Zhou Zhiruo was still thinking, but Zhao Min's eyes lit up. "Yes, it's a good idea, but there are two problems. First, such a tax policy will greatly harm the interests of the gentry. How will it be implemented?"
Song Qingshu said coldly, "What's the use of the 50000 elite soldiers we raise? What's more, now that we have the prestige of a great victory, those gentry will not dare to resist. "
Zhao Min nodded and also thought that his idea was feasible. "Then there's the second problem. If you do this, you will definitely offend the majority of the gentry. What if they run to other countries? You should know that there are many countries now, and they don't necessarily have to stay under your rule."
Song QingShu smiled and said, "Don't worry, the gentry class also has its natural weakness. Their power and roots are here. If they move to another country, they will definitely lose a lot of wealth, and the connections they have accumulated before will disappear. These losses may not be less than the taxes they have to pay according to the requirements. What's more, if they move to other countries, it will definitely harm the interests of the big families in those countries. The other party will definitely make things difficult for them. Therefore, unless we want to kill them all, they will never move. "
It should be known that when the Western Jin Dynasty was in chaos and Yongjia moved south, except for those families who were particularly close to Sima Yue and Sima Rui, the remaining real top families, such as the Qinghe Cui Clan and the Fanyang Lu Clan, did not move south at all. And those families that moved south also had a fierce power struggle with the local gentry in Jiangnan.
With history as a mirror, Song Qingshu was so sure.
"Even if we take ten thousand steps back, the ancestral graves of those great clans are still here." Zhou Zhiruo suddenly added in a chilling tone.
Zhao Min looked at Song Qingshu and then looked at Zhou Zhiruo. She couldn't help but sigh. "Sometimes I have to sigh that you two are really a match made in heaven. One eats people without spitting out the bones, and the other is cruel and merciless."
Zhou Zhiruo raised her eyebrows. For the first time, she didn't get angry. Instead, she pursed her lips and smiled. "Thank you for the compliment."
Song Qingshu held her hand and said softly, "Zhiruo, I just mentioned the general policy. As for how to implement it, I'll have to trouble you."
Even though they had been married for so long, Zhou Zhiruo still blushed when he held her hand. However, she suddenly reacted and looked at Zhao Min provocatively. Then, she replied in an extremely gentle voice, "Qing Shu, don't worry. I will definitely complete the task you have entrusted to me. After all, we are husband and wife."
"Hey, I really can't stand you guys. You guys are so mushy. Can't you see that there's someone else beside you?" Zhao Min shuddered and rubbed her arms exaggeratedly. "You guys go ahead. I'm going out first."
He didn't wait for their response and walked out without looking back.
She walked aimlessly to the back garden. Her relaxed expression suddenly collapsed. She sat on the swing and kicked the stones on the ground in annoyance. "It's really annoying. Why do I have to steal a man from that surnamed Zhou every time?"
As soon as she said this, she was stunned. She looked around guiltily. Seeing that no one heard her, she let out a long sigh of relief.
However, thinking of her own worries, she couldn't help but sit on the swing in a daze.
Meanwhile, Song Qingshu and Zhou Zhiruo were affectionate for a long time. They told each other what happened during the time they were apart. They didn't separate until a subordinate came to report government affairs.
"I have to deal with business. You must be tired from the journey. Go to the room and rest." Zhou Zhiruo gently tidied up his clothes.
"Then take your time." Seeing her serious expression, Song QingShu couldn't help but laugh. He kissed her cheek and walked out of the study. Perhaps it was because Zhou Zhiruo lost her father at a young age and grew up in a place like Mount Emei. She had to compete with many of her martial sisters for Abbess Miejue's favor. As a result, she always had a sense of insecurity in her heart. At the same time, she developed a strong personality that was soft on the outside but strong on the inside.
Perhaps it was because she thought of Ah-Jiu and the other competitors. She also wanted to make some achievements to prove herself, so she forgot to eat and sleep and threw herself into the government affairs in Yangzhou. Although she didn't have any experience, she was smart. In addition, she had Zhao Min and a series of subordinates to assist her. Now, she was gradually able to handle things with ease …
"But husband, you're still busy with business when you're back. Can't you get intimate with me first before going to do it?" Song Qingshu couldn't help but feel a bit resentful. At this time, he couldn't help but sigh at some of the plots in the original work. In a sense, Zhou Zhiruo and Yue Lingshan were the same type of people. They were both very serious and focused on business. However, whether it was Zhang Wuji or Linghu Chong, they both had romantic personalities. Naturally, they preferred women like Zhao Min and Ren Yingying, who were tired of business and were more interested in romance.
However, Song Qingshu didn't look down on Zhou Zhiruo in the slightest. With her personality, what he needed the most right now was this kind of serious wife to help him deal with all kinds of government affairs.
Along the way, Song QingShu's mind was in a whirl, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the back garden. Suddenly, under the afterglow of the setting sun, he saw an incomparably beautiful girl hugging her knees as she sat on a swing not far away. Her body was half leaning against the ropes on both sides, and the ropes outlined her graceful figure.
However, at this moment, the young girl was staring at the distant north in a daze. Her beautiful face was filled with melancholy.
"Homesick?" Song Qingshu walked to Zhao Min's side and asked softly.
Zhao Min seemed to be startled awake. She turned back to look at him and snorted coldly. "Aren't you at Zhou Zhiruo's place accompanying her?"
"I'm worried that you're taking things too hard, so I came to see you." Song Qingshu couldn't help but despise himself for being a glib talker. It was obvious that Zhou Zhiruo had to deal with business, and he had no choice but to leave. Yet, he made it sound so nice.
"Tsk, who wants to see you?" Zhao Min snorted, but her expression softened a lot.
"Are you homesick?" Song Qingshu grabbed the swing and repeated the question.
Zhao Min's eyes turned red, but she quickly concealed it. "So what if I miss home? So what if I don't miss home? You won't let me go anyway, so why would I look for trouble? "
"Don't make it sound so pessimistic. You make it sound like I'm treating you like a prisoner and bullying you." Song Qingshu smiled bitterly.
Zhao Min rolled her eyes at him. "Isn't that the case?"
Song Qingshu held his breath and was somewhat speechless. After all, to a certain extent, Zhao Min was now "imprisoned" by him.
"Actually, I came back this time to bring you back to the north." Song Qingshu coughed twice and hurriedly diverted her attention.
Zhao Min's eyes lit up, but she quickly curled her lips and said, "You still have a tigress at home. It would be strange if you would let me go with you."
Song Qingshu was speechless. It seemed that Zhao Min and Zhou Zhiruo were born to be incompatible. After fighting each other for so many years, they didn't miss any opportunity to hurt each other.
"Uh, I'm taking you away for serious business," Song Qingshu hurriedly explained. "I found news about Murong Jingyue."
"What!" Zhao Min suddenly sat up straight. "Where is that bastard?" Over the past year, she had been tortured by the Three Corpse Brain God Pill. Although it hadn't acted up, she shuddered at the thought of such a thing lurking in her head. Especially girls, they had a natural fear of insects, so every day was a bit of a torture.
Song Qingshu shook his head and said, "I can't tell you now. I don't want you to go to him impulsively and alert him."
"Didn't you want to go with me? How could you alert the enemy? Tell me, tell me ~" In the end, Zhao Min even pulled his arm and began to act like a spoiled child. It could be seen how deep her resentment towards Murong Jingyue was.
"The main thing is that I have to go back to the Jin Kingdom. I can't go with you until I finish my business there …" Song Qingshu suddenly closed his mouth and almost said the word "Liao".
"Back to the Jin Kingdom?" Zhao Min frowned and asked, "Is it because of the Song Dynasty's northern expedition?"
"How do you know?" Song Qingshu was surprised. After all, the Song Dynasty was preparing for the northern expedition in secret. He only got the news because he was in a high position.
"Humph, the Song Dynasty's army has been moving frequently recently. They are gathering at the south bank of the Yangtze River. Even a pig can see that they are going to attack the north." Zhao Min said disdainfully.
Song Qingshu couldn't help thinking that most people in the world had become pigs. Do you think everyone is as smart as you?
"Obviously, the Song Dynasty is serious this time. What are you going to do when you go back to the Jin Kingdom?" Zhao Min had already known that he pretended to be Tang Kuo Bian in the Jin Kingdom. Now that the whole world knew that the power of the Jin Kingdom was in the hands of Tang Kuo Bian, she naturally knew what Song Qingshu was going to do when he went back.
Of course, Song Qingshu didn't tell her that the Jin Kingdom's emperor had been replaced. After all, the new emperor was from the Mongolian camp. He was worried that she would leak the secret.
"Different situations call for different actions. The Song Dynasty is very good at defending cities, but they are not good at attacking in the field." Song Qingshu was full of confidence a moment ago, but the next moment, he looked at Zhao Min with a smile and said, "Of course, I still need your help. Help me plan."
Zhao Min curled her lips and said, "Why should I help you?"
Song Qingshu tidied up his clothes and pretended to leave. He said, "It's okay if you don't want to help me. Then you stay here and continue to accompany Zhiruo. I will come to pick you up after I finish the business in the Jin Kingdom."
Zhao Min's expression changed. She hurriedly stopped him and said, "All right, all right. I will help you. You win."
Song Qingshu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He said, "Is Zhiruo so scary?"
Zhao Min snorted and said, "If it were in the past, I wouldn't be afraid of her. But now that I am a prisoner, I don't have enough power to use. No matter how smart I am, I can't overcome the absolute gap in strength. I am exhausted these days."
"Can't you get along with each other?" Song Qingshu said helplessly.
Zhao Min looked at him strangely and smiled playfully. She said, "You really have some dirty thoughts."
Song Qingshu's face reddened and he awkwardly changed the topic.
The two chatted for a while in the back garden. Time passed unknowingly. Suddenly there was a light cough behind them. The two turned around and found Zhou Zhiruo looking at them with an unfriendly expression.
"Time to eat." Zhou Zhiruo snorted and turned to leave.
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