Wu Zheng smiled self-deprecatingly, "But this official still blackmailed the Mo family and the rich families in the city. ”

"Definitely. This is not blackmail, does the uncle really think that the old man and this gang of rich people are succumbing to the military authority of the uncle and letting the uncle take it away? ”

"Oh, is there still a secret?"

"I can't say the secret, but if I really want to fight against my uncle, I'm afraid my uncle really can't please too much." Mo Zhinian said calmly, "At that time, there were only a few thousand people in the hands of adults, but we and other rich families in the city can gather at least five thousand, do you believe it?" ”

Wu Zhengxin, at that time, all that was available in his hands was his own Lianghu guards, which were less than 3,000 people, and the rest was the 10,000 surrendered army, which had not yet been reorganized at that time, and it was a mess up and down.

At this time, if the rich households in the city jointly riot, it is indeed very dangerous, and the 10,000 troops are the Hangzhou garrison, and these rich families must have dealings, and if they are not careful, the situation will be completely out of control.

"I believe it. But why do you allow your officials to blackmail from house to house? ”

Mo said slowly: "If the old man says at this time, even if we surrender to the enemy, we still cherish our homeland, and I don't believe it if I want to come to my uncle." ”

Wu Zheng really doesn't believe that after a person bends his knees and becomes a minion, there will be a second and third time.

This is also the main reason why Wu Zheng has always been wary of Mo obsession.

Mo Zhi smiled bitterly: "But this is the truth. We may have surrendered to the Qing Dynasty for various reasons, but we also cherish our homeland. Uncle can not believe it, but if the old man says something, the uncle can believe it. ”

"What?"

"I have sheltered the merchants like this, and the tax of one out of thirty is compared, and what other dynasty can compare? We all made a fortune from business, even if we don't remember the kindness of the Ming Dynasty's century-old protection, we should plan for our future livelihood. ”

Wu Zheng understood, this is true, Wu Zheng also learned today that the taxes of the Ming Dynasty were not high, and even far lower than that of any dynasty, so low that they were embarrassed to say it.

It is only today that I learned that whether it is the court or the people, the political atmosphere is not as strict as that of any dynasty, at least I have not been convicted for my words.

Think about it, how harsh can the political atmosphere that can even dismiss the emperor's will be? You know, none of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty were puppets.

This is very important.

Wu Zheng believed it again.

"I believe it." Even in later generations, I am afraid it is difficult to imagine such a low tax, from this point of view, later generations have a great misunderstanding of the Ming Dynasty, and this misunderstanding comes from these naked and Tartar Confucian and Mencian disciples, as well as the Qing court's smear of the previous dynasty.

Of course, the extremely low tax refers to the amount of tax explicitly promulgated by the imperial court, and some local governments increase or apportion it privately, or collude with the vassal king to impose miscellaneous taxes, which cannot be counted and is not representative.

Because the imperial treasury did not collect these taxes, to blame the imperial court, then there is a partial generalization.

This is like some provinces in later generations, which should be exempted from tolls after the expiration of regulations, but the local government is still collecting them, and if you blame the national policy for this, this is a bit unreasonable.

Today's detailed discussion with Mo Zhinian completely changed Wu Zheng's concept of Daming, at least a big turning point.

Because Wu Zheng only understood at this time that Ming was not useless.

And the people of the world are not ungrateful for their homeland.

Emperor Chongzhen also got up from the rooster's crow, he couldn't sleep at night, he became ill from hard work, and there was never a feast in the palace, so he didn't live a good day.

Then the real main reason will come from the middle and upper strata who hold real power, that is, the so-called elites.

This understanding had a great impact on Wu Zheng's behavior in the future.

"Then let's discuss your three conditions." Wu Zheng's words made Mo Zhi show joy, "I can promise financial power, but there is also a premise, that is, since you, the Mo family is not allowed to enter the court." ”

Mo was stunned, "This is impossible!" The three conditions of decay complement each other, how can you control the financial power if you are not an official, how can you be awarded the position of the prince of the country without marriage, and how can you not enter the court with the respect of the prince? ”

Wu Zheng smiled, this is the result he wants, if Mo Zhi even knows this, then Wu Zheng can only sing the little apple with him.

"Have you ever heard of fiscal separation?"

Mo Zhinian opened his mouth in surprise, and then thought about it.

Then he suddenly realized: "Wonderful, this move not only ensures the control of financial power, but also puts an end to the constraints and influence of the various departments of the court on the household department. ”

Speaking of this, Mo Zhinian frowned and said: "But there is one thing, how can the uncle ensure that the independent tax department has enough executive power?" ”

This is to the point, the separation of financial power, although it reduces the influence of various ministries on it, but as an independent department, how to implement the tax system?

If there is no military power and political power, how can it be enforced?

Wu Zhengdao: "The establishment of a financial department, branched to the county level, according to the large, medium and small counties to set up 50 to 100 tax police, so as to ensure the implementation of the tax system." In addition, the merger of the municipal shipping department, the same number of tax police to ensure the collection of tariffs. ”

Mo Zhinian listened, nodded again and again: "This strategy is very good, Uncle is really talented." In this way, the old man agreed to the premise that Uncle Mo's family would not enter the court. ”

Wu Zheng said: "The collusion between finance and government, and the collusion between finance and the army, is the way to death." ”

Don't be obsessed, and said solemnly: "Remember, old decay." ”

"Then let's talk about the second thing, you and I are a gentleman's covenant today, so this marriage is not necessary, right?"

Mo Zhinian shook his head and said: "Uncle also said, this is a gentleman's covenant, although I dare not judge the uncle, but the old man thinks that he is not a gentleman, since he is not a gentleman, it is naturally possible to break the contract." What does Uncle think? ”

Wu Zheng heard the meaning of the old man's words, Mo insisted that he was not a gentleman, and naturally he didn't think that Wu Zheng was a gentleman.

You can worship the lord, but you don't think that the lord is a gentleman, this is not obsessive.

Wu Zheng hesitated, not that Wu Zheng wanted to put on a show, or wanted to play a humble gentleman, but that there was a very serious problem involved.

Mo is obsessed with taking over the financial power and marries his granddaughter to Wu Zheng, which can be said to have obtained the guarantee he wants.

However, the Mo family has financial power in one hand and in-laws in the other, and the power will expand unlimitedly, and the restriction of collusion with the government and the military alone can no longer hinder the barbaric growth of this power.

Even if the Mo family has no dissent, it can't stop those who have a heart, so it needs to add a constraint.

Wu Zheng couldn't think of this effective way to restrain him for a while, so he hesitated.

Mo Nian's expression was already very calm, and he had already grasped the initiative in the conversation.

As long as Wu Zheng was ambitious, he could not refuse this temptation.

If you can't resist this temptation, you have to accept your own conditions.

Then the matter of marriage will become a bond between the interests of both parties.