Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the two-tax law has been implemented, with taxes levied in summer and autumn every year.
During the Hongwu period, it was stipulated that five liters, three combined and two spoons of grain per mu were collected for official land. For civilian fields, two liters were deducted, and only three liters of grain were collected per mu. After the death of Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, this rule was implemented for a long time.
Later, as the officials in the court recovered and became corrupt, this rule was gradually forgotten, and the taxes on the people became more and more heavy. After a year of hard work, the harvest, excluding the taxes to be paid, could barely fill their stomachs. .
In good years, they can still make ends meet, but once there is a disaster and the fields cannot grow food, these people will have to endure hunger!
At this time, the landowners and gentry lowered the price of land and bought large quantities of land. In order to survive, the people had to sell their land to those landlords and were reduced from farmers to tenants, with no hope of recovery in their lives.
Night, Wangjia Village.
What happened during the day made the villagers of Wangjia Village quite angry. For this reason, the respected old man among the villagers called together the capable people in the village to discuss strategies together.
In the room, a middle-aged man sighed suddenly and said helplessly.
"What should we do next? The land taxes that those guys missed will be shared equally with us. How can such a thing happen in this world!"
"Yes, if you ask me, those guys are really shameless! They betrayed everyone for a small profit. Calculated, we have to pay six liters of grain per acre of land!"
"It just so happens that those people are protected by the government. There is nothing we can do against them!"
In the room, everyone was talking to each other, discussing the next countermeasures, but in the end no feasible solution was reached.
"Why don't we go find the county magistrate? He will definitely make the decision for us!"
At this moment, a young man in coarse linen clothes looked around and spoke.
"Yes, the magistrate loves the people like his own children and hates evil as much as his enemies. He will definitely help us! Besides, if it hadn't been for him last time, our village would have suffered."
After the young man made his suggestion, others quickly echoed his suggestion.
"But wouldn't it be bad to involve the magistrate in this matter? Last time, the magistrate offended the magistrate of Hangzhou because of us!"
Immediately afterwards, a respected old man stood up tremblingly and said hesitantly.
The old man's words made everyone present fall into silence. Do they want to trouble the magistrate again?
"But...but, except the magistrate, no one will help us!"
Among the crowd, I don’t know who said this.
"Oh, that's all. Let's be shameless and ask the magistrate again tomorrow!"
After being silent for a long time, the old man said slowly.
"Well, let's all disperse. Let's go to the county government office tomorrow."
Seeing that everyone present had no interest in continuing the discussion, the young man wearing coarse linen clothes said this.
"It's all gone, it's all gone."
"I'll go to the county government office tomorrow."
"Oh, how can I live my life like this?"
The villagers in the room saw this and gradually left, while a black shadow flashed outside the window and disappeared.
"Hai Rui?"
Such a voice came from the darkness not far away.
…
One night passed in the blink of an eye.
Early the next morning, when Hai Rui got up, he heard a report from his subordinates, saying that there were people outside who wanted to see him.
"Well, let him in."
Hai Rui nodded and gave these instructions to his subordinates.
After a while, Hai Rui saw a trembling old man walking into the county government office with the support of two young people wearing coarse linen clothes.
"Old man, what do you want from me?"
Upon seeing this, Hai Rui quickly asked his subordinates to make tea, and then asked.
"I've met the magistrate, magistrate, please make the decision for us!"
After the old man said this, he motioned to the young man who was supporting him to release his hands, and then he knelt down on the ground.
"Old man, what are you doing? Please get up quickly! If you have any grievances, just tell me."
Upon seeing this, Hai Rui quickly helped the old man to the seat beside him and said in a deep voice.
"Thank you so much, Lord Magistrate. You are such a rare good official who thinks about our people!"
After being helped to the seat by Hai Rui, the old man held Hai Rui's hand tightly and said excitedly.
"Old man, if you have any grievances, just tell me. I will definitely seek justice for you!"
"Master Magistrate, the thing is like this, I am from Wangjia Village, yesterday..."
The old man began to narrate what happened, and after hearing all this, Hai Rui frowned even more.
According to the old man, after converting the land tax they will pay this time, they will have to pay six liters of grain per mu of land!
Prior to this, the imperial court had issued a corresponding notice to reduce or exempt part of the taxes on the people. The food that these people needed to hand in was not only not reduced, but more than before the tax exemption!
"Could it be that the imperial government's policy of tax reduction and exemption for the people has not been implemented? If that is the case..."
Hai Rui was shocked by the idea that suddenly popped up in his mind, and for a moment he didn't dare to continue thinking along this line of thought! It wasn't until the old man's call brought him back to reality.
"My lord? My lord?"
Hai Rui suddenly came back to his senses, put aside his previous conjectures for the time being, and continued.
"You mean, as long as you have your fingerprints stamped by the government, you can pay less or no land tax! Not only that, but you will also be exempted from the corvee for one year, and your children will also have priority in attending free schools funded by the government?"
"Yes, Mr. Magistrate, is there any problem?"
Seeing the ugly expression on Hai Rui's face, the old man said doubtfully.
"This is obviously to promote the conversion of rice to mulberry by collecting field taxes! If you are willing to change rice to mulberry, the government will collect less or even no field taxes, and the part they pay less will be passed on to you."
"In this way, not only can the conversion of rice into mulberry be promoted, but the field tax can also be collected. It is really a plan to kill two birds with one stone! However, the people who formulated this strategy have not considered your actual situation at all. .”
"If this continues, the conversion of rice to mulberry will be successfully implemented, but the people will suffer! Especially those who still insist on planting seedlings, nine out of ten will definitely go bankrupt as a result."
At this time, Hai Rui also figured out the joints and said in a deep voice.
"Ah, Lord Magistrate, what should we do now?"
After listening to Hai Rui's analysis, the old man suddenly panicked and quickly asked Hai Rui what to do.
"It's okay, old man, you can go back first! I will go to the Governor's Mansion to find out the news."
After Hai Rui finished speaking, he recalled his previous conjecture and decided to leave from the county government office and head to the Governor's Mansion.
At this moment, the subordinate who had been ordered by Hai Rui to make tea came in with several cups of hot tea. Seeing Hai Rui looking like he was about to go out, he said, "Sir, the tea is here. "
"Hmph, keep this tea for yourself and drink it!"
Hai Rui glanced at the visitor and said coldly.
The subordinate heard the sarcasm in Hai Rui's words and showed a hint of embarrassment on his face. In his opinion, these people were not qualified to drink tea from the county government.
…
Hurrying slowly, Hai Rui finally arrived at the Governor's Mansion before dark. Just when he was hesitating and wanted to let the guard at the door go in to inform him, he accidentally caught a glimpse of Zheng Mi Chang's sedan.
"Your Majesty the Chief Envoy!"
When Hai Rui saw this, he bowed his hands and said respectfully.
"Oh, it's Hai Rui! What, do you have anything to do with the Governor?"
Zheng Michang got down from the sedan chair and asked.
"Yes, Chief Envoy, I do have a problem and want to check with the Governor."
Facing Zheng Michang's inquiry, Hai Rui said so without any intention of hiding anything.
"The Governor has been busy with official duties recently, so I'm afraid he won't be able to spare time to see you."
After listening to Hai Rui's words, Zheng Michang shook his head and said this.
"Oh, what can we do?"
Hai Rui sighed helplessly and immediately wanted to return home.
"Hey, hey, don't leave!"
Seeing that Hai Rui wanted to leave directly, Zheng Mi Chang quickly spoke to stop him.
"Does the chief envoy have anything to do with his subordinates?"
Hearing Zheng Michang's call, Hai Rui immediately stopped and said doubtfully.
"Now that you're here, don't leave in a hurry. I still owe you someone to invite!"
"Let's go, I'll invite you to dinner. If you have any questions then, just ask me."
Zheng Mi Chang said, forcefully grabbing Hai Rui and dragging him towards the restaurant.
Soon, Hai Rui and Zheng Michang arrived at the most luxurious restaurant in Hangzhou City.
"Lord Chief Minister, is this... a little too luxurious here?"
At the door of the restaurant, Hai Rui stopped and hesitated.
"What's so luxurious about this? Isn't it just a shabby restaurant? I'm treating you to a guest today!"
After Zheng Michang finished speaking, he pulled Hai Rui in.
"Still the same!"
Zheng Michang seemed to be quite familiar with the environment here. As soon as he entered it, he gave the shopkeeper the following instructions.
"Okay, please wait a moment."
The shopkeeper of this restaurant saw Zheng Mi Chang coming and quickly said respectfully.
Hai Rui felt uncomfortable with everything unfamiliar in front of him, and it was not until Zheng Mi Chang's voice came again that he came back to his senses.
"Let's go."
"Um."
(End of chapter)
