Chapter 238 The Duke comes and refuses to pay for food
"Futai, the Dingwu Army has entered the city..."
Liu Wenzheng trotted to the Songjiang magistrate's office half a street away: "Wang BuTong's Songjiang guards were ordered to go to Qingpu."
Huang Shijing didn't panic at all. Now he was following Chen Cao's footsteps. At worst, he would be a vanguard. In short, as a civil servant, he couldn't do such dirty tricks as shouting and killing. He had to rely on Chen Cao. Do it yourself.
"I don't know who is spreading rumors in the city, saying that 'the duke will not pay taxes when he comes'," Liu Wenzheng looked at Huang Shijing in confusion: "If you don't pay taxes, what about Songjiang's taxes to the court?"
Huang Shijing is a smart man, so he naturally knows that these rumors must have been passed down by Chen Cao's subordinates, but he will certainly not say clearly: "Shanghai's commercial tax implementation is not bad, but our Huating has only formulated laws and cannot implement them. Shanghai County There is no progress in the equalization of land, so tell me, can we in Huating implement it well?"
Liu Wenzheng shook his head: "Fu Tai has learned a lesson. Under Huating's rule, many officials were promoted to official positions. Landlords and gentry were everywhere. If the subordinate officials issued an order to equalize land, those government servants would definitely be beaten after they went to the countryside. However, according to the arrangements of Fu Tai, taxation matters It’s still being arranged.”
Chen Cao walked into the prefect's Yamen surrounded by civil and military officials. When he saw Liu Wenzheng and Huang Shijing talking, he spoke loudly: "After I arrive, you can do it with confidence. If you don't do things according to the rules, you will hand them over to the governor's Yamen." Do."
"I've met the father-in-law..."
They both saluted.
Chen Cao walked into the lobby and sat down, then looked at Huang Shijing: "Master Huang, come forward and invite all the leading figures in Fucheng and under Huating's rule to the prefect's Yamen for a drink...
If you don’t come, let Jin Yiwei come to visit you..."
"I obey my orders..."
In the main courtyard of the prefect's Yamen, there are twelve tables of banquets. All the people with status in Songjiang are here, from serving officials to retired officials, from landlords and gentry to green-skin gangs, there is one for every family. Representatives present.
When Chen Cao came on stage, everyone stood up and saluted.
"Everyone, please sit down..."
Chen Cao raised his hand in vain, and after everyone was seated, he stood up from the banquet on the steps of the backyard. Under the quiet gaze of more than a hundred people, he said loudly: "I am honored to see the leader of Songjiang Realm here. It's such an honor to be a character..."
No one here bought the polite words at the beginning. It was well known to everyone that Chen Cao was planning to equalize the land in Songjiang, and most of the people who were 'invited' today were extremely reluctant.
"However, I feel that it is an honor for you to meet me on this occasion, no...
I even think you are lucky..."
What is the meaning of this statement?
Everyone present was complaining, and they couldn't figure out what Chen Cao was going to do next.
"Perhaps everyone here feels that my statement that you are lucky to see me today is a bit alarmist, but after a while, after you listen to my words, some of you may realize how important this sentence is."
Huang Shijing immediately stood up, walked to Chen Cao, and said loudly: "I invite you all to come today. The main purpose is to inform you that starting from the first day of February in the first year of Chongzhen, which is the first day of next month, the Songjiang Mansion will Start collecting business taxes.”
Huang Shijing is not Chen Cao. As soon as he came forward to speak, people at the table began to talk about it. From time to time, a middle-aged man said in a strange way: "It seems that Mr. Huang is also preparing to compete with the people for profit? I don't know that this decree was invented by the imperial court." The government decree of the world, or is it your wishful thinking, Mr. Huang?"
"That's right..." Another middle-aged man in the banquet agreed: "Not to mention you, Mr. Huang, even if the court decides to collect commercial taxes, then those of us who are registered will not have to pay a penny. Don't forget it. The preferential treatment given by Emperor Taizu to scholars.”
At this time, Huang Shijing's words were like poking a hornet's nest. The people below spoke one after another. The only ones who did not interrupt were the local gangs. They were just members of the so-called 'mixed society', and they were different from people with official status or official background. There is no comparison, they are also the best people to handle.
The dozen or so local Songjiang gang leaders present at the table were a little curious. On such an occasion, their appearance was indeed a bit strange, and to be honest, it was out of time.
'boom...'
With the sound of a gunshot, the noisy courtyard immediately fell silent. Everyone was scared to death. Chen Cao leveled the muzzle of his gun and pointed it at a gang leader unintentionally: "You, come out..."
This tone of killing chickens to scare monkeys immediately frightened the old Songjiang Shuanghuahongguan. It was easy for the prince who had the real power in the army to kill himself, and gangs like them were originally banned by the court. , now being grandly invited to the magistrate's Yamen for a drink, this...
What's wrong with him?
Zhao Xin strode out of the queue with his sword pressed, and scolded: "Duke Liang is asking, what are you waiting for? Kneel down and do the roll call..."
In normal times, the competing gangs would definitely be laughing at each other, but at this moment, none of them can laugh in their hearts. If one of them suffers, there is no doubt that they will all be implicated.
thump...
"Young Yin Guochao, from Huating, came to see Duke Liang..."
Chen Cao handed the flintlock gun to Zhang Fengnian who was standing aside, and then clapped his hands: "Yin Guochao, don't be afraid, get up and talk..."
"I don't dare. I ask the Duke to show mercy..."
Xin Zhao scolded again: "You bastard, get up as soon as the Duke tells you to get up..."
Yin Guochao was really worried in his heart, but the people in front of him were all government officials. How could he, a gang leader, offend him: "I will obey my orders..."
"I want to ask you, how many green men are there in your gang, and what kind of jobs do they usually do? Also, do you have any people robbing homes or doing anything to block people's way?"
Yin Guochao shook his head and waved his hands: "I don't dare to do anything that violates the law. I and my brothers are all good people, good people..."
"Since you are a good citizen, does that mean you are fighting fiercely with the people at the bottom?"
How to answer this?
Yin Guochao was in trouble, and a middle-aged man at the next table immediately said: "Dong Liang, you didn't ask me to come here today so that so many of us can see how you deal with a green-skinned guy, right?"
Before Chen Cao could speak, Zhao Xin jumped down the steps and slapped the middle-aged man on the face. One of his front teeth suddenly fell out: "You bastard, what is your identity? How dare you interrupt what the Duke is talking about?" , be careful to knock out your big teeth..."
The middle-aged man covered his bleeding mouth and wailed, and an older man next to him said coldly: "I am Qin Wannian, the former left counselor of the Nanjing General Affairs Department. Even you Jin Yiwei dare to act recklessly in South Zhili?"
"Qin Wannian, a native of Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture. In the sixth year of Wanli, he was a Jinshi. He was first awarded the editorship of the Hanlin Academy. In the tenth year of Wanli, he was sent to Jiangxi Province as the governor of Hukou County. In the fourteenth year of Wanli, he was transferred to the general magistrate of Changsha Prefecture. In the second year of Wanli, In the 10th year of Wanli's reign, he was promoted to the prefect of Xiangyang. In the 27th year of Wanli's reign, he was transferred to Nanjing's Ministry of Household Affairs.
Xin Zhao looked at Qin Wannian coldly: "Master Qin, how much money did you embezzle from the Zuo Councilor of the Nanjing General Administration Department? Jin Yiwei has clearly recorded it. Do you want us to go through the old accounts now?"
Qin Wannian's face turned red, and Chen Cao felt that it was okay, so he waved his hand: "Zhao Xin, quickly apologize to Mr. Qin. After all, he is an old man from the Emperor Shenzong's dynasty, so you can't be rude..."
Zhao Xin, who had been feeling cold before, immediately handed over his hand with a smile on his face: "Master Qin, please forgive me for being rude..."
Chen Cao added: "Master Qin's son is currently serving as an official in Nanjing, so he must not make any mistakes..."
What do these words mean?
It means that someone has wiped out your Qin Wannian investigation. Seeing this, Qin Wannian no longer dares to be arrogant. After all, he is in the hands of others now.
Chen Cao then looked at Yin Guochao: "Do you have any property in your name? Do you have any land?"
Yin Guochao spoke tremblingly: "I have three gambling houses, two wine shops, and more than ten acres of land under my name, all of which are cultivated by my own family..."
"Oh?" Chen Cao looked at Yin Guochao curiously: "Since we have an industry, do we have to pay taxes?"
Yin Guochao looked at Liu Wenzheng sitting at the wine table on the steps: "I have never paid taxes, but I have paid a lot of protection fees..."
"Ha ha..."
Chen Cao raised his head and laughed: "You, a street kid, are actually being charged protection fees by others. The officials have more respect than you..."
Yin Guochao smiled awkwardly. Not only him, but who among the gangs had not given money to the local government?
After Chen Cao laughed, he said seriously: "Starting from next month, the property in your name will no longer have to give money to the local government, inspections, and government officials..."
Yin Guochao raised his eyebrows: "Really?"
"Of course, what I said is true..."
Chen Cao turned around, took a cup of tea from Huang Chunyao's hand, drank it, and moistened his throat: "Everyone, listen carefully, especially the gang bosses...
Starting next month, Songjiang Prefecture will implement land equalization and tax exemption..."
Oops...
Everyone at the table was stunned. What is this going on?
Equalizing land and exempting it from taxes is a trivial matter, but the matter of exempting from taxes is not something that you, the governor of Songjiang, Liang Guogong, can make the decision.
"I've called you here today to formally notify you. Listen clearly. It's a notification, not a negotiation. Each of your households must explain clearly the fields and tenants under their names, and report them to the Huating County Business Council. The tax bureau pays business taxes, if anyone refuses to do so, hehe..."
Because they had learned from the past, no one present dared to interrupt casually, they just looked at Chen Cao in surprise.
"My purpose in governing Songjiang is to create a prosperous living environment for the people of Songjiang. Not only do I want to equalize the land in Songjiang and collect commercial taxes, but I also want to clear up all the hidden fields under Songjiang Prefecture. I hope that everyone here will After you go back, think about it carefully. Today, I politely invited you to have a drink. If anyone dares to take the lead in making trouble in the future...
I heard that the executioners' knives in Songjiang Prefecture are not very sharp anymore. Why don't you inform them later to sharpen them quickly? "
