My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 206 I can’t hold it back, I really can’t hold it back

"Prosperity is painful, death is also painful."

Looking at the straw sandals on the soles of the people's feet in the fields, Yuan Shizhen sighed and thought to himself.

Yes, straw sandals.

How does it feel to wear straw sandals to do farm work in April, with at most a pair of socks?

It's a pain that can freeze the soles of your feet.

Hemp shoes and cloth shoes are not meant for working.

How can I dress decently when there is a big day at home?

With a dozen soldiers, four or five government officials, and three or two clerks, he left the capital and went deep into the countryside of Daxing County.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

As the gong was being struck, the whole village gathered together.

"Is there someone coming to the city again?"

"Why this time? Is it possible that taxes are going to be increased again?"

On the edge of the crowd, several old farmers gathered together and looked at the two officials wearing green official robes and black gauze hats standing in front of the crowd.

Green official robe, black official hat.

This combination, at first glance, seems quite abrupt.

Upon closer inspection, it becomes even more abrupt.

But this is already a compromise.

Before the industrial age, green was the most common and easiest dye.

On the contrary, bright red and purple are more difficult colors to dye.

Not to mention using blood, that stuff will smell when dyed.

The high-ranking officials wearing the royal robe are definitely willing to wear red ribbons on their official hats.

But the lower-level officials are definitely not willing to wear green belts.

After seeing that almost all the men in the village had arrived, it was time for the new township officials to work.

As the gong rang, the township chief and police began to loudly announce to the people.

"Young and old men, please listen."

"The Great Emperor Fengtian Chengyun has issued an edict. From now on, land taxes and Ding taxes will be collected by township officials and township police, and will no longer be collected by large households."

"The corvee money is spread into the fields!"

The township chief used proverbs to announce future policies, mainly the official takeover of tax collection.

"I hope this Yongren Township will go well."

Looking at the township chief who was explaining the policy to the people sentence by sentence, Yuan Shizhen nodded with satisfaction.

These people selected in this official examination are all scholars.

But scholars are also divided into three levels.

Those who can become Jinshi have goals and ideals.

Unfortunately, this township head has no ideals, and he can't get rid of the scholar. Before taking the official examination, he was already in a state of being unable to survive and made a living as a bookkeeper.

The purpose of the emperor's new township officials was to improve administrative efficiency.

And his purpose of supporting the emperor, Yuan Shizhen, was to reduce the burden on the people.

The most intuitive thing is that when these people took office, they had official titles and official titles from the imperial court.

Big buckets come in, small buckets come out.

In just six words, the landlords' methods of exploiting their tenants and poor peasants can be described incisively and vividly.

Dadoujin: When collecting rent and taxes, use Dendrobium.

According to the official system, ten buckets are worth one stone.

But the rent of these people can reach twelve dou, and even more ruthlessly, it can reach fifteen dou.

Asking, asking means that the container in your home is not standard, not that the container of the great virtuous person is not standard.

And Xiaodou came out:

When your family encounters difficulties and has no way to survive, ask your grandfather and grandma to borrow food or money from these good people. They will use another type of container called Fahu: Compared with the imperial standard, this kind of container It is less and has some conscience, but it is not more than nine buckets, and what is more ruthless is seven or eight buckets.

"In addition, the emperor's new policy requires land to be cleared. The villagers should prepare the land deed. If it is true, and make a new deed, they will receive one penny for each acre of land."

After listening to the township official's announcement about the court's new politics for a while, Yuan Shizhen quietly left with his guards.

Today's population is expanding, but it is not as exaggerated as in later generations. A provincial capital city can accommodate 10 to 20 million people.

Even if this is a township under the county seat of the capital, the population of the township is at most a few thousand.

A township/town mayor, a sheriff, plus a countryman selected from the local area.

It is enough to distribute two steel knives, three spears, and three bows and crossbows.

Next, it is a game of big waves and sand.

The strong ones stand out, fall into the eyes of the upper class, and gain a better status.

The weak, on the other hand, can only drift with the tide, spinning in circles, and even unable to sit firmly in their original position.

These rural officials selected by the imperial court this time have great autonomy just like the work teams under Li Yunlong.

Li Yunlong's men, including Second Battalion Commander Zhang Damiao, only had three or five men and two or three guns when they went out.

However, after several years of development and growth, they were able to have thousands of people, and even obtained Italian cannon [Dog Head.JPG].

A township, no matter how small it is, still has three to five thousand people.

This is not something that three people can do. Whether they can achieve the expected goals with a limited budget, whether they can unite the local youth and collect the taxes that should be collected from the hands of those local powerful people is a test of their abilities. .

Of course, the imperial court also provided support.

If you report a big illegal local, Jin Yiwei will be punished.

In addition, after the death of a person, the imperial court would send troops to clear the place.

Killing chickens to scare monkeys can happen, but it cannot happen often.

The knife is the most painful when it is placed on the neck.

When Yuan Shizhen went to the countryside early in the morning, what was the emperor Zhu Youxiao doing?

In remorse.

Really regretful.

Looking at Luo Hong on the bed, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but slap himself.

Unable to hold it back, the gun went off.

As the green light faintly penetrated outside the gauze tent, the sky gradually became brighter.

Knowing what happened last night, no one with enough eyesight came to urge the emperor to get up today.

Recalling the beautiful scenery at night, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but smack his mouth.

Although it goes against my own thoughts, what is the reason for this aftertaste? . .

He lowered his head and glanced at Xu Waner, who was clinging to him like an octopus. Her soft and white body was pressed against her, her delicate little face was pressed against her chest, and there were tears in the corners of her closed eyes.

I don't know if it was due to Zhu Youxiao's actions or the wind.

Half of Xu Waner's jade back looked so fair against the bright red of the mandarin duck quilt.

A chill came over her, and with a soft cry of "Hmm--", Xu Waner forced her eyes open, and saw the emperor's innocent face.

Suddenly remembering Qu Yi Cheng Huan last night, Xu Waner lost all sleep in an instant, and a flush rose to her face.

Even though he was often hugged to sleep by the emperor, after actually doing something, he still felt extremely embarrassed.

I won’t say much about the rest. After the emperor finished washing, approved the memorial, and started reading every day, Yuan Shizhen came to report his experience of going to the countryside.

After listening to the report and waving the other party to leave, Zhu Youxiao fell into deep thought for a while.

There is something that Zhen Zhen didn't understand until his death.

What is the foundation of Ming Dynasty?

Is it a social structure with clan etiquette as its core?

Is it a distribution of benefits based on big officials?

Nonsense.

The foundation of the Ming Dynasty is to punish the people, drive out the Tartars, and restore China.

What stands out is that he loves the people.

This can be seen from every detail of Zhu Yuanzhang's formulation of state affairs for the Ming Dynasty.

Whether it is the ban on cutting down mountains and cutting rocks, or low taxes to support the people, they are all aimed at reducing the burden on the people at the bottom.

And now, this policy will be proposed again.

National affairs, national foundation, and national foundation.

Thinking of Guoben, Zhu Youxiao suddenly turned to look at Liu Shimin and asked.

"On what day did the queen come to Tiankui Water last time, and on what day did she leave?"

"This." After hearing the emperor's words, Liu Shimin blinked twice.

He really didn't know about this.

"Slave, go and ask."

Looking at Liu Shimin's leaving figure, Zhu Youxiao said silently in his heart.

Just do the math and don’t win the bid.

When Liu Shimin came back again, Zhu Youxiao felt relieved after listening to the days.

Very good, it's a safe period.

That day, the emperor's lunch was served alone.

The reason is that the queen is shy.

After lunch, it’s time for a nap.

Then. . .

"Wow!"

Following a burst of Loli crying, Zhu Youxiao walked out of the side hall with his hands behind his back, his face full of anger.

If you say you will make this loli cry, you will make this loli cry and you will never break your promise.

Ask you to add more salt when cooking.

Turning his head to look at the queen who came in a hurry after hearing the news, Liu Shimin followed the emperor in silence.

I thought that the emperor and empress would grow up a lot after doing things.

But now it seems that I have thought too much.

This emperor, you might say he is young, but he behaves quite calmly and maturely.

You could say he matured precociously, acted childishly from time to time, and was very vindictive.

It was only five days ago, but he still remembered it.

Unexpectedly, after he woke up from his nap, he used chili pepper to wake up Concubine Shun.

For the first time, Liu Shimin felt helpless regarding his master's bad taste.

What's wrong with this?

"Go to the school grounds and exercise."

With a wave of his hand, Zhu Youxiao headed towards the school grounds with a group of royal guards.

It's important to exercise.

Last night's experience told me that although I have enough money, my physical strength is still a bit weak and I need to exercise more.

Let’s not mention how the emperor strengthened his training.

But the matter of rural officials going to the countryside still caused an uproar in the capital.

Whether in opposition or in government, a memorial was sent to the General Secretary, and then was sent to the cabinet.

And the cause of the matter is also very simple.

The formal operation of the township official system has affected the interests of too many people.

And behind each of these interests is the collapse of a system in the Ming Dynasty.

How did the Ming Dynasty’s grassroots system of chiefs and chiefs collapse?

He is a regular servant and is supplied by Lijia.

When magistrates from various places arrive at their posts, they must first collect four or fifty taels of silver, no less than twenty or thirty taels.

Zuoerguan, even Lishu and Menzao also have separate cases, and they also set a distribution schedule. If they don't pay by the time, they will be allocated directly.

In addition, the head of the district and the head of the first class must take turns to provide the comprador with supplies including but not limited to: transportation, furnishings, banquets, social etiquette, oil candles for each yamen, papers for the six rooms, travel expenses, etc.

Of course, such a heavy assessment cannot be borne by the length of the village alone.

Of course, this thing was divided up.

Normal social development should involve working hard and saving money, step by step from peasants to middle peasants and then to rich peasants.

However, the supply of Lijia has suppressed the development route.

These countless exploitations turned the middle peasants, who should have been the cornerstone of the country, into tenants of the gentry.

The final result is that the upward channel is blocked, and no matter how hard you work, you can't even hope to rise.

The final result is that society gradually becomes a tinderbox that explodes when it encounters a spark.

In addition, some rural officials began to measure the land and began to clear out some land that had previously been in the name of the gentry.

This is a direct grab for money.

There was an impeachment memorial in the court, and the county magistrate below also issued official documents to appeal.

No matter how the court's policies were formulated, it was still difficult for the township officials to implement them in the countryside.

To put it simply, some people cannot be controlled.

At this time, Dong Yingju, the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture who was at the forefront, was under great pressure.

In response to this pressure, Dong Yingju's choice was to respond positively.

The reason is also very simple. Zhou Yingqiu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, sent a message: If you can't handle this little thing, what's the use of you?

As a result, three squads of government officials opened the way, beating gongs and drums, and it was very lively.

As the emperor's personally appointed prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, Dong Yingju certainly had his authority.

The purpose of leaving the city this time was to support the rural officials sent by the imperial court.

Just after leaving the capital, within ten miles, there were gentry waiting at the roadside, inviting them to a banquet.

Of course, calling it a stop would be too much.

In name, the prefect still came down to inspect, and the local gentry came to invite the prefect to a banquet to express their friendship as landlords.

Dong Yingju refused on the spot.

Seeing that the master refused to accept this trick, some gentry were immediately pushed out and complained.

"Master Fu, this land tax is really too much, we can't afford it."

"This year, the court is carrying out a lot of work and cannot hire enough tenants. Our land has been depleted of people. The court has to collect taxes, but we can't come up with any money."

"It's difficult for you, but it's even more difficult for the country."

Hearing this, Dong Ying, who was riding on the horse, waved his hand and said without mercy.

"Which is easier for the court to raise soldiers or officials?"

"If you can't hand it over, I will inform Your Majesty and ask the royal guards to go to your house to get it."

"!!!"

Hearing Dong Yingju's words, the gentry present were immediately shocked.

How about letting Jin Yiwei pick it up?

The new policy implemented by the imperial court was to share the land with the land, and corvee service was no longer collected.

But the field tax was raised to three dou per mu.

In addition, there is a Dingkou tax of one hundred cents per person per year.

Summer and autumn taxes.

I don’t know what it was like before, but under the New Deal, the summer tax was a Dingkou tax, and the autumn tax was a field tax.

"This year's two taxes are the responsibility of the heads of each township, the county chief Bo is in charge, and the Shuntian Prefecture Taxation Department is in charge. The court no longer needs to divide the taxes."

"what?"

After hearing Dong Yingju's words, all the gentry noticed that behind Dong Yingju there was a man who seemed to be the accountant.

I saw this man riding a group of black horses, wearing a green robe from the seventh grade, embroidered with the Xi Edict, an abacus hanging on his waist, wearing a black gauze hat on his head, and looking like an official.

"My official name is Li Ying, and Tian is the tax envoy of Daxing County, responsible for taxation.

"In the future, within the territory of Shuntian Prefecture, all land taxes and taxes will be collected by the township heads and policemen of each township. I will be responsible for coordinating and sending people to escort. You don't need to send people to transport, and there is no need to trouble the county magistrate. "

After seeing Li Ying finish speaking, Dong Ying glanced at the people present and then said.

"All fields within Shuntian Mansion will be taxed. There will be no exemptions or exemptions from now on. This is His Majesty's decree!"

"For tax evasion, the court will impose triple penalties for first-time offenders."

"The whistleblower will receive 30% as a reward."

"Repeat offenders will have their property confiscated, and those who report the crime will get 50%."

With that said, Dong Yingju looked at the gentry present and said with a smile.

"Those who evade taxes, in the words of the emperor, are digging at the foundation of the Ming Dynasty."

"For this kind of person, we need to punch hard and punch hard."

"Reporting these people will not only serve the country, but also make some money for yourself."

"You must actively participate."

(End of this chapter)