The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

Chapter 284 The sound fermented

"Suzhou Xunbao" has developed very rapidly in the Jiangnan area. Through the method of live newspapers, the sales volume of "Suzhou Xunbao" has exceeded 1,800 copies in just one and a half months, and many people who are illiterate are Listening to newspapers through popular stalls, it is said that the influence of "Suzhou Xunbao" is much wider than that of 1,800 newspapers.

The special report "Suzhou White Dragon Temple Incident" written by Wang Wenlong became popular immediately. The next day, a large number of people gathered in front of the newsstands of various "Suzhou Xunbao" to listen to the report.

When the common people met in two days, they treated this matter as something they could brag about, and they talked about it with each other.

"Did you hear that? Those tax inspectors were beating people in Bailong Temple."

"Why haven't I heard that my grandson and grandson were in such a miserable state? Not only were they beaten by the tax inspectors for doing small business, but they were also hijacked for personal revenge and almost expelled from Suzhou."

"Where did you hear this news? How come you all talk as if you have seen it before?"

"It's written in the "Suzhou Xundao". Haven't you listened to the live newspapers in the past two days? That newspaper is really interesting. It's more interesting than storytellers and watching plays. I won't get tired of listening to it all day long, and it doesn't charge money."

"So good? Next time big brother listens to live reports, please take me with you..."

The people's energy in chewing gossip is much greater than copying newspaper reports. Within three days of the newspaper being published, everyone in Suzhou knew about the White Dragon Temple, the Cao Gang, the ancestors and grandchildren who sold water chestnuts, the tax supervisors beating people, and even Even the people in Hangzhou and Nanjing have heard of these things.

Even the evil behavior of tax supervisors under similar circumstances has been widely discussed by the people.

Looking at this list, we can find two things. First, Emperor Wanli sent many eunuchs to collect taxes in Jiangnan. There were people in charge of each town. No wonder the people in Jiangnan supported the Donglin Party. Second, the Donglin Party is indeed keen on dealing with eunuchs. This is a good way for them to increase their reputation and win local support.

The young eunuch came to report: "Eunuch, Mr. Liu, the tax supervisor of the four towns, wants to see you."

"Eunuch Sun, I beg your father-in-law to come."

Sun Long nodded and said, "Bring him in."

Sun Long, the admiral and weaving eunuch in his sixties, sat behind the screen and slowly made tea with his face as grave as water.

It has even affected the officialdom, and many officials have begun to write memorials to impeach Liu Cheng for collecting taxes and disturbing the people.

The newspapers enlightened the people, while the Donglin Party created public opinion among the literati and bureaucrats. A denunciation of the Bailong Temple tax inspection case immediately began in an overwhelming manner.

Dealing with tax supervisors and eunuchs is Li Sancai's special skill. Since he visited Fengyang in the 27th year of Wanli and took charge of water transportation, the eunuchs Li Sancai has dealt with include: Xuzhou tax eunuch Chen Zhen, Yi tax eunuch Jilu, Yangzhou eunuch Lu Bao and Xing Long, the eunuch of Lu Ke, were levied along the Yangtze River.

A rather fat middle-aged eunuch hurried in. Although it was already winter, his forehead was covered with sweat, and he was obviously coming at a sprint.

Hangzhou, Yongjinmen, Hangzhou Weaving Bureau.

At the same time, Li Sancai also took the initiative to attend the event after learning the news.

It can cause such a wide range of discussions because the focus of this incident is well chosen. In the past, opposition to tax collection always targeted eunuchs and emperors, and ordinary people did not dare to speak. However, the villains of this incident are those who can’t even speak to small businessmen and hawkers. The tax superintendent wanted to snatch every water chestnut he had, but the people were not afraid at all, so they just scolded him.

Sun Long glanced at him, smiled and continued to make tea: "Back then when I was in the Department of Ceremonies, you came to my sect and called me father-in-law, but I accepted it with a shameful face, but now you are also a popular person in front of the Holy Emperor. , but I can’t stand this call of father-in-law, just call me Lao Sun.”

"Eunuch Sun, you are the stars in the sky. I, Liu Cheng, am just a little bird below. I am a humble person, but I am nothing compared to the old man in your palace."

Sun Long said: "You are too humble, please sit down." Liu Cheng said with a smile on his face: "Eunuch Sun, you see, if you don't say this, my junior will not even dare to sit down."

He just sat half-assed on the chair and took out a thick gift list from his sleeve.

Sun Long didn't even look at the gift list, but pointed to a copy of the "Suzhou Xunbao" on the table and said: "Eunuch Liu, look at what you did, it's just a few tax supervisors, why bother to cover up their dirty work?" Lose your own reputation?"

Liu Cheng said aggrievedly: "At that time, I also heard that my subordinates had made mistakes. I wanted to set an example for my subordinates. In order to win people's hearts, I just let people say a few words. I didn't know that they were actually Such a heartless guy bullies the old and the weak, and even chases them away afterwards. If I had known about this earlier, I would have killed those people myself."

Sun Long asked: "Where are those tax supervisors?"

Liu Cheng said quickly: "He has been sent to Suzhou Mansion Prison."

Sun Long looked at the gift list Liu Cheng brought, finally put down the teapot in his hand and said, "What are your plans now?"

Liu Cheng said quickly: "Now the people are quite dissatisfied with me. I will sue the tax supervisors who are the culprits. Then I will warn my subordinates to make sure that the people of Suzhou have nothing to say."

Sun Long picked up a newspaper on the table and handed it to Liu Cheng and said: "Eunuch Liu, the south of the Yangtze River is not as good as the north. The literati are very loud."

Liu Cheng looked at the news in the newspaper that many civil servants had impeached him. He was silent for a long time and said in embarrassment: "If we compromise with the people everywhere, how can we fulfill the emperor's expectations? By then, we won't even be able to collect taxes."

For the sake of the gift on the table, Sun Long thought about it and said:

"Eunuch Liu, did you know that when I was in Suzhou, I didn't regulate my subordinates and didn't kill the chickens to scare the monkeys? Look what happened in the end? I am now in Jiangnan, only eating fast and chanting Buddha's name, and always treating others with sincerity when doing things. I don't know how much money I have donated to the local government. After participating in many cultural gatherings, the people in Jiangnan gradually forgave me for going."

"Eunuch Sun, this junior is stupid..."

Sun Long poured a cup of tea for Liu Cheng and said with a smile: "Literati and officials are not unfriendly. If you get along with the people above, sometimes the people below don't need to explain much to them."

Liu Cheng's eyes lit up and he thanked him repeatedly.

After returning to Suzhou, Liu Cheng quickly ordered his men to search for the content of the civil officials' impeachment against him, made big-picture changes to the insignificant matters, and then donated money to build a temple in Suzhou.

Then he also launched an action against his own tax supervisors and eliminated all the tax supervisors with a bad reputation. However, in fact, the tax collection activities remained the same. He only gathered power among famous officials and scholars, divided and suppressed them, and even It doesn't matter if you take a soft stance for this.

Liu Cheng no longer exploited the poor people at the bottom, and also told his subordinates not to harm the elderly and orphans. He even personally paid for the children of the water chestnut seller's family to be sent to a private school, and he also repaired their houses and bought them rice.

Eunuchs are not all psychopathic like Chen Feng who collects taxes from Huguang. Liu Cheng is relatively sound in mind. He knows that in a place like Jiangnan, it is not easy for him to do whatever he wants, so he honestly abides by the rules and makes money he can. .

The final result was that Suzhou's taxes on middle-class businessmen were greatly increased, but the famous local literati and officials no longer opposed Liu Cheng. Of course, the rich and powerful would not say good things about Liu Cheng, but they did not regard Liu Cheng as the worst in the entire Jiangnan. That group of eunuchs.

Emperor Wanli sent many eunuchs to the south of the Yangtze River. As long as Liu Cheng did not become the most abominable one, as long as there were eunuchs more shameful than him, public opinion in the south of the Yangtze River would hit them first, and Liu Cheng would be happy to stay. Count the money later.

(End of this chapter)