Idle courtiers

Chapter 462 The Eve of the Great Change ([-])

People in the officialdom, when they reach a certain height, the way of handling things is quite different from the place, and most of the time they pay attention to being decent.

If there is something to do, if it is at the county level, as an official's staff to handle affairs for the master's family, they may have to bargain with relevant people and entangle for a long time.

Seeing that Zhou Nan refused very simply, Master Wang didn't say much, so he turned the conversation around and only talked about the romance with Zhou and Shi.

When he got up, Master Wang even asked the restaurant to bring a huqin, and chanted loudly while playing: "It seems that this star is not the last night, for whom is the wind and dew the night."

It was Zhou Nan's work that was sung.

Zhou Nan also became interested, and beat the bowl with chopsticks.

This side is so lively, it has already alarmed the scholars over there who were discussing the selection of the old man in the future pavilion.

So, Brother Lin and some scholars came over to greet him.

Some of these scholars were educated, talented, and descended from aristocratic families. They were all very excited to see the famous Zhou Zimu in front of them.

The two sides put the tables together, and the poems were sung for a long time, and they didn't leave until dusk.

After leaving the "Zhuli Pavilion", the snow became heavier, there was no wind, and cotton-like snowflakes fell one after another, and the small river next to it was frozen. on the cart.

There are countless white plum trees blooming brilliantly by the river.

Probably because he drank a lot of wine, and his heart was happy, and his whole body was hot.Zhou Nan and Shi Wenjiang didn't take a sedan chair either, they just walked along the long street while talking.

Shi Wenjiang took advantage of the wine and asked: "Sheren, Yan Na is the minister of the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Rites has also dealt with you a lot. What Mr. Wang said just now is not a big deal. Why not? The people in Qingzhou have suffered a lot. If you can Promoting this matter is considered a merit, so why not do it?"

Zhou Nan just smiled and didn't speak.

Shi Wenjiang: "It's just a mere memorial. It's just a matter of one sentence based on Sheren's status with Mr. Xu Ge and Mr. Yuan Ge. Even if the two prime ministers refuse to agree to the Qingzhou magistrate's plea, they will directly transfer it to the Supervisor of Rites. Just let Yan Shangshu talk to the inner ministers."

Zhou Nan still didn't speak.

Shi Wenjiang continued: "Things in the officialdom are nothing more than favors. Uncle Yan Dazong owes you this favor. In the future, you may not be able to ask for him. The thing of not asking for anything is to say hard words. If Sheren needs his help with something, and I can talk to Mr. Wang for you."

Zhou Nancai said slowly: "Cabinet assistant ministers, ministers of the department, the rules of the game are different from those below. Wen Jiang, you always like to start from the interests when looking at problems and doing things. You must know that in their status, personal interests are nothing. More is Differences in political opinions, different political opinions, are not a simple exchange of interests."

Shi Wenjiang was stunned: "Isn't it just that Qingzhou was hit by a disaster, so what does it have to do with political opinion to ask the imperial court to let them pay taxes in the coming year instead of their true colors?"

Zhou Nan said sternly: "I do have the theory of true color discounting in the summer grain and autumn tax, and some places allow a certain proportion of silver discounting. However, the complete abolition of the original color should involve too many aspects. If Qingzhou opens This precedent has a far-reaching impact, and if it is not good, it will change the world."

Shi Wenjiang didn't understand, and didn't take it seriously: "It's not that serious, I don't understand Sheren's words."

Zhou Nan: "Wenjiang, just listen to me."

At the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, because the country had not yet been unified, and it was necessary to use troops in the north, a tax system in kind was implemented.Hoard supplies as military supplies.

Just like, the kings of later dynasties also collected taxes in kind.That is to say, if you are a rice farmer, you have to pay the yellow grain during the two taxes in summer and autumn; if you are a fruit grower, you only need to pay the fruit; One day you suddenly asked me to pay the same value of linen for tax credit, can I?The government's answer was, no, you are breaking the law if you don't hand over the salted fish.

Paying taxes in kind is the so-called true color.

After the real taxes are paid to the government, the country will send people to the capital to enrich the treasury.A lot of manpower is consumed, and the loss of materials along the way is also great.

Therefore, in some places, a certain currency is used instead of the original color, which is called folding color.

Qingzhou is a well-known high-quality wheat producing area in Shandong and even in northern China. However, because a large part of the territory is located in the mountainous area of ​​southern Shandong, the grain output is not large.

In the summer and autumn of this year, droughts have occurred in various parts of the north, and grain production has been severely reduced.Prices are high.

Regardless of the heavy snowfall in the early winter of this year in the capital, according to the reports from the provinces and prefectures north of the Yellow River, there has not been snow there so far, and the grain production next year is worrying, and the price of wheat has to rise to a higher level.

If the Qingzhou government wants to complete the two taxes in the coming year, there are two ways.First, tax the disaster-stricken people with strong means. If it happens, it will easily stir up civil uprisings. It is estimated that Qingzhou government officials do not want to do this.Once the civil uprising, one's future is over, and no one wants to make life difficult for one's official career; the second is to collect discounts from the people, and then the government will buy small goods from other provinces and send them to the capital.The problem is that the price of buying next year's wheat is clearly going to be high, and the rebate collected is simply not enough.

So, Qingzhou started thinking about it, and first asked for a [-]% tax reduction.Then, it further demanded that the so-called rented land be changed into cash.

Hearing what Zhou Nan said, Shi Wenjiang suddenly realized, and said: "The Qingzhou government's plan is very clever."

Zhou Nan continued: "What's even better is that the Lunan mountain area already produces gold and silver."

In later generations, through geological surveys, Shandong has three large gold veins, which are the largest gold producing areas in China.As far as the Ming Dynasty is concerned, there are three major producing areas of gold and silver, one is Shandong, the other is Fujian, and the third is Yunnan and Guizhou.

Shi Wenjiang: "Ah, I forgot this point. This is indeed a good idea, and it's hard for the Qingzhou government to come up with it. However, the matter of giving up people involves too many aspects and is extremely difficult, but I don't understand it."

Zhou Nan: "First of all, how did Qingzhou set this precedent? There is no guarantee that other places will not follow suit. In this way, everyone pays cash, and the treasury is full of silver. What should I do if there is a shortage of supplies? Things like prices change from time to time, such as High-quality polished rice, in the south of the Yangtze River, costs only three renminbi a catty, and when it is transported to the capital through canals, it can reach five renminbi, and the treasury’s income fluctuates greatly.”

Shi Wenjiang disagreed: "What's the matter? In my opinion, it is also convenient for the treasury to collect cash, and there are even more benefits."

Zhou Nan smiled and said, "Tell me."

"Since ancient times, there has been a saying that low grain prices hurt farmers. In a good year, the people may not be able to increase their income much. In a disaster year, the field will reduce production, and the people will starve and suffer from cold." Shi Wenjiang said: "The state expropriates Zhese Afterwards, in good years, we can buy a large amount of grain and adjust prices. In bad years, we can export grain again, and the price is cheap, which is a good thing.”

Zhou Nan nodded: "It makes sense, but the affairs of the country are never as simple as you and I imagine."

Shi Wenjiang's words already have the taste of macro-control in later generations.

(End of this chapter)