Although Zhang Dai and Ruan Dacheng like to travel around the mountains and rivers, they only use the time when they park their boats in the evening to visit nearby scenic spots. Anyway, they can sleep well while boating during the day and will not delay the important event of going to Beijing to take the exam——
Cross the river early in the morning on the fifth day of winter and enter the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Although it is the cold winter season, this golden waterway connecting the capital and the south of the Yangtze River still faces each other from the south to the north. This is already the boundary of Yangzhou, and there are hundreds of thousands of dollars in wealth.
, riding a crane down to Yangzhou, Yangzhou is a place that even gods yearn for.
Zhang Yuan and Jin Nige translated twenty "Aesop's Fables" in the morning. In the afternoon, Ruan Dacheng bought wine on the boat and invited everyone, called the "Guangling Poetry Drinking Party". They wanted to recite Yangzhou poems, drink Yangzhou wine, and taste two
Fourteen Bridges Wind and Moon, Zhang Yuan went to Ruan Dacheng's boat and brought with him forty newly translated "Aesop's Fables". After reading it, Wen Zhenmeng, Jiao Runsheng and others all praised him and said that Westerners also have such great wisdom.
He also heard from Zhang Yuan that Aesop was about the same time as Laozi and Confucius. All the disciples knew that Western civilization also had a long history and developed a strong interest in Western learning. Wen Zhenmeng expressed his willingness to help Zhang Yuan translate this "
"Aesop's Fables" was something Zhang Yuan could not have wished for. Wen Zhenmeng was knowledgeable and elegant in his writing. He was fully qualified to translate "Aesop's Fables". As for other astronomical and calendrical treatises, only he could translate them in cooperation with Jin Nige.
It is easy for others to make mistakes when translating, and translators are not that easy to do——
It is already the weather in September, and it is even colder when boating on the water. At this time, drinking hot wine around the stove is the most comfortable thing. Ruan Dacheng has prepared a variety of Yangzhou famous wines to entertain guests, including Yangzhou snow wine, bergamot wine, and five-star wine.
Add skin wine and pearl wine, and agreed that everyone present would recite a poem related to Yangzhou. It would be better if they could compose it by themselves. The boat was bustling in Yangzhou. In the afternoon, when the time was approaching Yangzhou Chaoguan, I suddenly heard someone in the neighboring boat shouting.
He asked in a voice: "May I ask whether Kifune is the master who came to Beijing to take the exam?"
Ruan Dacheng's boatman responded: "What's the matter?"
As soon as the middle-aged businessman in Linzhou heard this, he knew the right person to ask, and immediately said with a smile: "I'm from Gaoyou, and I'm doing some salted duck egg business. I'm afraid that the customs in front of me will collect heavy taxes, so I want to hire someone.
I would like to offer you two taels of silver as wine money for the gentlemen."
The boatman said: "Two taels of silver, how could the fame of being elected become so worthless!"
The neighbor's businessman said with a smile: "It's a small business. How much money can I make from salted duck eggs? It's just a cash check in front of me. Please give me some sympathy, sir."
From Hangzhou to Yangzhou, Zhang Yuan and the others had already passed five banknotes on the waterway. Chaoguan is the toll station where the government collects shipping tax and goods tax. Generally, the shipping tax is ten cents for a small boat, thirty cents for a medium ship, and thirty cents for a large ship.
Fifty cents. In addition to the shipping tax, merchant ships also have to pay goods tax. The goods tax depends on the value of the goods. However, officials, eunuchs and civil servants do not need to pay, so some ships carrying passengers or cargo
Civilian ships hire an escort to escort them. The distance is long, and if you pay more bills, you can save a lot of money. The more daring merchant ships hang up signs like "Chief Secretary's Hall" and "Principal Secretary's Hall" to pretend to be official ships to evade taxes——
Ruan Dacheng heard this in the cabin and asked everyone present with a smile: "Gaoyou salted duck eggs are delicious, who among you can earn some salted duck eggs to drink with wine?"
Zhang Yuandao: "Merchant ships should pay taxes. If we want to eat salted duck eggs, we can buy them ourselves. (--Net.)"
Ruan Dacheng was a little embarrassed, so he laughed to cover it up and asked his servant to buy a basket of salted duck eggs from Linzhou. When the merchant from Linzhou heard that Master Juren was not willing to condescend to escort him, he hurriedly said: "I am willing to pay three taels of silver for the wine and give you one as a gift."
A basket of salted duck eggs, please help me move my jade toe."
At this time, it was close to Yangzhou Chaoguan. Because the front checkpoint blocked boats to collect taxes, the boats on the river were moving slowly, and the front boat squeezed the rear boat. The Gaoyou merchant's three-scull boat was close to Ruan Dacheng's boat. The salted duck egg merchant begged hard,
Zhang Yuan walked to the bow of the ship and said to the salted duck egg merchant: "If you cross the river from Gaoyou, the duck eggs must have been sold out. If you go through the banknote customs, it will only cost you a few dozen yuan to pay the ship tax. Why do you need to beg me to wait?"
The salted duck egg merchant crossed his hands and said, "I don't dare to lie to the master. A small businessman sold salted duck eggs to Zhenjiang. The duck eggs were basically sold out. But the merchant wanted to make a profit and had no reason to return home empty-handed, so he bought more than a hundred jars of Zhenjiang fragrant vinegar and returned to Gaoyou.
, seeking some small profits.”
Zhang Yuan asked: "How much tax do you think the checkpoint in front of you will charge you?"
The salted duck egg merchant said with certainty: "It will not be less than five taels. If you meet a ruthless tax collector, you will even accept ten taels of silver."
Zhang Yuandao: "How much is a hundred jars of balsamic vinegar worth? If there is a silver tax of 5 taels per banknote, then the price of vinegar will be doubled several times when transported from Zhenjiang to the capital. Isn't it said that there is a tax of 30 taels?"
The salted duck egg merchant said with a smile: "I am a student of sages, and I don't know anything about the humble business of ordinary people. The thirty tax refers to the commercial tax paid by each shop to the local government. This tax is indeed not high, but the transportation of goods
Every time you pass a banknote, you have to pay thirty-one tax. If you can really pay thirty-one tax, that's it. But when it comes to collecting taxes, tax collectors are greedy and overestimate the value of goods, often doubling or even several times collecting taxes.
After all this trouble, the little people will have no profit at all."
Huang Zunsu, who followed Zhang Yuan out, said: "Since the tax on banknotes is heavy, merchants will never lose money. They will never sell at a low price if they buy it at a high price. The merchants will raise the selling price. In the end, ordinary people will be the ones who suffer."
The salted duck egg merchant called Qu Dao: "Two gentlemen, the villain's prices are always fair. Besides, if the price of salted duck eggs is too high, no one will buy the villain's eggs. The eggs are no different from others and will go bad. That villain
Aren’t people going to lose money?”
Zhang Yuan nodded and said: "Customs and taxes on banknotes are heavy, and business travel is difficult, which ultimately makes everything for the people expensive."
Huang Zunsu said: "Some big businessmen who have close ties with the government can make huge profits from it."
The salted duck egg merchant nodded repeatedly: "The two gentlemen are absolutely right. This is the truth. When big businessmen make a fortune, it is the small businessmen like the villain who are just looking for a bite to eat who suffer." When he said this, he looked at him eagerly.
Zhang Yuan and Huang Zunsu were eager to escort.
Zhang Yuan ignored the eager eyes of the salted duck egg merchant and refused: "We will not board your ship, and you still have to pay the tax."
The Gaoyou businessman suddenly withered, with a sad face, and went back to the cabin to prepare for the tax collector's inspection and tax collection. But then he came out with another basket of salted duck eggs and handed it over from across the boat: "These are authentic Gaoyou salted duck eggs. There are some left that haven't been sold out.
This basket is for the gentlemen to try. It is free of charge. It is free of charge. It is also a small man's blessing to meet several noble men by chance. This is a small man's filial piety to the old men."
The boatman on Ruan Dacheng's side said with bright eyes: "How can I bear with you?" Seeing that Zhang Yuan had no intention of refusing, he stretched out his pole and took the bamboo basket over.
The salted duck egg merchant sighed when he saw that Zhang Yuan still didn't say anything. This time he was really ready to check and pay taxes.
There are crossbars blocking the river at Chaoguan. When a ship pays its dues, the crossbars will tilt up on both sides to allow the ship to pass. Fan Wenruo, Weng Yuansheng, and Zhang Dai's boats in front showed the official documents for the imperial examination, and they all passed quickly. Zhang
Yuan Yuan signaled Ruan Dacheng's boatman to fall behind and let the Gaoyou businessman pass first. He, Huang Zunsu, and Ruan Dacheng stood on the bow of the ship and watched -
I saw two tax collectors wearing soap-colored plate-collar shirts and tin badges tied around their waists. They jumped onto the three-oared boat of the Gaoyou merchant. They asked a few questions and then went to the bottom to look. After a while, they came out and said, "The tax amount is eight dollars."
Two or six cents."
"Eighty-two-six yuan!" the salted duck egg merchant shouted: "The total price of my half-ship of balsamic vinegar is only sixty-two yuan, but they charge me eighty-two-six yuan in customs duties. How can I do business?"
The two tax collectors, one with a yellow face and the other with a black face, both had expressionless faces. The yellow-faced tax collector said coldly: "Young Master, pay your taxes quickly and don't block the boat behind you."
The salted duck egg merchant yelled and refused to pay, eight taels and six cents, seven taxes and one. This was too harsh, he couldn't bear it, and he saw Zhang Yuan and others standing on the bow of the boat, looking at Zhang Yuan.
Interceded on his behalf——
The two tax collectors originally had a straight face and looked businesslike. They had gone down to the cabin to inspect the goods earlier, but the high mail merchant had not given them any benefits. Now they dared to act recklessly and refused to pay taxes. Suddenly they became angry. The black-faced tax collectors
He yelled: "I just ask you, do you want to pay or not? Do you have to resist the tax?"
The salted duck egg merchant immediately softened and said, "Of course I have to pay, but eighty-two-six dollars is too much. I really can't afford to pay it. Can you charge less, please?"
Another yellow-faced tax collector sneered and curled his lips and said: "What are you talking about with this blind fool? If you seize the boat, take him to the Yamen and give him a beating, you will know how good he is."
When the salted duck egg merchant saw that Zhang Yuan and the others were indifferent, he couldn't bear it any longer and repeatedly said: "I'll pay you now, I'll pay you now." He was away from home, wasting money and eliminating disasters.
Unexpectedly, the yellow-faced tax collector said: "You resisted the tax and disrupted the order of the currency customs, causing the canal to be blocked. You will be fined five taels of silver." The punishment must be severe to set an example. Otherwise, if the merchant ships behind are so verbose, wouldn't they collect taxes?
very tired.
When the salted duck egg merchant heard this, his face turned pale, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. He wanted to speak, but his throat was blocked and he couldn't.
The yellow-faced tax collector said angrily: "It seems he is determined to resist the tax." He turned around and asked someone to take the Gaoyou businessman to Chaoguan Yamen——
Zhang Yuan raised his hand and said: "Wait a minute, please ask the two tax collectors, how did he pay the tax on this balsamic vinegar? Why did he have to pay 826 yuan?"
The two tax collectors turned to look at Zhang Yuan. They saw that Zhang Yuan was a young scholar. He was wearing a straight jacket and not a square scarf. He was not a scholar, and they did not believe that there could be such a young scholar. Huang, who was clamoring to arrest the Gaoyou businessman.
The tax collector sneered at Zhang Yuan: "It's none of your business. Is there any cargo on your ship?"
Ruan Dacheng's servant Ruan Zhengchun shouted: "Look clearly, these are all masters who came to Beijing to take the exam. What kind of tax do they pay!" The servants of the Ruan family in Tongcheng have always been arrogant.
The yellow-faced tax collector looked at Ruan Dacheng and Huang Zunsu and said, "Then please show me the official documents."
Ruan Dacheng sneered and ordered the waiter to take out the official documents. The two tax collectors looked across the boat. The black-faced tax collector waved his hand and said: "Then please go through the customs."
The yellow-faced tax collector whispered: "A lot of people-lifting boats have passed today. Are there so many people-lifting boats?" This meant that he didn't believe it.
Ruan Dacheng was furious and shouted: "Come over here and keep your eyes open to see if this official document is a forgery!"
When the yellow-faced tax collector heard Ruan Dacheng's curse, he was also furious and was about to explode. The black-faced tax collector next to him quickly tugged on the sleeve of the yellow-faced tax collector, not to quarrel with the officials, because a few months ago, a merchant ship pretended to be the Secretary of General Affairs.
At that time, the customs officials let the ship pass. Later, when I heard people talking about it, I found out that I had been deceived. I was very angry. Fortunately, they nodded and bowed to the ship. Last month, I saw a ship with the Zhejiang Yingchasi Yamen sign hanging on it.
, they saw the ship as suspicious and stopped and searched it, but it turned out to be the ship of Zhejiang Inspector Zhang Qilian. Jiang Yanshou, the head of the Nanjing Department of Revenue who supervised the collection of banknotes, had to come in person to apologize and scolded the customs officials on the spot, so the banknotes were taxed.
Without conclusive evidence, the officials would not dare to inspect the ships with official signs. Although Juren was not yet an official, he was not something they, a little tax collector, could afford to offend. Look at the menacing look of this young scholar holding a public document in his hand.
, the ship is also very gorgeous, this official certificate must not be fake——
The yellow-faced tax collector reluctantly endured his anger and took a step back. The black-faced tax collector said: "Hurry over and don't block the boat behind us and prevent us from collecting taxes."
Zhang Yuandao: "I asked this Gaoyou merchant how to calculate the tax on the balsamic vinegar. Why do you have to pay eight or two six cents?"
The yellow-faced tax collector thought to himself: "You kid, you can't be a civil servant." He said angrily: "I said 8 taels and 6 taels are 8 taels and six cents, and now I have to add a fine of 5 taels of silver."
Zhang Yuan said to the Gaoyou merchant: "Just follow them to the Chaoguan Yamen, and we will arrive soon."
The yellow-faced tax collector glared and said, "What do you mean by this?"
Ruan's servant Ruan Zhengchun glared at the tax collector and sneered: "It means you are going to be unlucky. The sixteen people in this boat will trample you to death."
At this time, Zhou Monong, Zhang Dai and Wen Zhenmeng, who were drinking in the cabin, all came out and asked what was going on. Ruan Zhengchun responded. Wen Zhenmeng said: "Chief Jiang of the Nanjing Household Department was the same year as our provincial examination, Yangzhou Banknote
Mr. Jiang is in charge of the customs. Let’s go see Mr. Jiang right away and punish these two tax collectors severely.” Wen Zhenmeng was already a Juren twenty years ago, and many of his fellow Juren were already in the imperial examination.
High position——
Seeing that the situation was not good, the black-faced tax collector quickly nodded and bowed to apologize, and then gave the yellow-faced tax collector a slap, and the yellow-faced tax collector also bowed his head in anger and apologized——
Zhang Yuandao: "The two tax officials haven't answered my question yet?"
The black-faced tax collector replied: "This three-oared boat contains 160 jars of Zhenjiang balsamic vinegar. The market price of each jar is six cents and five cents of silver. One hundred and sixty jars is one hundred taels of silver, and the tax on fifteen taels is one.
The boat tax is almost eighty-two-six cents." The conversation changed: "Young people don't know that these vinegars belong to some of the great masters, so they misunderstood you." He winked at the yellow-faced tax collector, and the two of them bowed together.
, was about to leave the Gaoyou merchant’s three-oared boat——
Zhang Yuandao: "What's going on? You won't collect a penny of the tax on these balsamic vinegars?"
The yellow-faced tax collector was angry in his heart: "I've said that I won't collect the tax on the balsamic vinegar boat. What else do you want to do? You're going too far to deceive others."
Zhang Yuandao: "Calculate more clearly, how much tax should you pay?"
The merchant in Gaoyou became emboldened and reported: "Several lords have shown me that there are only 120 jars of Zhenjiang vinegar on the little man's boat. When I bought it from Zhenjiang, each jar was worth four cents and eight cents of silver. The transaction deed is as follows
With that.”
————————————————————————
After crossing the Yangtze River, Jie Zi will be exposed to various real problems and seek support and encouragement.