In the princess's mansion, Zhu Yuning and Zhu Xueqing were teasing this little guy, Maruko. Now this little guy is white and fat, with big eyes laughing at everyone, and he likes everyone when he sees it.

But Li Jie sometimes feels that this little guy has arrived and snatched some things that should belong to him. For example, in the past, Zhu Yuning only has himself in his eyes, but now he pays more attention to this little guy. Even Zhu Xueqing is affected. Every time he comes, he will play with the little guy for half a day.

"Xueqing, how is the branch in Kaifeng?" Li Jie finally couldn't help asking at this time. The bank had been preparing to open a branch. He had only opened a branch in Taijin before, but Taijin was too close, and it was mainly a branch of experimental nature. This time he opened a branch in Kaifeng. If there was no problem, the next step would be to open a branch in Nanjing.

"There is no problem with Kaifeng Branch, it's just that the transportation output on the road is a problem." Zhu Xueqing finally raised her head and replied.

"What's wrong with the road?" Li Jie just asked casually, and immediately asked with concern when he heard this answer.

"It's not that our bank is too rich, so it's jealous. I don't know who made the news. As a result, the convoy of vehicles that communicated between the headquarters and the branch was targeted by some bandits. I wanted to start several times on the way. Fortunately, there were many people we sent to escort, so they didn't find a chance!" Zhu Xueqing said helplessly at this time.

There is a special fleet transportation between the bank headquarters and branches. In addition to gold, silver and wealth, it mainly includes some books and other things, and books also account for the majority. After all, for banks, the circulation of information is the most important, so sometimes all the fleets are shipped books.

But even so, it still attracted a lot of covetousness. After all, although Lao Zhu conquered the world, the Ming Dynasty was not completely peaceful. Bishops often gathered in the mountains and forests in various places, and even in Beijing, there were frequent incidents of thieves and thieves from time to time, let alone other places.

"These people are really brave. Even the bank's convoy dares to make decisions. In the past two days, I will ask His Majesty for instructions and send troops to clean up along the way so as not to be harassed again!" Li Jie immediately frowned when he heard this. This is not a trivial matter. If the transportation safety between banks cannot be guaranteed, it will directly affect the success or failure of opening branches in the future.

"I have submitted this to Grandpa Emperor, and I will probably have an answer soon. However, I think sending troops to clean up can only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. In addition, the transportation speed is too slow. Some customers first saved money in the capital and then went to Kaifeng to collect it. However, because the account book has not been shipped, it takes several days to wait." Zhu Xueqing also asked a question again at this time.

"There is no good way to solve this problem for the time being, so I can only put some effort into transportation, such as establishing a fast and efficient transportation network to make the exchanges between banks closer and accelerate the circulation of information." Li Jie thought about it and said helplessly.

In fact, the best solution is to improve the current transportation speed. After all, now it is mainly based on horses and manpower to transport. If trains or cars can be invented, it will be a revolution in the history of transportation. With the rapid increase in transportation speed, the circulation of information between banks will also be faster.

Unfortunately, Li Jie doesn't feel that he can handle it now, either trains or cars. Among them, trains may be easier. After all, the principle of the steam engine is relatively simple and the materials used can be found. He can only prepare it now, but it is estimated that it will be difficult to make it in a few years.

"That's all." Zhu Xueqing said helplessly when she heard this.

"Okay, Xue Qing is a rare trip. Don't discuss these things. Come and see the meatballs and start dancing again!" At this time, Zhu Yuning shouted to Li Jie and the others with stars. Now she only has her son left in her eyes. She has been teasing her son and playing just now, and she didn't listen to what Li Jie and the others were talking about.

Li Jie and Zhu Xueqing also walked over when they heard this. They saw that the little Maruko in the cradle stretched out his hands and kicked his legs. It looked like he was dancing, but the little guy was grinning while dancing, as if he felt that he was doing something very interesting, which made people feel like he was almost melting when he saw it.

But at this moment, Hu Yingyu came to Li Jie with light steps, and then whispered a few words in his ear, which made Li Jie frown. Then he did not disturb the two sisters Zhu Yuning and Zhu Xueqing. He left the room alone and then stepped to the front hall.

When Li Jie stepped into the front hall, he saw a guest in the hall waiting for tea. When he saw Li Jie, the man immediately stood up and smiled, "I am here to visit rashly, I hope the prince consort will not blame him!"

This guest was Zhan Hui, the Minister of Personnel. The two of them were old friends. When Li Jie saw each other, he smiled and said, "Shangshu Zhan is so polite. I wonder what happened to you when you come today?"

In fact, even if Zhan Hui didn't say it, Li Jie guessed a few points when he saw him. It was not the New Year or the Festival today, and today was not the tenth day. Zhan Hui actually came to his home for one thing, which was the terraced field tax that was just announced a few days ago.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Jie said, Zhan Hui immediately showed a little hesitant look, and then he said, "I'm not hiding the prince consort, I'm here this time to ask the prince consort about the terraced field tax!"

"Terrail tax? Isn't this the new tax law that Your Majesty just implemented in the Jiangnan area? How did you ask me about this?" Li Jiegu asked in confusion.

When Lao Zhu announced the terraced field tax before, he did not say that it was proposed by Li Jie. After all, this matter had a great impact. If people knew that it was proposed by Li Jie, it would probably cause many people to point at Li Jie's backbone and scold him. This is also considered Lao Zhu's protection for Li Jie.

"The terraced field tax is indeed only implemented in the Jiangnan area now, but there is a lot of controversy over this matter in the court. Many of them are discussing whether Your Majesty will expand the terraced field tax to the whole country in the future?" Zhan Hui said again with a bitter face at this time.

Ministers like Zhan Hui were not stupid either. They knew the impact of the terraced field tax. Moreover, it was only affected by Jiangnan. If it expanded to the whole country in the future, I am afraid that the family behind them would be difficult to escape.

"Well..." Li Jie also laughed in his heart when he heard this. If he were Zhan Hui and others, he would probably have the same concerns, but they did not dare to ask Lao Zhu. Zhu Biao should not have any news, so these people set their minds on him, wanting to see if they could ask something from him?
Chapter completed!