It is better to choose a day than to hit the day. Start to make a ceremony, such as pearls and jade jewelry, gold utensils, gold skirts and tea cakes. This is the most expensive part. It must be pulled with a double sheep cart. Why can't you use a ox cart? Song Jiu doesn't understand it, it's the rule. Then there are big flowers and silver squares containing eight bottles of gold wine, red and green gin wine covers, and the wine load is paid with color. There are five men and two women holding wooden boxes, which are ritual books, and there are gift lists, and three wedding openings. The first two are polite words, and the latter one is the main text, which informs the woman of engagement. The three wedding openings are written by Dr. Yan, and the ritual books are written by Dr. Zhang, so there is absolutely no mistake.

These are all essential things, and other gifts depend on how the man takes action. The Song family doesn't know much, but there are people who understand, two matchmakers, who get a lot of money, and if this marriage is done, they will have a resume. In the future, more people will be asked to talk to them about their marriage.

The Song family still frightened them. It cost more than 10,000 yuan in just one gift. Although they had been prepared for a long time, the two matchmakers felt dizzy when they looked at these gifts. Various gifts, as well as some glass produced in the glazed workshop, were all high-end glass, each of which was more exquisite than the twenty works of Song Jiu when he was auctioned last year. They also started to be sold, with very small volumes. Although the price of glass fell sharply, their prices were still very high, and the highest was more than 100 cents.

Those were not the two small mirrors that Pan Lian'er brought back.

There are also mirrors, six coats, carved gold and silver and jade, just like a little piled up ivory.

All the way, all the noble relatives and elders of the Pan family were present, but the luxurious ordering gifts still stunned them. Especially the six coat mirrors made all the women present shine green in their eyes.

There is definitely not enough distribution. How to distribute it is the matter of the Pan family.

Tian told everyone to have tea.

Halfway through the work, the Pan family prepared incense, candles, fruit wine to wish the ancestors of the world. The couples of the relatives and the most prosperous ones will open the gift and pick up the scarf. The gift must be returned on the day because there are some fruits in the gift, including tea cakes and wine, and half of the fruits cannot be stored for a long time. Originally, there were not many fruits in this winter, but this year was different, with watermelons, which made a lot of color. The Pan family was not inferior to the move, but after playing, it was a lot of busy people. The Song family's gift came over, and the clever and beautiful villagers invited nearly 200 people, and the Pan family also had nearly 200 people. But this was the beginning. The day when the wedding of the Xiapeng shop would be more luxurious.

The big men rushed to the Song family in a mighty manner, and at this time something happened that made the Pan family feel mixed emotions. Song Jiu did not like to show off his merits, but the villagers saw everything they did and remembered it in their hearts. Whether it was going to the west to speak justice for the people or trying to defeat the uncle of the country, they moved these bitter villagers. When the Song family placed the gift, many villagers didn't know. There were many people, and they all knew it after they passed, so they bought firecrackers together. Every household was setting them off.

Listening to the sound of firecrackers and the congratulations along the way, the people who sent the Pan family back to the booking were very emotional.

When I arrived at the Song family, the Song family's house was definitely not as good as the Pan family, but it was different here. With only more than 200 students, the fragrance of books was better than that of a mansion of tens of millions of dollars.

Song Jiu then came out and placed the gifts back in the backyard to invite everyone to dinner. It was not just a Shun restaurant, but he also set up dozens of tables in the restaurant.

Only then did the two parties confirm the relationship.

Since they were relatives and had to deal with weddings and funerals on holidays, Song Jiu came to the door and gave Pan Weigu a gift. Tian came out to receive it personally and said, "Song Jiu, you must treat Lian'er well in the future, this is the only daughter in her old age."

Tian was less than 40 years old and wanted to claim to be old. Song Jiu was helpless, just like Su Dongpo was forty. When writing lyrics, he insisted on writing about me and talking about being frivolous, but no one said he was wrong.

Before seeing Pan Lian'er, the Pan brothers kept winking. Song Jiu talked for a while and had to deal with many yamen who came to congratulate after hearing the news. Han Qingxiong shouted: "Shundian, Shundian."

"Han Erlang, Shundian is OK. On the day of getting married, I will hold a wedding banquet in Shundian."

"It's really a store."

"Then just find a restaurant."

"No, Shundian." Zhu Yanei's eyes flashed, and Song Jiu couldn't help but rub his head. There were countless tables in the Yanei alone, and there were villagers from Hebei in Hezhong. The sound of firecrackers reminded him of it. It was a mess, but it was not considered the villagers of Lianghe. It was impossible to treat one in Shundian and the other in a small wine shop. It was too despised.

The joys and sorrows are mixed, and the grand court meeting is here again. This is also the last grand court meeting this year. If you want to have an early court, it will be next year. When you arrive at the Lost Courtyard, many officials congratulate you. The Song family has nothing, and the Pan family has relatives, and at least thirty or forty relatives can be described among these ministers.

Don't underestimate the power of this relationship.

Going forward, it was based on various literati and official families as the main body, such as the Yan family, the Han family, the Wen family, the Lu family, the Wang family, and the foreign relatives who were mainly military generals, forming a powerful group and a party!

He even forced the empress and concubines to be sad one by one. For example, the fate of Song Renzong's several likes women was not good. However, Empress Cao, who he didn't like, had a more stable position than the Song Dynasty. Then he went to another tragic woman, Empress Meng. There was only one strong woman who fought for a bloody path. Liu E, she, was almost let Kou Zhun do it.

Song Jiu didn't know about this, but he vaguely knew that this time, the couplet was not just like Pan Lian'er, but also helpful to him.

After the morning court, the ministers began to report things. It was the end of the year and they all wanted to show their performance. There were many memorials, and there were big and small matters. Chu Zhaofu also submitted memorials, saying that at the end of the year, many people in various places slaughtered cattle, pretended to be dead cattle, and sold them to various towns. They asked Zhao Kuangyin to issue an edict, strictly ordering local areas to check whether the cattle was really dead or fake death. If it was a man who was slaughtering, they would be punished severely. There were too few oxen plowing in the country.

Zhao Kuangyin did not comment or not.

Chu Zhaofu has good intentions, but he neglected a little. How can he let the law be enforced fairly? That is the fault of not giving money. Is it possible to make them ignore the face of the villagers and do things for the state?

The ministers reported the matter one after another until they had "breakfast", that is, at the end of Si and at 11 o'clock. They were still reporting the matter. Fortunately, Song Jiu was ready now. He got up before dawn and ate breakfast at home.

Song Jiu stood and listened. Some listened, some didn't listen, and half of them wandered around the sky. The sun was a little west again, and Zhao Kuangyin suddenly shouted: "Song Jiu."

Song Jiu was considering the problem, not a random thought. He had so many things that he had to do, and half had to think. He was startled when he heard Zhao Kuangyin shouting. He raised his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, are you calling me a humble minister?"

The ministers in front, back, left and right bowed their heads together and cheered.

Zhao Kuangyin was so angry that he didn't speak.

Song Jiu walked forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am here."

"I ask you, you have been in court for a while, why don't you report?"

"I have reported it to the imperial examination system."

"Where is the preaching?"

"The court report is not known where to start, and I am not familiar with the affairs."

"It's almost two months. I'm still not familiar with it!"

Song Jiu understood. This was Zhao Kuangyin saying justice for his brother-in-law, and he might not be held accountable. If he was held accountable, he would be held accountable in the third department that day. This was for the ministers. Song Jiu talked about my brother-in-law. I was very dissatisfied. Now I want to trouble Song Jiu. If I am scared, no ministers will discuss his brother-in-law again.

Tian made it clear, but Song Jiu suspected that it was not a kindness. No matter how great the kindness was, Zhang Qiong was, the main thing was family affection. How good was that Queen Wang? He couldn't understand. Queen Wang had been dead for several years. In the middle-aged Zhao Kuangyin had never accepted the queen, and even did not touch the palace maids in the harem. This can also be seen from Zhao Kuangyin's children. Perhaps Queen Wang was virtuous, gentle, considerate, and understanding, especially during the period when Zhao Kuangyin was doing the inspection, this mood was definitely worse than worrying about the judge of the Sansi. This woman brought warmth to Zhao Kuangyin on the eve of the dawn...

Unfortunately, I am not qualified yet. Otherwise, I would have a chat with Lao Zhao and dig up his ideas. This is the biggest gossip of the Song Dynasty.

He was thinking in a random way, thinking disrespectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, I am clumsy..."

"That's fine." Zhao Kuangyin said coldly.

Song Jiu saw that it was not good, and he might not have done anything about Zhao Kuangyin could really be demoted to be a magistrate in another county. He could not find any Chinese New Year, and said in a hurry: "Your Majesty wants to report, but I have a report, but I have not prepared and have not led the report."

After saying that, he used his sleeve to wipe sweat from his forehead.

"You can report without a copy. I will ask you to report it and it will be recorded and archived by the daily officer."

"Daily Officer?"

"What a place this is."

"Weichen reported that the envoy of Chu said the ox just now, but Weichen said something. When I went to Bashu, I saw chaos. I didn't look closely. However, after looking at many areas in Hunan, I also saw that most of the cultivated land was pulled by people. It was too hard, and Weichen couldn't stand it."

Zhao Kuangyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief below, don't think that the eldest brother was joking. It is not necessary to issue an edict to demote Song Jiu for a few months. It is only possible to treat it as a delegated inspection. But when people go there, all kinds of bad things may not be controlled by the eldest brother. This statement can warm the eldest brother's heart, and it will probably be fine.

Song Jiu did not know the thoughts of the ministers on both sides, and continued, "Weichen also asked about the cattle. The government had cows, but when it was collecting heavy cattle rent, I said that the cow money was collected heavily, so the officials settled the calculation with Weichen. When the government came to raise cattle, the forage must be bought, and the money for fodder alone cost five hundred yuan per month. Raising horses is more expensive, and horses are more expensive than cows. It costs eight liters of barley and thirteen kilograms of millet and grass every day, which costs nearly a lifetime. This is only considered for fodder, not even the labor cost and the cost of horse cattle shed. Weichen was surprised at the time, so he asked several places, all of which were like this. I don't know how much it costs to raise cattle a year, but Weichen raised three horses in his home. Weichen raised them more delicately and often added a few chickens."

Some ministers laughed, and Song Jiu said seriously: "If the horses run fast, the Central Plains lack excellent grass, and chickens are indispensable. Therefore, the monthly cost of three horses is more than four cents. The difference is almost the same. Weichen has also read the relevant accounts in the Sansi. Our dynasty has many pastures, but most of them are in the Central Plains, and even in the capital, even in the capital, they have to buy some miscellaneous grains to feed the horses. With the salary of officials, etc., a horse is spread out, and it takes more than ten cents a year. Therefore, it is basically credible that it costs six cents a year to raise a cow. In this way, collecting cattle rent is not enough. Therefore, many prefectures and counties directly

Renting cattle to the people, paying the national money for a year, and raising them is the people responsible for raising them to reduce the burden. However, because officials do not understand farming, those who should rent do not rent, and those who do not rent tend to force rent, which leads to some ills. Some were originally raised by the government, but now they have been raised by the people, and still collecting very high ox rent. Some plowing oxes die and continue to collect rent. This reminds me of the time of the Emperor Taizu of Zhou, some areas were still ox rents from the Tang Dynasty. The ox was dead for decades or a hundred years, and the court continued to collect rents. Later Zhou dealt with it in time, but this phenomenon seemed to be revived in some areas of our dynasty."

Zhao Kuangyin asked Zhao Pu: "Zhao Qing, is there any such thing?"

"Your Majesty, the old minister is not very clear. However, cattle rent is a disadvantage, but a helpless move is given to the people, the people will not use it to farm, but to slaughter it. It is useless to farm."

"What Zhao Xianggong said is exactly what Weichen said. The government will directly manage the plowing ox, which is not worth the loss, and rent it directly to the people, which has many disadvantages. Or I issued an edict to kill the ox and not charge the ox rent, and some bold people will directly kill the plowing ox for profit. Just like the books printed by Weichen, I will sell for 500 ci, and the two counties will reduce it by 200 ci, and give it kindly to the poor children, so that they can have a chance to study. However, some poor people buy it and sell it directly to others."

“Stopped?”

"The empress is definitely disappointed, so people are unpredictable, but this brings difficulties to the government's charity. Maybe the historical books will use this to mock our dynasty in the future, but they know it but don't know the reasons, but they don't know the various difficulties. But the government does not buy cattle, but encourages private cattle raising? The cost of private cattle is not high, and a half-large shepherd boy does not need to buy any forage. But the cost is still high, this is the bad policy of our dynasty, that is, taxes. Many areas use property division households to collect taxes, and they count cattle into it, becoming a senior household, levy two more taxes, and more corvee labor, and some governments even directly charge cattle taxes. Now a cattle is priced at three coins, but one is raised.

A cattle should be taxed with an extra 1 to 20 cents a year, or even more. This problem is not serious, but the latter is serious. The people in our dynasty do not like to eat pork. The price of pork is low, and a pound is only 20 cents. Lamb is expensive at the beginning, and a pound reaches 40 cents. Pork is fishy, ​​mutton is smelly, and beef is not fishy or odor, and it is also in short supply. As a result, the price of beef almost reaches 80 cents per pound. A live beef is only worth three cents. A beef can take two to three hundred kilograms of meat, and plans to 250 kilograms. Slaughter and sell meat can be sold for twenty cents, which is seven times the price of live beef. Private salt is only twice the profit. Some people are willing to behead the head and sell private salt. Seven times the profit. May I ask Your Majesty, how can the people be banned from massacre?"

In ancient times, scholars and officials never cooked, and Song Jiu was an alternative, so no one had ever settled this account.

After calculation, I was stunned together. Zhao Kuangyin was silent for a while and said loudly: "The harem is preparing for the imperial banquet. Today I will talk to you about the awesomeness."

If this is true, it will be a big problem. A serious problem. No matter what the Song Dynasty thought, there would be a shortage of oxen. If there was a shortage of oxen, the yield would never be increased. Zhao Kuangyin ordered the eunuchs around him: "You go to the market to ask the price of beef and how much meat a beef can be obtained."
Chapter completed!