There was no such thing as "Suzhou and Hangzhou" in the Ming Dynasty. Hangzhou at that time was not yet worthy of the title. Songjiang Prefecture was the only one known as Suzhou.

The so-called "Susong" is the richest place in Ming Dynasty, but also the place with the heaviest taxation.

This is not an exaggeration. The Ming Dynasty had a fixed tax rate. The total tax paid by the two capitals and 13 provinces for the whole year was more than 29,430,000 shi. The province with the highest tax rate was Zhejiang, with a total of more than 2,752,000 shi.

However, the annual tax amount in Suzhou was more than 2.89 million shi, and that in Songjiang was more than 1.29 million shi.

Zhejiang's tax revenue accounted for one-tenth of the country's total, but it was still less than Suzhou alone. Therefore, it was said that Suzhou's tax revenue was the heaviest in the country.

Although Songjiang's tax amount is only half of Suzhou's, compared with Suzhou's one prefecture and seven counties, Songjiang only has Huating and Shanghai counties, and the registered farmland is only a quarter of Suzhou's. So in fact, Songjiang's tax burden is heavier than Suzhou's.

Perhaps this is the reason why the people of Songjiang vied with each other to surrender themselves to the Xu family.

The Ming Dynasty favored scholars and officials, and from the level of students onwards, they were exempted from certain land taxes and labor services.

As one's fame improved, the amount of tax exemption also continued to increase. This preferential treatment was multiplied for high-ranking officials. From the day Xu Jie entered the cabinet, Songjiang Prefecture no longer levied land taxes or assigned labor service to the Xu family.

Therefore, the common people and gentry of Songjiang Prefecture all tried their best to beg the Xu family to take them in as slaves, adopted sons, or even adopted sons. Once they became members of the Xu family, they would no longer have to serve the Xu family.

After registering the property under the name of the Xu family, it would naturally be tax-free. Although a large amount of tribute would be paid to the master every year, it was still much more cost-effective than before.

Moreover, as members of the Xu family, they were superior to others in Suzhou, Songjiang, and even in the two capitals of Jiangnan. They were the only ones who could bully others, and no one dared to bully them.

Although the threshold to become a member of the Xu family is getting higher and higher, it still cannot resist the enthusiasm of the people of Songjiang and even Suzhou to cling to him and recognize him as their godfather...

Especially in Huating County, the hometown of Lord Xu, the Xu family now occupies a full quarter and two-thirds of the land is under the name of the Xu family.

'Xu Huating' is absolutely worthy of the name.

~~

Huating County is also the capital of Songjiang Prefecture.

Of course, the person who has the final say in Huating County and even in Songjiang Prefecture is not the prefect or the county magistrate, but the old man who lives in Tuisiyu Garden in the east of the city.

Since the 37th year of the Jiajing reign, the descendants and servants of the Xu family began to build a garden for Lord Xu to spend his remaining years after his retirement.

For this purpose, they asked the old man what he thought: did he want to enjoy the company of his grandchildren, live with four generations under one roof, and have a lively and bustling life, or did he just want some peace and quiet?

Lord Xu chose the latter, so the Xu family demolished hundreds of households inside the east gate in addition to the luxurious Xu Mansion in Nanchan Temple and spent a huge amount of money to build this huge garden covering an area of ​​more than 300 acres for him.

This garden drawing is the last work of Wen Zhengming. According to the wishes of Xu Ge Lao, there are few carved beams and painted buildings, and more natural objects are used to create the scenery. The scenery in the garden is beautiful and charming. It is like a graceful pastoral landscape painting.

After seeing Wen Zhengming's painting of "Tuisi Garden", Xu Ge Lao became homesick. This garden was so much to his liking that he often asked about the progress of the project in Beijing and demanded that nothing should be sloppy.

In the end, it took a full ten years and cost a million taels to complete.

Lord Xu retired early this year. Although there were various reasons, the Tuisi Garden, which he had been dreaming about for ten years, definitely played a huge role in it.

So as soon as he returned home, he moved into this garden and has not left the house since.

At this time, Lord Xu was boating on the lake with visitors.

The lotus flowers in the lake are in full bloom, with a refreshing fragrance. The flower gardens, waterside pavilions, stone bridges and lattice windows on all sides make it look like "a boat sails on the blue waves and people swim in a painting".

The visitor was in his forties, with a broad face and handsome appearance, three long wisps of beard under his chin, and his eyes were bright. He seemed to be a martial artist, but also had the air of a scholar, and looked very extraordinary.

"Master Cun Zhai, Master Zhen Shan and Master Qing Yao, you have also read the letters. Can you trust me once?"

Elder Xu wore a square scarf and a crane cloak, looking like a rich man leisurely strolling in the woods. His face, which never showed emotion, had a solemn expression.

"The name of the Danyang hero is well-known, and there are letters from Mr. Zhu and Mr. Liu to prove it. How can I not believe you?"

The Danyang hero was none other than the famous Shao Fang, the hero who could be friends with everyone.

Shao Fang was delighted when he heard this, and said in a deep voice: "Then please allow me to help Master Cun Zhai make a comeback."

"But I submitted my resignation many times before I was granted permission to retire. It has been less than two months since I left Beijing, and I am already trying to be reinstated. This is bound to make people laugh at me." Xu Jie shook his head slightly.

"It is indeed too urgent to reinstate him now, but it will take time to accomplish this matter." Shao Fang smiled and said, "Even if I go to Beijing today, I am afraid that Master Cun Zhai will not receive the imperial edict of reinstatement until this time next year."

"Mr. Cun Zhai needs to recuperate his body and mind. Is one year enough?" Shao Fang said, looking at Xu Jie with sharp eyes, trying to find out his true thoughts.

Unfortunately, Lord Xu's level was too high. At this moment, his face was calm and his thoughts were not revealed. How could he see through his mind?

Xu Jie just calmly asked back: "You, the hero, have worked so hard to help me. What do you want to gain?"

"If it doesn't work, I'll have worked in vain." Shao Fang was known as a great hero, so he would speak his mind without being vague. "If it succeeds by chance, I'd like to ask the Xu family to help the Danyang Shao family and replace the Lu family in the Nine Great Families."

"Oh, what nine major families?" Xu Jie's eyes flashed coldly.

"Hahaha!" Shao Fang laughed out loud and said, "Mr. Cun Zhai is really too cautious. Never mind, it's too early to talk about this now. I'm just saying this to dispel Mr. Cun Zhai's doubts."

"When things are almost done, we can talk again." He said confidently, looking at Xu Jie and said, "It's nothing to lose anyway, why don't you give it a try, Master Cun Zhai?"

Xu Jie pondered for a long while before slowly saying, "This matter is of great importance and it is really difficult to make a decision immediately. Since you have come here with such enthusiasm, I will treat you warmly. Please stay in my humble home for a few more days so that I can think about it carefully."

"Okay, I will keep you company for three days." Shao Fang nodded, thinking that this was what the question implied.

At this time, the boat landed, and Shao Fang said goodbye first. He had a wide range of friends and was busy with business, so why would he waste time playing chess and singing opera with an old man?

"Come back in three days to hear Master Cun Zhai's reply."

"Goodbye." Xu Jie smiled slightly and watched Shao Fang's figure disappear in the path shaded by green bamboos.

Only then, with the help of his servants, he slowly walked into the pavilion by the lake.

In the waterside pavilion, a man in his fifties was meditating with his eyes closed. He was none other than Mr. Hu Zhi from Mount Lu.

Hu Zhishen was the leader of the Jiangyou School of Wang's school. After giving lectures at Lingji Palace at the beginning of the year, he returned to Suzhou and Songjiang to continue promoting Jiangyou School of Mind.

When Lord Xu returned home, Hu Zhi stopped teaching and came to accompany him to relax and plan the next step.

In addition to being able to "create everything with his mind", Hu Zhi was also a Jinshi in the Jiajing period, and served as the Censor of Fujian. He was highly trusted by Lord Xu and was consulted on everything.

Xu Jie then told Hu Zhi the purpose of Shao Fang's visit.

After listening to it, Mr. Lushan was sure that there was nothing wrong with his ears, so he burst into laughter.

He laughed continuously, his belly was filled with laughter. He felt that in all his decades of traveling and giving lectures all over the world, he had never met such an ignorant person.

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