Zhao Xu was in the mood to eat buns, so he left Pingjiang County with a group of people and left the city.

The carriage walked on the official road and then turned to some small paths.

It was difficult to leave the carriage, so Zhao Xu changed to riding a horse.

Sitting on the tall horse, Zhao Xu looked around.

They had already arrived at farmlands, and at first glance they were full of green wheat.

Meng Tang followed Zhao Xu and said, "The official family does not have much wheat planted in Suzhou Prefecture, most of it is rice. I heard that Suzhou Prefecture's harvest in recent years has been getting better and better..."

Zhao Xu rode a horse, but heard this and said, "Suzhou Prefecture is rich, how many people can lose in a year?"

Meng Tang was stunned and thought Zhao Xu would ask why the Suzhou Prefecture had a good harvest, but the taxes would continue to decrease. He was stunned for a while and said, "Officials, the grain tax in my Song Dynasty has not been high since its establishment. Later, it was reduced repeatedly. In addition, the tax cuts of the government last year should be around 25 taxes. The people should have a lot of surplus..."

Zhao Xu glanced at him and said lightly: "Do you think about it before you talk?"

Meng Tang's face changed slightly, and he hurriedly turned sideways and said, "I know the crime."

Zhao Xu was too lazy to pay attention to him and sighed: "Not to mention the taxes of the Song Dynasty, the wealth of Suzhou Prefecture is still in the hands of the people? The nobles and nobles, gentry and wealthy families occupy the big heads, and the local governments impose heavy taxes and take advantage of the plunder. It is not good for the people to fill their stomachs all year round..."

Meng Tang dared not speak anymore. The official in front of him was so clear. His unreliable flattery was useless.

Zhao Xu rode a horse, and behind him were Hu Zhongwei, Chu You and plainclothes guards. More than a hundred people were walking forward on the country road.

The working people looked up and looked around, and they were guessing in their hearts which official was traveling.

Zhao Xu observed the farmland and canals and wanted to find a few farmers to talk about, but in his lineup, no one could tell the truth.

I don’t know how long I left, but Hu Zhongwei stepped forward and said, “The official family is Zhenze County in front.”

Zhao Xu tied the horse rope and looked up from afar.

I saw a steep mountain, a barren grass, and I couldn't see the front at all.

Zhao Xu thought about this geographical location and suddenly said, "Besides, it's Taihu Lake, right?"

Meng Tang answered, saying, "Yes, the official family, Zhenze in front, Wuxi County in the northeast, and this place is not far from Taihu Lake."

Zhao Xu nodded and thought of a sentence in his mind, "Taihu is familiar, the world is full."

Most of the surrounding Taihu Lake are still desolate and have not been fully developed. The population and farmland are far inferior to those in later generations.

"If this Taihu Lake can cut down trees and build fields and reclaim wasteland, it is impossible to say that it can accommodate tens of millions of people. Such a good place will be left like this, which is a waste..." Zhao Xu couldn't help but say to himself.

Taihu Lake today is much larger than later generations, surrounded by dense forests, and the farmland is less than one-fifth of that of later generations.

Meng Tang listened and wanted to say something, but couldn't open his mouth.

Zhao Xu thought carefully for a while and said, "Meng Tang, please write it down, and then write a memorial to the Political Affairs Hall, in your name, and suggest that the court recruit refugees, cultivate the surrounding areas of Taihu Lake, and come up with a plan, I want to see it."

Meng Tang said: "If the official family recruits refugees and cuts down trees and builds fields, it will probably require a lot of money and food. Given the current treasury situation of the imperial court, it will be very difficult."

Zhao Xu raised his eyebrows and couldn't help but say, "You are right. The national treasury deficit is going to fight again, and the taxes are still decreasing. This clever woman can't cook without rice..."

Chu You looked at Zhao Xu's back and never said anything, but sighed in his heart: the official family, who once believed in the glorious, was also moved by these trivial matters, and could not help himself.

Zhao Xu rode his horse and walked around again, until it was dark before he slowly returned to the city.

After riding for so long, his butt hurts. Zhao Xu looked thoughtful and suddenly said to Hu Zhongwei: "You send a letter to the Luan Jia and let Chenpi come over. It's almost impossible to hide it."

Hu Zhongwei didn't ask anything else and immediately said, "Yes."

Zhao Xu walked slowly with a horse rope in his hand.

After so long, even if we don’t mention the smart people who know Zhang Dun, Cai Bian and others, even the stupidest people can guess what they are from the driving speed of the imperial carriage.

However, I am afraid no one can guess that Zhao Xu is already in Suzhou Prefecture.

After entering the city, Zhao Xu returned to the Zhuangyuan Building and saw a young man sitting in the hall, drinking tea leisurely. The shopkeeper stood not far away, looking scared.

Zhao Xu stood at the door, his expression still, and Yu Guang looked at Meng Tang.

Meng Tang took a step closer and whispered: "Official family, we have no one left behind."

Although Zhao Xu had booked the top scholar building, he almost didn't move much. This time he left the city, almost everyone took away, leaving room.

Zhao Xu observed the young man not far away and laughed in a low voice: "I guess a big man has come. Let's go and meet him."

Zhao Xu raised his hand and left Hu Zhongwei, Chu You and many plainclothes outside the door. He took Meng Tang in.

This is a young man, who is only a few years older than Zhao Xu. He is wearing a white brocade dress and has a frivolous and smiling face. Since Zhao Xu appeared, his eyes have never left him.

Behind him were seven or eight rich servants, holding bright long swords in their hands.

"From Bianjing?" Without waiting for Zhao Xu to approach, he looked at Zhao Xu and said with a smile.

Zhao Xu sat down opposite him, looked at him, and smiled and said, "Local people?"

The young man looked at Zhao Xu for a while and suddenly said, "Interesting, you are an interesting person."

As he said that, he picked up the wine pot, poured a glass for Zhao Xu, and said, "The people from Bianjing can take over the top scholar building as soon as they arrive in Suzhou. But it is not just as simple as having money, but is it a big man taking care of him?"

Zhao Xu glanced at the wine glass in front of him, put the folding fan in his hand on the table, and looked at the young man and said, "It's not big, a fourth-rank official. Look at your posture, is it a local snake?"

The young man drank the wine glass in his hand in one sip and said with a smile: "No, I am the boss of this top scholar building. No one knew about it before, including this shopkeeper."

Zhao Xu looked surprised and said, "I came to me specifically for the purpose?"

"Okay, direct!"

The young man raised his hand and said, "I like people who are straightforward, but I don't like those scholars. If you say something, you have to go around, and it seems that they are reading a lot. The purpose of my personal visit is very simple. A few days ago, someone saw Wang Chengming appear here? Who is he? What is the specific relationship?"

Zhao Xu's expression moved slightly, and Meng Tang's face changed drastically behind him.

Wang Chengming appeared in the Zhuangyuan Building that day and was noticed?

Zhao Xu was just a little surprised, not surprised, and said, "It doesn't matter basically, but he will listen to what I said."

The young man stared at Zhao Xu with his eyes burning, and said for a moment: "You are telling the truth. It seems that you have a background. My purpose is very simple. I am friends from all over the country. I will give you the money you spend in this top scholar building. I will be considered as investing in your business. The money you earn is 30 cents, and you three. Don't be anxious, it's good. There is no need for me to deal with in this one-acre three cents of land in Suzhou Prefecture. I guarantee you will be smooth sailing and make more money. For example, if you made ten cents before, I can make you earn 100 cents, and you get 30 cents, three times out of thin air..."

——
Chapter completed!