"Why are you bringing this up again!"
Other than the pain of cutting flesh, there was also the pain of money! Yuan Shu was naturally unwilling to lower taxes.
"Old Yuan, do you want to wait for the enemy to attack and have the people open the city gates and welcome them?”
Yuan Yao's words made Yuan Shu obediently accept his fate. He knew that he could no longer be stubborn.
"Then how much do you think is appropriate to change the agricultural tax?”
"I'll exempt you for a year first."
"What? You're taking my life! Even the landlord doesn't have any surplus grain!"
Yuan Shu became anxious on the spot.
"Stop it. The grain stored in the national treasury is about to stink. Don't think that I don't know.”
Yuan Yao directly exposed Yuan Shu's clumsy lie.
"That won't do!"
Yuan Shu still wanted to resist.
"I heard that Cao Aman called you a skeleton? If you can't bear to part with the food, your words will probably come true.”
Yuan Yao used goading again.
Sure enough, Yuan Shu was intoxicated when he heard that.
"Little Shortie only knows how to talk!”
"As long as you can be exempted from taxes for a year, regardless of whether it is the officials or the people, they will praise you as the sage king of the ages. In the four hundred years of the Great Han Dynasty, which emperor could have your courage?
As long as there are countless people supporting you, who can say that your throne is not right?”
Yuan Shu's interest was instantly piqued.
"Not bad! Not bad! Now, our Yuan family can be the emperor rightfully.”
"Father is wise!"
Yuan Yao flattered him at the right time.
"Yes! Very good! I'll leave this matter to you."
Yuan Shu felt that it was very cost-effective to exchange a year's agricultural tax for a good reputation.
After obtaining Yuan Shu's approval, Yuan Yao immediately returned to his own Crown Prince's Eastern Palace and summoned Yang Hong, Qiao Rui, and Zhang Zhongjing.
Yang Hong and Qiao Rui were considered Yuan Shu's right-hand men, and their official positions were the highest in the court.
As for Zhang Zhongjing, Yuan Yao wanted to tie the tax exemption and the promotion of the prescription together.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Yang Hong and Qiao Rui both bowed. Zhang Zhongjing was still very cold and only nodded at Yuan Yao.
"Please take a seat."
After the three of them took their seats, Yang Hong took the lead and said,"May I know why Your Highness summoned us here?”
"I'm sure you all know about the military report that came earlier. Right now, our dynasty only has three counties left.”
"Your Highness, this humble subject is willing to lead the army and take back the lost land!”
Qiao Rui cupped her fists and said.
"There's no hurry. We'll definitely get back our lost land in the future. Today is another matter.”
"Although this loss of land was due to the enemy's sneak attack, the biggest problem for the people is that they have to eat and drink.”
"Not bad! You're much smarter than Yuan Gonglu."
Zhang Zhongjing praised.
Yang Hong and Qiao Rui glared at him, dissatisfied with Zhang Zhongjing's impoliteness.
Yuan Yao waved his hand to indicate that it was fine. Then, he continued,"I have already persuaded His Majesty before this, and His Majesty has also agreed to exempt the people from taxes.”
" Is this true?!"
Yang Hong asked in surprise. He had tried to persuade Yuan Shu countless times, but Yuan Shu had never agreed. He didn't expect Yuan Yao to actually do this.
"How much?"
Zhang Zhongjing was more practical and went straight to the point.
"Free! Lujiang, Jiujiang, and Guangling would not have to pay any taxes for a year.”
"Hiss!" 3
The three of them inhaled sharply. Yuan Yao felt that the temperature in the room had risen.
"Your Majesty is wise! Your Highness is wise! This is the blessing of the people!"
Yang Hong was extremely excited.
"However, there are prerequisites for tax exemption.”
"What condition?"
Yang Hong hurriedly asked.
"The people of the three counties must register at the county government. Only after drinking Zhang Gong's medicine will the court exempt them from taxes for a year.”
Yuan Yao said as he looked at Zhang Zhongjing.
Yang Hong and Qiao Rui were confused, but Zhang Zhongjing instantly understood Yuan Yao's intentions.
No one could resist the temptation of a year of tax exemption. The people of the three counties would definitely take the medicine.
"I'll leave the matter of the medicinal soup to you, Duke Zhang. The Imperial Court will fully support you, and we'll also do our best to purchase the medicinal herbs.”
"I thank you on behalf of the people of the three counties.”
"It's fine. This is my duty. After all, the better the lives of the people, the richer the Imperial Court will be.”
Yuan Yao said modestly, but unexpectedly, Zhang Zhongjing took over the conversation.
"Unfortunately, Yuan Gonglu never understood such a simple logic!”
Before Zhang Zhongjing could finish his sentence, he wanted to slander Yuan Shu, making Yuan Yao unable to continue.
"Old man! His Highness treats you with courtesy, why are you always speaking rudely?!”
Qiao Rui couldn't stand it anymore and berated.
"Cough cough!"
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Yuan Yao hurriedly coughed lightly to attract the attention of the three people.
"I'll leave the tax exemption to the two of you.”
"This lowly subject obeys!"
The tax exemption was something that should be given to Yang Hong. However, Qiao Rui was about to become his father-in-law, so she wanted to give him some credit.
"Did you name Zhang Gong's prescription?"
Yuan Yao asked.
"No."
"Why don't we use His Majesty's name?”
Yuan Shu's reputation in the Lianghuai area was not very good. No matter what, Yuan Yao was still Yuan Shu's son.
If he didn't improve Yuan Shu's reputation, he would definitely be a burden in the future.
"No!"
"No!"
The three of them rejected him at the same time.
"Your Highness, for the sake of the Venerable One, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven.”
Yang Hong explained.
As for Zhang Zhongjing, he simply did not like Yuan Shu.
Yuan Yao had indeed forgotten to avoid this.
"Uh... Why don't we use His Majesty's name?"
In ancient times, names were taboo, and there was no need to taboo the names of the tables, posthumous titles, and temple names.
For example, Liu Che, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, was a marquis before the Han Dynasty. After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty ascended the throne, he became a marquis.
Just avoiding the word 'Che' was enough, and it was not too troublesome.
The two of them no longer objected. Yuan Yao turned to Zhang Zhongjing and said,""His Majesty's reputation among the people is indeed not good, but as a son, filial piety should be the priority.”
Yuan Yao's words were reasonable and well-founded. Zhang Zhongjing heard it and could not brush off his face, so he reluctantly agreed.
"Alright, Young Master has already said this. If this old man still doesn't agree, it would be a little unreasonable.”
"Thank you, Lord Zhang."
The few of them discussed for a while and then prepared to leave.
"Duke Qiao, please wait. I have some private matters to discuss with you.”
Yuan Yao ordered Qiao Rui to stay, while the other two left after seeing this.
"Your Highness, may I know what instructions you have for me?”
Qiao Rui had already guessed what was going on.
"Cough cough, the position of the Crown Prince's concubine is still vacant, and it just so happens that there are two daughters in Duke Qiao's family waiting to be married.”
Yuan Yao said as he handed the imperial edict he had just received to Qiao Rui.
"This lowly subject receives the decree and thanks you."
An imperial edict bestowing marriage was essentially an order, so Qiao Rui could only accept it.
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