I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 175 The burden on the common people has never been lightened
Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the two-tax law has been implemented, and taxes are collected every summer and autumn.

During the Hongwu period, it was stipulated that five liters of grain and two teaspoons of three-in-one teaspoons were collected per mu for official land, and two liters were deducted for private land, and only three liters of grain were collected per mu. After the death of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, this rule was implemented for a long time.

Later, as the court officials healed and became corrupted, this rule was gradually forgotten, and the taxes on the people became heavier and heavier. After a year of hard work, after deducting the taxes to be paid, the rest can only barely fill their stomachs. .

In a year with good weather and good weather, you can barely make ends meet. Once there is a disaster year, the fields will not be able to grow food, and these people will have to suffer from hunger!
But at this time, those landlords and gentry lowered the price of land and bought a large amount of land. In order to survive, the common people had to sell their own land to those landlords.

At night, Wangjia Village.

What happened during the day made the villagers of Wangjia Village very angry. For this reason, the respected old people among the villagers gathered all the capable people in the village to discuss strategies together.

In the room, a middle-aged man sighed suddenly and said helplessly.

"What should we do next? The land tax that those guys underpaid will be shared equally among us. How can there be such a thing in this world!"

"Yeah, let me tell you, those guys are really shameless! They betrayed everyone for a small profit. In conversion, we have to pay six liters of grain per mu of land!"

"However, those people have been protected by the government, and there is nothing we can do about them!"

In the room, everyone talked to each other, discussing the next countermeasures, but in the end they did not discuss a feasible solution.

"Should we go to the county magistrate? He will definitely decide for us!"

At this moment, a young man in coarse linen looked around and spoke.

"That's right, the county magistrate loves the people like a child and hates evil like an enemy. He will definitely help us! Besides, if it wasn't for him last time, our village would have suffered."

After the young man made a suggestion, someone soon echoed it.

"But because of this matter, it would be bad to involve the magistrate in this matter? Last time, the magistrate offended the prefect of Hangzhou for us!"

Immediately afterwards, a highly respected old man stood up tremblingly and hesitated.

The old man's words caused everyone present to fall into silence. Are they going to bother the magistrate again?

"But...but, except for the magistrate, no one will help us!"

Among the crowd, no one knew who said such a sentence.

"Oh, that's all. Tomorrow, everyone has the cheek to ask the magistrate again!"

After being silent for a long time, the old man said slowly.

"Well, let's leave everyone, let's go to the county government tomorrow."

Seeing that everyone present was not interested in discussing any more, the young man in coarse linen said so.

"It's all gone, it's all gone."

"Go to the county government office tomorrow."

"Oh, how are you going to live these days?"

Seeing this, the villagers in the room gradually left, while a black shadow flashed past the window and disappeared.

"Harry?"

From the darkness not far away, came such a voice.

……

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

Early the next morning, when Hai Rui woke up, he heard a report from his subordinates that there were people outside who wanted to see him.

"Well, let him in."

Hai Rui nodded, and said so to his subordinates.

After a while, Hai Rui saw a trembling old man walking into the county government office supported by two young men in coarse linen clothes.

"Old man, what can you do with me?"

Seeing this, Hai Rui hurriedly asked his subordinates to make tea, and then asked.

"This old man has met Lord Magistrate, Lord Magistrate, please make the decision for us!"

After the old man finished speaking, he motioned for the young man who was supporting him to let go of his hand, and then he knelt down on the ground.

"Old man, what are you doing? Please hurry up! If you have any grievances, just tell me."

Seeing this, Hai Rui quickly helped the old man to the seat beside him, and said in a deep voice.

"Thank you magistrate, you are really a rare good official who cares about our people!"

After the old man was helped to the seat by Hai Rui, he held Hai Rui's hand tightly and said excitedly.

"Old man, if you have any grievances, tell me that it is, and I will definitely seek justice for you!"

"Master Zhixian, the thing is like this, the old man comes from Wangjia Village, yesterday..."

The old man began to tell the story, and Hai Rui frowned even more after hearing all this.

According to the old man, after converting the land tax they will pay this time, they have to pay six liters of grain per mu of land!
Before that, the imperial court had already issued a corresponding notice to reduce and exempt part of the taxes of the common people. The food that these common people need to hand in now has not decreased, but has actually increased more than before the reduction and exemption!
"Could it be that the imperial government's policy of reducing and exempting people's taxes has not been implemented? If so..."

Hai Rui was shocked by this thought that suddenly popped up in his mind, and for a while, he didn't dare to continue thinking along this line of thought!It wasn't until the old man's call brought him back to reality.

"My lord? My lord?"

Hai Rui came back to his senses suddenly, temporarily put aside his previous conjectures, and continued.

"You mean, as long as you have your fingerprints signed by the government, you can pay less or even no land tax! Not only that, but you can also be exempted from corvee labor for one year, and your children can also go to free schools funded by the government first?"

"Yes, magistrate, what's the problem?"

Seeing the ugly expression on Hai Rui's face, the old man was puzzled.

"This is obviously to promote the conversion of rice to mulberry by collecting land tax! If you are willing to change rice to mulberry, the government will collect less or no land tax, and the part they pay less will be passed on to you."

"In this way, not only can the conversion of rice to mulberry be carried out, but also the land tax can be collected at the same time. It is really a strategy that kills two birds with one stone! However, the person who formulated this strategy did not consider your actual situation at all. .”

"If this continues, the conversion of rice to mulberry can be carried out smoothly, but the people will suffer! Especially those who still insist on planting rice seedlings, nine out of ten will definitely go bankrupt because of this."

At this time, Hai Rui also wanted to understand where the joints were, and said in a deep voice.

"Ah, magistrate, what should we do now!"

After listening to Hai Rui's analysis, the old man panicked and asked Hai Rui for countermeasures.

"It's okay, old man, you go back first! I will go to the Governor's Mansion to find out the news."

After Hai Rui finished speaking, he recalled his previous guess, Dang even decided to start from the county government office and go to the Governor's Mansion.

And at this moment, the subordinate who was ordered by Hai Rui to make tea earlier also came in with several cups of hot tea, seeing Hai Rui's appearance about to go out, he said, "My lord, the tea is here. "

"Hmph, you can keep this tea for yourself!"

Hai Rui glanced at the visitor and said coldly.

That subordinate heard the sarcasm in Hai Rui's words, and his face showed a trace of embarrassment. In his opinion, these common people are not qualified to drink tea from the county government.

……

In a hurry, Hai Rui finally arrived at the Governor's Mansion before dark. Just as he was hesitating, and wanted to let the guards at the gate in to make an announcement, he happened to catch a glimpse of Zheng Michang's sedan chair.

"Master Chief Executive!"

Seeing this, Hai Rui cupped his hands and said respectfully.

"Oh, it's Hai Rui! Why, what can I do with the governor?"

Zheng Michang got off the sedan chair and asked.

"Yes, Mr. Chief Political Officer, I do have some questions and want to check with Mr. Governor."

Facing Zheng Michang's question, Hai Rui didn't mean to hide anything, but said so.

"Your Excellency Governor is busy with official duties recently, I'm afraid I won't be able to spare time to see you."

After listening to Hai Rui's words, Zheng Michang shook his head and said so.

"Oh, how can this be done!"

Hai Rui sighed helplessly, and then wanted to go home.

"Hey, don't go!"

Seeing that Hai Rui wanted to leave directly, Zheng Michang hurriedly called him to stop.

"Is the chief minister looking for the next official for anything?"

Hearing Zheng Michang's call, Hai Rui immediately stopped in his tracks and asked in confusion.

"Since you're here, don't rush to leave, I still owe you a favor!"

"Come on, I invite you to dinner. If you have any questions then, just ask me."

As Zheng Michang said, he forcibly grabbed Hai Rui and dragged him towards the restaurant.

Soon, Hai Rui and Zheng Michang came to the most luxurious restaurant in Hangzhou City.

"Master Chief Executive, is this... a bit too extravagant here?"

At the entrance of the restaurant, Hai Rui stopped in his tracks and hesitated.

"What's so extravagant about this? Isn't it just a dilapidated restaurant? Today's official treat!"

After Zheng Michang finished speaking, he pulled Hai Rui in.

"It's still the same!"

Zheng Michang seemed to be quite familiar with the environment here, and he gave the shopkeeper this order as soon as he entered it.

"Okay, just wait a moment."

Seeing Zheng Michang coming, the shopkeeper of this restaurant hastily said respectfully.

Hai Rui felt uncomfortable with everything that was unfamiliar before him, and he didn't come back to his senses until Zheng Michang's voice came again.

"Let's go."

"Ah."

(End of this chapter)