Survival countdown

Chapter 53

It is the back room of the Taxation Department of the capital.

The torches were bright, surrounded by grown men in short jackets, and in the middle were the seventy ship owners brought back.

Zhao Baiyu took out the account books he had transferred from various water gates in the capital, opened them, and read out a name casually: "The tank boat with five hundred materials paid four taels of customs tax and three taels of bridge tax. A batch of Nanzhao jade with a total price of 600 yuan is required to pay [-] taels of money according to the law...haven't you paid it yet?"

The captain looked ugly, but did not speak.

It doesn't matter if he doesn't talk, as long as the tax is paid.

Zhao Baiyu: "Agarwood from the southeast and sandalwood from Annan Laoshan are of high quality...the tank boats from Guangzhou Port? Three tank boats with [-] materials are loaded, and the tax is twice that of the batch of Nanzhao jade. .”

Looking up at the group of businessmen in front of them, their faces were gloomy, but there was no fear, as if they were confident.

Zhao Baiyu's face suddenly darkened: "Yan Bing!"

Yan Bing came out: "What is your order?"

"Prepare your pen, ink, paper, inkstone and abacus. Please pay all your taxes today. I will personally supervise you to pay your taxes. When will you pay all your taxes? When will you leave!"

Yan Bing immediately asked someone to take out the desk, pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and the abacus from the back room, sat down, and casually ordered a boat owner: "Please come here and settle the tax."

The ship owner who was named didn't move. He stood there with his neck stuck, staring at Zhao Baiyu for a long time before saying, "I want to see the deputy tax envoy of your Water Transport Yamen."

Zhao Baiyu stepped forward and spoke sternly: "The dignified fifth-rank court officials are no worse than eighth-rank officials. They are not worthy of ordering you to pay taxes. Now I am on a mission to ask you to pay taxes in accordance with the laws of the country. You have to push back and forth, and you have to wait and see." Talents are willing to pay? Why do you pay taxes? Do you pay taxes based on His Majesty, the court and national laws, or pay taxes on the face of an eight-rank tax deputy envoy?!"

The captain backed away after being questioned, and looked at the others as if asking for help, but Zhao Baiyu stood in front of him.

"Don't look, it's my official who decides here right now, and even His Majesty's presence in person can't stop me from acting in accordance with the law!" Zhao Baiyu fiddled with the prayer beads on his wrist, and said in a cold tone: "Pay taxes early and leave early, you don't want The goods are all rotting on the wharf. This delay of one day is all white money flowing into the four canals, and I feel sorry for you."

The ship owners hung their hands by their sides and bowed their heads in silence, which seemed to be a stubborn resistance and a passive response.

"Don't cry if you don't see the coffin!" Zhao Baiyu was angry: "Since that's the case, let's spend it. Let's see if I can't bear it first or you can just watch the goods rot at the dock!"

As soon as the words fell, there was a strange voice: "Master Zhao is so majestic! I was shocked by your upright momentum when I was in the courtyard. If I didn't know the truth, I would think you are some kind of reincarnated virtuous minister who is not afraid of the powerful!"

The crowd parted, and a middle-aged man in a civil robe walked out, followed by a familiar petty official and another middle-aged man whom he didn't know.

At this time, Liu Dujian, who heard the noise from the Taxation Department, got up at night and rushed in from the back door. Seeing this scene, his calves trembled, but he still suppressed his fear and moved to Zhao Baiyu's side, lowering his voice. Said: "My lord, this is Staff Officer Yang from the Fifth Prince's Mansion, and the one on the back right is the deputy tax envoy of our yamen."

Are the rescuers here?

Really well-informed.

Zhao Baiyu was calm and composed: "Is Staff Yang here under the order of the Fifth Prince, or in the name of the Ministry of Household Affairs to intervene in my water transportation yamen?"

Staff Officer Yang sneered: "My lord, the names of Xiao Zhuge and Xiao Qingtian, are as humble as thunder. How dare you use your name to suppress you? It's just that the fifth prince heard that there was a big commotion at the docks in the mansion, and he was afraid that it would affect the people's livelihood in Kyoto." , the special agent came down to take a look."

Looking around, he asked: "Dare to ask your lord, what is this?"

Zhao Baiyu was on guard, because he couldn't figure out where the other party came from: "This official pays taxes according to the law."

"Is it because of this? What do I think it is for? It is worth Master Zhao leading people around the pier, and encircling all these businessmen to the tax department. Why is there such a commotion?" Staff Officer Yang couldn't help but laugh. Pretentiously pointing at the dozens of businessmen in the yard, he said, "I'm not talking about you. Mr. Zhao is doing things for the country and the court. It's not common to pay taxes according to the law? You have been businessmen for decades, and you often follow the law. How can you be so virtuous when dealing with tax officials? How can you be frightened into such a virtuous behavior by Master Qingtian!"

Dozens of businessmen in the courtyard looked at each other in blank dismay. Although Staff Officer Yang came for them, his words made them confused and couldn't guess what kind of medicine was sold in Staff Officer Yang's gourd.

Staff Officer Yang: "Oh, you forgot that you paid the house collapse tax here at the household department? The lease slips are all stamped with the household department's seal, and they will be returned when you land. How can Mr. Zhao forget this when he is frightened? "

What is the property tax?

Zhao Baiyu was puzzled, but he didn't show it. He calmly watched the group of businessmen go from nervous and bewildered to relieved, with relaxed smiles on their faces, and chatted with Staff Officer Yang.

Liu Dujian explained in Zhao Baiyu's ear what the house collapse tax is. Zhao Baiyu was moved and was quite surprised. This method of renting warehouses at the port and then paying taxes is a bit like the modern shipping model. Dajing has evolved this model a long time ago.

Dajing attaches great importance to commerce, the commodity economy is prosperous, and created the largest commercial tax that has never been seen before. Because it is unprecedented, commercial tax can be divided into regular tax and miscellaneous taxes, among which miscellaneous taxes are complicated, and even different provinces and state capitals have different There are different miscellaneous tax items, and Zhao Baiyu is a new official after all, so it is not surprising that he overlooked some tax items.

He missed a house collapse tax, but was caught talking about it, and fell behind. Zhao Baiyu naturally conceded the game.

Staff Officer Yang walked up to Zhao Baiyu, and said with a smile, "Master Zhao is really a good minister and capable official. He has just been in office for less than a month and has been in a hurry to handle a big case. Don't you take a break? During the big case in Huainan, You stole the limelight and retreated completely, and in less than half a year you did something eye-catching again, aren't you too tired to panic?"

Zhao Baiyu: "It is my lofty ideal to do things for the common people."

Staff Officer Yang was stunned. To tell the truth, many officials were full of words of "for the country, for the king and for the people", but in fact, they were friends with cronies and wantonly amassing money. It was indeed the first time I saw someone like Zhao Baiyu who was consistent in his words and deeds.

But he will not admire, only disgust.

"Master Zhao, you are too serious." Staff Officer Yang didn't think Zhao Baiyu could go far in the officialdom, and he said in a condescending and persuasive tone: "It was Du Duzhi who held your official position before, and he is familiar with the third division. There are three thousand tax items, all of which are in his mind, but why doesn't he dare to make drastic reforms to the water transport government? Do you know the reason?"

"Appreciate further details."

"Lord Suwen is very smart, you should think about it slowly."

After saying that, Staff Officer Yang smiled and left.

A group of businessmen followed suit, rolling their eyes at Zhao Baiyu and sneering as they passed by Zhao Baiyu.

Yan Bing was furious: "Do you dare to humiliate the court officials?"

The businessman replied rascally: "There is phlegm in the throat. If the adults feel that the villain has insulted you by spitting, you can just arrest me and put me in prison."

Yan Bing turned green with anger: "You!"

Zhao Baiyu stopped Yanbing, but the businessman sneered and left swaggeringly.

Yan Bing felt aggrieved: "Wu Lang, we were put together!"

Zhao Baiyu smiled, "I don't necessarily lose."

Yan Bing: "Aren't you angry? I can see their smug faces and they are very angry. It is obvious that they are tax evaders, and you are responsible. If they say that you become a person who is greedy for fame and glory." !"

Zhao Baiyu was indeed calm, and even the anger he showed when he questioned those businessmen just now was a show.

"Being a Shaoyin in the past, the official was small, and people were soft-spoken. It was much more difficult than now."

Yan Bing muttered: "Can it be the same... At that time, you were a seventh-rank Zhima official, and now you are a fifth-rank Beijing official. You have even served as an imperial envoy on behalf of Tianxunhou, and you have the support of the king of Lin'an County behind you. Why do you have to suffer?" Those people made things difficult!"

Hearing this, Zhao Baiyu's face became serious for a moment: "Yan Bing, if you still want to learn something from me, you'd better get your thoughts and attitude right!"

The stern tone frightened Yan Bing, and he said in a low voice: "I know, I know."

Zhao Baiyu: "Go and send money to those workers, and we'll be here today. Tell them that if they want to earn more money, they can wait at the back door tomorrow, and the official promises that they will pay their wages first."

"Got it." Yan Bing hurried to do it.

Zhao Baiyu looked at the deputy tax envoy who was quietly turning around and about to run away: "Vice envoy Lao, please stay."

The deputy tax envoy sneered: "Your Excellency, I have seen you."

Zhao Baiyu walked over, looked around the deputy tax envoy, his face was calm, and occasionally showed a hint of playfulness, which made the deputy tax envoy unpredictable and terrified, and felt uncomfortable all over.

"Your Excellency, do you have something to order?" The deputy tax envoy asked cautiously.

"It's okay." Zhao Baiyu stood in front of the deputy tax envoy, and patted him on the shoulder: "I just suddenly realized that no one should be underestimated, even an ant or a grain of rice has uses that cannot be underestimated." , especially some old officials at the bottom. Don’t look at them as small officials, as if they have no future in their lives, but they are actually very smart, and the oil and water in their pockets are richer than some fifth- and sixth-rank Beijing officials.”

The deputy tax envoy forced a smile: "My lord is joking."

Zhao Baiyu: "I didn't mention you, why are you nervous?"

The deputy tax envoy wiped his head and smiled apologetically: "I'm in a hurry to go on a business trip, so I'm hot and sweaty, it's not because I'm nervous."

Zhao Baiyu smiled, "Deputy Ambassador Lao came here in the middle of the night. He is dedicated to his work. It's hard for you to let you go for nothing because of your age. How about it, I will hire those workers tomorrow. Help me I wrote down their names and gave them signs. By the way, I also promised to pay their wages in advance.”

The deputy tax envoy nodded again and again: "Dare not to obey orders. Dare not to obey orders." Hearing the last sentence, he was stunned, "W-Where does the salary come from? Our yamen can't afford much money, so we can't afford such a waste."

Zhao Baiyu: "You help me advance the payment first."

"Ah... ah?" The deputy tax envoy looked like a concubine, thinking that it was the new superior officer who had suffered from Staff Officer Yang and vented his anger on him, so he had to obey and was very frustrated: "Dare not to obey."

That Yan Bing had dismissed the workers, and hurriedly followed behind Zhao Baiyu, and Liu Dujian was also called over, and the three of them left through the back door together.

Zhao Baiyu: "I have to trouble Liu Dujian to teach me all the commercial taxes of the Water Transport Yamen and some miscellaneous taxes under clever names."

Liu Dujian waved his hand: "How can we talk about teaching? My lord wants to know, just let me teach you all."

Zhao Baiyu: "I'll come to you tomorrow."

Liu Dujian nodded, and after saying goodbye to them, he rubbed his hands on the spot. Then he felt the cold night, so he wrapped his clothes tightly and couldn't help shaking his head: "It turns out that I was pretending to be paralyzed... I didn't come here to fool around. Maybe this water transport yamen is really windy." When the water rises."

On the other side, Zhao Baiyu walked a long way in silence before saying to Yanbing: "Don't follow me tomorrow."

As if struck by lightning, Yan Bing begged in panic: "Wulang, I know I was wrong. I am too impulsive today, and I have the mentality of stepping on the high and flattering the low. I will never do this in the future. Don't drive me away."

Zhao Baiyu was helpless: "I want you to go to the market, overpasses, or ruined temples in the outskirts of the city, to meet those sluts who idle around all day, or rangers who go to and from ten miles and eight villages."

It's not that you don't let him follow suit.

Yan Bing breathed a sigh of relief: "Most of them are local ruffians, why do you want them?"

"No matter how lowly a person is, there are unexpected effects. Don't judge people by their appearance." Zhao Baiyu put his hands in his hands, let the cold wind blow his wide sleeves and hem, and walked forward step by step, slowly teaching Yan Bing: "A senior official How? How? How about a ninth-rank sesame official? How about ordinary people? Officer, one level of official rank can crush people to death. What happened today was because I missed a move. Even with the support of anyone behind me, it is impossible to cross the national law. Those who really want to kill me will not be afraid of the power behind me. .”

"Why do you today's group of businessmen dare to show me color? It's probably because they are backed by more powerful people than me, so they are confident. But my move has the temptation to cut off their wealth. Cutting off people's wealth is like killing their parents. I come for money, I have scruples, and I still look forward and backward, but money is life to a businessman! Even if I am a nobleman and a high-ranking official, as long as I cut off other people's money, I will be killed by this group of businessmen. Ants kill elephants, don't underestimate businessmen who eat for money."

Yan Bing was thoughtful: "You are teaching me not to underestimate anyone because of status and official position, and don't care too much about businessmen's disrespect to you, because what we do is to cut off their wealth and be hostile That's the norm...but just let them bully you?"

Zhao Baiyu: "Businessmen pay attention to profits and act according to the wind. After all, I haven't really cut off their wealth. They will take a bite when they see the opportunity, but they will not desperately."

Yan Bing: "But this time I didn't catch the businessman's handle, but I was caught by the general. I will definitely startle the snake. What should I do next?"

Zhao Baiyu: "Now it's me and the Department of Hubu fighting in the air, forcing the group of businessmen to choose sides."

Yan Bing: "Ah? What do you mean?"

Zhao Baiyu: "Tomorrow you..."

Explaining the plan in detail, Yan Bing nodded from time to time.

At the end of the road, the night was vast and the horseshoes were rattling. Zhao Baiyu looked up, but it was Huo Jingtang who came back from the school grounds.

Yan Bing cleverly said that he had to take a step ahead, so he quickly slipped away.

Huo Jingtang got off his horse and returned home with Zhao Baiyu.

Zhao Baiyu: "Is the school busy?"

Huo Jingtang: "A new group of forbidden troops has been recruited. We want to train them into the inner court forbidden army. We also want to choose a successor who can go to the northwest." He lifted his lips, quite disdainful: "It's wishful thinking."

Zhao Baiyu didn't want to guess who he sent this 'wishful thinking' to, but asked: "Could it be the Northwest soldier who took over from Prince Jing?"

"Yeah." Huo Jingtang: "Duke Zheng's Mansion and the East Palace are both fighting, but it never occurred to me that Tianzile would not be willing to give it."

Zhao Baiyu couldn't help it: "It's a bit whimsical. How can there be so many natural talents like you in the world? You are even asked to select and train yourself, but I don't know whether to think highly of you or look down on you."

Huo Jingtang's originally a little indifferent mentality suddenly cleared up because Zhao Baiyu unconsciously defended him against injustices, and suddenly felt that father's love was a ball, and only children who didn't grow up wanted it.

"You also leave early and return late recently. How busy is Xinyamen?"

Zhao Baiyu told him about today's events: "Water transport business tax profits are considerable. If it can be handled by the tax department in a stable manner, the imperial court may pay millions of taels of business tax every year. Moreover, the Kyoto government has a leading effect and can alert the following ten people. In the eight provinces, it is conservatively estimated that at least tens of millions of taels of business tax can be added, and the perennial deficit of the treasury and internal treasury can be alleviated, and it can also alleviate the heavy taxation of the farming people who have repeatedly hit new highs since the founding of the dynasty."

The business tax system in Dajing is not perfect, and the land tax is still the main one. With natural disasters, man-made disasters and frequent wars, the taxation has increased every year, and the people have long been miserable.

Zhao Baiyu also hopes to pay close attention to business tax and ease the land tax of the working people.

"I'm afraid it's not easy to grasp the water transport business tax."

"You know something?"

"Not only His Majesty has a glimpse of the huge profits brought by commercial taxation, but also the people below, especially the officials in charge of commercial taxation. Who can not be tempted by the white money that has been passed through their hands? The collusion between officials and businessmen is deeply intertwined. The close relationship with businessmen is just the tip of the iceberg in Dajing Dynasty. In other places, such as Liangjiang and Guangzhou Port, corruption is rife. It’s not that His Majesty doesn’t know about it, it’s just that the chronic disease is hard to get rid of. Of course, I’m going too far, let’s talk about what happened to you Son, what the people under Huo Lao Wu said is true, Du Gong first served as a tax envoy for three years and dared not make any changes, probably because the water transportation is not only related to the Ministry of Households."

"Ok?"

"Those merchants are the aristocratic families of the capital or minions of the capital officials."

Zhao Baiyu: "The officials of the Dajing Dynasty banned trade."

"It's enough to leave the fifth server. It's not unusual to find children who are not in the fifth server to walk outside, help with business, and secretly give convenience."

It is true.

Modern officials don't have to go out of five clothes, and their children or parents can do business.

Not to mention far away, isn't King Qin's distant cousin secretly running the casino restaurant in the mansion?

Zhao Baiyu continued walking in silence, and was caught off guard when Huo Jingtang said, "There is also the county prince's mansion."

"What—!" Zhao Baiyu turned his head to look at Huo Jingtang, unable to hide the surprise in his eyes.

Huo Jingtang told him calmly: "The former dynasty was extravagant, and now we learn from it. Although the style of banning pomp and circumstance, but in private, the house is bigger and has more servants. Salaries and land under the name alone cannot support so many people. Most of the emperor's rewards cannot be sold, and no one wants to sit on the mountain and eat nothing, they can only find money to make money, and business is the fastest way to make money."

Zhao Baiyu suddenly realized: "No wonder."

No wonder at the foot of the emperor, such a huge profit from the water transport business tax can be corrupted and no one dares to expose it, because the matter is related to oneself, and no one is clean.

Huo Jingtang had a sudden thought: "Will Xiao Lang do favoritism for me?"

Zhao Baiyu was confused, and asked with a strange expression: "Why do you want to be selfish? It is not against the law to ask someone else to help you do business. As for whether the person who helped you do business has paid [-]% of the tax to the household department to evade taxes... I I don't plan to investigate the past tax evasion records of tank ships, and I can't pursue them at all. I just want to ensure that the tank ship merchant tax can flow to the national treasury through my hands during my tenure, and at the same time ensure that before I leave office, at least a relatively stable tank ship trade tax can be established The system spreads all over the country, and it does not require being clean and honest, as long as four or five cents of business taxes flow into the national treasury, it is enough to alleviate the suffering of the people in paying taxes."

He never regarded himself as an arrogant and conceited savior, trying to tear apart the decayed and outdated feudal system with his own power, but only hoped to do what he could do within his ability.

At the beginning of taking office as a new official, Zhao Baiyu's goal has always been clear, that is, to ensure that the commercial tax on water transport is transferred from the Ministry of Households to the Taxation Department, and he never thought of investigating the past tax evasion records of water ships.

There are three reasons. One is that there is no record and no evidence, so there is no way to investigate.The second is that there are many loopholes in the laws related to water transportation, business and taxation. The sword of the previous dynasty cannot kill the officials of this dynasty.Third, according to Huo Jingtang's statement, I am afraid that many people will be involved.

Just like the money owed by the three provinces and six ministries to the internal treasury is the norm, and it is a legacy of the political system.

Some people don't intend to evade taxes, they just follow the crowd, they have little power and dare not disobey.

"But does the County King's Mansion need to use tank boats for business? What to transport? I dare not tell others, but you will evade taxes?"

He is in charge of the water transport business tax. If the county prince's mansion does not have water transport trade, then he will not be able to control it, and he will not be able to collude with the Ministry of Household Affairs. Naturally, there will be no so-called tax evasion.

"Have delivered food and firewood."

"duty free."

"Nothing."

Zhao Baiyu stared at Huo Jingtang: "Are you kidding me?"

Huo Jingtang laughed and said, "I hope Xiaolang loves you."

As far as appearance is concerned, Huo Jingtang looks beautiful and charming, but today he is wearing a tight-sleeved robe and a dark blue crane cloak. The corners of his clothes are blown up by the night wind. As soon as he opened his mouth, it was like a carefree person with the deepest imprint in the world of mortals wearing the skin of an unworldly fairy.

I don't know how this kind of person is affected. He is obviously a high-ranking person in a feudal society with strict etiquette and ethics. He should care about face more than anyone else, but he can brazenly beg for love and affection to his own little man.

"How can you be like this..." Zhao Baiyu, who is obviously a modern person, is more pedantic than Huo Jingtang at this moment, and scolded in a low voice: "How can the fun of the boudoir be brought to the public!"

Huo Jingtang looked around pretentiously: "Where is there anyone? Where is the crowd? Besides, wishing for Mr. Xiao Lang's love and favor is the wish that all couples in the world yearn for. How can you and I be secular couples?"

Zhao Baiyu: "..."

Without Huo Jingtang's mentality of being able to bend and stretch, why bother to compete with him?

Forget it, follow him.

Huo Jingtang called him: "Xiao Lang."

Out of the corner of Zhao Baiyu's eyes, he glanced at Huo Jingtang, who urged him silently.

sigh.

Zhao Baiyu was helpless: "If you go to jail, I will accompany you through the prison."

This pity is full of bad luck.

What surprised Zhao Baiyu was that Huo Jingtang was very satisfied with his answer. Although his expression didn't change much, he could feel the pleasant aura all over his body.

"..."

It's very different.

***

The next day.

The deputy tax envoy arrived at the back door of the tax department on time, and registered with a bad face that the workers from the dental firm, about two hundred people, were specially selected strong and strong people.

The old man, who was clearly the leader of the workers, with a cigarette pinned to his waist, limped up to the deputy tax envoy and said, "Master Zhao promised us yesterday that we will settle the wages before we start work. The calculation will begin at the hour of the hour. You should settle the payment."

Deputy Tax Envoy: "How much?"

The old man: "150 wen per person, there are 210 five people here, and after wiping off the change for you, it will be 32 taels of silver."

The deputy tax envoy was dumbfounded: "So much?!"

The old man: "It's a lot cheaper. They are usually young and middle-aged people who carry and unload goods at the dock, and can earn 250 Wen a day."

The deputy tax envoy was in so much pain that he subconsciously looked at Yan Bing, who was absentmindedly observing his fingertips, indifferent.

The deputy tax envoy couldn't help but gasped.

Under the urging of the old man, the deputy tax envoy looked back at Liu Dujian and the others: "I don't have enough money, why don't you help me—"

Before they finished speaking, Liu Dujian and others made excuses and ran away.

The deputy tax envoy had no choice but to grit his teeth and pay: "What exactly does Mr. Zhao hire you for?"

The old man glanced at Yan Bing and said nothing.

Yan Bing suddenly came back to his senses: "Oh yes, our yamen is not short of people? My lord hired them to go to various gates and wharfs in the mansion to check if there were any boats entering and leaving the capital, and found one to block one. My lord also asked them to act as the ministers of the yamen. Tax ships."

The deputy tax envoy couldn't help but sneered: "Don't say I didn't remind, it's not that no one has tried this method before, but after ten days and a half months, they couldn't stop seven or eight tank boats, and couldn't collect a hundred taels of tax. My lord beat the gongs and drums and tossed about, I'm afraid it won't last a month."

"It doesn't matter." Yan Bing didn't care: "My lord said that this method doesn't work for others because there are not enough manpower and the guarding time is short, so my lord plans to hire enough people to keep all the people in Kyoto Prefecture twelve hours a day. The seven water gates, the fourteen bridges, and the seven piers are all fixed. It doesn’t take a month, but only half a month, and the businessmen in the mansion can’t sit still.”

The deputy tax envoy's mocking smile froze on his face, and he muttered in a daze: "The yamen is poor, and the funds cannot be spent..."

"Didn't your lord ask you to pay in advance?" Yan Bing wondered.

The Deputy Tax Envoy's face turned pale immediately, and his breathing became short of breath.

"Vice Minister Lao is afraid that my lord won't register for you? Don't be afraid, when the commercial tax of our yamen reaches one million in the first half of the year, there will be enough to make up for your savings. My lord also said that if the commercial tax collection goes well, At that time, I will definitely show up to His Majesty, and show you the dedication of the deputy envoy, and your credit will definitely account for [-]%. Don't worry, my lord is the worst way to claim credit..."

32 taels a day, nearly 500 taels in half a month, even if his family has gold and silver mountains, he can't afford such consumption!

How much money can be allocated for the tax department's water transportation?

Less than a thousand taels a year!

How to make up for the money he posted?

If there is no result in ten and a half months, do we have to continue to spend money?

He also collects a million taels of commercial tax for half a year... Then Du Gong, a second-rank official in the dynasty, was in charge of water transportation for three years, and only received 30 taels of commercial tax last year. How dare Zhao Baiyu speak so brazenly!

Who gave Zhao Baiyu the confidence?

Is it the money he paid in advance?

The deputy tax envoy became more and more angry as he thought about it, his five senses gradually became blurred, and he vaguely heard Zhao Baiyu's dog leg say, "Deputy envoy labor, are you overjoyed?"The opportunity that so many people want, my lord specially gave it to you, I really value you very much." Suddenly, he felt a sweetness in his throat, rolled his eyes, and the world was spinning, and he passed out.

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The author has something to say:

Xiaoyu: I will sit and wear with you in prison.

Lao Huo: Willing to go to jail with me... He really likes me very much!

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Deputy Tax Envoy: Who gave Zhao Baiyu the confidence?Is it the money he paid in advance?

Xiaoyu: Yes.