Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

"I don't know how the villain offended this noble man. Please make it clear that the villain must apologize?"

Li Dade shouted while retreating.

He could feel that the fat man in front of him really wanted to kill him.

"You can kill people at will, and I can kill you at will!" Zhu Gaochi said angrily.

Li Dade hurriedly said: "This noble man, I am different from these untouchables. I have read the books of sages and am the grain chief here. I collect grain for the court. My father once entered the capital and met Emperor Hongwu, the villain and the county magistrate. , and all the gentry and gentlemen in the county, we all have friendships!"

Zhu Gaochi said sternly: "So, you can collect more taxes at will and deliberately exploit your neighbors?"

"This noble man has misunderstood the villain. The villain collects these taxes according to the names issued by the imperial court!"

Li Dade explained quickly, his face full of sincerity.

"A title issued by the imperial court?"

Zhu Gaochi became even angrier, "When did the imperial court issue the tax terms such as car payment and yellow grain money?

Tell me, is it the Ministry of Accounts or the Taxation Department? "

"This……"

Li Dade was stunned and looked at Zhu Gaochi blankly.

"May I ask, noble sir, who is he?"

"Be bold!"

A captain yelled angrily, "His Highness is asking you something, all you need to do is answer it!"

"Your Highness?"

Li Dade was confused and his legs felt a little weak. Is he the vassal king or the county king? Or which emperor's grandson is it?

"How brave! How dare you, an old thief, be so rude and refuse to reply or be polite to His Highness? But you want to rebel?"

The captain, who had been angry with Li Dade for a long time, stepped forward and kicked Li Dade. After knocking Li Dade to the ground, he said the same words.

"No, I don't dare!"

After coming back to his senses, Li Dade hurriedly got up from the ground and kowtowed to Zhu Gaochi regardless of the pain on his body.

"Please spare your life, Your Highness. This villain is blind and ignorant. He didn't know His Highness was coming and couldn't welcome him from a distance!"

Then, Li Dade asked cautiously: "I wonder who your highness is..."

"How presumptuous. Your Highness's identity is something that you, a humble citizen, can inquire about?"

The captain yelled angrily again.

"Yes, yes, the villain talks too much, the villain dare not ask more questions!"

Li Dade was no longer as arrogant and domineering as he had been in front of the people, and his face was full of humility.

"Your Highness has come a long way. I'm brave. Please go to my home and take a rest. I will treat you well!"

"Did you exploit your family's wealth from these people?"

Zhu Gaochi asked coldly again.

"Your Highness, you must be aware that this villain has always been diligent and conscientious since he took up the post of grain chief. He has never dared to exploit the people..."

Li Dade said quickly.

However, before Li Dade could finish speaking, Cui Daniu, who had been rescued, knelt down in front of Zhu Gaochi and wailed loudly.

"Your Highness clearly knows that the thief Li Dade, relying on the fact that his family is a big family in Jiading County, often increases taxes at will after becoming the grain chief.

When the late Emperor was still here, things were better. After paying taxes, we could still make ends meet.

However, as His Majesty came to the throne, the taxes and various taxes here have become higher and higher. Now he has begun to develop the fertile farmland in the homes of us common people! "

"Your Highness, please uphold justice for me..."

"Your Highness, these unscrupulous people are talking nonsense. Villains never dare to increase taxes at will, let alone exploit the people!"

Li Dade panicked and quickly explained.

Zhu Gaochi sneered and stared at Li Dade, "Then tell me, who asked you to collect those messy taxes you mentioned?"

"I...His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

Li Dade still didn't reply, but stared at Zhu Gaochi with his eyes wide open, his face full of disbelief.

How could it be His Royal Highness?

The grain chief, in the Ming Dynasty, was a low-level semi-official official who collected and distributed grain, and his status was higher than that of some officials.

Especially in the southern provincial capitals, in the fourth year of Hongwu, Lao Zhu also stipulated that in Zhili, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Huguang, Fujian and other places, the area with a grain payment of about 10,000 shi was a district, and he also appointed large households to charge grain chiefs to be responsible for Collection and transportation of grain.

In addition, the grain director also has the authority to formulate rules, prepare atlases, declare disasters and famines, report tax evasion, and urge grain differences.

Even some grain chiefs can go to the capital to meet the emperor. If they do well, they can be praised and awarded officials, and rise to the top in one fell swoop!

With these, these large-scale grain chiefs are simply the local tyrants from all over the country. They can use their power to oppress the villagers at will, collect taxes, and make all kinds of money!

Li Dade inherited the position of grain director from his father. He also read some books. He was good friends with many famous scholars in the county, so he naturally had a lot of knowledge.

At this moment, after coming back to his senses, he finally figured out what Zhu Gaochi meant by the phrase 'my palace'.

However, this time he became even more frightened.

Even the whole body was trembling.

If it were other vassal kings, county princes, or emperor's grandsons, he could still handle it.

However, this is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty...

"Ok?"

Seeing this, Zhu Gaochi's face became even more gloomy, and he no longer had the patience to look at Li Dade with cold eyes.

"If you don't say anything, don't blame me for punishing you!"

In an instant, two captains came to Li Dade's left and right sides.

"Your Highness, villain, villain..."

Li Dade shuddered, glanced at Zhu Gaochi in horror, and then hesitantly said: "Reporting to Your Highness, this is the title of the official in the county!"

"is it?"

Zhu Gaochi smiled softly, then his face turned cold, "Come here, go and summon the magistrate, dianshi, county magistrate, chief registrar, and the ambassador of the Taxation Bureau of Jiading County to this palace!"

"The general will obey the order!"

A team of captains immediately took the order and went forward.

On the ground, Li Dade's face turned pale.

However, all the people around him were full of joy.

At this time, a school captain had already moved the chair and even the table that Li Dade was sitting on just now and placed them in front of Zhu Gaochi.

Zhu Gaochi flipped through the account book, read a few pages, and became furious. He stared at Li Dade and asked in a cold voice: "Li Dade, we want to know how much tax you have added. How much tax can you actually increase from the original tax?" Two times and more?"

"Twice?"

The people around, Cui Daniu, Dashi and other people were all shocked, and then they glared at Li Dade angrily, gnashing their teeth, wishing to skin Li Dade alive.

"How come you are so cruel that you quadrupled the taxes?"

"Li Dade, I don't think your Li family is a big family in my hometown and is respected by everyone, but I didn't expect you to be so wicked and harm our neighbors like us..."

Li Dade ignored the clamoring and abusive people. As long as Zhu Gaochi was dealt with, he, Li Dade, could manipulate these people at will.

Therefore, he just kept defending, "Your Highness clearly knows that there is nothing a villain can do.

The villain is responsible for drafting rules, compiling atlases, reporting disasters and famines, reporting tax evasion, and urging and collecting grain. These require a lot of manpower. The villain needs to leave some losses from tax revenue to hire these manpower.

Not to mention anything else, the loss of food transportation alone is very..."

"Okay, no need to use clever excuses!"

Zhu Gaochi glanced at Li Dade lightly and said, "Grandpa Huang has seen the greed of those evil gentry and officials in the former Yuan Dynasty and their ruthless exploitation of the people.

Therefore, in the early years of Hongwu, I felt that we were all fellow villagers and our own people.

It will not be too difficult for our own people to collect taxes from our own people, let alone bully men, dominate women, and exploit the people.

This is why you, the big families, are specially allowed to serve as the grain chiefs of a district. We have to meet you, the grain chiefs of big households, every year.

I didn’t expect that you, the grain chiefs of big households, would exploit your own people, and you would be even more ruthless and greedy!

It has only been a few years, and you are already thinking of asking them to mortgage their property and destroy their families. If it takes a few more years, wouldn't everyone here become slaves of your Li family..."

Li Dade was even more frightened, and that was exactly what he planned!

"Who dares to cause trouble for my Li family..."

At this time, a group of strong men ran over from a distance. The men dressed as guards in front of them all had gleaming steel knives in their hands.

Behind them, there were a group of servants or tenant farmers in ripped linen clothes, holding various shovels and rakes in their hands!

A young man wearing silk clothes and several middle-aged people walked out of the crowd angrily. As soon as he cursed angrily, he realized something was wrong and his eyes widened!

"Zhao'er, Lao San, Lao Wu, why don't you come quickly and kneel down?"

Li Dade shouted hurriedly.

Li Zhao looked surprised: "Dad, what are they?"

He just heard that when his father was leading people to collect taxes, a group of people made trouble, so he hurriedly led the people over, but he didn't expect it to be a group of soldiers?

"presumptuous!"

A school captain glared angrily, "How dare you show your sword to His Highness, but you want to rebel?"

"Qiang!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of guards behind him all drew out their steel knives from their waists, and some even took out their bows and crossbows, and surrounded Li Zhao and others.

"Put down your weapons immediately, otherwise we will shoot without mercy!"

"Put it down!" "Put it down..."

"father?"

Li Zhao and a group of Li family guarding tenant farmers suddenly felt their legs weaken and their faces were full of horror!

They just wanted to support their master and build up their power. Why did they offend His Highness and be labeled as a rebel?

Although there were many of them, the group of soldiers in front of them who were full of evil spirits looked like killers who killed without blinking an eye. If they were killed, they would definitely not survive.

Moreover, even if they are killed, their death will be in vain, and their families will even be implicated!

Behind them, several tenant farmers carrying hoes and shovels were already sitting on the ground in fear. The hoes and shovels in their hands were thrown aside, and a water stain slowly appeared under them.

"This is His Highness the Crown Prince. If you are seeking death, quickly put down your weapons and kneel down obediently!"

Li Dade shouted anxiously.

"His Royal Highness?"

"Puff thump thump thump..."

Li Zhao and the others were even more frightened. They quickly dropped the knives in their hands and kowtowed to Zhu Gaochi.

"I have met His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"I have met His Highness the Crown Prince..."

"hehe!"

Zhu Gaochi smiled coldly, "The Li family is really majestic in this area!"

Li Dade broke out in a cold sweat and said in fear: "My son is reckless and bumped into His Highness. Please forgive me!"

"It doesn't matter! It's a small matter..."

Zhu Gaochi waved his hand slowly, not paying too much attention.

Because at this moment, the guards on the side had collected all the steel knives in the hands of the guards of the Li family.

Li Dade breathed a sigh of relief.

"The most important thing is that you can hide these extra taxes. At most, you will only suffer a little more flesh and blood. Since I have come to Songjiang Mansion, I must investigate this matter thoroughly... …”

"..."

Li Dade froze, but still didn't say anything.

Zhu Gaochi, on the other hand, did not continue to ask any more questions, but slowly lowered his head and continued to look at the account book in his hand.

After reading, close the ledger.

"Come on, go to Li's house!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

A group of captains responded quickly.

"Also, if you, the tax-paying people, have nothing to do, you can follow us. We will have a good look at these Jiading County officials and the grain chief later!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Your Highness is kind..."

The common people all had faces full of joy and hurriedly followed.

Even after paying taxes, they still have to work to make money, so it is impossible for them to go now.

Regarding Zhu Gaochi's arrangements, Guo An stood aside and remained silent.

You can check wherever you go. Anyway, most of the Songjiang Prefecture officials should not be able to escape this time!

Their families and relatives will all become the people of Guozhou!

Thinking about it, Guo An felt inexplicably motivated.

……

The Li family is actually a large manor, covering an area of ​​at least three villages. It is really a large family.

As a group of guards inspected the place, there was a lot of excitement.

Half an hour later.

The two captains came to Zhu Gaochi with strange expressions on their faces.

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Li family confiscated a total of more than 10,000 taels of silver, more than 30,000 taels of copper coins, more than 70,000 taels of treasure notes, and two large boxes of various jewelry... In addition, there was also food, more than 32,500 taels. stone!"

"Thirty-two thousand five hundred stones?"

Zhu Gaochi's eyes widened with surprise, "There is still so much money, how can a wealthy family in the countryside save so much money and food?"

"Boom!"

Li Dade, who was on the side, knelt on the ground very simply and kowtowed several times after the two captains had finished speaking.

"His Royal Highness, during the reign of Emperor Hongwu, he once said that the chief of grain should be in charge of the herdsmen's rent, so as to avoid the disadvantages of being disturbed by the chief minister. If the chief of grain commits a crime, he should pay the money to atone for his sin!

The villain knows that he has committed a serious crime and is willing to use all the money and food in his family to atone for his sin! "

"Atonement?"

Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but cast a sarcastic glance at Li Dade, "You should think of good things. In the Hongwu Year, the court would indeed treat the grain chief generously, and the crime could be reduced by one level, or even exempted from prison for spending money.

However, only miscellaneous criminals can be redeemed. If they abuse their power for personal gain, take bribes and pervert the law, or exploit and oppress the people, they will only get an additional penalty! "

Li Dade was paralyzed, his eyes full of despair.

Zhu Gaochi told the imperial guard: "Register all the money and food in a book, and wait until your Majesty sends someone to receive it!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The guards left.

Li Dade suddenly remembered something, and his face was full of excitement, "Your Highness, although the villain exploited the people, those people are a group of unscrupulous people who think about how to evade taxes all day long. The villain Li family has no credit for the Ming Dynasty, but also has hard work. .

Moreover, the villain Li family also paid taxes to the Ming Dynasty, and they paid a lot every year... This year, they still paid more than 200 shi of grain! "

"How many acres does your Li family have in total?"

Zhu Gaochi asked.

Li Dade's expression froze.

On the side, Guo An had already sorted out the Li family's land, money and food, and said directly: "Your Highness, the Li family has a total of 700 acres of paddy fields and 1,200 acres of dry fields.

In addition, the tax quota set by the imperial court here is only 13,000 dan, but the tax quota set by this guy is as high as 32,000 dan. If there are problems with the wooden bucket, the actual tax collected will be even more. many! "

Li Dade's eyes widened and he looked at Guo An with horror on his face.

How could this person calculate so quickly?

Zhu Gaochi's face suddenly became gloomy, "Come here, lock up everyone in the Li family, and don't let anyone escape!"

"The general will obey the order!"

A school captain took the order and left.

Li Dade's expression changed drastically, and he quickly howled, "Your Highness, please spare your life, villain..."

"Shut up!"

Zhu Gaochi shouted angrily, "We don't want to hear the sophistry of you, a traitor!"

On the side, a guard took out a piece of smelly cloth from nowhere and stuffed it into Li Dade's mouth.

The entire Li family main hall suddenly became quiet.

Another moment passed.

The magistrate, governor, Dianshi, county magistrate, and officials from the Taxation Bureau of Jiading County all hurried over.

"The humble minister Chen Ye, the magistrate of Jiading County, comes to see His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"The minister Jia Quan of Jiading County, a humble minister, comes to see His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Weichen Jiading County Classical History..."

"Excuse me, gentlemen!"

Zhu Gaochi smiled gently and said: "This time, I came to inspect, but I didn't notify you in advance, so I didn't disturb you, right?"

"It is a great honor for Wei Chen that His Highness can come to rule under Wei Chen!"

The county magistrate Chen Ye said hurriedly, but he noticed that Li Dade, who had a piece of stinky cloth in his mouth and a face full of despair, was filled with fear.

"Really?"

Zhu Gaochi smiled softly again, "But you all have given me a huge shock!"

Chen Ye, Jia Quan and others were all shocked.

"I am scared. I wonder what your Highness has misunderstood?"

"Humph!"

Zhu Gaochi picked up the account book and threw it directly at the county magistrate Chen Ye and others. "We want to know, the money for fixing the canteen, the money for ordering the cannon, the money for the gods and Buddhas along the river, the money for transporting rice in the carts and foot wallets, the money for enlisting, and the money for yellow rice." Who set these more than twenty kinds of additional taxes: food money, book making money, bamboo basket money, food money..."

"Also, the grain chief whose tax quota is only thirteen thousand dan can receive 32,000 dan?

Dear parents and officials, who made these decisions?

Do you have to force the people under your rule to sell their fields, houses, sons and daughters, and destroy their families, so that your political achievements can be shown? "

"Your Highness, calm down!"

When Chen Ye, Jia Quan and others heard this, their expressions suddenly changed.

He hurriedly picked up the account book in front of him and pretended to read it.

In fact, they knew without looking that what Zhu Gaochi said was true.

They all know that the grain chiefs in various states and counties collect taxes privately and line their own pockets.

However, they never expected that these grain chiefs would be so cruel and dare to impose so many additional taxes!

...(End of chapter)