Shenmu County, Yan'an Prefecture, is named after the three pine trees about forty paces southeast of Linzhou City in the northeast of the county, which can be hugged by two or three people.
Natural disasters such as famines, floods, droughts, and insect pests often occur in this place. They frequently appear in the "Shenmu County Chronicles". Therefore, the people's customs are fierce, and rebel kings often raise flags here. The simple people rebel not to dominate the world, but just to have a good meal.
Fan Er. A certain rebel king once said that as long as the court gave me a full meal, I would not do this decapitation.
This year, Shenmu County was hit by another disaster. Cicadas were wheezing and thunder was dry, and rocks were scorching. The Quye River (Kuye River) that used to be surging has turned into a small ditch. Some sections of the river have completely dried up without a drop of water.
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Fang Xiangying, the magistrate of Shenmu County, rode a donkey and patrolled various places. Along the way, there was no grass growing in Linzhou City, Sunjiacha, Hejiachuan, Erlintu and other towns. There were victims waiting for porridge at the porridge everywhere. In order to prevent the people from leaving their hometown and becoming
For the refugees, he specifically ordered people to set up porridge farms in towns and villages. The victims were hungry and hung on for one meal. If they wanted to eat, they could only work for the government to build water conservancy projects.
Fang Xiangying saw a boy of 14 or 15 years old, struggling to carry a load of water from Quyechuan towards Gaojiabao. The bucket was very heavy, and there were red marks on the boy's immature shoulders, but he managed to hold the pole steady.
Don't dare to drop even a drop.
"Lord Dragon, please open your eyes and let it rain!" Not far away, an old man organized men, women, and children to worship the Dragon King. Under the scorching sun, he lit incense and candles; scriptures curled up, and a picture showed a dragon.
The paper floated on the small water bowl. The people then kowtowed and shouted: "Lord Dragon, please open your eyes and let it rain!" A strong man killed a rooster as a sacrifice, and the devout people knelt for a long time.
volt.
"Alas! How stupid these people are! If praying to God is useful, why should the government do anything?" Fang Xiangying sighed, and suddenly her eyes filled with tears.
"Wei Ren, what are your ambitions?" He remembered what his friend Mao Jike had asked him originally.
"I want to pass the imperial examination and be a Mu Shou."
"Haha, Weiren is so addicted to officialdom!"
"If we scholars want to establish a heart for the world, establish a destiny for the people, inherit the unique knowledge of the past saints, and create peace for all generations, we cannot do without the people. If we want to benefit the people, we can only become an official! I want to be an official, not because of it
It’s a big addiction, but it’s about fulfilling your ambitions and becoming an upright person!”
Back then, when I said this, I was so excited! Later, I really became an official. My friend Mao Jike went to Changsha Prefecture in Huguang to become an official, and I came to Shaanxi and became the magistrate of Shenmu County.
Being an official is not that easy. Although I want to serve as an official and benefit the country, many benevolent and good governance are difficult to achieve if I want to implement them!
Take the "New Changping Law" promulgated by the imperial court as an example. It was taken seriously from top to bottom, and even the emperor issued an explicit edict: "If a person is guaranteed more than 10,000 yuan, one of his sons will be a scholar."
.The intensity was so great that I thought it could be promoted. Unexpectedly, after publicizing it everywhere, only 700 taels more were loaned than before the publicity.
What's the problem? He wants to go for a walk.
"Master, ahead is Gaojiabao," the attendant reported.
"We won't enter the fort anymore, let's go to the village and have a look."
The county magistrate arrived, and Zhangjiazhuang near Gaojiabao was abuzz. Zhang Chuanxi, the village chief, led men, women, and children to surround Fang Xiangying, "Master, please save the folks in Zhangjiazhuang!"
"What, but the porridge in the porridge is not enough?" Fang Xiangying asked gently.
"Although the porridge in the porridge is not full, we will not starve to death. It's just that the villagers have eaten up all the seeds. What will happen next spring plowing? The court cannot always help us. If we don't have money to buy seeds and farm tools, we will be dead next year."
Zhang Chuanxi’s words reveal deep despair.
"The imperial court is implementing the New Changping Law. As long as a wealthy household is a guarantee, you can borrow money from Daming Bank to survive the disaster years. The interest rate is very low, only 5%, why don't you go?" Fang Xiangying asked.
"Sir, I am the richest family in Zhangjiazhuang. Please come with me to visit my home," Zhang Chuanxi said leisurely.
Fang Xiangying came to Zhang Chuanxi's home. It was a dilapidated cave dwelling with almost no valuables except for a large iron pot. The reason why he was the richest man in the village was because the cave dwelling had a larger space and thicker doors and windows.
"The imperial court implemented the New Changping Law. After Xiao Xiao learned the news, he went to the Shenmu Branch of Daming Bank in the county to guarantee money for the villagers to buy seeds and farm tools next year, but the shopkeeper said that Xiao Xiao only had the money to buy seeds and farm tools next year.
Households that can be considered poor but do not meet the standards of wealthy households are not allowed to lend money," Zhang Chuan sighed happily.
Fang Xiangying thought for a while and asked: "In Shenmu, are the conditions in other villages similar to those in Zhangjiazhuang?"
"Master, our Shenmu is a poor county, and the situation in every township is similar. If we go by the standards of the Daming Bank, there won't be a few wealthy households in the entire county who meet the conditions."
Fang Xiangying fully understood that the new Changping Law did not take into account the situation of poor counties. No wonder it could not be implemented in Shenmu! How did this happen? Daming Bank represents the imperial court and should bear more responsibilities!
In an instant, a rush of blood surged into Fang Xiangying's heart. He pulled Zhang Chuanxi and roared: "Let's go, follow me to the Shenmu Branch of Daming Bank."
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In the largest street in Shenmu County, there is a spacious house that is clean and tidy. The eight characters "Da Ming Qian Zhuang Shenmu Branch" on the door indicate that this place is extraordinary.
This is the only bank in Shenmu County. Because it is a poor county, business is not prosperous, and the bank's business is almost always losing money, so most banks are unwilling to set up shop here. Only banks with state-owned assets such as Daming Bank,
Even if you lose money, you still have to save some money.
At this moment, Liu Youcai, the shopkeeper of Shenmu Branch, was talking to himself, "Hey, since I came to this poor place, I have been losing money every year, my performance is often at the bottom, and my bonuses are much smaller than other places! It seems that I have to beg the boss if I have a chance.
The shopkeeper needs to move to another place."
"Shopkeeper, the county magistrate is here," the clerk came to report.
"Oh, please," Liu Youcai said unhurriedly. Daming Bank had a court background, and he was half an official, so there was no need to curry favor with this mere seventh-grade county magistrate.
"Shopkeeper Liu, I'm here for a loan for the elders of Zhangjiazhuang," Fang Xiangying pointed at Zhang Chuanxi and said, "This is a wealthy man from Zhangjiazhuang, and he is willing to be a guarantor for the elders of the whole village." As soon as they met, he got to the point.
Liu Youcai glanced at Zhang Chuanxi and smiled, "Master Fang is joking. This person has been here before. He is not a rich household, but a poor household."
"This is the richest household in Zhangjiazhuang. Shenmu is a poor county. Please show your support and your merits will be immeasurable."
"Mr. Fang doesn't know something. My Shenmu branch has been at the bottom every year, and I have been reprimanded by the boss many times. If I incur bad debts again because of these loans that do not meet the guarantee conditions, I am afraid I will be fired."
"But the Ming Dynasty Bank represents the imperial court and should value morality more than interests. How can you bear to see the people suffer?"
"I admire Mr. Fang's love for the people. But the bank has its own system, so I'm sorry that I can't help you."
Two people argued for a long time, but neither could convince the other.
Finally, Fang Xiangying got angry, "How about I come to guarantee Zhangjiazhuang?"
This chapter has been completed!