"The whole army was wiped out?" The saint raised his eyes.

Qin Xiao said respectfully: "This group of people chose the imperial court in a critical moment and helped the imperial court put down the rebellion of the Queen Mother Society. Logically speaking, they were indeed atoneing for their sins. I also told them at the critical moment that the saint

Wise and wise, if they can abandon darkness and turn to light, the saint will certainly be lenient and even forgive them for their past sins."

"You are really good at winning people's hearts."

"The situation at that time, I also know what to say." Qin Xiao bowed his head and said respectfully: "After that, they helped the court to hunt down the remnants of the rebels, and they showed great loyalty. I was thinking in my heart, it was the divine power of the saint that made them surrender.

, but... I was not sure at that time that they must be sincere in their surrender, so after careful consideration, I decided to take a gamble."

The saint said "Oh" and asked with great interest: "What kind of gambling method?"

"This escort of the convoy is of great importance. It will be safer if the Hangzhou battalion is mobilized to escort the convoy." Qin Xiaodao: "But I think this is also an opportunity to test this group of surrendered soldiers. If they can safely transport the convoy,

Escorted to Kyoto, it shows that they really have no renegade, and they really hope that the court can forgive their crimes. I know that this is very risky. If these people have other plans, they suddenly attack on the way and rob the goods.

I just lost completely."

The saint smiled and said: "So they passed your test?"

"To be precise, they have passed the test of the imperial court." Qin Xiaowei raised his head and said: "The team did not have any setbacks along the way and escorted the goods to Kyoto very smoothly. At this point, I can be completely sure that they have really surrendered sincerely.

For this reason, I boldly plead with the saint here to forgive them their sins."

The saint pondered for a moment and then said: "You are right. If they are really suspicious, the convoy will not be able to be escorted to Beijing smoothly. But... Qin Xiao, you are quite brave, you actually used the palace to

If something unexpected happens and they steal the goods, what are you going to do?"

"I have no choice but to kill myself to apologize." Qin Xiao said: "Fortunately, with the saint's favor, my head can be saved."

The saint snorted and said, "I still have to think carefully about pardoning them. I can't agree to it right now." After a pause, he said, "I heard that you reversed the cases of many aristocratic families in Jiangnan. What do you want to do?"

Qin Xiao cupped his hands and said, "For the imperial court?"

"oh?"

"The trade flow in the south of the Yangtze River has always been prosperous. I saw it with my own eyes there. As long as it is stable, there will be a tidal flow of goods on both land and water, and business is really booming." Qin Xiao said respectfully: "The rebellion of the Qian family in Suzhou really brought trouble to the court.

It will bring trouble, but if we kill the Jiangnan family or even uproot it, it will not only uproot the Jiangnan family, but also the business of Jiangnan."

The saint sneered: "What do you know? Killing a few local wealthy families can still shake the foundation of the Tang Dynasty?"

"Sage, can I tell you a story?" Qin Xiao looked up at the saint and asked.

There was a hint of surprise on the face of the sage MILF, but she still nodded slightly and said: "You say it!"

Qin Xiao glanced around, only to find that the eldest grandson Sheguan who followed the saint every time actually

Although there was no trace, I felt strange, but I still said respectfully: "In the yard of a certain family, a pear tree has been planted since our ancestors. Every year during the harvest time, the tree is full of pears. These pears can not only make

The family enjoys the meal, and when they pick it and take it to the market, they can sell it for a lot of money, which is enough to supplement the family's income so that the family can live smoothly."

The saint said nothing and looked at Qin Xiao with his eyes.

"One day this pear tree was seen by a wealthy businessman. What he was interested in was not the pears, but the pear tree." Qin Xiao said: "It turns out that the trunk of this pear tree is very valuable. After being cut down, it can be used to create high-end pear trees."

Good furniture. The wealthy merchant offered a very high price and wanted to buy the pear tree." Looking at the sage, he cautiously said, "I dare to ask the sage if I can sell this pear tree?"

The sage stared at Qin Xiao and soon laughed. Although he was over fifty years old, his smile was still very charming: "Does your story have the same meaning as fishing in the lake?"

"The saint is wise." Qin Xiao bowed and said: "If a large number of Jiangnan aristocratic families are killed and their property is confiscated, the court can get a huge income and solve many difficulties in the court. But after Jiangnan has passed, at least five

It will be difficult to recover in ten years.”

"Qin Xiao, are you being alarmist?" The saint said calmly: "It's just to cut off some powerful families, not to attack the entire Jiangnan family. How can it be difficult to restore their strength? Even if the seven surnames in Jiangnan are gone, is there no one else?

Can someone replace them?"

"Yes." Qin Xiao nodded and said: "But I said it will take five to ten years." After a pause, he explained: "I have conducted a detailed investigation on this in Jiangnan, which is the trade center of the Tang Dynasty.

The prosperity of Jiangnan today was not achieved overnight, but after hundreds of years of development. For any of the seven surnames in Jiangnan to become big, it took several generations of hard work. Several generations of them had grown up in Jiangnan and even throughout the Tang Dynasty.

Complex trade routes have been built, and once the Jiangnan family collapses, it will affect not only Jiangnan, but the entire world."

The saint frowned. Seeing this, Qin Xiao hesitated for a moment and asked cautiously: "Isn't it right for me to say this?"

"You can just say it." The saint ordered: "You can say whatever you want. I will forgive you if you are wrong."

Qin Xiao suddenly gained confidence and said: "The Jiangnan family has contacts with merchants from all over the Tang Dynasty. Once they are eliminated, the trade between Jiangnan and other places will be cut off. The direct consequence is that the trade that should be flowing must be terminated immediately.

, causing extremely serious consequences. Merchants all over the world will no longer have trade relations with the Jiangnan family within a few years. The trade center of the Tang Dynasty will be dispersed. Some people with ulterior motives will even interfere with it and cause more trouble.

.In other words, the entire commerce and trade of the Tang Dynasty will suffer heavy losses as a result. Within ten years, Jiangnan will no longer be as prosperous as it was in the past. Whether it is taxes or a dazzling array of goods, it will no longer be able to compare with before. The minister said that in five to ten years

, which means that after the seven surnames in Jiangnan are eliminated, the court will immediately support new merchants. In order for them to rebuild their commerce, they need to be given strong support and even reduce taxes. Otherwise, whether they can restore their former glory in ten years is also

The unknown.”

Qin Xiao's words made the saint look straight at him. After a moment, he said calmly: "Is it that serious?"

"I risk my life to speak out." Qin Xiao said sternly: "Many people may not express these words to the saint, but I dare not hide it if I live on the emperor's salary. If the court does not care about the gift,

We do not even expect to collect taxes from Jiangnan within ten years, just to cut off the current group of aristocratic families headed by the seven surnames of Jiangnan. Naturally, we can kill people and support a new group of people. But if the court does not want

Seeing the decline of Jiangnan, under the current situation, we still need to rely on these aristocratic families."

"You have personally experienced the Qian family's rebellion in Suzhou." The saint said slowly, "Do you think these people should not be exterminated?"

Qin Xiao nodded and said: "The saints are wise and have far-reaching considerations. Naturally, they cannot continue to have the strength to cause chaos. Therefore, I believe that the imperial court can slowly weaken their strength while ensuring that Jiangnan does not suffer huge changes, and then gradually support them."

Others, although it takes longer and is not as satisfying as cutting through the knot with a sharp knife, are still beneficial and harmless to the court and the people of the world." After a pause, he cupped his hands and said, "When I return to Beijing, I will kill the Lin family in Hangzhou.

Lin Hong was brought back to Kyoto, and he was willing to accept any punishment from the saint, and his attitude is commendable."

The saint sat back on the chair, closed his eyes, pondered for a long time, and finally said: "Qin Xiao, you handled things properly during this trip to the south of the Yangtze River, which makes me very happy."

"I don't dare." Qin Xiao breathed a sigh of relief: "I just think that if I do everything good to the saint, there will be nothing wrong. If I act according to this idea, even if I really do something wrong, the saint will forgive me.

minister."

The sage smiled and said: "You are always trying to find opportunities. Are you worried that I will punish you if you run a bad errand in the future, so you express your loyalty in advance?" He stood up, put one hand behind his back, walked past Qin Xiao, and said: "Come with me out.

Take a walk.”

Qin Xiao said hurriedly: "I obey the order!" He thought to himself that it seemed that the saint was really satisfied with the errand he had done this time, and he actually had the leisure to take him out for a walk.

After leaving the Imperial Study Room, I was surrounded by birds singing and flowers fragrant, and a beautiful scenery.

The saint walked slowly along the bluestone path, and Qin Xiao followed carefully.

"What you just said is correct." The saint said as he walked: "The Jiangnan family can't cut through the tangle with a quick knife. This will cause a lot of trouble, but we can never let them be as unscrupulous as before. I know that the Jiangnan family

The combined wealth of the surnames is even comparable to the national treasury. Do you think the existence of such a force poses no threat to the imperial court?"

"Of course there is a threat." Qin Xiao said respectfully: "So let them continue to drive the trade in Jiangnan, but also prevent them from posing a threat to the imperial court." After a pause, he said straightforwardly: "The minister said

What should not be said is that if these people want to continue to live, they have to do business honestly. They must also think about where to put the money they earn. If they put it in the wrong place, they are seeking death. The saint is right

They are already very tolerant. If they don't understand and seek death, it's not the imperial court's fault."

The saint smiled lightly and said, "Do you think they will understand?"

"I don't think they are so stupid that they don't even understand this truth." Qin Xiao said: "If they really don't understand, there will be someone next to them to remind them from time to time, and they should understand."

"Who is this reminder?"

Qin Xiao hesitated for a moment and finally said: "Everything is decided by the saint, I don't dare to talk nonsense."
Chapter completed!