Zhao Hanzhang: “So for the vehicle and boat tax I reduced one vehicle as exemption.”
Zhao Hu: “What use is one vehicle? Just for my own use, I have three carriages. Why don’t you just not collect vehicle and boat fees from gentry and officials?”
Zhao Hu paused here, his eyes widening: “Wait, you’re tricking me again. For vehicle and boat fees you also only exempted officials and honored elders. I’m neither an official nor an honored elder, so all my family’s vehicles and boats have to pay taxes!”
Zhao Hu spoke with spittle flying. Zhao Hanzhang could only endure it with a dry face, still smiling warmly. “Seventh Uncle-Granduncle, have you forgotten about Uncle Cheng and cousin Zheng? They each have a tax exemption quota for one vehicle. Fifth Uncle-Granduncle also has Uncle Ming. Oh, and cousin Shen has achieved merit this time. Once his injuries heal, he should also hold an official position. Then the family will have a quota for two vehicles and horses.”
Zhao Song and Zhao Hu were stunned by her words. Compared to paying taxes, naturally their family’s younger generation’s prospects attracted more attention.
However, Zhao Hu was not easy to fool. After just a pause, he reacted: “We’re talking about the Suanmin Order. Stop bringing up other things. If gentry all have to pay Suanmin money, see who will still be willing to come serve as officials under you.”
Zhao Hanzhang: “Seventh Uncle-Granduncle makes scholars sound too vulgar. Moreover, officials all have exemption quotas. Isn’t that better than ordinary commoners?” Zhao Hanzhang said: “Even I am no exception. I also have to pay Suanmin money.”
Zhao Hu’s rebuttal paused. His heart stirred, and he looked Zhao Hanzhang up and down. “Do the troops and horses in the Zhao family army count as assets?”
Now Zhao Hanzhang commanded quite a few troops. If one vehicle, carriage, or horse cost oneç®— worth of money, then…
Zhao Hu quickly calculated, his eyes brightening more and more, while simultaneously becoming ruthless. Just paying these fees would bankrupt Zhao Hanzhang, wouldn’t it?
Just as he was feeling pleased, he heard Zhao Hanzhang say faintly: “Seventh Uncle-Granduncle jests. Where in this realm is there any Zhao family army? Aren’t they all the court’s military forces?”
Zhao Hu and the three gentlemen behind him all looked at Zhao Hanzhang in shock. How shameless of her—how could she have the face to say such words?
Even Zhao Song’s face reddened. After struggling back and forth for a moment, he decided to temporarily help persuade Zhao Hu on Zhao Hanzhang’s behalf. Mainly because there were outsiders present—they couldn’t let them see the Zhao family’s embarrassment.
“You also heard that Sanniang has to pay Suanmin money too.”
Zhao Hu was furious. “Not counting the Zhao family army, what money does she have now? Of course she’s not anxious. But my family has deep pockets. Fifth Brother, even when the Jin court in Luoyang was in charge, I never paid Suanmin money. Now that she’s in charge, I have to pay instead…”
This made no sense at all. He wasn’t playing anymore!
Zhao Hanzhang’s expression turned slightly cold. To preserve Zhao Hu’s dignity, she turned to the three men behind him: “Would the Chen gentlemen please move to a side room for tea and rest?”
Zhao Yunxin immediately came out, smiling as she invited the three to relocate.
The three Chen gentlemen had already regretted following Zhao Hu to demand an explanation from Zhao Hanzhang when she began emitting cold air. As soon as Zhao Yunxin spoke, all three dared not look at Zhao Hu and immediately stood to leave.
Once the three left, the smile on Zhao Hanzhang’s face faded.
At this moment, Zhao Hu still wasn’t afraid of her. He felt he was in the right, so he stared imposingly at Zhao Hanzhang, waiting to see what flowers she could produce.
The corners of Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth held a shallow smile as she said: “Seventh Uncle-Granduncle, since I took over Yuzhou, your assets have increased nearly tenfold, haven’t they?”
Zhao Hu: “That’s all due to my own abilities. You refused to help me.”
Zhao Hanzhang just looked at him quietly. Zhao Hu stammered somewhat: “I, that’s also because I worked connections up and down.”
Zhao Hanzhang snorted lightly: “Without the Zhao clan and me as your backing, could your business outside Xiping have proceeded safely? Never mind the distant—in Jiangnan itself, local clans are numerous. There are people who privately mint copper coins. The new coins you transport to Jiangnan can be used—does that rely on your reputation?”
The market was only so large. Those who dared privately mint copper coins in Jiangnan must be major local forces, even several clans united together. With them circulating their privately minted copper coins on the market, Zhao Hu inserted himself into their market—his goods weren’t robbed, he wasn’t killed. Was that because of Zhao Hu?
Of course not. They turned a blind eye and made room for Zhao Hu, merely because he had Zhao Hanzhang standing behind him.
“Your current merchant caravans, whether going south or north, all fly the Zhao family army banner, don’t they?” Just that one banner Zhao Hu had secretly taken was equivalent to how many troops? And he hadn’t taken just one.
“Not to mention the conveniences you’ve enjoyed in various states and commanderies using my name,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “I conquer a state, and you immediately take money to buy houses and land. Which time weren’t you given the best picks? Without the Zhao clan, without me, could Seventh Uncle-Granduncle have obtained those things at such favorable prices?”
“And all those various businesses,” Zhao Hanzhang said, her expression growing colder. “This year grain prices and salt prices soared. How much money did Seventh Uncle-Granduncle make taking advantage of the situation?”
The redness in Zhao Hu’s face receded somewhat as he stated matter-of-factly: “I didn’t raise the grain prices. I merely took advantage of the trend to make this money. Can this be blamed on me too?”
Zhao Hanzhang said coldly: “Seventh Uncle-Granduncle, people in different positions must fulfill different responsibilities. You’ve enjoyed the conveniences brought by me and the Zhao clan, so you must contribute something for me and the Zhao clan to consolidate the Zhao clan’s reputation.”
She said: “Going with the flow and making excessive profits as a merchant—others can do it, but you cannot. Moreover, where did you get your salt?”
Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze grew sharper as she stared at him. “Selling illegal salt is a grave crime, let alone your private opening of salt mines!”
Zhao Hu felt somewhat defiant: “The realm has long been in chaos, with no distinction between official and private. If others can do it, why can’t I?”
Zhao Hanzhang said coldly: “From now on, except for me, no one else in the realm can do such things.”
Zhao Hu’s eyes widened. “You!”
Zhao Hanzhang: “Seventh Uncle-Granduncle, besides convincing people with reason, I also convince them with authority.”
Zhao Hu suddenly couldn’t speak.
Zhao Song’s brow furrowed tightly, but he didn’t make a sound.
Zhao Hu looked at him. Seeing he wouldn’t speak up for him, he could only reluctantly and unwillingly acquiesce.
Only then did Zhao Hanzhang soften her expression: “Seventh Uncle-Granduncle, why be fixated on petty immediate gains? I won’t hide it from you—I only plan to collect Suanmin money once.”
Zhao Hu was slightly stunned and asked: “Aren’t you restoring the old system?”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “The Suanmin Order severely damages commerce. I didn’t want to use this method originally, but with the national treasury empty, to prevent chaos throughout the realm, I can only implement this law—having the wealthy support the poor. Once we get through this year, when life is better next year, it will naturally be abolished.”
Zhao Hu quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Song’s expression also improved considerably.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at the two: “Please keep this secret for me, Uncle-Granduncles. Not many people know about this. To prevent people from delaying and concealing, I haven’t let word leak out.”
Zhao Hu grumbled internally: You might as well not have told me. I’ll delay too, delay until next year when it’s abolished.
But Zhao Hanzhang seemed to know what he was thinking and said to Zhao Hu: “I still ask Seventh Uncle-Granduncle to set an example. Otherwise, with the national treasury empty, I can’t support the army. In the end, the clan will still have to help. After all, the Zhao family army—it bears the surname Zhao of the Zhao clan, and it’s also the Zhao on the banner your merchant caravans fly.”
Zhao Hu: …
Upon hearing this, Zhao Song immediately turned to Zhao Hu: “You properly pay the Suanmin money. Pay as much as you should. My family also has to pay.”
—