"
"Exactly." Jin Wanwan nodded.
Ambassador Lu's face, which had been cold just a moment ago, suddenly burst into spring thunder. He stood up from his seat and came over to greet him. He greeted him and said, "It turns out that you are really a member of the Jin Dynasty. I have long admired your name. Why didn't you report it to me just now? The flood almost washed away the Dragon King Temple!"
Just now, Gao Changjiang only reported his own name and did not mention Jin Wanwan, so Master Lu had this "complaint".
Jin Yuanwai asked curiously: "How does Mr. Lu know me?"
Ambassador Lu laughed heartily and said, "Envoy Li Yuan sent a message saying that my father-in-law named Jin came to Beijing recently and ordered me to pay more attention in the past two days so as not to miss it."
Gao Changjiang was stunned for a moment by Ambassador Lu's transformation. Then he woke up and couldn't help but ask: "Could it be that the Ambassador Li mentioned by the adults is Brother Jin's son-in-law Li Xujiang? What kind of Ambassador is this?"
"
Ambassador Lu nodded and said: "Yes, this is the newly-established envoy of the Cultural and Propaganda Institute. If the name of envoy Li was mentioned in the morning report, why would there be such a misunderstanding? Strict law is nothing more than human kindness. I don't care about the face of envoy Li."
Even if you don’t take the official position, you still have to give it to me, but please don’t worry!”
Gao Yuanwai walked out of the tax office in a daze, led the convoy from the customs to Chongwenmen. He never figured out why two third-grade officials combined were not as good as one fifth-grade Li.
Is Xu Jiang the best? Isn’t Jin Wanwan’s boasting all the time nonsense?
Jin Wanwan was much more sober than Gao Changjiang, and secretly sighed, his son-in-law could be a figure everywhere, he had to accept it! Today he had earned a lot of face for himself.
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