Chapter 14 ghost party

This night, the city of Tangzhou finally calmed down, and all the soldiers on Sanqiao Avenue withdrew.Although the person to be arrested was not caught, many clues were found. The back hall of the Governor's Mansion was brightly lit, but there were only three people in the large hall.There are a lot of people outside the hall, there are guards with knives who stand in a good position and look around vigilantly, and there are mobile patrols walking back and forth.The fact that the assassin was not caught means that the danger still exists.No matter where it is, even if it is the heavily guarded Governor's Mansion, it must not be taken lightly.Because they were facing an unpredictable opponent, an opponent who was determined to kill and could not be stopped.

Yan Shifang, governor of Tanzhou, has decided to place Gu Zijing in the governor's mansion in the past few days.Even though the city defense envoy Wan Xuehe repeatedly proposed to place Gu Zijing in the governor's mansion, Yan Shifang gritted his teeth and refused to agree, but asked Wan Xuehe to send more people to the governor's mansion to strengthen protection.This was because there was a dark room in the Governor's Mansion that only he knew about. If it was really a last resort, he should be able to escape the assassin's attack by bringing Gu Zijing into it. To be honest, Yan Shifang and Wan Xuehe had already spent all their money because of Gu Zijing's assassination, and Wan Xuehe even transferred the fast crossbow team that escorted the tax money to the governor's mansion.Because if something happened to Gu Zijing in his own jurisdiction, the two of them might not be able to bear it with all their net worth.

It is true that Gu Zijing is only a fifth-rank household inspector, but this is only his status in Tanzhou. When he returns to the imperial city of Jinling, his situation is completely different.Although he was not a high-ranking official in Jinling, few high-ranking officials did not fear him.Because his true identity is one of the secret confidants of Emperor Yuanzong Li Jing of the Southern Tang Dynasty, that is, the so-called "ghost party" in the mouths of the officials who served outside.They specially went to various places for Yuan Zong to secretly visit people's and officials' conditions, and then they could dismiss an official and order the life of a family with a single memorial.

However, the purpose of Gu Zijing's coming to Tangzhou City seems to be different from those previous missions concerning public sentiment and official sentiment.First of all, it was not an unannounced visit, but came under the name of a household supervisor.Secondly, the duties he assumed this time should indeed be done by the officials of the household department, and Yuanzong would only send him here for special reasons. What Gu Zijing had to do in Tangzhou this time seemed simple, but in fact it was extremely difficult. He almost threw a red-hot iron ball into his arms. This task is to judge whether the existing transit salt tax and grain tax are appropriate, whether they can be increased, and how much they can be increased to rapidly increase national power from the loading volume of passing ships and market transaction volume.

Taking advantage of the existing geographical location, it was proposed by Prime Minister Feng Yansi to increase the salt tax and grain tax for exit and transit.But immediately after it was proposed, it was opposed by many officials.Originally, Yuanzong Li Jing was the master of this matter and said it was okay or not, but Han Xizai, the servant of the household department, was in the palace and Feng Yansi had a fierce argument, which made Yuanzong unable to make a decision. Han Xizai's statement Yuanzong also sounds very reasonable.He analyzed various adverse effects such as increasing the burden on merchants and transporters after raising taxes, and causing chaos and panic in the market.After these impacts are passed on, the interests of producers and consumers will be damaged, and the households of neighboring countries will be in deficit.This will lead to the hatred of the Li family in the neighboring countries and the Li people, and force the neighboring countries to have ulterior motives for the Southern Tang regime, and even go to war immediately. .

Feng Yansi believed that the proposed tax rate was a transit and exit tax rate, which would have no impact on his own people. He then increased his own financial resources while reducing the financial resources of neighboring countries, so that some militaristic neighboring countries would not dare to act rashly against the Southern Tang Dynasty.This move can also force some powerful powers to increase military spending and reduce military reserves.Yuan Zong couldn't help but nod frequently at these words. One of the two disagrees with the other, so they must distinguish who is right and who is wrong.Although Han Xizai's official position is a few ranks lower than Feng Yansi's, but when Li Jing was still the crown prince, he was the Secretary of the East Palace, and he got along with Li Jing day and night, and had a deep friendship.And this Feng Yansi is not only the prime minister, but also has special skills in flattery and flattery, which is very trusted by Li Jing.The palms and backs of the palms are full of flesh, Li Jing couldn't bear to cut a knife.Therefore, the decision is to speak from the facts, and the household department will check whether the tax rate is appropriate, whether there is room for adjustment, and how much profit will be achieved after adjustment, so as to weigh the pros and cons to make a decision.

Feng Yansi immediately stopped this decision, saying that Han Xizai belonged to the Ministry of Household Affairs, and someone sent from the Ministry of Household Affairs would definitely speak for him, and no real data could be obtained.So Li Jing could only dispatch Gu Zijing from the ghost party.Feng Yansi was very satisfied with this arrangement, because he had always had a good relationship with members of the ghost party.And Gu Zijing had been taken care of by Feng Yansi when he set up his home in Jinling, so the relationship between Feng Yansi and Gu Zijing was closer than that of other ghost party members.

But no matter how good the relationship is, Gu Zijing still can't be too biased.After all, he was responsible to Yuanzong Li Jing, Li Jing rewarded his meal, and his head was in Li Jing's hands.In addition, Han Xizai's background is unknown to others, so how can he not know that he is in the ghost party.This Han Xizai looked like a modest official, but in fact he was not only the most trusted person of Yuanzong, but also held the secret power of the Southern Tang Dynasty.In today's words, it is the spy organization in control of Nantang.Such a person can't afford to offend him. If he feels uncomfortable, he can make someone's head leave his body thousands of miles away overnight.And Feng Yansi is the prime minister of the court, and he can lower his status and make friends with himself, let alone offend him.So after calculating from three aspects, it was as if he came to Tangzhou with a red-hot iron ball in his arms.

Gu Zijing was considered a man of great learning, and he was excellent at writing lyrics, poems, and essays, but he was a layman for the task entrusted by Yuan Zong this time.Because doing this requires many years of experience in tax collection, and also through unannounced inspections, market inferences, and complicated calculations, it is not as simple as writing lyrics or poems.This is also the main reason why Gu Zijing was unable to go back to the imperial city for business affairs after staying in Tanzhou City for nearly half a year. Since he was unable to come up with an accurate result, he hoped that the two officials in the court could reconcile this matter and negotiate a proper solution. .Or Yuanzong got impatient and made a decisive decision, which saved him from having to submit the results of his trip to the court.

In fact, the ghost party was not very strict in handling affairs in the past. If Yuan Zong had delegated other matters this time, Gu Zijing could draw conclusions at will to fool Yuan Zong and the two important ministers.But the collection of national tax and silver is not trivial, it is related to the prosperity of the national power and the rise and fall of the royal lifeline.So even if Gu Zijing's head was chopped off, he wouldn't dare to act carelessly. In recent years, the economy of the Southern Tang Dynasty has gradually declined, far worse than when the dynasty was founded.The several big wars against Fujian and Wuyue were exhausting people and money, and the lost vitality could not be recovered.After the death of Ma Yin, the emperor of Chu, the sons seized the throne, and in order to collect wealth and buy soldiers and horses, they imitated the style of tomb robbery in the Western Han Dynasty, excavating ancient tombs with rich burials and taking the gold and silver treasures buried with them.Later, I heard that two big treasures were really dug up, among which there were countless treasures of gold and silver.Yuanzong was jealous when he heard the news, and sent the general Bian Hao to attack Chu State. His real purpose was to obtain the two treasures to enrich the national power.After occupying the state of Chu, it was discovered that the so-called great treasure was just a trick used by the Ma family to bluff, deceive soldiers, and intimidate each other.But since the state of Chu is to be taken down, the purpose of this trip must not be in vain.So Bian Hao immediately imposed heavy taxes in Chu to search for the people's fat and anointment.As a result, this move caused the people in Chu to resist, and they all joined and supported Liu Yan to counterattack the Southern Tang army.Losing the support of the people, and no follow-up on food and payment, Bian Pick had to be returned quickly.Therefore, this trip was another laborious, costly and unpleasant result for the already heavily burdened Southern Tang treasury.

"Master Yan, Master Wan, what do you think of what happened in the past two days? I am usually kind to others, and I have never bullied or harmed others. I shouldn't have an enemy to kill me like this." Gu Zijing shook his head and showed a look Very unbelievable look. Yan Shifang and Wan Xuehe looked at each other, and they both thought that you people of the ghost party are deceiving the top and the bottom, and you have done bad things a lot.Even if a small number of members did not intentionally do bad things, there are still many unjust and wrongly decided cases caused by negligence, arbitrariness, and misunderstandings.So don't say that there are no enemies, no one will believe that there are fewer enemies. Thinking this way in her heart, but she couldn't say it out of her mouth, Yan Shifang hurriedly answered: "This must be because the adults do loyal things and are hated by the villains, or the adults are discerning and discriminating, which hinders some people's sinister intentions. That’s why Xiao Xiao’s evil deeds were incurred. For example, Mr. Gu’s purpose of going to Tangzhou under the entrustment of our emperor this time is very likely to be blocked by some people who are afraid of change and loss.” "You mean to say that the assassination has something to do with my purpose of coming here?" Gu Zijing didn't quite agree with this statement, because it was two high officials in the court who were arguing about the tax increase.They have no grievances or enmities with themselves, and what they do is also ordered by the emperor, so there is no need to attack themselves.Besides, I haven't made a final conclusion yet, wouldn't it be too blind to attack myself now? Yan Shifang pondered for a while and asked: "I got an unnamed letter before I was about to be killed in the internal defense department, confirming that someone assassinated Mr. Gu on Sanqiao Street. But I heard that Mr. Gu heard that someone would harm me a few days ago. I don't know where this information came from. Where did it come from? Can you look for clues from this aspect and find out who has a great connection with this matter." "That's a letter from my distant cousin Gu Hongzhong. My cousin is an excellent painter. He studied hard abroad since he was a child, and we haven't seen each other for many years. But after he came back from his studies, his pearls have been covered with dust and he can't show his talents to the full. Later, I got into the Royal Academy of Painting through my way, so I have always been grateful to me. A few days ago, he was invited by Master Han Xizai to attend a painting appreciation banquet in Han Mansion. He overheard a guest mentioning that there would be someone It was not good for me, so I hurried from the post station to send a report to me. I thought it was all drunk and nonsense, so I didn't take it seriously." "If you say that, then Han Xizai and Mr. Han are suspected." Wan Xuehe felt that the situation was already clear. "You can't talk nonsense. I don't think Mr. Han himself is such a person. But there is still the possibility of being careless in making friends and making friends with murderers by mistake. Of course, it may also be that his friend has great powers and came from a secret way. I got this news from the Internet. You can imagine, if my final decision is not to raise taxes, at most Mr. Han will save face. But if I am sure that taxes can be raised, Mr. Han will lose face at most. He is a An uninhibited and unrestrained person doesn't care about appearances. But on the other hand, the increase in taxes, the increase in the national treasury, and the increase in salary are all beneficial to him, so why should he send someone to kill me?" Gu Zijing's The inference can be so accurate and reasonable, mainly because he knows Han Xizai's secret identity and mission. "However, I was appointed by the emperor to come here to investigate and determine the adjustment of the tax rate. I think it is possible that Mr. Han accidentally revealed this story during a gathering of guests and friends. Then it spread to people who would suffer losses due to tax hikes through some channels. A certain neighboring country sent killers to attack me and County Magistrate Zhang. This can prevent me from making a decision to raise taxes, and it is also a warning to my court. In addition, it can surprise Linjing, occupy favorable terrain, and threaten Tanzhou, let me dare not levy high taxes on the goods passing through here. You can even go to Linjing and take Tangzhou directly to grab this water and land, and then the goods that come in and out will be up to them." "Master Gu is wise. According to your statement, only those whose interests have been greatly damaged will attack you. However, after the tax increase, there are too many people involved. The small ones include merchants, hawkers, and transporters, and the big ones Zhou State, Wuyue State, Zhou Family in Chu State, and Nanping." Yan Shifang's analysis seems to be correct, but it is actually too empty. "By the way, before leaving, God Eye Bu Fu said that the clothes left by the assassin can be worn on both sides. They are unique to the Kingdom of Shu. You can wear one piece as two pieces. If you add a changeable cloth cover, then one piece can be used as several pieces. Put on." The information provided by Wan Xuehe is very accurate. This kind of clothes that can be changed from side to side was really created by Liang Leniang, a former Shu musician in the Five Dynasties period.This kind of clothes was originally made as her music clothes, so that she would not have to carry several clothes every time she accompanied the music.In "The Collection of Pot Color Strings" written by Zhang Qiwei in the later Shu Dynasty, there is: "... when the hall is turned, the color of the clothes has changed before I can see you." That is to say, this kind of clothes.There is also a saying in later generations that the face-changing skills in Sichuan opera are also transformed from the principle of the clothes.