Chen Xi came out of the palace and deliberately did not go to the Wumen Gate to avoid trouble... He was most afraid that Xie Qian would block him at the Wumen Gate, so he simply left the palace from Dong'an Gate and prepared to go back home directly.

He asked for an errand from Zhu Houzhao and was responsible for raising military funds for the coming year.

Zhu Houzhao gave him great power and had ideas about how to implement Chenxi, but he was a little worried about the specific implementation.

Raising military funds worth hundreds of thousands of taels of silver at one time is a trivial matter. The key is that once the war begins, it cannot be stopped by hundreds of thousands of taels, or even millions of taels, which is simply a bottomless pit.

"It seems that we can only win with elite soldiers, but on the vast grassland, it is not as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack?"

Chen Xi called to stop the sedan chair. At this time, he had already changed into casual clothes. After getting off the sedan chair, he walked into a teahouse on the side of the road, and found a place by the window to hide from the quiet.

After about half an hour, Chen Xi still didn't leave. Yun Liu appeared in front of him in men's clothing.

"Sir." Yun Liu bowed.

Chen Xi waved his hand: "The matter has been settled. Because the imperial treasury is tight, the military expenditure needs to be raised by the Ministry of War... The businessmen in the capital do not need you to contact him, you just want to call out foreign merchants... This time I need to do everything myself. The most urgent task is to raise a sum of silver first to calm His Majesty's heart."

Yun Liu looked at Chen Xi, her eyes full of confusion.

Chen Xi looked at Yun Liu and asked, "Why, is this difficult to complete?"

"Sir, there are so many merchants from all over the world. How can we gather these people together in a short time and then ask them for money?" Yun Liu asked with a confused look on his face.

Chen Xi put down his teacup: "In recent years, local industry and commerce have developed rapidly. Due to the development model of the Tingzhou Chamber of Commerce, merchants have now begun to go from working alone to forming cliques, and strong chambers of commerce have surged from all over the country... Oh, by the way, among the merchants around the capital, which are more powerful now?"

Yun Liu replied: "The Lu family and Xu family in the north of the city, and the south of the city... is the dominant family with the surname Zhou... He seems to have some interaction with you, Lord."

"Fatty Zhou?"

Chen Xi frowned slightly, and the image of a fat man appeared in his mind.

Chen Xi and Fatty Zhou had an intersection between the 12th to 15th year of Hongzhi. Fatty Zhou was recruited by Chen Xi and did a lot of things. Later, Chen Xi sent local officials to serve as officials outside the capital, and the situation in the capital changed drastically. Fatty Zhou was also sentenced to prison because of his rich family property. Chen Xi never heard of this person again.

"It's him."

Yun Liu said, "He has the support of Dongchang behind him.... Now that his business is getting bigger and bigger, he has a large number of thugs under his command, and others cannot get involved in the business in the south of the city, especially in the Chongwenmen area."

Chen Xi smiled and said, "It's your godmother who manipulates all this behind the scenes?"

Yunliu lowered her head and said ashamed: "Please forgive me, sir. My godmother has done a lot of wrong things recently..."

Chen Xi's face was still full of smiles, and he did not blame Yun Liu for this.

He was somewhat aware of the situation in the capital, because behind Yunliu was supported by him, the Minister of War, who was deeply favored by the favored minister of the Ministry of War, and he was one of the secret agencies of Dongchang, a mixed group of agents. Although he is just a nominal squad, no one dared to offend him easily.

Since Liu Jin fell, Yunliu quickly expanded his power under his command, and Yu Niang relied on Yunliu's goddaughter to become a householder in the East Factory, and was once prominent.

Chen Xidao: "Since you are an acquaintance, it's easy to deal with. Send someone to say hello to Fatty Zhou. I want to see him. Maybe this person will have some value to me."

"It is not so suitable to meet such a turbulent person as an adult." Yun Liu reminded, "It is better to go to negotiate with him by Beizhi."

Chen Xi smiled and said, "What is my identity? Even the Minister of War, he only has two eyes and one mouth, and one ordinary person... I still meet him personally, and some words can only be explained clearly in person... Tell him that when doing business in the capital, it is best to put the highlights of his eyes and know who to cooperate with to make the business bigger. If he is two-faced, what awaits him will be doomed!"

Yunliu didn't quite understand Chen Xi's meaning at first, but after careful savoring it, she quickly understood it.

In fact, there are more than one local merchants with gang backgrounds who have defected to him. It is said that Fatty Zhou was protected by Yu Niang, but in fact, how can a Yu Niang support a huge business group? Fatty Zhou must have many people to favor, but no matter who it is, he cannot be compared with Chen Xi.

"Go."

Chen Xidao, "Let him see me as fast as possible... Today I just want to have a cup of tea, hide from the quiet, just wait for him here!"

"Yes, sir!"

Yun Liu took the order and left in a hurry.

...

...

Chen Xi stayed in the teahouse and wanted to see how many people were staring at their whereabouts, but after a long time, he still didn't see anyone suspicious.

Chen Xi was very puzzled: "Others may not be interested in my whereabouts. Can I take it calmly as well?"

Just as Shen Xi was thinking about it, several carriages stopped outside the teahouse and jumped out of the carriage, and were then stopped by the guards in plain clothes.

"These are ordered to come and see the young master."

Yun Liu got off the current carriage and said to the guard at the door.

Behind her, someone bowed her head and bowed. As time passed, and the distance was a little far, Chen Xi could not see the appearance of the person who came, but he felt that it was different from Fatty Zhou in the past.

Yunliu took the man into the teahouse and went up to the second floor. Yunliu first saluted: "Sir, you have brought him."

"Call him here." Chen Xidao.

Then the man at the entrance of the stairs came over and kowtowed directly: "Caomin has seen Master Qingtian."

Chen Xi looked at the "Fatty Zhou" kneeling on the ground. To be precise, he can no longer be called a fat man. He lacked the bloated nouveau riche's aura and became much thinner. He almost changed his personality when he met a few years ago.

"Zhou Dangjia, if it weren't for your voice sounding familiar, I really wouldn't recognize each other." Chen Xi said in surprise.

Fatty Zhou kowtowed again and explained: "Caomin is sentenced to prison and wanders thousands of miles away, and goes to the cold land of Liaodong. How can it be the same as before?"

Chen Xi nodded slightly, and after thinking about it carefully, he felt relieved. Fatty Zhou was sent to prison and was sent to Jiubian. He had to eat enough or wear warmly for at least two or three years. It would be good to save his life.

Chen Xidao: "Get up and talk."

"The grass-roots dare not."

Fatty Zhou still knelt there devoutly.

Chen Xi smiled and said, "Since you want to kneel down, I won't stop you... Why? I heard that your business has been doing a very prosperous recently? You have almost taken over the place in the south of the capital?"

Fatty Zhou quickly said, "For the blessing of lord, the villain is just following the right master."

Speaking of this, Fatty Zhou even changed his name.

He even took Chen Xi as his master and even took pride in it.

However, Fatty Zhou wanted to treat Chen Xi as his backer, but Chen Xi was not keen on this. "Who Zhou's family recognizes as the master, I ignore it, but I heard that Zhou's family is a bit unruly in business, and they don't talk about forced buying and selling. Recently, they still died of robbing territory. Daxing County is investigating the case, and Zhou's family seems to have opened up the joints..."

Many secrets are basically taken care of for Chen Xi. Yun Liu didn't explain it before, but after revealing it, he would naturally understand the information he obtained before. Fatty Zhou could not hide in front of him.

When Fatty Zhou heard this, he couldn't help but sweat on his forehead. As a gang that bullies the market, his subordinates must be unable to clean. If Chen Xi really wants to kill him, it would be as easy as killing an ant.

"Sir, please spare me."

Fatty Zhou kowtowed desperately, but at this time he was no longer as panicked as before. The main reason was that he felt that he still had value in use, otherwise Chen Xi would have sent someone to take him down and would not have said so much nonsense.

Chen Xidao: "I am not a county magistrate, so I will not ask about your case, but you should be careful when doing things. After all, it is under the feet of the emperor, and the capital is not so peaceful now."

“Yes, yes!”

The expression on Fatty Zhou's face was filled with confusion, and he had no idea what Chen Xi called him to come.

Chen Xi poured himself a cup of tea, blew the jasmine flowers floating on the surface, and then said: "There are many fish and dragons in the capital, and there are many people doing business... Have you heard of the recent news from the court?"

Fatty Zhou probably understood something and said carefully: "I heard that the court is going to carry out industrial and commercial tax reform, and it seems to be... adding taxes."

Fatty Zhou spoke very carefully, for fear that if he would say something wrong, he would anger the big man in front of him and cause a murder.

Chen Xidao: "You don't have to cover up in front of me. Just say whatever you hear. If you refuse to tell the truth, you will be dissatisfied with yourself."

"yes."

Fatty Zhou gritted his teeth, "The villain heard that this industrial and commercial tax reform was proposed by the adults, and there are two purposes. First, the emperor's current expenses in the leopard room are too high. After Eunuch Liu was executed, someone needed to collect money for His Majesty... Cough, reserve money; second, because the next year, His Majesty will personally lead the army to send troops to the grassland, and need a large amount of food and supplies. The villain does not know much about this, but just tells the adults that they know something they heard."

Chen Xi smiled and said, "It seems you know a lot."

Fatty Zhou was very embarrassed, his face turned blue and red, and he said to himself: "I dare not say it even more ugly."

Chen Xidao: "The public does not have a good evaluation of my official? Will anyone compare my official with Liu Jin?"

Fatty Zhou was a little panicked: "What are you saying? The master is turning the tide and saving the Ming Dynasty building will fall and kill Liu Jin, who deceived His Majesty, the people will applaud you and call you the Master Qingtian... Now, whether it is a storyteller or a play, the people are celebrating your goodness. How dare you be disrespectful?"

Chen Xi ignored Fatty Zhou's compliment and said, "What do you think about the reform of industrial and commercial tax?"

Fatty Zhou felt heavy pressure now, and his expression was avoided: "Many merchants in the capital, heard that the court wanted to increase taxes, and they left the capital one after another, saying that they were going to the south to do business and stayed quiet for a few years... But the villain was not shaken. The capital was the root of the villain and would not leave lightly. Besides, the villain knew that you would not make things difficult for us merchants. After all, you are also a merchant, so you will definitely understand us."

After Fatty Zhou finished speaking, he realized that he was speechless and no official wanted to be mentioned as the past when he was a businessman. In this era, the status of a businessman was very low, and it could even be said to be embarrassing.

"Um."

Chen Xi did not care about this and nodded, "The Zhou family would choose to stand by. My official implemented the reform of industrial and commercial tax, and had no intention of exploiting merchants... But this matter will be given up for the time being."

"Stop?"

Fatty Zhou was very surprised.

Fatty Zhou was well-informed and buried many nails in the government. He knew some secrets of the court. He thought to himself: "Didn't you hear that the emperor would convene a court meeting in the past two days and discuss the establishment of industrial and commercial taxes? What does the emperor eat and drink if he doesn't increase the tax? How should he fight the battle next year if he doesn't increase the tax? How could he give up?"

Chenxidao: "I have asked Your Majesty to ask your Majesty to not mention the reform of industrial and commercial tax for the time being. The military expenses will be raised in the coming year."

Fatty Zhou thought to himself: "It turns out that I'm here to ask for money...then it's easy to deal with. I'll give you the money, and you and me will get the needs. This is exactly what I want."

Fatty Zhou smiled and said, "If you have difficulties, the villain will definitely help you... The villain has some resources to raise tens of thousands of taels of silver for the adult, but..."

"Just what?"

Chen Xi did not act pretentiously. Fatty Zhou said he could raise military expenses, so he continued to talk as he said.

Fatty Zhou did it, "It's like this, sir, the businessmen in the capital have not been having a good life in recent years. Before, Eunuch Liu exploited gentry and merchants too much in order to respect His Majesty. Many merchants have not recovered yet. The villain is afraid that the merchants will not cooperate."

Chen Xi nodded: "That's true. Liu Zhe is covering the sky with one hand and is extremely extravagant. You merchants have money on them. Who can you exploit if he doesn't exploit them? The Zhou family wouldn't think that this official is the second Liu Jin, and they ask for money from you again?"
To be continued...