The county sent people to post notices everywhere, announcing that the emperor's grace was so great that the land tax was exempted from land tax this year, and the land tax would start next year.
However, the newly built township offices and the security offices of various security guards were still crowded with people.
All the people from various villages came here spontaneously carrying grain to pay the imperial ration.
"Fellow fellow, this year the land tax is exempted and the land tax is dingyin. There is no need to pay it."
An old man stood next to his cart, with the wheat he had pulled on it, which had been completely dried. He said loudly, "It is only natural to cultivate the land and receive food. We also know that the Holy Emperor is kind, but we cannot take advantage of the imperial court. If this year
If the harvest is damaged due to disaster, we will naturally not be able to pay.
Although we were affected by the locust plague this year, the disaster was not serious and the production was not reduced much. What's more, as soon as the saint's king came, he exempted us from all kinds of exorbitant taxes and various donations and levies. In our hearts
I am really grateful.
Now that we are fighting on the front line, we have to contribute, and nothing else. Turning over some of the food grown in the fields can be regarded as repaying our gratitude to the Holy Emperor for his kindness."
In front of the township office, the township chief, who was wearing a silk gown, felt a little uneasy looking at the people who came to pay for their food.
He was the head of a large clan in the township, and he also had the reputation of being a leader. The county asked each township to nominate township chiefs, deputy township chiefs, Bao chiefs, etc. Everyone recommended him to be the township chief, but he was actually very unwilling to be the township chief.
The troops were in a panic, especially after the incident of Sun Zhixian. Now he was always afraid in his heart. He gritted his teeth and let out blood. Finally, he got permission from the court to build an archway for them and even gave them a special gift.
Each of these squires has a quota to send his son to the Imperial Academy.
This matter is finally over.
He really wanted to hide away in peace and quiet, but everyone recommended him to be the head of the township. When Magistrate Gu called on his name, he couldn't refuse, and he didn't dare to refuse.
The thief Xie Qian is still at the foot of Santai Mountain.
Wen Laohu is also still stationed in the county seat.
He had no choice but to rush to the shelves. The county allocated money and grain and asked each township to build township offices, security offices, etc., and also built granaries.
He didn't dare to slack off at all and spent all day running around. He was even more energetic than when he was young and immersed himself in writing eight-legged essays.
In order to complete the task, all the family members were even transferred over.
The squires even secretly discussed that since they wanted to build a granary, should they build a charity granary in addition to the official granary?
The charity warehouse was an old practice in the past. In good years, the local government would donate grain and put it into the warehouse. In the year of disaster, the warehouse would be opened to provide food relief to the victims. Even in ordinary times, the charity warehouse grain could be used to help orphans, widows, and the disabled.
It's just that this matter has been abandoned long ago.
Now everyone proposes, should we simply set up a charity warehouse, and everyone can donate two liters of grain per mu according to the number of acres of land in their name and deposit it into it?
The two liters per mu of grain in the charity warehouse was actually an old practice in the Tang Dynasty.
The squires are all scholars, and many of them have been officials. They have basically achieved fame and success, so they are no strangers to these things.
Although some people want to suggest donating grain according to household level, just donate five shi to each household. In this way, there is an upper limit. If you donate two liters per mu, two shi for 100 acres, and 5 shi for 250 acres,
If it's 500 acres, it's ten stones.
But at this time, it was difficult to get ahead. I originally proposed to set up a charity warehouse, but because of lingering fears, the county magistrate Gu Xianshou specially asked a craftsman to make a pair of cast-iron statues. They were Sun Zhixian and Han Wen, and Sun Zhixian was the head plant.
The back of the pig's bristles looks like dog hair, while Han Yuan, who was still a traitor to the Tatars in Beijing, was carved to look like he was covered with bird feathers.
The two of them were kneeling like a pair of animals, not as good as pigs or dogs, and they were specially placed under the archway built for them.
This made the gentry who originally felt relieved feel their hearts trembling slightly again.
There is nothing you can do, just pay more.
So, it was finally agreed to provide two liters of grain per mu. Anyway, the two liters of land and two liters of land per mu had been paid, so there was no need to be short of these two liters.
Everyone hurriedly transported the grain to the newly built charity warehouse. They even asked someone to write an announcement, made account books, and then made a copy and sent it to the county government for filing.
The free warehouse is managed by the township chief and deputy township chief, and the county government is asked to send people to assist in supervision. It is full of desire for survival.
When Gu Xianshou heard this, he clapped his hands in approval.
It’s not like he suggested it. It’s amazing that the local country gentlemen can have this kind of consciousness. Of course, they need to be encouraged and supported. This is the result of enlightenment, which shows that the local people are honest and kind. Of course, he also knows that these people are scared, but he
Don't care about that.
The first batch of grain in the charity warehouse was all donated by the gentry and landlords, who were the most afraid of being liquidated.
The squires did not dare to ask the people to donate, for fear of causing trouble.
But during this period of time, the people ate a lot of melons and saw a lot of excitement, which made them very happy. They were very supportive of the Shaotian court and the emperor.
Especially after Wang Shi regained Zichuan, he abolished various taxes and levies, etc., and even reduced rents and interest rates. The new taxes announced were that only those with land would pay taxes, and those who had no land would be divided into acres.
You don’t even need to pay Ding Yin.
There is no such thing as labor and labor.
Even if you have land, you only pay two dou, four liters and two per acre. You still have to convert the acres of land into large acres of fertile land according to fatness, weight, and size. This is the tax amount.
In fact, the burden has been reduced not just a little bit, but at least several times.
Even tenants have received reduced rents and interest rates.
In the past, the maximum interest rate for usury loans was no more than three-thirds of the monthly interest, and the maximum interest rate could not exceed the principal.
This rescue has come.
Originally, based on the taxes and additional taxes levied when the Tatars occupied Zichuan, the people had to hand over at least half of their grain after the autumn harvest.
It's even worse for tenants. Although they don't have to pay land tax, the landlord will transfer the land tax to them, and they still have to pay rent. In the end, they have to work hard for a year and can't even afford a meal.
But what can be done?
If it doesn't work well, the young men will have to be captured to build the city and embankments, or even work as civilians to transport grain and grass to defend the city.
But now, when Master Wang comes and announces benevolent governance, the people can't believe it. After all, this place was also ruled by the Ming Dynasty a few years ago, but the taxes the court levied on them at that time were not much less than those of the Tatars, so they couldn't survive.
But now they saw that the high-ranking gentry and powerful landowners in the past were all gray-headed and honest, and they felt that the court was different this time.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Seeing the gentry and landlords paying land tax, and actively donating grain for charity, the common people who have just harvested autumn grain are always a little uncomfortable.
In the past, at this time, landlords and officials began to go to the countryside to collect rent and taxes, but now no one comes. Instead, they keep saying that they will waive the arrears, waive the land tax this year, etc.
Instead, everyone felt uncomfortable.
Finally, the young and old men in the village gathered at the sun drying yard to discuss for a few days, and finally decided to pay the royal ration.
After all, according to the latest land tax regulations, one acre of land is only paid 2 pou, 4 liters and 2 liters. Dry land such as mountainous slopes can also be converted into fertile land. Several acres can be converted into one mu, which are all standard tax acres. Calculated in this way, in fact, it is considered to be mountainous and sloping land.
On dry land, one can get two shi of grain per acre, which means that the actual tax paid is about one ten.
Especially in the past, although it was said that one tax was thirty to one, in fact the actual tax was only a small part. The real burden was various floating taxes, fire consumption, apportionment, additional taxes, consumption and consumption, etc., so the actual burden on the people often accounted for ten
The tax is 5 yuan or even higher.
It would be even worse for the people who did not have their own land. Even if they did not pay land tax in name, they would still have to pay a small amount of money for various types of labor. Even additional taxes on Paitan would have to be paid on a per-capita basis.
"We have to pay royal rations."
"Paying royal rations is a matter of course!"
"Thanks to the Holy Emperor for his benevolent government!"
The mayor looked at the group of villagers, sweat dripping from his forehead. He had never thought that there were people who were so active in paying the royal rations.
In the end, he had no choice but to find a clerk from the county government office. This clerk was actually his nephew from the same family.
"Uncle, we didn't force these people to pay the rations. We also conveyed and explained the saint's will and the government's notices properly. You can see that their attitude is obvious and they are bent on paying the royal rations. This is a good thing."
"If they want to pay, then collect it. As long as we don't mess around with floating collection, we collect the grain into the warehouse in an orderly manner, then write a note to them, and finally report it to the county magistrate. This is also an achievement."
The township head thought to himself, I am not willing to be a township head, so what kind of merit do I need? With my family background, if I really wanted to be an official, at least I would be a county magistrate, so how could I be the head of the township like this?
However, he thought about it again and agreed with his nephew's statement.
Didn't they, the gentry, have to take the initiative to make up for the arrears and clear out the encroachments? They also took the initiative to set up a charity warehouse. Now these common people are no different.
"Dear fellow villagers and elders!"
"Everyone, be quiet!"
The mayor stood on a high ground, pressed his hands together, and spoke loudly.
"The head of the township is also very happy that everyone has such a sense of loyalty. Since everyone said that there is surplus food after the harvest, they want to donate food, so how can the head of the township refuse this kind heart."
"From now on, everyone should line up and come one by one. The registration and storage of quantities will begin here."
The imperial grain levy is one dou, four liters and two grams per mu, which refers to wheat and rice. If it is other grains, there is a special conversion standard, so just convert accordingly.
The clerks in the township and even the county officials, together with the township bailojia, began to collect grain.
If this was the case in previous years, harvesting grain would be the happiest time for the servants in the county, because this is the time to make money, and there are even dedicated veterans responsible for every link.
For example, there are people who are specially responsible for kicking buckets, and they have to put on iron shoes in advance, put a bucket full of grain, and pile it high into a pile called Lingjian. Then they kick the bucket hard, and all the Lingjian will fall to the ground.
and whatever falls on the ground belongs to them.
Therefore, the floating income was astonishing. Often, when ordinary people paid one dou of grain, they actually had to pay two or three dou.
The excessive amount of money does not even count the fire cost, because the fire cost has a name and an account. These are directly obtained by the small officials working together, and in the end all the officials share the extra money.
There are even big and small fights.
But today, no one does these things.
When an old farmer came, he measured it at home in advance, calculated it according to the number of acres, etc., and found out that for ten acres of land, he should pay two stones, four buckets and two liters. He directly followed the previous rules and paid eight stones.
I'm still afraid it's not enough.
As a result, the elder of the village over there took a pen and a roster and looked through the household registration and field clearing registration form that had just been completed in the village. "Zhang Erniu in Dustpan Village, the land acres are converted into ten taxable acres, and the land tax is two stones, and two dings of silver.
The fire consumption is increased by two dou and two liters, totaling two stones, four liters and two,"
The official over there said hello.
Then he set up the bucket and helped the old man load the grain without piling it up. After loading it, he scraped it with a scraper and scraped off just a little bit to the ground. It was not too much, and there was no sharpness or kicking, and then
Let's make up for it.
"Two stones, four buckets and two liters, handed over."
"Old man, sweep these on the mat next to the bucket and take them back."
The old man was stunned. He looked back at the ox cart, which still contained half a cart of grain, and then looked at the grain that was scattered on the reed mat beside the bucket.
He estimated that he only measured two stones, four buckets and two liters. There was no problem with the buckets, and it was not too much.
But he still pulled in more than five stone.
"Lao Niu, this is the bill for you. The bill is paid for the royal grain. It has the seal of the township chief and the seal of the county clerk. The township chief represents the country and the county. Thank you for your payment. Thank you!"
Zhang Erniu was still in a daze.
"Next!"
Zhang Erniu's son swept up all the grain on the reed mat and put it away, then pulled his father, who was still there, aside, and said, "Dad, it's done."
"This, this," Zhang Erniu pointed to the bucket and then to the car.
His son pulled him back to the car, and several other children gathered around him, also sighing with emotion, "I didn't expect there was no extra charge this time."
"That's a good thing. I guess the township chief was also frightened by what happened to traitor Sun."
The other said, "Dad, after we hand over this food, the rest will belong to our family, and we can live peacefully and securely.'
The old man came back to his senses and said, "Well, our royal rations have been paid, so of course everything will be fine."
"Dad, how about we take these grains back?"
"Dad, how about we sell these grains in the county town? My mother also told me that she wants to buy some oil and salt to go back to."
The old man looked left and right, and found that the people behind him who went to pay the money were the same as him, and they did not collect too much. Everyone was surprised at first, but then they were happy, and even publicly praised the mayor, scribes and others for coming.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! He read for a while and then said, "Let's go over there to pay for the grain for charity. One acre is two liters, and ten acres is only two buckets. It's not much.
Let’s also pay a share and leave our name on the list.”
I originally thought that I would have to pay seven or eight dan for this trip. Although I loaded a cart with it, the farmers are simple and I always feel that there is no land that can be harvested and the court does not collect taxes. If I don't collect it now, I may have to make up for it later. It is impossible to pay it back.
I want more. So I might as well just pay it voluntarily to avoid trouble later.
But I never thought that they really refused to harvest. They insisted on harvesting, but they only collected one mu, two buckets, four liters and two liters.
Looking at the five kilos of grain left, he planned to donate two more buckets of charity grain. Anyway, it was only two buckets. Even the ones just now were only two kilos, six buckets and two liters. There was still a lot left.
If the imperial court really stops collecting taxes, then every family still has about twenty shi of grain, which is more than enough for the whole family. Now that we have brought the remaining five shi of grain, we don’t have to take it back. We can just sell it and buy some.
Oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar tea, or buy some dyes, fabrics, etc. back home.
He took his son to the township headman and asked for another two measures of charity grain.
After finally handing over the grain, he watched the scribe write his name on the charity list on the wall at the entrance of the charity warehouse, and finally nodded with satisfaction and left.
"Old Niu, do you want to sell grain? This is Clerk Zhang from the county grain station. The imperial court has unified purchasing and marketing. In the future, grain can only be sold to them."
When Zhang Erniu heard this, his heart skipped a beat, thinking that there was still an ambush here, so he could only sell grain to them, and he probably had to make up for it from here.
Although I felt uncomfortable, I went over to ask about the price.
As a result, the price of food was actually not low, even slightly higher than the market price.
He thought that maybe he would tamper with the scale.
But when his grain was brought over and weighed, it turned out to be more than five stones. He calculated it silently in his mind and found that after adding in the royal grain he paid and the charity grain donated, it was the same as what he weighed at home.
There are not a few.
This surprised him.
Then I thought that I wouldn’t be able to get the money from selling the grain for a while.
As soon as the grain was weighed, a note was issued there, and then Secretary Zhang took him to another clerk to receive money based on the note.
The purchase price of wheat is one to two three cents per stone, millet is one to two cents per stone, black beans, sorghum and corn are all seven cents to one stone.
He sold five stones, three measures and a half of wheat.
"The total is six taels, nine cents, five cents and five cents silver dollars. I'll give you six pieces of dragon silver, and the rest will be silver horns, copper dollars, and made into coins. You can carefully count them to make sure they're correct, and then sign and pledge them here."
The old man looked at the pile of money in disbelief.
Six pieces of silver dragon silver, one five-cent silver coin, and four one-cent coins, then five pieces worth ten copper coins, plus five Shaotian Tongbao.
Even the five cents that he didn't touch were given to him.
Looking at the pile of money, the old man nodded several times with trembling hands, and finally nodded, "Yes, that's absolutely right."
Finally, he excitedly pressed his red fingerprint on the notebook.
Holding the money still feels like a dream.
When did the imperial court become so good?
They don’t charge too much for grain requisitions, they don’t drenched their stems, and they don’t even find reasons to deduct grain when selling it. Why is the price still so good?
"Emperor Shaotian is truly the Holy Emperor."
Zhang Erniu knelt down on the ground in excitement and kowtowed towards Dengzhou.
Many people who had just paid the royal rations and sold their remaining grains were also surprised and delighted, and they couldn't help but kneel down to thank him.
The township chief couldn't help but sigh when he saw more and more people kneeling down. In his heart, he actually feared Emperor Shaotian more than he supported him. But after seeing this scene, he had to admit that that emperor was indeed extraordinary.
I just don’t know how long this kind of benevolent government can last?
How long can these subordinates with clean hands and feet stay honest?
After all, Emperor Taizu Zhu Baba of the Ming Dynasty hated corrupt officials the most. If any corruption was discovered, he would be skinned and killed, but this did not stop corrupt officials from continuing.
But then he thought about it, as the head of the township, the head of the grain station, the several security chiefs nearby, and even the Baojia village warriors, these people used to have no status in the Ming court, but now Emperor Shaotian
, actually gave them a salary, not a salary of one or two a month, but a pretty good salary.
Even Xiangyong and Baoding were given job allowances.
"Uncle, I feel like the world is really different." The township head's scribe nephew is still very young. Although he has worked as a county official for several years, he has also picked up many bad habits, but he is still young after all. Seeing these things at this time
The scene, coupled with what I have seen recently, made me deeply emotional, and something was stirring in my heart.
"Maybe." The elderly township chief did not change his opinion so easily.
"Uncle, I don't want to be a subordinate in the yamen anymore. I plan to join the army. I want to apply for the military academy. I want to go to Dengzhou."
The township chief wanted to persuade his nephew to give up this idea, but in the end he did not say anything. He opened his mouth, but the last thing he said was, "If you have thought about it, go ahead and have a go."