"Zhao Lin?"
Fu Chengwang was also startled by the name and asked carefully, "Which Zhao Lin?"
An official hurriedly looked at Zhao Lin's detailed information and said, "He was the top scholar in Shengjing Prefecture and an aide to Lord Li Xingye. He's just an orphan without a father or a mother, but somehow he caught Lord Li's eye and became his aide. He..."
The official suddenly fell silent.
When it comes to news about Zhao Lin, who knows more than the Minister of Rites, Lord Fu, who is standing in front of him?
That was the man who wanted to kidnap his daughter.
Fu Chengwang's face darkened slightly. He took the intelligence and carefully read it over. He shouted, "Absurd! For such a major event, it's fine if Bai Shiyuan, a Hanlin, is involved, but Li Xingye is actually letting a sixteen-year-old Juren participate and entrusting him with such an important task. What is he thinking?"
"It's said that Lord Li thinks highly of this boy. He even went to *** to get an invitation for him to the chrysanthemum appreciation party a few days ago. By the way, this boy wrote two extraordinary poems at the chrysanthemum appreciation party, better than all his previous ones combined. He..."
An official was about to show off his well-informedness when he suddenly stopped.
Wasn’t Zhao Lin’s famous poem dedicated to his beloved actually dedicated to the Shangshu’s precious daughter?
Didn’t you see that the woman who was eavesdropping on their conversation from a distance was the heroine of this story?
Fu Chengwang remained calm and said, "Wait a moment, I need to go see Li Xingye."
Although Fu Chengwang is more powerful than Li Xingye, on the surface they are of the same rank, and Li Xingye is a member of the royal family. It is naturally impossible for Fu Chengwang to ask Li Xingye to come and see him with just a note.
"Minister Fu? What brings you here? Come and sit down. Bring me some tea."
Li Xingye was very surprised to see Fu Chengwang come uninvited, and quickly offered him a seat and served him tea.
When the tea arrived, Fu Chengwang took two sips before saying, "As far as I know, it was Lord Li who took the initiative to ask the Emperor to take over this flower and stone project?"
"Yes." Li Xingye said.
"Why?" Fu Chengwang frowned, puzzled, and asked, "This is a major event that will bring disaster to the country and the people. Why don't you stop the emperor, but instead take the initiative to take on this matter?"
Li Xingye sighed and said, "I heard about what happened at the court this morning. Did you stop it?"
Fu Chengwang said, "We can't give up on that either. Once this decree reaches the local authorities, it will inevitably lead to waste of manpower and money..."
"Not only will it be a waste of money and time, it will even cause a disaster greater than the Qingzhou flood. By then, the people will be unable to make a living, and there might even be rebels." Li Xingye interrupted Fu Chengwang.
Fu Chengwang was stunned: "It can't be like this?"
Li Xingye said, "I didn't think of it at first, but later I realized it would only get worse."
Fu Chengwang frowned slightly.
Li Xingye asked, "Master Fu, are you confused? Do you think that the Flower and Stone Gang will only have a short-term impact on the local people, like adding another tax, and it will be over once the collection is completed?"
"Isn't it?" Fu Chengwang asked modestly.
Li Xingye shook his head and said, "At first, I thought the same as you. Let the people suffer, it's just this once. But have you ever considered, sir, that when the officials collect taxes, are they only collecting the taxes set by the court?"
"Of course not." Fu Chengwang blurted out.
This is something everyone knows.
Adding more layers!
The imperial court would collect one tael of silver as tax, but the common people would have to pay at least three taels, or even five or ten taels.
From the village to the county, from the county to the prefecture, from the prefecture to the province and then to the imperial court, there are so many officials in between, layer upon layer, who wouldn't make a fortune?
You get a little, he gets a little, everyone gets a little, and there is still one or two taels of silver left at the court. Can you imagine how much the people had to pay?
Fu Chengwang was a smart man and immediately understood what Li Xingye meant.
"In other words, this Flower and Stone Gang is very likely the same as collecting taxes?" Fu Chengwang's face was gloomy.
"No, it's even more harmful than taxes. Because taxes have quotas, but the Hua Shi Gang doesn't."
Li Xingye sighed and pointed at the flowerpots that decorated the room. "I said this is a rare flower and needs to be handed over to the court. Do you dare to object?"
Fu Chengwang seemed to be thinking about something.
Li Xingye pointed to a stone on the table and said, "This is a beautiful stone. We have to hand it over, too. Do you have any objections?"
Fu Chengwang frowned.
Li Xingye pointed to the sky, then to the ground. "Anything that the officials like can be considered rare flowers and plants, or rugged and beautiful rocks. Can you say you don't agree?"
Fu Chengwang was slightly moved.
Li Xingye sighed heavily. "The most important thing is, have these things been delivered to the capital, or have they been registered? Who knows?"
Fu Chengwang completely lost his composure: "If this is the case, won't the local people be in danger of having their families destroyed?"
"More than that," Li Xingye said, "We need ships to transport the precious stones. Where will we get them? We must requisition grain ships. But several provinces in the north need grain ships to transport the stones. Without them, what will they eat?"
"And in order to facilitate shipping, they would have to conscript laborers, dig canals, and destroy fields and houses. How would the people survive?"
"Maybe it's time for breakfast!"
Fu Chengwang was shocked: "I never thought that a flower and stone gang could cause so much harm. I had no idea."
Fu Chengwang stood up and bowed deeply to Li Xingye: "Thank you for your advice."
Li Xingye waved his hand and waited for Fu Chengwang to sit down before saying, "Actually, I didn't know these things at first. I just relayed what others said."
Fu Chengwang was surprised and said, "Who has such vision? I must meet him in person."
Li Xingye smiled and said, "Guess."
A name immediately came to Fu Chengwang's lips, but he hesitated for a long time before saying it. Finally, he said, "Since you knew there were so many dangers, why didn't you stop His Majesty?"
"I can't stop it," Li Xingye said sullenly. "So many of you can't stop it, so how can I? You know the character of His Majesty, don't you? Otherwise, do you think I'm willing to bear the infamy and do such a harmful thing?"
Everyone knows Li Xingye's character. He is very upright. He chose to take the initiative to take on this matter even though he knew so many dangers. Obviously, it was also for the people.
Fu Chengwang said admiringly, "I have wronged Lord Li. I never thought Lord Li would make such a sacrifice for His Majesty and the people."
Li Xingye waved his hand. "These are all things Zhao Lin taught me. Since I can't change it, I should take the initiative to master it and minimize the harm. Otherwise, I'll just follow that passerby and hide aside, pretending it has nothing to do with me."
Fu Chengwang finally couldn't help himself and asked, "Is this really Zhao Lin's idea?"
Li Xingye smiled and said, "Of course, why would I lie to you? To be honest, if I didn't have a daughter, I really want to recruit him as my son-in-law. With such a virtuous son-in-law, why would I worry about the future?"
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