After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Zhao Hanzhang: "So I exempted one carriage on the vehicle and ship tax."

Zhao Hu: "What use is one carriage? Just the carriages I use at home are three. Why don’t you just exempt the vehicle and ship fees for gentry and officials?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Zhao Hu paused here, eyes wide open: "No, you’re fooling me again. You only exempted officials and the Three Elders on vehicle and ship fees. I’m not an official, nor one of the Three Elders, so my family’s vehicles and ships all have to pay taxes!"

Zhao Hu’s words were accompanied by flying spittle, Zhao Hanzhang could only let it dry on her face, still smiling warmly, "Seventh Ancestor, did you forget about Uncle Cheng and the cousins? They each have tax exemption for one carriage, and Fifth Uncle has it for Uncle Ming too. Oh, and Shen has done meritorious service, he can become an official when he recovers, then we’ll have two carriages in the family exemption quota."

Zhao Song and Zhao Hu were stumped by her words, naturally, compared to paying taxes, the younger generation’s prospects were more attention-grabbing.

But Zhao Hu wasn’t easily fooled, he just paused before reacting, "We were talking about the Calculation Order, don’t distract with other things. All gentry have to calculate money on this, who would want to come and be an official under you after this?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Seventh Uncle, you speak too crudely for gentry, and officials have exemption quotas, isn’t that better than ordinary people?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "Even I am no exception; I also have to pay the calculation money."

Zhao Hu wanted to rebut but paused, a thought struck him, and he looked Zhao Hanzhang over, "Does the Zhao Family Army count as assets then?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s troops are numerous now, if a carriage or horse all counted as money, then...

Zhao Hu quickly calculated, the more he calculated, the brighter his eyes became, as if intent, Zhao Hanzhang just paying these alone would bankrupt her, right?

While rejoicing, Zhao Hanzhang coldly said, "Seventh Uncle, you jest, what Zhao Family Army is there under this heaven? Aren’t these the court’s troops?"

Zhao Hu and the three men behind him all looked at Zhao Hanzhang in shock, she was so shameless, how could she say such words?

Even Zhao Song blushed, struggled back and forth, deciding to temporarily help persuade Zhao Hu, mainly because there were outsiders around, they couldn’t let them see the Zhao Family’s joke.

"You heard it too, even Third Lady has to calculate the money."

Zhao Hu angrily, "Not counting Zhao Family Army, what money does she have now? She naturally wouldn’t worry, but I have plenty of property. Even when the Jin Dynasty was ruling Luoyang, I never paid calculation money, now she is in charge, and I have to pay..."

This is meaningless, he’s done!

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression cooled slightly, to save Zhao Hu some face, she turned and said to the three behind him, "Mr. Chen, would you like to rest and have tea in the side room?"

Zhao Yunxin immediately stepped forward and cheerfully invited the three to move.

Mr. Chen and the other two regretted it once Zhao Hanzhang started emitting cold air; as soon as Zhao Yunxin spoke, the three dared not look at Zhao Hu and quickly got up to leave.

Once the three left, Zhao Hanzhang’s smile had faded.

Zhao Hu was still unafraid of her, feeling he was justified, so he aggressively stared at Zhao Hanzhang, to see what she could say.

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips held a faint smile, "Seventh Uncle, since I took over Yu State, didn’t your assets increase by nearly ten times?"

Zhao Hu: "That’s all due to my own abilities, you never helped me."

Zhao Hanzhang just silently looked at him, Zhao Hu started to stutter, "I, and that was because of my connections."

Zhao Hanzhang snorted lightly, "Without the Zhao Family and me as your backing, could your business outside Xiping proceed smoothly? Not to mention how many local aristocratic families there are in Jiangnan, where someone privately minted copper coins. When you transported the new money there, did it spread on your own reputation?"

The market is only so big; those minting copper coins privately in Jiangnan must be local major forces, possibly several aristocratic families uniting. Zhao Hu entered their market, the goods weren’t snatched, nor was he killed, could it be because of him?

Of course not; they turned a blind eye, giving Zhao Hu a path simply because Zhao Hanzhang stood behind him.

"Your current caravans, whether heading south or north, all operate under the Zhao Family Army’s banner, don’t they?" Just the banners Zhao Hu secretly took served as troops, and he took more than one.

"Not to mention you use my name in various states and counties for convenience," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Every time I conquer a state, you buy houses and land with the best properties. Could you get them for such favorable prices without the Zhao Family, without me?"

"And in various trades," Zhao Hanzhang’s face turned colder, "Grain and salt prices soared this year, how much did Seventh Uncle earn from it?"

Zhao Hu’s flushed face calmed somewhat, justified, "It’s not like I raised the grain prices, I just made money taking advantage. Can this be blamed on me?"

Zhao Hanzhang sternly said, "Seventh Uncle, different positions require different responsibilities. You benefited from the convenience brought by me and the Zhao Family, you must contribute something for us to strengthen our reputation."

She said, "Following the tide and profiteering in commerce can be done by others, but you can’t. Besides, where did you get the salt?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze became sharper, fixing him, "Trading private salt is a serious crime, not to mention secretly opening salt mines!"

Zhao Hu sourly replied, "The world has long been chaotic, officials are indistinct from private entities, others do it, why can’t I?"

Zhao Hanzhang coldly replied, "From now on, apart from me, no one else under heaven can do this."

Zhao Hu widened his eyes, "You!"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Seventh Uncle, besides reasoning, I also enforce through authority."

Zhao Hu was immediately at a loss for words.

Zhao Song frowned tightly but said nothing.

Zhao Hu looked at him, seeing he wouldn’t speak for him, could only reluctantly accept.

Zhao Hanzhang softened her expression, "Seventh Uncle, why cling to temporary gains? I’m not afraid to tell you, I only intend to impose the calculation money once."

Zhao Hu paused, asking, "Aren’t you restoring the old system?"

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "The Calculation Order severely affects commerce, I didn’t want to use it originally, but with the empty treasury, to prevent chaos, I can only resort to this method, using the rich to support the poor. Once past this year, it will naturally be lifted next year when times improve."

Zhao Hu discreetly exhaled, Zhao Song’s demeanor visibly improved too.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at the two, "Please keep this confidential for me, few know about this matter, to avoid delays and concealment, we haven’t leaked the news."

Zhao Hu muttered inwardly: You’re better off not telling me; I could delay until it’s abolished next year.

Zhao Hanzhang seemed to know his thoughts, saying to Zhao Hu, "I ask Seventh Uncle to set a leading example, otherwise with an empty treasury, I can’t sustain the army, in the end, clan support will be needed, after all, the Zhao Family Army, it bears the Zhao Family’s name, also Seventh Uncle’s caravan carries the flag of Zhao."

Zhao Hu: ...

Zhao Song immediately turned to Zhao Hu, "Pay the calculation money properly, however much needs to be paid. My family also has to pay."