Silence, a dead silence.
After a long while, a furious curse suddenly erupted.
"Beasts!
All of you are insatiable beasts!
From Shangjing to Xindu, a thousand two hundred li of official road, with the imperial guards escorting, the Ministry of Revenue funding, and the Ministry of Works building houses and shops.
For the first three months, not a single coin was charged, and the subsequent taxes were reduced by thirty percent compared to the Qian Dynasty.
If this is not preferential treatment, what else do they want?"
The one who couldn't hold back his temper and cursed was Chen Jianzhang, the Minister of Revenue.
With the reconstruction of Xindu, various departments of the imperial court were operating at full speed. However, no one was clearer than the Minister of Revenue about how much manpower and material resources the imperial court had expended, and where those resources had gone.
This was because all the silver and materials used by every department had to pass through his hands.
Moreover, the Minister of Revenue, if nothing else, had a good memory. Once used, it was remembered.
Tang Xiao's statement about how much preferential treatment the merchants who moved from Shangjing had enjoyed, he knew better than those merchants.
Han Guang, who understood the logic of the lower levels, asked cautiously, "The imperial court adapted to local conditions and provided relatively generous subsidies to each region.
Could it be that the people handling matters below were dishonest and withheld the subsidies that should have been given to them?"
The other ministers looked hopefully at Tang Xiao. If the common people were truly mistreated, it was understandable that they would misunderstand the imperial court.
It was not that they hoped their colleagues would have problems, but they truly did not wish to accept that the common people they had protected with their lives would be insatiably wishing for them to die.
They also knew that although only Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan were being cursed to die by those common people at the moment, if the matter was not handled well, Si Fengwu's and Lu Qingwan's today would be their tomorrow.
Tang Xiao shook his head sadly, "As soon as the comments attacking the Prince and Princess appeared, your subordinate went to investigate.
The resettlement of immigrants was personally handled by Minister Chen and Minister Nian, and Yun Ying personally sent people to urge the process. They were only given more than what was stipulated, not less.
For this reason, Wu Ying even borrowed money from Jici Hospital to help with the turnover.
Those people are simply insatiably greedy, there is no other reason."
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow at this, "Yun Ying also got involved?"
"When the imperial court moved south, there were many people causing trouble in Xindu. Yun Ying's subordinates came from various backgrounds and understood the local customs, so they were asked to help."
Chen Jianzhang also echoed, "What Tang Xiao said is correct. Miss Yun Ying indeed helped this old man a lot.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult for the merchants from Shangjing to do business, let alone find a place to stand in Xindu."
Lu Qingwan smiled at Tang Xiao, "It seems you have already spoken to those people?
Don't keep me in suspense, just say it, what demands did they make?"
Lu Qingwan's question was vague, and the others had not yet realized what she was talking about, but Tang Xiao's expression had already changed.
He stammered, hesitated, as if constipated.
Lu Qingwan's eyebrows shot up, "What, you also want to follow Liyang's back route?
Or do you think that now that you are the commander of the Shence Camp, the Dark Hall can no longer hold you?"
Tang Xiao immediately knelt, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. Your subordinate is not neglecting Your Highness, but is only worried that the other party's demands are too shameless, and Your Highness might be angered to the point of harming your health."
This statement made Lu Qingwan even more curious, "Just say it, if I get angry, consider me defeated."
With her words, Tang Xiao could no longer hide anything. Gritting his teeth, closing his eyes, he spilled everything out like a bamboo tube pouring out beans.
"They somehow found out that Buye Zhou is Your Highness's property, and are coveting Buye Zhou's profits. They are demanding that Your Highness share some of Buye Zhou's merchant teams, escort services, supply chains, and customer flow with them.
And they want Your Highness to pay three percent of Buye Zhou's income to pay their taxes for them.
Or, they simply want dividends from Buye Zhou's income, and in return, they will stop spreading the news that the Prince and Princess are infected with cholera.
Otherwise, they will not only spread the news in Xindu that the Prince and Princess are infected with cholera and will drag the entire population to be buried with them.
They will also send letters to their old acquaintances in other places, making the enthronement ceremony a complete failure."
Lu Qingwan laughed, "Three percent of Buye Zhou's income, and dividends for them, which great genius came up with this?"
"The madam of Yan Yu Lou, Lin Jiping, took the lead, and more than a dozen merchants in the city followed suit.
Moreover, they each kept carrier pigeons and indeed had their own channels to send messages out of the city."
Si Fengwu's eyes were cold, "So, you were at their mercy, allowing these lunatics to sit back and wait to carve up the Princess's little treasury?"
Tang Xiao lowered his head sheepishly, "Your subordinate admits his mistake, please punish me, Your Highness."
He was indeed afraid of escalating the situation, so he had temporarily indulged their greed, but now it seemed he had made a mistake.
Si Fengwu did not rush to punish Tang Xiao, but calmly asked, "Were any of those people in close contact with me and the Princess?"
Tang Xiao shook his head, "Indeed, some of those people were present, but they were far from Your Highness and the Princess, so the risk of infection should not be high."
"Then bring them to see me and the Princess.
Aren't they coveting Buye Zhou's profits? Let's discuss how to divide these profits in person."
Tang Xiao was stunned, not quite understanding Si Fengwu's plan.
Elder Wen, standing nearby, added, "And check if there is anyone else in the city spreading the rumor that the Prince and Princess brought the cholera virus, and arrest them all.
There's no need to interrogate them, just drag them to the execution ground, behead them, and burn their bodies.
This will show the common people in the city the imperial court's determination to fight the virus."
"Grandfather!"
Wen Rusong was shocked.
He had never expected that his grandfather, whom he regarded as benevolent, would be so decisive and ruthless.
The others also looked at Elder Wen in astonishment, as if they were meeting him for the first time today.
Only Lu Qingwan stood up, bowed deeply to Elder Wen, "Elder's wisdom is profound, Qingwan is enlightened.
Tang Xiao, act immediately according to what Elder Wen said.
Anyone who slanders me and the Prince, spreads rumors, and disrupts the imperial court's efforts to fight cholera will be apprehended.
Those who deserve to be killed will be killed, and those who deserve to be imprisoned will be imprisoned. Regardless of their identity, once discovered, there will be no mercy."
When Lu Qingwan spoke, Si Fengwu did not stop her, and Tang Xiao knew that this matter was settled.
He got up and left to receive the order.
The Prefect of Jingzhao was still in shock, "Your Highness, acting so arbitrarily, will it not worsen the chaos?"
"It will not."
The one who answered him was Lu Qingwan.
"Yesterday, when the Prince and I personally went down to save people, we had already told all the citizens that we would do our best to protect them.
Even because of our personal contact, the common people will not fear cholera like a devil.
Now, we need to tell that group of people with ulterior motives that although the Prince and I have the world in our hearts, we are not soft persimmons to be trifled with.
The Shence Camp appearing on the streets today is another attitude of the imperial court."
After she finished speaking, she looked calmly at Elder Wen, "Did Elder come all this way to tell me and the Prince this principle?"