I'm sure of the prosperous age of Kangxi and Qianlong!

Chapter 229: Tax reduction, tax reduction, abolition of corvee

Jurong County (Jiuhua Mountain is here).

Wangjia Village.

In an ordinary people's house.

"Master, you said it's winter here, why are you asking everyone to gather at the entrance of the village?" A woman was sitting next to a brazier (the kang is from the north), warming herself by the fire while mending her family's clothes.

As for the children at home, they just went to the village school in the morning.

Their village is quite good, and there is also a village school.

A small village school was built with money from the landlords and the help of the villagers.

In ancient times, winter was cold and there was basically no farm work to do, so women usually sewed clothes and collected shoe uppers at home, while children of school age took advantage of this time to go to school.

The so-called summer vacation was originally intended to allow students to go home and help with farm work.

After hearing this, the man only tightened his clothes and said, "Women, don't ask questions. I'll go and come back."

With that said, he hurried out of the door and went to gather at the entrance of the village.

Fortunately, the snow has almost stopped. Even though the weather is getting colder, it is much better than in the north.

When I arrived at the village entrance, I found that all the adult men in the village were here.

Zhang Li was standing at the entrance of the village, nodding and bowing, accompanying two well-dressed people.

One of the men I knew was the rare landlord Wang Yuanwai.

And the other person is wearing a Confucian robe... Mr. Gongren?

The man was still confused. When Zhang Lizheng saw that everyone was almost here, he immediately shouted: "Everyone, be quiet, be quiet, and listen to me."

The sound was not very loud, but everyone in the village quickly fell silent.

After all, after so many years of being honest, I still have some prestige.

It was precisely with this in mind that Zhu Yijiong did not directly issue an order to revoke or let the government completely take over Li Zheng's duties.

It is just a rule that all village appointments must be approved by [-]% of the villagers (already very high, completely unrealistic, and there will always be people who are dissatisfied), and must be reported to the local government office.

However, Li Zheng can be decided by the people themselves.

After all, it was a grassroots position, not even a subordinate. Even in later generations, many village chiefs were chosen by the villagers themselves.

However, the same cannot be said for those subordinate officials.

Zhu Yijiong issued an order to incorporate subordinate officials into the imperial system, limit the number of officials, and provide them with salaries.

Naturally, it is impossible for subordinate officials to be like before. It is absolutely not allowed to engage in the death of father and son, and to earn gray income.

Of course, the number of people is limited. What if there are not enough subordinate staff?
Then recruit temporary workers!

The Ming court did not restrict local governments from recruiting temporary workers, but temporary workers must report to the higher-level government, and only if legitimate and reasonable reasons are given, the higher-level government will reimburse wages and salaries.

Moreover, this kind of temporary workers are temporary workers. Don't think about getting paid. When the time comes, you will either fire them or pay for these temporary workers yourself.

If you are found out by the superiors, you will be punished for the crime.

"I called everyone here today, but I have something good to tell you." Zhang Lizheng said with a smile on his face, obviously not lying.

The villagers at the entrance of the village all looked nervous and silent.

Zhang Lizheng then said: "This is Secretary Xu from the county, let him explain it to everyone!"

After that, he took the initiative to move aside. Zhang Zhi, who was wearing a Confucian robe next to him, stepped forward and said loudly: "Folks, don't be afraid. I am here to inform you of the good news."

"Just a few days ago, our Ming Emperor just issued a decree to reduce taxes and taxes for everyone, and also abolished everyone's corvee."

To reduce taxes and fees, but also to abolish corvee?

Upon hearing this, the originally quiet village entrance suddenly exploded.

"Is everything the master said true?"

"Your Majesty, does your Majesty really want to reduce taxes?"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor..."

"..."

The entire entrance to the village was noisy. Even those who were behind and didn't hear it would get excited when they heard what the people in front said.

Some were so excited that they even knelt on the ground and shouted "Long live the Emperor".

I have to say that the farmers in ancient China were indeed the most honest.

As long as they can have enough to eat, reduce taxes a little, and have hope in life, then they will burst into tears.It's a pity that ancient emperors could never do such a simple thing...

After waiting for a long time, when the fire was almost done, Zhang Zhi spoke again: "Fellow folks, the emperor has reduced taxes, reduced taxes, and abolished corvee labor for everyone, so we must also know how to be grateful! Right?"

"Correct!"

The villagers shouted in unison.

Zhang Zhi said: "Now, the emperor wants to establish a reserve force in our Jurong County. Anyone with a son in the family can participate. Participants will receive a [-]% tax reduction and a [-]% tax reduction, and their family members will no longer have to do corvee service."

A [-]% tax reduction may seem like a small amount, but compared to ancient times, it's pretty good, and the family members don't have to do corvee labor, which is attractive enough.

Here, Zhang Zhi also played a word game, that is, only those who participate in the reserve force can get tax reductions, but this is not important, he only needs to mobilize the emotions of these people.

When they understand, they will be reluctant to give up these benefits.Moreover, His Majesty's reservists themselves choose to train during the leisure time, and the training is also responsible for the food.

There is no reason for the people to refuse.

"Well, sir, what is the reserve force?" the man from before asked.

Reducing taxes and abolishing corvee service is indeed attractive, but what is reserve service?

Never heard of it!

"This reserve..."

Zhang Zhi thought for a while and said, "I will ask you to come out from the yamen and gather for training during the off-season. But the training will not be in vain. The yamen is in charge of food. You can go home to work during busy farming periods, and the yamen will not stop you."

After hearing this, the man was stunned for a moment, and then he asked doubtfully: "The emperor wants us to be soldiers?"

Zhang Zhiwen smiled and said: "That's not true, it's just a reserve force. We don't need to go to war on weekdays. However, in the future, when the new army recruits troops, they will be recruited from this reserve force."

After talking for a long time, the man became even more confused, and the villagers also looked confused.

Wang Yuanwai, who was beside Zhang Zhi, couldn't bear it anymore and hurriedly interjected: "Hey, what are you guys doing standing still? This reserve force does not require you all to go fight for the emperor. It is just a drill. It is still a drill during the off-season. The government will also give it to you. If you are in charge of food, you can get tax reductions and don’t have to do corvee labor, isn’t that great?”

Wang Yuanwai is so enthusiastic simply because many villagers in the village are renting and cultivating his family's land. He is also a beneficiary of this tax reduction.

With the support of Wang Yuan, the villagers seemed to have less worries.

Yup!

It's just a bit of practice during the off-farm time, and you can still take care of the food after the practice, and you can also get tax and tax reductions, without having to do corvee labor.

The last point is particularly important and can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of whether they have land or not.

At this time, all the young people in the village suddenly became enthusiastic.

Every household enthusiastically signed up to participate, and some even wanted their mother-in-law to come, but they were rejected by the officials from the government office (no discrimination).

Not only Wangjiacun, but other rural towns are also promoting the imperial decree.

There are many methods of promotion, but the final results are the same.

Tax reduction, tax reduction, and abolishment of corvee labor are all benefits that no common people, even some landlords, can refuse.

It's just a bit of practice during the off-season and taking care of the food. Where can I find such good things?

Even if the new army goes back to replenish its troops from the reserves, it may not let itself go.

Even if they go, it's not a bad thing. The treatment of the new army has been preached many times.

Not to mention the smell of meat every day, the food and salary are sufficient, those who have made military achievements can also receive land grants, and they can receive pensions after death, and their families can also receive three years of tax exemption.

That is, the tax is exempted in the first year, reduced by half in the second year, reduced by [-]% in the third year, and restored in the fourth year.

As for the abolition of corvee service, the Ming Dynasty had been doing this for a long time, but it was just the family members of the new army at the beginning.

After all, the male members of the family have already gone to serve as soldiers, so it would be too beastly to have to do corvee labor again.

Moreover, corvee can be said to mean letting people work for officials for free.

Other than that, nothing else works.

The feudal dynasty's government was all about stability, and there were so many major construction projects happening day after day.

Therefore, corvee service has become more of a tool for officials to satisfy their selfish desires and to support the gentry.

Abolition of corvee has only advantages and no disadvantages.

As for what the government will do when they return to work, they will have to pay for recruitment, just as the Ming army now recruits and recruits civilians, and they also provide food and money.

Is this difficult?

　Transition

　　
　
(End of this chapter)