Chapter 155 Hidden Away

"The Mu family raises assassins?" Yan Qing looked at him with a thoughtful look in his eyes, "So you use this to control them?"

"No." Wen Jin shook his head subconsciously, then hesitated for a moment, "I guess so."

Yan Qing frowned: "Is it true?"

"I just made a deal with them." Wen Jin weighed his words, "I am willing to protect them. Someone in the court will make it much easier for them to do business. No one in the government dares to find fault with them, and even the conspiracies in the business world will be much less. The condition is that the Mu family will set aside 50% of the annual profit from the taxes that need to be paid to the treasury as a tribute."

Paused, "I made a deal with them back then. When they talked, they didn't say that this was money for His Highness, so the Mu family didn't know that the money was used to raise troops. Mu Dongli's appearance in Suzaku City three years ago should be just a coincidence. "

Yan Qing raised his eyebrows slightly: "Is this considered collusion between officials and businessmen?"

"It shouldn't be...right?" Wen Jin denied innocently, but he looked a little unconfident. "As the largest merchant in Dayong, the Mu family can't be said to be very upright and kind in their style of doing things, but there are no particularly big mistakes. Normal competition in the business world is their own ability. As long as they don't do things that harm one party, they are not considered unscrupulous merchants, and there is no collusion between officials and businessmen."

Yan Qing looked at him without saying a word.

Wen Jin was silent for a moment, and couldn't help but hook her finger lightly: "Is Your Highness angry?"

"What do you think?"

Wen Jin looked at her silently, lowered his eyes: "I know I was wrong, I shouldn't engage in collusion between officials and businessmen."

"The three brothers of the Mu family are not so easy to control."

Wen Jin said modestly: "As long as you find the weak spot, there is no one who is not easy to control."

He always used this humble tone in front of Yan Qing, trying to be as peaceful and calm as possible, looking harmless, but no one could imagine the ruthlessness hidden behind this sentence "As long as you find the weak spot, there is no one who is not easy to control."

Yan Qing lowered her eyes and looked at his restless hands, and said in a light tone: "You, the Prime Minister, are really hidden."

Wen Jin's tone sounded very obedient: "It is right for a powerful minister to do all these, otherwise wouldn't it be a waste of Your Highness's years of painstaking teaching?"

Yan Qing didn't speak.

"The emperor has no way of knowing the exact amount of the Mu family's annual income. With their level, they can save a lot of taxes by tampering with the account book." Wen Jin poured a cup of tea for Yan Qing, "It's the same as paying it to the national treasury. Why not deduct half of it and leave it for His Highness? It won't be a big loss for the Mu family, and they can also get the protection of a powerful official. Why not?"

Scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans, merchants are the last.

Even if there are extremely rich merchants, since ancient times, people have never fought against officials. If the court wants to make a family disappear, there are many ways.

It's convenient for the Mu family to have someone in the court to protect them.

Yan Qing pondered. No wonder Wen Jin said that he could get so much silver when he heard her say that Dong Li wanted to give her silver. The tax silver that the Mu family paid to the court every year was more than one million? Even if there was a discount, and half of it was deducted, 500,000 taels was just a small amount.

But how many merchants are easy to deal with? The Mu family has huge financial resources. Even if the court has regulations, their private power is definitely not small.

Dealing with such people, especially holding their handles, is a risk in itself.

Yan Qing said in a light voice: "You, a powerful official, never show mercy when calculating people."

Wen Jin said: "To be precise, I calculated the money of the national treasury. Since His Highness will get the chair sooner or later, it is reasonable to give this money to His Highness in advance."

Yan Qing thought about it and felt that his twisted reasoning was quite reasonable, so he nodded, accepting his explanation.

"How many assassins does the Mu family have?"

"Six hundred."

Yan Qing frowned: "So many?"

"Assassins are also one of the Mu family's assets." Wen Jin explained, "They raise assassins not only to protect their family members, but also to lend them to other families in need as escorts, in exchange for high commissions."

Yan Qing's expression was slightly gloomy: "There are too many assassins. No matter what they are used for, they cannot be left alone."

Wen Jin lowered his eyebrows: "Yes."

Yan Qing raised his eyes to look at him, relaxed his body and leaned on the brocade couch, "The Mu family has so many assassins, and you still dare to control them like this. Aren't you worried that one day these assassins will take your life?"

Wen Jin said: "They don't have such great ability."

"Overconfidence is stupidity." Yan Qing said coldly, "The Mu family has no intention of doing anything now. You think you have control over the overall situation. What if they think that this handle in your hand will threaten the fate of their family at any time in the future? Do you think they won't go all out to get rid of you? "

Wen Jin was silent for a moment, without further explanation, and said meekly: "I will be careful."

"The Mu family's death warriors cannot be kept." Yan Qing said calmly, "But they can't be moved for the time being."

Wen Jin hummed: "The lifespan of death warriors is limited, and they will occasionally be killed. I will limit the number of new death warriors they continue to train to prevent them from growing stronger."

"They clearly know that they have done something they shouldn't have done, but they dare to say that the Mu family can't find any big mistakes. Just the fact that they privately raise death warriors is enough for them to be executed. "Yan Qing frowned slightly, "Six hundred death warriors, so many important officials in the court don't dare to raise so many, the Mu family is quite courageous."

Wen Jin lowered his eyes quietly. When he was planning, he only thought about whether these people could be used or not, and how to hold their weak points when dealing with the available people to maximize the benefits, so it was inevitable that he would do whatever it took.

He said that the Mu family had not made any big mistakes. This statement itself was wrong. Raising assassins was the most unacceptable crime for a monarch. It was just that before Yan Qing ascended to that position, Wen Jin wanted more bargaining chips, so he temporarily tolerated this hidden danger.

"If the regent knew about the Mu family, it would definitely be unacceptable." Yan Qing frowned, "You have only a short time to plan and layout, so it is inevitable that you are a little anxious. This palace can understand, but every time you do something, you must think about not planting disasters for the future."

Wen Jin bowed his head and responded: "Yes."

Yan Qing glanced at him, not knowing whether he was worried that he would feel inferior and blame himself again, and softened his tone: "This palace is not blaming you for not doing well, don't think too much."

Wen Jin hummed: "Even if Your Highness blames me, I am happy."

Yan Qing: "..." What is there to be happy about?

"Your Highness is thinking about the overall situation, while I am only thinking about my own immediate interests." Wen Jin pursed his lips, "I am still not as broad-minded and visionary as Your Highness."

Yan Qing raised his eyebrows: "Your ability to flatter is getting stronger day by day."

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