Wang Shixian has always been responsible for the task of traveling here and there on behalf of Guo Ning.
Although he was born in ancient Wang Dynasty, he had a good family background when he was young, and he had a serious education and went to school. In terms of conversation, even if he can't compare with those Confucian scholars with great education, he is always much better than the fair-weather monks, the gangsters in Zhongdu and the rough guys in the army under Guo Ning.
Moreover, these days, Wang Shixian has met many important people who he could only look up to in his early years, and discussed many major events. His confidence and demeanor are very different from when he was trapped in Xinqiao Camp a few days ago.
At this moment, someone a few feet away made a surprising statement, which immediately made Tu Shanhang's spirits rise: "What? Taxation?"
For more than ten years in Anzhou, Tu Shanhang's most troublesome problems were, first, the reorganization of military power, and the second, taxation.
When it comes to the taxes of the Dajin court, the types are very complicated.
The normal main types of taxes are the two taxes based on the old system of Liao and Song Dynasty and based on land; there are material money estimated based on the scale of property such as land, slaves, houses, cattle and sheep; there are household transfers for silk, cotton and silk; there are special taxes for Jurchens Meng'an Mouke's cow head tax; there are also taxes on salt, tea, merchants, and customs.
Generally speaking, compared with the Song Dynasty in the Southern Dynasty, the tax rate in Dajin was not high, and various regulations on discounts and consumption savings were also very considerate of the people. The saying goes, "Legislation must be done carefully, and people must also review it." When Sejong was in power, tens of thousands of Song people from the Southern Dynasties even fled to the north year after year.
However, the same thing between the Jin Dynasty and previous dynasties is that every tax that can be included in legal documents is good governance; but in fact, what the people really bear, as time goes by, is more and more, far more than These on paper.
Not to mention the methods used by subordinate officials such as floating income, suppressing allocations, reducing household income without reducing taxes, etc. Once the nobles of the Zhongdu court tightened their accounts, they could use a large pen to pay for things like horse money, military supplies money, exemption money, etc. The river husband’s money came rolling in under various names. There is even a magical operation where the imperial court comes forward and confidently borrows taxes from the people of the world in the next few years.
And every time there is a war, all these exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes will increase tenfold and a hundredfold, and all the oppressive policies will be ignored, even digging three feet into the ground and destroying countless families.
Although the imperial court has made it clear that when there is a department failure, it must be based on the official version. Those who are rich first can pay taxes to the officials at that time, and those who have the strength first can take over, or they can be taken over by mergers. As a result, county officials and township officials were able to act as traitors and forcefully control each state or county until the people were completely impoverished and the power of the local tyrants increased greatly.
After Tu Shanhang took office in Anzhou, he has been trying to cheer up, but what can he do? Outside Wocheng County, relying on the results of the six-way land encirclement in the early years, there is plenty of official land that should be rented out, but no one is cultivating it, and the people have long since fled. There are many private fields that should be taxed, but they all belong to the subordinate officials such as the clerks, lizheng, and chief officials. They are intertwined with each other and communicate with each other. It is difficult for Shanhang to do anything to them.
Several times, Tu Shanhang had been angered by their obedience, but what could he do?
In the past few years, there have been many fierce battles in northern Xinjiang. The imperial court tried its best to collect grain and sign troops on Hebei Road and Zhongdu Road, and had already exhausted every military prefecture. Tu Shanhang wanted to intimidate him, but he couldn't mobilize more than a hundred grain-shooting troops in Wocheng County.
If you don’t have soldiers, you can’t recruit money or food; if you don’t have money or food, you can’t recruit enough soldiers. This situation went round and round, almost making Tu Shanhang completely despair. And on Zhongdu Road, orders were still being issued one after another. The imperial court had to raise grain, raise money, recruit horses, and recruit horses. Everything was supervised by important ministers, but Shanhang couldn't do it alone!
After years of catastrophic disasters, regular taxes and taxes are gone. How can we have the spare energy to handle these matters?
At the end of last year, he turned to various places to mobilize troops, hoping to strengthen the governor's office and suppress the local tyrants headed by the Yu family in Xinqiao Camp. In the end, Xi Jun was finally persuaded, and his leader Xiao Haohu was killed by Guo Ning in an instant... The remaining more than a hundred people were like timid quails, shrinking and unable to do anything!
Since the Taihe period, the examination curriculum has been established, and the system of four good deeds and seventeen bests has been established. Tu Shanhang himself compared the system and calculated it several times, knowing that even if his uncle Tu Shanyi personally took charge of the staff and tore through his family's travel books, he would not be able to find a reason for promotion.
Until then.
Tu Shanhang exclaimed, feeling that he had lost the dignity of a court official. But he really couldn't hold back his emotions, so he couldn't help but took a few steps forward and stared at Wang Shixian: "What did you just say?"
Wang Shixian hurriedly took a few steps and gave Tu Dan a standard salute. He raised his head and said with a smile on his face: "Master Governor, please take a look."
He raised his finger and pointed: "There are ten large carts following me here, and ten carts are waiting outside the city. These carts are loaded with taxes that have been shipped in advance. Last year's summer taxes will be made up first, and then the taxes will be paid accordingly. During the Taihe period, the number of acres after the land was encircled by six roads, calculated by three acres, is here."
Tu Shanhang quickly walked over with his robe in hand and lifted the tarpaulin on the car. Sure enough, the heavy shaft of the car could not be deceived. The car was filled with grain bags!
"This... these grains... where do so many grains come from?" Tu Shanhang subconsciously scolded, and then softened his tone: "It's just the summer grain, that's a small head. The autumn tax per mu is five liters. , and you have to pay fifteen kilograms of straw, which is not a small amount... Where is the autumn tax?"
Wang Shixian said with a smile on his face: "According to the arrangements of the governor, Baojia, which was once abandoned in various parts of Anzhou, has now begun to be cultivated again. All matters such as farming and mulberry cultivation will be done properly. In August, the whole Two years of autumn grain will be provided in full. In addition, starting from next month, the material resources and money that the state should have, and the autumn grain owed last year will also be provided one after another. By June at the latest, the governor will definitely have an explanation. "
Are you still following my arrangements? Tu Shanhang sneered.
"What does the leader of your family, that Changzhou Guo Ning, want?"
Wang Shixian gave another salute: "Anzhou is in such a state of decline. It is really unbearable for the imperial court to have another conquest. I would like to ask the governor to continue to deal with the people of Hezhou. My husband is stationed in the camp to feed the military river, which can ensure the peace of the place. After that, I only ask Both parties are in peace."
As soon as he said this, the expressions of everyone present changed.
Guo Ning, the leader of a defeated army, sent an envoy here. Did his words actually mean that he wanted to fight against the governor? What does this mean? From now on, the governor only has to deal with the court and does not need to worry about other things?
Sijun Jiagu Aludai and housekeeper Cui Xiannu immediately yelled and cursed, and many servants quickly followed them to threaten them. Zhang Jiao was stunned, but said nothing.
Wang Shixian was completely unmoved, still standing with a low eyebrow, and only glanced at Tu Shanhang with the corner of his eye.
After Tu Shanhang was stunned, he continued to sneer,
If you use these words to force the court officials to compromise, then you are looking down upon me!
Now you are given a total of twenty carts of food, and the rest are just lip service, but you want me, the governor, to protect you from the wind and rain? What a joke.
This Changzhou Guo Ning, a mere defeated army, actually gathered his troops and joined forces with local powerful men. He was obviously evil-minded. He and Yang An'er and others are basically the same thing! This is the law of the imperial court. These rebels must be severely punished and must be on guard against them. If you cooperate with them, you will definitely be seeking the skin of a tiger!
He thought so, but he looked at the vehicle filled with food and refused to move.
But……
But this is food!
Twenty carts, this is last year’s summer tax! If the autumn grain can arrive, it will be one hundred, no, three to five hundred cartloads of grain! Not to mention Anzhou, given the situation last autumn, the entire Zhongdu Road might not be able to harvest so much grain!
So, will the situation this year be better than last year?
Impossible, the fierce fighting with the Mongolian army is still going on, and Zhongdu is always short of food. By that time, whoever can deliver food to Zhongdu will be the savior, and whoever can be put into important use by the imperial court.
Tu Shanhang remembered clearly that the year before last, his uncle Tu Shanyi had moved 20,000 troops to defend the central capital in time, so he stayed in Beijing and became the right prime minister in one fell swoop. The soldiers of the previous year are just like the food of this year. As long as I can achieve results on this...then my contribution will be greater than saving my life!
Even if Changzhou Guo Ning is really another Yang An'er, if he wants to rebel, it won't be now, right? With that little time, maybe...maybe...I could go back to Zhongdu with food? What will happen to Anzhou? What does it have to do with me?
Thinking of this, Tu Shanhang's face became more serious.
He took a step toward the front of the cart, waved the driver away, and waved Wang Shixian to come closer.
"Do you really mean what you said?"
Wang Shixian said seriously: "It's absolutely true."
Tu Shanhang pondered for a moment: "I have no intention of serving as the governor of Anzhou for a long time. After autumn this year..."
"Paying the autumn grain to the top will definitely not miss the governor's business. In addition, my husband has a few small gifts to give. I think it will help the governor's promotion."
"what gift?"
Wang Shixian walked to a large car and opened the tarpaulin: "Master Governor, please take a look!"
Tu Shanhang hurriedly followed up, looked over, and was surprised: "These are flags and armor? Where did they come from?"
"There are military flags on the four sides and ten pieces of armor. They were all captured when we fought with Hu Shahu a few days ago. An expert will know where they came from at a glance."
"What do I want to do with this?" Tu Shanhang asked.
"My husband said that the uncle of Tu Dan, the Prime Minister of the current dynasty, had always disliked those generals who acted wantonly, and he was a political enemy of Hu Shahu. Now that Hu Shahu is in Zhongdu, I think he is bragging about his feat of defeating Yang An'er. In order to add glory to myself. Then, these objects will definitely be useful to Prime Minister Tu Shan when they arrive in Zhongdu."
"Your Guo Langjun is quite knowledgeable!" Tu Shanhang laughed, and then asked: "If my uncle asks, where do these objects come from..."
"Of course it's the result of Anzhou's heroic efforts to defeat the traitor Yang An'er's troops."
In other words, Anzhou Yiyong defeated Yang An'er and captured what Yang An'er captured when he defeated Hu Shahu's troops? Haha, it would be very interesting to think about it if the princes in the court understand the meaning.
After a second thought, Tu Shanhang asked again: "Where does the name Anzhou Volunteers come from? I didn't know that Anzhou has such a army of soldiers and horses!"
Wang Shixian laughed and said: "The Anzhou Volunteers are naturally the subordinates of the Anzhou Governor. The Governor personally organized and commanded them, so how could he not know the situation of this army? On the contrary, we are only stationed at the Xijunhe camp. Don’t know anything, haven’t heard anything!”
That means that I, the governor of Anzhou, can get a share of the credit for defeating Yang An'er? Very good, this treatment is at least not worse than that guy from Nian Kaizhen!
A gust of cold wind blew along the road in the city, shaking the withered grass in front of the governor's house and kicking up half-dried dust. Tu Shanhang raised his hands to cover his mouth and nose, and couldn't help but think about it.
No one on both sides said anything more, but when Wang Shixian said goodbye, Tu Shanhang nodded slightly and asked Cui Xiannu to come forward to see him off.
