Shangjing Huining Mansion, Xuanfu Si Yamen, under Zhang Hu's fierce gaze, Zhang Ruwei, Zhang Rulin, and Zhang Ruyou all lowered their heads involuntarily, not daring to look at Zhang Hu's eyes.

Zhang Hu said: "Uncle, uncle, there is no need to say the truth, I came to Shangjing Road this time, is to supervise the land inventory work, how many hidden fields in the Zhang family, uncle, uncle is naturally clearer than me, I only ask you to report it truthfully, the previous matter, can be guaranteed not to be pursued again, you think this is good?" ”

In fact, Wanyan Zongzheng and others instructed it was not bad. The Zhang family does occupy a large amount of land in the Bohai Sea, of which about forty or fifty percent is hidden land. However, this is not unique to the Zhang family, the entire Dajin, including the previous Song Dynasty, the wealthy families who owned a lot of land, basically did the same, by hiding the actual number of land to reduce the actual property, in order to achieve the goal of evading tax service.

And the officials who paid the land inspection on Shangjing Road are also because this is Zhang Hu's hometown, but it is not as good as other places, if it is seriously investigated, will Lord Zhang be happy? But if you don't really investigate, if you let the court know about it and delay the major event of clearing the land, can you still save your little life? Although the Zhang family did not dare to brazenly confront the officials who inspected the land, they also set up elbows everywhere, making it difficult for the inventory work to proceed smoothly. As a result, these officials are also in a dilemma.

Just as the investigators didn't know what to do, at this time, Zhang Hu came to Huining Mansion, took over all the things at a glance, and immediately ordered someone to invite Zhang Ruwei, Zhang Rulin, and Zhang Ruyou to the yamen to gather for a meeting. It also made the officials who paid the responsibility for the land inspection on Shangjing Road also relieved, and Lord Zhang read this matter, so he didn't have to take responsibility.

Don't look at Zhang Ruwei, Zhang Rulin, Zhang Ruyou and others can take Zhang Hu out and oppress people in front of the officials who are investigating the land. But in front of Zhang Hu, everyone couldn't raise their heads, and they didn't dare to speak out about their suffering. Because everyone knows that when Zhang Hu was in the Zhang family when he was a child, no one treated their mother and son, even the three of them, both openly and secretly, they had done some things to bully their mother and son.

Now that Zhang Hu is developed, naturally everyone comes to tie the knot, but unfortunately it is the icing on the cake, and Zhang Hu's mother and son do not accept this feeling. Soon after Zhang Hu returned to Zhongdu and took office, Zhang Hao's funeral ended on July 7, and Zhang Hu's mother, Mrs. Shi, resolutely moved out of Zhang's mansion despite the efforts of the Zhang family to stay, and still returned to live in her own home.

Zhang Ruwei, Zhang Rulin, and Zhang Ruyou had no choice, so they had to let the female relatives in the house often go to Zhang Hu's house, communicate more with Mrs. Shi's feelings, and give a large number of valuable gifts, and try their best to persuade Shi to move back to Zhang's house again. However, after many waves and demolitions in the past ten years, Mrs. Shi has already seen them through, and treats people neither cold nor hot, neither humble nor arrogant, although she tries to be polite and thoughtful, but she is never ambiguous on key issues. Although most of the gifts sent to Mrs. Shi were accepted, they would soon return something of roughly the same value. In short, I don't appreciate it, and I want to persuade myself to move back to Zhang's house, but there is no way.

And this time, Zhang Hu returned to Huining Mansion as a member of the imperial court, and saw them in the yamen of the Xuanfu envoy, and it was clear that he wanted to do official business, and he was not polite, so the three of them were a little stunned in their hearts.

Seeing Zhang Hu asking, Zhang Ruwei strengthened his courage and said: "Boyi, you also know that although our Zhang family is a big family, don't look at the appearance of the strong, the inside is actually empty." Your uncles and brothers are not very capable, they can't find a way to make money, and they all rely on these fields to maintain their income. If the land is truthfully reported, there will be tens of thousands of dollars more in taxes every year, which is why we can still live! Therefore, Boyi can not be accommodating. ”

Zhang Hu shook his head and said, "Uncle, it's not that the little nephew refuses your face, this matter is really incommensurate." Daikin is checking the land all over the country, and it is not our Zhang family, how can this be accommodating. ”

Zhang Rulin said with a smile: "Boyi, didn't you propose to check the land?" Now it's up to you to take care of this matter, why can't you be accommodating? As long as you say a word, who dares to say anything to the people below? Of course, it is still necessary to open up the joints, if you need to make a point, you can answer as much as you want, but the uncles will not let you break the bank. ”

Zhang Hu still shook his head and said: "The second uncle is not right, although I am now in charge of the work of clearing the land, but I am appointed by the imperial court, how many pairs of eyes are staring at the top and bottom, how can I be a nephew?" If I am accommodating for the Zhang family today, then someone will inevitably report to the court in the future, if the emperor blames him, who will give me accommodation, not to mention the loss of his official position and abandonment of his post, even my nephew's life is afraid that it will be difficult to preserve, is it difficult for the second uncle to push me to that step? ”

When Zhang Rulin heard this, he was also so frightened that he shrank his neck, and hurriedly shook his head and said, "No, no, no, I don't mean that!" ”

Zhang Ruyou was a little annoyed, and said: "Boyi, don't say anything on the scene, who doesn't know that you are a celebrity in front of the emperor, the emperor is obedient to you, and plans to marry the queen's cousin to you." Now it's just such a small thing, what is there to do. I see that you are obviously deliberately prevaricating, and you don't want to help the Zhang family tide over this difficult time at all. Although you say that your wings are hard now, and you can become independent, don't forget that you are still a member of the Zhang family, without the Zhang family, there would be no you, and if our Zhang family collapses, it will not be good for you. ”

Among Zhang Hao's sons, Zhang Ruyou is the youngest, only thirty-nine years old this year, not a few years older than Zhang Hu. Although Zhang Hao is very strict in governing the family, but because he is a young son, he is inevitably pampered when he is a child, and in the Bohai Sea, there is Zhang Hao's big tree covering, so in addition to a few brothers in the family, everyone is very flattering to him, he has been used to hearing good words since he was a child, and he is also respectful to him, and he does not dare to say serious words, and he has also developed his arrogant and willful, no one in his eyes.

And as soon as Zhang Hao died, seeing that this nephew, who had left home early and was only nine or seven years younger than himself, seemed to suddenly have a purple robe and a golden belt, and he stood out in the family all of a sudden. Zhang Ruwei and Zhang Rulin are nothing, but Zhang Ruyou, who has always been arrogant and needs flattery, is sour, jealous and envious in his heart. Naturally, he couldn't face up to Zhang Hu's ability, but thought that he was just lucky, and he just caught the line of Wanyan Changzhi early, and he didn't have any real talent. This time he didn't want to come, but he was forced by two brothers to come, and when he saw Zhang Hu pushing left and right, he finally couldn't help it, so he said his heart.

As soon as Zhang Ruwei and Zhang Rulin heard what he said, they knew in their hearts that it was going to be bad, and sure enough, Zhang Hu's face suddenly sank, and said: "Since the fifth uncle said this, the nephew doesn't have to take care of it, just say anything?" Although the nephew is not talented, he can be regarded as a small achievement now, but it is such a little achievement, and it probably has nothing to do with the Zhang family, dare to ask the uncle, the second uncle, and the fifth uncle, do you know how our orphans and widows have been away for more than ten years, and who has taken care of our mother and son during this period. We ......"

Before he finished his words, Zhang Ruwei reprimanded Zhang Ruyou sharply: "Old Five, I said when I was at home, you can't speak, when you see Boyi, don't talk nonsense, just listen to it on the side." But you don't listen, look at what kind of bastard you said, when did Bo Yi forget that he was a member of the Zhang family, when his father was mourning, didn't he come back and be nervous. Speaking of which, we are only sorry for their mother and son at the beginning. ”

And Zhang Rulin hurriedly persuaded Zhang Hu again: "Boyi, Boyi, don't take it to heart." When you are at home, you don't understand that your fifth uncle is this person, he speaks without concealment, and he talks nonsense. So don't take it to heart. ”

Zhang Hu shook his head and said, "Uncle, second uncle." Just now, the fifth uncle said that I don't want to help the Zhang family, although it is also angry, but probably you also think so in your hearts, so while this is the moment, we will make it clear today. ”

Just now, Zhang Ruyou was violently trained by Zhang Ruwei to avoid his head and cover his face, and he was holding back a fire in his heart, but he didn't dare to attack Zhang Ruwei, and when he heard Zhang Hu say this, he immediately answered: "Okay, you can make it clear." ”

was so angry that Zhang Ruwei chopped his feet and shouted: "Old Five, are you going to be angry with me?" See that I don't kill you. As he spoke, he pulled Zhang Ruyou's collar and raised his fist to hit him. Zhang Ruyou was young and dexterous, so he broke free of Zhang Ruwei and hid behind Zhang Rulin.

Zhang Ruwei couldn't stop him, but was stopped by Zhang Rulin and Zhang Hu. Zhang Hu said: "Uncle, don't be busy first, listen to me first." ”

Zhang Rulin also said: "Big brother, you just listen to Bo Yi's words, and it's not too late to beat him again." ”

Zhang Ruwei put down his hand at this time, and said angrily: "It's just angry with me." Then he said to Zhang Hu: "Boyi, don't be like him, what do you want to say?" ”

Zhang Hu said: "There is only one point, and it is not wrong for the fifth uncle to say it." Now that I am in front of the emperor, I can indeed say a little bit, and the emperor trusts me, and I can basically obey what I say. ”

Zhang Ruyou hid behind Zhang Rulin, and immediately said, "Isn't that the end?" It's not just a matter of you for what to do, it depends on whether you are willing to say it for the Zhang family. ”

This time, not only Zhang Ruwei, but even Zhang Rulin was angry, and dragged Zhang Ruyou out from behind him, and said: "Old Five, if you dare to say a word again, you don't need to say anything from the eldest brother, I will be the master and drive you out of Zhang's house." ”

Zhang Ruwei also said: "Second brother, I have no opinion, you can call the shots." ”

Zhang Ruyou saw that the two brothers were really angry, and he was also a little scared, so he didn't dare to speak anymore.

Zhang Hu continued: "But this is because the emperor sees that I can still do a little thing, and I am also cautious and conscientious, diligent. That's why I have such trust. If I were a person who only sought personal gain and disregarded the country's plans, would the emperor still trust me so much? Although our mother and son left the Zhang family that year, I have never forgotten my ancestors, otherwise I would not have taken the risk of disobeying this time, and took the initiative to ask for orders to come to Shangjing Road to supervise the inventory of the land, just to help the Zhang family through this difficulty. ”

Zhang Ruwei and Zhang Rulin listened and nodded again and again. Zhang Hu said again: "Uncle, uncle, what did you do before, you should know it in your heart, right?" In my name, I resisted the imperial court's inventory of land. Investigate the land and reform the tax system, the court is imperative, whoever dares to resist is to resist the court, resist the emperor, don't say it's me, even if my grandfather is still there, I don't dare to disobey the emperor's orders. His tone became more and more stern: "You are a little too bold." Don't you know that in order to check the land, the imperial court beheaded eighty-nine people with scriptures, and you all died? ”

Zhang Ruyou couldn't help but say: "Our Zhang family is not another family, we are still the elders of the Five Dynasties, the prime minister of the Four Dynasties, and even the emperor has to ......?" ”

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Zhang Hu and said: "What about the elders of the Five Dynasties and the Prime Minister of the Four Dynasties, not to mention the death of the Father, even if it is still established?" Jiangshan Sheji has always been the emperor, not the prime minister. ”

When the three of them heard this, they couldn't help but sweat, lowered their heads and didn't dare to look at Zhang Hu, even Zhang Ruyou didn't dare to be stiff-mouthed. After a long while, Zhang Ruwei said in a trembling voice: "Boyi, do you really want our Zhang family to ......?"

Zhang Hu snorted and said, "If the emperor really wants to put our Zhang family to death, then he will not let me persuade you with good words, but directly send the army to raid the house and destroy the door." This is because my grandfather has made great contributions to the country, and I have been following the emperor for the past few years, diligent and thrifty, so that we can open up the net. ”

When the three of them heard this, they breathed a sigh of relief, and Zhang Ruwei said, "Boyi, then what should we do?" ”

In fact, Zhang Hu waited for him to say this, and immediately said: "It's very simple, my uncle and uncle immediately reported the family's land and property registration truthfully, and there can be no concealment." Then assist me in checking out the fields on Shangjing Road and make up for my mistakes. ”

Zhang Ruwei nodded, he has been an official in the court for a few years, and his mind is clearer than the two brothers, and now, it is imperative for the court to investigate the land and reform the tax system, and no one can stop it. Unless it is a rebellion, it is honest to obey the assignment of the imperial court. On the other hand, although the Zhang family is a prominent family, as soon as Zhang Hao's big tree falls, the Zhang family wants to maintain its powerful position in the past, and it has to rely on Zhang Hu.

Although the Zhang family was sorry for their mother and son before, they are also close relatives after all, and supporting each other is beneficial to both parties. Didn't Zhang Hu say just now, helping him find out the entire Shangjing Road's land is a signal, and he can take this opportunity to repair the relationship with Zhang Hu.