Daming did not say 'Suzhou and Hangzhou', and Hangzhou at this time was not enough to class. It is also known as Songjiang Mansion along with Suzhou.

The so-called 'Su Song' is the richest place in the Ming Dynasty and the most taxed place.

This is not an exaggeration. There is a fixed amount of tax in Daming, two capitals and 13 provinces, and the total annual tax payment is more than 29.43 million stones. Among them, the province with the highest tax payment is Zhejiang, with a total of more than 2,752,000 stones.

However, the annual tax amount in Suzhou is more than 2,890,000 stones, and in Songjiang it is more than 1,290,000 stones.

Zhejiang's tax revenue accounts for one-tenth of the world's total, but it is still less than Suzhou's government. Therefore, it is said that Suzhou has heavy taxes, and the first is in the sea.

Although the tax amount of Songjiang is only half of that of Suzhou, compared with the seven counties of Suzhou Prefecture, Songjiang only has two counties of Huating and Shanghai, and the registered fields are only a quarter of Suzhou, so in fact, Songjiang's taxes are heavier than Suzhou.

Maybe this is the reason why the people of Songjiang are vying to offer and send their money to the Xu family.

The Ming Dynasty gave preferential treatment to scholars, and from the first level of students, they could be exempted from a certain amount of land and labor.

As fame increases, so does the amount of tax exemption. This preferential treatment was magnified exponentially on high-ranking officials, and from the day Xu Jie entered the cabinet, Songjiang Mansion no longer levied land taxes and apportioned labor to the Xu family.

Therefore, the common people and gentry of Songjiang Mansion have sharpened their heads, and they are doing everything possible to beg the Xu family to accept themselves as slaves, righteous sons, and even stepsons. If you become a member of the Xu family, you don't have to serve the Xu family anymore.

If the family property is listed in the name of the Xu family, it will naturally be tax-free. Although a large amount of filial piety is paid to the lord's family every year, it is much more cost-effective than before.

And they have become the Xu family, and they are superior in Susong and even Jiangnan and Kyoto, only they bully others, and no one dares to bully them.

Although the threshold for becoming a member of the Xu family is getting higher and higher, it still can't resist the enthusiasm of the people of Songjiang and even Suzhou to hug their thighs and recognize their godfathers......

Especially in Huating County, Xu Gelao's hometown, the Xu family now accounts for a full quarter, and two-thirds of the land is under the name of the Xu family.

'Xu Huating' definitely lives up to its name.

~~

Huating County is also the capital of Songjiang Prefecture.

Of course, it is not the prefect or the county that has the final say in Huating County and even Songjiang Mansion, but the old man who lives in the retreat garden in the east of the city.

Since the thirty-seventh year of Jiajing, the descendants and servants of the Xu family have begun to build a garden for Xu Ge to live for the elderly.

For this reason, they asked the old man what he meant, do they want to tease his grandson, the four generations in the same house, be lively, or do they want to be quiet?

Xu Ge Lao chose the latter, so the Xu family demolished hundreds of households in the east gate outside the luxurious mansion of Xu Mansion in Nanchan Temple, and spent a huge amount of money to build this super large garden covering an area of more than 300 acres for him.

The drawings of this garden are the last strokes of Wen Zhengming, according to the meaning of Xu Ge Lao, less carved beams are used to paint the building, more natural things are used to make the scenery, the scenery in the park is beautiful, the scenery is charming. It's like a beautiful pastoral landscape painting.

Ever since Xu Ge saw the 'Retreat Garden Map' painted by Wen Zhengming, he has suffered from homesickness. This garden is so much to his liking that he often asks about the progress of the project in Beijing, and he asks not to be sloppy in the slightest.

As a result, it took a full decade and a million taels to complete.

Xu Ge Lao retired early this year, although there are various reasons, this retreat garden that he has been thinking about for ten years definitely plays a great role.

So as soon as he returned to his hometown, he lived in this garden, and he has not yet gone out.

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

The lotus flowers in the lake are in full bloom and fragrant. The flower beds and water pavilions on all sides, the stone bridges and the leaky windows, are 'boats on the blue waves, and people swim in the painting'.

The visitor was in his forties, with a wide mouth and a dignified appearance, three long beards under his chin, and bright eyes. seems to be a person who practices martial arts, and has the air of a scribe, and looks extraordinary.

"You have also read the letters of the Duke of Cunzhai, the Duke of Zhenshan and the Duke of Qingxi, can you believe me once?"

The old man Xu Ge was wearing a square scarf and a crane, dressed as a rich man who traveled leisurely in the forest, and his face was always a little dignified.

"The name of Danyang heroes is like thunder, not to mention that there are handwritten letters from Zhu and Liu Ergong as proof, how can the old man not believe in you?"

That Danyang hero is the famous Shao Fang, Shao Daxia who can be friends with everyone.

Shao Fang was overjoyed when she heard this, and said in a deep voice: "Then please allow me to run for the comeback of Cunzhai Gongdongshan." ”

It's just that the old man has repeatedly asked for his resignation, so he can be gracious. It's only been less than two months since I left Beijing, and I want to recover again, which inevitably makes people laugh. Xu Jie shook his head slightly.

"It's really too urgent to recover now, but this matter has to be done, and it is not done overnight." Shao Fang smiled and said: "Even if I go to Beijing on the same day, I am afraid that at this time next year, Cunzhai Gong will be able to receive the edict of refuge." ”

"Cunzhai Gong wants to recuperate his body and mind, one year is enough, right?" After Shao Fang finished speaking, he looked at Xu Jie's eyes with blazing eyes, wanting to spy on his true thoughts.

It's a pity that Xu Ge Lao's rank is too high, at this time, the ancient well on his face is not wavering, and the yin is heavy, how can he see his thoughts?

Xu Jie only asked quietly: "The hero works tirelessly, running and planning for the old man, I don't know what I want to get?" ”

"If it doesn't work out, I'm busy." Shao Fang is known as a hero, so he naturally has one thing to say, and he will not be covered by clouds and mountains. "If I succeed, I also ask the Xu family to help my Danyang Shao family and replace the Lu family's seat in the nine families."

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

"Hahahaha!" Shao Fang laughed out loud and said, "Cunzhai Gong is really too cautious. That's it, it's too early to talk about this, and it's just to dispel Cunzhaigong's doubts. ”

"When it's about to happen, it's not too late for us to talk." He said with confidence, looked at Xu Jie, and said, "If you don't lose anything, why don't you give it a try?" ”

Xu Jie pondered for a long time, and Fang said slowly: "The matter is big, and it is difficult to make a decision. The hero came enthusiastically, and the old man should be hospitable, and please linger in the cold house for a few more days, so that the old man can think about it. ”

"Okay, I'll wait for three days." Shao Fang nodded. The heart says that this is also the proper meaning of the question.

At this time, the boat docked, and Shao Fang took his leave. He travels extensively and is busy with business, how can he waste time playing chess and singing with an old man?

"I'll come back in three days to listen to Cunzhai Gong's reply."

"If you go, you won't send it." Xu Jie smiled slightly, and saw Shao Fang's figure disappear into the path covered by green bamboo.

Only then, with the support of the servants, he slowly walked into the water pavilion by the lake.

In the water pavilion, a man in his fifties was meditating with his eyes closed, it was Mr. Hu Zhi of Na Lushan.

Hu Zhi was the main general of the Wangmen Jiangyou School, and after giving a lecture in the Lingji Palace at the beginning of the year, he returned to Su Song to continue to promote the Jiangyou Heart School.

This time, Xu Ge Lao returned to his hometown, and Hu Zhi stopped lecturing and came to accompany him to relax and plan the next step.

In addition to being able to 'create all things with his heart', Hu Zhi is also a Jiajing Jinshi, an official to Fujian as an envoy, and he is deeply relied on by Xu Ge, and he has nothing to say about it.

Xu Jie told Hu Zhi about Shao Fang's intentions.

After listening to this, Mr. Lushan made sure that there was no problem with his ears, and then he laughed out loud.

He kept laughing and laughing, only to feel that he had been lecturing and teaching for decades, and he had never met such a person who did not know the height of the sky.

ps. The first of the four consecutive changes, ask for a monthly pass!!