It's messy!

All in a mess!

This economic crisis spread across the country at an astonishing rate, with prices rising and the imperial court levying taxes randomly. If it is not messed up, it would be a strange thing.

This official camp is really not that simple. If you want to run an official camp, first of all, the central government must have strong control over the local governments. However, as far as the Tang Dynasty system is concerned, it is very relaxed, and the land is sparsely populated. Generally, the governments in prefectures and counties are all small governments, and there are only a few yamen runners. The tax collection is all taxed by local gentry, and it is important to cooperate with the government and the people. The court suddenly wants the official camp, so it can only recruit people from outside. These people are of varying quality and mixed with fish and dragons. They are just making a living, not the kind of aspiring professionals.

When these smuggling elites encounter these smuggling elites, they are just played with. The gentry themselves smuggled, and the government is even more powerless.

When the people saw that smuggling was so profitable, I would also try it out. I would have no food to stay here. The court had to impose taxes and prices rose again.

A large number of people began to flee, and in this way, more tax evasion and tax evasion were caused. The court could not collect taxes. The government supported so many people and the government was forced to operate. If you don’t pay your wages, everyone would not work. Not only did they not work, they also colluded with smuggling groups and colluded with here, at least they made money. In the end, they would smuggle directly with official salt, which was even more rampant, and local governments were basically facing the dilemma of closing the door.

This is a vicious cycle.

But the most serious thing is the national fiscal deficit.

Once the treasury has no money, it will not be able to support the local government. The local government can only do it by itself, regardless of the court system. How to do it with money is done, then do it.

Some government officials from the salt-producing areas are also engaged in smuggling.

It means that the salt and other goods sent from Chang'an, as well as the remaining assets in the local area, all fell into the private pockets. Some officials fled directly with the money. He knew that he could not control it anymore. If he stayed here, he would die. This was really worse.

The "simple" Li Yifu didn't know that it was already in chaos outside. He only had himself in his heart, so he would not care about the lives and death of the people. He was still constantly giving orders to urge all localities to pay taxes, but unfortunately, the local officials didn't know where they went.

The beauty of freedom.

"Young Master, someone wants to buy ten thousand goods from us."

Xu Jiu said in a low voice, just like a thief.

Zheng Shanxing was extremely surprised when he heard this. Now in this world, everyone is sluggish in their lives. Who can afford so many clothes? He said curiously: "Who is it?"

Xu Jiu said: "I don't know this either. I am not from Luoyang, Chang'an, but from Jiangnan."

Seeing Xu Jiu's expression strange, Zheng Shanxing frowned and said, "You always say, what's going on?"

Xu Jiu swallowed and said, "It should be a smuggler."

Zheng Shanxing was stunned for a while and scolded, "You are confused. Smuggling is an illegal act. Aren't you going to be injustice?" He was also curious, wasn't the court cracking down on it? Why did he smuggle to Chang'an?

Xu Jiu also took the initiative and said, "Young Master, how could I do this? But we are almost unable to get rid of the blame. Now, the beauty of freedom in Chang'an has not been laid off. Moreover, it has been operating all the time. Those goods are piled up and can't be put down. And you are still continuing to donate to Zhaoyi Academy. What's the difference between going on like this and waiting to die."

Zheng Shanxing sighed: "Even if we lose all our money, we can't do this illegal thing."

Xu Jiu said: "But we are not illegal, we don't have a penny of taxes. We open the door to do business. Now the other party is here to buy goods. We sell goods. This is legal. As for how they sell them, it has nothing to do with us. If the young master doesn't sell them, then any person who comes to buy our goods in the future may be used for smuggling. Why don't you close the door?"

Zheng Shanxing was speechless by Xu Jiu.

At this time, if you still care about principles, we will all starve to death. The beauty of freedom is a tax collector, and Zheng Shanxing insisted on not laying off people. In just two or three years, the previous earnings were almost all lost. If Cui Jieren had not invested in the shares, they would not have been able to hold on for so long.

Xu Jiu said again: "Young Master, the villain doesn't know those great principles, but the villain only knows. Thousands of people are waiting for us to have dinner. Otherwise, you should just pretend that you don't know. It's all done by the villain."

Zheng Shanxing struggled for a while, sighed and said, "Okay, you can do it."

If Li Yifu knew that Li Yifu would vomit blood in anger, he issued a death order to crack down on smuggling in various prefectures and counties. However, the more he attacked, the more rampant the smuggling trafficking became, and they had already smuggled to Chang'an.

What he didn't know even if he was caught now, he would pass the test if he was given money. Those who cracked down on smuggling all rushed for money because the government couldn't send money. If I attack you, I wouldn't get anything. The central government would know that I would arrest smugglers, but I didn't send money, and asked me to collect taxes on the central government. Then I would rather ask for money. The prime minister was responsible for the chaos in the central government, and he would do nothing.

But the court could not afford to pay for it. The central government was unable to take care of itself and had lost control of anything. Even Li Ji began to realize the seriousness of this matter. It was not as simple as party struggles. A few people could solve the problem. The crisis was beyond their ability. He hurriedly came forward and kept reminding Qi Heli and the others to stabilize the military. If the military was in chaos, the Tang Dynasty might be over and nothing could be saved.

On the way back to Chang'an, the memorials were one after another, and they never stopped. Li Zhi himself was anxious. He still didn't know what the situation was in Chang'an, and he kept urging him to rush to the road.

Hurry up and finally arrived in Chang'an, but when he saw the situation in Chang'an, Li Zhi's eyes almost fell out. Is this my Chang'an? Is it the capital of the Tang Dynasty?

Refugees are everywhere, wailing everywhere, like hell, inside and outside the city. The prosperous Chang'an City was in a slump, and all the shops were closed. At this time, who would dare to open the door? If the refugees riot, they would rob you of everything. Since the opening of the North Lane, the first time they were closed was that there was no one left, and the merchant has already walked.

Not only are the shops closed, but even some small government offices closed. If you don’t give me a meal, the yamen runners will stop working. The only function of opening the door is to be blocked and scolded by others. The officials are also afraid of death. How dare you open the door?

If this happens, it is reasonable. The problem is that there is no natural disaster. If it happens like this, I really can't explain it to the people of the world.

Li Zhi was so angry that he was so angry!

The main reason is that it came too fast, and there seemed to be no sign of anything. I don’t know how it happened.

In fact, there were signs of premonition in advance, but at that time, Li Zhi and Wu Meiniang were both struggling with the world and were not in the mood to pay attention to these things. By the time they realized that it was too late, and the crisis broke out too quickly.

Royal Palace.

Li Yi Mansion, Xu Master, Lu Chengqing and his clan asked the ministers to stand outside the hall gate. They all hung their heads down to their crotch, and they couldn't raise their heads, as if they had no face to see anyone. When they learned that Li Zhi had returned to the palace, they rushed over immediately. They had no face to see Li Zhi, but it would not work at this time. Li Yi Mansion and others would definitely shirk responsibility. Everyone was afraid of taking the blame because no one could take the blame, so they were all rushing to see Li Zhi and explaining this matter to Li Zhi.

Li Yifu is also ready.

"Everyone, Your Majesty has just returned and is very tired. Let you go back first and summon you tomorrow."

Li Yifu and the others waited for a long time before Zhang Desheng said this.

But they went back without forcing it. Anyway, Li Zhi hadn't seen anyone, so they could barely accept it.

Unfortunately, Li Zhi had not seen anyone. Although Li Zhi was very tired, he could not care about all this at this time. He was now meeting someone in Liangyi Hall, who was Li Ji. In fact, before Li Zhi entered the city, he had secretly ordered someone to invite Li Ji to Liangyi Hall.

"Sikong, now the country is at its peak of life and death, and the only thing I can rely on now is Sikong you."

Li Zhi said to Li Ji with tears in his eyes. He was really about to cry. How could he understand such a good situation?

Li Ji quickly bowed and said, "The old minister is willing to be fooled by Your Majesty."

After hearing this, Li Zhi was extremely moved. He also had the responsibility to do this, but Li Ji was still extremely loyal to him, but he had no time to say this now. Li Zhi then said: "Now there are so many refugees in Chang'an City, if you are not careful, there may be civil changes. For the current plan, you can only dispatch troops to control the situation."

The implication is to let the army take over first. Anyway, the government office is paralyzed, so there is no difference between whether there is or not.

"Old minister receives the order." Li Ji bowed his fists and said, "But Your Majesty, this is a treatment of symptoms but not the root cause. The old minister begs His Majesty to recall Han Yi quickly. At present, perhaps only he has the only way to turn the tide."

If foreign enemies invade, he will naturally have no choice but to do it, but in terms of economy, he really can't play, and in this regard, everyone is convinced by Han Yi.

Li Zhi said: "I have sent someone, but Han Yi is in Yangzhou and may not be able to come back for a while."

Li Ji said again: "Then Your Majesty should also be anxious about Mr. Xu, and Li Zhongshu and others discuss countermeasures?"

Li Zhi burst into laughter when he heard this.

Li Ji was stunned. You can laugh out loud at this time?

Li Zhi was not laughing, clearly crying, and said, "Sikong, I handed over the government to them, but in just a few years, I have made it like this. What else do I want them to do? I don't have time to settle accounts with them now, and I don't want to see them again. You will pass on my orders later, and temporarily remove all their positions and let them wait for me at home. It is not to send troops to block their mansions."

Speaking of the latter, he gritted his teeth.

Li Ji hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this move must not be done. If they are removed from their posts, then who will help Your Majesty overcome this difficulty?"

Li Zhi was already mad and roared: "I would rather use those three-year-old children than I will use them again. No matter how bad it is, it will be worse than now."

Li Ji was furious when he saw Long Yan, and he had never seen Li Zhi get so angry, so he didn't dare to say much, "Old minister accepts the order."

At this moment, Zhang Desheng walked in and said, "Your Majesty, a letter from Yangzhou has been sent."

Li Zhi said excitedly: "Where is Han Yi back?"

Zhang Desheng shook his head and said, "Report to Your Majesty, when the people sent by Your Majesty arrived in Yangzhou, Han Yi had already traveled with his wife and children."

"travel?"

Li Zhi was stunned for a while. This reason really made him not know what to say. He subconsciously said: "Didn't he be filial at home?"

"Your Majesty, Han Yi has already been filial to him. It is said that he has been out for more than half a year."

"When can't go, this guy is at this critical moment."

Li Zhi was so anxious that he almost fainted.

Li Ji was also anxious. At present, in his opinion, only Han Yi could turn the tide. Others couldn't count on it and asked, "Do you know where he is traveling?"

"According to the governor of Yangzhou, Han Yi just said he wanted to visit the magnificent rivers and mountains of my Tang Dynasty. No one knew where he went."

Magnificent rivers and mountains?

It is definitely a sarcasm to say this at this time!

Li Zhi was so angry that he couldn't speak.

"Your Majesty, don't be in a hurry." Li Ji hurriedly said: "Han Yi must have been traveling for one or two people. The old minister immediately sent someone to search everywhere. I believe he will be able to contact him soon."

Li Zhi nodded repeatedly, and his hatred towards Han Yi immediately surpassed Li Yi's mansion. If you say you died suddenly, then that's fine. Are you going to travel? Are you cheating me? But he had no choice but to ask someone to look for him immediately, and said, "If you want to Chang'an, there will be no need to do anything."

This imperial edict was immediately commanded by generals such as Li Ji, Xue Rengui, Qi Bi Heli, Ashinamishe, Gao Kan and other generals immediately commanded the imperial guards of the north and south yamen and began to take over the entire capital.

This northern yamen belongs to the emperor's personal army and naturally guards Chang'an City.

Nanya is a national army that controls the suburbs

Li's Mansion!

"The master is not good, no, there are many imperial guards outside."

When Liu Yuanzhen heard this, he hurried to the front of the mansion. He saw that there were rows of troops on both sides of the mansion, surrounding the entire Li Yi Mansion.

Li Yifu shouted immediately: "Who are you? How dare you act here."

The leading general held his fists and bowed, "Report to Li Zhongshu, we are here to protect Li Zhongshu by His Majesty's order."

Li Yi’s mansion is not stupid. There are so many generals in my mansion, and I need your protection?

You are clearly going to put me under house arrest!

But the general refused to pay attention to him after saying that, and ordered the soldiers to surround the place, and ordered no one to enter or exit in front of Li Yi's mansion.
To be continued...