Bang!
A resume was placed in front of Liu Zhao.
He looked up, his eyes asking what this was.
Gu Jiu stood up. As her due date was approaching, she needed to exercise more.
She looked down at Liu Zhao and asked, "Gu Yu, Fourth Brother Gu's resume."
Liu Zhao silently opened his resume.
Gu Yu has extensive experience, having spent many years with Master Gu and gaining valuable insights into people's livelihoods. He is a man of action.
"Yes! What a pity he is a juren."
Yes! What a pity that he is a juren.
Gu Jiu asked, "If a county is established outside the South City Gate, can Gu Yu be the first county magistrate? I need him to sit in that position."
"No one has mentioned the establishment of a county. It's a bit premature for you to worry about it now."
"Are you sure it's too early? Next month, the Ministry of Revenue will begin registering homebuyers and registering refugees. With tens of thousands of refugees, plus such a large project, it's equivalent to the output of a top-tier county. Are you sure the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel won't be tempted?"
With household registration, it is possible to collect population taxes openly and require refugees to perform labor service.
If you refuse to do labor service, you can pay money to redeem yourself.
What are these?
These are all income!
Now everyone in the capital knows that the refugees outside the city are no longer the same as before and have money on hand.
As the saying goes, there is no gain without pain, and a mosquito bite, no matter how small, is still meat.
After registering her household registration, Gu Jiu dared to bet her life that the Ministry of Household Affairs would never let go of those tens of thousands of refugees, nor would it let go of her.
After the county was established, Gu Jiu had to pay an additional tax.
Although the amount is not much, it is money after all.
As far as the Ministry of Revenue is concerned, they are unwilling to let go of even a single copper coin.
Liu Zhao's face was expressionless. "That piece of land was originally registered under the name of the Shaofu. The Shaofu's land is not under the jurisdiction of any government office, and no government office has the right to collect taxes."
Gu Jiu nodded. She knew all of this. "But now that piece of land is under my name. I'm not the Shaofu. And when refugees buy houses, they get the land deeds. That piece of land, at least in the Xincun market, already belongs to the refugees."
Liu Zhao was silent.
Gu Jiu asked him, "Did no one in the court really mention the establishment of a county?"
Liu Zhao put down his resume. "At least not yet. But someone might have thought of it, like you."
Gu Jiu said, "I don't object to the establishment of a county, but I demand that the first, second, and third county magistrates all be Gu Yu. At most, I can pay a little more money."
“It’s not about the money.”
"Ultimately, it's a matter of money. I don't want to be hampered at every turn by someone after the establishment of the county."
Liu Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "Even if a county is really established, the emperor would prefer to send people from the Ministry of Finance."
Gu Jiu shook his head, "We can't send anyone from the Shaofu. You have to help me with this."
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows, "It can only be Gu Yu?"
She nodded heavily. "Yes, it can only be Fourth Brother Gu Yu. He is the most suitable candidate. He understands the people's livelihood and economy, is experienced, and has smooth tactics. It's just that he didn't pass the imperial examination."
"I guess I won't pass the exam!"
Gu Jiu bared his teeth and asked, "Can you please stop being so sharp-tongued?"
Liu Zhao chuckled, "Okay, I'll help you with this. But you have to be prepared for failure."
"This thing can only succeed and cannot fail. I will give you money."
She has money, lots of money.
I don't believe that after spending so much money, we won't be able to find a way out.
Liu Zhao looked at her and asked tentatively, "Are you upset today?"
He behaves like a nouveau riche, which is different from usual.
Gu Jiu took a deep breath and said, "On my way back, I met some annoying people."
"Who?" Liu Zhao was thinking, who is so blind to make Xiao Jiu angry? Beat him!
Gu Jiu was very direct, "Thank you."
oh!
Liu Zhao suddenly remembered that there was such a person.
"Do you need me to send someone to teach him a lesson?"
Gu Jiu shook his head, "No need. He has a good relationship with Gu Yue and even passed on messages for Gu Yue."
"Were you provoked by Gu Yue?"
After being married for several years, Liu Zhao never talked about Gu Jiu's sisters.
Gu Jiu shook her head. "I'm not upset, I'm just a little unhappy. You know, after I got pregnant, my mood became unstable and I became easily irritable."
"If you're upset, don't mention her."
"What's the current situation in Prince Chu's Mansion?" Gu Jiu asked casually.
"Same as always." Liu Zhao answered indifferently.
Gu Jiu glared at him.
He smiled and said, "Don't worry about the Chu Palace. I'll take care of Gu Yu's affairs for you. Instead of spending money, why not promise the emperor grandfather how much tax you can pay in a year."
Gu Jiu frowned, "You mean, you want me to pay more taxes to please His Majesty? I have already paid the full amount of taxes."
Liu Zhao poked Gu Jiu's forehead and said, "Are you going to give birth? You're so slow to react today."
He wasn't asking her to pay more taxes, he was asking her to paint a big picture for the Emperor. A big picture about taxes.
Gu Jiu was very depressed.
"Maybe I'm really going to give birth." So my brain reacted a little slowly.
Maybe she had prenatal depression.
She has read books on the subject and knows that many women are very nervous before giving birth, their emotions are extremely unstable, and they are easily influenced by external factors and become obsessed with trivial matters.
This situation often occurs in first-time mothers.
After having experience with the second and third children, I was not so nervous and could handle it calmly.
"You should get more rest."
Liu Zhao helped Gu Jiu sit down on the cushioned chair.
"The people below will take care of it. During this final period, just focus on taking care of your baby and don't worry about anything else. Even if a county is to be established outside the South City Gate, it won't be done in a short time. The earliest it can be done is next spring. By then, the child will be six months old, and you'll have enough energy to deal with these things."
Gu Jiu took a deep breath, "I know."
She began to wonder if she really had prenatal depression.
Gu Yue is really a jinx.
Thinking that the child was about to be born, Gu Jiu did not go out in the following days and stayed in the palace to take care of the baby.
It rained in the morning and the ground was still wet, so the weather was unusually cool.
Gu Jiu took a nap.
The doorman came to report that Manager Hu, who had previously given gifts to the palace, was visiting.
"Which Manager Hu?" Gu Jiu couldn't remember for a moment.
Qingmei reminded her, "Madam, have you forgotten that jade sculpture? It was a New Year's gift sent by Mr. Zhou last year."
Gu Jiu suddenly realized and finally remembered.
My brain has been a bit dull lately.
Manager Hu, a subordinate of Zhou Jin, has been managing Zhou Jin's business in the capital for many years.
What is he doing here?
"Tell him to wait in the hall."
Gu Jiu packed up and then went to the flower hall.
"I greet the Madam!"
Manager Hu's attitude was respectful.
Gu Jiu nodded with a smile, "No need to be polite, just sit down and talk."
"I dare not. I will just stand here."
Gu Jiu smiled, not forcing it, and asked, "Has your young master come to the capital?"
"My son will arrive in the capital in three days and would like to arrange a meeting with Madam. To show his sincerity, he has asked me to bring you a gift."
oh?
Gu Jiu frowned slightly, "I should have returned the last gift to your master. You're giving me another gift this time? This lady cannot accept it."
"Don't worry, Madam. This is not an expensive gift. It is just a token of my son's appreciation. Madam, please take a look at it first. If you are satisfied with it, you can decide to accept it."
Gu Jiu raised her eyebrows. Why didn’t he force her to accept the gift this time?
Could it really be a worthless gadget?
Manager Hu is still waiting for Gu Jiu to make a decision.
Gu Jiu nodded at him, "Then I'll take a look."
Manager Hu smiled happily and opened the small wooden box.
Gu Jiu looked down and saw only a tattered dark red silk cloth.
What's the meaning!
Manager Hu did not explain, but took out the silk cloth and spread it out, "Madam, please take a look."
The silk cloth, still bearing the lingering smell of artillery fire, had a few more holes on it, but the large character "Zhu" could still be discerned.
She frowned, with a vague guess in her mind.
But she needed Manager Hu to tell her the truth in person.
"What's this?"
"This is a flag!" Manager Hu said with a smile.
Gu Jiu thought, is it really as she guessed?
"Whose flag?"
"This is the flag that the Zhu family of the Cheng'en Marquis' Mansion in the capital flew on a trading ship. Madam, you may not know this, but some time ago, the Zhu family's ship was hijacked by pirates, and the Zhu family suffered heavy losses. Because news travels slowly, few people in the capital know about this."
Gu Jiu stared at Manager Hu, "Pirates hijacked the Zhu family's trading ship?"
"Exactly! My master asked me to bring this flag to you to please the lady."
Gu Jiu's expression was very cold. "How come the Zhu family's flag is in your son's hands? Could it be that your son is a pirate?"
"Madam, you are joking. How could my son be a pirate?"
Manager Hu's heart was beating with nervousness, but he remained calm on the surface.
He knew that once he took out the flag, it would arouse suspicion. But since his son was determined to give this gift to Madam Zhao, he had no choice.
Gu Jiu smiled faintly, "If your young master is not a pirate, why would he have a flag after being attacked by artillery fire? Don't tell me you picked up this flag from the sea."
"Of course I didn't pick it up at sea. Madam, you know that after pirates hijack a ship, they need to find someone to sell the stolen goods. My son happened to be able to afford millions of taels of goods, so he bought it, along with this flag."
A huge wave of emotion surged in Gu Jiu’s heart.
What kind of maritime merchant can take over millions of taels of goods in one go and also sell the stolen goods for pirates?
This is clearly collusion with pirates.
Maybe Zhou Jin himself is a pirate.
The pirates are the downstream players, and Zhou Jin is the upstream player.
Gu Jiu smiled coldly, "You are quite honest."
Manager Hu smiled and said, "The Master has instructed that if Madam asks about this matter, you must answer honestly. You must not hide anything from Madam."
"Yeah?"
Gu Jiu smiled faintly, "This year, I've made some money from cooperating with your company in maritime trade, but I haven't thanked you in person yet, young master."
"My young master will arrive in the capital in three days. Madam, would you like to meet him?"
"Unfortunately, I'm pregnant now and may go into labor at any time, so it's not convenient for me to leave the palace."
"Then can my young master come to the palace to visit the lady?"
Gu Jiu laughed, "Isn't your young master afraid?"
"Why should you be afraid?"
"As a pirate, you dare to swagger around the capital and even come to visit the prince's palace. Are you really not afraid?"
Manager Hu smiled and shook his head, "Madam, you misunderstood. My young master is not a pirate."
Gu Jiu smiled and picked up the tattered flag. "Selling stolen goods for pirates, millions of taels of goods at a time. If we report this to the government, what do you think the officials will say?"
Manager Hu looked nervous and repeatedly emphasized, "My son is a serious businessman."
"Whether he is a serious businessman or not, your opinion has no say."
After a pause, she continued, "Tell your son that this gift is very timely and I like it very much. I appreciate the last gift you gave me, but I don't like it and hope to return it. Also, tell your son to stay in his place and don't stir up trouble in the capital. The capital is not Jiangnan, be careful of a capsize. Xu Yousi, send the guest away!"
This, this, this...
Manager Hu was confused. Are you sending us away now?
"My son will arrive in the capital in three days and wants to meet with Madam."
"I'm busy. Show you out!"
Xu Yousi stopped Manager Hu and said, "Manager Hu, please come in!"
Manager Hu was sweating coldly. He had not completed the task and the young master would definitely skin him alive when he returned.
However, these palace guards and eunuchs were all ferocious and vicious, so he didn't dare to act recklessly in the palace and could only leave in disgrace.
Gu Jiu returned to the small study and found the broken chess pieces on the desk.
She went over the whole thing from beginning to end.
At the palace gate that day, Cheng Enbo Zhu Ci vomited blood and fainted. Could it be that he was unable to bear the news that his own trading ship had been robbed?
Millions of taels of goods really cost the Zhu family half their life.
First, they were fined 1.55 million taels, and then they suffered losses of several million in goods, ships, and people. The Zhu family was probably seriously injured this time.
No wonder Cheng Enbo was so shocked that he vomited blood and fainted.
In this case, the Zhu family’s cash flow must be very tight.
If we push down further, the cash flow will break, and we will no longer be able to maintain the previous prosperity.
The Zhu family must have blocked the news of the ship being hijacked because they were afraid of being taken advantage of.
Gu Jiu began to think about how to use this information to deal with the Zhu family.
Perhaps the news of the ship being hijacked was the last straw that broke the camel's back for the Zhu family.
"Go call Bai Zhong over. I have something important to tell him."
Bai Zhong is in the city, busy working on a small project, similar to the one on Yuhua Lane that covers a whole street.
It’s just not as profitable as Yuhua Lane, after all, there is no other pier.
Thanks to Bai Zhong's efforts, Sihai Real Estate, a subsidiary of Sihai Trading Company, has become famous.
Ordinary people in Beijing all know that the houses built by Sihai Real Estate are of top quality, and even if the price is a little higher, it is worth the money.
Bai Zhong obeyed the order and hurried back to the palace.
When he met Gu Jiu, there was sweat on his forehead.
Gu Jiu picked up the flag and threw it to him. "Three of the Zhu family's ships were hijacked by pirates, resulting in a loss of several million taels. This happened last month. Spread this news as quickly as possible throughout the capital's business community."
Bai Zhong first exclaimed, "The Zhu family's ship was hijacked?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "This flag is the evidence. Of course, this flag cannot be shown to others. I guess the Zhu family doesn't have much cash on hand.
The Zhu family organized a seagoing vessel, and half of the funds came from fundraising in the business community. If you spread the news, the business community will panic, and no matter how much cash flow the Zhu family has, it will be crushed by this news.
I will prepare the money, and when the Zhu family is in trouble, you will come forward to buy out the Zhu family's assets on my behalf."
Bai Zhong finally came to his senses. He lowered his voice and asked, "Madam, is this true?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "It should be correct."
If Cheng Enbo Zhu Ci had not vomited blood and fainted at the palace gate that day, she might have been skeptical.
Considering that Cheng Enbo Zhu Ci vomited blood and fell into a coma, this matter is most likely true.
It's just that the Zhu family blocked the news and didn't dare to tell anyone, for fear of being taken advantage of.
The business world is like a battlefield, where people only add icing on the cake but never provide timely assistance.
The Zhu family is struggling to survive, and not taking advantage of the opportunity to profit from them is not in line with the profit-seeking nature of businessmen.
Gu Jiu is also a businessman and an enemy of the Zhu family. She also wants to take a big bite and become the biggest beneficiary.
Bai Zhong understood, "I understand. I'll take care of it right away."
Gu Jiu reminded him, "You must spread the news in secret and don't let anyone find out about you. You must act quickly to acquire the Zhu family's assets and never let others get ahead of you. You must grab as many high-quality assets as you can from the Zhu family."
"I understand." Bai Zhong looked excited and full of energy.
Being able to bring down the Zhu family, the richest family in Beijing, is really exciting.
He left in a hurry to make a big move.
Gu Jiu stared at the tattered flag on the table and began to have many doubts about Zhou Jin's identity.
Whether he was a pirate or not, at least he had connections with pirates.
Being able to swallow millions of taels of goods in one go shows that his financial resources are unexpectedly strong.
I'm afraid that even the Zhu family, the richest family in Beijing, would be defeated by Zhou Jin in a financial competition.
But Rong Xin had been in Jiangnan for a year, but he didn't realize the identity behind Zhou Jin?
Not everyone can be a pirate stolen goods dealer.
It is necessary to check this Zhou Jin.
Manager Hu came out of the palace and went directly to a villa in the city without delay.
He told Gu Jiu that Zhou Jin would arrive in the capital in three days. In fact, Zhou Jin had already arrived in the capital secretly several days ago.
When Manager Hu saw Zhou Jin, he knelt down and said, "I have done my job poorly, please punish me, sir."
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
I've been adjusting my work and rest schedule these past two days, so today's second update is late.
Starting tomorrow, everything will return to normal.
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