Chapter 425: The Capital is about to change, I hope Xin An will return
As the saying goes, one does not need to worry about too much debt, especially when everyone is in debt. Even those who had grudges against each other in the past now huddle together and refuse to pay back anything, making a big fuss.
Some families owed 700,000 or 800,000 taels over the past forty or fifty years, all of which was spent on daily squandering. Even if their property was confiscated, it would be impossible to pay it back. Two elderly people hanged themselves, and an old man with white hair who retired early knelt down and kowtowed before the emperor, forcing the emperor to give him more time.
"The so-called grace period means that the matter is over. The emperor almost ordered that the debt should not be repaid, but the gentleman died after returning. There were rumors in the city that the emperor forced the old minister to death. The emperor was furious and forced the debt to be repaid. The deadline was one month. If more than half of the debt was not returned, the property would be confiscated. Recently, the city gates were strictly checked and these people were not allowed to leave the capital."
"The emperor is determined to deal with these noble families. Fortunately, your family doesn't owe any debts."
Tang Mo took a deep breath and said, "I also want to thank my father-in-law."
It is because the Xin family sends money every year that the Marquis' Mansion is not short of money.
"Your grandfather also had the foresight to do so."
Liao Zhi said that there was only half a month left before the one-month deadline. Some people were desperate and did not dare to direct their anger at the emperor, so they hated him. "They couldn't deal with me, so they went after my men. You have to be careful. You will take over Wu Kun's affairs these days. I will send you some people. You can use extraordinary measures when necessary."
Tang Mo nodded. He had just taken a sip of tea when Liao Zhi asked him to reduce his dealings with the Xu family. Tang Mo was puzzled, so Liao Zhi explained, "The prince owed the national treasury 1.3 million taels. He owed the most in the entire capital. He cried poor at first, and then pawned many items to pay back the 600,000 taels. It caused a lot of trouble."
"The second prince owed half a million, and he was the most active in paying it back. The emperor was very satisfied with the second prince and said he set an excellent example. He recently gave him several good jobs, and the Ministry of Revenue, which he had previously fought for with the crown prince, also fell to the second prince."
"The two of you are fighting now, don't let yourself be affected."
Tang Mo asked, "Is the Second Prince's wife ready to give birth?"
"It's a baby girl."
Tang Mo felt more relieved after hearing the news, because Xin An said that the Second Prince's wife gave birth to a girl, and the Second Prince would eventually stage a mutiny and take that position, and he was afraid that things might change.
"With so much going on, it's no wonder that when I saw the Emperor today, he wasn't in good spirits."
"Something happened to Princess Yong'an."
Tang Mo raised his eyes and felt that the shocking news came one after another. "I have been away for less than two months. How come so many things have happened? Didn't Princess Yong'an follow her husband to the northwest?"
After Princess Yong'an got married, she followed her husband to the northwest. Her husband was from the Zhang family. He was the third son of General Zhang and the most outstanding descendant of the Zhang family. He was the deputy general of the Northwest Army.
Liao Zhi said that the news about the Northwest had never been reported. At first, the emperor only suspected that the princess and her husband were involved in the corruption. It was not until General Yuan arrived in the Northwest that he knew that something had happened to General Yuan. "He had been sidelined for a long time, and the news could not be spread. When the war in the Northwest started, those people attacked the princess and her husband. The husband protected the princess and escaped. Later, the husband gathered his troops and turned back to the battlefield."
"Where's the princess?"
Liao Zhi shook his head. "The prince consort arranged for someone to escort the princess and the young master back to the capital. On the way, they encountered pursuers and the young master disappeared. The princess was unwilling to go forward, so the emperor and the Zhang family have already sent people to look for her."
"The war in the northwest started a long time ago, but the news has been suppressed by the Northwest Army. If General Yuan hadn't arrived, I'm afraid the court wouldn't know about it now."
Tang Mo took a deep breath, "Northwest Army."
"This is all for the sake of money. Everyone is united in concealing this. If something like this happens, I'm afraid the troops stationed in other places will have a hard time too."
Liao Zhi said that Tang Mo had made a great contribution in this matter. If he had not known about the Northwest from his father-in-law, General Yuan would not have been sent to the Northwest. Who knows what would happen in the Northwest. "It is not unheard of in all dynasties that generals took soldiers to do business, but this kind of thing with the whole army is simply unheard of."
"The weather is changing right before your eyes, but your father-in-law is a good guy."
Tang Mo smiled bitterly, "My father-in-law is a big merchant. The people who negotiate business with him are all the heads of various families. He is also a very cautious person, so naturally he knows more."
If Xin An hadn't recalled it, he wouldn't have known.
Unfortunately, it's too late.
"If I could send a message to your wife, ask her to come back soon. If she comes back, you'll have an extra pair of eyes on this situation."
Tang Mo's wife is indispensable, he is very clear about this, his wife has made an indelible contribution to Tang Mo's current situation.
Liao Zhi said a few more things and left in a hurry. Before Tang Mo could digest all these things, Tang Yu and then Zhao came, and with him came their eldest son Tang Jun. "The capital has been in chaos recently. Can't you take a break?"
Tang Mo said he would go on duty after changing his clothes. "Originally, the whole family was supposed to have a meal to welcome cousin, but I'm afraid we can't have it. I hope cousin doesn't mind."
"You are too polite, brother Mo. We are all family and there is no need for such false formalities. If you need our help, please feel free to ask."
Tang Mo said to Zhao: "Aunt, please help me clean up a place to live. My wife will not live in the backyard until she comes back."
Zhao nodded. "It's the yard where your uncle Wei used to live. I'll have someone clean it up for you. When will your wife come back?"
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"I guess she will be able to go back in a month and stay for a few more days."
"Did your mother come back at that time?"
Zhao said that so many things had happened in the capital, and the women needed to make arrangements to find out. It was not a good idea for the Marquis' Mansion to be closed off, and most importantly, Tao Yiran could not be relied upon.
"Don't worry, auntie. The capital city knows whether my mother and my wife are here or not, so they won't care about them. I think it's better if they are not here at this time, so as to avoid trouble."
"Cousin, if you encounter any problem, please remember to tell me. The situation is complicated recently. Just wait for half a month and then see."
The capital is in a bloody situation right now, so it's a good thing that he's not here. He even hopes to come back after things calm down.
In Chunhua Courtyard, Tao Yiran, who was preparing to give birth, received the news that Zhao had closed her door to visitors these days, and Madam Tao came to the Marquis's Mansion in person to stay for about ten days. The young lady of the Mu family came several times but was not seen, so she stopped coming.
Tao Yiran was used to the quiet days, and a smile appeared on her lips again when she heard Tang Mo coming back alone.
"The Second Young Master is here to escort the charity money back. I think he will be quite busy next time."
Aunt Liu, who had lost a lot of weight, was not as open and frank with her as before. "Madam sent a message saying that Baoqin and the groom in the mansion have fallen in love and have agreed to their marriage. She can no longer serve the young lady. She will send someone else over in two days."
Mrs. Tao's arrival rescued Aunt Liu. Aunt Liu naturally reported the two troublemakers in her eyes, the Young Lady of the Mu family and Baoqin. The Young Lady of the Mu family was turned away and Baoqin was taken away. No one made trouble in front of Tao Yiran anymore.
Besides, she was already very pregnant and couldn't do anything strange.
(End of this chapter)
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