A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 841 Seizing food from the tiger’s mouth and causing public outrage

Gaozhou,

High and cool.

On Gaoliang Mountain,

Feng Zhidai, the governor of Gaozhou, had an appointment with Duke Yang to go hunting. The two of them were dressed in hunting attire, accompanied by many servants and hawks, and led their dogs.

Both of them gained a lot today.

"Does Governor Feng know why this mountain is called Gaoliang Mountain?" Yang Song asked, pointing to the mountains.

"Mr. Yang, this is not a problem for me," Feng Zhidai laughed loudly, "Gaoliang Mountain's original name is Gaoliang. It is named Gaoliang because of the dense mountains and midsummer like autumn. Gaozhou was named after Gaoliang. In the Southern Dynasties, Liang It was officially established as a state."

First there was Gaoliangshan, then Gaoliang County, and then Gaozhou.

"Our Yang family was originally from Henan. During the Wuhu period, our family moved south. Our family entered southern Guangdong from western Fujian, and moved with the Hakka community to Gaoliang. We settled here for several generations, and later moved to A Gongji in Douzhou in the north. foothills,

Build a foundation there and multiply and multiply. "

The Yang family came to Gaoliang earlier than the Feng family. When the Feng family traveled south, they first settled in Xinhui, Guangzhou. Later, they moved to Gaoliang because they were appointed officials.

In fact, before Zhenguan, the Agongji area where the Yang family was located, which the locals called Yanggongling, also belonged to Gaozhou.

But later it was transferred to Douzhou.

Magui Township, where Yanggongling is located, is located at Datianding, the highest peak in western Guangdong, and at the southern foot of Mianguiding, the second highest peak in western Guangdong, in the majestic and beautiful Yunkai Mountains.

Maguiyang Gongling is the northern fortress of Gaoliang.

In the early years, Mrs. Xian Tai, the Holy Mother of Lingnan, led troops and stationed troops here with the ancestors of the Yang family to participate in quelling Hou Jing's rebellion.

Later, the Yang family also built the Dimu Temple in Yanggongling to commemorate the Virgin.

The relationship between the Maguiyang family and the Gaoliang Feng family is also a close alliance of generations of marriage.

This Yang Song has a gray beard and is over sixty years old. During the Wude period, he served as governor and gold-worshiping doctor Ziguanglu. Now he is an official in his hometown, but he has great influence.

The two of them said they were meeting for hunting today, but in fact they were just meeting to talk about things.

"I heard that Mr. Wu returned to Lingnan and was in Guangzhou. Didn't he invite Governor Gao to come over?"

"No." Feng Zhidai said truthfully.

The Feng and Yang families were family friends. Yang Song and Feng Ang had always treated each other as brothers, and Feng Zhidai even called Yang Song his uncle.

"I heard that the envoy issued an official document that the Lingnan states will have to pay taxes according to the new two-tax law, and they will have to hand over two-thirds of the taxes, leaving only one-third to the states?"

Feng Zhidai nodded helplessly, "Well, this is the decree of the imperial court. The observation envoy forwarded it to the states. This year, there are two taxes. The summer tax will not be levied, but the autumn tax will be levied.

Now the following orders all states to complete the autumn tax payment, and the government will also send tax collectors to supervise the taxes."

In fact, Yang Song had already confirmed this matter.

Of course what he wanted to talk to Feng Zhidai today was not this, but how to deal with it.

This two-tax law is of course closely related to the Yang family. After all, it is only a land tax levied on an acre basis, so it is not a decimal. Household tax is levied on a property basis but there is an upper limit, which does not matter. However, industrial, commercial and municipal taxes, etc., are very large. Pen.

This is a big change.

The tax law tried out by the imperial court in the past few years was levied on a per-household basis. The tax per household was only one stone and two buckets of rice, and the tax was even reduced by one bucket of rice, which can be said to be negligible. Of course, a large family like the Yang family has always had a close relationship with a powerful chief like the Feng family, so they actually have to pay a lot of tribute to the Feng family every year in addition to taxes.

But no matter how you calculate it, the conventional tribute paid in the past is not too much. But if according to the current tax law announced by Wu Huaiyu,

If a place like the Yang family is powerful, it will have to pay a lot of taxes. The Yang family has a lot of land, and the tax collected per acre is a large sum. The Yang family also mines and smelts, and has a market and caravans to sell goods. Traders even sell salt, which is private salt without a salt guide.

Others, such as growing sugar cane to boil sugar, selling private wine and water, etc., are all normal operations.

If everything had to be taxed, it would be a big deal.

Of course, this incident affected not only powerful people like the Yang family, but Lingnan emperors like the Feng family were even more affected.

Officially speaking, the Feng family originally controlled eight states in Gaofu and even four states on the island. The governors, governors, county magistrates and others were basically members of the Feng and Xian families. The taxes collected were said to be for public use, but in fact they were not. They are using it, raising officials, raising soldiers and horses, it is their power.

Now, with an official document, two-thirds of the tax will be taken away.

Families such as Yu Zi and Feng Xian are also the largest wealthy landowners in the area. They are also the mainstay of other industrial, commercial and mining industries. If taxes are levied in accordance with the law, they still pay the majority. "Mr. Wu really didn't invite you to Guangzhou for an interview? Is it such a big thing?"

"No, not even a letter."

The two sat on the mountain ridge and fell into silence.

"An official document from the ambassador's office stated that this year's autumn tax must be completed before the end of November,"

Yang Song stroked his beard, "The imperial court's hands are stretching longer and longer. Not only are they chasing and beating the barbarians, but they have turned around and attacked us again."

Feng Zhidai could only sigh.

"Does Mr. Feng come back from Chang'an?"

"I, Aye, only say to abide by the imperial decree."

"Did Mr. Feng really say that?"

"Ah."

There was another moment of silence.

After Wu Huaiyu came to Lingnan, the attitude of the Lingnan chiefs toward the central court could be said to have become more respectful. During the Wude period, the court only controlled a few important towns in Guangjiao and Guangxi, and there were not many soldiers in Lingnan, so Insightful people such as Fa Feng Ang, Chen Longshu and Ning Chun were respectful to the court, but ambitious people such as Ning Changzhen Tandian Feng Xuan and Ning Daoming were still rebellious.

Now the situation has changed drastically,

The Tang Dynasty not only destroyed DTZ, but also subdued the Tuyuhun party. The barbarians in central Nanzhong and central Guizhou also obeyed. At this time, under Wu Huaiyu's suggestion, the imperial court vigorously explored Lingnan and stationed a large number of troops there. ,

To be honest, Yang Song felt powerless to fight.

But Feng Ang's cooperation still surprised him.

"I heard that the imperial court has organized a new army in Lingnan," Yang Song said.

"Well, Prime Minister Wu organized a new military force to serve as his yamen soldiers. Most of them were selected from Guangzhou, totaling 6,000 people.

And Guangfu has also recruited 3,000 new governor's tooth soldiers, called the garrison camp.

I heard that the Second Prefecture of Jiaogui will also form a guard and capture camp soon. "

He also told another insider information, "The Guangzhou Shipping Department gave two-thirds of the autumn income to Mr. Wu, one hundred thousand guan,"

Yang Song asked him, "Does the Gaozhou Governor's Mansion also need to organize Governor's Ya soldiers to guard the capture camp?"

"The imperial court asked them to organize it, but the military expenses for these three thousand people guarding the capture camp were borne by the Gaofu themselves."

"Does Mr. Wu not care? One-third of the taxes in Lingnan are handed over to him,"

Feng Zhidai said helplessly, "It stands to reason that he has to take care of it. A dear son can still be partial, not to mention us. If the six governor's offices in Lingnan are to organize and train capture camps, it must be his eldest brother Wu Huaiyi's Guangfu first. Then came the Jiaofu of his in-law Qiu Xingze, and then the Guifu of Li Xizhi.

We, Gao Yongrong, the local governor, will definitely be the last, and we will even have to pay for the military expenses ourselves. "

He said one more thing, "I heard that Guangfu's guarding camp has three thousand troops. Wu Huaiyu was handed over to Guangfu Sima Chen Sheng to lead it, and he was given the title of deputy defense envoy."

"Are you saying that even if we spend our own money to organize and train this capture camp, Wu Huaiyu will still have to send his own people to take over and lead this army in the end?"

"That's for sure. Although I am the governor, Wu Huaiyu, the chief historian and Sima of the six prefectures and ninety-six prefectures in Lingnan, has long said that they will all be replaced by officials selected by the imperial staff."

Silence again,

a long time,

"What does the Governor plan to do?"

"What do you think Mr. Yang should do?"

The old man and the young man looked at each other with a bit of unwillingness and a bit of fear in their eyes.

　Continuing with the third update, great joy brings sorrow. I had a pain in my lower back today, so I asked my wife to massage it. As a result, I sat on my butt and couldn’t even straighten my back. I may have to go to the hospital tomorrow, hey!

　　

　

(End of this chapter)