Chapter 239 Peasants don’t pay taxes
The day after the banquet ended, rumors spread wildly in Huating County about the equalization of land and the exemption of taxes. Some people applauded, and some criticized. In short, things began to reach a climax.
Two days later, under the leadership of someone unknown, a county-wide strike occurred in Huating County. All shops were closed and food prices soared. On the same day, news came from Qingpu that a market strike also occurred in Qingpu County, and all shops were closed. Good luck.
The people complained.
Five days later, people who could not buy food gathered together, and the prefect's Yamen pressured various shops to no avail.
On January 27th of the first year of Chongzhen, large-scale mass demonstrations broke out in Huating and Qingpu counties, targeting the Songjiang magistrate's office.
However, during this period, Chen Cao stayed in Huating County.
"Don't they know that the Dingwu Army has entered the city?"
Chen Cao listened to Zhao Xin's report curiously. Huang Shijing and Liu Wenzheng beside him were wiping cold sweat. Huang Shijing said: "My lord, foolish men and people are the most susceptible to being deceived by others..."
"Are they the local wealthy gentry and those high-ranking officials?" Chen Cao said nonchalantly: "It's interesting..."
On the 28th, incidents of beating, smashing, looting, and burning occurred in the city. At this time, the Dingwu Army was dispatched and arrested many people.
On the 29th, Chen Cao appeared outside the prefect's Yamen. I don't know when a six-meter-high platform was placed outside the prefect's Yamen. Chen Cao stood on the high platform with an earthen trumpet in his hand, and Jin Yiwei also held it in his hand. They are responsible for delivering Chen Cao's words through native speakers.
"We want to live..."
"We want to live..."
"The court has no faith..."
"The court has no faith..."
Typical slogans like this are caused by someone obstructing them. Chen Cao did not stop them and let them yell. He took advantage of this time to drink tea on the high platform.
I don’t know how long it took, but those who participated in the parade finally got tired, and the slogans gradually became quieter.
Huang Chunyao's feet were trembling as he climbed onto the high platform. He felt that if the crowd below surged, the high platform he and Chen Cao were standing on would be pushed flat.
"Yunsheng, is this scene familiar?"
Faced with Chen Cao's inquiry, Huang Chunyao was naturally familiar with it: "Zhejiang was also in such chaos back then."
"Then do you think these people were killed or suppressed?"
"It doesn't matter whether he kills him or not. In short, the court can't control the prince now, so it doesn't matter if he suppresses him. The worst he can do is break it and start over. It just takes a long time."
Chen Cao nodded thoughtfully: "Yesterday, the Jin Yiwei intercepted a secret report. Someone from Huating and Qingpu sent someone to Nanjing. The official document must have gone to the capital. This time, it will take a month less. We will wait until the court's decree Come down, I’ve got everything done here.”
"Don't worry, sir. Once the people know that my uncle is going to exempt them from taxes, they will definitely be grateful..."
Chen Cao agrees very much, no one will refuse...
Finally, after more than an hour, the gathered people became quiet, because they found that no matter how much trouble they made, the prince above him would still sit firmly on the Diaoyutai, and if there was trouble and arson, Qiu Ba with a musket would shoot directly. .
Chen Cao stood up: "Are you tired? If you are not, you can continue shouting. I will continue drinking tea and listen to your shouting..."
"Mr. Liang, the imperial court has not issued an order to equalize land. You are doing whatever you want in Songjiang Mansion. Does the imperial court know? Does your majesty know?"
"right..."
Questions came one after another. Chen Cao looked at the group of people with a smile, not panicking at all...
When the Jiajing Dynasty beat Jin Yiwei to death, the court concluded that "the law does not punish the public"...
Obviously, the situation now is exactly the same as then.
However, this group of people found that even in such a fierce and passionate situation, Liang Guogong above remained calm.
Under this cold approach, everyone found that it was really difficult for them to kill their opponents without responding.
Finally, it was quiet down there again...
Chen Cao then picked up the earthen trumpet and said, "How about it? Do you still want to shout?"
No one spoke at this time. Even though there were many 'leaders' hidden among them, they were completely defeated by the way that later generations of grassroots cadres like Chen Cao treated the masses.
Seeing that thousands of people slowly became quiet, Chen Cao said loudly: "I will give you a chance. I will ask you a question and you will answer. If you continue to mess around, I will accompany you today. But you continue to stand while I eat, drink, and defecate here, and let’s see how long you can hold on?”
"I ask you, why are you going on strike? Why are you marching?"
Naturally, there was someone with high status in front of him who was responsible for answering: "The state did not implement equalization of land, nor did it reduce the preferential treatment for scholars. Even if Liang Guogong was the governor of Songjiang, he could not administer the government casually. This would destroy the ancestors of the state. Control and prevent the people from living."
"that is..."
"that is..."
With everyone's agreement, the scene became quiet again.
"Well, I see that most of the people here are people under Huating's rule. I wonder if you feel comfortable paying taxes during the hundreds of years since the founding of the country?"
People, look at me and I look at you. What does this sentence mean?
Isn’t it a matter of course to pay taxes to the imperial court?
"The imperial court maintains public order in Songjiang with laws and regulations, and the people of the country should pay taxes and do their best for the country..."
"I don't know if the officials of Songjiang Prefecture did not pass on the exact words of my administrative order, or if the landlords and gentry who came to negotiate did not inform you common people;"
Chen Cao used the loudest voice in his life: "Songjiang Prefecture will implement the decree of equalizing land and exempting taxes from the first day of February..."
Even those traders didn't know that there was another word behind Juntian about tax exemption. As soon as this word came out, thousands of people began to whisper, this is a good thing. If tax is exempted, they can pay half the tax when paying taxes. This It's a good thing...
"Master Liang, don't deceive us and other common people. You are just a lord. What qualifications do you have to announce the exemption of taxes on behalf of the emperor and his elders?"
Hey, this sentence seems to make sense...
"Yes, if the imperial court fails to collect the annual tax, wouldn't it mean that we, the people of Songjiang, want to rebel..."
"right..."
Chen Cao fell down and the people below fell silent again before he spoke again: "I am in charge of Songjiang, and you are the people under my rule. If the emperor can love his people as his own children, how can I not do the same?
Therefore, I have ordered that the land in Songjiang Prefecture be equalized and that the officials and gentry should pay taxes together. Moreover, common people, listen up. From the moment I arrived at Songjiang Prefecture, I have decided that all Songjiang people will voluntarily hand over their contributions and deceive them. Min Tian, and reported it to the local government office. I will forgive the past...
In addition, people who have registered their household registration and land can apply for a new household registration at the local government office. For all people who have this household registration, I have decided not to collect any taxes from you;
In other words, as long as the land is equalized, people can buy and sell it freely. The food you grow and the harvest you get do not need to pay a penny, it is all yours;
Of course, I know that you are worried about what someone just said, whether the court will cause trouble for you if you don’t pay taxes. I hereby solemnly promise that the taxes that Songjiang Prefecture should pay every year will be paid by the Songjiang Prefecture Yamen..."
As soon as Chen Cao finished speaking, thousands of people in the audience were quiet at first, then went crazy, and finally, thousands of people knelt down...
"Dong Liangguo..."
"My lord..."
"ah..."
Even kneeling down and crying, what does it feel like?
It doesn’t matter if you don’t pay the annual tax. Even the taxes are paid for. From now on, everything produced in the fields will be your own. This is the first good thing since the founding of the country...
When the leaders realized something was wrong, they shouted at the top of their lungs: "Don't be fooled. Why won't the court let us pay taxes?"
"Common people, please listen clearly. You don't have to pay for summer grain this year. I said..."
"good..."
There were applauses one after another, saying that Duke Liang would be blessed with many children and a long life and good health. Those traders realized something was wrong and immediately ran away.
Seeing this, Chen Cao waved his hand to calm the people down: "Common people, you have too much land in your hands and can't plant it. You are also the one who is tired. However, farming is a major matter related to people's livelihood. From now on, the income you earn from farming can be freely bought and sold to the government. The government will purchase at market price and will never lower the price;
In addition, if Songjiang Prefecture once again kicks out dendrobium trees and collects taxes, you can appeal to the governor's office and I will make the decision for you...
Secondly, only after the land is handed over to the people who have hidden, deceived, or dedicated land, and then the land is divided equally, can they enjoy the policy of tax exemption and tax exemption. Of course, this decree has a time limit, and the land is not handed over before the first day of March. No matter the officials, gentry or the people, once verified, they will be thrown into jail and questioned..."
.
Xiangzheng Village, the seat of Huating County
Here, a new household register is being issued to the people in the village, but this household register is different from the past. It is a small hard rectangular card. Of course, this was made by Chen Cao's workshop according to the size of later generations' ID cards.
The first column above is the name, date of birth, place of origin, etc. On the back is the word "Da Ming" engraved on it, and the entire outer circle is wrapped in iron.
Sun Laocai, who got the new household registration, looked at the household registration with his name on it and sighed: "I heard from the Lord of the Inspection Department that this thing will become a road in the future, and people from Songjiang can walk freely in this mansion. ..."
Liu Laosi from the same village got the household registration and came over: "I heard from Li Da next door that his son is going to sell grain and go to Shanghai County to work this year. The wages for building the county there are much better..."
A woman came over and said, "Hey, Fourth, don't your three sons go?"
Liu Laosi grinned with yellow teeth and said, "My eldest son has made arrangements. The second son will get a wife this year, and the third son is going to be drafted into the army."
Hearing that he was a soldier, a large group of villagers came over. A middle-aged man among them asked: "Fourth brother, your third son is going to be a soldier. What's the benefit of Qiu Ba? I heard from Jinshanwei's relatives that they can't get it in a year." To two denarii."
Liu Laosi looked like he had read a lot and said sarcastically: "Don't you know? As for the Dingwu Army in Fucheng a few days ago, do you know how much their ordinary soldiers earn per month?
Mom, with one tael of silver per month, she has three meals a day, and meat at noon and night. If you don’t look at those soldiers compared with the soldiers of Songjiang Guard, everyone else looks like a young master from a wealthy family. ..”
"Hahaha..."
"I also heard that as long as they are drafted into the army, their family members can have priority to work in the workshop under Liang Guogong. They will all have money to draw from, and if they are successful, they will be given a house..."
"What? Give me back the house?"
Everyone was shocked, and then a middle-aged man interrupted: "Stop talking nonsense. If your family members want to work in the workshop, they must first be from Zhejiang. Family members of ordinary people like us cannot enter the workshop."
"Why did Duke Liang treat people of low status so favorably? Didn't Grandpa Taizu hate these people so much back then?"
