I really don’t blame Cai Yanqing for being so troublesome. He has always had a relatively calm personality and is very calm. However, he discovered that there was a technical loophole in this independent declaration.
That's the title deed.
To put it simply, the autumn tax is one dou per mu of land. In most areas of the Northern Song Dynasty, there was no Ding tax. Taxation was entirely based on land, but it was also accompanied by many miscellaneous taxes.
The most terrifying miscellaneous tax in Hezhong Prefecture is the transfer.
During the war, the people of Hezhong Prefecture were even asked to send taxes to Yanzhou. Many people ran away directly, and now they are converted into money.
This is also a considerable amount of income.
If you only look at the land deed for tax collection.
If you want the landlord to tell the truth, it is very, very difficult!
However, Zhang Fei's answer made Cai Yanqing feel like a fool.
There's really nothing to say.
You are already so arrogant, then just wait for your performance!
But rather than waiting for Zhang Fei's performance, it is better to wait for the performances of those big landowners.
Because only after the big landowners finished their performances, Zhang Fei was qualified to come out to perform.
To put it bluntly, someone has to break the law for Zhang Fei to have a chance to show his face. Otherwise, Zhang Fei can only play with his wife at home.
At this time, most of the crops in the field have been harvested, and as far as the eye can see, there are only piles of straw, which also indicates that the autumn harvest period has officially entered.
Generally speaking, summer taxes are collected for only one month, but autumn taxes are collected for three months, from mid-September to mid-January of the following year.
It can be seen that tax collection is a very complicated official business, and it is also the most important achievement of officials.
As long as officials cannot collect enough taxes, they will basically not be promoted.
But what is different from previous years is that this has not yet entered the official tax collection period. Most of the farmers have already paid their taxes and already have the tax money in their hands.
The reason is also very simple: they pay nearly two-thirds less tax than in previous years.
Can this not be positive?
And the branch office gradually became quieter, and everyone began to swat flies.
Treasury!
"How much grain has been collected in the library now?"
Wei Ying asked Meng Cheng, the manager of this warehouse.
Meng Cheng took the account book and read: "Currently, our warehouse has collected a total of 2,361 shi of grain."
Wei Yingfang was surprised and said: "Just this little? I heard that the taxes in the southern part of Hedong County have almost been collected."
Meng Cheng nodded and said, "Yes, 70% of the people listed in the cadastre have already paid taxes."
"Seventy percent."
Wei Yingfang nodded slightly and said, "That's not bad."
Meng Cheng said hurriedly: "Wei Tongpan, according to our estimates, less than 10% of people have not yet paid taxes."
Wei Yingfang asked in astonishment: "What's going on?"
Meng Chengdao: "Because this time the tax is collected based on the land deed, not the cadastral book, among the remaining 30%, more than 20% of the people actually do not have land deeds."
Wei Yingfang asked again: "How much worse is it compared to previous years?"
Meng Chengdao: "Our warehouse is still short of more than four thousand stones."
Wei Yingfang blinked, "Does this mean that in the southern part of Hedong County, less than 10% of the remaining people have to pay more than 4,000 shi in taxes?"
Meng Cheng looked around and said in a low voice: "Wei Tongpan, we in Hedong County are all big gentry, and almost all the land deeds are in their hands. If they don't pay taxes, our salary this year may be a problem.
"
Wei Yingfang wiped his sweat and thought, can they make up for it? No matter, even if they can't make it up, it's not our responsibility. It's the police station that has to do this voluntary declaration.
The tide recedes, and the reefs slowly emerge.
It can be clearly known who owns all these fields.
The big landowners and gentry did not want to stand naked in front of everyone, and of course they were even less willing to pay this amount of money.
It’s hard to go from luxury to frugality!
However, word gradually spread about this self-declared record in the capital.
The big landowners were also very panicked. They began to think of solutions everywhere, and even came to Lu Bangxing to inquire.
That is to say, they have all begun to seek judicial means to solve the problem.
"Mr. Lu, isn't it illegal for the government to exempt those taxes on transfers, changes, etc.?"
Liu Changqing's question directly confused Lu Bangxing.
"I wonder why Mr. Liu asked that?" Lu Bangxing asked.
Liu Changqing said: "If the government breaks the law, we can go to the imperial court to file a complaint!"
In fact, they were a little tempted before, and they just wanted to make up for it. This new official has been in charge of the job for a long time, so he must give him some face and make the accounts more beautiful.
But gradually, they discovered that the hole was probably a little too big.
Lu Bangxing said nonchalantly: "Except Mr. Liu, our tax law does not clearly stipulate transfers and changes. From a legal point of view, if they accept this money, they may be sued."
"oops!"
A fat landowner squeezed over and said, "Don't talk so much, we just want to know how we can avoid paying so much tax."
Lu Bangxing thought for a while, "Actually, there are many ways, and you all know it in your heart, but they are all full of risks. The tax inspection methods of the public prosecutor and the law are hundreds of times stronger than those of the yamen.
Moreover, no one knows at the moment whether the Taxation Department has come. If the Taxation Department has come, my advice to you is to pay taxes legally. Once caught by the Taxation Department, you will have to spend at least two to three times the money.
, and, most likely, you will be caught.”
"Now the tax department has not even seen a shadow, so it must have not come."
"You may not know that the Taxation Department in Beijing just sent a group of people from the police station and made a big splash. So far, no one has figured out why the Taxation Department was able to find so much evidence."
Imperial Court.
"Ouch! President Zhang is going out!"
The big dog at the door of the store suddenly saw Zhang Fei coming out, so he walked over and said hello.
Zhang Fei nodded and said with a smile: "Go out for a walk, otherwise, many people will think that I am hiding inside and cooking up some conspiracy."
The big dog laughed heartily after hearing this.
Zhang Fei asked in a low voice: "What's going on outside now?"
The big dog's expression changed: "It's very complicated."
Zhang Fei yelled: "How do you say this?"
Big Dog said: "Judging from the current situation, the gentry and officials are thinking of ways to deal with this independent declaration, and it is not yet clear that they will pay the tax in full.
And our brothers in Yahang told us that the recent land deed transactions in their store have increased more than 130 times compared to this time in previous years."
Zhang Fei was shocked and said: "More than one hundred and thirty times?"
Big Dog nodded and said: "There are two main situations here. One is to split the big land deed into small land deeds of several acres. This will make it easier for them to pay taxes according to the situation, and it will also be more able to circumvent the government.
investigation.
Another way is for large landowners to annex the fields of fifth-class households. Because many fifth-class households only have a few acres of farmland, or more than a dozen acres. If they pay taxes on land deeds, they will sell the land and find other jobs.
, we need to be more stable, and some big landowners use this matter to instigate the farmers to sell their land."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "I know that they are the most difficult people to deal with. No matter what the court does, they can find ways to annex the land. Moreover, they have broken the land deeds into pieces, which may increase the number of tax officials."
Difficulty of investigation.”
The big dog chuckled: "This way is one foot taller than the devil."
Zhang Fei looked sideways at him.
Big Dog said: "In the past half month, we have expanded very quickly in the countryside, and the reason is that many people are trying to find ways to inform."
Zhang Fei was surprised and said: "Snitch?"
The big dog nodded: "Many farmers have paid taxes. If they know that someone has not paid, they will definitely find a way to report it. Through this, we have also found a lot of informants. In addition, we have already arranged some people in Yahang
, they trade land titles so frequently, so we have a very clear understanding of the land conditions of the surrounding large landowners."
"It can still be like this."
Zhang Fei himself was happy.
He really didn't plan this, and he didn't arrange it. He never thought that there would be an unexpected surprise.
Big Dog said confidently: "If we want to investigate, we also have some evidence in our hands."
At this time, Li Silongwu drove a carriage and came to Zhang Fei's side.
Zhang Fei said to the big dog in a low voice: "Don't act rashly for the time being. Keep a close eye on me. I hope your tax department won't be used this time. Now is not the time to completely break up. I'm leaving first."
"President Zhang, walk slowly."
In fact, Zhang Fei was invited by Fu Shichun to visit the military camp today.
Arriving at the Yongxing Army base camp, Fu Shichun greeted him as soon as he got off the carriage, "If you please, Judge Zhang will personally come to supervise."
"I just came here to see the world."
Zhang Fei shook his head, smiled, and asked: "How are your taxes recently?"
Fu Shichun said: "It's almost over. Eighty-nine percent of the people have paid their taxes, mainly third-, fourth- and fifth-class households, and a small number of second-class households, but they have only received 30% of the tax."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "This is not surprising."
Fu Shichun said: "But what follows is a tit-for-tat confrontation. Our police station is not sure at all. We must know that their tax avoidance methods are endless. Although many people have reported recently, it is only a small piece of land and there is a lack of evidence."
The biggest feature of this self-declaration is that it is legal.
Gentlemen and big landowners all have privileges, but those privileges do not include breaking the law.
So in the battle in Bianliang, their method was to throw money at you. If you catch me, I will accept the punishment. No matter how high-ranking the official is, he would not dare to say that I can break the law.
Then again, you have to get hard evidence.
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "The sky net is vast, sparse and not leaking."
Fu Shichun nodded and didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he said: "But they will definitely delay it until the end. During this period, our police station has nothing to do. If you have no other arrangements, I will prepare some royal police officers."
They are transferred to other states and counties and are responsible for recruiting the Royal Police to the military camps. Now that all the military camps are disarmament, it is a good opportunity for the expansion of our Royal Police."
Zhang Fei thought for a moment, "As long as we can ensure that the police station controls the countryside, that's fine."
"I see."
Fu Shichun said: "But there is definitely still a tough battle to be fought. Those gentry will not give up the countryside easily."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "No one said this would be easy."
While they were talking, they came to the military camp and suddenly heard someone shouting: "Stand up straight, stand up straight."
Zhang Fei turned his head and asked, "What are they doing?"
"Measuring your height."
Fu Shichun said: "You have to be 5 feet 5 tall to enter the next round of screening."
"Wow, are you so strict?"
"do not you know?"
Fu Shichun said: "Military pay is closely related to height. The taller you are, the more military pay you can get."
Zhang Fei said: "Isn't it true that all the people entering the police station are short people?"
Fu Shichun nodded and smiled again: "But some people want to enter the police station and deliberately cannot stand straight."
"Yeah?"
"Although the remuneration of the auxiliary police is not as high as that of the Imperial Guard, our police station is far more clean than this military camp, and wages are paid on time."
"So what is the current situation of disarmament?"
"not bad."
Fu Shichun added: "Since we learned that taxes will be paid based on land deeds this year, another group of soldiers have taken the initiative to apply to leave the military camp. Because if you don't have land deeds, you don't have to bear taxes, so you can go out and find some work without fear of not being able to support yourself."
Suddenly someone said: "Oh! We are not wrong, President Zhang Da."
Zhang Fei turned his head and saw Qin Zhongshou, a Yuhou and a Dutou walking over. He quickly raised his hands and said, "Commander Qin."
"Rare visitor! What a rare visitor!" Qin Zhongshou said with a smile: "Why does Zhang Dating have time to come here today?"
Zhang Fei smiled easily and said: "Our imperial court has been relatively quiet recently, and Master Fu just invited me to come over for a stroll again, so I came over to take a look."
Qin Zhongshou pretended to be surprised and said, "Isn't it right? President Zhang Da has been quite leisurely recently?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "Currently we are busy with agricultural work, and we have no plans to hold a court hearing."
Qin Zhongshou said: "I heard that this year's agricultural tax will only be raised by about 30%."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "What does this have to do with our imperial court?"
Qin Zhongshou chuckled: "Isn't it you who made this voluntary declaration?"
Zhang Fei said: "For example, I invented this knife, but it doesn't mean that everyone who uses the knife has anything to do with me. This is their government's business and has nothing to do with me."
Having said this, he pointed to Fu Shichun aside, "Actually, it has no direct relationship with the police station. The police station only obeys orders and assists the government in collecting taxes."
Fu Shichun nodded.
Qin Zhongshou asked: "Really? If you can't collect this tax, your imperial court will be indifferent."
Zhang Fei said: "Theoretically, yes. Unless the government files a complaint against us, otherwise, the government will not collect taxes, which has nothing to do with our imperial court."
The Marquis Yu next to him said: "Don't you have the Taxation Department in your hands as well?"
When it comes to self-declaration, we must talk about the Taxation Department. Without the Taxation Department, self-declaration is nothing.
Officials came to the capital and had already released the news about the Taxation Department.
"This is really a huge misunderstanding."
Zhang Fei said: "The Public Security Bureau is the Public Security Law, and the Taxation Department is the Taxation Department. The Taxation Department is directly subordinate to the government and has nothing to do with our Public Security Law. I have not heard any news about any taxation department. I don't know why everyone is talking about taxation."
manage."
Qin Zhongshou and Yuhou looked at each other, as if to say, I believe you are a ghost.
yes!
The tax administration is in the hands of the government. If the government cannot collect the taxes, can they not sue?
If they don't sue, they will have to go home and retire.
As for the Taxation Department, officials from the capital believe that the Taxation Department is already lurking in the dark, and as long as the emperor issues an edict, it can open for business immediately.
Otherwise, how dare you declare independently, which requires a lot of technology to support.
The big landowners evade taxes, and they do so with skill, not just in an aboveboard way.
At this moment, I saw a group of fast horses galloping into the military camp, "Brother Xiaochun, look who is coming. Ah! Third brother is here too!"
It was Ma Xiaoyi.
But then I saw only one young man entering the military camp.
Fu Shichun said excitedly: "Fan Da."
The person who came was none other than Fan Zheng.
Last night I accidentally burned the heel of my finger and got a big blister. This code wording is really fatal!